1944 LETTERS
119th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Gun Battalion (Mobile)
574th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion (Self-Propelled)

Dear Folks:
.....This makes the first letter I've written in 1944. I didn't do much New Years, went to Paso Robles, saw a show, waited for the New Year then came back to camp. Last Tuesday we had a scouting and patroling problem at night. During the course of the problem I jumped out of a ditch and a branch on a little tree struck me in the eye. It made my eye swell up, and it cut the skin a little right below my eyelash. Between everything I looked like a mess. That's why I didn't go anywhere over New Year's. I had a 3 day pass, from Friday noon until Monday morning, but I gave it to one of the fellows that lives here in California and he went home for the holiday.
.....Received your letter of Dec. 21 with the two dollars, thanks a lot. We got paid Friday so now I'm flush with cash again. I said in my last letter that I would send money for the fountain pen I ordered, but instead of that, you send the fountain pen instead of any money you might happen to think of sending and that way we'll save having money going both ways.
.....I have plenty of clothes so you don't have to worry about that, about the only things that I have use for is plenty of socks and handkerchiefs.
.....I received Zeke's address and thanks a lot.
.....You should have taken that $50.00 of Will's, you probably have plenty of use for it, since he was so determined to give it to you. It was certainly swell of him to acknowledge the fact that it was your wheat that got the refund.
.....I'm sure glad to hear that you're able to drive the car so good now, you feel more free to go where and when you want to that way.
.....That damn Presbytery sure is crooked. Where are the welsh people going to get a thousand dollars? If the church belonged to the Presbytery the money must have belonged to them also. There must have been someway to beat them without them getting anything.
.....That Thomas fellow must be a wild driver, I'd sure hate to be on the road when he came flying by.
.....I'm looking over the program from the Opportunity Church. It looks like it was all Prosser. They must be a pretty talented family.
.....I went to Camp Roberts yesterday after gasoline and from what I saw of it it looked like a nice place. It sort of sits on the side of the hill and on down into the valley. It seems to be all spread out, lots of room and not nearly as crowded or as large as Camp Haan
.....I was going to take my ring into the jewelers here at Paso Robles last week but after receiving this letter saying that Dick was sending an identification bracelet I decided to wait to see it it would need altering or not. If it did I could take them both together. Those identificiation bracelets are sure nice and tell Dick thanks a lot. Tell Dick I'd write to him but I figure he gets to read the letters I send home and if he reads them I wouldn't have any news, so that way I kill two birds with one stone.
.....I certainly have had a nice Xmas. I got stacks of Xmas cards, a package from Peggy, a package from Martha and Isaac, a box of home made candy from Will & Mary and a box of stationary and then the sweet ring and eats from you.
.....Phil McNearney probably said Cap Ord, it's around here somewhere. I believe it's a field artillery and a mechanized tank camp.
.....From the letter written by you on the 27th it seems like you had a pretty good Xmas. I received Mrs. Fosdick's card alright. I haven't any special news, will write more soon.

Dear Folks;
.....I'm writing this letter by candle light and the candle is burning mighty short so I will have to make this letter short and snappy. I don't remember if I told you before or not but we've been living in these 6 man tents for the past 3 weeks. We have a little flattop wood heater in the middle of the tent on which we quite often make coffee. For light we use a little old kerosene lantern but lately we haven't been able to get any kerosene so we all chipped in and bought a few candles. We put one on each bedstead and it really makes a pretty nice light.
.....I had figured on going into town tonight but I went over to get a haircut after supper and after waiting so long by the time I got back the truck I'd figured on riding in had already left. So I guess I'll go to bed early tonight.
.....You mentioned something in one of your letters about the men folks building a cow shed alongside the implement shed, what's the dope on it?
.....About theat I.Q. deal, I'm just the highest in the ammunition section. There are only 8 men in the section but I believe they are about the 8 smartest men in the battery. I think I'm about 8th or 10th in the battery of 120 men. They're still trying to get me into one of these white collar jobs. For the past few days I've been working in the "message center" taking care of insured and registered mail. Then in between they use me as battery clerk. The corporal they have as battery clerk now is very inefficient and every few days I have to go and straighten out the files and do some extra typing. I imagine I'll end up in an office yet, I'll sure hate it though. So many guys are always giving you orders and so many of them got their stripes for some other job and they don't have the slightest idea about how to run an office. If they'd have put me in the office when I first got in the army instead of waiting until there are only a couple of corporals's rating open, it might have been worth trying to make good in the office, but now I know my job in ammunition, like the work and the fellows and I sure don't want to change if I can help it.
.....Yes Riley Smith is in Amm. and Al Vogrig is still in Comm. That box of hersheys wasn't exactly the result of a card game. I happened to be in the P.X. and they were selling candy by the box so I took advantage of the situation.
.....I sure hope you can read this scribble, it's sort of dark in here and I'm plenty tired. We played football this afternoon in the mud and I really got a workout.
.....I don't remember if I asked you before or not, but if you have any gasoline coupons you can't use up, T stamps, R stamps, A stamps or anything it doesn't matter if they're marked or not, why not send them along. Don't rob yourself but if you have any such stamps I'd sure appreciate getting them. A couple of fellows in our section have their cars here at camp and they live about 200 miles from here they like to go home as often as they can and then they give the rest of us boys rides into town and one thing or another.
.....I guess I've scribbled enough for one night, hope you can make it out.

Dear Folks;
.....Well, I don't feel much in the mood to write, but I have a few hours with nothing else to do so I'll try and get off a few lines.
.....This afternoon I saw my first real aerial dogfight. It was between 4 Aircobra pursuit planes and 3 P-38 Lightnings. Boy they really battled. I thought for a while they were going to crack up but they didn't.
.....This is the 2nd day of this 5 day problem and I'm on guard. This problem isn't so much for the ground forces but for the air force, but since we're attached to the 4th Air Force we have to maneuver with them.
.....The weather here sure is changeable, it rains for a while, then the sun shines just like a spring day, then it will get cold and foggy. One minute you're freezing, the next minute you're sweating.
.....Received your letters and postcard. Also received your swell package of cookies. They came in good shape and it didn't take long for us to make 'em disappear.
.....So Henry and Vianna finally go around to getting a dovorce. They waited quite a while after the folks died. In that letter of Francis's that you sent, it sounds like he's getting along okay, especially with the English gals.
.....Had a little excitement here in the last few minutes, a P-38 cracked up. Didn't kill anybody, just shook up the pilot a little, tore the landing gear and one motor loose. He was trying to take off but couldn't get up enough speed. I didn't see him crash, but saw it immediately afterward. It's a wonder there aren't more crashes around here, so many planes flying 24 hours a day.
.....I've been getting the Herald's right along. I saw in one of the recent editions where Edith Bennett and Dean Rumburg we're getting married.
.....Gee, I'll bet Croonquist's sort of hate to leave the old farm. That guy must have paid a pretty good price for it.
.....I got a letter from Mrs. Clark the other day, everything seems to be okay with them. She seemed to think that Millie's husband has gone overseas. Said she hadn't heard from him for quite a while.
.....No, Riley Smith didn't go to Riverside New Years. He went to Paso Robles or some place around here. He's one of the ammunition section. In regard to that fountain pen, I didn't mean for you to go to so much bother, just forget it. I thought if Kinman's still had them it wouldn't be so bad.
.... My eye is okay now again and I'm sure going to watch my step next time.
.....I received the bundle of papers and thanks a lot. Well, I don't know of any news so will close for this time, hoping everything is coming along in good shape.

Dear Folks;
.....Received that swell identification bracelet of Dick's yesterday. It sure is a swell one and it fits okay. Thanks a million for it. Also yesterday I received a swell pair of pigskin gloves from Martha.
.....Well, we're moving from here either Friday or Saturday to Camp Cooke, near Santa Maria. Maybe I should say that's the latest rumor, but then I think it's pretty authentic.
.....I don't know of any news to write this time, just wanted you to know I got the bracelet.

Dear Folks;
.....I'm writing this letter from Camp Cooke, California. We arrived here about 4:00 P.M. Friday afternoon. The camp is 23 miles South of Santa Maria. Part of the camp runs right down to the ocean. Our barracks are about 2 miles from the beach. It's a huge camp and there are barracks all over the place. Our barracks are directly across from the Chapel, so this morning I didn't have any excuse to keep me from going to church. I went to the 10:00 A.M. services. I'm going tonight to the 6:30 vesper services. Within 5 minutes walking distance of our barracks there are several P.X.s, a theater, service club and a gymnasium. We could sure feel the difference in climate between here and Paso Robles. It's just like summer here, not nearly as cold. Here in California, farmers are already picking their first tomatoes and sowing their crops. It sure looks funny because it seems like it should still be winter.
.....Our address is now as follows:
..........119th A.A.A. Fun Bn. (Mbl)
..........Postal Unit No. 2
..........Camp Cooke, California

.....Received both of your letters, one with Dick's short letter in it and also the one with the income tax blanks.
.....Glad to hear that your shower for Millie went over well. From the names it would seem you had a pretty big turnout.
.....Too bad about Kenny going overseas soon, but then his moving to California doesn't mean anything because they're sending nearly all the trained units to the Atlantic Coast.
.....Roy Betlach is doing alright. He won't have to worry for awhile.
.....I received a letter from Francis the other day. He didn't have any news, about the same thing that he said in your letter.
.....Tell Dick the bracelet is swell. It fits okay and looks great.
.....About the gas coupons, it's alright. I can see your point. There's no use you taking the chance because a few gallons of gas aren't worth it.
.....Thanks for the Fox's address. Some weekend when I feel flush with cash and in the mood I may look them up. One thing that doesn't interest me a great deal is looking up people I hardly know, unless I have to. I'm talking to one of the fellows here from Modesta. I happened to mention the Fox's name. He knew all about them and had gone to school with the girls. He said they were both married.
.....Well I've scribbled enough for this time.
....Will write more later, it's nearly church time and I have to get dressed.

Dear Folks;
.....It's still raining here, not as bad as it was, but still plenty wet.
.....We've been out on the machine gun range firing 50 Cal. machine guns over the ocean. We spent a lot of time between missions (an airplane flies over pulling a targer, we call that a mission) walking along the beach picking sea shells and so forth. The sea was certainly mighty rough today, great big waves.
.....Just got back from the show. It was a comedy called "Rationing", pretty funny.
.....Our chow hasn't been so good lately. Noon we have boiled beans, evening we have baked beans, breakfast we have string beans, noon we have stew, evening we have soup. Doggone near starved to death, only for the P.X. we would be.
.....There isn't much going on here, everything is about back to normal, most everyone back from furlough.
.....I haven't any news so will close for this time

Dear Folks;
.....Received your letter dated Wed. March 1st and also the swell package of food yesterday. The cake and cookies were sure good. We ate all the cookies last night, but I saved some cake for myself today.
.....It sure is a nice day here, sunny and clear. There isn't much going on here today, everything is pretty quiet.
.....Hope dada feels alright again, sure too bad about that flu going around there all the time. The first of March doings went over pretty good even if the chairman wasn't too good. Yolen must have seen some pretty tough times over there in Burma.
.....Yes, J.J. wrote me a letter about a week ago. Also I got a letter from Francis. He didn't have much news. I can't write today so will close for now.

Dear Folks;
.....Just a line to let you know where I'm at and what I'm doing. I'm at the Camp Shanks Hospial laying flat on my back. Nothing serious wrong with me, juyst a slight case of Scarlet Fever.
.....I don't know whether my outfit has been shipped or not. I guess I'll be transfered to another outfit as soon as I get out of here.
.....I'll be here for about 21 days they tell me. We're quarantined. We can't even send letters, we write them and a Red Cross Lady recopies and mails them for us.
.....I received both the money order and the 5 dollars, and also all the letters you have written. The package has also arrived but I haven't gotten it yet.
.....Glad you like the watch and that it works okay.
.....I won't write too long a letter this time, so will close.

Dear Folks;
.....I'm getting along swell, getting plenty of rest and sleep. I guess I have about another 10 days on my back then I'll be allowed to get up for a little while. There are about 10 other fellows in the same ward I'm in, 3 other fellows from the 119th so that helps.
.....I still have the money order, haven't had a chance to cash it, also have the $5.00. It's going to come in handy as I didn't get paid for March, I probably won't be until the end of this month. It doesn't take much money here though. One of the attendants here goes down to the P.X. for us and buys us candy, magazines, papers and so forth.
.....They have a swell Red Cross chapter here at the hospital. That gave us a radio for the room and they bring up cards, books and lots of other little things that help pass the time away.
.....Hope everything is alright at home and that you are feeling well.
.....Well so long for now. Will write later.

Dear Folks;
.....Well I'm still in the hospital, have about one more week to go then I'll be back in the Army again. It's turning out to be quite a pleasant experience and a real rest. The only sad part is the idea of being transferred to a new outfit.
.....I've read several good books while here, magazines and so forth. Also play a little solitaire to amuse myself during the day.
.....Hope everything is okay at home. Will write more when I get out.

Dear Folks;
.....Things are still perking right along here. I'm still in bed but hope to be up Friday, that's if everything is okay.
.....I got two letters yesterday, first ones I have received since I've been here. One was from Mrs. Betlach - didn't have much news except that Roy is out on bivouac again. I won't be able to answer her letter for awhile s you can tell her I got it okay.
.....There isn't much news here, nothing exciting happening.
.....Tell everyone hello for me.

Dear Folks;
.....Well, today I am again free! It sure feels good to be out of the hospital, but then the hospital was nice too.
.....I entered the hospital on the 28th of March and got out on the 19th of April, spending 18 of the 22 days on my back, quite a stretch to be down. I felt fine except for the first few days. It was quite an experience.
.....I'm in the (N.Y.P.E. - R.P.) New York Point of Embarkation - Replacement Pool; Group C. I don't know how long I'll be here, but I hope I'm here long enough to get into New York. As soon as an outfit comes in and needs a replacement of my qualifications I'll probably be shipped out.
.....I received your letter yesterday containing the dollar bill, thanks a lot. Sure glad to hear of Francis' promotion. That means a lot. Sure smart of you, driving clear into Maria's place, just keep on driving and you'll be okay.
.....Received a letter from Will and Mary a few days ago. They are pretty well along on their spring work according to Mary.
.....Two of the fellows that were in the 119th are in the same group as me so that helps out.
.....Tell J.J. that I received his letter and card and will write as soon as I have time.
.....Well I'll close for now and write again soon, if there is anything you want to know, ask! If I can answer it I will.

