Nov. 30, ‘44
Philippines
Dearest Mother, Dad, & Velma;
Again it has been a long time since I have heard from you. I hope you all are will and happy and are getting along fine. As for myself, I am O.K. but I am so tired I can hardly wiggle. They are working our fanny off as we are the only P-47’s here. We should be getting some relief just any day now and brother, we need it.
Yesterday I had another run-in with part of the Jap Navy but I didn’t get a scratch. By the way, I knocked hell out of two of them, too. We won’t be hearing from them at least. I was very lucky and it was plenty exciting and thrilling. Major Dunham and I are getting to be very close friends. He Frost, Parsons and myself are living in the same tent and we get along swell. We all came over together and so we have a lot in common. My old squadron should be up here in the near future with a few of the old boys in it. Roberts, Fisher, Barber & Dowsett.
Out new fellows are getting down to business now since they have had a taste of combat. STORY We have around 8 or 10 victories and, naturally, that gives them confidence.
I still don’t know when I’ll get home. Major Dunham has sent out a tracer on my Captaincy. It appears as tho it has been lost in the mail. I just hope when I do get it, it will be back-dated. Then I will get back pay.
I am enclosing some Jap money made for the Philippines. Write soon and take care of yourselves.
Love, Son
P.S. I haven’t received your pictures yet because we have moved around so much.