WW II Letter About Barracks 46 (Omega Chapter)
The below letter was posted on the Theta Chi of Penn State Facebook page
523 South Allen St.used as a Amry Barracks - Barracks 46 - circa 1940's
Dear Theta Chi,
I wish to share a part of your history with you. My dad was an A.S.T.P. (Army Specialized Training Program) student in your building from December, 1943-March, 1944 - when he was enlisted in the Army Air Corp for service during WWII. He wrote home the following:
"December 16, 1943, Wed. Aft. Cadet Leland Williams, Company D, Barracks 46, 3303 Service Unit, State College, Pa.
Dear Mother: I've just completed my third day of studies and it looks as if I'm going to have plenty to do. I'm taking B.E. 1, that is, term one of the Engineering Course, Basic Engineering. All of the ASTP members are taking the same course. We have just gotten settled in our new barracks, no 46. It is a fair sized brick building, a former fraternity house. It is now occupied by 35 Cadets. About half are ASTRP members and the rest are ROTC soldiers, soldiers who are taking the Reserve Officers Training Course. Most of them seem very nice. Many of the ASTRP students have attended college before entering this program. Please send my earmuffs as it is getting quite cold here."
My dad was of the few who had no previous college. He served during WWII with the 305th Heavy Bombardment Group, 422nd Squadron as a tail-gunner.
Theta Chi/Barracks 46 History
Release Document returning Barracks No. 46 from Penn State College back to Theta Chi of Penn State, 1944
Barracks No. 46 Invoice for missing property to Pennsylvania State College from Theta Chi of Penn State, 4/15/1944
Barracks No. 46 Invoice for repairs to Pennsylvania State College from Theta Chi of Penn State, 5/10/1944