March 3, 1944

Friday 4 PM.

 

Dear Mother,

 

            I read your letter yesterday and will answer it when I have time, for it may be the last chance I have for a few days.

            I’ve had a rather leisurely, or leisure some, week out here on the range running this SWB. In fact, that’s about all I have done except for a few minutes yesterday morning when I crawled about 100 yards under barbed wire and machine gun bullets. I’ve done a lot of reading and have caught up with my correspondence. Though the job couldn’t be any easier, it does get pretty tiresome! I missed that tough “Physical Fitness Test” and hike and all the “practice runs” for it, so that was nice! The last of the month, we have a 9 mile hike in 2 hours, take a 25 mile hike in 8 hours, so that will really be tough on us. However, we always get by, so guess we will succeed on this too as usual. Naturally we hate the long and fast hikes, but there’s nothing we can do about them but make them! Last year we did the 15 miles in less than 7 hours for a reward.

            Glad to hear that your cold was about well and hope you are doing OK now and don’t catch another one soon. I’ve really had one myself for the last week and it almost got me, only I wouldn’t give up. I’m sure I had a high fever one day and nite, but felt better the next morning and kept going! I’m still plenty stuffed up and cough my head off and my chest is pretty sore, though it’s better than it has been. This is the first time I’ve felt badly since I’ve been in the army. I think I’m on the mend now and I will be all right soon unless I get wet again. We haven’t had any more rain since I last wrote you, but it’s still partly cloudy all the time. They had another flood around Los Angeles in Southern California yesterday and the day before.

            I go out on a “24 hour cruise” with about 25 others in my company beginning Sunday sometime. We go with one of the Battalions. I suppose it’s a “big boat” so don’t be surprised that I mention a “little sea sickness” in my next letter! Other than that, it ought to be lots of fun, though. I wish we didn’t have to have it on Sunday.

            I made an allotment yesterday to have $6.25 taken out of my meager salary every month for Bonds and they will be sent to you as they accumulate, so take care of them for me. If I ever go overseas I guess I can have nearly all my salary put in bonds. Also, they are made out to you as co-owner so that way either of us can cash them without the other’s signature.  Have you gotten the other one from Joe?

            I hope Joe gets out of the draft some way, but I’m afraid he won’t.  Bromsmith will be a lonesome old town soon, won’t it?

            Did you ever get to go home? Hope you found everything on these.

            I’m authorized to wear the “Soldiers Good Conduct Medal” now. I never have heard whether my State Guard Duty will count on my Army Services, but should soon.

            What are they going to do about the “Locker” if Emory has to go? Will Ching and Mr. K run it? Looks like there will be a lot of changes made soon!

            Well, that’s all I can scrape up now, so take care of yourself and write again soon.

                                                                                   

                                                                                    Love as always,

                                                                                                Russell