Somewhere in Australia

                                                                                                                                   

May 13,1943

Bpl P. Sevastenok 36114681

Btry. K-208th b.ct.

A.P.O. 922 o/c Postmaster

San Francisco balif.

 

                                                Dear Pauline-

                                    I’m sending a Postal Money order for $ 80.00 The 13th of June is Father’s Day. Buy something nice for the old man for me and bank the rest.

            Will you drop in the New Federal Bldg and see the clerk at the Bureau of Internal Revenue and ask him for Special Forms for filing income taxes?

            These forms are for soldiers and are used to postpone payments until six months after the war. Find out if you can fill out the income taxes for me. I owe a few dollars for 1940. If you don’t pay your income tax when they’re due they slap a carrying charge on your tax.

            There’s a new rule on army overseas mail and parcels. The soldier himself must ascertain article and must be approved by the commanding officer newspapers and magazines must also be okayed.

            I just found out how to spell the name of some of the birds I have seen in Australia, one is called a Kookaburra. This bird makes a sound like a laughing hyena; it has an expression of an owl, has a long pointed beak, will eat raw meat and kill small snakes.

            This other bird is called Willie Wagtail, a kind of sparrow every time it lights on the ground it wags it tail from side to side. They like to pester dogs.

            Everything is going along fine, we have plenty newspapers to read and a radio, which is on all the time. We get most of the U.S. news there some Frisco Radio Station.

            Here are some expressions and greetings they use over here. O.K. they say Hoo-Kay or Right O- when they are pleased- Good O or Good Oh You. When they great you its Hi-Mate, or Matey. Good bye is Ta- Ta.

            Here’s one that comes from the states (sweating out) you “sweat out” a drink or you sweat out a meal. It means you wait, or you do anything hard that takes some time. “Rugged” is another one they use a lot. Right now Scotch whiskey and eggs are hard to get. If you know the right people you might pick up a quart for nine dollars.

            A fellow from (censored) told me he only had three eggs for breakfast in six months. By the way do you know whether a chicken lays an egg sitting or standing? What do you say? I’ll bet you bite in this one.

            Well Pauline while you’re figuring it out- I’ll be “sweating out” a letter from you. You know what I mean.

                                                           

                                                                                                                                                Your bro.

                                                                                                                                                            Pete

Ps. Tell me more about Luke and tell the folks everything is good Oh – Ta –Ta