Weekly journal-miner., 1918-01-30
North Island, San Diego, Cal,
 Jan. l3, 1918.

Jan. Is, 1918. Mrs. F. l.. Wheeler.
 Dear Aunt, Surprised! Well, l should say-you had a soldier nephew that was certainly surprised and glad to hear from you. I have often thought of you and wondered where you were, for I enjoyed our visit to your home Tn Washington more than any of the places we went that sum- mer, although you said it seems only a short while ago and l was little boy; of course, l am not much larger now, but I am able to draw mans wages and a mans place in the army I don't suppose you would know me now though. You see I've been mar ricd three years, therefore. you could mt possibly know me. I am five feet six and weigh 142 pounds, so you sec I'm not much larger than when you saw me in lo0o I weighed 9S then. I am going to have some pictures taken in uniform soon and will send you one.
 My wife and I stored our household effects in November. She went home to stay with her parents until I get out of the army eff such a thing is possible) and I came to San Diego and enlisted in the Signal Corps. Aviation section, |. s. A.; on Novem- Der l6, 1917. I like it fine, only it ,.., |. o.,.f,,I bod .o h-aa1- ,,, que b0,,,o for we had a nice place and I had a good job and lots of good friends. But everything is for the best they say. so if war will make this old world better. am more than glad to to go and be of service and hope that most of our boys will some day return to home and loved ones and that there will be no more war. You are lucky that your boys are not old enough to go, for mothers do hate to see their sons go. My mother is all broke up over me and then my youngest brother is wanting to join the navy.
 When I enlisted was making from S25 to $40 a week. You see it has been nearly nine years since 1 saw you and I have served four years as an apprentice in railroad and auto mobile shops and have been a full fledged machinist about four years, so I don't have to worry much about a job. I put in my first three weeks .I, en,aI-0,, had quarters office. The next four weeks in enlisted mems classes, which takes mp aviation from the theory and prac- tice of years ago until the present time, including radio or wireless, which I am still taking. It takes about eight weeks to qualify, that means to send l2 words and receive 10 per minute on land or in the air.
 North Island is training school for aero squadrons, just across the bay from San Diego and we have many men here now, so you have an idea of my location at present.
 I am trouble shooter and inspector of telephone. lights and fire alarm system, but by the first of February I expect to have my application in to go to Berkeley where they send men to school for officers in the flying corps. If I get to go there I will spend eight weeks there. and if I get there (this is just "if'', remember) all right. l will be sent back here or to Dallas, Texas, maybe to Europe as a flying cadet, where three months arc put in flying. Then ii tests are completed, I will receive a commits sion as first lieutenant with a J. NJ. A. rating, which pays about S235 a month, so you see it is worth trying for, so if have good luck along that line you will have an aviator nephew with the rank of first lieutenant, junior military avi9tor. Just now it is only a possibility, which I hope will be a reality.
 We'll, I have written long letter about myself, but you asked me to tell all about my line, so I will not punish you any more this time.
 l am, sincerely, your nephew,
 FRANK P. JAYNE,