Mar 27, 44

Dear Mom & Dad,

Today we went on a 12-mile hike out through the woods to a clear field where we were taught about explosives. Later in the evening each one of us hiked a stick of dynamite and threw it and boy did it shame the ground. We were out there all day. We ate canned “C” rations.

I also received a letter from Gladys and Preston. The letter I got from Julia told me about Capt Bailey the horse doctor.

I sure would like to see the trailer when daddy and Reid get it finished.

Tell daddy I said thanks a lot for the cakes that he paid for. I sure did enjoy them and so did the other kids. Lots of the girls and boys used to come up to me at school and say, “you sure do have nice parents and they really know how to treat you.” That’s right you’d be surprised how many told me that.

Well I had better stop and answer some of these letters. That letter I wrote you last night was so long it was the only one I got wrote.

With love,

Your son,

Joe

P.S. I saw the Moran boy in Jacksonville Sunday and talked to him.