Dutch New Guinea
Feb. 4, 1945
My Dearest Mother & Dad,
While I have been waiting for my orders to go home here at the hospital, I came down with Dengue Fever. This makes the fourth time I have had the stuff. It is also known as the “Bone Breaker” and, believe me, it does just that!
I haven’t had any mail since I left the Philippines on Jan. 6, so I am very anxious to know how you are. I don’t know how long I will be here – maybe a few more days, or could be a month or so. I am sure you are very anxious about when to expect me but I can’t tell you for I have not the slightest idea. I hope & pray it will be very soon.
This hospital irkes me very much because they haven’t been close to any actual fighting, and they seem to think they do you a favor by even talking to you. They don’t know what it is all about.
I have met some very nice fellows here (officers) and at times we really give the nurses a bad time. We have to do things like that to keep our morale up. I am cured now of my hook worms and they are giving me medicine now for my nerves. I don’t notice it but they seem to think I am a little nervous. I think it is mostly restlessness. You know how I am when some one tries to keep me in bed. I did have a little trouble sleeping but that was when we were in the thick of it.
I wish my orders would hurry & come thru for I am ready to go home. I have been very homesick for a long time.
If you want to write to me here it will be O.K. – I may get it and I may not. I might even have to go back to the Philippines to get them.
A fellow patient here in the ward is a pilot from Florida and his mother sent him a clipping about the time we sunk the Nip convoy. It had me in it and told all about it. I wonder if you saw it. I hope you did. I have the clipping and will bring it home with me.
I guess this about winds up the news that I know. Seems like the Germans are catching hell and the Nips are catching it over here – I know!
Give everyone my regards. Tell Dot Cooke I am sorry I haven’t written but it has been very hard to write anyone but you and Barbara. I hope to see all my friends soon. Anyway, you should be getting my mail soon so save it all for me.
‘Bye for now!
Love, Son