April 19, 1945

Dear Billy:

Hiya, Honey Chile.

I really felt awfully bad yesterday when I heard the news that Ernie Pyle had been killed. As you know, I always read his column and enjoyed it so much. I almost felt like I really knew him.

We had a letter from Heltie yesterday and he won’t be home this weekend. The Colonel is having some sort of operation on his eyes and will be in the hospital, which is about 40 miles from where Heltie is, for about two weeks. Heltie offered to drive the Colonel’s wife and his two children to the hospital on Sunday to see him. One of the Colonel’s little girls thinks an awful lot about Heltie. She even sent him a valentine on St. Valentine’s Day. Heltie says she sent the General a valentine, too. That was the extent of her list of valentines—one to the general and one to Heltie.

I have your package with the sneakers about ready to send. I just have to get a box of candy and then I’ll be all set. So far, in addition to the sneakers I have a jar of cheese spread, a box of crackers and the jar of olives from Schrafft’s. (I’ll have a fit of the box weighs more than 5 pounds.)

I expect to be able to make you some cookies over the week-end. Someone has promised me a pound of butter. I hope I get it because I’d like to make you some cookies before the weather gets too hot. I can’t make them during the summer because the oven heats up the place too much.

We saw “Hollywood Canteen” the other night. If it comes to Paris, be sure to see it. It was very good.

Next Tuesday night I’m going to see “Dear Ruth”. I don’t know exactly what the play is about but it’s supposed to be very good. I’ll let you know how I like it after I’ve seen it.

I’m meeting Eileen and a couple of other girls for dinner tonight, so I’ll have to be running along. The last time I kept them waiting about fifteen minutes and did they bawl me out! Eileen said if she kept a record of all the time she’s spent waiting for me, she’d bet it would amount to at least two weeks.

By for now, honey lamb. Let me know if you want anything special.

Squeeze