Written by Felix Swehla on August 30, 1942
hill was called vomit hill
Camp Hood . Texas . U.S.
Dear Ann,
Sun. and what a dull day it rained this morning I had to get up while it was still dark and put our tent down so our beds won’t get wet. I think its through raining know.
I wrote a letter to John Ralis, I don’t feel much like writing but will try and finish this. I will send you a few pictures some of our tent some I took from the train window, while the train was going about 50 miles Per hr.
We really had a hard week last week. we had to run the toughest commando coarse, and obstacle course. The commando course we used all live ammunition attacked a town, a fake town, shot in a tunnel at a target it was darker than hell that was to get used to shooting in the dark bombs grenade going off all around crawl on your belly about 25 ft under barb wire. from 4 to 8 inches off the ground and a machine fun firing 16 in over your head. “some fun” nearly made stink in my pants.
Then the obstacle course you would start run about 50 yards come to a river about the size of ours about neck deep go throu it with shoes and all clothes on and gun too. on the other bank there were three hurdles to jump then a eight foot wall to climb over. Then about 100 ft or more of barb wire entanglement to crawl under with the instructors throwing snake bomb fire crackers and what not to make noise. barely could see have to keep head close to the ground so we won’t get hurt then right after that come a big! hill to climb and what I mean plenty steep too about block and a half high. And the hill was called vomit hill the reason for the name many of the boy get sick when they reach the top they are so wore out they throw up. they say its the toughest course in the USA they say they separate the boy from the men. None of failed to make so I guess we are men. we had to go through it three times up and 4 times down. 7 in all. (slideshow of Camp Hood and the training course)
Well this is all for this time, nearly dinner time
good bye,
Felix
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