Edward J. Thomas - World War II
Two letters from Stanley were written while Eddie was at Camp Shelby but when they arrive here, Eddie has left. The letters are forwarded to Eddie's next long-term location after leaving Camp Shelby, so they will be included with the Camp Shelby collection of leters, The first letter was written by Stanley Sun.,Apr. 3, 1944 and the second on Sun. Jul. 2, 1944. 
Below 1st letter is copied from Stanley Thomas word for word
Dear Ed: Sunday, April. 30, 1944
How long ago I got your letter I don't remember. Why I don't answer
letters more promptly is a deep mystery to me. It requires no great effort.
In fact, the act of writing is one of the least arduous tasks to which
man can apply himself, limited by his mental capacity, of course. That
reference to mentality, I suspect, may have an uncomfortable grain of truth
as far as I am concerned, so I'll change over to a more pleasant subject.
Where this letter will find you I don't know. Since you wrote you
no doubt have had time to travel at least twice around the world. However,
I shall assume you are still in that safe haven of Alaska.
I am still in the same old rut. Still welding, but for another employer.
It is now the Richfield Oil Corp refinery about three miles from my home.
I finally got fed up with the boot-licking and hand-shaking system of
promotion at Calship so I quit but they refused me the availability
certificate which I had to have in order to get another job. I took it to
the War Manpower Corom. They refused and I had a thirty day battle to get
it. Finally their perversity and pig-headedness was exhausted and they
granted the A.C. The reason for the refusal was that that board is packed
with Calship representatives placed there by Calship for obvious reasons.
All I asked of Calship was the position to which my seniority and capability
entitled me. when they refused I had no other alternative than to quit.
Since I last wrote you I had become pretty proficient at acetylene and oxygen
welding and have become a certified combination welder. At Richfield I have
a good chance to broaden my experience as they do many different types of
welding.
You said in your letter that you would be able to reveal your location
in a couple of weeks. My one clue is your statement that there is no gold
to be found except that which is brought in. From my readings I know that gold
is found in varying quantities on all parts of the Alaskan Mainland, so
my guess is that you are on one of the Aleutian Islands. From what I gather,
they are cold, damp and windswept spots of land. I'm anxious to hear more of
your location but I don't think the censors will allow any information about
your activities. But from looking at the map I would venture a guess that
your outfit will be on the Japanese islands before any others. The war news
has been so good of late that that time will not be too far off, I hope.
A letter from home informs me that my brother Harry who was transferred
from Oregon to Kentucky for special training is now back in Oregon. He was in
the Field Artillery but is now in the Signal Corps as a radio repair man and
radio and telegraph operator. My youngest brother, Arthur, was at Camp Van
Dorn, Mississippi, but moved somewhere in New Jersey. This sounds bad as it
suggests a port of embarkation. However, like yourself, he does clerical work.
My only non-occupational activities are reading, puttering in the garden and
waging war on gokkers with traps, poison, and poison gas bombs, and going to
night school three times a week. Our vegetable garden is doing well, though
it is quite small. The rose garden is really doing fine. We have thirteen
bushes and their gorgeous flowers justify the work put into them. Not by me,
though. Sarah does most of the work on them. I seem to be preoccupied with
something "important" when there was work to do. One learns some tricks,
if given time, you know. After all, a man must rest sometime. Soon will come
the time to redecorate the house. Five rooms. I dread the day.I have been
hearing hints from my mate on the subject for a couple of months. These hints
steadily grow more urgent and the high pressure on me is increasing. The day
when I can no longer disregard these growing demands; so soon, too soon,
I shall be applying paint to walls and ceilings while clinging to a stepladder
under the supervision of a hard task master who, I know, will be
close by at all times, watching
for mistakes.
With this sad comment I shall close. However, with the resolution that
grass shall not grow under my feet while letters lay awaiting reply.
So--I remain, etc
Stanley
21838 Embassy Ave
Long Beanch 6, Calif.
