Feb 11, 1944
Dear Dad and Mom,
Received
the letters from you both but been so busy I haven’t had time to write. So
today it is so rainy outside so guess I had better do a little writing. We are
having morning pictures here in camp now and so that keeps me quite busy as I
am running the projector. Gosh it sure is fun and I like it. Our projector is a
Yesterday I hooked up a microphone to the projector so I can make the announcements of the next picture and any other information I have. I am working with the boy that takes care of the Special Services here. I volunteered to help him in my spare time. So he has left the shows all up to me and all he does is go in town and get the new films for me. I type the announcements and put them on the bulletin boards and run the show as I see fit. The theatre is outside and is a little disagreeable at times but the boys all come and see the pictures just the same. We have some real good pictures like the one tonight is “Bachelor Mother” an old feature but I have never seen it. They have a good program lined up for the future and a lot of new pictures coming. I feel proud that I can be of help in this way and help all I can to make the boys contented. I would rather be busy like this than to just sit around. I have had a lot of compliments about my showing the features and since I have the microphone now I sort of add a little humor between reels and the boys seem to like it.
You know Dad and Mom so many of the boys here asked me if I had done a lot of traveling before I came in the Service. They think because I know how to do so many things like that that I must have been around a lot. Well I just tell them that I am naturally inclined in that way. You know I would like to have a nice projector like that when I get out of the Army. A person can rent or buy films from several companies in the states. A person could really make of a nice collection of good pictures.
Oh yes
before I forget it, if you want to see some real good pictures or drawings of
the country around here in
Life Magazine sends a special over seas edition over here real often. It is printed on thinner paper and has no advertisements in it.
Glad you got the heater fixed and hope it will last longer than the other lining did.
How I wished I could be there with Myrtle when she came to visit. I bet you all had a lot of fun. She has been looking forward to the visit a long time. She is so good to help you with your work Mom. Yah I can just imagine you and her sitting there crocheting.
Its too bad
Myrtle can’t stay there with you Mom. I bet Betty Schieman
really puts on the dog down there in
I haven’t gotten the package yet but it will come soon. All the packages come through slow. I will let you know as soon as I get it.
Dad I finally got my darn generator working but I thought for awhile there that I wouldn’t ever get it to going. I don’t know very much about a gas engine only what I learned when I helped to over haul the car at home with you. But I have learned a lot here and I can softly say that this Army has taught me a lot and I am real glad that I am in it especially the Air Force. Also my experience here has taught me to realize what good conditions we had at home even though it seemed hard for me then. You can be sure that when I return I will have an altogether different outlook on life at home. What you people call the slums there in the States are just ordinary living conditions compared to what there is over here. The sanitation conditions are very poor here in fact there is no sanitation as we think of it. I don’t know much more to write about except that I am O.K. but have a little cold. It’s all most gone now. Please don’t worry about it. Otherwise I am well. Will close for this time so write soon and I will write again when I can. God Bless you both and I hope and pray that you will keep well. Love from your Son to the dearest Dad and Mom in the World.
Howard