Thursday Nov. 5

4:10 P.M.

Dearest Mary Ellen

 

            I got your letter today darling and it sure made me happy. I’m going to answer your questions before I forgot about them. Concerning my getting a furlough for Xmas, I don’t think it is at all possible. A notice came thru today about furloughs, and they aren’t going to give any out unless you have been in the service for at least six months. They figure that you have 2 days a month off, so after six months they give you about 15 days. My six months will be up, one day after my birthday. It will be swell for getting married though wont it dear. I’m glad you liked the insignia dear, I thought you would probably enjoy having one. The A.A.F.-B.F.S. in my address is (Army Air Force Basic Flying School.) Just as is written on the heading of this stationary. We had day coaches, the ones that make up into beds, on our trip down here. On our other tries we had a private compartment but we weren’t so lucky this time. When we take any trips on the train darling we are going to have a private compartment to ourselves. I thought about that all the way down here, how happy I would be if you were my wife and we were going on a trip such as this, we will someday wont we darling. It won’t be so very far from now either. You said Uncle Herb called for Ralphs address, what did he want it for? The paper you are using is just fine dear, you use whatever you want to, and I will be satisfied as long as I get your letters. I’m glad rose bush has finally been cut off. Now it won’t bother me when I go in the back way. It might not seem like home with it gone through. You old darling, so you are learning to cook. You really don’t have to now darling, you already have me. I hope you get a nice suntan under the lamp; it will be good for you. I don’t know if I will be able to acquire a tan while I am here or not, I’m not exposed to the sun too much, and I don’t think we will have too much sure this winter anyway.

            I’m glad you are writing to mother, I know she will appreciate it very much. I am writing to her all the time too so she will be getting mail all the time. Speaking of sewing I wish you had been here this afternoon because I sewed our emblem on one of my shirts, and I know you could have done it so much better. I’m glad you are wearing my sweater darling; I can just see you wearing it. I want you to do things like that whenever you want to.

            I asked Boh if he went to that spook show in Portland last year, and he said he did. He and his girl friend left before it was over. I would gladly sit there a hundred shows like that if I could be with you.

            You want me to send you some pictures night away don’t you dear. Well I’ve got my uniform at the cleaners now, and so it will be all pressed if I get a chance to have some taken. I don’t know if there is a good studio in town or not but whatever there is will have to do. If I get some pictures (snaps) taken in the meantime I will send them to you. I hope I get my swell folder right away because I still haven’t any good pictures of you. That should just about answer all your questions, so now I can get around to telling you everything I have done since I last wrote you.

            As you know I had to go on guard duty last night. At seven I reported at the guard house and at eight went on guard. My post was the same as it was before, so I was familiar with it. I was very much awake and it was a swell night, warm and bright. I walked the whole post quite a few times, so I covered quite a bit of ground. At one building I scared up a bunch of rabbits. By the way there are a lot of them around here, a fellow found one of those Gila Monster the other day, there are a lot off them here also. My relief came a half hour early (11:30) so I had it pretty easy. I guess I didn’t tell you what I did the first night I was on duty. As I told you before, it was raining, so I got into one of those trucks that as parked inside the gate. Well as you probably guessed I went to sleep for about 15-20 minutes, sleeping while on guard duty and at war time to boat, can you imagine what would have happened to me if I had of been caught. It scares me to think of it now. Well getting back to last night, I came home and was in bed by 10:45. I had to get up a 5:45 though just the same as the rest. The morning was the same as always - cleaning up the barracks, going to breakfast, etc. I told you before, that because I was on guard duty, I didn’t have to do anything while off duty. My guard didn’t go on duty today so I didn’t have anything to do all day. At 2:30 I got my pass and went into town. I got a Unix pensive leather band for my watch and had it put on. I didn’t want to risk having any other band fixed here, so I will wait until I get back or send it to you to be fixed. Our hats are supposed to have a blue and orange ribbon or heading served on the edge of it so I looked around town but couldn’t find any. Not having anything else to do after that I went down to the Greyhound bus depot to find out the rate to Portland and how long it would take. The fare is a go round trip and it would take four days to get there because of the 35 mile limit. I am going to find out the train rates also. There seem to be quite a few auto courts and two or three fairly nice hotels. I am going to look them over, find out the rates and stuff so if you ever get a chance to come down I can make arrangements. I suppose its silly to even think of such a thing but I like to because I don’t feel so completely separated from you. Four of us fellows went to the show “Flying Tiger” tonight and it was a pretty good show, but I know you wouldn’t have enjoyed it. I have written this letter in two stages. I am writing now after the show it is 9:25. I will be awakened at 2:45 A.M. to go on guard duty. I will be on until 7 tomorrow morning. I am sure glad it isn’t raining, it has been hot all day long, and it’s getting dusty again. I’ve only gotten nine hours sleep the past two days but it doesn’t seem to bother me. Well I’ve got to quit and go to bed sweetheart so I will say good-night to my darling. Write me all the news dear. Remember that I love you very much.

                                                                                                All my love       Glenn