Feb 5, 1944

Dear Mom and Dad,

I have received your letters this week but haven’t had time to answer them or any others. I have 8 others to answer besides the 6 of yours I have to answer. I received one from Gladys, Ronnie, Julia, Dr. M, Sula, Aunt Maude, and 2 from Liz.

Here I start on your letters. First is on Jan 28, from what you say Mary Alice is having a pretty tough time.

I wish I were there to be in the election. I don’t whether I would get it but sure would like to get it. Ask Julia if it would be possible for me to get one of each of the group pictures that was taken for the crystal such as library pictures and cheer leader pictures, etc.

In one of your letters you said Mrs. T had a good time with Jimmy but found it hard to get something to eat. Around here you really get plenty to eat. For dinner I had 2 big pieces of steak, French Fried Potatoes, creamed corn, lima beans, and chocolate pie with that egg meringue top. Not bad. When I got back from chow we had mail call. Boy was I surprised to receive that nice box of food, but we really enjoyed it. I also got a letter from Liz today but didn’t find time to open the letter or the box either till after supper. I hate how busy we are. It was all gone within a half hour after I opened it. We got some ice cream at the PX to go with it.

Tell Dad

For the last 2 or 3 days we have been shooting 22 rifles and today we shot our real combat rifle, which we used to use in parades. We shot our rifle 4 times. That was to get the feel of the rifle. When we shoot we shoot right out into the Atlantic Ocean. When you shoot the 22 you can see the shots hit the water. Today we also learned the main thing of hand grenade, how it works, and how to throw one.

The other night we went to an indoor swimming pool, which would make 11 or 12 of the V.M.I. pool. It is supposed to be one of the largest indoor pools in the world. If we could swim we swam across twice was 100 yards. And then we got out, but the ones that couldn’t have to go back every evening till they learn. I made it easy but a lot of them didn’t. Even some of the V12’s didn’t make it. Being in a platoon with V12’s has its advantage. Some of the other platoons have to eat of their mess gear. We don’t. We also get the best-located huts. We get the best food to but one thing is that I don’t have a chance to come home a private first class. I’ll just be a buck private because can’t but 50% of a platoon can become privates first class. There are over 50% V12 in our platoon now and all the V12’s will come out private first class.

I don’t know whether I will have to bring my blankets home or not. They will let me know. I will get a ten-day furlough when boot camp is out as far as I know. I will probably have to come home the way they send me because I get furlough rates and they are only allowed on the slowest train.

Two day to go and 2 to come back leaves me 6 days at home. Why don’t you write Eugene a letter and maybe he could tell me a quicker way to get home if I get to go by my own route.

Up here on the rifle range now they get us up at 5:30 but I am already awake because I am so used to getting up at that time. At 5:45 we have chow and have to have the beds made up and floors swept and mopped. That’s a lot to do in 15 minutes. They rush you more up here than at the main base.

Feb 6, 1944

I didn’t get through answering your letters so I try to finish now.

It is Sunday evening now and I have just finished my washing.

In one of your letters you said Dad hadn’t fixed my bike up to sell. Well that’s ok because it doesn’t matter when. I just write things as I think of them. Take my “L” off and get it cleaned and give it to Julia. I forgot all about it. Find out where my group picture of Pinafore is. It is either at home there or down at Julia’s. I had it down there one night and I don’t remember if I took it home. Well I have glad to hear some people are asking about me. I didn’t think anybody would remember me.

That underwear I don’t need because they issued us a plenty. I don’t use those socks around here but will when I get through boot cam. There is no extra room for anything around here so I sent them home and can get them when I come home.

I won’t need any money while I’m here and I think I will have enough to come home on. If I don’t I’ll write you. My money belt really comes in handy up here on the range. I wear it all the time. We get to go to the P.X. every night and about the only money I spend is for a qt. of milk and a pt. of cream. I have to buy a bottle of Clorox sometimes and also some toothpaste.

I have had seven shots in my arm and will get one more when I get back to the main base.

Tell Eugene he probably won’t see me for about a month yet at Yamassee.

I enjoyed the SSS program a lot although I didn’t know any of them except McAlister. In the last letter I got from Dot she said they were moving to Texas. Did you know that?

I bet Bob could really play the part of a D.I. I wish I could have been there, although I would probably have to stand up. Pickle and I stood up at the last one.

I wouldn’t have thought Mrs. Faison would shoot herself. The town sure will be changed when I get back.

Tell Sula thanks for the cookies and popcorn. I sure do miss that popcorn we used to make down at Mrs. Smiths. The cakes and cookies and everything got here ok and weren’t mashed up at all. Someone wrote another outside of the package “ground Hog Day and all is well” I expect it was Reid.

Well I’ll stop now as I’ve answered all of your letters and don’t know anything else to tell you.

With lots of love

Your Son

Joe

P.S. Tell everybody hello.