October 27, 1944

Dear Mom-

Joe and I received your sweet letter today- sure glad to hear from you. Hope these few lines find you in the very best health – as it leaves us still kicking along – with nothing much to grumble about.

We received the package about a wk. ago, I told him to thank you- and the cookies were really swell.

Guess all mothers worry about their boy’s while they are out here. But I’m doing my best to take care of him. So don’t lose any sleep. We will do OK, and if I’m lucky enough to leave here for the Sky Line Drive, I’ll leave a good marine in charge of him, how’s that? When I get back I’m hoping to have the pleasure of meeting you, after all it isn’t too far from Front Royal to Lexington. I think that you and I can manage some way. We don’t have very much excitement these days- just taking it easy- guess Joe told you about a few little things that happened which when we’re fighting the Jap’s – Bay he is good for a laugh any day of the wk. Guess these days would be quite dull with out him being around. I think that he told you about the Jap bicycle ride he took with the flat tires. Well Mom guess there isn’t very much news over this side-

If Joe keeps fooling around I’ll never finish this note- But don’t you worry I’ll have him writing you a line in the near future. Did he tell you that I made him write “Sylvia” one-day last week- ha- he thought that I wouldn’t. I bet he got a laugh out if it too. I’m always teasing him about all of those girlfriends of his.

Guess I’d better soon close- Hope you can read this scratching- after BO- mouth’s out here in the jungle. I can’t seem to improve it a bit.

Well Mom drop us a line when you can- I’ll keep Joe busy cleaning that “Ole Iron Angel” of ours. That’s our tank’s name; I think he really gets a kick out of driving that tank around.

So I’ll save all the news until I can see you-

Just don’t worry maybe Joe can spend his next birthday at home with you all-

So bye bye-

Just a marine pal of Joe’s

Just “Rustie”