Dear Folks;
.....Well I finished getting processed today (getting my paybook up to date, getting new clothes that I needed and so forth). Also I got my second typhus shot and went throught the gas chamber again. So now I'm ready to be transferred to another unit for overseas. One of the fellows from the hospital that was in the 119th shipped out today, he was a machine gunner. I don't know how soon I'll get shipped out.
.....Well tonight is my big night, my first taste of K.P. at night. At this camp the mess halls go night and day due to units moving in and out all the time. I go to work at 6:00 p.m. and get off at 6:00 a.m. in the morning, then get to sleep all day.
.....I bought a pair of civilian shoes from this kid that shipped out today, he owed me $1.50 so I gave him $2.00 more and got the shoes. They're nearly new, air corp style. I threw my shoes away before I left California. They weren't worth sending home and I didn't have room to bring them with me
.....Last night these three fellows from the 119th and myself went bowling, had a great time. This weekend I'm hoping to see New York, that is if I don't get shipped out.
.....Don't send any packages or papers because my address is so uncertain that chances are I won't get them for a long while.
.....Out of news so will close for now.

Dear Folks;
.....I'm not in very good humor this weekend. All the time I was in tht hospital and even the few days I've been in the pool, I've been thinkgin about the fun I was gonig to have in New York this weekend. But on Saturday morning inspection I was gigged on account of my mess kit cup being just a trifle dusty. Boy I was so doggone mad I could have choked the damn inspector.
.....Last night another kid and I ( a coporal from the 119th wh had scarlet fever the same time as I) went bowling. He also had been gigged for having a dirty mess fork.
.....I didn't get up until about 11:30 this morning, we had chicken for dinner and now I'm down at the Service Club writing this letter.
.....I haven't any special news. It's raining here today. I haven't run into anyone I know at this camp yet.
.....I had to make out an overseas allotment starting with my May pay. It's for $20.00 a month and made out to Mrs. Elizabeth A. Phillips.
.....I don't know of anything else to say so bye bye for now. Does your wrist watch keep pretty good time?

Dear Folks;
.....I have a few minutes so I thought I'd start a letter and then finish it later today. I just got back to the barracks from the gym. I've been working out a little trying to get back some of my strength after laying down so long. At 10:00 a.m. I have to go get my third Typhus shot, it's about time to go now, but the corporal here hasn't blown the whistle as yet. Yesterday had K.P. all day long, it's not so tough as night K.P.
.....It's been raining like the dickens here the past day or two. No water standing anywhere though, this place is so hilly all the buildings are built on stilts. One end is flush with the ground , the other is nearly 10 ft. off the ground.
.....I've done good this month financially. I have $30.00 left, only 6 days from pay day.
.....I took my Typhus shot and feel okay.
.....I worked out in the gym for a couple of hours again and feel pretty good. One of the fellows from the 119th Hqtrs btry just arrived in the pool today. He had been in the hospital with some sort of eye trouble. I was sure glad to see him as I didn't know any of the fellows we're around. He had a letter from one of the fellows and the outfit is in England alright. I sure missed the chance of my life, I always wanted to go there.
.....I received a eltter from you today, written Sunday the 16th. Also got a letter from Mrs. Fosdick. She wrote a very nice letter and told me if I ever wanted anything to let her know - that is in the line of oveseas mail. She said that she thought you were allowed only so much poundage in overseas mail.
.....I'm going on pass tonight, I don't know where as yet, but there are three of us going together so we should have fun.
.....Will close for now.

Dear Folks;
.....Well, I have a different address again. Yesterday I was transferred from the Replacement Pool to:
..........Battery B, 465th AAA Auto Wpns. Bn.
..........A.P.O #9976 % Postmaster
..........New York, New York
.....It seems to be a good outfit. Three are a bunch of swell fellows in our battery. I hope this time that I don't get sick, I'd sure hate to miss the boat again.
..........I haven't any news of any kind so will close for this time.

Dear Folks:
.....Received your letter written Monday morning and also the one with the two dollars and the clipping. They were forwarded from the Replacement Pool.
.....Francis is coming right along. I hope he can get his quota of missions completed before something happens.
.....I've been out on pass a couple of times since I've been here. My last pass another fellow and I went to New Yarok. Gosh, it sure is big. Rode the subways, went bowling up at one big bowling alley and met Babe Ruth. We tried to get him to bowl with us but he wasn't in the mood for bowling.
.....Sure glad to hear Seeman is pulling out, sounds too good to be true.
.....No other news so bye-bye for now.

Dear Mrs Phillips,
.....I am Miss Kennedy - nurse to your son, Henry. He is sick in the hospital with measles.
.....His condition is vey good and he will write to you as soon as possible.
.....Love to you on Mother's Day from Henry.

Dear Folks;
.....Just a line to let you know how I am, where I'm at and so forth.
.....I'm back at Camp Shanks Station Hospital. I entered the hospital on the erd of may, on a Wed. afternoon about 4:00 p.m. They didn't seem to know what was wrong with me until I broke out with the measles Friday morning. I was just getting over the measles last Tuesday when I started havings pains in my stomach. Tuesday night at 11:30 they operated on me for acute appendicitis. I don't know what next will happen. I hope you can read this scribble. I'm not allowed up yet and it's hard to write on your back.
.....I'll probably be getting up in a few days now.
.....Hope you are having better luck at home than I'm having.
.....Don't worry about me, I'll be alright real soon now. I have plenty of money, so there is nothing I need.

Dear Folks;
.....Well, I'm still here and still in bed. I wrote a letter yesterday, but I don't know if you'll get it or not as I forgot to put the word free on the envelope. I won't go into details today, hoping you got yesterday's letter.
.....The 119th is set up in England somewhere. I received a letter from my old "Battery Commander" Captain Walker. He said that if I get to England and desire a transfer back to Hq. Btry 119th he will do everything in his power to help me, so here's hoping I get over there and ca get back in the outfit.
.....I haven't any other news, everything is going along according to schedule here. Hope everything is okay at home.

Dear Folks;
.....Just a line to let you know I'm getting along okay. There isn't much news to write about here, everything is going about the same.
.....The weather here is nice and warm and sunny. It got pretty cold the other night, one of the doctors said it froze a little.
.....I get swell care, nice nurses, good looking and sociable. The doctors are swell too. Have good food to eat, ice cream about 3 times a week. The fellows bring us candy from the P.X. The Red Cross gives us books and magazines to read.
.....I received a letter from Will and Mary the other day, I haven't answered it yet, but intend to soon.
.....Tell everybody hellow for me, haven't any news so will close for now.

Dear Folks;
.....Today was a big day. I received 5 letters from you. One was written March 31st and had really done a lot of traveling. The others were all written in May, the last being postmared May 12. I also received the one with the dollar in it, thats a lot. Too bad about Dick not feeling so well. Glad to heard that Paul got a furlough. From the way you described him he sure wears a funny outfit.
.....Glad to hear Marie's got a job, that kind of work shouldn't be too hard.
.....Doggone it all, why does old Seaman's deals for rancher _____ always fall through.
.....Hope you can read this scribble, it's hard to write laying down, this will be all for now.

Dear Folks:
.....Nothing special to write about today. It has been quite warm here this afternoon. They haven't let me up yet, but I hope it will be soon. I'm feeling fine, spend a lot of my time sleeping, some of it reading, and the rest just laying sorta day dreaming.
.....Hope Dick is on the road to recovery and that the ulcers don't come back again. Glad to hear that you and dada are keeping well.
.....So the Bollman's are going into the restaurant business. Doggone they sure try everything, don't they? Hope they make a success of it. How is Mrs. Cox getting along and what's Delbert doing? Mrs. Iller is going to raise you some chicks, that's pretty nice of her, probably expects a chicken dinner out of it.
.....By the way, did you ever receive my sleeping bag? The 465th wouldn't let me keep it an I didn't want to throw it away. I send it home (Railway Express).
.....No news so will close for this time..

Dear Folks:
.....Nothing special happened today. I'm feeling fine, everything is on the up and up.
.....This afternoon the Red Cross Lady brought me a radio. Boy it sure is nice and a change from reading and laying around doing nothing. You see I'm in a private room, they put all operations in a private room for a few days, but I was quarantined because of the measles, so they've just left me in a private room.
.....Maybe I shouldn't have said nothing special happened today because something sure did happen. I was all out of reading material so the nurse brought me the New Testament and I spent the afternoon studying "Revelations". It was really interesting after I got started. I tried to make heads and tail out of it like a preacher does, try to connect the verses and so forth. My gosh I might be a preacher yet!
.....No other special news, last night we had a thunderstorm and lightning.
.....Hope everything is okay at home and that you're all feeling well..

Dear Folks:
.....Yesterday and today have been 2 big days for me.
.....Yesterday they moved me from my private room to a ward on the 4th floor. There are about 20 fellows in this ward, some having had hernia operations, some had appendicitis operations, some having had broken legs, arms and so forth. There are 4 negro patients, 3 Italian patients and about 13 or 14 other fellows..
.....Today they let met up for about an hour. Although it was in a wheel chair, it was something to be able to move about. I rode the chair all over the place. Also I get to use the bathroom now, after using the damn bed pan for 22 days in bed. I believe that is the longest I have ever stayed in bed at one stretch.
.....These Italians they have here are prisoners captured by American troops. There are several hundred in this camp and they have all sworn allegiance to the United States. They have been formed into a work battalion and do all the odd jobs around camp. They have quite a few of them working in the hospital. In this ward there are three (not the Italian patients) who take care of the ward, they do the work of ward boys. They bring us bed pans, bring us our meals, wind our beds up and down for us, bring us water, rub our backs, and make our beds. They are sort of Nurse's Aids. They are very conscientous and anxious to please. It's hard sometimes to make them understand what you want, but they really try and are catching on to the American ways and language fast. They wear regular U.S. soldiers uniforms except they have a "Italy" patch sewed on their shirts. They are quite generous too, this afternoon one of the Italian patients that is up and around, brought candy from the hospital P.X. and treated the whole ward. They are paid $28.00 a month by our government so they don't do too bad. Also they have the freedom of the camp, all it's shows, service clubs and so forth, but they aren't allowed out of camp. At first it was hard to get used to them, but they are very friendly and courteous and seem quite happy so that now one doesn't pay any attention to them.
.....Well, I guess I've scribbled enough for one time. I'm sitting up in bed and that makes it somewhat easier writing. I have just finished reading the book "The Patriot" by Pearl S. Buck. It's about the Chinese revolution and the beginning of war with the Japs.
.....I'd better close this long winded letter so you can go back to work, as I supposed right not you are all pretty busy.

Dear Folks:
.....Just a line tonight, haven't got much to write about.
.....I was up again today for about 3 hours in a wheel chair.
.....This afternoon the Red Cross Lady brought us a quiz program. The team I was on won and for prizes we got candy bars. Boy she asked all kinds of questions.
.....Last night they gave me a G.I. cocktail (mineral oil and ex-lax laxative), it's kept me busy all day today.
.....Hope Dick is feeling okay again, and that you and Dada are both alright.
.....Has Old Seeman moved yet? It's sure too bad if his Colville deal has fallen through for good.
.....Tell everyone hello for me and I'll write them all when I get more ambition.
.....Nothing else to chatter about so will this this scribble to a close.

Dear Folks:
.....Not much news today. I was up all afternoon, walking a little and sitting playing poker with some of the boys, came out a little ahead, had a very enjoyable afternoon.
.....Tonight it's lightning and thundering and raining - don't know how long it's going to keep it up.
.....Haven't heard from you for over a week now, guess my mail is going to the 465th yet. You probably haven't started the new address.
.....I never thought I'd get so weak, tried walking a little bit, my knees really shook.
.....Nothing else to say so will close for now..

Dear Folks:
.....Just a line to let you know I'm alright. It's nice weather here, warm and sunny.
.....Haven't any letters fromyou for quite a while, guess my mail is being held up at the Replacement Pool. .
.....Haven't any special news so will close for now. Hope everything is okay at home.

Dear Folks:
.....Well, how's everything at home? Hope you are all well and happy. I can't understand what's wrong with the mail as I'm pretty sure you're writing. I received three letters the other evening, all from you, but they were all old. One written March 27, had been to England and back. The other 2 were written in May, the latest being the 4th. So I really don't know what the score is at home of late.
.....As for me, I'm getting along slow but surely. Funny how a little operation can make you so weak and worthless. Doctor told me due to I've had a sorta epidemic of things he's going to keep me in the hospital a little longer than the usual 30 days for an appendicitis operation. He doesn't want me to return to active duty too soon, he sorta figures I need a little rest.
.....I hope you can read these letters, my writing just seems to get worse and worse. I've been writing nearly every day for the past 10 or 15 days, I hope my mail is going through okay.
.....I have a radio by my bed and listen to programs at night and also read quite a bit. Still weak when I walk, but suppose I'll get stronger soon. Not much news so will call this good for now.

Dear Folks;
.....What's new around home? Has old Seeman left yet? Still haven't heard from home yet. I don't know what the dickens is holding up my mail.
.....As for me I feel okay, but will be here for some time yet according to the doctor. It's a lot better here this time than when I was here with scarlet fever. I'm not quarantined and can wander around the hospital, although I'm not allowed to go to the P.X. or the Red Cross yet but will be later.
.....This afternoon the Red Cross brought up a movie into the ward, everybody enjoyed it. Now I'm lying in bed listening to the baseball game between the Brooklyn Dodgers and Chicago Cubs..
.....News is scarce so will close for now.

