Letter from James C. Fanning to his family, October 17, 1949
Title
Letter from James C. Fanning to his family, October 17, 1949
Description
James C. Fanning, Class of 1953, wrote these letters to his family during his four years as a cadet at The Citadel.
Audio recording by Kyle Ballinger, Citadel Archives intern, summer 2020.
Audio recording by Kyle Ballinger, Citadel Archives intern, summer 2020.
Creator
Source
A2013.1
Publisher
The Citadel Archives & Museum
Date
Rights
Materials in The Citadel Archives & Museum Digital Collections are intended for educational and research use. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants of copyright. For more information contact The Citadel Archives & Museum, The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, 29409.
Relation
James C. Fanning Cadet Letter Collection
Format
application/pdf
Language
English
Type
Text
Identifier
https://citadeldigitalarchives.omeka.net/items/show/532
Coverage
Charleston (S.C.)
Date Valid
Audience
Text
[Page 1]
10/17/49
Dear Daddy, Mother, and Sandy,
I got your letter about an hour ago. Present time - 3 PM.
After I finished writing Saturday afternoon, Bob and I got ready and went to town and saw “Task Force”, a good picture about the Navy. After the show we got something to eat and came back to the barracks. We went to bed pretty early.
Having an extra hour to sleep Sunday, I felt better than usual at “getting up time” (7:15). Got up and had a good breakfast. We, the choir, formed at 8:45 and marched to chapel. At chapel we sang our first anthem of the year,
[Page 2]
Jesus Our Sure Defense by J.S. Bach. I forgot to keep a copy of the program. We heard the preacher of one of the Baptist churches in town.
Immediately after chapel “Willie” Hinnant from Charleston asked me if I wanted to go to Church and Sunday School with him. I said allright [sic]. His father took us to the church. I met quite a few girls and his girlfriend. Do they talk funny around here !?! He is Methodist. I caught a bus up town and came back to school where we had as much fried chicken as we could eat. That afternoon I studied and rested. Night came around as it usually does and Bob and I got ready for supper. Bob had gone with
[Page 3]
Jim to his house for the day. Studied last night.
Got up this morning and cleaned up the orderly, study and instrument rooms. It was my turn to do it. I “broke out” at 8:00 for German.
After dinner today I went to the post office and got your letters. I then went to the laundry and got my bag. I wear three shirts a week. Is that laundry rough!! My clothes really are being to wear. It takes about an hour to fold all the stuff in one bag. You have to fold it with paper. It is quite clever the way you do it.
In answer to your letter, I think you might enclose my slide rule. I thought I mentioned that before, but
[Page 4]
I guess not. I have been thinking the matter of the flag over. I don’t guess you had better send it. IT is allright [sic] to have one, but maybe next year when I am a little higher. It might look better then. Need rags bad. Thanks for the money. Thanks for articles. Bass and Grady aren’t doing so well.
In class formations we form outside the building until a bugle sounds. We are called to attention by the section marcher, highest ranking cadet or the first cadet on the roll in the class; he marches into class and salutes the teacher saying “Sir, section ____ reporting”. Then we are given “seats”. Just thought you might like to know how it is done. Got to go to wrestling practice.
Lots of love,
Jimmy
10/17/49
Dear Daddy, Mother, and Sandy,
I got your letter about an hour ago. Present time - 3 PM.
After I finished writing Saturday afternoon, Bob and I got ready and went to town and saw “Task Force”, a good picture about the Navy. After the show we got something to eat and came back to the barracks. We went to bed pretty early.
Having an extra hour to sleep Sunday, I felt better than usual at “getting up time” (7:15). Got up and had a good breakfast. We, the choir, formed at 8:45 and marched to chapel. At chapel we sang our first anthem of the year,
[Page 2]
Jesus Our Sure Defense by J.S. Bach. I forgot to keep a copy of the program. We heard the preacher of one of the Baptist churches in town.
Immediately after chapel “Willie” Hinnant from Charleston asked me if I wanted to go to Church and Sunday School with him. I said allright [sic]. His father took us to the church. I met quite a few girls and his girlfriend. Do they talk funny around here !?! He is Methodist. I caught a bus up town and came back to school where we had as much fried chicken as we could eat. That afternoon I studied and rested. Night came around as it usually does and Bob and I got ready for supper. Bob had gone with
[Page 3]
Jim to his house for the day. Studied last night.
Got up this morning and cleaned up the orderly, study and instrument rooms. It was my turn to do it. I “broke out” at 8:00 for German.
After dinner today I went to the post office and got your letters. I then went to the laundry and got my bag. I wear three shirts a week. Is that laundry rough!! My clothes really are being to wear. It takes about an hour to fold all the stuff in one bag. You have to fold it with paper. It is quite clever the way you do it.
In answer to your letter, I think you might enclose my slide rule. I thought I mentioned that before, but
[Page 4]
I guess not. I have been thinking the matter of the flag over. I don’t guess you had better send it. IT is allright [sic] to have one, but maybe next year when I am a little higher. It might look better then. Need rags bad. Thanks for the money. Thanks for articles. Bass and Grady aren’t doing so well.
In class formations we form outside the building until a bugle sounds. We are called to attention by the section marcher, highest ranking cadet or the first cadet on the roll in the class; he marches into class and salutes the teacher saying “Sir, section ____ reporting”. Then we are given “seats”. Just thought you might like to know how it is done. Got to go to wrestling practice.
Lots of love,
Jimmy
Collection
Citation
Fanning, James C., “Letter from James C. Fanning to his family, October 17, 1949,” The Citadel Archives Digital Collections, accessed April 29, 2024, https://citadeldigitalarchives.omeka.net/items/show/532.