19 September, 1944

Dearest Father and Mother,

Your letters have been swell, and I enjoy each one so very much. Word from home here is like a touch of sunshine on a stormy sea. We are busy most of the time and I feel in the pink, however, I miss my Billie and home terribly. It shouldn’t be too long before I get my much wanted leave and then for thirty days we’ll have a real honeymoon and each minute will surely count.

The news has been very good lately and I hope it will continue. It is too bad that the Germans and Japs are so very stubborn. They could save money and lives if they would only realize that they can’t win against the world.

I have been out in the jungles quite a bit lately and the other day in order to avoid heavy jungle marshes, which run from knee to waist deep, yours truly and a few others swam down a river for about three miles through jungles where there are still some Japs. It was quite an interesting experience, and we were only bothered by the usual marsh insects and a few ducks didn’t know whether or not to land on our heads, but they were so amused that they followed us for quite a way. Unfortunately, our guns were slung across our backs and also we didn’t want to attract attention of any Japs so we just continued on. It sure felt good to get back to camp again and into some dry, clean clothes.

We have had a lot of rain lately, and whenever the sun comes out, it feels might good even though it is warm. We are wet one way or another, so it doesn’t make a great deal of difference.

Well, it will soon be fall back there, my favorite time of the year and the start of the hunting season. Wish I could be there to enjoy it. After the war, the ducks should be quite plentiful, and I hope to be able to bag my share.

Have you been to any clam bakes this year? Boy, oh boy! How I would like to take in a clam bake or two with a few corn roasts thrown in for good measure. I shall never forget the ones the Brownells use to have at Warrens Point. They were lots of fun. I also recall the hay rides and farm dances at the old acre. What fun they were. Little Compton holds many happy memories, all thanks to you. Guess, I must be a little homesick but a fellow does a lot of thinking out here in the jungles, and what could be finer than to have many happy memories to recall and think about. I’m a very lucky fellow to have such a wonderful family. I only hope that others can be as fortunate. Oh yes, I’ve done my hell raising too and hope to do a lot more. One has to let off steam every now and then or the good things can’t be appreciated. In the meantime, I think I’ll take a bath and go to bed.

Please take good care of yourselves and don’t worry about my future, Father. It is quite likely that I’ll go back to real estate after the war until I get my ranch, but in any event, I’m not worrying about it. Men can have anything in this world if he wants it, and if he makes up his mind to go after it in the right way. We are going to have the ranch door open for you at all times.

Lovingly,

Willard

P.S. I hope to take a trip east before we settle down after the war and then we can have a big reunion and talk and talk. Then after that, you must visit us wherever we are and we’ll give you a royal time. Good night dear ones. More love, Willard