SGT. JOHN GIDEON WRITES
HOMEFOLKS FROM AUSTRALIA
LEAD BELT NEWS, Flat River, Missouri
Fri. June 26, 1942
Mr. and Mrs. John C. Gideon of Bismarck have received a letter this week from their
son, Staff Sergeant John Pinkston Gideon, the first communication since January 4th. He
sailed from San Francisco January 5th and is now in Australia.
He enlisted in the Air Corps Mechanics in August, 1939 and was graduated at Lowry
Field, Denver, Colo., in September, 1941. His letter, dated May 16th, reads in part as
follows:
Dear Mother:
Thanks so much for your letters, it is good to know
everything is alright at home. As for me I could not be better. This is a grand country
and I am stationed at a decent camp. Winter is just starting on this side of the equator,
but I don't mind.
I just learned a buddie of mine is leaving for the
States, so I can tell you where I am as he will mail this over there. There are two of us
here at Essenon Airport which is just two miles out of Melbourne, Australia. We have a
very nice shop, air conditioned and all. There haven't been enough men trained for the
work I do so we are always working, never catch up but we don't mind. So far no plane has
been grounded because of our equipment.
The people here have greeted us with open arms, as it
were. We are to move, about 200 miles inland soon. Don't forget, I can't do my work in the
war zone. Sometimes I wish I were fighting instead of this, but I am not and they never
will send me into the fighting zone now. But I am fine and hope to be home soon.
Love, John
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