Randolph Field Wednesday February 11, 1942

Dear Folks,

I've passed the medical exams and an English exam given to us by the base commander. The only thing left is for us to start our classes since everything else is okay. I think that in a little over a week, they'll send us to Uvalde. That's the most modern first level school in this region, the best basic training facility there is, and then to the other, either Kelly or Brooks. We don't know which one of those they'll send us to; they're both very good. So, we've got nothing to complain about, this is much better than I had imagined. They've given us passes so that we can walk all around the school. Every once in a while I go over to the runways and watch the machines that go flying around and at night I almost always go to watch the night practice flights.

I still haven't gotten any letters, I only know the news they gave me in Rio. I hope the address I sent you so you could write me in New Orleans got to you. From New Orleans I sent you the address for here and I told Frank to give it to you too although it's a bit different since it's not necessary to make it so detailed. This is all you need:

Mr. A.N. Pagliere
c/o Cadet's Detachment
Randolph Field, Texas. U.S.A.

That should be enough since no matter where they send us, they will forward the letters.

Thursday 12th: Today they threw us South Americans a reception. Also, down here there are Mexicans all over.

Friday 13th: Today I went to a meteorology class and understood more of the English than I expected. It's a rainy, cold day. I went to the movies and when I left it started to pour. We rushed back.

Saturday 14th: Today there was general review and we had to make sure everything was perfect and had a shine. In the afternoon, we went to San Antoniao to meet a woman who was coming from Rio and had to go to Guatemala. She gave each of the nine of us who are here a gift of a matching handkerchief and necktie.

Sunday 15th: Today we went to say goodbye to the woman and we took her out to lunch, in payment for the fancy dinner she treated us to at the hotel where she was staying. In the afternoon, we went for tea to the home of a Mexican woman who lives here and who had invited us the other day during the reception for the South Americans. After tea, we went to themoves and out to dinner with some Mexican girls. I had a local dish, pretty tasty. They use a lot of spices. At night after dinner we went out dancing at a place called "The Tower." Here the custom is that everyone has their own bottle, asks for ice. You only pay to get in, and each person gets only one small bottle each. It's amazing the things you see here. I'm making a list to read to you when I get back, you'll get a kick out of it.

Monday 16th: Today I'm sending a pamphlet about Randolph Field. They've told me that I can send it since it's sold publicly. That way, you'll get an idea about what this place is. If you show it to Frank, I think it'll interest him. I sent it to Virucha's place because I don't know if dad's office address is still good, since I didn't get any answer. It's possible that the letters I've sent before haven't gotten to you. Just in case, let me know if the address is still good and tell me the number again. (Never mind this part)

Tuesday 17th: Today finally turned into a nice day, after five days of rain, the sun has come out. Tonight we're invited to a dance. -- It was pretty good and we went to town by taxi since the bus had stopped running. It seems that on Saturday or Sunday they'll be sending us to Uvalde and there we'll start the course.

Wednesday 18th: Today is the coldest day we've had so far. But there are two suns shining: the usual one and another that they've sent us from Washington. Monday we go to Uvalde, we'll be in the course that the cadets go through, we'll use the same uniforms they use, both on the base as well as when we go out and they'll pay us a dollar a day. With that we'll be in great shape, economically, since during the course there aren't many opportunities to spend money. Besides, it seems that at the end of the course, if we want, we can stick around to get to know the U.S. for about a month although we'll be responsible for any travel costs. They'll pay for our return trip but scheduling the return one month earlier or later doesn't make any difference. As soon as I have my uniform, I'll send you a photo.

Thursday 19th: Today is the birthday of one of the nine Argentine guys here. We all had lunch together and at night we went to dinner at the Hotel Gunter. Later we came back to go to bed early since tomorrow we have to be ready at 8:00 am to get our uniforms.

Friday 20th: Today they gave us our uniforms. We'll use the blue uniform that the cadets use. New cadets use "khakis" and so we South Americans will be pretty distinct from the common cadets. We'll have to keep our civilian clothes in our luggage so we won't have to buy anything for quite some time. Today they told us that on Tuesday we'll go to Uvalde and we'll start to receive instruction in the infantry like, in a word, prospective officers. It's pretty easy for me since I've already done it once and it's not as bad a life as they say. I like it anyway. Today I received the first letter from you since I've been in the US. It's one in which Dad sends me a list of those officials from the Reserve that have been called. I got the letter right at the moment I was telling the guys here that it was your birthday today. They send you best wishes, along with my Happy Birthday. I see that the address at Dad's study was find, so I'll just keep sending my letters to that address. Forgive the crossed-out part above, when I wrote it I hadn't received any letter, now I have. These letters are written in little pieces, that's why they're all crossed out, wrinkled and even written with different pens.

The next one I send you, I'll be sending from Uvalde and it'll be like this one, written over several days. We're all great. I'm happy to hear you are too. Best wishes to everyone, the family and a big hug to you two.

Ito

It'll be better if you change the address a bit. Write:

Mr. A.N. Pagliere
Member of the Interamerican
Aviation training program.
c/o Randolph Field
Texas U.S.A.

(that's what they told me yesterday)

That bit about "member..." helps them get the letters to us.

Chau
Ito