Monday evening,

1/18/43

Dear Folks:

I hope this letter finds all of you as fine as I am. This outdoor life isn’t bad at all and I really feel quite rugged now.

Three letters arrived for me today, and dated 6^th, and 14^th and the latest one on the 15^th. So you see the mail is not regulated very well or just. That will explain my not answering certain things you wanted to know. In Dad’s letter of the 6^th he asked for my serial number to have a stamp made for me. Well, I’ll answer that now by telling you that I have already marked all of my clothes. So there is no need for a stamp. Dad’s letter also had included in it the picture of Tom in his overcoat. It is a very nice picture and I have it on display. It will help me toe the line if I know an officer is watching me. In the morning when I get up, I will really speed in pulling on my work clothes, leggings and jacket. We wear leggings all the time out here and they look quite snappy. They were lots of trouble when I first put them on but now I am pretty fast. They keep our legs nice and warm.

You know we are in quarantine for fourteen days right after we arrive. That period will be up next Sunday and at that time we can go anywhere on the fort. As it is now we are confined to our quarters, except when working, and hence we cannot go anywhere at night. I would like to see a few movies but will have to wait some time for that. I am just hoping that nobody came up with the measles or smallpox because that would mean another week of quarantine. That is one reason why you are probably receiving my mail so slowly- I figure about a week for this free mail to travel across country. We have no means of buying stamps or air mail envelopes while we are quarantined. Once we get out I will buy some stamps and try to give you better service.

(Karne), the candy arrived at noon today and it sure is swell. I am glad you bought what I liked and didn’t get some of that Fanny Farmer stuff. I get more enjoyment out of that kind than any of the fancy kinds. Thanks, Mae, I’ll take you to a movie someday to pay you back. Two dollars also came with the 15^th letter and is now resting in my wallet. After quarantine, it will be put into circulation. Let me repeat again however that I don’t need any now and you need it more than I do. I know how expensive things are today and you need every dollar you can lay your hands on. So hang on to them after this and use it when you need it. We are always well fed out here and we have no ration books. We eat as much bread, meat etc. and drink two big mugs of coffee at every meal. So we are a lot better off in that way than you are.

I am glad to hear that (Karne) is getting to bed early there evenings and getting rested. She stayed up many nights to get me off to work and I appreciated it. Now that I go to bed at 9 o’clock, she should do the same. I sleep like a baby out here and had no trouble getting adjusted to sleeping nights. Glad to hear that Aunt Nell is still with us and making life easy and less lonesome for Ma.

So long,

Joe