Sept. 19, 1943
Dearest Mother and Dad;
At last I have found time to write a letter to you. I am sure you have been wondering what has become of me. I am sure if you have been listening to the radio and reading the newspaper you will know what I have been doing. We have had lots of fun in our work along with the excitement. I noticed a few minutes ago that they made newsreels of some of our operations. I hope you get to see them. You probably won’t see me but I am in there. It was quite history making and it was so very easy. Maybe we were just lucky.
I guess you see where Lae a Salamaua fell. That should make the situation a little better over here.
I have still been getting a letter from Barbara nearly every day since I left the States. She has really been faithful about writing. I think you and her are about the only ones that write very regular. Please keep it up.
I think our winter over here is about like what you say the summer has been there. Imagine what the Summer and rainy season will be like. It is very similar here now like it was at Pior’s ranch when I was helping Dad, and this is Winter.
Thelma wrote me the other day and I was certainly glad to hear from her. I now owe Kat a letter also. She wrote me that she had move to a new address. Seems to have been very lucky at getting the place she is staying. I don’t believe she is too crazy about Rhode Island but she is very happy to be near Jimmy. I also heard from I.H.C. Those Round Robin letters are very, very interesting and I certainly look forward to getting them. Dorothy usually adds a little to them that makes them more interesting.
The food over here is terrible. Consisting of dehydrated eggs, powdered milk, French toast made out of Australian bread which looks like it was made in Juarez. We are supposed to get better food than we are getting and I hope it won’t be too long. I haven’t had any real milk since I left Australia. I really miss that more than anything. I have lost some weight but under the conditions it probably helps because of the life over here. I hope you enjoyed some of the pictures I sent you but the Censor confiscated all my good films which you would like. Just because they were the pictures of my ship they wouldn’t let them go thru.
Did you receive a money order from me lately I am sending some more this week and then again after I get paid. I think I have spent three pounds since I landed at this place. There is practically nothing to spend money for over here. The only time one does spend money is to go on leave. I should have lots of money by the time I get back.
I have been in on all the “big shows” over here so I should be getting a leave to the mainland in a few weeks.
Well, Mom, I have run out of something to write about so I had better stop and let you rest. Give everyone my regards and be sure and write soon.
All my love,