September 4, 1944

Hello Louise,

I got your letter today boy was I glad to get it. Well this place is just like all other camps, it has it good paints and its bad ones and it is hot as the devil here. They are giving us hard training too. Yes I was lucky to get here with my brother-in-law. I am sitting here with him now. Well my uniform does look good on me but I would rather have the navy uniform. I will have my winter uniform on when I come home. I have got a GI’s hair cut but I don’t care it feels good. I think I will get to come home Saturday but I won’t have time to come to see you, because I will only be home 6 hours, if I make good time. I would rather see you than any girl I know of, but mother would rather see me than you. Louise, I didn’t know how much I loved you till I got here where I couldn’t see you or any other girl. I could have got off till Christmas but I thought I wasn’t any better than my brothers or any other boys. My brothers are all at seas and I couldn’t stand it at home any longer.

Still, I am glad you are going to school at Mars Hill. I can come to see you Christmas. There isn’t but two girls down here and they work in the P.2. Exchange. Well I will send you my basket ball and if I don’t see you any more you can use it for Swiney. Be a good girl and write me after or you will.

Love always,

Ike

P.S. I will have a big picture made and send it to you.

I have got an M1 finger caused by the M1 rifle so I’m writing with two fingers.