Wednesday morning,

5/26/43

Dear Folks,

            I am writing this from the field where we are on a four day problem. We left camp Tuesday morning and will be back Friday night. We are about 30 miles from the camp and all set to begin the attack this morning. You see we came to our bivouac area or rendezvous yesterday and moved here during the night. Message Center is at the command port and we are surrounded by all kinds of radios, jeeps, anti-tank guns. I am sitting near my slit trench, which I assure you is a work of art. I have become pretty proficient with the shovel and pick since we came down here. In the field everyone has to dig a fox-hole or slit trench for themselves- even the colonel.

            There isn’t much work for us to do out here – we just take messages from the radios and deliver them to the office or vice versa. If there are any messages for the batteries they are taken by jeeps. So we don’t have to walk very much at all. It is a good thing because you know how hard it is to walk on the seashore – well the sand in this area is just as soft.

             We have our mail brought out to us and I just laughed reading three letters – one from Ma, Helen and Tom. I got a kick out of Ma’s question of what do we do when it rains? That is one thing we don’t have to worry about Ma. It rains here about 3 or 4 times a year so we don’t have to even think about it. If it did rain we would just take a shower for ourselves. – I am glad to hear that Ma is getting a raise and some overtime. That is when you really start to get in the money. You will have to start thinking about paying some income tax for Ma. It is swell that the work agrees with you and you are feeling fine. It is good to have something to occupy your mind and help pass the time away.

            Helen asked me again for a portrait picture and I will have to ask your forgiveness again. I just can’t seem to get around to having one taken – you know how I hate to sit for a formal picture. I would feel very self-conscious. Until I caught my nerve up and perhaps go into town again, you’ll have to get along with those snapshots. Even when I am getting those taken, I feel foolish. By the way I want to thank all of you again for your prayers, masses etc. Thanks for the candles, Helen.

            Well, an hour has passed since I started this and I still haven’t done any work today. If we keep up at this rate the war will never be over. Our gun batteries are firing however so we should have some results soon.

So long,

Joe