Sunday morning,

Jan. 10. 1942

Dear Folks:

Arrived in Fort Lewis this morning after a four day trip from Dix. The trip was very comfortable, meals very good and we slept in a Pullman. Very high class.

We are waiting for a uniform check now and this is being written on the old suitcase. I will write more carefully later on and tell you all about my army experience but I thought you might want to know where your wandering boy is. I want to get this finished so it will make the first mail out.

We sure came all the way across country, and didn’t know for one minute where we were going. It is a very funny experience to undergo, going for mile after mile and not knowing where you would end up. But here we are and everything is O.K.

I don’t know much about the work we will do but we are field artillery and work with those same guns that Tom does. That is all I know.

It is a heck of a thing to start off by asking you to send me something but I must because what I want can’t be bought out here. I don’t know how you can send them but coat hangers, wooden preferred would be put to good use. I will be at this address for four weeks so any time before that would be swell. We can’t get them out here and they are very handy.

I hope all of you are well and not worrying about me. I’ve worked only about four hours since I’ve been in the army and that is sure a life of ease. I was delivering overcoats from a truck while at Dix and that is all I have done.

I’ll close now and get this on its way. Take it easy and I will do the same. Write if you want to because I will be glad to hear from you.

Love to all,

Joe

P.S. Don’t mention Fort Lewis in addressing anything to me. Just write it as it appears in the corner of the envelope.

P.S. I guess I hold the second for traveling in our family. Tom, Harold, and Walt never went this far. I was a great experience and I really seeing something of the country at the governments expense. Cheerio!