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(From: Mail Call for All AAs in the Armed Forces)

September 1944

One of the strongest motives behind the starting of the Grapevine—in fact the main thing that pushed the editors from the talking to the acting stage—was the need so often expressed in letters from AAs in the service for more AA news. We felt that their deep desire for a feeling of contact with AA might be fulfilled at least in part by such a publication—by us and for us. And, as the first issue emerged from the presses, a letter came to one of the editors from a woman AA, a Second Lieutenant stationed in an out-of-the-way place. It was a cry for help:

… if things keep up the way they have been going I’m going to be in more trouble than I can handle. … I’ve been recommended for promotion, but …. My work is more than satisfying, but off duty I’m a total loss. There isn’t a single soul here that speaks the same language. … The Army is a funny place. One is expected to drink, but not to get noisy or pass out or do any of the things drunks do. … I’ve met a few AAs but we’ve only been in the same place for a short time. Several of them were in the same boat as I, skating on thin ice, but I don’t know the outcome. Frankly, I’m scared. Has this problem been discussed at meetings? If so, has anyone offered any constructive suggestions?

M.L.

A copy of the Grapevine went off by return mail. And now comes this:

Dear Editors: The second copy of the Grapevine just arrived. Does that mean I’m to get it every month? It’s proving no end of a help to me. Thanks so much for getting it started, anyhow ... I guess there isn’t much one can do about the sort of spot that I’m in. There isn’t anything wrong but loneliness and boredom, and there’s no way out of that, for now. ... Right after the first copy of the paper arrived I decided to try to take it a little easier (I’d forgotten all about ‘Easy Does It’). ... I was working so very hard that the hectic on-duty and the static off-duty hours didn’t mix. For some reason it doesn’t seem as bad to be bored now.

P.S. I got that promotion I wrote you about.

M.L.