Wednesday, September 27, 1944

St. Sam Houston, Texas

Dear Pauline-

One of the boys gave me this stationary when he received his C.D.D., a medical discharge or certified disability discharge. There are several others in my ward awaiting theirs.

These men are oversea vets who suffered casualties while in the line of duty. During this week there has been as [many] as twenty men a day being discharged.

There is one fellow here who had his back hurt in a glider crash in France. There were twenty-four men in the glider and only two causalities.

Men 38 years of age are not being discharged. There’s a man here who is 46 years old. He just came back from Italy and was classified IA. Last week the outfit he was assigned to pulled out for overseas, [and] the only thing that saved him was a malaria attack. Now he will get a six-month deferment before going overseas.

I don’t know how long I will be here. They are planning on sending us to a redistribution center. All we do here is lay around and eat to gain our strength.

There are three centers in Florida, California, and Arkansas. They may open one at Lake Placid, New York. The only chance I got of getting out is if Germany folds up. They will release about two million men on a point system [based on] amount of service, age, combat duty, ribbons, etc.

So your boss jarred loose with a raise, [and] he didn’t suffer a heart attack by doing so. He is starting to appreciate your ability, [and] he wants to sent you to New York to break in a man for the new office. Ain’t that something. If I was drunk I’d slap your fanny just for thinking of that idea. If you go, you’re going to make one big mistake.

Did you read about the [edited] woman from South Carolina that gave birth to a child weighing 25 pounds, 32 inches long and having a full set of teeth? That’s one for the books.

You better forget about that New York deal and wise-up. See you later.

Pete

P.S. Address your mail to me as on the envelope. If I get transferred, I’ll receive it without much delay. In the meantime don’t forget to write, you always talk to me into answering soon.