Janssen's first full day at the Fort Ord base.

Is assigned for basic training to K Company, 20th Regiment and has the military ID of 56102952.

Checks into the base hospital. He writes home on July 7. It's clear the Army is not where he'd ideally like to be:

“Dear Mother,

Well honey I'm in the hospital. I’ve been here for two days. This is the first chance I've had to write to you. I had been coughing a lot and then I began to run a temperature. I feel fine know (sic), still cough a little tho. Please don't worry baby I'll be all right. Just a little cold with a cough. Write to me at the same address as before. It will be forwarded to me. I don't believe I'll be here long, but from what I hear from the other guys, it takes you a long tme to get out. Most of them in this ward are in perfect health, but the Army takes it's time about everything it does. I received the Varietys but went to the hosptal the next day so haven't read them as yet. I hope they send my stuff on to the hospital soon. I haven't been able to brush my teeth for two days, because no one has brought my toothbrush over. One thing about this place, I can get a little sleep for a change. I was getting about 3 hrs. sleep a night in basic training. I think that is what put me in the hospital. Only a few hours sleep a nite and then the climate is always wet being right near the beach. I hope they let me out of here soon, and send me back to the company--the sooner I get it over with the better it will be. I love you mom and dad and the kids to (sic). Tell Teri and Jill I'll write them that letter as soon as possible.

Now mother I'm not sick, just a cold. So don't worry about me. Please write and I'll talk to you soon.

Love Dave.”

Writes his mother and addresses an unpaid debt.

"Dear Mom,

Sorry it's been so long between letters, but I've been getting settled in my new barraks (sic) and still trying to track down my pay. It seems that unless something to the contrary happens I won't get paid until the end of Sept. Transfering right before pay day really messed up my records as far as my pay goes. I'm sorry to have let you down honey, but it's really out of my hands. Maybe I'll be able to borrow the money from the bank from one of the fellows in my battery.

I don't have as hard a time in A battery as I did in Co K to A battery but there’s a lot of brain work involved and a lot of study. I’m typing about 37 words a min and will probably get a little better before the 8 wk term in school is over. We have 3 hours of typing a day so a guy can get plenty of practice.

I would like to have you come up a wk end and see me. Make it any wk end you can. Just let me know a head of time and I won't make any plans. I am now able to get a pass every night and on wk ends. Carmel has a beautiful beach and it’s a nice place to see, a lot of little stores I know you would like to look into. I miss you mom and the whole family. Drop me a line and let me know about everybody. Give my love to Dand and Teri and Jill. I'll write again soon.

Love your son,

David"                       

Another weekend pass to Los Angeles. Arriving home the night before, his mother accompanies him on a visit to Universal where they lunch at the commissary. Later, he takes the Chevy out for the evening.

Sends a typed letter home and for the first time the return address is the Special Services Office:

“Dear Mother,

Have been meaning to write to you for a long time now, but have been pretty busy lately.

Bye (sic) next pay day I will be out of a trainee catagory & assigned to Special Services. Things have been comming (sic) along OK. I have been announcing the football games & boxing matches & everybody seems to be pleased. This of course pleases me, natch.

I decided to thank Ann Blyth by a letter of thanks & just forget about a gift. I got to thinking about it and decided a gift might not be the right thing. I also wrote to Frank McFadden, Publ. Dept. at U.I. & Tommy Chambers, Musc. Dept. of U.I. & thanked them also. If you ever run into any of the above, say hello and introduce yourself & tell them hello from me.

I haven't much news Mom, just a letter to say hello & tell you & family I am OK. Give my love to Dad & Teri & Jill & to you of course my living doll.

Your Loving Son,

David”

Another typed letter home:

“Dear Mother,

Sure glad to get your letter. I intended to answer long before this, but I have been working long hours & not getting much sleep. I have been M.C. on quite a few of the shows the section does, outside of the base, and also keeping up with the announcing of the sport events. It’s a lot of fun but I’m still in basic & I have to get up when the C ompany (sic) gets up, and that’s 4:30 in the morning. Well basic is about over for me, and I’ll be able to sleep until 7:00 in the mornings. One of the great things about Special Service is, your (sic) not required to meet the morning formations. I don't have to be in trhe office until 8:00, so if I get up at 7:00 and shower & shave & get a cup of coffee, I can approach the comming (sic) day with a small amount of happiness. Just a small amount tho. As good a deal as I have in Special Service I still can’t stand the Army. I would really like to tell everyone, including the General on down what I think about this messed up organization & what they can do with it. But i’t (sic) wouldn’t help to make life easier for a Pvt named Dave, so I keep going along my sleepwalking way.

