Saturday Night,

                                                                                                            March 18, 1944

Dear Folks:

            It is now 9:15 p.m. and I am spending a quiet night in the barracks.  I’ve just washed, brushed my teeth and am getting ready for bed. This is the first Saturday night I’ve spent in camp in quite some time but I am going out on pass tomorrow.  So I’m getting all set tonight-shoes shined, pants pressed ect.

            Patty Roche’s radio is having battery trouble so we have no music.  It has been going steadily for weeks now so it was about time for it to break down. 

            Saturday is the day for our “Yank” magazine to come and I read both it and “Stars and Stripes” today. As usual “Yanks” was pretty good and I enjoyed reading it. We subscribe to both publications for a month which costs 2/6- that is 2 shillings 6 pence.

            Have you had any more news from Tom? I’d like you to keep me posted on anything that happens.

            I suppose you have heard about my arrangement to meet Simpson in London- the letter I wrote yesterday told all about it.  He is supposed to answer me by the end of next week confirming our date.  He has already written to me and said he could get into London whenever I could make it- so we should be all set.  I bet we will have a swell time sightseeing and talking over the old Payroll days at Wrights. I can’t believe that it is over 18 months since I’ve seen him.

            Still feeling fine and hope all of you are the same.

            Incidentally he English toothbrush and tooth paste I have isn’t quite so good. They will do but I could use some good American products if you could send them to me. And candy of course you know is always welcomed.

            Tonight I ate some more of those caramels from Weida’s that you sent me. They taste swell and I am using them sparingly. Good candy you know is rare over here and we enjoy it when we get it.

            Oh yes there is one thing I’ve been wanting to ask you for. Do you think you could send me one of those little metal bars that a watch strap fits over? You know there are two of them and they have a sliding piece in them? I lost one of mine and am using a piece of wire as a substitute.

                                                                                    Thanks and lots of love

                                                                                                            -Joe