Quarry Camp, Alway, Iran

September 9, 1944

Dearest Mom;

I have a picture here that I have been carrying around in my pocket for the last week and a half. It is about time that I have gotten around to sending it. That animal you see is some kind of a desert lizard. For a time we had a good deal of fun with it in the barracks by putting it in the beds of some of the fellows. You can imagine the looks of astonishment on the faces of the unlucky ones when they lifted their nets and saw such an ugly and ferocious looking animal such as that in their beds. As bad as they look they are harmless though.

9/10/44

I’ve been very busy these last few days. Sgt. Schmidt has gone to Teheran and I have stepped into his job in addition to my regular works. This morning I attended the 6:15 Mass in the hospital so I could get to the office early. Besides Sgt. Schmidt’s absence Cpl. Schott became sick the other day running a fever and he was sent to the hospital to recuperate. Woe is me! Such troubles, but it has its good side too. The time passes very fast.

God bless you, Mom,

Joe