Wednesday afternoon

April 19, 1944

Dear Tom,

I have a few moments to myself here so I am going to say hello to you. You have been faithful in your writing to me and I’ll have to do a little better from this end.

We have a ball field right next to our camp and last night we played one of the battalions. It was my first game, real game I mean since I got in the army and I was quite eager for it. I got my old short-field position just as I used to cover for Wrights.

The first time up I started to wait and the pitcher “Crafty Hand”, you know!! Well, the count went up to 3 and 2 and bingo… I lined out a solid Texas Leaguer for a long single. Next time up the pitcher threw over two strikes – one of which was highway robbery and then I worked it to 3-2 again. The pitch came in and I hit a high bounder over the pitcher’s head and heat it out for a single. My last time up I worked the count to 3-2 once more and then got a walk. Most of you homer hitters like to swing a lot but I’m like Max Bishop – I wait them out and then hit the 3-2 – of it comes in. So you can see I made a pretty good start in the European Circuit.

In the field I had an “on” day and looked like Terry Moore. One circus catch and three flies caught. I got one man at second when he tried to stretch a single – right to the second basemen the throw went – knowing my arm you can appreciate what a feat that is for me.

Here is the payoff of the whole game though – the circus catch I made. The batter lined one out to my left – I started in for it and then saw it was coming hard – so I back-tracked a few steps, stuck up my left hand and got it. It was one of those flashy looking “stabs” like Terry used to make and the boys got a kick out of it. I had to jump off the ground a little to get it and this made it look even better.

Our dentist saw the catch and he said a catch like that deserves something no he told me I could get my teeth cleaned any time I came around. Some fun. I got a great kick out of the game and hope we have a lot more of them. I would rather play ball with the gang rather than go into the crowded towns in the evening. The field is all grass and not bad at all for playing. Another good thing is that we don’t use gloves. I’d rather play softball without them.

The quality of the movies over here has improved a lot – we have had a few of the newer ones here lately – “Song of Bernadette”, “Thank Your Lucky Stars”, “Higher and Higher” etc. I like the movies very much and they give me all the recreation I need. If the - Service Officer did nothing but that, he’d make a hit with me by showing good movies.

I am writing this while sitting in a peek in a high wind so please excuse the poor writing.

How is my little nephew these days? From what the folks tell me he is getting bigger and stronger every day – so I guess he will take after his old man and be a real big fellow.

Take it easy Tom and don’t work too hard. By the way did you ever have those films developed that Estelle loaned to us when I was in to see Dennis? I’m curious about how they turned out.

Regards, Joe