December 2, 1945. Stanley kicks off December with a three and a half page typewritten letter. He has pretty much taken over the letter writing duties from home since Anna is “quite busy with the two little ones”. Even so, Stanley writes that Anna has given him a note with “some ideas of what to write about.”
Foremost on Anna mind is that Dad always seems to write about coming home “one of these days”. She suggests that Dad “forget about the work and the whole place and just grab yourself a boat that is laying idle there and come home.” As if to underline the fact that Dad is still away from home, Stanley notes,“Before it was in the papers where only about 7 to 10 fellows were being discharged, but now you see in the papers where about 40 or more are being discharged from the Albany city alone each day.”
Even though there are soldiers being discharged, apparently new recruits are still being enlisted. As Stanley details from his vantage point working the night shift at the railroad station, “for about three nights in a row I saw a sailor leading a bunch of recruits for the Navy. They were waiting for the train to come in. There must have been about 30 or more each night. It wouldn’t hurt some of those fellows to get in for a year or so. We had to do it, why can’t they? They might learn a thing or two.”
Not all enlistments are voluntary, however. A friend of the family has reenlisted with prospects being better in the service than in the workforce. As Stanley tells it, “Last reports I received [Eddie] Falkowski went back into the Navy as a flier. I guess he figures he can get more money that way…” Stanley adds that Falkowski is making the move even though he “will have a baby in the not too far future.”
As far as Stanley’s job prospects, although he is currently a baggage handler, he has applied for other positions with the railroad and is hoping for the best. Unfortunately he was beat out of a clerical job by “some fellow who had seniority since 1942…” Even so, he is not discouraged and vows to “keep up looking at the bids and maybe one of these days I’ll probably land one of those jobs… There will be more jobs for bids sooner or later…”
Stanley takes an opportunity to reply to a few things that Dad had written in previous letter. Along the way, he teases his brother about some of the pictures that he sent home. “Anthony, that picture with the little girl on it. All of us are beginning to believe that one is yours. You have been there long enough. If the picture wasn’t of your kid you would not have sent it on. And then the picture of the wedding party. We cannot make out the fellow who is sitting near the girl. You sure that isn’t you… Remember you said when you were home that when you got married you would have about 10 to 12 kids. It seems as if you are getting a start on it now.”
Before closing, Stanley writes in reply to Dad’s early comments about some fellows being sent back to the States on returning B-29s. “Brother, you said that on the B-29’s coming back to the states only 16 passengers were allowed. Look how big the 29 is. On the B-17’s going back to the states from our group from England we had 20 passengers. That total included the entire crew, together with their baggage. Of course the baggage was limited…to either 30 or 50 pounds per person.”
He closes, “Well brother, I guess this is all for the time being till something of interest comes up again. I guess I’ll close this letter… God bless you brother and keep you safe and bring you back to the homestead as fast as He can. Would be very nice if you could be home for Christmas.”