Somewhere
June 27, 1944
Dearest Mother, Dad, & Velma;
Just received your letter May 18, and you still don’t have any mail from me. I don’t know what the trouble is but I surely wish my letters would go thru more promptly.
Don’t have any special news for you as everything has been pretty dull here. Lost one of the best friends yesterday and we have been feeling rather blue about it. You didn’t know him as he joined us over here. He was from Oregon. He was flying next to me so I was very close to it all. It wasn’t his fault, just plain hard luck. However, over here we try to dismiss such things as quickly as possible because that is the best thing to do.
Chase got a picture of his baby boy yesterday and it is one of the cutest babies I have ever seen. Chase is about to go nuts to get back. He doesn’t know yet when he will leave and the suspense is killing him. I’ll surely be glad when I get grounded so I can go home. That will be the day.
Be sure and notice my new APO. It is 565 – Unit I. Tell the Reporter so they will send the paper. I get it in bunches but that is because it is second-class mail. However, keep on sending clippings because they add so much to the letters. Just like a prize in Cracker Jacks.
Dad, I wish you would write more often and give me the low down on the action around town. You know, Corbett & Hubbard gossip. How is your competition? Very strong? How is the truck running? What about the building, do you have it rented yet? Did you have to remodel it? Tell me all you know. Tell Joe Bowen hello and all the others, too. Had a picture of my ship & myself taken a few days ago and if they are any good I’ll send it home. Tell Mom it is still a Thunderbolt. My squadron is named “Yadja Bolts”, in case you ever hear about it.
‘Bye & lots of love,
Son