November 10, 1943

Wednesday night,

Dear Tom:

It has been quite some time since I last wrote to you. All this moving around doesn’t leave much time for writing so you must excuse my lateness.

Ma of course told me of your new job even before I read your letter. The new position must be a very responsible one and your bosses must think you are very capable. Congratulations and best of luck on the job. You probably have heard of my transfer and know all about it. I have been in the Tennessee woods with the group for about three weeks and becoming used to building log fires, sleeping outdoors again and being like a regular woodsman. This new outfit has the best mess I’ve ran into yet in the army and we really eat good. Steaks, roast beef, mashed potatoes and lots of other good things. I am in the operations section and aside from the maneuver period haven’t really done anything at all. All we do all day is sit around our big camp fire and talk. During maneuvers we worked pretty much, making fire charts, plotting positions or maps and the usual fire directions work. It was pretty interesting and I learned something.

At retreat today we were told officially that we were moving on to California – I believe about the 17^th or 18^th of this month. We weren’t told just where we were headed for – it may be desert maneuvers all over again for me. If we do go to the desert again at least I’ll be warm this winter – this part of Tennessee is a little too cold in the mornings for my part. I don’t believe we will be told our specific destination in California but I’ll probably find out before long. It looks as though I am destined to be a wandering soldier but I can stand it as long as we travel Pullman style.

I hope everything is still fine with your family and I hope I get to see your son before very long. Take it easy and give my regards to Estelle.

Sincerely,

Joe