Dear Folks:
.....The news on the radio today has been very good. I tuned in on the radio this morning begore breakfast, after I'd washed up, and was certainly surprised to hear of the invasion.
.....Yesterday I received 3 letters from you, the latest written the 23rd of May. You mentioned you took Mrs. Bollman and Peggy to Dishman. Also, that Will & Mary were out for a cup of tea. Too bad Dick is feeling bad, I certainly hope he feels better now.
.....I'm still fooling around here not doing anything, reading, listening to the radio and so forth.
.....I'm sure going to be spoiled when I leave here, getting my back rubbed at bedtime, and again in the moring. No responsibility, just loaf around.
.....Haven't anything special to say so will close for now.

Dear Folks:
.....Today was a big day, I received three letters from you, one from Will & Mary and one from J.J. Williams.
.....One letter you wrote May 24th at the post office in Spokane. I haven't received the package you mentioned mailing as yet but will soon probably. Too bad Dick isn't feeling any better, I sure hope he does soon. About the allotment, I haven't any choce in the matter. Overseas soldiers either have to buy a bond a month, or make some sort of an allotment, they don't want the boys spending too much money overseas. The commanding officer of my last outfit said he didn't want his men to have over $25 a month to spend overseas, as they wouldn't need it.
.....I received your letter written May 25th with the dollar, also the one written May 27th with Dick's dollar. J.J. also sent me a dollar, so I really had a big day today. My watch keeps pretty good time, lately it's been slowing a few minutes every day. No, I haven't heard anymore about the bracelet, probably never will.
.....I haven't had the Valley Herald for a long time, and I got the bundles of paper alright, just forgot to mention it.
.....I forgot all about your birthday, but I'll send you my best wishes late and hope you have many,man ymore birthdays. Also I want to wish Dada the best of everything on Father's Day, I don't think I'll be able to get him anything as they won't let me go to the P.X. yet.
.....Annie Jones better take $8,500, that's a lot of money. Too bad about Iller, it must be quite a worry to him not knowing what's wrong.
.....You're really getting tough with your neighbor now, sending him letters and all.
.....I may get home this summer to help eat those chickens Mrs. Iller is hatching for you. The doctor said someting about it the other day. Don't count on it though, I'm at a Point of Embarkation, and if they need a man bad enough they'll ship me out the day I'm discharged from the hospital.
.....I've scribbled enough for now so will kind of bring this to close. I'll probably write J.J. tomorrow. I wrote Will & Mary today.

Dear Folks:
.....Just received your letter written at the Post Office June 7. The letter come through in two days. Writing "station hospital" on the envelope solved the mail problems.
.....When I read tose two line, "Buried Stanley Betlach Monday June 5. He drowned in Wandermere Lake on their class "sneak" day May 31." Golly, I couldn't think for a while, I still can't believe it. Gee Betlach's certainly must be upset. My gosh that's an awful shock and a terrible tragedy. It sure makes me feel awful blue and sad. Roy off in the Army and Stanley, Betlachs' only standby. Give Betlachs my deepest sympathy..
.....Also got those two letters written, one May 15th with a picture of Eunice and Archie, and the one written May 18th. I don't know why they should have returned them to you.
.....I got a card from the "Union Stage Terminal" in regard to my bracelet. They said, "They were sorry but the bracelet had not been returned to their lost and found dept."
.....So Richard Bay is already in England, he certainly didn't waste anytime. Gosh, I forgot to ask if Roy was able to get a furlough. I certainly hope he did.
.....No more news at this end of the line, feeling fine, up and aournd, today they let me go down to the Red Cross and P.X. for the first time.

Dear Folks:
.....Received your letter written May 29th with the commencement announcement. You talk about getting Stanley Betlach a graduation present and about his folks getting him deffered for farming. Poor old Stan, he doesn't have to worry about that anymore. Doggone you know I still can't believe that was Stan, it just doesn't seem to register.
.....I don't think you have to worry about air-mailing your letters to me, I won't be going anywhere for a long time yet. Doctor says he's going to keep me in the hospital for another week or two, trying to build up my strength and resistance. They feed me lots of milk, eggnogs, fruit juices, steaks and so forth. I'm on a high vitamin diet.
.....Right now I'm laying on my bed listening to the "Hill Country Jamboree," cowboy songs and Roy Aicuff of the "Grand Old Opera."
.....I got a letter from Mrs. Jane Hughes, no news other than whe wished me health real quick. Everybody in Almira is okay.
.....Was Dada's jumper insured? Ha Ha. No News -

Dear Folks:
.....Received two letters from you yesterday, one written May 29 and the other written Tuesday night, May 30, and finished Wed. May 31. Today I received a notice that there is a unsured package for me at the Hopsital Post Office. The nurse is going to get it for me this evening. Enlisted personnel aren't allowed to go to the Hospital Post Office. Tonight I'm going down to Red Cross, they're having a special show of some sort.
.....Yesterday I went to Church in the morning held in the Red Cross Hall. Sat around the rest of the day reading funnings and so forth.
.....I'd send some money home for insurance and so forth, but I'm thinking I may get a furlough. It will take about $100 for a round trip ticket I imagine. I have $70.00 on deposit here at the hospital and about $15.00 cash on me. I haven't been paid for May yet, and I only got partial payment in April, so if they pay me up to date I'll have better than a $100.00 dollars.
.....Yes, I received the $5.00 you and Dick sent. In your letter written May 29th you tell about going to West Valley with Bethlachs. Doggone it must have really shocked you to hear about Stan.
.....Well I'll close this scribble for now.

Dear Folks:
.....I'm down at the Red Cross waiting for the movie "Cobra Woman" to start, so I dropped into the library here and got the idea that maybe I should write and tell you I received both packages and the registered leter. The candy came through in good shape but the cookies were pretty well smashed up. Boy they had really seen some rough treatment. The Red Cross girl just came in and said the show was about to start so will close for now.

Dear Folks:
.....Received your registered letter written Sat. A.M. June 3rd. Also got your letter that you had written to the Postal Officer. He had enclosed a note saying try addressing it "Detachment of Patients Camp Shanks, New York," but I hadn't no more than gotten that letter that I got a statement saying I have been transferred to the "Transportation Corps" here. My address is now "T.C. Station Compliment", Camp Shanks, New York. That Station Compliment means I'll probably be stationed here the rest of the war, and that would be awful because I've taken a hell of a dislike to this Camp. I've been here nearly 3 months and spent 2 months of it in the hospital.. Boy, I think I'll try and get a discharge from the Army, although I'd settle for a couple months furlough.
.....I got a letter from Will and Mary yesterday written April 4th.
.....Sure glad Roy was able to get home. 19 days doesn't give him too much time at home at that, although coming by plane doesn't take much time. Stanley was certainly tall wasn't he? I read that piece in the Valley Herald about Seeman's big farm.
.....You can save that $20.00 up against the time I get a furlough, I sure hope I get one. They're going to send me to Atlantic City for a couple of weeks and then I may get a furlough.
.....The reason I don't Air Mail these letters is that I figure they go through pretty fast, no delay on the Western trip. "Enough said" for now.

Dear Folks:
.....Received your letter this morning written May 12, and this afternoon received your letter written June 13. Mistake, that first letter was written April 3rd, postmarked Camp Edwards May 12th. It's the one you tell about the Plymouth smoking on the way to the Croonquist place.
.....Roy must have a lot of money, $161.00 is quite a pile. That's pretty good that guy drinking 9 to 12 raw eggs in his beer each day. Paul must be a good army man, he seems to be making the ratings.
.....I'm writing with my new pen that I won playing bingo last night. The Red Cross women came up and gave a bingo party, refreshments, prizes and all. Boy the Red Cross chapter in this hospital is really swell. It was the grand prize of the evening and I was quite surprised to win. It's not an expensive pen, probably cost a $1.50 or so, but it writes.
.....Also today I got a letter from Will & Mary written June 9. No news other than Bill was still plowing and the weather was cold. Robert Dell looks pretty snappy in his band pictures.
.....I'm on the road to recovery the doctor says. I'm putting on a little weight now, have to make my own bed and stuffnow so I muyst be getting well. Haven't any news so will close for tonight.

Dear Folks:
.....Received two letters from you today, one writtten May 19 and the other written June 1st. In your June 1st letter you tell about Stan Betlach drowning. You seemd to have a hunch about Stan when you read, "W.V. Senior Drowns."
.....I'm down at the Red Cross tonight waiting for a moving picture to start. It stats at 6:45 and it's about 6:00 now. Haven't any news of special interest, still improving. There is nothing I need. I don't have much expense:, papers, magazines, candy and so forth once in a while, plus toilet equipment.
.....Hope everything is okay at home and that you're all able to keep going.

Dear Folks:
.....Today is Sunday, "Father's Day." Everything is under control at this end of the line. Went to church this morning, then went outside and sat in the sun for a while. Yesterday was my first day out, went out and sat in the sun for about an hour. It sure felt good. Right now I'm out on the sun porch. It's a big room with big windows - really swanky. It's only about half an hour until dinner. Some of the boys are reading, some listening to the radio ("Wings over Jordan"), others sleepig and some writing. Tonight at Red Cross they're having some sort of a 5 o'clock tea party. Last night the Red Cross gave a quiz. I happened to be on the winning team. Prizes were either a candy bar, cigar, or a corncob pipe and a little package of tobacco. I took the pipe & tobacco.
.....I've been eating too much candy lately so now when I get restless I'll suck on the conrncob pipe instead of eating a candy bar.
.....I didn't get any mail yesterday. I should have said no letters, I got three April issues of the Valley Herald. In one of them I saw my name in the "Service Man Column" as being sick, also I noticed that in nearly every paper in the "Chester News" that the Phillips family or R.H. Thomas had made print.
.....Haven't any important news. I'm able to get around a little better every day and also starting to put on a little weight although I'm still way under way I was when I entered this hospital. We had a scale in the P.X. up here at camp, and when I first got here after resting and sleeping 5 days on the train and with my O.C. uniform and G.I. shoes, I weighted just a little over 180 lbs. Hope you are all well and happy at home and that the weather is good.

Dear Folks:
.....Received your letter written Thursday evening, June 15. It rained, thundered and lighteninged like the devil here this morning, but this evening the sun is shining. Yesterday, Sunday, it was very sultry & warm. Boy this state has a terrible climate. One dy it's cold and windy, next day it's hot and then it rains.
.....Gosh yes, you should try and get some hired help. Tell Dada not to kill himself out there trying to do it alone. Help is high but shucks, that's lots better than overdoing it. I suppose you'll be pretty near all done harvest by the time I get home even if I do get a furlough, still got my fingers crossed.
.....Yes it really must be tough on the Betlachs, both not well and all, Roy & Stan both big healthy fellows and some little 4F can go swimming and flying and never drown or get hurt. It may be if Roy tries and his parents try he could get a discharge, that would be quite a comfort to them to have him home.
.....Lyle Womack must be home on furlough, I wonder what his address is here in New York. Edward getting married too, I guess I'll have to get on the ball and try to hook some poor girl.
.....Tell Dick there is a fellow here in the hospital that has stomach ulcers, when he first came in he had very much the same reactions that Dick has, but they put him on a diet, fed him some pills and gave him some kind of shots and shucks, in no time, a week or so, he was feeling good. Still on a diet but no pills or shots. He'll probably be discharged from the hospital in a day or so, after spending about 2 weeks.
.....No news here at this end. Feeling good, plenty of rest, plenty of food, no work. I'm so lazy now I even hate to make my own bed and clean up my bedside table.
.....Well, hope by the time this letter reaches you that you have help and that harvest is progressing in good shape.

Dear Folks:
.....Just a line to let you know I'm alright. Haven't heard from you for a couple of days, probably you have my new address by now and that's what's slowing my mail up.
.....No news here, down at Red Cross waiting for 6:45 to come, twice a week they have a movie, Tuesdays & Fridays. The one tonight is "Meet the People" starring Lucille Ball.
.....Feeling good, but not gaining weight very fast.
.....Hope everything is tip-top at home and that Dick feels better.

Dear Folks:
.....Have a lot of news for you this time. Yesterday, Monday, I was discharged from Station Hospital, Camp Shanks, and sent to England General Hospital, at Atlantic City. Boy, from what I've seen of this so far it's really a wonderful setup. England General Hospital consists of several of the finest hotels on the "Board Walk" on the beach. Last night I was assigned a temporary room on the 6th floor; big soft bed, private bath, reading lamps and a great big soft rug on the floor. This morning I was reassigned to room 535 on the 5th floor. It is a double room, or I should say ordinarily it has 2 single beds in it but the army has added one bed so that makes 3 of us living in one room. It has a private bath, a big easy chair, and all the above mentioned luxuries plusbig dressers and a writing desk. The food in the mess hall is something to brag about, all you can eat of the best food I've ever had in the army. From the window of my room I can watch the people on the beach and people sun bathing on roofs right across the street. They have a couple of gyms here, a swell lounge with overstuffed furniture and so forth..
.....I can't say yet whether I'm gong to like it here so mack or not, I haven't had any classes or exercise so far but I understand they keep one plenty busy.
.....Coming down on the train yesterday was the hardest. I came alone, my baggage came in the baggage car and attendants here brought it here without any help from me but on the train it was so crowded leaving New York that I had to stand for about 1 hr. before finding a seat. Crossed the Hudson River in a ferry, there were several cars and passengers on it and was quite a large boat.
.....Left Camp Shanks at 11:30 A.M. and arrived here 6:04 P.M. They issue us class A passes here, that means anytime we're not on duty we can go to town to the beach or anywhere.
.....It's about time for the afternoon formation 1:30 so I'll quit now and finish it tonight, probably know more what's going on by then.
.....It's about 6:30 P.M. and I don't know any more now than I did before. I stood the noon formation (roll call) but they didn't call my name so I took off, worked out for a while in the guym, then came upstairs to bed and slept until nearly six o'clock.
.....Last Sunday night the Red Cross took about 20 of us to New York by private car to see the biggest non-musical stage show hit on Broadway, "The Voice of the Turtle." It was a good show and quite a treat as we had seats in the very front of the theater. Although for myself, I think I'd enjoy a motion picture just as much.
.....I'm going to stretch out in the batchtub pretty soon, and then take a little walk on the board walk and see the sights.
.....Hope everything is going along okay at home and that Dick feels better. Haven't gotten any mail from home for about 3 or 4 days and I suppose it will take about that much more time for it to get here.

