Sept. 13, 1943
Dearest Mother and Dad,
I hope you won’t be too angry with me for not writing the last few days but we have been pretty busy and I have really been tired. As you probably know by the papers things have been going o.k. over here as you can see why I say I am tired.
There has been nothing of interest I can tell you now but I think I will have some good stories to tell when I get back. It’s just like a football game but it is for keeps over here.
You have been doing a good job of writing and last night I got your letter and also one from Dad and Velma. I wish you would do that more often. You asked me what I wanted for Xmas. Well, Mom, there is not much we can use over here except reading material. That is about the most important, and also Victrola records. As for as anything else, I have no room to keep it and everything ruins after being exposed to the air over here. As I said, the best things would be reading articles. Magazines, papers, good books, or something similar. I don’t see how I can send anything until I get to Sydney on leave which will be a month or so yet. Boy, will I be glad.
Well, it’s true now that I am a First Lieutenant. They came out this week. I am surely glad. They waited long enough. Every one of us got it. Say, Mom, please check up on the Reporter. I still haven’t gotten one. Ovid Mullins hasn’t’ received on yet, either. Other fellows get their paper and I can’t see why I can’t.
Dad, how is my car getting along? Is it still in good shape? I also wonder about the tires. It should be getting a lot of mileage on it by now. If you get a good chance why don’t you trade it for a later model. What about the paint job on the truck, are you going to paint it the same color? Have you changed your office any or still just like it was? Is the ole home town just like it was when I left or has it changed much? I was talking to Ovid Mullins yesterday and we decided we would just as soon be home listening to T. Copeland as to be in this place. Many places here reminds us of places like Mescalero but there are still quite a few CENSORED in some parts of the country. You see why I prefer Texas.
It is very hard to write an interesting letter because there is nothing to tell from here except it is all very boring and tiring.
Barbara has never let me down on writing and I hear from her just about every day and it surely helps. As for Mary, I haven’t heard from her in about three weeks so I doubt if I ever hear from her again. Maybe occasionally.
Well, Mom, please don’t worry about me because I am getting along fine and taking care of myself. Here’s hoping it won’t be too long before I can sit down to a nice plate of veal cutlets and mashed potatoes. Boy, Oh Boy!
‘Bye for now and keep your letters coming.
All My Love,