5-31-44

Wed- A.M.-

Dear Mother,

            I’m going to Frisco in the A.M. on a 3 day pass, and as we aren’t supposed to mail letters out of camp, I’ll write today so you won’t be kept waiting so long this time. I think Jim Joe is going again too, so we ought to see lots of things and have a big time this time as we sort of learned our way around last week. – The reaction and association with the civilians will be nice – I hope!

            We are just sitting around today waiting on another inspection of our clothes and equipment, so don’t have much of anything to do. Anyway, it’s raining outside and pretty cool.

            We had a memorial-day holiday yesterday and had a big “sports field events” and a championship baseball game between the 323rd & 321st Regiments (which we lost!). The competition was very enthusiastic and we had a lot of fun. Also had a big Memorial Day Division Parade before noon, but I was fortunate enough to miss that.

            I’m stuffed up with another cold, though I feel ok. – Dust I guess. My sinus or catarrh or whatever I have is bothering me some. Guess I’ll go to the medics next week and see about it. My throat is ok now, but still plan to have these tonsils removed when they call me. Otherwise, I guess I’m in perfect physical condition!!

            I won my “Expert Infantryman” test ok and now I’m eligible for the little “blue badge.”

            Guess we will pull out to a new camp within the next 2 weeks, for one outfit left yesterday. I think I know when we are going, but can’t tell now. The secret leaked out somewhere – officers I guess! Looks like we are heading west and maybe north?!! ---

            The war news sounds better all the time and maybe the worst will be over before we get there and only the cleaning up will be left to us. Oh yes! We heard a good rumor that we will get furloughs in the new post, though don’t depend on it, for as I said, it’s only a rumor and nothing more, but as long as we are over here there is still a chance. I told Ester to hold off his visit for a week or so until I heard something officially.

            Today is payday, so everyone is happy. No doubt lots of them will blow it all in one big weekend on pass this week, others will double their money gambling, and still others will lose all of it likewise – Such is the financial nature of the Army! Still, others don’t gamble, don’t drink, don’t throw away their money and are very frugal with their earnings. The biggest percent of us are saving by buying bonds. I will get my first $25 one paid for today.

            I trust the farm is doing fine and that the crops continue to grow. Have you caught any fish in the pond yet? Looks like they ought to bite a little!

            Another boy and I duel quite regularly with a checkerboard. I used to beat him quite often, but more lately my luck seems to have vanished! He beat me 6 games straight yesterday!

            Only 14 of us passed the “Infantry Expert” test out or around 40 or more. It was pretty tricky, though I found it very easy.

            Yesterday was open house for the public so all the boys had their families out and the camp was full!

            I’m sitting here listening to the radio & enjoying some nice singing. I hate to have to give it up.

            I sent my watch to Houston C. on Monday and told him to send you the bill so please take care of it and if you go to town please see about it as soon as you can and rush him up. I don’t want to pull out without it if I can help it.

            If you know Norman’s address please send it to me, for he might be stationed at our next port. Wish I knew where Dewitt Murray was too. We’ve gotten some more replacements in.

            I seem to have reached the extremities of my news thoughts, so until next week – I remain ---

                                                                                    As Always,

                                                                                    Russell

P.S.

            While I’m thinking of it I’m going to send you the enclosed check and you can see how much money I have left in the bank, fill it in and then deposit it as a joint-account as follows: {Mrs. Mary E. Evans, Russell G. Evans}

With it in that form either of us can draw on it and too, if anything ever did happen to me you could withdraw it without going thru’ a lot of legal mess. Just don’t draw on it without telling me for I might write someone a bad check!!! – There is no hurry, but we might as well get it straightened out now as later. We aren’t leaving now, so don’t get excited for nothing!!