Dear Folks:
.....Nothing much new except my address. It is now: Detachment of Patients, England General Hospital, Atlantic City, New Jersey. That's all the address you need put on my letters. The complete address here is: Detachment of Patients, England General Hospital, Convelescent Facility, Traymore Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey. I don't know if you can keep up with all my addresses or not.
.....I went down and lay on the beach a while before dinner, absorbed a little sunshine. It has been very pleasant here so far, have worked out in the gym a few times, being careful not to strain myself. I may be here anywhere from a month to 6 weeks or more all depending on how I get along. Last night I took a little stroll on the "Boardwalk." It's quite a gay place, a millionaires paradise. A poor man wouldn't last very long here. There are scores of beautiful bathing beauties. I weighed in one of the Penny Arcades and weighed 165# clothes and all. I'm gaining weight but still plenty thin. If I eat for the next month like I've eaten the past 2 days I'll weight 200# before I leave here. The food is certainly swell.
.....Well Friday is payday. I haven't been paid for so long I've forgotten how it feels. I have about $7.00 coming from April, about $15 from May, and about $17 coming from June. But don't get me wrong, I'm not broke. I put $70 on deposit here for safe keeping and have about $15 left for personal use. I suppose you're wondering how I still have as much. Well, my wants have been few, the past few weeeks and my luck has been above average.
.....I feel fine and am enjoying myself so I guess that's about the extent of my news.
.....How's everything at home, hope to hear from you any day now. I wrote a letter last night and sent it air mail with the old address. I'll air mail this so you can get my new address quicker.

Dear Folks:
.....Just a line tongith to let you know I'm alright. I've been assigned guard duty here and I pull guard from 8:00 A.M. until 11:30 A.M. in the morning and from 1:30 P.M. to 4:30 P.M. in the afternoon. A soft job but a tiresome one. I don't know how long they'll keep me at it but I hope not for long.
.....How is everything in and around Chester? What's your good neighbor doing now? Have you heard from Francis lately?
.....Am sending 2 cards showing the Traymore Hotel and one showing "Hasmid's Pier", a big resort about 1 block up the boardwalk from the Traymore.
.....No news so will close. As Always

Dear Folks:
.....Am waiting in pay line down in the lounge. They didn't call my name off when they called the payroll roster, so I am waiting until they are through paying off then I'm going to see why they don't pay me anymore. I haven't earned any pay the past few months but nevertheless I'm supposed to be paid..
.....Received 3 letters from you today and one from Will & Mary. You sure are having a tough time trying to get your haying done. You are also having quite exciting (tragic) times out there this summer
.....It's nearly 8:00 P.M. and they're about done paying off so I'll close for now and write more later.

Dear Folks:
.....Have spent a very quiet Fourth of July. We've had classes all day same as usual.
.....Received 3 letters from you today, and one from Will & Mary, and the Valley Herald which has my name in it. Mary doesn't have much to say other than if she keeps those 2 kids then rest of the summer she'll spend the winter in a padded cell at Medical Lake.
.....Sure sorry to hear about Dada not feeling well. I sure hope he's alright now again. Glad to hear that Dick is feeling a little better.
.....So you have a hired man now, hope he's just right and stays on the ball. (Army slang)
.....One of your letters that I received today was a V mail letter written March 29. It's been in England and all over the Eastern Coast. One letter was mailed July 1. Quite a difference isn't there?
.....It's nearly 9:00 P.M. After I finish this letter I believe I'll go sit on the Boardwalk a while before going to bed. Last night I went to see the "White Cliffs of Dover" starring Irene Dunn.
.....I'm feeling fine, putting on weight every day. I work out in the gym a little everyday so as to put the weight in the right places.
.....No special news so will sign off for now.

Dear Folks:
.....Received your letter of July 3 and your letter of June 27 (the red letter edition) yesterday. Everything is going on as usual here, nothing new. Yesterday I had 2 teeth filled and I have to go back in the morning to get one more filled. Last night I went to the County Fair at the U.S.O. Had a good time, danced, went fishing in the fish pond, had my fortune told and many other games and lots of gals.
.....I hope Dada is feeling well again and that Dick is improving. How do you feel? You never say much about yourself. It seems to me you and Dada are working awfully hard, but I guess it can't be helped.
.....Glad to hear Seeman has decided to move to Chattaroy. Too bad about the old doctor shoving Zach into a hospital. Maybe it's a mental hospital or something.
.....There certainly is something wrong when they defer able-bodied English boys. I remember Mrs. Riddle working in the Boy's Department in Montgomery's or Sear's.
.....What's happened to Mrs. Schaefer's Dodge "no gas"? That "scandal" sheet is alright. Franklin Mills just gets real tough about it doesn't he? I don't believe Alex Simmons went with Shirley Munds before he joined the Army.
.....Too bad about Billy Thomas. I guess they don't know how bad he was hurt. Gosh Francis Sandstrom sure gets her name in the paper a lot doesn't she.
.....Gosh that Sunday School is having more trouble all the time isn't it. First thing you know Mrs. Black will be telling you where to go!
.....Give my sympathy to the Betlachs and I'll send them a card tonight. I'm sitting up in my room not knowing what to do tonight so I guess I'll go to bed early. May go to Philadelphia over the weeend. A nice bathing beauty I got acquainted with has invited me up. It all depends!

Dear Folks:
.....Received your letter today written July 8. Sure glad to hear that you have another hired man and that your harvest is progressing. I sure got a kick out of the way you told about Shys teaching Jackie (the pup) to heel. Dick was lucky that the fire didn't get into his place. It must have been quite a fire. In a letter I got from Will & Mary a while back, she said that Emyrs & Bertha were expecting the stork in September, they waited long enought though I guess. You said in your letter that 175 to 180 was pechajas false weight for me, but shucks, I'm a big boy now.
.....Everything is going on here as usual. Today I took my watch to the jewelry store to have it fixed. The other day I was working out on the punching bag and left my watch on. Ever since it's been gaining about 4 to 5 hours a day. I asked the jeweler how much to fix it and he said $8.00 - guess he wants me to buy his war bonds for him this month! Everything is high here in Atlantic City though, the people make their money in the summer, rest in the winter. Last night I went to the U.S.O. dancing class, learning to do the "Rumba".
.....I asked about a furlough here and they said yes I could get 7 days, but would not be allowed any traveling time - so furloughs are out for at least the present. Yes, I guess maybe if I kept bucking I might get a discharge, but you have to have both arms and a leg missing at this place to get one. The Army is handing out very few discharges. Nothing new here so will close for this time.

Dear Folks:
.....Received your letter yesterday written Monday July 10, thanks for the dollar. No, I haven't been paid yet, but may get paid the end of the month. I'm not broke yet though, I have $40.00 left in savings for me and at this moment I have $21.62 on me. After I get my watch out of the jewelers, $8.00, and my clothes out of the cleaners, $2.50, and go out tomorrow night (Sat.) and maybe Sunday, I won't have much of that $21.62 left.
.....Shucks no it didn't scare me when the doctor told me; I was in so damn much misery I didn't care if they cut my head off. They gave me a local, a spinal shot, it just deadens the lower part of your body and legs. The worst part of the whole thing was the stomach washes afterwards. The damn thing ruptured in my stomach and they had a drain in my side and for 5 days they made me swallow a damn hose every morning before breakfast and pump my stomach out, some fun. No water or anything to eat for 3 days. They gave me food through a needle in the arm. I guess I must have been pretty sick. I had a private nurse, I should say 3 private nurses, 8 hour shifts, for 6 days. All they did was make my bed, hold my head up to rinse my mouth out, and give me dopa. They must have thought I was a pin cushion, every night they gave me a couple needles of dopa in the arm to make me sleep. One of them was the little Irish gal that wrote to you, the other Miss Wilkenson and I never did find out the night nurses name. Everytime I'd wake up she'd run for a needle and put me to sleep again. Appendicitis cases usually get up on the 4th day. I got up on the 17th day. I guess I've said aplenty about that phase of my sickness for now.
.....You must have a good hired man now, does he charge extra for working Sundays? Where is this volunteer wheat hay you're cutting? The Thomas' and the Phillips' are getting along good now aren't they? Glad to hear that you and Dada are keeping well and that Dick is getting better.
.....It's raining here today, not much going on.
.....Haven't any more news so will close.

Dear Folks:
.....Received your registered letter containing the $6.00, thanks a lot.
.....We had a little excitement here tonight. We were just lining up to stand retreat when a little fire started on the boardwalk right next to our hotel. There was quite a little breeze blowing in off the ocean and in those dry board it really roared. It started east on the boardwalk and started in on the drugstore on the corner. The fire department was here "Johnny on the spot"and got it under control but not until it had cracked several windows in the hotel (from the heat) and ruined the goods and soda fountain in the drugstore. I don't know how it started or how much damage it did, but it was really roaring for a while.
.....It must be pretty warm out that way. We don't notice the heat here too much because there is usually little breeze from the ocean and at night it gets plenty chilly, cold enough to wear a coat.
.....So Roy finally made Sergeant, good for him. He's worked hard for his stripes. Heck, I'll never even make a first-class-private, but that doesn't bother me. I had my chance once and didn't take advantge of it so I have no one to blame.
.....Too bad about Mr. Green & Zack getting laid up at the same time. His heart must in pretty bad shape. Say, didn't Zack have a light stroke a few years back?
.....There must have been quite a few Almira people up to Pheobe Jones' funeral judging from those you named.
.....You're having quite a big harvest this year with the volunteer wheat and all. How is the wheat turning out that they're combining?
.....I haven't anything else of importance to write about. Thanks you all for the money and I'm glad Dada liked his little present.

Dear Folks:
.....Received your registered letter today written Monday noon, July 24 and yesterday I got the one written Saturday, July 22.
.....Gosh wheat's a pretty good price isn't it, though still not enough to correspond with the price of harvesting.
.....You're really spreading out now aren't you, going raspberry picking and everything. Too bad about Ann Lloyd busting off wiith her husband like that, but I guess she has a good reason. She always seemed like a pretty nice sort of girl. I guess I'm thinking of the right one, the one that used to teach school at Millwood.
.....They sell a variety of morning papers here in the hotel, so every morning I buy a paper to keep up with the news. It really looks good for the Allies on every front..
.....As far as this traveling goes, it's all very interesting, but I just get to one place, get acquainted with a bunch of fellows, get on to the routine of the place, get acquainted with some nice civilians and then have to move and start all over again. I'd just as soon stay put out in Chester.
.....Yesterday I was up to see the medical advisor and I'm gong back to duty, probably next week. I don't know where I'm going but probably back to Camp Shanks. He said I would be on light dxuty for about 3 months..
.....I'm certainly going to miss this place, everything is so comfortable here, food is good, entertainments are handy, but all good things have to come to an end.
.....Glad to hear that your neighbo'rs granddaughter is okay again. Too damn bad about the cherries, probably the Seeman's family alright. About that $2.00, yes I received it, just slipped my mind to mention it. I haven't received the package as yet, but it will probably be here soon.
.....Donald Gunde can't be very old. Louie was the oldest if I remember right. Sounds like he has a good job though.
.....Last night I had my handwriting analyzed . They really lay it on thick. I'm sending you the paper on which they judged my handwriting. Tonight I'm going to the U.S.O. dancing class again, not lerning much but having fun.
.....Don't know of any more news so will close for this time.

Dear Folks:
.....Received your swell package - many thanks. The candy is going pretty fast between me and my two roommates. I was going to have a couple of my ties cleaned but now I can put it off for a while again.
.....Gosh, you know I was sitting here trying to think what to write about, then they blew the whistle for mail call and I received your letter and Isaac's letter to you. Anyway I'll have somethng to write about now.
.....You certainly did have a profitable day, everybody seemed to want to give you money didn't they. Henry Lloyd must pay a good price for picking raspberries, $2.75 for 3 crates. He must not make very much profit at that rate.
.....Old Seeman is certainly a joker isn't he. Good golly the boys should leave the old fellow to starve for a while. They have fellows like that in the army too, but that stuff is soon taken out of them.
.....Isaac seems to be having quite a time according to his letter. No girls, too much study and too hot. He'll get a good thing out of it though if he makes it.
.....It rained quite hard here last night, but today was warm and sunny. One nice thing about it here, there is always a cool breeze blowing off the ocean. I was put on the alert today so I'll probably be shipping out first part of next week.
.....Haven't any special news here, one day is just about the same as the next. Once in a while something exciting happens.
.....Will close for this time, hope Dick is feeling better by this time.

Dear Folks:
.....Today was a big day, payday. I stood in line for about an hour to get my $17.25 so now I'm back in the dough again.
.....Yesterday I spent very quietly, got up around 11:30 A.M., had chow, laid around for a while after dinner, then Johnny Doruff and I went sun bathing on the beach. Came in about 6:00 P.M., shaved and cleand up then went out to one of the classy resuarants and had a light dinner $1.00. We walked the boardwalk until about 10:00 P.M. then came in and went to bed..
.....I haven't heard anymore about where or when I'm going, but I'm on the alert and expect to go any day. It's going to be tough to leave this place but a darn sight easier on my pocketbook.
.....How's everything coming at home? Are you still picking berries or did you give that up? I received a letter from Isaac Saturday. He had about the same news in it that he had in the one written to you.
.....Tonight I believe I'll bathe, shave and go to bed early. I sure get tired easy yet. It doesn't take anything at all to tire me out.
.....Haven't anything new to write about so will close for now.

