Tuesday Afternoon,

July 27, 1943

Dear Folks,

Just a few lines to let you know I am still out here and enjoying good health. Things are still very slow and will probably drag on like this for a week or so. Your package arrived yesterday and was consumed in short time. About 10 fellows piled in and helped themselves to the cookies and candy. It sure was swell and all of us enjoyed it. You see we all share packages when they arrive here, so I couldn’t keep all of them away. I was hungry about 10 in the morning and the package came at just the right time. Thanks for the treat.

We have showers every day just as before maneuvers and they are worth a million dollars. Nothing is better than being able to shower after a warm day in the desert. You feel refreshed and very cool after finishing the shower, there is nothing like it. We are having nightly movies once more and I go to most all of them. The movies aren’t the latest ones out but they are pretty good and all of us have a good time. Not as classy as the movies at the garrison in Fort Lewis of course but they cost nothing.

Furlough talk concerns all the boys on the west coast. I hope that means all of us from the east will get ours at Fort Leonard Wood. That is what the sergeant tells us anyway so all we can do is wait. I would rather get mine at Missouri because it is nearer home and that means less travel time. From the looks of the map it is a trip of about 2000 miles from here to Missouri and about 1500 miles from home. That is a lot nearer than this place and all of us are quite pleased with the move.

I would like to get into Los Angeles once more but the possibility isn’t so good. You see a group were supposed to go in last week-end but the strike caused it to be cancelled. Now they might go in this week-end which put the rest of us one week behind. I am still hoping though because I really would like one more trip to town. I really had some good times in there and once more would suit me fine. Lots of good movies are playing there now that I would like to see. Pay day should be coming along soon so if you haven’t sent the money order I asked for you can forget about it. At the time I asked for it they were giving out furloughs and I thought then that I might get one, not knowing then that only west coast men were getting them. So this pay will fix me up swell- I am going to get about $60.00 which is more than enough.

Take it easy and I’ll write again soon. Oh yes! Helen’s picture came today- the letter was held up somewhere. It is good and thanks for thinking of me.

Joe