Auburn, N.Y.

October 29, 1942

Dear Joe,

I received your letter yesterday and was awfully glad to hear from you and to know you liked it. I made a mistake; I got one from Paul yesterday and yours to-day. Yours was stamped October 26-5 P.M. here October 29: morning mail, that’s not too bad. Paul’s was written October 4 arrived in New York October 6. I got it October 28 but that’s good to the way I used to get them- he is at the same work. I enclosed a letter in his to you when I wrote you at Niagara; I do hope you get it. Yesterdays letter says he is in the army October 3- but hopes it’s soon over as he don’t care to stay over there 6 months more- it seems a year since he left home, hope you are getting a lot of work in R.R., the letters and papers he just finished getting them we went Edwards, and our letters are just starting to come through now, more regular. He said in yesterdays letter he just got my letter of September 17.- and the letters and papers were coming in more up to-date news. Imagine reading the August news in October I had the paper sent to you for 3 months. I will send a bundle V. has done up for you from October 16 on. Mrs. Gaudner was in and she was asking for you this A.M. Mary was in and Pearl took me out awhile after she came home from work. She is coming up Saturday or Sunday to give Pappy a lesson, he got his bank to fill out but will tend that Saturday M & M and Nortons came in suddenly Saturday P.M. we didn’t get to bed until 2 A.M. V. was all in “you know how useless they are” (talk) all the time, I really felt sorry for him. He gave them coffee every meal and it took 1 pound. Most of it gone and M. says all I got 12 pounds ahead some nerve but you know Martha. It was too bad about that fellow getting hurt, that was the one on with Harry Tyler. He is holding his own. The trains seem to me to being going out very late. Charlie’s train is getting in earlier. They seem to be calling Bill Dan’s real often, but don’t always get him. I think they are quite short of help especially that fellow getting hurt. I had Jimmy and David the other P.M. Jimmy got inside the door his voice is so deep for so small a kid. He says got any candy Mrs. O’Brian he damaged the name rut. He is so funny. They were real good. He says, “How is Joe?” I told him in the army and he says, “and Paul too?” That was all that was said about the army but two hours later when V. came home he had to go let him in. Then in that deep stern voice he looked up at him and says, “are you in the Army?” Well you’d have to laugh he was so sincere. She had the baby to the Doctor, she brought him in, and he looks just like Jimmy. He found the teddy-bear and what a hug he gave it. You could see he missed it and knew he left it here: Brooksie won’t come now, she says for him to sell the house. Annie is crying for heat but I’m not falling for it. I told her we were shutting off the upstairs & that’s, that. Mrg and Graney got hit and is in the Mercy Hospital. Her leg is broken, so Annie has a place to go, gone up there this P.M.

What does that-Replg and Bn stand for or can you say? Jerry couldn’t make his letters out so he called and we straightened him out- (Big stuff getting a card from California). He told me Sunday they all went to march Field but I never heard of it before. Is Stau. in your outfit? I talked with Gertrude but she hadn’t a letter yet but got one since, but I know she is fussy so I’ll let her call me. Paul said in his letter yesterday no doubt Joe will trade with the Dunham boys. Wait until he hears where you are. I sent his address to you. I sent the picture of your barracks to Mother yesterday, so if you could get me another one we would be very glad to get it. I will send some paper and stamps to you in your box but Pappy has been working overtime this week and neither one of us has got rested out- No Dry Day didn’t come in yet. Bernard Moore has to go Nor. A. Jerry said Gerals is called for after election with another big bunch no doubt you’ll get that in the paper. Mary was just here she wanted to get your address right it seems they stamp over your signature number on all cards and letters just by chance. I could read mine so don’t write too near the stamp space. Yes I would like very much to take a trip out to the coast after it’s all over; which I hope will be soon. I haven’t had a chance to read up on the politics, but I will do so. Well Joe I will say good night with love from Mother and Dad. Will write again the last of week bond application and parcel post receipt came O.R. bag arrived O.R. had suit cleaned and put in mothproof bag. Send cards to Jimmy and David, they still have the ones Paul sent from Bragg.