Dear Folks:
.....I'm leaving England General Hospital today, heading back for duty. I'm due to ship out at 3:00 p.m. this afternoon. I've been all packed and raring to go since 8:30 A.M. this morning, it's now about 10:00 A.M. so I still have about 5 hrs. to kill.
.....It's raining today and this morning while I was packing I noticed that someone had stolen my raincoat, so that leaves me in great shape.
.....Received a letter from you yesterday, the one writen Sat. July 29th. Too bad about Dick not getting any better. You and Dada made better than your expenses at picking raspberries anyway. How are Betlach's getting along with their work?
.....If I go to Camp Shanks, I should arrive there about 8:00 p.m. this evening which isn't good considering I'll have to draw blankets and bedding from supply and probably mess around trying to find a bed to sleep in
.....Haven't much news at this time, should have more next time I write.

Dear Folks:
.....Well it finally happened, I've been transferred down to Camp Stewart, 40 miles south of Savannah, GA. What a hell hole. Swamps, mosquitos, and hotter than the dickens.
.....I left Atlantic City 4:35 Wed. afternoon and arrived here at Camp Stewart about 11:00 Thursday night. Had a nice train ride, even though I was going south.
.....I've been put in an old outfit, most of the fellows are overseas returnees. I don't know what I'm to do yet, but it probably won't be a hard job.
.....Also I'm living in a tent again, some fun after having a nice hotel room. This is the first place I was ever issued mosquito netting, and from the way things look now, I'm certainly going to need it.
.....I'll write more when I have a more comfortable place and more time.

Dear Folks:
.....I'm still here, good old "Swamp Stewart." What a hell of a place for a camp..
.....It has rained every evening since I've been here, just short showers, but heavy ones. The heat here is of a humid type, it just sort of sticks to you.
.....I don't know how long I'll be here or anyuthng but I sure hope it's not too long. The closest town is Savannah and that's 40 miles.There are a few little places closer but too small to have any fun.
.....I'm feeling fine and able to get around in great shape, so that's somethng. I'm not too far from Camp Blanding, Florida. If I get a 3 day pass and have the money I may go down to see Roy. I'm writing this letter on U.S.O. paper, or rather I should say Service Club paper.
.....How's everything up Washington way? I suppose that Will and Mary are harvesting by this time. How is Dick feeling now? Certainly hope he's feeling better. I'll close for now hoping this finds you all in the best of health.

Dear Folks:
.....Haven't received any mail for over a week now, but I suppose it will be catching up with me soon.
.....The weather has really been fine the last two days, no rain and a nice cooling breeze. Things are beginning to dry out after those few days of rain. This place would be a wonderful place for cattle, grass knee high and green, just like spring up in Spokane.
.....I just finished cleaning and oiling my rifle. I spent quite a bit a time polishing the brass on it, oiling the stock, it looks good now. We were kept pretty busy all day. This morning at 7:00 A.M. they loaded us up in trucks and took us to the theater to show us the pictures of the "Battle of Tunisia" and pictures on the "Negro Soldier." It was all quite interesting and educational. This afternoon we had a couple of lectures, one on "field sanitation"and one on "censorship", and to finish off the day we ran the obstacle course. It's just sort of basic training all over again.
.....Night before last I did a big washing. Washing a couple suits of sun tans (uniforms), socks, underwear and so forth. My uniform came out nice to. I hung them up on a hanger while they were soaking wet and hung them out to dry. The weight of the water in the unform took al the wrinkles out of them. They are ready to wear without even ironing. Today I remarked all the clothes I had washed, folded the socks and underwear military fashion, all ready for inspection. This is a great outfit for inspections, I've only been here a week and they've had two already.
.....The water truck just came in so I guess I'll go down and wash, before everyone else uses all the water again. I'll be glad when we move into barracks. We'll have all the water we can use and that's sure important here because everything is so damp you get all muddy and dirty all the time.
.....Feel cleaner now, all washed up, a hell of a time to get water to wash in 8:30 P.M. A person has to eat supper adn all that with dirty hands and face.
.....They give furloughs from this outfit on the rotation system, your name is put on the list in accordance with the length of time since you had your last furlough. According to the way they talk, my name should be coming up soon. Spokane is an awfully long way from here, I don't know what the train fare would be but I imagine around a $100.00. I have $50.00 put away in the Battery safe for me just in case I happen to get one. When and if I do, you'll probably be getting a telegram saying send train fare.
.....I rattled on for long enough this time I guess. I suppose you'll think I'm getting pretty simple in the head writing such trash, but haven't anyting else to write about.
.....Hope this letter finds you all in the best of health. Hope Dick is feeling beter again.

Dear Folks:
.....It's Sunday afternoon and raining quite hard here. About 1:00 p.m. I took out a couple suits of Sun Tans and started washing. First thign I did was to run out of water, then it started to rain. So now I'm waiting for it to clear up so I can go back to washing.
.....Last night I went into the main part of Camp, went to a show and service club. Bought a Sunday paper to read. From the news in the paper the war seems to be coming along pretty good.
.....How is everything up home? Suppose that by now your harvest is pretty well over. Is old Seeman still giving you trouble?
.....Haven't received any mail since I've been here yet, so I'm not up on the latest news of the outside world.
.....There's not a darn thing to write about here, same thing goes on day after day. Go to a show, do a little washing, inspections, and plenty of work to keep one busy.
.....It's beginning to clear up a little so I guess I'll close for now and go back and finish my washing.

Dear Folks:
.....Received several letters today; 1 from Genevieve Taylor, 1 from Isaac and several from you..
.....Glad to hear you're getting along okay. You and Dada will be expert raspberry pickers if you keep on. Sure too bad about Richard Bay. He must of gone over as soon as he completed his basic training. Yes I knew Ed Shaw, he was a year or so ahead of me in school.
.....I just got back from the movies and taking a shower. It's about 10:00 p.m. and I think I'll make this letter short and hit the sack (bed). Last night we had our heaviest rain to date, for about 2 hrs. we had a regular cloudburst. Water was everywhere, big streams of it. Tomorrow I go on K.P. so I'll get plenty to eat. Write more later.

Dear Folks:
.....Yesterday I received your registered letter containing the $10.00, thanks a lot. Also I received a letter from Will & Mary.
.....This morning I was on detail out at our old area way out of camp, taking down the P.X. tent. Boy was it big and heavy, just like a circus tent..
.....Yesterday I had K.P., a pretty hard day. We served 3 meals out at the old area then last night we had to tear down our mess hall , load up the field ranges, pots & pans, and supplies and unload them again at our new area here in camp. We were lucky though in having a good husky bunch of ambitious boys on K.P. We got done about 7:00 P.M. then took a quick shower and went to the 8:00 P.M. show. Eddie Center in "A kid from Spain." It was an old picture, but it was sure comical.
.....Our new area has a good location, right across the street is the movie, and up the street a little way is a big P.X. I may be shipped out of this outfit soon. They seem to be breaking it up and transferring the fellows into other branches of the service.
.....That old fellow really must have done some hard thinking to figure out the date of wars end. I passed your copy around to some of the boys here and they all got a big kick out of it.
.....It's about 12:00 A.M. and I'm just waiting for the chow whistle to blow, plenty hungry too. One thing about Georgia, you sweat a lot and drink a lot of water, but it's a different heat than we had in the desert. You don't seem to dry out as bad, and the water doesn't ruin your appetite. Well the chow whistle has been blown so I'll finish this letter after dinner.
.....Well, we had a pretty good dinner today; spaghetti and meatballs, read beans, potatoes and grape-aide for drink.
.....You certainly did put in a full day rounding up the livestock. In a way you were lucky that they wouldn't buy the calves, it saves a lot of milking. They shouldn't be a drug on the market - we sure don't get too much beef or veal.
.....You're really getting to be an expert with the car aren't you! Doggone you go everywhere now.
.....Francis has struck a home in England it seems doesn't it? He really must have fallen hard for that English girl. It sure seems funny, them fellows go over there and fight and live through it and then they come back and get killed just like Ed Shaw.
.....I've seen several pigs up through our old area, but they're not wild. They aren't tame either, but they're domestic hogs. There are a lot of cattle up around, roaming through the outskirts of camp. The camp is some 200,000 acres, and not fenced so the cattle have pretty good grazing.
.....About the raincoat, I won't have to buy one, because if they won't issue me one I'll go without it. I haven't used a raincoat since I've been here and there's no use starting now.
.....In the letter I got from Will & Mary they are plenty busy harvesting. They're paying $12.00 a day for cat skinner. I'd sure like to be doing that work again.
.....So Earl Bollman is going to reshingle the tank house. That will be a high job for him won't it? I wished I had some way of sending home the stuff the army throws away every day, some good lumber, cans, barrels, canvases, food, they sure do waste a lot.
.....Sure too bad the way they're kicking Annie Jones around. She has nowhere to go now, only to the ranch and that would sure be inconvenient for her. Too bad the girls feel as they do about Hughie, makes it tough.
.....Yes there sure are a lot of negro people down this way. We call them "giggs." They sure are a dirty, worthless, lazy race of people. There are a few negroes that are pretty good fellows but the worthless ones far outnumber the good.
.....I'll close this scribble for this time. I started writing before dinner and now I've finished supper. Tell Dick to drink more beer, it will cure anything so they say.

Dear Folks:
.....Just a line to let your know my new address. It's now: Btry-C 254 AAA S/L Bn. (Search Light).
.....You've certainly got one disgusted boy in the Army. I'm not wanted anywhere it seems. There were about 50 of us transferred from the 66th. They have so darn many men in the Army they don't know what to do with them all. We just moved in from tents, slept one night in barracks, and now we're all back in tents again. This outfit is sort of a Replacement Pool. In C Btry they are supposed to have a personnel of about 150 men, now there are over 300 of us in one btry. Most of the boys have either been overseas or lost their outfits at the P.O.E. All of us are unassigned, no place for us, and still they keep drafting men. The German prisoners in this camp get treated a lot better than we do, have nicer barracks, plates to eat off of and everything.
.....This transferring around is a soft life in a way, you don't have too much work to do, but it's the inconvenience of being so unsettled.
.....Yesterday I received a letter from you, one from Martha and 2 bundls of papers from you. All for now.

Dear Folks:
.....How's everything up that way? Well, I don't feel quite as disgusted today as I did yesterday. I didn't get up in time for breakfast this mornig, the bed just felt too good. I got up about 9:00 A.M., cleaned up and went to 10:00 A.M. church service. The chaplain told the boys how to read the bible to ge the most out of it, quite an interesting sermon. We sang several songs, they had a little organ like the one they have in that little room in the Welsh church. They sure do feed good here. We had turkey for dinner, cranberry sauce, spuds, vegetables, pumpkin pie, and iced tea for drink. Tonight for supper we had cold cuts and for drink we had all the beer we could drink. It they keep on feeding so good I'll get fat here.
.....Last night I did quite a big washing. Boy things sure do get dirty here, dirt and sweat and rain. If you wear your underclothes over a day they stink like the dickens.
.....I don't thik I'll be in this oufit very long. I don't know anything about searchlights and not to anxious to learn.
.....According to the papers and radio the war is nearing an end in Europe. They aren't doing much with Anti-Air-Craft anymore, they seem to be breaking up a lot of the outfits.
.....I see by your last letter that Earl Bollman has started his shingling. How much is Earl charging a square for his work?
.....I have plenty of money left. I have about $70.00 so I won't need any fo ra while unless I happen to get a furlough. Then I'll probably need more.
.....There's a big Swede in the same tent with me now. He's from Wisconsin, quite a fellow. He weighs about 210 lbs, strong as an ox, and bald-headed as a cue ball. I weighed myself at the service club yesterday. I weighed 176#. No more news for now.

Dear Folks:
.....Well by golly, I'm still sweating it out down here. There isn't much new happening here, about the same old grind. Right now it's thundering and lightning, starting to rain just a little. It hasn't rained for nearly 2 days so we're about due for a heavy shower.
.....I've been to the show 3 nights straight now. Tuesday night I saw "Music in Manhattan", Wednesday night I saw "Mr. Lucky", and tonight I saw "Janie". I'm pretty well up on my shows now, haven't much else to do.
.....The train fare isn't nearly as much as I thought it would be. Gosh I thought it would be about $100.00 or more coach fare alone. I don't think I have much chance of a furlough from here, it's just sort of a replacement pool at the present.
.....There's not much use of you sending any package to me for a while because I believe I'll be shipped out again to another outfit soon.
.....I've been partly in the notion to transfer to some other branch of the service. I was thinking about the paratroops, but I went over to the Medics yesterday and talked to the Captain. He told me I wouldn't pass the physicial for a while yet, so now I'm trying to get into the Army Finance Corps. Boy I'm so fed up with this being kicked around that I don't care what happens anymore.
.....Well, it's about time for lights out so will close for now, hope this letter finds you all feeling well and happy.

Dear Folks:
.....Spent a very quiet but miserable Sunday. Friday night I woke up in the middle of the night with a terrible toothache, so Saturday morning I went to the dentist. He said I was cutting a wisdom tooth. He painted my gums with some medicine and told me to come back Monday morning. It really hurts and I have a hard time eating, but it's better tonight. This morning I did my washing, quite a job. Had to hunt up some soap, cans, a scrub brush and then wait for hot water.
.....From the rumors floating around tonight it sounds like we're in for a busy 8 weeks. Starting tomorrow they are giving us 8 weeks of basic training on the searchlights. Classes starting at 7:00 A.M. in the morning and continuing on until 9:00 P.M. at night.
.....I can't understand what's happened to my mail again. It sure does get mixed up in all this moving around. I think what happened here is that they're sending my mail to another fellow. There was a John D. Phillips in here for a while and they used to get us mixed up all the time, but now he is on a war ond tour in Pennsylvania and I imagine they're forwarding all the mail to him.
.....I suppose that Dada is getting ready to seed or has he any ground ready for seed this year? Take things easy and don't work too hard. Hope Dick is feeling better by this time. Nothing much else to write about for now, so bye-bye for now.

