30 MAY 1944

DEAR MRS K –

 

            RECEIVED SOME OF MY BACK MAIL TODAY AND IN IT WERE 7 LETTERS AND 2 PACKAGES FROM YOU. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE ONE CONTAINING GYM SHOES ETC. YET. I WOULDN’T HAVE RECEIVED THIS AT ALL, NOR BEEN ABLE TO ANSWER IT HAD NOT OUT SAILING ORDERS BEEN POST-PONED FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. I SHALL GO THRU ALL THESE RIGHT NOW AND WRITE DOWN THE ANSWERS TO ALL THE QUESTIONS THEREIN.

YOU MENTIONED GETTING THE SECOND BOND SO I GUESS THER’RE COMING THRU OKAY – DISREGARD MY QUESTIONS ON THAT SCORE. BY ALL MEANS SEND SOME OF MY MOMEY TO AUNT KATE. THE FOOD IS GOOD, BUT MONOTONOUS WE ARE SUPPLIED THROUGH AMERICAN FORCES FOR THE MOST PART SO ITS PRETTY FAIR – EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE WE HAVE TO DRAW FROM THE LIMEYS AND THATS MURDER. ANY TIME YOU’VE THE URGE TO SENT STUFF (SUCH AS GUM, CANDY ETC) GO RIGHT AHEAD – THIS IS PRACTICALLY NON-EXISTENT. ALSO AMERICAN TOOTHPASTE AS THE ENGLISH BRAND ARE TERRIBLE. CIGARETTES & SMOKING TOBACCO ARE PLENTIFUL. I RECEIVED A BOX OF CIGARS FROM DR. DALTROFF TODAY – THEY ARE IMPOSSIBLE TO GET AND I’VE GOTTEN TO ENJOY THEM A LOT AFTER MEALS – IT’S THE GRAN’ PAPPY McGEHEE IN ME. I ALSO GOT A SMALL BOX OF CANDY FROM JUNIOR TODAY. THERE ARE THE FIRST PACKAGES I’VE RECEIVED AND ALL WERE IN GOOD SHAPE – ALL PACKAGES SHOULD BE STRONGLY BOXED AS THEY TAKE A BEATING IN THE MANY HANDLINGS. I WOULD BE MORE THAN PLEASED TO HAVE A. KATES HOUSE PAINTED – GO RIGHT AHEAD AND USE WHAT IS NECESSARY AND BE SURE THAT UNCLE JACK GETS THE WORK. REGARDING A PICTURE IN MY WHITES I SHALL BE GLAD TO HAVE ONE MADE FOR YOU WHEN IT IS POSSIBLE. I WON’T BE ABLE TO HAVE THIS DONE FOR SOME TIME BUT I WILL HAVE IT DONE WHEN I CAN. DON’T WASTE GOOD MONEY ON THOSE I HAD TAKEN AT MID’N SCHOOL, THEY WERE NO GOOD. THEY ARE INCIDENTALLY THE ONLY UNIFORM PICTURES OF ME THAT WERE MADE. I’VE A COUPLE OF SNAPS THAT WERE MADE OF ME BY ARTIFICIAL LIGHT IN “DOWN UNDER” CONDITIONS WHICH I THINK  YOU’VE SEEN WHICH SOMEHOW GOT INTO MY LUGGAGE WHICH I’M SENDING BACK. SINCE I NOW HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO WRITE TO GINNIE I SHAL DO SO AND I’LL PUT THEM IN HER LETTER. ONE IS VERY PHILOSOPHIC AND THE OTHER SALTY.

            THAT’S MOST OF THE QUESTIONS AND WHAT BACK MAIL I RECEIVED TODAY ABOUT BRINGS US UP TO DATE.

            I STARTED THIS LETTER YESTERDAY AND SINCE THAT TIME I’VE RECEIVED ANOTHER V-MAIL FROM YOU ANSWERING MOST OF MY QUESTIONS – I THINK WE’RE PRETTY MUCH CAUGHT UP ALL AROUND. I ALSO GOT A LETTER FROM TOM YESTERDAY WHICH GAVE ME LOTS OF THE LOCAL POPE, INCLUDING THE ESCAPADE OF REV. POLAND-CHINA McGEHEE. ALSO A LETTER FROM HENRY WHICH PRETTY MUCH GIVES ME A PICTURE OF THE FLUVANNA SET-UP. OH YES, ALSO ONE FROM AUNT KATE.

            ONE OF THE FELLAS HAD SOME AMERICAN MONEY TODAY AND IT SURE LOOKED FUNNY. I’M VERY PROFICIENT IN THE ENGLISH AND FRENCH CURRENCY AND COIN NOW, AND GOOD OL’ AMERICAN CASH LOOKED LIKE CIGAR COUPONS.

            I’LL WIND THIS UP SO I CAN GET OFF A QUICKLE TO GINNIE TONIGHT. IF I DON’T GET IT OFF TONIGHT I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET IT MAILED SO I’D BETTER GET IT MAILED WHILE I CAN.      KEEP A-WRITIN’ AND DON’T WORRY YOU HEAD ABOUT ME I’M DOIN’ OKAY AND THE SITUATION IS WELL IN HAND. DON’T FORGET TO SEND PICTURES OF ANY OR EVERYBODY YOU CAN AS I HAVE ONLY THOSE TWO OF JACKSON THAT YOU SENT ME. KEEP DORIS PICTURE UP, I DON’T WANT IT TAKEN DOWN. SO LONG FOR NOW

 

GENE