March 19, 1945

Hello Dot,

Well first I have to get this off me chest. Don’t need a show boat she says. Well coulden’t get up there this winter. What I needed was a good dog team and snow shoes. In the spring open the kitchen door, one step and im in swimming. What a dump heard they were dropping food by air plane. Ha, ha, ha. But will look around I may find a good pair of high top boots.

I get a three day pass some time around the first of the month. So will try to make it up this time. So don’t be surprised if you see a boat put in at your steps.

Well about that neibor of yours. He is here but I haven’t had time to look him up. Don’t worry me take good care of them. So far on this job I am father, mother, big brother also chaplain. I act as doc, nurse, but my job is also trouble shooter. What a pain in the neck this job is some times. One says he says sick the other faints for no reason at all, some want to no how to get out of the army, ha-ha. Hell if I new that one would be out me self. Ha, ha. Some are home sick which is a common ailment in the army, ha, ha.

Some want to no how they can get it fixed so the old woman won’t get any money, ha, some come and tell me they’re going nuts, ha-ha.

Some say they wet the bed, ha. I think I may be slipping every once in a while, ha ha. Do those shots hurt some big guy six foot four ask, ha ha. The speaker in my bldg. is always going full blast. They say Lavery-Lavery-Lavery.

Come to the orderly room. I hush up there this is what I hear. Lavery go to bldg. so and so see whats the trouble. To give you an idea this is some of the things I find. Some guy is sick some other place one has fits. One place some guy was nocking windows out with his head ha ha. One was going to hang himself.

One walks in his sleep fell down stairs twice, ha ha. Another falls out of his bed six times a night. But its all in a day never lost a man yet, ha ha. Seems theu just don’t like this army, ha ha. But they all come out O. K.

Some guys never went to a doc in there life. When they get in here they get some of the dam funniest ailments I ever heard off. But the doc is wise to all them, ha-ha. Castor oil makes them all well the first treatment, ha-ha. See they have heard all about these ailments 11 million men have tried them all, ha ha. I been in the army dam near three years, but I never saw guys going up to a front as scared as some of these. This is the bottom of the barrel now for shure. Get everything lately men that never worked in their life. Seems they still think they can get out even now. Heck they had a tough time ducking this draft. But now we got them ha ha.

One guy was sitting down last night. He said he was just trying to figure out where he slipped up. Ha. Ha. Ha. They still hope to get back out some way.

Its got so when I go up the street they all holler. Hey ___, all the way up think I no them all. I am so easy on them, ha ha. Should be rough and tough like the best are, ha ha.

Well about that wife of mine. I mean the one I wish was some one elses some times, ha. She gets those nutty streaks every once in a while. So just kind of overlook them. She does some of the damdest things sometimes. Think shes a little wacky sometimes. So just don’t let it bother you, I don’t, ha ha. If the kid dies guess it will just have to die. Shes in a sort of a dase or some thing half the time. Don’t no whether that’s bad but don’t think its good, ha ha.

Tell sis I wish her all the luck. Its tough, tough, tough. She can do it I bet, ha ha. Guess I will have to talk to my best girl. She better get on the ball and go to dances. Better she should have all her fun now. She will grow up fast enough. But I think I see he point in one way, ha ha. They try to kiss her so don’t blame her to much, ha ha. She can shure blush pretty. You better start to teach her the facts of life old woman. That old modest stuff is out in this day and age. She is old enough to know whats what.

I mean in good plain strait from the shoulder talk. She will think a hell of a lot more of you. Don’t let her learn the hard way.

Well enough gas say hello to everybody. Miss you all see you soon I hope.

Kisses, Jim