Though Roy doesn't mention the details or emotional effect of his job very often in his letters, in this one he does provide some detail of one of the many airplane wrecks he had to haul. "His ship was the worst looking ship I ever saw. Nothing but a mass of broken wood, cloth, and twisted wire and metal." Sights like these and the occasional deaths caused by airplane crashes can't have been easy to handle, especially when Roy's job was crash clean-up.
Dear Friend:
I am sorry that I have been so slow in answering your last letter but as busy as I have been I really found little time for writing letters. Today I have some time and am going to improve it by writing several letters. I owe one to the folks at home, one to each of three brothers, and one to a chum of mine, who is now at Kelly Field, Texas. So you see I have quite a job ahead of me.
An older brother of mine enlisted June 15th and is now at Camp Dix, New Jersey. He is a previous-service man and is enlisted in the Engineer Corps and as they are shipping Engineer Corps men to the other side in a hurry, he is likely to be going over in short order. He says I better hurry up or he will beat me to Germany yet. He may but according to the latest hope at this place I can expect to be on the move before next Sunday. We have been making preparations for going overseas for a week or more and it seems we are going for sure this time. We had made some preparations for leaving about two months ago but it all fell through that time, but I surely hope it does not fall through this time. Everybody in the Squadron is anxious to go.
A change in working hours at this field was made last Thursday, so now we have shorter days, but perhaps wee shall not long have advantage of them for long. We now have most of our overseas equipment and have been getting Gas Mask training so it looks like a sure go this time.
Last week was a busy week for me and my truck as I hauled about eight broken airplanes in. Several of them were badly broken up while some of them were only slightly damaged. Three men were killed in two ships. One Lieutenant and a mechanic whose home was in Memphis fell at Clarksdale Miss. Both were killed. The third man, a student aviator fell just at the edge of the Field here. His ship was the worst looking ship I ever saw. Nothing but a mass of broken wood, cloth, and twisted wire and metal. Part of it was not worth hauling in so was burned on the spot. Another ship was badly broken by hitting some telephone wires. A cadet was flying it and got too low. He was not hurt in the least but his ship was broken up.
I suppose Fourth of July will be quite a day in Johnstown. We expect to have a holiday here that is if we are still here. They are going to have an athletic meet here the afternoon of the 3rd and I suppose we will be given passes for the Fourth.
I was in Memphis last Sunday and had a nice time. Saw a good "movie" The movies are open Sundays down here. I can think of little else to write this time but as soon as I leave I will drop you a line. Of course if I should not leave I will write again, but am hoping I shall get away soon.
Sincerely,
Roy D.
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