Dear Folks:
.....Received your letter today written August 19. Sure glad to hear that you and Dada can get around so good.
.....Golly Roy was sure lucky in being unlucky wasn't he? What I mean is, he's lucky to be out of the Army but unlucky in losing his brother. I never heard of anything just like that before. There are fellows here who shouldn't have even been inducted into the army; overage, children, physically unfit, but still they can't get a discharge. There's one fellow here in particular, he's 46 years old, saw action on the Angio beachhead, was wounded, has children, and still they won't give him a discharge. Everyday he goes on sick call, but to no avail.
.....Today they started 8 weeks basic searchlight training. We had classes up until 8:30 p.m. tonight. If you were here you would really see some disgruntled G.I.s. As for myself, I'm feeling okay again. I'm even getting so I don't mind it here anymore. Saturday I was assigned as regular truck driver for this outfit, a 2 1/2 ton G.M.C. That is work right up my alley and I have the time of my life riding around all over camp.
.....Will write more in a day or so, it's so darn hard to write, I'm keeping a conversation and writing at the same time, get all mixed up.

Dear Folks:
.....Just a line from Brunswick, Ga. It's a town about 80 miles from Camp Stewart. First time I've been out of camp since come to Ga. Stayed overnight in a tourist cabin with 3 other fellows.

Dear Folks:
.....I'm a little slow in writing this time time, but we've been pretty busy here all week. It's about 9:30 P.M. and we just got back from practicing digging foxholes way out in some God forsaken pact of "Swamp Stewart." I received two letters from you yesterday, one written Aug. 22, and one written Aug 27.
.....I don't know what kind of a camp this is, but it certainly doesn't seem to be a reconditioning center, such as Robert Dell said. It's more of a basic traiing camp. This camp is full of rookies. It's time for lights out, so I'll quit until tomorrow.
Sept. 3, Sunday Evening - 8:30 P.M.
.....Awful slow in writing this letter aren't I? I just returned from Brunswick, had a pretty good time but spent nearly $20.00. Cpl. Thomas went with me. He's a fellow about 24 years old, weighs 175 lb, 5 ft. 10 in, comes from North Carolina. I met him when I was at the 66th. He and I were transferred together to the 254th. He spent 28 months in Panama and South America with an Anti-Air-Craft outfit. He's a pretty swell fellow, quiet, but full of life.
.....Brunswick is quite a place, lots of pretty homes, 2 theaters, not much else there except a nice U.S.O. We ate ice cream and drank so much pop that I feel like a walking soda fountain.
.....It certainly is warm here tonight. There doesn't seem to be a breeze of any sort. I got an upper bunk and it sure is hot next to the ceiling.
.....Sure glad Roy is home and that his folks are able to forget a little. That fellow you mentioned in your letter, from England General Hospital. I don't know him, but he was sure right when he said Atlantic City was a swell place.
.....I can't think of what to write about tonight, I'm a little tired, and then there's a couple fellows shooting off their face here. They're making so much moise that I just can't think.
.....Will write more soon, tell Dick thanks for the buck.

Dear Folks:
.....Just finished supper and haven't much to do right at the present so I'd better catch up on my letter writing.
.....2 hrs. later - As I started writing this letter I was in pretty good humor but it didn't last long. As you can see by the 2 hr. delay that I had no more than gotten started writing when I was picked for a detail. Last night I went over a 30 ft. embarkation tower 4 times and threw hand grenade, got to bed about 10:30 p.m., this morning I had to crawl the infiltration course, then go through a combat course, and to finish it off had to fire the sub-machine gun for record. This afternoon I had to clean my rifle, go to a couple classes, so by tonight I was pretty tired. Well, to make a long story short, this staff sergeant comes into this barracks looking for men to clean machine guns tonight. Naturally he picked me. I've been pushed around so much lately that I just had too blow off steam, so I told this sergeant the way to go. I was so mad that I was just about ready to throw him out on his ear; he could see I was pretty mad and he got scared and ran off after the first sergeant. I cleaned machine guns, but that old staff sergeant was scared to go out to the machine gun shed with me. I told him if he got out of sight of the office I'd whip hell out of him. A fellow can take about so much shoving around then he blows his top. I guess I'm getting a little tropical (nuts). Other than that little incident everything's been running pretty smooth around here. Things have to go smooth here, they keep a fellow so busy he hasn't got time to go wrong.
.....Tonight at mail-call I got a letter from Francis, just a short one. He said he had a notion to get hitched to that little English girl. Also said he had about 2 more months to sweat out in England.
.....Received a letter from you written Sept. 2. I believe all my mail has caught up with me now. I got several old letters from the 66th the other day.
.....It sounds as if you had a pretty good wheat crop this year, 750 bushels is quite a bit of wheat. Wheat is a good price now too, isn't it?
.....Some stool pigeon just came through the barracks telling us to get ready to fall out at 8:30, that we're having a class. This darn outfit is trying its best to kill us guys off, but we're still kicking.
.....The favorite topic of conversation around camp now is when will the war end. How soon will the discharges be coming through and so on and so forth. Every morning there's a paper boy selling "Yankee" papers. Here in the south you can't tease these southerners too much about the Civil War, they're rather touchy.
.....In the daytime now they have me going to drivers maintenance school. That's another subject that drives me half crazy. Have to sit inside and swelter for about 3 hrs listening to an officer explaining the mechaniisms of the G.I. vehicle. I don't mind driving a truck, but I don't like working on them - may learn to like it though.
.....You and dada get around okay now don't you? Driving into town on Sunday and so forth. Sure glad you're able to get around on your own, don't have to depend on anyone.
.....Time is running short so will close for this time.

Dear Folks:
.....I'm starting this letter on the 8th but I don't know when I'll finish it. I received a letter from you this morning, written Sept. 5th, very interesting. You and Dada really do get around now don't you? You seem to be having a good time.
.....You asked me in one letter if I got the Valley Herald. I got last weeks Herald, but that's the only one so far. There isn't much I can do here to get my mail straightened out, it takes a while for the post office to get their cards straightened out. I believe all my mail has caught up with me by now except the papers, and that doesn't matter much.
.....Henry Lloyd is good to you isn't he? I guess he appreciates your help this summer. Those little truck farms are sure a lot of work aren't they, irrigating and picking all those berries and stuff.
.....Sept. 8th 9:00 p.m.
.....Here goes nothing again, a person has to do things in jerks around here. This morning I worked in the supply room and this afternoon I worked in there a while, looked busy the rest of the afternoon but didn't do a thing. Tonight Thomas and I took off for the show right after supper so as not to get caught on any detail. A good show, "Buds by Mistakes."
.....The latest rumor around camp here is that this Battalion is being broken up by the end of this month. Today we had our chance to sign up for another branch of the service. I signed up for either the "Finance Corps" or the "Air Corps." I'll probably end up by being transferred into the Infantry. Anti-Air-Craft is definitely a thing of the past. I understand Camp Stewart is too be cleaned of all troops by the 15th of October. I hope all these things are true. I'd like to be transferred to either branch I just put in for. I haven't heard any other good rumors lately.
.....Tomorrow morning I have to go fire the M-1 rifle transition course, but the way things look tonight we won't be able to go. Its been raining pretty steady for the last 2 hrs. Coming back from the show we got pretty wet. When it rains here it really comes down.
.....I'm in pretty solid with the first sergeant now, after last night that staff sergeant I had a little row with has treated me pretty nice; seems the fiest sergeant doesn't get along with him too well.
.....Well doggone it's about time for lights out so I'll bring this letter to a close. Don't know when I'll have time to write again. Hope this letter finds you all well and happy.

Dear Folks:
.....Just a line in a hurry tonight before I go back to a G.I. movie. At 6:15 tonight I had to see "Prelude to War" and at 8:15 I have to go see "Know Your Ally Britain." We're getting a 45 minute break in between shows and I'm tryng to use the time to the best advantage.
.....This morning we had a big parade and were inspected by the General. We paraded around Camp here from 7:30 this morning until 11:00, 3 1/2 hrs with rifles on our shoulders, gas masks, cartridge belt, bayonet, full field pack. We were really all in by dinner time.
.....Tomorrow morning I have to undergo a P.O.R. (Possible Overseas Replacement) physical examination. I've had one since I've been in the 254th, but have to go back again.
.....I received a letter from you this morning, written Sept. 7. Boy, Edward, Marie's nephew, sure is having the time of his life isn't he? You know I believe it's going to take quite sometime to become accustomed to civilian life again, and to recognize the value of money. All money means here in the Army is to have fun with.
.....There wasn't any trace of a earthquake down this way, all it does here is rain. It's rained pretty heavy here all evening. There goes the whistle for the second show.
.....Yesterday morning I went to church here at the Bn. Chapel. A chaplain Nelson from the 71st Bn. gave the sermon. He spoke on life being a trust given to us to keep; same as the bank, we trust our money to them but it is redeemable upon demand. He had good ideas and put them across very well. Saturday I washed a few clothes and cleaned up my equipment. Also Saturday afternoon I bought a little furlough bag, not because I'm expecting a furlough but they're handy to carry when one moves from station to station such as I've been doing the past few months. My barracks bags are shipped by freight and they're always a few days late in catching up with me, have to borrow towels and so forth and that's not too good.
.....Today I sorta conquered my temper a little. I've been sleeping on the upper bunk for the past couple weeks and it's awful unhandy in dressing and undressing, have to sit on the lower bunk. This fellow that sleeps on the lower bunk is a little spoiled Texas kid, everytime I sat on his bed he started complaining. Well, today after the parade I sat on his bed to take off my leggings, he started complaining again. Well, I was tired and it made me pretty mad, I was about ready to cuss hell out of him when I just took hold of myself, looked around for an empty bunk and moved. I got no used for him but there weren't any harsh words or hard feelings so I'm pretty proud of myself. The other night when I blew off steam at the sergeant I was fed up, I couldn't stand it any longer without doing something.
.....Gee, I'll have you thinking I'm getting all tropical (crazy) if I keep up this gab so will sign off for this time, go take a shower, shve and go to bed. It's nearly 9:30.

Dear Folks:
.....I sure am slow in writing this time, but then things are more or less screwed up here and I haven't had too much time.
.....This is Sunday morning about 8:00 and I just finished breakfast. Last night 2 other fellows and myself were transferred to the 141st AAA Opns. Det. (Operations Detachment). It's a small outfit with a total strength of 38 enlisted men and 4 officers. I don't know if it is a good deal or a bad one, I'll be able to tell you more about that later on. The first thing I'm gonig to ask for is a furlough. If I keep trying I'm bound to get one.
.....Mr. Betlach is sure having a tough time isn't he? Having Roy home should help him a lot though in his mental condition. Yes, I've been getting the Valley Herald at the 254th, but I suppose it will stop now for awhile again.
.....Golly I can't think of a thing to say this morning so I'll close for now. I may feel more like writing later on.

Dear Folks:
.....Today I'm fireman over at the officer's latrine, so it gives me a little time of my own. I wrote you a letter Sunday morning telling you of my transfer but then I didn't know what the score was. I'm in an operations detachment with a toal of 38 enlisted men and 4 officers. It's functions are to keep plotting boards, switch boards, status boards and all that of our own AAA defenses. It's sort of a control station. I don't know what my duties are as yet or to what section I'll be assigned, but it seems like a pretty good deal, at least so far. Yesterday morning I asked about a furlough, the captain told me it would be at least 2 weeks.or more before I got one, if I get one at all. I put $60.00 in the Officer safe just in case I do happen to get a furlough. I kept about $25.00 on me and I have a little over $30.00 loaned out in the 254th. I don't know if I'll get it back or not now, being I'm transferred out of there.
.....I lost that wallet that Dick gave me. I didn't have much money n it, not over $2 or $3.00, but I had all my pictures and identifiction and thiungs like that. I had Cpl. Thomas post a notice on the 254 bulletin board for me, because I lost it the day I transferred. I offered a $2.00 reward for it, so I sure hope whoever finds it will turn it in to the 254th office.
.....The chow here isn't as good as it was at the 254th, but it's average army chow.
.....It would seem from the trouble you've had trying to sell your calves that they were overstocked or something, but they sure don't feed us much veal here at Stewart.
.....You know I sure feel like I've been away for a long time when you mention about Millie's baby and Florine's baby. It seems to me that they're only little girls yet, but in reality they're grown up women.
.....This doggone stove sure takes a lot of pampering to get it going good. It's a big old coal water heater and not worth a damn. I've had a big fire in it since 7:00 A.M. this morning and now it's nearly 11:00 and I still haven't got real hot water. There's some officer in shaving now. Sitting here in the boiler room, I can hear him cussing the cold water.
.....Sure too bad about Mr.Betlach. He's got something like Dick had a couple of years ago hasn't he? I imagine Roy is pretty glad to be home. Under the circumstances, he's got a big job on his hands. Still I can't see how he got a discharge so quick when there's oversea veterans in this camp who have been all shot up and are over 40 yrs. of age but still they can't get a discharge.
.....News is pretty scarce down this way so will close for now.

