Wednesday morning,

6/23/43

Dear, Folks:

There isn’t any news from this end to tell of today. Things are much the same as they have been for the two months I’ve been in the desert.

I was into town again last week-end and spent much of my time in Beverly Hills That is about the nicest looking suburb of Los Angeles and has some beautiful homes. They have palm trees all over the place, big houses, and all white houses. On Saturday night I went to the Palladium- the place where all the big bands play and heard Woody Herman. It is a place on the style of the Meadowbrook only a little larger. It was packed Saturday but I managed to have a good time anyhow. Sunday I went to the movies for a change and caught up with all the pictures I wanted to see. I saw “Coney Island” and the “Herman Comedy”. They were both good and it was nice to see a movie from a comfortable seat once more.

This Time I found a small place to eat in Los Angeles- a place called Cliftons which has nothing, but good food. You serve yourself cafeteria style and the food is delicious. The nicest thing about the place though is the atmosphere it is furnished in Hawaiian style, waterfalls, colored lights and plenty of flowers. They have organ music and singing for lunch and supper. Very restful and cooling for an old desert inhabitant. One of the boys discovered the place when he was in town and told us about it.

How is Dennis Leonard Hand making out? The baby is standing in life with a fine name and I know he will be worthy of it. I was tickled to death when I heard of the swell name Estelle and Tom gave their youngster. Ma must have gotten a special thing out of it to know that the name Dennis was going to be carried on. He will have the memory of Grandpa fresh in our minds- though all of us know we will never forget him.

I am glad to know that Ma is getting her raise. I was working a longer time than that before I got my first one. “Grand-ma” is a good worker though and the company knows a good employee when they see one. Congratulations “Grand-ma” and many more of the same. How is the railroad business “Grand-pa?” All of the lines out here are plenty busy and hauling lots of freight.

Have you received a note from Ed Simyson as yet? He wrote me from England and said he had written to Ma. I was relieved to hear he had gotten there safely. Can you picture Ed strolling down London with a walking stick and monocle? That is just his style and I would give a lot to see him. He is the first of the crowd to get overseas and I never thought he would be sent over. The most of us are on this side and Eddie must feel like a pioneer. I wonder if England will quiet him down? I hope not because I got a kick out of hearing him bellowing and hollowing.

Did I tell you that the moccasins are seeing lots of service? I got them on every evening when I am in the tent hanging around. It was a good repair job and they feel swell. Your extra pair of gloves arrived yesterday and I will put them away carefully for future emergencies. I should have had an extra pain in case of accidents and should have seen to it before. Thanks for going to all the trouble for me and be sure and take the money out of my account. Say by the way how much do I have in the Second National any how? I would just like to know out of curiosity.

We are leaving for a months problem on Saturday, I believe so I might not be able to write for a little while. I am telling you in case you are wondering why I don’t write as often as before. I’ll close now and catch the outgoing mail.

So long for now,

Joe