North Africa

Dec 15, 1943

 

Dearest Mom and Dad,

            Boy it sure is a nice cold day so better write a letter before the ink freezes in the pen. Dear mom I received your lonely sweet Air Mail letter of the Nov 3. It sure was nice to get a nice long letter like that. Yes you can write airmail as often as you like. The mail seemed to travel pretty good but now during the Christmas rush they are holding the letters back so that the packages will get through. A few days ago I got a package from Amelia, and Ash. Myrtle’s sister and her husband. They sent me 6 packages of tobacco and 3 bars of soap. It was a great surprise but I sure did like it. I like Amelia a lot and she always wishes me the best of luck in the letters Myrtle sends me. I got 6 letters from Myrtle the day I got yours. In one she said she had received one #25 Bond and the usual monthly check. She will get a Bond every 3 months now so soon we will have quite a lot saved up.

            Gee Mom, it has been a long time since I got a letter from Dad but I guess it is held up somewhere. I am so glad you now like your new job dad and hope you will continue to get along with it O.K. Your job is similar as mine only you have only one kind of article in yours. I carry electrical equipment, hardware, office supplies and blank forms besides a few other things. I have a lot of things I have taken off of salvaged planes that come in handy. Cpf Otton, the medical officer, is quite interested in radio and he comes over and gets some things-I had about 30 small lights from a Bomb indicating panel and he wanted some small lights like that and some-one told him I had them, so he come over. He sure was glad because he couldn’t get them any place else. He bought me a dandy Radio Compass swinging antenna and it is swell for my radio “when I get it working .” am having quite a time of it as the darn set is marked in station and I have to just trace the wires and figure out what they are.

            It is too bad you couldn’t go down and visit Myrtle and the folks for Christmas, but she understands and so do I. It wouldn’t be right for you to ask for a day off Dad right after you started. Maybe sometime later you can get one off and then go down there. I hope so. That was nice of you to think of us boys and not take up a extra seat or two and cause a soldier boy the privilege of being home for Christmas. It is too bad others don’t think the same way.

            I would like to be able to get a nice gift for Myrtle my self but as it is, it is impossible, I know you will find something real nice for her. She has been so nice to me and written such lovely letters that I can’t possibly get lonesome because of not getting letters.

            Yes I bet Mrs. Freeman and the gang would gade around all night. That’s one thing Myrtle and I will never do. I don’t believe in it and neither does she. She is doing pretty good on the bedspread. I bet it is pretty. I can’t make the boys believe I can crochet at all.

            I imagine Henry is all moved by this time. I know where the store is. I bet he could get a kick out of taking pictures out here especially the sun sets and sun rises. They are simply beautiful and can never be described in words.

            Gosh Mom I will take an extra big hunk of that good cake. I haven’t had any cake since leaving the States except a piece of fruitcake that Glen Freeman got from home. It sure was good. Myrtle said she is going to send me a box of candy.

            I am well and not too lonesome. I get especial lonesome this time of the year, as I miss being home with you all for Christmas. We all are the same way but I will be O.K. so don’t worry to much about me. I have been in the army 18 months today and it doesn’t seem that long. I don’t mind it so much but will be glad to be back home. We have it fixed up pretty nice now and we hate to have to move but no telling when we will.

            I suppose it is cold there now and a lot of snow in the mountains East of Salem.

            Freeman is playing Solitaire by himself now. He isn’t doing so well either. We three play dominoes a lot in the evenings and get a lot of fun out of it. Not much else to do as we have nothing to read. I got a Radio News magazine from one of the boys and read t hat from cover to cover including the ads. It sure seemed good to read once again.

            Well I am about run out of news so well have to close for this time so be careful and may God Bless you all and keep you well for my return. Please give me regards to everyone and tell them I think of them all.

Love to you both, your Son

Hod