Friday morning,

April 28, 1944

Dear Folks:

            I am a few days late on answering your letter of the 20th. I received it on the night of the 26th which is about the fastest one yet.  It would be good if all of them were as quick as that.

            Ma mentioned about hearing from Mrs. Simpson and all the news of our meeting in London.  I’m glad Mrs. Simpson called you up as I know you two had a lot to talk about.  I wrote Addie and told him about seeing where his mother and vunnie got together – he will be pleased I know.  He did get a great kick out of taking me to his barber’s – I was kidding him about being a playboy and man-about town and he sure enjoyed it.

            From what you said in the last letter, Johnson must finally be in the army- I never thought he would get in with all those deferments he had.  If he is in he will be the last one of the old gang to leave Wrights.

            We are still in the field and I am feeling fine.  Living in the open, with all that fresh air and sunshine, makes all of us feel swell.  I personally sleep better and eat more than I do when we were back in camp.  I never dreamed last January when I got in the army that I would become such an outdoor man.  The Hand boys never went camping or hunting in their life- remember?

            I wish I could write something interesting in these letters but that is out of the question.  All I can really is that I am feeling fine and let it go at that.  My Chief intent however is still “781 Madison Ave”.  I like to find out how you are, what you are doing and what you hear from Tom.

            One thing I am grateful for is the fact that Tom is still where he was.  I hope he can always be there- I really mean that and I’m not kidding.  He has his job to do right there and that is where he should want to be.

            On the subject of Toilet articles etc.- I have plenty on hand right now and won’t need any additional for quite some time.  When I need more I’ll ask you for it.  Did I tell you the box came with the hair tone and shampoo in it? It came a few days ago and ? in good shape.

            The pen had me worried for a while so I’m relieved that it finally got back to Dad.  I have two good pens still with me so I didn’t need it.  Envelopes, and paper ect. I also have plenty of.

             Last night we had another movie- “Jack London” and it was ok.  We have our own projector you know and can have a show whenever we get film.  I listened to our radio last night and heard some programs direct from New York.  They are short-wave broadcasts and you probably can’t hear them.  They gave all the baseball scores and accounts of all the games- so I am up to date on that.  I wonder if Tom will be able to get in some ball playing this year.  He had a good season with his team last year and I’d like to see him keep up the good.  If he hadn’t had his tonsils out last year I could have seen him in action with his boys.  It won’t be long before he has Dennis hitting some balls to him though- if I know Tom.  He will probably be able to do a better job than I used to do for Tom.  I could hit the files all night but I never knew just where they were going. Poor Tom used to have to chase them all over the Acre.

            So “Curve-ball” Coming is now in England.  I can remember when he and Tom used to be the pitcher for the South Paterson Cardinals- what a pitching staff that was.

            The “surprise” I mentioned is a couple of days late but might reach me tomorrow.  Dad says he has a good guess as to what it is- I wonder if he is right.  You’ll all know in about two or three weeks.  You’ll all know in about two or three weeks.

            Say you might get something from me for O’Brian as a wedding present.  I didn’t think about it at all and I should get him something.  He did a lot of favors and for me and I would like to give him and the Mrs. a present of some kind.  Will you and Helen go down to the bank and buy something, Ma?  Don’t be walking all over town looking for something- just go to some of the big stores “hang” the expense.

            It was nice of Tom to go down to Charlie’s house.  He didn’t know them at all and I think all the more of him for going down like that and seeing the family.  I won’t forget him for doing it and neither will Charlie.  It was a darn nice gesture for him to make.  I know it wasn’t easy for him to do that as both of us aren’t very forward.  Thanks, Tom for doing it.

            You should see all the “Posts” I have now.  I need about two weeks off to catch up on all of them.  I pass them around to the boys so they all have a look at them.

            This morning I think we will have pancakes for breakfast.  The cooks do a good job on them but the still can’t make them as good as Ma used to.  You’ll have to make some up for me the first morning I’m home again, Ma.  Also a few “crumb” burns and some good old American coffee.  And I’ll have the little radio going at the same time if you won’t mind.

            Well I’ve rambled on long enough I suppose so I’ll say Cheerio and God bless you, all of you.

                                                                                                Love,

                                                                                                     Joe