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Nile Kinnick correspondence, June-August 1942

1942-08-22: Back

Haugebak, so by happy coincidence we met and spent the afternoon together
We went to two shows and on the same bill at one theatre was a vaudeville
performance which for the most part reminded me of Iowa's most famous
crop. However, when the mc said that it might be better to be and
Ensign with a chicken on your knee than a captain with an eagle on your
shoulder, I agreed that he might have something there.
Yes, there are quite a few English boys in training down here,
all from the fleet air arm, boys with good educations and good family
backgrounds, I should judge, at least the ones I happen to know. Not
only are there chaps from England but also from New Zealand.  Both
Bob and I have become pretty good friends with several of them.
We both enjoy talking with them, and think they are a very good sort,
and from what has been said to either of us at different times I think
we are justified in thinking that they believe us pretty good fellows.
Most of the men I now know as acquaintances, I also knew in a general
sort of way in Pensacola. It has been interesting to watch them slowly
emerge from their inborn formalism until now they are quite apt to
strike up a conversation without introduction just as all Americans do.
They even have come to adopting a great many of our slang expressions
and manner of speaking. Most of them seem to like America quite well
and some even speak of wanting to come back here and live. Nearly all
frequently speak of the size and wealth of this beloved land. Shortly
following the printing ofmy picture in the paper a couple of the boys
have more than once questioned me with much interest concerning our
game of football. Especially a boy from New Zealand by the name of
Neville Turnbull, a husky chap about my height, and a dead ringer for
Ted C. in the face.  I gather that he is a pretty good rugby player
back in his own country, but that he has been much struck with the
glamour and adventure if the way we conduct our athletics over here.
He is really a fine chap, should welcome the chance to bring him into
my home sometime. It is interesting to note the attitude of every last
one of these English lads toward the war and Germany.  They give no more
thought to the danger and unhappiness of this war than any other untoward
incident. It is a job to be done, no more no less, and so they have
viewed it for centuries. Never do you hear them declaiming against
Hitler, nor cussing the Germans, as we Americans all do.  They speak of
Jerry as a tough adversary, but never do they give way to personal
invective. In the long run you can't beat that mentality, regardless
of how much damage you do right at the start. "not dead, but wounded,
I'll lie me down and bleed awhile, then rise and fight again."
And while we are speaking of the British I should mention that Kingsley
and I were discussing night before last the noblest warrior of them
all. King brought out how Winnie was not always a great speaker, that
as a matter of fact it has come rather hard for him, that in his first
attempt in parliament he had to sit down because he forgot his speech.
I made this observation--that in reading of the lives of other great
ment and in looking over their letters and speeches they nearly always
at some time or another, usually frequently, gave way to expressions
of despair and weariness. They of course overcame these low moments
and went on to great things, but so far as I know old Winston S. has
never given lip to discouragement or melancholy let alone give in
to such weakness. What a man!
Thank you very much for Ben's letters, the pictures, and the
poem. Will be glad to get the quarterly and the sentinel containing
the article by Mr. Ross of which you spoke in a previous
letter.  Have not gotten it as yet. Have received letters recently
from Betty Bice, Feed Clarke, Ben, M MCKay, Elsie Louise, Barb Miller,
the last named now being engaged to Al Hohann a D. Moines boy. Incidentally, I received some cookies from A. Ruth sometime ago which
I acknowledged and expressed thanks for. Did she ever get my letter,
do you know. Hope you aren't going to keep G. from playing fb, if he
wants to, because of not getting all 2s, or some such thing. I made
the mistake of trying to be headman in everything, don't force a similar
mistake on the youngest. I have adhered toostrictly to the oft re-

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Haugebak, so by happy coincidence we met and spent the afternoon together We went to two shows and on the same bill at one theatre was a vaudeville performance which for the most part reminded me of Iowa's most famous crop. However, when the mc said that it might be better to be and Ensign with a chicken on your knee than a captain with an eagle on your shoulder, I agreed that he might have something there. Yes, there are quite a few English boys in training down here, all from the fleet air arm, boys with good educations and good family backgrounds, I should judge, at least the ones I happen to know. Not only are there chaps from England but also from New Zealand. Both Bob and I have become pretty good friends with several of them. We both enjoy talking with them, and think they are a very good sort, and from what has been said to either of us at different times I think we are justified in thinking that they believe us pretty good fellows. Most of the men I now know as acquaintances, I also knew in a general sort of way in Pensacola. It has been interesting to watch them slowly emerge from their inborn formalism until now they are quite apt to strike up a conversation without introduction just as all Americans do. They even have come to adopting a great many of our slang expressions and manner of speaking. Most of them seem to like America quite well and some even speak of wanting to come back here and live. Nearly all frequently speak of the size and wealth of this beloved land. Shortly following the printing ofmy picture in the paper a couple of the boys have more than once questioned me with much interest concerning our game of football. Especially a boy from New Zealand by the name of Neville Turnbull, a husky chap about my height, and a dead ringer for Ted C. in the face. I gather that he is a pretty good rugby player back in his own country, but that he has been much struck with the glamour and adventure if the way we conduct our athletics over here. He is really a fine chap, should welcome the chance to bring him into my home sometime. It is interesting to note the attitude of every last one of these English lads toward the war and Germany. They give no more thought to the danger and unhappiness of this war than any other untoward incident. It is a job to be done, no more no less, and so they have viewed it for centuries. Never do you hear them declaiming against Hitler, nor cussing the Germans, as we Americans all do. They speak of Jerry as a tough adversary, but never do they give way to personal invective. In the long run you can't beat that mentality, regardless of how much damage you do right at the start. "not dead, but wounded, I'll lie me down and bleed awhile, then rise and fight again." And while we are speaking of the British I should mention that Kingsley and I were discussing night before last the noblest warrior of them all. King brought out how Winnie was not always a great speaker, that as a matter of fact it has come rather hard for him, that in his first attempt in parliament he had to sit down because he forgot his speech. I made this observation--that in reading of the lives of other great ment and in looking over their letters and speeches they nearly always at some time or another, usually frequently, gave way to expressions of despair and weariness. They of course overcame these low moments and went on to great things, but so far as I know old Winston S. has never given lip to discouragement or melancholy let alone give in to such weakness. What a man! Thank you very much for Ben's letters, the pictures, and the poem. Will be glad to get the quarterly and the sentinel containing the article by Mr. Ross of which you spoke in a previous letter. Have not gotten it as yet. Have received letters recently from Betty Bice, Feed Clarke, Ben, M MCKay, Elsie Louise, Barb Miller, the last named now being engaged to Al Hohann a D. Moines boy. Incidentally, I received some cookies from A. Ruth sometime ago which I acknowledged and expressed thanks for. Did she ever get my letter, do you know. Hope you aren't going to keep G. from playing fb, if he wants to, because of not getting all 2s, or some such thing. I made the mistake of trying to be headman in everything, don't force a similar mistake on the youngest. I have adhered toostrictly to the oft re-