Tues. morning

Sept. 11^th

Dear Fran:-

Well honey you’re wondering why I haven’t been writing so well but if you followed me around for a day you’d [edited for content] soon see why I miss a day or so. It isn’t because I’m mad because I still love you. Yesterday for instance we got up a little bit after five, scrubbed the barracks, made our beds, washed, made up our packs, had chow then left for our days work. We hiked about 1 ½ miles and fired the bazooka all morning then had chow, after lunch we went on the rifle range and fired the rifle all afternoon then left and got back about 6 o’clock had chow again and at 7:45 had to fall out for a fifteen (15) mile hike with full field pack incidentally it weighs about 40 or 45 lbs with an additional 10 lbs for your rifle. If you wanted to see a sorry looking bunch you should have seen us when we got back after midnight and our feet really show it too. There is an example of our 8 hour day. Boy I’d give any thing in this world except my honey to get out of this damn Army. Bob and I went to Atlanta with one of our Sgts. as he has relatives in there and it only cost us car fare up and back plus what we drank (plenty) but right away you’re thinking I was cheating but don’t always think that because I’ve been a good boy ever since I left you and thats the way I’ll keep it. Next time you write put something in it besides the family troubles your having. The only advice I can give you is to stay away from there and they will get over things eventually. I’m glad you’re saving because I can’t save any, I haven’t sent the money home as a matter of fact I haven’t even told them so don’t you say anything, I’ll send it. Some day if you get to the city and want to get your honey a nice present you can buy him a pair of combat boots, they cost about 11 or 12 dollars. I’d get a pair down here but I need a shoe stamp and I’m not sure they will take a civilian shoe stamp. You said in a couple of your last letters you were mad and was going to quit and come with me, well that would suit me fine if I could find you a place. If you and Mary could get a place together that would be nice. Well I started this letter at 7 o’clock this morning and its 7 o’clock tonight and I’m just getting back to it so that may give you some idea of how much time I have so if you’ll just be patient when I miss a day or two you will know why. I didn’t get any mail from you today but received a telegram from mother & dad telling me of Verna’s little baby boy. Isn’t that swell, I bet she’s tickled pink at least that’s what she wanted. This afternoon we marched out a couple miles and had four classes in range estimation (a lot of baloney) but since this is the Army we do as we are told, it don’t do a [edited for content] bit of good to [edited for content] because they only go harder with you. Tomorrow morning we go out on the range and fire again and tomorrow afternoon we are supposed to have off. I think we get reclassified this week so some of us will go to different camps for other kind of training so I hope I get out of this [edited for content] hole, maybe I’ll get stationed closer to home, we hope. Well honey I think I’ll close this time and write tomorrow. Don’t forget I still love my honey. Give my regards to your folks and all my friends.

With all my love,

Your honey.