GREENBRIER MILITARY SCHOOL
LEWISBURG, WEST VIRGINIA
4 September 1945.
Hello Col Turner,
Well, here’s hoping that this letter finds you in good health, and that everything is OK with the family too. Mary-Nell is fine and the children are in good health too. I wish we would get to-gether some time, and if you’re ever up this way please drop in on us, for I guess we’ll be here for a long time yet.
There is a favor that I wish you’d do for us; I have a chance for a Regular commission in the Army, as many officers will be allowed to stay in this Army if they meet all the requirements, I think that I can meet them all, but I’ll need some recommendations from other officers that I have at one time served under, I’ve already started the ball rolling and put in the necessary papers that are required, and sooner or later I’ll probably hear from the adjutant General’s office that I’ve either been accepted or not; also, that I’ll need to appear before a board of officers with recommendations if I am accepted. On these preliminary papers I was required to give the name, rank, and last known address of three officers that I at one time served under; also the length of time that I served under them. I list-you as one of them, so they may contact you in the future and ask you all about me. But in the mean-time, I’d appreciate it if you’ll give me a personal recommendation in duplicate, just in case they ask me for them.
I’m a little worried about my feet though, as you knew, I froze them in Italy. They still bother me quite a bit, and although I can I get about and all that, I can’t run and jump about like I used to do; also I am limited to the distance I can walk, and to the length of time I can stand with hard leather shoes on. Just recently I started wearing shoes again, and they give me a lot of trouble. I used to wear a soft leather type of shoe, something like a bed-room slipper. They are getting better, but very slowly; and although I think I’ll be able to pass the required physical when it comes up, I’ll never be able to stand icey wether, long exposures in the rain or cold, or long hikes. So you see, even with the recommendations the Army still may retire me wether I want to or not. Although this is more or less a business letter, I’d like very much to hear about you too.
Sincerely,
Lt. R.A. Drolet
