Monday 4:00 P.M
Feb 28, 1944

Dear Mother, Daddy, & Mitty,

Well – this past week-end was the best one I have had since I was home. Sally & I had a really fine time. We saw a show out Sat. eve. – Church Sunday a.m. Lunch out at a nice restaurant and dinner at the Cournoyer’s. It was a grand day on Sunday - and for once things were quiet.

I know it was too good to last – now they have assigned four men to general sea duty out of our barracks and there are more to go. These men have been here for 14-18 mos. And have been on borrowed time since 12 mos. Were up.

There isn’t a whole lot of work to do in this department. There is a lot of lost motion. I expect they will make some changes soon. They are giving the course over to the battalions that have come back but there are no more new battalions – so – the work will be less.

I guess I straightened out a few on this taper of a rifle barrel. At any rate the men have appreciated the fact that at last someone has stopped this guy’s nonsense. I would have to be me and the 1^st day I was assigned to him.

Another crock pot idea – he has – is that there is no pull of gravity of water. Such damn ridiculous ideas. The chief petty officer told me he was glad I brought the matter up because he knew that this business had been going on but no one seemed to detect it. Well, I did not argue with the man because he is egotistical – and thinks he knows it – but when I asked him to explain these things over in the barracks – he did it in front of some odd riflemen and Winchester – inspectors who are instructors, and believe me, he got stopped cold. I did not talk back or say one word except this – well – man – I guess I better go back and start all over again on the rifling of a barrel – these new ideas just don’t coincide with what I have been taught, Daddy – they near changed the idea of Rifling from muzzle loaders on down.

Another question, what part of a Rifle wears out first. Some say the muzzle, others say the actions and about 4 of us say the throat of the barrel just ahead of the chamber. It is pitted from gases that have burned there. The old gun testers and I agree on it too – along with the chief – well – I don’t get loud but say what I believe is true – give my reason and shut up and go on about my business.

Gee. Daddy – I hope those books are mail able. I am glad to write.

Mother – you better follow Sally’s address. Stu said she wrote to you last week. I expect you got it about the week end.

Yes, I got the Jay – Ce – O gram. Boy what a thrill to get it too. I couldn’t figure it out for a while.

Yes, Sallie gets up with me in the A.M. and comes along to the base – then takes the car back.

Daddy you remember the Neigles who coached Winber where they had the good teams – Harold & Ralph – well – Jack is an instructor here – he was a policeman in Johnstown – was chief before he came in to the service.

My income tax return will be sent tomorrow. I will leave $57 of a refund. That Trenton outfit over charged us. We will pay $144 tax for 1943.

Well – it is clean time. I am calling Sally at 5:40 so. I must get into undressed blues so that I can get in to the telephone. The weather has been cold but no snow.

Lovingly –
Aldie

PS. Thanks Mitty, for your trouble about getting that Jay Ce – O - gram. That was swell elegant of you.

Solong!