This is a ten-page letter written September 19, 1962. I can't possibly deal with most of the stuff in here, but then it's not so important that I do, I guess. There is, howwever, a bit of cultural relevance that I can address.

He writes about the proficiency tests he has to take, some of them physical - crawling through mud, throwing grenades, doing this, doing that, running a mile. If you fail any one of them, you are supposed to start over, but then he says that actually, very few have to be "recycled." "If you saw some of the obease (sic) and spstic 'soldiers' they push through down here, you too would see why the term selective service is indeed a misnomer."

Okay, that's just kinda interesting but not very. I know.

The part that interests me is this: "We are repeatedly told that this is serious business down here. We are reminded again and again of our purpose and our obligation. The other day we were told that we are at war!"

We are also a month away from the Cuban Missile Crisis. Could it be this to which the sergeant is referring? Or is it just as Larry continues: "No strong armed battle-front, and no great numbers of soldiers being shot. This is not necessary for war to be declared. What difference if the enemy shoots 12 or 123 people? Anyway, all this gives us a sense of apprehension, a feeling of urgency about our immediate future."