Dear Folks:
.....Received 2 letters from you yesterday with the account of the fire. Boy, it sure must have been quite a blaze. You were quite lucky not to have suffered more damage than what you did. I sure hope that by now you have gotten over your scare and things are back to normal again. A person always thinks his troubles and trials are worse than anyone else's, but after reading about those 2 little girls being burned and people's homes being burned and so forth, one realizes how infintesimal his troubles really are.
.....They sure are working hell out of us now, infantry drill, obstacle course, debarkation towers, besides classes on plotting. Plotting isn't tough, but it's somethng new and so requires a little extra effort to attain efficiency. Last night this outfit was put on the alert. I don't think they'll go anywhere but to another Camp. Also, all furloughs have been cancelled until further notice. It's really all very disgusting.
.....You've got the wrong idea about how to earn a promotion in the army. Here's the way it goes. There are so many ratings allowed to a section. If you are assigned to a section where all the ratings are taken the only way you'll ever get one is for a rated man to transfer or screw up someway so as to lose his rating. When I was in the 119th Ammunition section I had my chance for a rating but screwed up, but all the while I was there I did a corporal's job and another fellow held the rating. It doesn't make any difference to me, I'm just as happy as if I had stripes, probably more happy, because if I had stripes, I'd have to work harder to try to keep them. When the time comes that I'll handshake to get a rating I'll be ready for a Section 8 (mentally unbalanced) discharge. It just isn't my nature to be an apple polisher for all this brass in the Army. I do what they tell me and speak to them nbly when I have to. I sure haope now that you'll quit worrying about me making a promotion.
.....This afternoon I received your package of cookies, they sure taste good. They came through in fine shape, weren't damaged a bit. In between classes I come in and have a little snack.
.....I started writing this letter after dinner and now it's time for supper. This afternoon we went trhough the obstacle course again; this afternoon was the first time since I've gotten out of the hospital that I have been able to make the whole course. Everytime the 10 ft. wall stopped me, but today I went right over. The ropes used to bother me some but the last few times they haven't bothered me too much.
.....Those calves brought pretty good money at that didn't they? $180.00 is quite a little sum. It seems to me from the letters you write that you've taken in quite a bit of cash this summer. I've done pretty good myself! Guess I'd better knock on wood though.
.....Duane Munds is characteristic of a rookie alright, it will take him a while to get used to getting along without all that stuff. If he is in the infrntry they'll take that craving for things from home right out of his system. I always thought Duane was pretty lazy, he had better chances for a job than Isaac, but Isaac always had one and Duane was loafing around home.
.....Seems like Cox is having a pretty tough time. Say, what happened to Delbert anyway? Is he still working at the machine shop.
.....Don't worry about me, I'm having a good time and feeling better everyday. Of course I get pretty disgusted sometimes, but then even civilians get disgusted once in a while I imagine. And as for your letters being too long, that could never happen. I don't get to much variety in my letters, but the one's I like to get best are from you. Haven't much more to say, I've probably already said too much. So long for now.

Dear Folks:
.....Received your letter today written in the Crescent. This is going to be a mighty short letter, it's after 10:00 p.m. and we're all listening to Thomas Dewey. Who are you going to vote for this year? I believe Roosevelt is getting the majority of the soldier's vote.
.....I wonder if you know if they still sell jockey shorts anywhere in Spokane? I guess you know the kind I mean. If you could get some of those for me, I'm getting down pretty low. I'd sure appreciate it.
.....Well it's time for lights out.I'll write more some other time.

Dear Folks:
.....I'll take a little more time today and write a bit longer letter than I wrote last night while listening to Dewey.
.....This morning I received a letter from Isaac and one from you, both with my new address. This afternoon I received a letter from you addressed to the 254th. I've received your letters about the fire, and also your package so I guess most of your mail has reached me by now.
.....Too bad about Emry's and Bertha losing their little baby. That's pretty tough after waiting so long.
.....Tonight these boys are playing some other outfit a game of softball. They've asked me to play, I guess I'll try anyway, although I had planned on going to Hinesville tonight.
.....Cpl. Thomas left Monday for Camp Haan, California. About 50 fellows from 254th "C" Battery shipped to Haan. I sure wish that I could have gone with them.
.....I haven't any news, things are going around in circles here so fast that I can't seem to find the time to write, and when I do find time I can't think of anything to say. So long for now.

Dear Folks:
.....Received your very welcome letter this afternoon. I was quite surprised to receive so much money all at one time. You must really have hit the jackpot. Thank you folks a lot and tell Dick thanks for me.
.....I haven't much news tonight. If I get feeling in the mood soon enough I'll go to the second show. Today I worked in the office all day. Don't know long I'll be in there, but I suppose just long enought to help get the office caught up with all the exra work required when an outfit is getting ready to move. I still don't know if I'll stay with this outfit or not, as I'm still overstrength according to the unit strength requirements.
.....Florine and Florence are all mixed up I believe. Now is the time they should be praying for Kenny and all that stuff. All Florine ever came to Sunday School for was to be with Kenny.
.....Received a letter from Isaac yesterday in answer to one I had written him asking him if he expected to go back to Spokane soon. I suggested to him that if I happened to get a furlough in the near future and if he planned on going back to Spokane, maybe we could go back together. It's damn unpleasant to travel such a distance alone. He answered that he planned on going back to Spokane before being called for service again, and just to let him know when I was getting a furlough and he'd arrange to meet me. I'm due for one, but it's tough to get one being unassigned all the time.
.....Henry Lloyd and you folks seem to be getting along quite well this year. That's long hours they're putting in, in fact, they're too long.
.....Well, it's time for me to go to the show if I'm going, so I'll close for now. Bye, bye, and thanks again for the money.

Dear Folks:
.....Well I'm still here at Stewart, don't know for how long, but probably the duration. Last night another fellow and I went down to Hinesville to spend the evening. We had a big steak supper at the "Plantation", took in a show, ate some ice cream, bought a few little things and came back about midnight. Hinesville is a little town about a mile out of camp, within easy walking distance from where I'm stationed now. I went down to Hinesville one night during the week to pick up some clothes I left to be altered a week ago Saturday night. It cost me two dollars to have them altered, the next night I ironed them, in doing so I scorched my shirt quite bad, so I guess I'll give up, as it's too expensive to fool around.
.....Received your letter this morning written Thursday morning Sept. 28, 1944. I received your letter containing the $21.00 the other day, thanks a lot. At present I have enough money to make it home on furlough, all I have to do now is get the darn thing.
.....This morning my buddy and I went to the 11:00 chapel service. I'm enclosing the program. The preacher wasn't very good, but the rest of the service was good.
.....The big talk around here today is the St. Louis Browns winning the American League pennant, it's the first time that the Browns have ever won it. Maybe I should explain myself, I'm talking about baseball.
.....I haven't gotten my wallet back. Whoever found it figured the wallet was worth more than the $2.00 reward that was offered. There was about $1.00 in changbe in it and all my pictures and stuff like that. I probably should have offered more, but I figured $2.00 would be more than what the wallet would be worth to anyone, unless he needed a wallet bad.
.....Too bad about Mr. Betlach feeling so tough all the time. I sure feel for him, give the Betlach's my regards. Glad to hear that Bertha is getting along okay, might tought break for her and Emry's. I don't believe I know that Cora Alderson, I may have seen here though.
.....I wonder why Millie and Thelma aren't staying with Florine. Seems like Florine would like to have them for company. I don't know why Kenneth's buddies would write for him, unless he was busy or hurt his hands some way. He may have been burned, being a lineman in the Signal Corps is a rather tough racket in occupied territory. Is Kenny still a P.F.C. or has he been promoted? I've promoted myself to Major this last week. All week I've been using the Major's desk to do my filing on, and tonight I'm using his desk to write on. He's home on furlough.
....In a way I hope I stay with this outfit. There are several fellows in it I don't care for too much, but there are a few who are pretty good fellows. It's a good outfit to be in though as far as hard, heavy work goes, it's mostly switchboard operating and working on plotting tables. We're nearly all packed ready to ship, which means if I stay with it I won't get a furlough before going for a boatride. I believe ths outfit is headed for England, but I wouldn't want to be on it.
....That old cow really should have kept her nose out of that porcupine's business I'll bet she was really surprised. You won't have to many cattle for the barn this year will you?
....It's nearly 8:30 p.m. and I can't think of much more to scribble about, so will say Bye, bye, and goodnight for now.

Dear Folks:
.....Well I'm slipping again, I haven't written a letter home all week. I've just kept putting it off. Tonight I went to the second show, it's now about 10:30 p.m. and I just got back. We've been having a betting pool here on the World Series these last few days. There are 18 of us betting, we chip in $.50 a piece making a pot of $9.00. Today the Captain and I both won, so we'll drag $4.50 a piece. The way we bet, we don't bet on who will win, but in what inning they'll score the most runs.
.....Received two letters from you this week, one written Oct. 3rd, and one written Sept. 30th. Gee, that old bull was pretty big wasn't he? It seems to me like he should still be a calf.
.....I'm getting rather drowsy and being I'm on K.P. tomorrow I'd better hit the sack and get some rest. I'll finish this letter tomorrow. I guess you remember me listening on Saturday night to the "Grand Old Opera," Roy Acuff and his Smokey Mountain Boys at 7:30 p.m., they're on good and loud right now, they sound right friendly like.
.....Goodnight until tomorrow.
.....Sunday October 8th
.....Taking a little break off K.P., so I thought I'd better get to writing if I expect to finish this sometime. K.P. isn't too rough on Sundays as a rule, because so many of the fellows are out on pass, but today it's plenty rough due to the fact that a General is supposed to inspect these outfits that are alerted tomorrow, so we have to polish everything a bit better than ordinary. Sort of like shining up for company.
.....This morning I received a letter from you written Oct. 5th. I haven't received the package yet but it will probably be along tomorrow or next day. Glad to hear that Betlach is getting along okay.
....You certainly are getting self-confident in your driving, aren't you. First thing you know you'll be driving a taxi in Spokane. William Vaughan must sure have a racket to have been able to stay in the states so long. I guess the Army in peace time isn't too bad a racket if you have a good rating, but I'll take civilian life any old time.
....Monday morning - 0630 A.M.
....Just finished breakfast, I'm going to finish this letter right quick before I have to go to work. It's certainly cold here this morning. Running around with overcoats on and still cold. Yesterday I won on the baseball pool again, this time splitting it with a Sergeant here, so I've been pretty lucky in baseball. I had the Cards in the first of the 8th inning. K.P. was tough yesterday and we didn't get done last night until about 8:30 p.m.
....Haven't any other news of great importance, so will close for now.

Dear Folks:
.....Just a line to let you know the score here. I'm still going strong, able to do my share of complaining and griping. Last night I was on guard, and was supposed to get the morning off, but due to the fact that the Battery clerk left Sunday on a 5 day emergency furlough (his sister is quite sick, not expected to live) they have me taking his place. So this morning after breakfast I settled down in bed to get some sleep, I hadn't no more than gotten comfortable when the first sergeant came in, woke me up and told me he had some work for me. All day I typed and filed and answered the phone. It sure makes me disgusted I have to pull my regular details plus some other guy's work, it's been that way ever since I've been in the Army.
.....I received a letter from Isaac today, he's in Minneapolis visiting his girlfriend. He sounds pretty serious about her.
.....Too bad Seeman has to move back, he may not stay as long this time though. So you're not gong to ask old Seeman to donate to the war drive? Shucks, you should, he should have a lot of money after his auction sale. I imagine Schafer is mighty happy after finishing paying for his place. He owed quite a bit a few years back didn't he? I can't see how Mrs. Schafer can stand to work and do her work at home too, she must have given up her corset racket.
.....I don't believe I'm going anywhere very soon, although we are packed. The outfit may go but being I'm overstrength, I'll probably be transferred to some other outfit. I bought a suitcase off one of the fellows from the outfit here, it's a pretty nice bag, paid $5.00 for it. I don't know why I bought it, I already had a bag that I bought at the P.X. about a month ago, paid $3.00 for it. Haven't received your package but probably will tomorrow.
.....Hope Dick is feeling better by this time, sure too bad he can't seem to get rid of it this time.
.....The nights are certainly getting cool here. Last night, or rather early this morning, when I got off guard, I put 3 blankets on and then, by golly, I wasn't too warm. The days are still plenty warm, but not near as bad as they have been.
.....How's Jackie the pup, and old Sport & Shep getting along? Suppose old Sport is still an old Gad-a-bout.
....Sure glad Mr. Betlach is coming along so good, he sure got up in a hurry after his operation didn't he.
....Well shucks, I've run completely out of material, so I reckon I'll close and go shave and shower. Some of the boy are fixing to go to bed.
....Bye bye for awhile.

Dear Folks:
.....Just starting this letter after breakfast hoping I can find time to finish it before evening. Received your package yesterday, it came through in fine shape. The shorts are swell and thanks a lot. Those cookies sure went fast, I believe I got about 2 of them.
.....We had a pretty tough time yesterday. We had tests on chemical warfare, machine guns, first aid, aeroplane recognition, and several other subjects. The tests were given by Brigade HQ. Right after dinner yesterday we were given a physical proficiency test. It was really rough, especially right after eating. We had to go over the obstacle course, then run 400 yds. The obstacle course consists of a fence to jump, a 10 ft. wall to climb, jump over water, crawl under barbed wire, climb up a pole to a little tower, jump off, do a roll, then climb a 15 ft. rope, run up a steep incline about 15 ft. high and jump off, and 4 other little thngs. It really shakes one up when not in shape. The last 1 hr of the day we played softball. Last night I had to help the supply sergeant make up a consolidated shortage list, worked until nearly 10:00 p.m. Wednesday night I went to a U.S.O. show here at theater no. 1. It was certainly a good show. The Great Lester, a master magician, pulled a hen out of the bag; sawed a woman in half, hypnotized her and did several other tricks. There was a girl that sang that has made records with Bing Crosby. A few dancers and a harmonica quintet. It was really a good show.
.....This outfit is shoving off pretty soon. I believe they are going to New York. I asked the Captain if I was to stay with the outfit or be transferred before the outfit left Camp Stewart. I sure would like to go with this outfit, I believe it's about my last chance of going to the European Theater. I'm going in and talk to the Major this morning and see what he'll tell me. I sure do want to get out of Camp Stewart.
.....The weather here this morning is rather damp, it's trying its best to rain, but can't get over a good steady drizzle. It's been so cold at night the past week that I've been using 3 blankets and still get cold before morning.
.....I sure wish I could get a furlough out of this camp, it's the first time I've had enough money to make it home on a furlough and I can't seem to get one. I'm going in to see the Major this morning and try to find out the score.
.....We just got back from taking a drivers test, some fun. About the same sort of a test one takes for a civilian license. I don't know why I have to do this stuff with the outfit, because as it stands now, I'm not going anywhere.
.....Received your letter written Oct. 10, Tuesday. So you're still gadding about, sure are glad you're able to get around so well. I haven't much to say so will close for this time.

