March 5, 1945

Dear Dot and Dana,

I received four or five letters from you the last couple of days and I sure was surprised to get mail in such a place as we are in now.

Everything is going just swell with me. Thank God. I sure have seen some awful sights lately. I guess I will have to wait and tell you all about it when I get home. I suppose I will have to sit up and tell you and Dana war stories every night. Won’t I?

I was put up for my boatswain rate last month and I took my board test and passed O.K. I was surprised to hear today that I got my rate.

I didn’t really expect it as there wasn’t any 2^nd class rates open.

Tell Dana daddy won’t be in the small boats any more, my work now will be aboard a ship. During an invasion I think I would rather be in them, as they are a much smaller target. I got a Vmail letter from Bunny K. yesterday and he said that he saw Dana a few days before and that he has grown an awful lot the past year, and was a regular little man now. Gee, I would give an awful lot to be home for a few days. I’m really getting homesick now.

I got the two snapshots of Dana out playing in the snow. I would like to be out playing in it myself.

It has been nice and cool the last few days. We have had to wear jackets to keep warm and sleep with a blanket over us at night. I have a nice fur lined jacket, wish I could bring one home, they would be nice to wear around the farm. I really enjoy this weather.

Well Dottie, I hope this letter will go out tomorrow, but I’m not sure.

Love and kisses,

Beecher