Letters, Jun. 25, 1945

Monday, June 25, 1945

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    H. PETER RAND Captain, U.S.A. % Postmaster New York City

    The Average Tommy

    Sirs:

    . . . When we first came out here [CBI Theater], some of us had a vague feeling of hostility for things British. Now we are unanimous on the following points: the Tommy gets very low pay compared to the G.I.; he receives nothing to compare with the Yanks in the matter of food, amenities, and recreational facilities; he does very little complaining ; he is a splendid patient; he is very friendly toward us. ...

    One example: a few days ago a Tommy (in the Tank Corps) was brought in by one of us. Both his arms were thoroughly smashed, his right leg was broken and badly gashed, hip gashed, and he had bad body wounds. Not a word of self-pity! He thanked us for treating him well, smiled and said he wouldn't have our job for anything (sic)—too hazardous! Next day he died.

    The average Tommy is a good egg, and it's people like him who make up most of England, not the so-called typical Englishman who says "rawther," etc.

    RONALD MATTHEW

    Volunteer

    American Field Service % Postmaster New York City

    Not Very Amusing Sirs: Nothing has given me greater satisfaction than to read your report on the Chicago pub lic school system [TIME, May 28]. . . . Not until I escaped [from it ] did I realize just what I had not received.

    When the time approached for our family to think about college, we found that all accredited Easter 4 schools demanded entrance examinations of any candidate who matriculated at a Chicago public high school. . . .

    Midwestern colleges, well acquainted with Superintendent Johnson's child protege's, like wise required similar exams.

    We Chicagoans did not find it very amusing when we ground through freshman English courses which our friends found proverbial "snaps." Many of us lacked the language, science, math, and English requirements, having to take special courses to make up for our deficient training.

    SHIRLEY BANKERS BEAUMONT Northfield, Minn. Carleton College, 1945

    Weasels

    Sirs:

    RE TIME [JUNE 4]: "WHILE RAIN TURNED THE GROUND INTO WATERY, REDDISH MUD, AND STALLED VIRTUALLY ALL TRANSPORTATION BUT WEASELS (TRACKED JEEPS), u.s. TROOPS. . . ."

    THE WEASEL IS NO MORE A "TRACKED JEEP" THAN THE, JEEP IS A "WHEELED WEASEL."

    THE WEASEL IS BUILT AROUND A HULL. . . . IT TRAVELS THROUGH DEEP MUD, SNOW, SAND, ... UP & DOWN STEEP RIVER BANKS AND THROUGH DEEP WATER. LET'S GIVE THE JEEP THE CREDIT IT WELL DESERVES BUT THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO BUILD THE WEASEL ARE JUSTIFIABLY JEALOUS OF THE SINGULAR ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THEIR OWN BABY.

    GASTON E. MARQUE

    STUDEBAKER CORPORATION SOUTH BEND

    TIME'S thanks to Studebaker's Marque for his powerful Weasel words. Front-line correspondents sometimes call the land Weasel (M-29) a "tracked jeep." Herewith a picture of its amphibious younger sister, the water Weasel (M29c).—ED.

    Frankly Worried

    Sirs:

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