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| Capt. Pfile at Desert Center Observers Camp |
Camp Young, Calif.
10 Feb. 1943
Dear Folks [Mary X and John],
As you see by the address we have finally moved. It was 6 months to the day that I left there. We are now 50 miles closer to Indio - 3 miles west of Desert Center (on the map if you look - all it is, is a gas station and lunch stand). 10 of us (officers) came over a day early to supervise setting up here. It takes about 100 big trucks to move us, with all our "extras". This is a much more interesting spot. It is only a mile to the foot of the nearest hill. I've already been there! I saw a dozen quail and there is more vegetation. In fact, they left a number of huge ocotillo around our area. There is a world of mineral specimens - copper ore, quartz crystals, ets. There is an old mining road that I want to follow some time.
But we won't be here long! Maneuvers begin Monday and this is considered our first move. After the first problem [tactical problems are devised by the commander, and the troops utilize maneuvers to solve them] we'll move somewhere, and it will be actual combat conditions - bed roll, pup tent, barracks bag! This morning it was 32º. You can bet we'll wear long underwear, and stay in it! We have only lanterns and candles - they took away our big generator. While out in the field, we won't even be able to have camp fires or much light of any kind. I hope I get over my present cold before we start out. I contracted this one because of the move.
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| Laboratory tent at Observers Camp |
The Col. (by the way, has the full stuff now - just received his chickens yesterday [army slang for the eagle insignia a full colonel is awarded] ) bought some dupes [duplicate slides] at Palm Springs of desert flowers. Beth says they are beautiful. I hope to get some of the desert blooms this year, as it should for we have had a few nice rains. You just can't buy film in Indio, but I am trying to get some thru our Px. ...
Sincerely, Eugene
Beth writes: 11 Feb. 1943
Dear Mary X,
... Eugene had a spell with his stomach and then took another cold but claims he is quite OK. He was in last weekend - I had expected him the two previous weekends but the d___ Colonel took his name off the list. The Colonel himself has been in 5 out of the last 6 Sundays. He can come on official business. Anyway, Gene and I had a lovely time. He came in at 2:30 Saturday afternoon and left at 11 pm Sunday. Saturday night we had a big dinner with roast lamb and chocolate cake. Then we sat in front of the fireplace. Sunday morning we packed a picnic lunch and drove 35 miles up on the Palms to Pines Highway [California State Route 74] - up at 5000 feet there are pine trees and cows and things and we played like it was Colorado!! And when we got back Gene took his materials to Dr. Smiley and they worked making a bow and arrows. Gene wanted to get a good start and then can finish out at camp.
He moved company spots just exactly 6 months after they first hit the desert. We are quite pleased about the move. The hospital sight [sic] was 96 miles from Indio. It is now about 45. That means they should get in oftener. Of course the Colonel may have other ideas. He seems to enjoy making life as unhappy as possible for them. Poor Gene always gets what he doesn't want. When he joined the unit, the organizer, Dr. Ireland, promised him a lot of surgery. Once here on the desert he was given "medicine" instead of "surgery". Now he has been taken off that and given lab work. He at least had contact with sick people in the ward tents but now has nothing but red tape and book work and nothing which will carry over into private practice. I'm especially sick about it for I can't help but feel a girl I thot [sic] was my friend told the Colonel's wife, Bobby, that she was sure Gene wanted the job, just so it would be taken off the shoulders of her husband. Often I wish I could be a hermit!! Of course the girl claims that the Col. told her husband he wanted the most consciencious [sic] man there to have the job so he had chosen Gene.
I had to drive the Christies to San Bernadino Thursday and bot [sic] myself an $8 Dobbs hat to wear back to Freeport!! I really don't expect we will get there in March but I still hope to. We have given up the idea of flying. It costs too much. I fear the train trip will cost us $400.00. That is enough!! If you would like to have us stay at your house if we come, do mention it to Eugene. I'm sure his mother [who also lives in Freeport] won't let him - but again, perhaps he might do it in spite of her. Now Grandmother's [Gene's step-grandmother's] people have moved I suppose we will stay there. This trip all plans are to be Eugene's (I hope!). And again I'm sure the Colonel won't give us the necessary 10 days.
Love, Elisabeth
They may be closer together, but Gene still misses Beth, which is evident from an entry in his diary the day before Valentine's Day:
February 13, 1943: These lonely, lonely twilights and evenings. They may be beautiful, but without Beth they seem wasted. They don't give me any morbid thoughts particularly - just a feeling of sorrow and a loss, for another day of life is gone, never to return and I was not able to hold her hand or hear her sweet voice. All I can do is to hope for future days with her, and enjoy them if they come.
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| Beth and Gene at Tyson's ranch in Indio |
I drove out to Gene's new camp yesterday afternoon. It is wonderful to have him just 46 miles away. I took a picnic lunch and we climbed a hill and ate - and looked at the desert varnish on the rocks and a little lizard. I stayed with him for 4 hours. ...
Love, Elisabeth
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