Aug, 12, 1944 Darling,

Had another mail call and this time Mom beat you on letters. 3 from you and 8 from Mom. However you more than made up for it in length of your letters and in their loving sweetness. I adore you Hun! How I wish I were able to express just how much however guess that must wait until I can prove it by my actions. What a wondrous day that will be!!!!!!!!!

Received 2 inoculations today. One for typhus and one for cholera I believe. As we took them at lunch time as soon as I was finished I came back and wrote to Mom. I said they felt fine but am afraid I was a bit premature in my arousal. As I have taken so many usually shots do not bother me anymore but for some reason one of these really stiffened and aroused my arm to ache. That coupled with the envy I felt anyway makes you the wife of one miserable old man. Would like to go to bed but even that is impossible.

After I had finally fixed my corner of the tent so it didn’t leak anymore, brother Long decided the tent leaked too much and proceeded to take it down to erect another one. This is a long job even with the coolies he had helping and as a result the tent is still in the process of erection at this time 7:30 P.M. when it is finally finished I still have to bring my bed in and get set up again. Get to bed sometime I guess.

Darling I have a request to make. Could you purchase a fountain pen and send it to me via air mail? Am sick of borrowing someone else’s as I did tonight and despite all my effort cannot repair my own. Have had the darned thing completely apart down to the last part. The point stopped up completely and no amount of flushing or prying will free it. The point will not come off either. So how about it darling? If you do send me one I promise to write no other girl but my own dear wife. Is it a deal?

You know Baby you said something in one of your letters that struck a responsive chord within me. You have mentioned it before but since I have been away from you I sometimes see things retouching our relationship and affection more clearly. It is trivial but then you claimed that one day long ago you hated red hair and now Mom has said the same thing to Dad and I so many, many times. Look how devoted they are and how their love and regard for each other matures as they do. There is a great similarity in the two unions. At times you resemble my mother very much and I have after wondered at it. If we could be as happy and successful as they are I have been I don’t think we should complain. You completely own one red-head who worships you but perhaps as they have done you too shall give birth to another of the species. Perhaps even more, who can foresee? All kidding aside that is entirely your decision. Cannot help that if we are ever reunited we shall have an extremely wonderful and joyous life ahead of us!

Well Q. Brown and Jimmie Greco are sitting here in my office waiting for me to finish so- Jimmie who is a just kid sends you his love. Give my love to our family.

All my love,

Warren

[comments on image of woman using cowdung cakes for fuel]

This is cow manure they pick up off the street, etc, mold into cakes and plaster on their houses, walls, etc. to dry out. They burn it in their cooking fires

[comments on image of man gathering cocoanuts]

Even our little office boys are skilled at climbing these tall, smooth trees. They climb one in the length of time it would take me to decide not to attempt it. Believe me that is fast.