APO 901

Ryukyas Area

August 8, 1945

Dear Father,

August 6, this year was a gaylor day. First off I talked to the first white woman since June 17. Things are in pretty sad shape as you can see. Secondly we received our first beer ration (6 bottles for 10 days.) However I worked out a racket a long time ago whereby I get another boy’s beer too. 12 bottles spaced over that period is just enough to keep the dust out of my throat after a hard day. There is rumors next month that we are to get one a day. Such a ration will keep me happy while adding to my bay window. That was a big day, don’t you think? Today’s mail was good. This morning I got a photograph from one of my female correspondents who is a Boston school teacher. The general feeling here is that if that is the average nun in the Boston schools this outfit is in favor of a large scale educational program in Boston. How about a series of pictures of the Charles Turner District? Maybe I could do some good for some of the old girls.

The second piece of matter was a letter from Phillips Brooks House enclosing a couple of copies the service news a wartime substitute for the Crimson. One issue contained complete idea of commencement you can see that it is not an unprofitable day.

One thing that made me unhappy was that fact that at the time I wrote asking for real addresses such was prohibited. Thus the censor an MIT boy, no less, fixed the deal.

All is well here. We are all hoping that this new bomb will do the job. Perhaps this will replace infantry landings and get things over with soon. In another month I’ll have completed my first enlistment. Henceforth I’ll be an old foggie.

John