Dear Folks:
.....Received your letter this morning written Thursday Oct. 12. I don't believe you have to worry about me going overseas as yet. The reason the letters were so slow for a while is I just didn't have time to write.
.....Last night I went into Hinesville. Took my blouse in to have it let out a little, but there wasn't enough material there. At the time there was a sergeant there who had a blouse too big for him, so we traded. I now have a size 40 small. It fits me pretty good so we were both better off.
.....This morning I went to church, the 11:00 service, it was a good sermon, and they had a good choir.
.....That's pretty good, all those people moving in on Iller's, isn't it? That's going to mean a lot of extra work for both of them, Mr. & Mrs.
.....Must be a prosperous year for the people of Chester, remodeling and so forth. Although no question about it, Gerimontes' house sure needed fixing.
.....Nevermind putting that allotment money in my account. I'm sending that home for you folks. Spend it anyway you want. .
.....I believe I'm getting a furlough within the next couple weeks. I told you in my last letter that I talked to the Major. Well the outcome of his call to Hdqs is this; the officer in charge of enlisted personnel in this camp will personally see to it that I get a furlough before being transferred again, or anyway that's the stall he gave me for this time, but I sort of think I'll get one soon.
.....Haven't any news of importance so will close for this time.

Dear Folks:
.....Received your letter this morning written Oct. 14. Yesterday I received a letter from you that was written August 28 addressed to the 254th. It had been all over Camp Stewart several times, finally arriving here a little late.
.....There's a boy here, his name is William Griffiths, full-blooded Welshman. He's in about the same shape as I'm in - he can understand Welsh but can't talk it very fluently. This is the first time since I've been in the Army that I've ever run in to a Welshman. His home is somewhere in Iowa. He's a pretty wild sort of fellow. He is a communications sergeant here.
.....This outfit is getting pretty hot. Right now the Major is conducting a clothing inspection here in the barracks. It makes me mad, I have to stand all these damn inspections here then I'll be transferred and have to do it all over again. It certainly gets old after a while.
.....Teddy and Kenny are starting right out to raise families aren't they? Things have happened fast since I went away.
.....I'll close for this time and write a letter to Zeke. Haven't heard anymore about a furlough, but I have my fingers crossed.

Dear Folks:
.....As you can see by my address I've been transferred again. I was transfered last night about 7:00 p.m. This is a half-track outfit. I don't know how I'll like it but it's a change at least.
.....I'm getting a furlough within the next day or two, so if I don't write for a few days I'll probably be on the way. Don't get me wrong, I'm still not sure, but pretty much so.
.....I won't write much this time. I'll write more in a day or so after I get straightened out.
.....Saturday, 2 other fellows and I went to Savannah, Georgia. Had a good time, spent a lot of money, saw the town.
.....I'll close for now and hope to see you soon..

Dear Folks:
.....Back at camp and feeling fine. Got in through the gate about quarter of 12:00 last night, but the time I got to the battery area it was nearly one o'clock. Crawled into bed, threw my overcoat over me and went to sleep. This morning I got my blankets and barracks bags from the supply room. Also, I sent my suitcase home this morning.
.....This afternoon I packed my radio. I sure hope it gets home okay. Don't plug it in before you take out the paper from the back of it, it may catch on fire. I had to ship the suitcase C.O.D. and will proably have to ship the radio C.O.D. It's easier for the mail clerk here to handle the packages that way; not because I'm broke. I still have a little money.
.....I hope there's some hot water left because I feel just like a good hot shower. Tomorrow I'm on K.P. so I guess I'll get plenty to eat.
.....Too much noise here in the barracks to write so will close for this time.

Dear Folks:
.....Received your letter written Sunday, November 12, 1944. Sure glad to hear that you and Dada had such a pleasant day in town. I'll bet he does look pretty snappy in his new coat.
.....There isn't much to write about, things are pretty quiet. Yesterday I had K.P., a pretty easy day, plenty to eat. This afternoon we had a little parade, lasted about an hour. Tonight I plan on going to the show.
.....I hope that radio and suitcase doesn't cost too much. I don't know how the mail clerk sent them, whether it was C.O.D. or railway express. Whichever way he sent them he reversed the charges. I haven't any idea what they will cost.
.....I'm going to supper now, I'll finish this letter after the show tonight.
.....Just got back from the show, "Dough Girls". It wasn't much good.
.....Will write more next time.

Dear Folks:
.....Haven't anything to do this afternoon so I'm sitting here next to the stove, reading, shooting the bull with the boys, and writing letters.
.....This morning I went to the 10:00 Protestant Service, had a good turnout. Last night I went to the show again, there was a double feature on.
.....The fellows here seem to be a pretty good bunch of guys. I've gotten acquainted with a few of them.
.....It sure gets cold here at night. Each night we stoke up the fires, but towards morning the fire dies down. This air here is so damp and penetrating. It goes right through the blanket.
.....Received your letter of the 15th with the dollar, thanks a lot. Betlach takes spells I guess doesn't he? The night we were there he seemed about natural.
.....Things are pretty quiet here at present, but I believe we're moving soon, although it's hard to say.
.....Nothing else to write so will say so long for now.

Dear Folks:
.....Received your letter written Tuesday the 21st today. Thanks for the dollar.
.....Yesterday noon we had a big Thanksgiving dinner. Turkey and all the trimmings, plus apple pie, nuts, oranges and grapes. The boys here that have their wives staying in or near camp were given permission to invite them to dinner. There were about 15 fellows who took advantage of it.
.....They worked us pretty hard today. This morning we had a 10 mile hike with full field equipment (about 35 lbs) and had also a demonstration on firing the "Bazookas". This afternoon we had an hour of infantry drill and the rest of the afternoon we had for a parade, not much walking but a lot of standing at attention.
.....Tomorrow I'm to report to the dispensary. We had a dental inspection a few days ago and they told me I had a wisdom tooth that was decaying, so I don't know whether they'll pull it or fill it. No matter what they do it's not too pleasant.
.....My leg didn't bother me much today, it did a lot beter than I expected it to. It must be coming along okay. Yesterday we went over one of the toughest obstacle courses I have ever gone over. I made it okay but was plenty tired. I got a big kick out of watching a couple of our tough seargeants (they think they're tough), a lieutenant and our major fail to make the course. They could sure tell us how to do it but when it came time for them to do it they weren't so smart.
.....I believe I'm going to like this outfit, at least the fellows in it. They're a bunch of fellows about my age and good company.
.....In hooking up the radio, unwind the wire from around that little cardboard reel. I never could figure out whether it was a ground wire or an aerial wire. I used to just let the wire dangle down from the shelf and the radio worked pretty good. Make sure you take the paper out from the around the tubes.
.....This morning one of the boys knocked over the stove here by my bed, just about burned my bed and barracks bags up, it did scorch one of them.
.....Too bad about Mary Buob being so sick. She wasn't sick while I was home as she? Glad to hear that you're getting around to putting in linoleum. It will sure make your work of keeping the kitchen clean, easier.
.....I don't know any of the people involved in the auto wreck, but I can recognize Ted in the other clipping. Also, that picture of Mrs. Fosdick is very good. It seems to me I do remember the name "Duane Henry" in high school but I can't seem to place him.
.....So Isaac went to Minneapolis? He certainly must be engaged to her or something. The way he talked he seemed to care a great deal for her, but I thought he was only kidding when he told me he was going back to see her before being inducted. No, I believe you did right in refusing Zeke the car. Cars are getting more expensive and scarce every day.
.....Haven't much more to say so will close for this time. Believe I'll hit the sack pretty early tonight, rather tired. Last night it was midnight on me going to bed, went to the second show and it was a long one, but a good one, "Thrity Seconds over Tokyo". A story of General Doolittle's raid on Japan.

Dear Folks:
.....Just a line tonight before lights go out. Received your letter today written Friday. Sure glad to hear that Francis finally got home. I imagine he's changed quite a bit alright, but I'll bet he'll notice more changes in you folks and around the place then you will in him. I just wrote him a letter the other night and sent it too his overseas address.
.....Yesterday I did a little washing, maiked some clothes and cleaned my rifle. I should have gone too church but just didn't feel like it.
.....Don't send any packages or money for a while, that is if you're planning on sending any, because I'm pretty sure we'll move before another week rolls around.
.....I sure hope Dick gets to feeling better real soon. Sure must be miserable to have those things come back so often.
.....The other morning I went to the dentist. He didn't pull my wisdom tooth, just filled it. Tell Roy he has my sympathy.
.....I haven't anything special to write about so will close for now.

Dear Folks:
.....Haven't anything to do this afternoon so thought I'd drop you a line as I probably won't write one again for a few days.
.....Tomorrow morning is the last mail that we can send unitl further notice, that will probably be the P.O.E.
.....Nothing much going on here as far as anything new. I have to report on a loading detail in a few minutes so will wind this up.
.....Don't worry if you don't here from me for a few days.

Dear Folks:
.....Received two letters from you today, both addressed to Stuart. I imagine by now you've received my new address.
.....Sure glad to hear that you got your kitchen floor fixed up. The samples of linoleum sure had me fooled. I just couldn't figure out what in the dickens was in the envelope that made it so stiff and heavy. The pattern seems to be quite plain and light, imagine it looks pretty good on the kitchen floor.
.....I believe Francis is just laying it a little heavy on his experiences. It seems funny that if he'd been missing, why the folks hadn't received a telegram from the War Department.
.....Glad to hear that the radio got home alright. It should work pretty good being so near the radio stations.
.....I was rather afraid the Plymouth would fail you sometime. It was missing pretty bad while I was home. It's better to have it fixed up before real cold weather sets in.
.....There isn't much I can say about myself, except that I'm feeling fine. My letters from now on will probably not be as often as in the past, but I'll try and drop you a few lines at least once a week.
.....I don't plan on mailing too many Xmas cards or packages this year so if you'll wish the friends and neighbors a "Very Merry Xmas and Happy New Year" for me it will save me a lot of addressing and save the censor a lot of time.
.....Hope Dick gets to feeling okay real soon and that you all can enjoy the best of health.
.....Haven't any other news so will close for this time.

Dear Folks:
.....Received two letters from you this week, one registered to Camp Stewart and the other with my new address. Glad to hear that you got the Plymouth all tuned up. I knew it was in pretty bad when I was home. So Francis hasn't changed, I thought probably he would have put on some weight. He doesn't seem to have nothing on the brain but getting married does he.
.....I went to New York a couple of times this past week. Went to the top of the Empire State, 102nd floor, it was raining and a little cloudy and couldn't see much. Got a free ticket for a meal at "Reubin's Cocktail Lounge" and a free ticket to a stage show. Had a pretty swell time and it didn't cost too much.
.....Too bad about Al Vogrig, his father dying while he's overseas and all. I don't suppose Al got to come home. They sure gyped Paul on his furlough didn't they. Five days isn't very much.
.....I haven't much to say tonight so will close for now. Write more later

Dear Folks:
.....Just a line in a hurry to let you know I'm feeling fine and having a big time. Went on a pass yesterday had a big time.
.....I haven't gotten any mail for a couple of days, but I suppose it's coming through.
.....I've sent a few Xmas cards out but not as many as I did last year.
.....So Kenneth is driving truck now, that's a pretty good racket, but not for me.
.....Haven't any special news so will close for now and write more later.

Dear ________________ :
.....PLEASE ADDRESS ME AS SHOWN BELOW UNTIL OTHERWISE ADVISED.
Pvt Henry L. Phillips 39464248
BTRY A 574 AAA AW BN SP
APO No. 519-B. Postmaster, New York, New York
.....The above COMPLETE ADDRESS should be placed on ALL MAIL sent to me. MY CODE CABLE ADDRESS IS A.M.I.H.D.P.

Dear Folks:
.....Just a few lines this evening from England. I'm sorry to have been so slow in writing but it just couldn't be helped. I'm feeling fine and really enjoying myself. I've always wanted to see England and now I'm here. I had a swell trip over, didn't get the least bit seasick. They kept us so busy and I ate so much I didn't have time to be busy? I've been to Glasgow, Scotland and hope some time to see more of it. I plan on going to London if I should be lucky enough to get a pass. What I'm hoping for is a long enough pass to visit Wales. They say transportation here while on pass is pretty good. The first chance you get, please send me some heavy woolen socks and some Gillette Blue Blade razor blades. You may have to show this as a request before being able to mail it. It seems rather funny here, giving 3 pence for a cup of coffee, and 6 for a ticket and so forth. Don't worry about me and Merry Xmas.

(censored)
England
27 December 1944

Dear Folks:
.....How's everything on the home front? Things seem to be pretty well under control here. I'm feeling fine and taking everything in.
.....I wish you'd tell me which type of letter takes the least time to arrvie, V-mail or regular air-mail. You can check this by the post-mark and the date of arrival.
.....Our mail should be reaching us pretty soon now, it's been over a week since of us have had any.
.....If you should happen to see a good writing kit and plan on sending a package sometime send it along. When I was in New York I tried to get a writing kit but couldn't find one.
.....It sure is hard to write, when there isn't any thing to write about. I haven't been on pass yet so I can't tell you how things are, but from what I hear transportation is pretty good. Here at the canteen you give 2 pence for a cup of coffee, 6 pence for a glass of bitters, it's supposed to be beer. They say it takes 1/2 crown to go to the nearest good town on pass.
.....I'll close for now and write more in a few days, maybe by that time I'll hve some of my mail.

Dear Folks:
.....How's everything at home? I'm getting along pretty good here, feeling good and eating regular.
.....Has Zeke gone to the Army yet or is he still a civilian? I hope he get's into some branch of the service that he likes and can get ahead in. I suppose Francis has reported back for duty by this time. I guess I should write to him and get some girls addresses off of him. He should have quite a few addresses of English girls. Also, how about Francis' new address?
.....These English people really take care of their ground, fences and so forth. I was in a little town near hear today, went into a cafe, had tea and cake, tasted pretty good. The lady that ran the place reminded me a great deal of Mrs. William Jones 4th Ave, high voice and rather plump. They're starting to give us 7 day furloughs. I don't know when I'll get mine but when I do I'm going to visit Wales.
.....It certainly seems odd driving on the wrong side of the road, sort of hard to get used to. The homes here in England are all brick or rock houses, they seem to be quite nice homes, at least they appear so on the outside.
.....It's sort of hard to write anything. After I receive mail it will be easier, at least have something to write by.
.....Tell all the folks around there hello for me and tell Roy he's not missing a heck of a lot by staying home, just the boat ride is all.
.....Bye, bye for now.