November 11, 1943

7 p.m. Thursday

Dear Folks

We had leave from noon today to come into town and see the parade. Some of our boys had to march in it and our guns were on display in the town square. It is about 7 in the evening now and once again I’m in the U.S.O club house. There is a little nip in the air so your warm scarf is being worn. That scarf has helped me warm many times and I’m glad I have it

As usual we are just doing nothing at camp. Every morning we get up build a fire and hang by it all day. Aside from eating and showering we hardly move away from it at all. All this hanging around is going to make me lazy but there just isn’t anything to do. We may start orating our equipment now for the train ride to California – that will keep us busy for a time. I’m getting used to moving by this time – I get around the United States just like we used to move over Madison Ave. How many houses have we had on Madison anyway? Miss Murphy’s is the best one of them all and I hope we stay there all the time. You probably miss Tom and I throwing our clothes all over the place but we’ll be back for good one of these days.

Tomorrow might I think I will try and call you up. So before you get the letter you may talk to me. I was going to try a call tonight but the crowd around the phone is too big. The call most likely would never go through.

The club is furnishing sandwiches tonight in honor of the holiday. I’ve had two already and am going back for more. The club has a soda machine and I’ll have a little party of my own. Mail service had been pretty poor the last couple of days and I haven’t seen Mas picture yet. I’m very anxious to see it and read about my wonderful mother. Give my regards to Miss Murphy and all the other neighbors.

Joe