Feb. 8, 1944
8 PM
Dear Dot and Dana,
This is Saturday night and I can’t go any place, but I am pretty pleased tonight, as I said before my first two letters I got last Tues and no more until today. I got six letters and the three cards from you and Dana. One from Vaughn and one from Aunt Edie. Edie sent me $1.00 for an Easter gift. Wasn’t that thoughtful and nice of her. I am going to write her tonight if I have time. Those were nice cards from you and Dana and thanks a lot for the money. You shouldn’t have sent it, because you need it worse than I do.
I got paid yesterday $20.00 so that will be plenty for a long time. I had to buy some clothes today another pair of Dungarees and [a] blue shirt and socks and I also bought two white hats, size 62, and a neckerchief for you Dana. I will send them when I get a chance. If the hats are too small you can stretch them by pulling on them hard, you would have to get Erlon to do it.
That was a very good arithmetic paper Dana. It doesn’t seem possible that you can add that well. Keep it up old boy. I haven’t had any bananas lately. I only get to town one evening a week now so I don’t get a chance to do hardly anything, except a lot of work here. We have classes all day and most every evening. The rest of the time I have to myself to do my washing, etc. I haven’t been out around much so I haven’t seen any snakes. I don’t think there are many around here.
Down at camp #3 I used to be out in the sun quite a lot and got a little tan on my back. It looks pretty good now, haven’t had a pimple since I got here. We will have swimming lessons a little later I think.
I expect to be here six or seven more weeks. I am striking for a coxswain. I think I made it plain what his duty is. He drives the boat and has full charge of the boat unless the Enson is aboard. He has charge of three of these boats, which carry troops and supplies to shore. That large ship stays out about ten miles out of fire range from shore. The small boats, after unloaded, go straight back to the ship. It isn’t very dangerous as the shore is well armed before we get there.
Don’t worry about it cause I might not make it at all. Well, dear I got more letters to write tonight. I’ll close.
Lots of love and hundred kisses,