Everytime I think about the 20 months left to go, I get real depressed. Well these are the conditions that exist, and maybe in Special Services the days will go by faster.

Not much left to say Mom, just give my love to Dad & Sisters and keep me posted as to the news around town.

I love you Honey!

your Son Dave ”       

Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, and Terry Moore perform in a big show at the base. Janssen undoubtedly was there.

Render was Debbie Reynolds’ accompanist for many years. A black soldier who worked for the Colonel at Ft. Ord, he met Reynolds when she came up to entertain at the base. Debbie’s brother Billy was at Ft. Ord at the same time.

David's next letter home shows some wit and style. In it he gets to wax poetic on his Army issue wardrobe and rib his mother about the new family car:

Leaves via bus as part of a 15-man Special Services troupe giving shows in San Luis Obispo and Camp Roberts.

Janssen, far right, will MC the program which is called "Operation Goodwill". Among those accompanying Pvt. Janssen are Pvt. Louis McConkey (accordion), Pvt. Russ Budd (dancer), Capt. Robert Bigelow (assistant SS officer), Pvt. Wm. Linton (baritone), Corporal “Chili” Chilingerian (entertainment coordinator), and, on the far left, Pvt. Bobs Watson (pantomime).

Watson was also an actor whose professional career was on hold. As a child appearing in dozens of films, he was often cast to cry. He was "Pee Wee" in the Spencer Tracy Film BOYS TOWN.

In the evening, Dave borrows the Cad to go see a girl named Ginny Jackson.

Writes home:

"Dear Mother,

Well honey nothing new has happened of interest since I have been back, but will write and tell you I miss you and family very much and let you know I am all right. I walked guard last night and today is going to be a sleepy one, that doesn’t mean I get to sleep, it just means I’m going to be sleepy.

The gas credit card I used that belonged to the Army has been returned and I will have to pay for the gas out of my own pocket which amounts to about 15.00.

Well Mother and Father and SIsters I will have to be running along I'll be seeing you all later. All my love to all.

Your son, Dave

P.S. Dentist appointment is scheduled for Friday next week. ”

Bobs Watson writes and plays the villian in "Wild Bill Hiccup" performed at the Central Service Club at 8:30pm. Janssen plays one of the barflies.

The other is played by a name that will be familiar - Martin Milner. Milner who will go on to TV success in "Route 66" and "Adam 12" in the 60's and 70's is also a fledgling Hollywood actor whose Ft. Ord time coincides with Janssen's. Janssen and Milner are friends on the base and will room together for a short time after their respective discharges. They will also appear together in FRANCIS IN THE NAVY and later in a "Route 66" episode ("One Tiger To A Hill").

In what seems to be a case of prophetic typecasting, Janssen's role requires him to play "drunk", perhaps the first of many times he will do so. In later years, some of his most poignant acting moments will be as alcoholic characters, but, as evidenced by this additional scene, it's all played for laughs in this piece of Army Base fluff.

Another familiar name is finishing his Ft. Ord assignment about this time and has not yet launched a career in front of or behind the camera. The swimming instructor (part of the Ft. Ord's Division of Faculty-not Special Services) was none other than Clint Eastwood. He may have has a passing acquaintance with Janssen and Milner but they really didn't travel in the same base circles--the Hollywood publicity machine would late exagerate Janssen's friendship with Clint in these military years and even Janssen's role in steering him towards his career direction. It is a coincidence that Eastwood would too land a Universal Talent School contract. His screen test, done on April 26, 1954 occured as Janssen was finishing his last 2 months of active duty. When Janssen resumed his acting career at the studio in June of that year, Eastwood would be a fellow classmate.

"Wild Bill Hiccup" also featured in the role of "Josephine Hiccup" was the director of the Central Service Club, a woman 8 years David's senior. Her name was Marie Josephine "Joey" Stilson. Characterized by a fellow soldier as "a dead ringer for Doris Day", Joey's significance in Janssen's life would soon reveal itself.

The FORT ORD PANORAMA, the base newspaper, publishes a profile on now Pfc. (Private First Class) Dave Janssen.

