January 28

Worked this morning at the shed, loading our boxes.  Am going out to the range this afternoon & fire the carbine at moving targets.  Pretty much takes care of the day.  Remember, I told you what to expect if my letters stop all of a sudden. . .\

 

 

 

January 31, Sunday night

 

Well I just had to imagine that I called you today.  I sent you a telegram Saturday afternoon.  I�m sending my diary & film and things tomorrow.  I�m also sending a sticker of our Bn. Patch or insignia.  In combat we put one on each side of our helmet.  Will you put it on the windshield.  I think it would look awful good on there. 

No, Mom, I�m not anyways near the best.  I just do my job & do it to the best of my ability.  They issue us a heavy tag chain to wear, so I sure want to keep it.  . . . . .

 

Say, I wanted to ask you both this question for quite a while.  What if I should meet some gal & get married & just bring her home all at once.  Ha-Ha.. . . I want you to be sure and answer this question.  I�m pretty positive it won�t ever happen to me, but if it should I�d hate like heck to miss the one I�ve been looking for.  I don�t believe I could marry one that you didn�t like. . .

 

 

 

February 4

 

Well, I was told today that I can�t write the names of any places or towns when we leave.  You remember I told you I was going to take this tablet & write all the things I saw, but no go now.  I think I can write about the scenery as long as there�s nothing military about it.  Boy there�s a bunch of worried boys here right now.  The last outfit that left here was stopped at POE and taken off jump statis & are going to be used as ground shock troops.  Did you know all your letters will be censured before I read them, the same as mine are. 

 

 
 

February 9

Dear Mom & Dad

We were told today that our time is still short, but we do have this weekend again.  As far as we know anyway.  We have to be spick & span tomorrow &  Friday cause the I.G. is going to be down again from Washington to see if he thinks we are fit to go.  Got my new dog tags today.  You can�t have anything but your name, s.s. no., T-44-Tetanus, blood type & religion.

 

 

February 14, 1944  
Monday nite �Valentine�s Day�
 

The I.G. has got done inspecting us finally & says we are in very good shape to go.  He gave us the best rating of any outfit yet to leave here, which makes us all very proud.  Well, I�m getting tired of this waiting, but there don�t seem to be much I can do about it but wait some more . . .

 

 

February 16, 1944

 

We didn�t hike today & I�m sure glad, but it is just postponed til tomorrow.  Say, did you know I am supposed to get a 1 year good conduct medal.  I�d forgotten about it.  I sure do remember that nite we ate donuts & coffee in Stockton.  I just wonder where all those other guys went to.  I�ve been having one heck of a time trying to teach these guys how to play bridge.  My worst trouble is that I can�t remember it very good either.  Don�t know anymore than we did.  We keep thinking our time is close but here we are still waiting.  You know when you told me the table said about April, well of course I got in some arguments & made two $5 bets only I said  by March 1, so I may win $10 in a few days. 

 

 

February 20,
Sunday nite

 

Did you read about the outfit that had a jump here about 4 days ago?  Well the air corp pilot jumped them over a lake and 8 drown and 53 more were hurt.  We stood a review for them Sat. morning. 

 

 

 

February 21

 

I rec�d the box today and boy what good cookies and apples.  I sure do hope the kids can get their car fixed quick.  Yes, I had protestant on my dog tag.

I�m pretty sure I�ll have good luck all rite, Mom & Dad, so don�t worry none about me.  I�m sure glad you feel that way now Mom cause it really used to worry me, but I knew you better than to think it would get you down.  It takes a strong woman & you are one & I really know I�ve got as fine parents as anybody could ever have & I want you to know it too.

 

February 24

 

We had another meeting today & we found out when we are leaving but I can�t tell you because there�s always that chance that someone else might read my mail someway.  Say, Dad, how does 37 days on the water sound to you?  If I�m seasick that long it�s going to be a little rugged, huh???

 

 

February 25

 

I took my smallpox vaccination 3 days ago & it didn�t take so guess it won�t even get sore.  You take one a year.  I took one at Reception Center & it did just like this one, just a small pimple & then went away.  I�m all caught up on my shots til June.  I finally got all my back ones.  The only ones left are the ones at the POE, but I bet they�ll be dandies.

 

The Colonel said we may come off the boat fighting.  Wouldn�t that be swell.  Now that would really be the way to land, I think.  Sure do wish I could see ahead at what�s going to happen. 

 

 

 

 

February 26, 1944

Saturday nite

 

Dear Mom & Dad

 

I thought I mite give you an idea of what�s happening.  We will have what they call 3 alerts.  No. l you are restricted to the Post.  No. 2, restricted to Battery area, and No. 3 you leave.  There�s about 2 hours between No. 3 & 2 and we are on No. 1 since 11:30 this afternoon, so you can see it won�t be too long.  Boy I�m sure excited too.  I rec�d the $5 today & was sure glad to receive it.  I was out of cigs & toothpaste & we mite not get paid Tues, unless it�s done on the train.  I wanted to get some magazines & gum to take because we aren�t allowed to get off at all.  We are assigned berths & have to sty there.  One good thing, we eat out of paper plates. 

 

 

 

February 17,
Sunday nite

 

Well, today was just another day.  WE worked pretty hard.  Took another physical today & am in good shape.  We are on second alert.   I told you from 2nd to third was 2 hours but it�s usually from 2 to 12 hours.  Our 12 hours will be up before too long now.  I sure feel excited too.  We have to stay right here.  Sure wish I could tell you all the things that are happening but I can�t.  So I�ll tell you about them some day.  You said you sent some cookies, but I bet I don�t get them for quite a while. . .

 

 

February 28

Dear Mom & Dad & Kids

Am going to write you all together til I land.  I can�t mail this til we get off the train anyway.  They probably won�t be very interesting cause they will be censored.  Boy this train sure is swaying, so I can�t write very good.  Well you can see from that statement that I�m on my way at last.  We left around 7 this evening.  Traveling in a troop train is a lot different than when you went, Dad.  We have a whole train & Pullmans.  They are pretty nice.  We have two kitchen cars & had an awful good supper.  Had choc. Milk, spare ribs, spuds, spinach & ice cream.  We sleep 1 in the upper berth and 2 in the lower.  We 3 cut for high card so I�m in the upper tonight.  We have reville at 7 and breakfast at 7:30.  We just stay in our seats & the KPs bring everything around & that way there�s no congestion.  Boy I�m sure glad to get moving at last.  I went on guard at 11 to 2 last nite & went to bed at 3 & slept til 6 & was on guard from 6 to 8.  Spent all morning then making my full field roll & pack & packed my mussett bag again, then went on guard again at 1 til 2.