Sunday morning,

Aug. 1-1943

Dear Folks:

I just feel like writing a few lines to let you know how I am. I can’t find my pen just now so please excuse the pencil. We had church at 7:30 this morning and I went to communion with Hayes. Mass is celebrated early now as the days are getting warmer – August is supposed to be the hottest month out here. Temperatures have been high the last week or so and it is a good thing our maneuvers are finished. We can stay under shade back here and don’t mind the temperature very much.

Your money order arrived this week but I won’t be able to use it out here. As I told you all the furloughs are being given to the western boys while we are out here. That is why I am sending back the money order before I lose it. You know how easily I forget thins and leave them around. $100 is too much to be carrying around so I’ll send it back. Saturday was pay day as well and I got $59.60 which is more than enough to take me home from Missouri (if I do get there and if I get a furlough). I’m sorry I caused you the trouble of getting the money order but my enthusiasm ran away with me. You see I had some back pay coming which is how I got $59.60. I’ll hang onto it and use it in case I get a chance to get back to Jersey.

The plan is still to go to Fort Leonard Wood and no change has been hinted yet. About the 18^th or so we should start to move out of here. I still have hopes of going to L.A. once more before we pull. Once more will satisfy me and I sure could have a good time.

A nice breeze is blowing right now and cooling us off just like the old front porch. There aren’t any big trees such as are in front of the house but the breeze still feels good. We had a good breakfast after church and I still feel full. Two juicy eggs, corn flakes, milk, coffee and plums. When I finished I had a hard time standing up. Boy, it tasted good – we are going to have watermelon for dinner and I am looking forward to it. Nothing tastes better than a big, juicy watermelon when you’re hot and thirsty.

I really should do some laundry today but I don’t think I’ll do that today. Today I am just going to eat, read the paper and relax. We get the two Los Angeles papers out here, L.A. times and Examiner and while they aren’t as good as the N.Y. Herald Tribune while the Examiner is the same as the Journal American. The same comics and features are in both of them. During the course of my travels I’ve read papers from a lot of places but none of them can compare with the papers in New York. I never realized that before but that is one of the things I’ve learned in the army. No place anywhere has the comforts and luxuries of the good old East.

Tomorrow will be seven months for me and it doesn’t seem that long to me. It seems only a little while since I went over to school #13 and got on the bus. Ma and Helen and Aunt Nell going over despite my telling them not to. I’ve covered great many miles since then but I still feel like a civilian. Tom probably feels the same way – as guess we are still home town boys at heart.

How is the big range officer these days? It will be almost a year since he was sent to Fort Rodman and I hope he stays there until this is all over. He must be well liked at the fort and he should stay there. It was nice of the fort to give Dennis Leonard the land and the other presents but Tom deserved it – I wish I could be under him.

So Dennis L. is now 11 lbs. – he is surely taking after his father. He will probably be quite a size before I get a chance to see him.

Give me regards to Aunt Cyrella and the family – I’ll be sure and pay them a visit when the Erie brings me back to town. Say, Ma do you still read the letters over the phone like you used to do? I remember you always called up to town about 8 in the morning and told Aunt Cyrella all the news. Gosh, I forget you’re a war worker now, excuse me.

Goodby now,

Joe