David sends a letter to mother Berniece in Alma Nebraska where she is visiting her parents (his grandparents) for most of July:

"Dear Mother,

Received your big letter today honey! Sorry as usual about not writting (sic), but a lot of work lately, football season starting & baseball still going on.

Marty & I recorded our first disk jockey show and are working on the next one. No pay as yet, but it looks good.

Real happy about Jill, I'll bet she was real cute, however how they ever overlooked my cuttie (sic) Teri I'll never know. Tell them I think they are both dolls & I love them very much.

Well honey it looks like I won't be going overseas, but there are still 5 wks to get by, so keep your fingers crossed. Tell Grandma & Grandpa hello & give them my love. A lot of news to tell you, but can't seem to think of it when I'm writting (sic). Let me know when you get home and I'll take a 3 day pass.

See ya soon.

All my love

Your son Dave"

Goes to Universal Studios for a visit.

Sends a letter home. As usual it has its fair share of mispellings:

"Dear Mother:

Received your letters and have just found time to reply. We have had a change in personnel. Col (Adolph F.) Solomon leaving for overseas. He was replaced by a new Col name of (Julius C.) Reeder, seems to be a nice guy, but never will come up to Solomons caliber. We were all very sorry to see Col Solmonom go, but he has been getting out of over seas orders now for about a year and I guess they finnaly cought up with him.

I'm sending the fan letters back to you. I get a laugh out of some of them. They all say I am there favorite star. I bet most of them did'nt know that I had quite a small part in all of the pictures. They probably got me confused with someone with a bigger part.. Well I’m glad they did if it helps me at the Studio.

Nothing new around here. Joey (Stilson) will not be able to comedown for Thanksgiving and the way it looks I wont be coming home. The Christmas rush is really begining to show around here. My job of purchasing agent for SSO makes me even less likely to get off. I’ve been working like mad to keep up with all the orders for Christmas. Over 5,000.00 has been spent already and thats only the begining. 

I want to get everybody something for Christmas, even if it is something small. So please send a list of things you and father wouild like to have and also the kids.

Say that is some picture of Jill. Tell her if she does that all the time she will get cross eyed.

Sorry to hear Grandma is not feeling well, I will get a letter off to her soon as possible.

Thanks for the suit idea. It will sure be nice to have. My grey one is about gone through and I don’t see how I could have gotten one for myself. I don’t think a blue one though. My blue one if I can get it fixed will be all right. Not what we thought it would be when we bought it, but good enough for awhile. I don’t think Browns are making as good a suit as they used to. I think I will do business elsewhere. The cut of there clothes seems to be old news. I have seen some good clothes around here, that have come from San Francisco. Pete (Wilson*) just bought 2 new suits very nice. He wanted Silk Changton, but bought a fabric similar, it cost more so I guess it must be better. I haven't seen it yet so can't say.

Well mother I might get home next wk end but not in time for Thanksgiving. I'll call if it looks like I might get off. See you all later!  

Love

Your Son David"  

This letter hints at the relationship that has developed between Janssen and his Central Service Club director Joey Stilson.

*Pete Wilson will become a lifelong friend to Janssen and to Martin Milner as well. He was from a wealthy Northern California family and excelled in baseball pitching for the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. He ultimately had a career in horseracing and was the person responsble for Janssen's brief flirtation with horse ownership (link).           

David calls home collect.

Berniece's treatment of David with respect to money is a source of conflict between her and David's stepfather Gene. He goes on record to say that when they are old enough the girls won't get the kind of financial support that Berniece affords her son.

David Janssen and Joey Stilson get engaged.

An evening announcement party and candle ceremony is held at Stilson’s Fort Ord home attended by 100 guests including Lt. Colonel and Mrs. Julius Reeder. In her job as director of the Central Service Club for 1-1/2 years, she's collaborated many entertainment functions with Janssen who has now made the rank of Corporal. The announcement reveals plans for a Spring 1954 wedding and that the newlyweds will live in Hollywood when Janssen is discharged in June. These plans never come to fruition.

The Stilson family recalls Janssen during the short-lived romance. Her family had a dairy farm in the nearby community of Galt. He came to visit for a few days with Joey on leave and the family was haying the farm. David insisted on helping and came out in the morning bare to the waist. After 20 minutes he was chafed and in pain and had ot run to the coolness of the reservoir for relief.

