May 14, 1944
Darling,
Another scorcher today. The perspiration is running in rivers off of me just from the exhaustion of writing. I did not write last night as I did not have time because I was working off and on and had to keep leaving my letter writing.
I’m sending along a super note to show you what the currency is like here (by not to spend it all in one place).
By the way the difference in our time here than yours is ten hours and twenty six minutes. Maybe that will help you in trying to figure out what I’m doing from time to time. I find it hard myself when thinking of you to figure whether you are at work or sleeping, etc. because of the difference in time
I received a letter from you yesterday that was written on my birthday. You asked me whether it was a happy one and I must admit it was quite to the contrary. I was unaware until that morning that it was the twenty sixth and we were still on shipboard. I was also taken with a case of cramps that lasted two or three days o I spent most of my time lying in my bunk. Someday soon I hope to be home with you on my birthday and that will indeed be a happy occasion darling. Gosh I miss you and all your loving companionship meant to me. Needless to say I’d give anything or do anything to be with you. You know how, here we have American, English, Chinese, French, Burmese, Anglo- Indian, Indian, etc., girls and can companion them with you and find them pitifully lacking. Of course correctly there is no comparison as they are an entirely different hope. In short though explained rather badly you sent me to a T (and a great big T at that).
A word about our uniforms here. We are allowed to go to town without ties and with sleeves rolled up or rather cut short. I haven’t shortened any of mine but do turn them back if I can escape the M.P. we all were pith helmets for the sun and most even wear them to town. However I buy mine just for work. We are also allowed to wear English bush jackets in place of shirts as they are very cool. They make a nice looking uniform. There is also a shoulder patch we are required to wear designating us as Americans. I will send you one.
Sent into a Red Cross Establishment last night and was looking over some state register books and found about six fellows from Juincy signed in. However I wasn’t familiar with the names of any of them.
In the course of the evening I rode in a nickshaw, gharry, or carriage, and a fair with a bearded and turbaned driver. These different conveyances used to be a novelty but are a common thing to us now and a nuisance.
You can buy some fairly decent Tom Collins’s of which I conserve my share nut that is all I dare to trust as the Indians will sell you anything to drink in order to get your money. He got a case of beer a month at our area so things are not too bad. Too much drinking in this climate will drive a man crazy and as I have a headstart I am taking it easy. Well honey that is all for a few more hours.
Lots of Love,