April 11, 1943

Dear Mom,

Last Friday I wrote to everybody and didn’t mail them till Sunday- then didn’t get back to civilization for 2 days so my 1^st letter tonight will be to you. Before I get too busy telling you about nothing, will you send one of those pictures I had taken to Jan? What am I doing asking you when I should be telling you. Send the best one of the bunch - all of them probably look like hell on account of that binge but that was explained to her in one of my letters, so that will just have to do. You seen me last anyway so give her a shot at it for a change. I think I’ve walked over half of N. Carolina in the last two days. It was hell - in the sun - that sort of whacked me out but I made it. These people are nuts around here. We are allowed one canteen (a quart) of water a day on a march, and the amount sweated out exceeds the quart so what the hell kind of medical department does the Marine Corps have? No wonder their guys fold up one after another. No fooling Mom it’s really rugged - walking around with the mountain of junk an infantryman drags around. So far my feet haven’t given me the slightest trouble and it looks like they’re broke in for the duration. The hot season has started with a bang and I’m glad we’re leaving this swamp for good. I hope you hold out in this heat better than you usually do (I mean what you call summer). Got a letter from Wally and one also from Frank. They still send my mail to the 49^th for some reason or another – which is the usual way things are done in the M.C. – upside down. Now that we’re close to the jumping off time, these kids are going A.W.O.L so fast some mornings there isn’t enough at roll call to fill a company out of a whole battalion. When and if they ever come back, the jail is so filled they have to wait around to get in. Usual punishment is $150.00 fine (3 months pay) five to 10 days solitary confinement with bread and water or a couple of months in the brig. It’s stiff punishment but it doesn’t deter there guys from going. I’d like to come home again and would and to hell with their punishment but it would be marked in my record book and ruin any chance I might have for a good character reference in the M.C. should I need such in civilian life later on.

I’m O.K. as usual - don’t worry about me. That touch of sun kept me from eating for a couple of days (except 2 cans of sardines) I bummed from a kid but I feel swell now. Had a fair feed tonight when I came back but I think those g-d fools are going out on the same thing tomorrow. It’s all right with me but I’d just as soon stick around here. Frank says Henry has moved to Valley’s California. Wonder where that’s at. Rumor has it that if we go to San Diego, they’re forming the 5^th Marines. Maybe we’ll help fill that outfit up - hope not since they’re going to start fighting pretty soon. I’d just as soon hook up with another branch, 3^rd or fourth who’ll lay around for a while before they start - I’m getting too damn lazy to breathe lately. This would be a swell life for a guy like me in peacetime. They don’t do anything but drill a few holes in the morning, then lay around for the rest of the day. The Marines always guard something someplace and there’s no softer job in the world than guard duty. In fact I was disgusted with myself after 72 hours of it. It got so I was too lazy to get out of bed and eat. This other stuff is rough going through - long marches, night problems on short rations and water, but we get by in the end and that’s all that counts. Enough of this stuff.

Don’t forget to send that picture to Jan - make it soon. Take care of yourself now - do as you’re told for a change. I got your last letter and to listen to you talk, you’d think you liked me. I really believe you do so if you want to mention it just to reassure yourself it’s all right with me. Take good care of yourself Mom - I love you more than anybody else (that means everybody too - just as it reads). Say hello to Mollie – you probably know by now I wrote to her also.

Love,

Bun