May 11, 1944
Dearest Mother & Dad,
I am loafing this afternoon so I thought I had better write you a good letter. I am flying quite a bit since I came back from leave. My new ship came in while I was on leave and it is really a nice one. We don’t have any opposition now as we have knocked them all down in this vicinity. We haven’t had a fight since March 11. However we had a good one then.
Dr. Peters looked me up the other day and we have had some very nice visits together. Surely was glad to see him. He told me about lots of things at home that has happened since I have been away. Yesterday, I took him down to my ship and let him sit in it and explained it all to him and he was amazed. He thought it was all airplane, too. He has seen my fly also.
While in Sydney I went to several shows and saw some very interesting sights. I met some very nice people and Lytle and I were invited to a party in their home. It was really nice. The day we arrived in Sydney was Anzoc Day and I have never seen such a parade in all my life. Seems like the Australians go for that stuff more than we do. They had men in the parade that were at least 60 years old. I admire them for it, however. The war seems to be much closer to these people and they really have to sacrifice. The Australians are just like Americans were about 50 years ago, I think. They seem to like America much better than England. Probably because we have more in common. All stores are typically American as are all their picture shows. Automobiles, etc. and homes. I have met some very nice girls over here and they all want to marry a yank and go to the States. I don’t blame them, but they sure make it obvious.
I haven’t received my dog-tag chain yet but our mail hasn’t been coming thru for the past two weeks so I am sure I will get it soon. Be sure and keep a close watch on my APO. Our things are really torn up and I am living out of a muesette bag. Maybe it won’t be too long before I catch up with my footlocker.
Lytle got his captaincy the other day and he is really proud and I don’t blame him. He is now operations officer and Maj. Weicke is C.O. Carpenter went home by boat and will call you as soon as he gets home. I am glad he got to go but I surely did envy him. I hope I can be as lucky as he. He has had some mighty close calls. Capt. Brown has been transferred out and I am glad because he and I never got along too well. He always held me back and I resented it. That is why I don’t have as much time as some of the others. I have nearly three hundred hours now but Lytle and Hnatio have over four hundred.
Well, Mom this is about all I know at the present. I am fine. I weigh about 150 which is the same I always weigh. I don’t like G.I. food but I guess it agrees with me. I smoke quite a bit but I guess that is just nervous energy. I still like Barbara and I can’t help it. Maybe when I get home it will all smooth out. She has been nearly as faithful as you about writing and I appreciate it very much. I doubt if many girls would have stuck this long. In a few days, twelve months will have past since I was in the good ol’ U.S.A. I hope it won’t be much longer before I get back. Give my love to Velma, Thelma and Kat and have Dad write more often.
Love,
Son