Tuesday morning,

Dear Folks,

This is just a little note to let you know where your boy is going after the desert movement. We have just been cold we were being moved to fort Leonard Wood in Missouri after the 8^th of August. That is a little near home anyway and was good news to all us Easterners. About 1/3 of us out here are from N.Y., N.J. and Penn. anyway and it will bring us both quite a way to our old homes.

Of course like everything else in the army this is subject to change. You learn never to count on anything out here- anyone is liable to change their minds. In new of this change you needn’t hurry about sending that money over. We will most likely go into quarantine at Fort Wood for a few weeks in accordance with an old army custom. We can be as healthy as can be and they still put us in quarantine. This desert air and climate has put us all in pretty good shape as far as health is concerned. Everything is so clear and fresh you can’t help feel good. No smoke or soot in the air out here.

Things are still very quiet for the change in station. In a few days we will begin feverish fortifications to move and confusion will reign. This is what you call the hill before the storm.

I reviewed some old letters today that were mailed on the 1^st and 3^rd of July. Tom wrote me on the 1^st and it was a grand letter. One point in it made me both proud and envious. He told me about the first time he held Dennis and the song “Boy of Mine” was playing on the radio. It was quite a thrill for Tom and he couldn’t help from crying. He is the finest brother anyone ever had and certainly has shown me the very best example of how to live. Never have I heard him swear or do anything to be ashamed of. Not many brothers have been as lucky as I have been. What a man he is! A real man and I thank God for letting me have the good fortune to have him for a brother. He still enthuses over baseball and all sports even with the heavy responsibilities he carries. He is quite a guy whatever way you look at it.

I’ll close now and try to catch the outgoing mail. Remember not to count too much on the Missouri deal as it may be changed anytime.

So long,

Joe