Somewhere –
June 3, 1944
Dearest Mother & Dad,
Here I am again taking life very easy in this forgotten part of the world. We are still getting along fine and doing the best we can under these circumstances. It is really and art just to live out here. We are still eating out of the “can” with dehydrated spuds and bully beef. Even tho I haven’t lost weight, I am always hungry & don’t eat very much. We are getting our camp fixed up now and are getting a little more off the ground. (We have cots now). The only place we can bathe is in the ocean and you know how salt water makes you feel. Maybe we’ll get used to that tho.
We aren’t having any opposition in the air. Looks like the Nips can’t supply this end. However, that is O.K. with me. I have three & fifty combat hours now and no sign of getting home anyways soon. I can’t figure it all out. Up until now they have been sending most of the boys home after a year’s service & three hundred hours but now we come along and thy forget all about it. Our whole outfit is way ahead on time and they can’t afford to send us all home. My year won’t be up until June 15, either. Oh well, I still say if I am home by Xmas I’ll be lucky.
I am getting my radio set-up today so that will be a lot of company. Our loudest programs will come from Japan because we aren’t too far from them.
During our move up here my footlocker got wet and my things started mildewing and I have them all airing in the sun. Yester day it rained all day so we had a nice day of rest. Everyone is always tired and a little irritable at times and putting up with these conditions is very trying at times. I told you about me going to another squadron some time soon. I’ll probably get a promotion out of it, but I’ll probably have to stay over here a little longer. However, I don’t have any choice in the matter.
Well Mom, you and Dad take good care of yourselves and keep your fingers crossed so I can get back soon. Write often and tell me all the news. Use my old APO 321 until you hear differently.
All my love,
Son