N. Africa

Jan. 22, 1944

Dear Dad:

Well dad here I am at long last writing to you. I have been so busy that I haven’t had time to write any sooner. At last we have a radio in our tent. It is an aircraft radio that is used in the big bombers. It is a short wave, and it is a really good one. Yesterday I put up an antenna for it, and as I sit here and write, it is tuned to London England and we are listening to the news. They just talked about the bombing that Germany got last night. Gosh, can you imagine 2000 tons of bombs dropped in 35 minutes? He said that 16,000 tons of bombs have been dropped on Berlin since they have started doing it. That’s quite a few bombs. We read in the Stars and Stripes, a paper put out for us boys in N. Africa, that President Roosevelt said that the war would be over in 1944. I surely hope so.

This paper is printing the Readers Digest within the paper. It is an exact reprint of the one in the States. It will be printed in installments and in their issues it will make a complete magazine.

Oh yes dad, we have no speaker for the radio, so I have put a pair of headphones inside a steel helmet and hung it on the center post of the tent. It is loud and clear, and the boys in the other tents near by can hear it too. Last night we heard a station in Boston giving the sports news. We are pretty busy now and as it looks now we will be busy for a long time. I don’t mind it as the time passes faster. I have a pretty good stock in my trailer now. Dad I really wish you could be here and see how we work. There is quite a lot of paper work to it, but if everyone helps do his job it isn’t so bad. I like it and I never thought that I would be any good as a clerk and a store keeper. I can type pretty well now.

Well I suppose by the time this letter gets there Myrtle will be there visiting. I hope she can stay longer this time. She sure is a good kid and I love her with all my heart. I am so glad you like her so much. She likes you a lot and speaks so kindly of you in each of her letters. She is so faithful in writing and I get a letter each day. I enjoy your letters a lot too dad, and I look forward to them a lot. I guess I have plenty of tobacco now, and I have about 20 packages of it and also a box of cigars.

You know dad living in these tents is really comfortable, and we have made it really nice. Now that we have the radio it is more like home. It isn’t so cold here now, and we turn the fire down at night and when I get info at 6 AM each morning I turn it up. I always get up first to turn the fire up and then start the generator.

Dad I am enclosing a 100 franc and 20 franc note for you to keep. I have sent Myrtle several different denominations. When I come home I will bring some of the higher denominations. I am going to try and get some coins too and also some Italian money. I think we may be in Italy before the War ends. As the War progresses the Service Squadrons move up so they can be nearer to the planes. I suppose you have read in the papers there about the bill up before Congress about paying us boys the maximum of – $300 when we are mustered out of the Army. It has passed the House and only has to pass the Senate. That will be a big help to us. The maximum no doubt means that the boys that have served over seas will get it. Myrtle and I plan to take a honeymoon as soon as I get back. I told her that if she wanted to she could buy a diamond ring. She told me that she saw a really pretty one in town. It had one diamond with a ruby on each side of it. She has been so good and saved up a lot. I thought it only fair to let her get it. Do you think I did right by letting her buy it? All the family there in Roseburg has been so nice to me and in each letter she always tells me the people there send their regards.

Well dad I guess this is about all except that I want you to know that I am well and getting along all O.K. I miss you all but as long as I am busy I don’t have much time to think of it. I hope you are both well. We get really good meals now and have fresh meat every day. We had steak today and it was good. So for this time I will say good night and God Bless you and keep you well till I return home. Say hello to all my friends there.

Good luck on you new job and love from your son

Howard