Monday Evening

3/29/43

Dear Folks

I am writing this in the rec hall just after finishing a game of ping pong. It was my first game since I arrived in Headquarters and I sure enjoyed it. Was to the movies again tonight for the third night in a row and had my regular pint of ice cream.

You asked me several questions in your latest letter. You seemed very concerned about my hair-it is back to normal again after my G. I. cut. We really were scalped for a few weeks but it all grew back in again. The last few haircuts have been good ones and just like I used to get on Park Avenue. I don’t look any different now then I ever did. The next change I get I’ll get a picture with my hat off to frame it to you.

Oh say, while I think about it- I got a note from Bill Walton from Los Angeles. He said he was on his way to a new station and wrote while he was waiting for a train change. That means I won’t have a chance to meet him after all-I suppose he is going quite a ways from Los Angeles. I have his address yet and will continue to write until he gets located again. Mabye we can get together soon-who knows.

Now to get back to the questions. I don’t feel any effects from my stay in the hospital and have about the same weight as I always had. Until you mentioned my sickness, I had forgotten all about it. Never felt better in my life, believe me, That Christopher fellow is in the truck driven section and doesn’t go to school with me. He lives in the barrack of course and we often see each other. But only battery clerks and first sergeants go to the Army Administration School – that is where I go now. The subjects we study only concern the paper work of the army such as Guard Rosters, Sick Book, Ration Book, Special and General Order. We study about the correct manner to make there reports and just who and what they do. Incidentally the course we’ll do over Saturday when we have our final exams.

We were told today that we would not leave for worry for you- we hurried up with our work to get ready by the 28^th and then they tell us we still have two or three weeks. So you see how we learn not to plan ahead very much. The delay is alright with us since we are first beginning to feel like veterans around the place. I can find my way all over by their time and enjoy showing off my knowledge to the newcomers. You see there were three other training batteries sent up here after we were –that means a lot of rookies who are sort of lost.

We were all given a lecture on how to behave on the train- no mailing of letter, get up at a certain hour& make beds and no talking when we actually were learning for our new camp. It is old stuff to most of us now since the trans-confidential ride we had from Camp Ox.__ will no doubt be a nice trip down through California and I am looking forward o a nice leisurely trip. The captain said we would go by a slow route and the trip would last a few days. You see they have to be very careful with there big guns.

I have included the picture of Town House in this letter. It is certainly a very classy place and quite swanky, He sure has come a long ways from his barrack days. It is a lot nicer than any of the officers have around here. Do you suppose he would like a private to walk guard around the place? I would like to apply for the assignment. Tell him I think he is doing swell and like his house very much.

Your little boy has been very lucky up here. The job I have in Message Center is considered as Special Duty and release me from other usually battery duties. That means no kitchen police or guard duty. As a matter of fact I haven’t had any work like that since I’ve been in this army. That makes me unique since almost everyone else has had it at one time or another.

The picture of Nia and Jalin is the best one I have seen of Nia in a long time.It is in my wallet right now with all the other you sent.

p.s. I hadn’t any trouble at all with my field inspection. I had everything and passes with flying color.