It's unclear when the engagement is called off.

One theory is that Joey accompanied David to Los Angeles on a leave and after meeting his family, saw him in the context of the show business crowd she'd be marrying into. His behavior around actors at a Hollywood party was different than the soldier she knew at Fort Ord. She decided the life was not for her.

November 1964's PHOTOPLAY magazine is one of the only press references to the engagement. In its account, Janssen's impulse to propose was a confused by-product of the loneliness he was experiencing as a soldier. He came to a clearer understanding of his true feelings as his discharge drew near. He's quoted as saying, "Two months after I got out of the Army, I broke the engagement (NOTE: it's more likely he broke it off before his discharge) ...If anyone was to blame it was I, because I wasn't ready for marriage and I suppose I should have realized it. The girl was lovely, but she wasn't the right one for me, so she's lucky we called things off before they got any further, I hope she knows that I did her a favor when I said 'goodbye'."

What is known is that Joey never married. She became a school teacher and worked in the latw 50's at the esteemed Punahou School in Honolulu Hawaii, later attended by Barack Obama . She returned to California in the 70's spending her last years in Costa Mesa. She died quite ironically in February 1980, within days of Janssen, at the age of 56.

a Talent Scout entertainment program is held at the Central Service Club at 8:30p.

Corporal Janssen MC's the show which takes its format from Arthur Godfrey's show---each performer is introduced by a 'discoverer'.

The engaged couple go to the dance recital of David's sisters--Teri (11) and Jill (8). Also along are David's parents, agent Jack Donaldson, Ann Toth, and John & Marvel Lawrence.

In the evening they have dinner at the Chinese restaurant at 6th and La Brea.

Came home to his parent's apartment during the night and had his car looked over during the day.

In the evening he may have attended a live performance of Beatrice Lilly with his agent Jack Donaldson.

David spends 23rd birthday in Ft. Ord.

Berniece and his 2 sisters are working on a movie filming at the McKinley Home where David had gone to boarding school as a child.

On leave to attend a Palm Sunday Santa Barbara, CA wedding of Universal acting peers Richard Long and Suzan Ball. They too were engaged in December of 1953, but their Spring wedding plans, unlike Janssen's, do materialize.

Ceremony is at 4pm at the El Montecito Church with the reception held afterwards in the Loggia Room of the nearby Biltmore Hotel. Ball whose leg was amputated 3 months earlier is wed with a new artificial limb. Though a limp was evident, Suzan does not rely on crutches. Rock Hudson, Jeff Chandler, Lori Nelson, Barbara Rush, Tony Curtis, Janet Leigh, Julie Adams, Mary Castle, Hugh O'Brian, Mala Powers, and more than a hundred other guests attend. Long's brother-in-law, actor Marshall Thompson, is the usher.

A cousin to Lucille, Ball was the actress Janssen spoke his only line to on his first U-I movie assignment UNTAMED FRONTIER in 1951. They next worked together on YANKEE BUCCANEER, the film that Richard Long first noticed her in before they met. He saw it while overseas in the Army. Later, on the film set of EAST OF SUMATRA, Suzan fell during a dance number and her leg developed tumors.

She will succumb to cancer in less than 16 months after this wedding day. But Janssen will get to do another film with her. They will both be assigned to CHIEF CRAZY HORSE in June right after Janssen is released from the Army.

A devistated Richard Long will marry again in 1957 to an understanding actress in the Universal fold. Second wife Mara Corday and Long become good friends of David in the 50's and they will share the same San Fernando Valley duplex in 1958.

On this Tuesday, David brings Leigh Snowden to his parents' home for dinner. This signals a change in David's engagement status may have occured during the last 2 months. She makes a favorable impression.

David and Leigh will spend a lot of time in LA over the course of the next several days - sometimes in the company of Leigh's friend Bobbie. On Sunday (May 2) he'll cook dinner for the two of them at his parent's apartment.

It's not clear how they meet. Snowden is a pretty blond who has been dabbling in modeling and singing. Her just completed gig was as Queen of the LA Pan-Pacific Outdoor Show which wrapped up this past weekend. Recently living in Northern San Francisco she's about to or has just relocated to Hollywood to step up the pursuit of her show business goals. Snowden will land a spot on the Universal-International talent school roster in 1955, when Janssen is back working there. Though their romance (if it is one) will die down shortly, they will act in several projects together over the next several years.