Aug. 30, 1943
Dearest Mother and Dad,
I hope this letter fins you all will and happy. I received your letter yesterday that was written the 17th. I was very glad to hear from you, too.
For some unknown reason I have not yet received the Reporter. Several fellows have been getting their paper but as yet I haven’t received any. Guess maybe they are coming by ship. At any rate, I’ll be very glad to get them.
We are doing fine so far. No more incidents since the one I told you about. Hope it stays that way. I wish I could tell you all about our operations here but I can’t. Guess that will have to wait ‘til the war is over.
Another fellow was flying my ship and put it in the jungle so now I have another. The new pilot was saved, however. Don’t know what the trouble was. He was just a very few miles from the strip and it took a few days to get him out. You can see how rugged this place really is.
We all have lost some weight but we seem to be feeling all right. My ear bothers me sometimes but I try to be careful with it. But if the situation demands, I’ll forget about my ear until later. I am sure you are happy about the situation in this theater. By the way, it is all true, too. If the land was any good over here it wouldn’t take so long, but you can imagine how it is here.
We are not working so many hours now and we are having more time to rest and I will soon have another leave to CENSORED.
Mom, I am sorry but they won’t let us send any kind of souvenirs home. I’ll have to wait ‘til the war is over and bring something with me. Besides these places you hear about are very much like Eskota. Really, that is true. Sometimes not as large.
I haven’t seen Ovid Mullins lately but he lives just a short distance from me. I’ll probably see him soon.
I’ll be really happy when this war is over. As you know, Barbara and I are going to be married and then I can start all over and you can add another cup of water to the beans every few days and we will all enjoy life as it is intended.
‘Bye for now and write often. I think of home a million times a day so tell me all about it.
Your loving son,
Otto Jr.