November 26, 1943

Friday afternoon,

Dear Folks:

I am up to my old tricks again practicing on the typewriter and catching up on my letter writing at one and the same time. I used to use Bill Walton as a model to practice upon and I hope you won’t mind too much taking his place. Before I go too far I want to ask your pardon for the many errors which are bound to come up. I am using the portable in the office and I am afraid it is none too good.

Well I have been at this camp again for about six now and I feel right at home. It seems as though I has never left the place-the area I am in now is two blocks away from my old home and is just the same. The tents are the same and but for the change in climate, just like the old 980^th used to be. It is much cooler out here now and sometimes I wear my overcoat when I go to the movies. Most of the time however I get along with just my jacket and scarf. The mornings are cool but not cold, noon time is just right and not at all unpleasant. I usually do all of my shaving and cleaning up at noon time- the water is just a bit too cool in the mornings. We have a stove in our tent in case it ever gets cold but I doubt if we will ever have to use it, I don’t know where we would get wood to burn if we ever did have to build a fire. I have my sleeping bag spread out on the cot just as I did in the summer. It is nice and warm and I can sleep the clock around in it. I don’t use any blankets in the bag because it has a built in comforter and is plenty warm just as it is.

My evenings are spent in the same old way- I go to the movies stop in at the post exchange for a bit to eat and then go home to bed. I really should write more letters in the evenings but you see it is really dark very early. By six thirty it is too dark to see without a light. I have my flashlight of course and could write by that means if I was good enough. The rest of the fellows in my tent are thinking of all of chipping in and buying a lantern. That way we could have all the light we wanted, I think after payday we will get together and see what we can do. There are six of us in the tent and the price shouldn’t be too much. I’ll let you know what develops along that line.

I am still attached to the Group Headquarters as a sort of all around man-I am in the S-2 and S-3 sections at oneanl the same time. I really don’t do very much at any time, just trying to look busy, I always have a map in my hand looking wise and trying to fool the bosses into thinking that I know something. Everybody else in the section does the same thing so I don’t feel out of place. We must have five hundred maps spread all over the place and they all are of the area. What they intend to do with all of them I don’t know- they would make a swell bon fire, I know that. The army sure does waste a lot of paper on such things as maps, newspapers and bulletins.

I just came back from supper and your package of candy just arrived. It was the one wrapped in the cookie box and had the fruit in it. It is swell and I have already consumed two chocolate bars from it. Thanks a lot—you know how I like candy and we have had none in the post exchanged here yet. It takes a while for them to get the place stocked up and no candy has been sold as yet. They should have candy in a few days so with your packages and what they sell I’ll be all set. Thanks again.

I also got a letter from Johnson and one from good old Eddie Silpson tonight. Johnson was very enthusastic about the blanket and said it was the best present his “small boy” received. He said Ma showed very good taste and he was proud to have his “small boy” wearing the Hand blanket. I hope you didn’t forget to take the money from my bank as I wanted to do that for Johnson. Remember that will you? He was a darn good boss and even if Simpson and I used to “cry” to him all the time, we still thought he was a pretty good egg. Simpson and I used to drive the poor guy crazy. Eddie Simpson wrote a very cheery letter from England, he seems to be in good spirits and had another visit to London. He sure is getting around and I sure wish I could see the dizzy guy again. He used to be a lot of fun and one of the most generous guys I ever met. It was worth working on the third shift to meet guys like him and O’Brien. We sure did have a picnic every night with that old crew. Speaking of O’Brien Johnson told me that is now in a tank outfit somewhere in Arkansas. I’ll have to get his address and drop him a few line.

Well I think I’ll close this letter now and go to bed. I’m on duty tonight at the office and will go to bed early. All I have to do is answer the phone if it happens to ring and be here in case anyone drops in. It also gives me a chance to catch up on my letters so I don’t mind it a bit. Goodbye for now and thanks for the candy once again.

Joe