is going to be the thing to wear to classes.
Well, that’s about all, I guess; I’ll write and let you know how things are when we get really settled.
Love,
Bill
the Christy affair: Christy was a boyhood friend, otherwise reference unknown.
Max Keezer: a menswear shop founded in 1895, located in Harvard Square at the time.
To Edith Gaddis
Mathews Hall - 31
Cambridge, Massachusetts
[19 October 1941]
Dear Mother—
Could it be that Dolly and her ilk are slipping? They seem to be failing us. I don’t know, here it is Saturday afternoon and I’m still flat listening to the Dartmouth game. My temp stays right around 100 tho it’s been down to 99 and up to 101 but I feel like hanging up. Harvard just made a touchdown and the stands are going crazy—me too only for a different reason—because I’m not there. I’ll bet there’ll be a hot time tonite.
Well I’ve decided one thing—they told me that they can’t keep you here if you insist on going so come Tuesday or Wednesday and I’m still the same I’m leaving and see if I’ll get well outside on my own. I’m not getting anywhere here—only disgusted.
The food here is supposed to be good but I think it’s pretty sad and not half as good as Union food.
They’re still making their crazy blood tests which never show a thing—what a bunch of jerks!
Hoping to have better reports soon—
Love
Bill
To Edith Gaddis
Cambridge, Massachusetts
[23 October 1941]
Dear Mom—
I’m feeling a lot better and I think the temp has been dropping a little—not normal yet but someday I suppose. The only effects are my ankles are very weak and I have a pot belly! But I guess exercise will cure both. I’m not up long enough to feel dizzy—not on my treks to the bathroom anyway. [...]
The only studying I’ve done is that 100 pages of French outside reading—the exam in it is today so I guess I’ll have to make it up too. Somehow this place isn’t condusive to study and I haven’t felt like it until the last couple of days.
I’m only taking 4 subjects—which is minimum—but 2 (Physics and Eng[lish literature] I) are pretty tough. However there’s no backing down or changing now—I’ll just hang on and hope for the best.
Love
Bill
To Edith Gaddis
Cambridge, Massachusetts
[4 November 1941]
Dear Mother—
Gosh—Dr. Contratto must have written you an encouraging letter—we were so certain I’d be out for the next Army game and now you don’t mention it, but say you’re coming up—I tell you gee—I feel good and have no temperature at all—always normal now; only a small stomach which seems to be going down slowly—I still think I’ll be out for Saturday’s game—I can’t see why not, and yet this whole thing is so screwy and is getting me so mad—that is, if I don’t get out by Saturday.
I’d like to know what those two thot about the ultimate outcome—I don’t see why I can’t make up 4 weeks’ work—I’m not worrying about that—my English A is almost made up already; my Eng I reading is getting done; Physics and French I’m letting go, but I think I might be able to catch up on them even without tutors, tho tutors might prove to be adviseable. I don’t see why I should worry about being a freshman next year—unless Dean Leighton suggested it—because I can do this work and I’m getting out soon, or know why.
As for talk of my graduating class—I doubt if many of us will graduate. That is far ahead any way, and even so I’ll be draft-meat in a couple of years, and I’m going to beat them to it. [...]
Love
Bill
Dr. Contratto: Dr. Andrew W. Contratto, who practiced in Cambridge at this time.
To Edith Gaddis
Cambridge, Massachusetts
[13 November 1941]
Dear Mother—
The freighter to L.A. sounds great—just perfect and I’d like it best if possible. 10,000 tons is a fair sized ship—it sounds good and ought to ride well. I think the Japs are the least of our worries—time seems to be the thing now. I might stay in L.A. for a couple of days and send ahead to find out about right reservations to my destination. I think as for cost it may be even if not slightly less, considering 21 days aboard ship with meals is equivalent to 3 weeks of boarding somewhere.
That’s swell about the 15% on American Airlines and it would be fairly and comparatively inexpensive to fly to Baltimore with time at home such a premium.
If it is at all possible please pull every string to make the freighter trip possible—it would be just what I wanted and would work out more perfectly and best for me if it can be done—
Love
Bill
P.S. She’s a midget
P.P.S.—What is time of sailing from Baltimore?
the Japs are the least of our worries: three weeks later the Japanese would bomb Pearl Harbor.
To Edith Gaddis
[WG left Harvard on November 21, and a week later shipped out from Baltimore on the SS West Portal.]
Barker Hotel
2000 Miramar Street
Los Angeles, California
[2 January 1942]
Dear
