April 4, 1943

Sunday afternoon

Dear Folks:

Here I am again-still at Fort Lewis and waiting for our transfer to India. The latest dope on that is we are going to go in about the middle of next week, arriving about the 17^th. An advance column is down there already getting things ready for us.

I was in Tacoma last night and made a record for you. There was a machine in the V.S.O. and it only cost 10 cents. The record was mailed from there last night so you should have it by Saturday. They played it back for me and it sure sounded funny. You can’t seem to think of anything to say and the record just keeps turning around. So you should have a good laugh when you hear it. The record has two sides and I forgot to mark the first side. So you will have to just play them and find out. The record is good for ISO playing so it probably won’t last too long. I just thought you might like to hear it anyway. There was quite a big audience around when I made it-so it might sound screwy.

I came back to sleep at the camp tonight because the town is pretty crowded with soldiers and sailors. We had supper in town and went to a dance at the U.S.O. afterwards. It broke out at 11:30 and we got to the bus at midnight.

When we get down to India I will need a good pair of sun-glasses. I was thinking you could send me that pair of glasses that hook on the regular glasses. They belong to Dad, I think and they sure would come in handy. If they aren’t around I think there is a pair that Tom had. They had a pair of shields on the side- do you know the ones I mean. Either one of them would do fine. I tried to buy a pair out here but didn’t find any that were any good. They are expensive but don’t seem to be any good-Maybe you could send me some sun-tan lotion too-that might come in handy.

We are allowed to wear belts out here so you might wrap that old belt up and send it out here. I’m sorry mom I sent it home but they didn’t let us wear them in the old training battery. I have included a lot of requests in the letter but I hope you won’t mind too much.

Was glad to hear that Ken dropped in and visited you as he promised. I just thought you might like to talk to him and ask him some questions about the place out here. I hope he could give you the information you might have wanted.

I haven’t found out where Bill Walton’s new station is but it must be somewhere inland. He said he was waiting for at Los Angeles when I last heard from him. I should hear soon where he is.

Charlie Morel and Bob Clark have written to me the last week. Did I tell you Clark is getting a commission in the Marines? He wrote me a swell letter and I am going to write him today. His younger brother Bill, is an ensign in the Navy- so the Clark boys are doing all right.

Take care of yourselves and thanks again for everything. I am going to evening Mass all this week for all of you. We have it every night at 6:30 in our chapel.

So long,

Joe