CA1311

Charlie Rudd writes home from aviation ground school in Austin, Texas
(C. Avis Catalog entry #1311)
(Document ID #312)

[No spelling corrections have been made -ca]

["Cousin Alice" was Charles' father's first cousin, Alice Pridmore Sugg (1839-1933)]


                                    April 21, 1918

Dear Mama: -
    How did it happen?, I didn't hear from you at all this week.
    Along at the first of the week I need consolation too as I was very sick.  Sunday night it rained here terribly hard here and the barracks in which I Iived at that time leaked terribly right over my bed the results being that I slept the remainder of the night wet and cold.  I contracted a bad cold, sore throat and chest and a very bad pain up and down my back and in the back of my head.  I went on the sick report for three day but still continued to go on with my classes.  About Thursday I began to get along alright, but Monday & Tuesday I just though I would have to give up and loose a week going to the infirmary.  I came out pretty well so I suppose my sickness didn't thouroughly incapacitate me.  We had our finals in Lewis Machine Guns Thursday and I made 95.  That's a pretty good mark, and for a final too.  I made g in rigging and engines and I think it was an f in signals.  The grade was floted with both and F & G but I think it was an F as the fact of being off color made me show up a little weaker in signal than I suppose I really am.  I made Vg's in Calistenics, drill and conduct and the same old 70 in efficiency.
    I have been here a month and a half now.  The time has gone by pretty fast though.
    Last Sunday Steel and I went out to dinner with Hulen Black out at his fraturnity.  We enjoyed the dinner very much especially some nice hot biscuits.  They were grime and very delicious.  During the evening we strolled out to the Gribbles, where we received an invitation for dinner to-day.
    Yesterday afternoon we were marched over to the University, where we stood retreat and attended a so called, "Fete of Natiins", a red cross benefit.  Steel and I strolled around quite a while and then went over where they were dancing.  I met a little girl from Marlin, stayed with her most of the evening and Edwin carried us home.  Willard Wade finished this week and I am sure he sure was glad to make it.  I suppose he had to stretch a little to make it as he didn't have so very much education.  He is in Temple now and he may see you while he is there.  Just think if I was on the 8 weeks course I would have only 2 more weeks to go but as I am only lalf through.  I have passed the hardest part of the course now however as very few of our class is busting back now and after you get this far, you certainly should make it.
    The next place we are sent is the concentration camp at Dallas.  While there, if I get there, I could go out to see cousin Alice quite often.  There the work is pretty soft and we will have much more time on our hands.  
    Well good bye Mama and don't worry about my physical condition as I am alright and will get better still this week.

                            With love,
                                    Chas.

You may knit gray if you want to but the color doesn't matter much.