William Robert Bowers on the left with pipe. Other gentleman not identified. Location? Perhaps Arizona/stateside training. United States Army, Army Air Force. Be it known that SERGEANT WILLIAM R. BOWERS, 34289151, unassigned, has satisfactorily completed the course of instruction prescribed for AERIAL GUNNERS, at the LAS VEGAS ARMY GUNNERY SCHOOL. In testimony whereof and by virtue of vested authority I do confer upon him this DIPLOMA. Given at Las Vegas, Nevada this Seventh day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and forty-two. Curtis E Wood, Air Corps Echelon Commander. W.H. Endicott, Captain, Air Corps Secretary (7 September 1942) Army of the United States. To all who shall see these presents, greeting: Know ye, that reposing special trust and confidence in the fidelity and abilities of PRIVATE WILLIAM R. BOWERS, 34289151, I do hereby appoint him SERGEANT (TEMPORARY) ARMY AIR FORCES UNASSIGNED on the SEVENTH day of SEPTEMBER 1942. Given under my hand at LAS VEGAS ARMY GUNNERY SCHOOL, LAS VEGAS, NEVADA this SEVENTH day of SEPTEMBER in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and FORTY-TWO FOR THE COMMANDING OFFICER: Herbert W. Anderson, Colonel, Air Corps, Executive. Post card (Poem entitled Hell in Texas) sent from Alamagordo, New Mexico on October 6, 1942 from Bob Bowers to Mr. Wm. E. Bowers, 514 7th Ave., Route 54, Knoxville, Tennessee. Hello Dad, I was glad to hear from you. I hope you are well. I am feeling O.K. after my trip to old Mexico. I bought whiskey there for eighty cents a quart. It cost me fifteen cents tax to get it back across the border. Write and let me know if you received the money order. Love Bob. Sgt. W.R. Bowers A.S.N. 34289151 330th Bomb Group, 459th Bomb Sqd. Army Air Base. Alamagordo, New Mexico