Dec. 24, 1943
Dear Mom.
I received your letter and Mollie’s card and note also. It was the best
possible present on Christmas for me. What the dollar was for I don’t
know and I’m debating whether or not to send it back. Guess I’ll hang on
to it for train fare. Don’t send me cookies, candy or anything else like
that because the place is infested with cockroaches. They get into
everything and I don’t want food that they crawl around in. Thanks for
the offer anyway. That flu epidemic you mentioned. Remember your
resistance is low and you catch cold easy so don’t take any chances around the
cemetery or any place else. You know you are careless about such
things. Glad to hear you got that card from Henry. He never forgets.
So Frank and Viola stopped again. It looks like Frank is going to lose
out in that contest. Hope he doesn’t because we make a good team.
Henry and I made a good team too. His trouble was that he stayed away
from home too long.
This is the best part of the day for me, when I can write to you. It’s
hard to say the pleasure derived from it. I never thought letter writing
could be so much fun. My stationary is holding but good so you’ll hear
from me quite often or at least every time the opportunity comes along.
Seems to me Mame Hamman
would invite you over to her place on Christmas seeing that you are by yourself
now. Visit those people who can tell you something else besides their
troubles, it’s better for you. You have enough to worry about without
somebody else, so don’t forget. Just now we’re going to sign the pay
roll. The money I get will be saved for train fare which is the next most
important thing in my life these days. I’ve been trying to figure out the
most direct way home. It seems like straight to
Being the day before Christmas they give us a breathing spell and it’s the
nicest part of the day. I had sentry duty 2 hours 6 to 8 this morning and
walking in circles for 2 to four hours gets monotonous. My feet are
beginning to feel like there’s some life in them now. These Government
Issue shoes are all right when they’re broken in. I’ve neglected my
laundry for a few days on account of being busy so I’ll spend the rest of the
day washing. It’s quite cold here which is strange to me because I
thought the South was warm. For the 1st time in my life, I’ve
seen palmettos. I think that’s what they call them. They’re strange
sights to me. Also that Spanish moss that hangs down
from trees.
If I could do this all over again I’d enlist in the Merchant marine. To
hell with the uniforms and glory of the U.S. Marines I wish I’d never seen them
and so does every last man in the platoon. They’re all sick of it.
Of course that’s for your eyes and ears only. Should anyone else ask me
about it my answer is this, they are all right “Nothing more, nothing
less. It’s a lot of baloney. I laugh at these moonstruck kids 17-18
years old who enlisted when they became of age. Those dress blue uniforms
of the Marines and their Hymn “From the Halls of Montezuma, etc” gave them a
patriotic urge. Now that the beat is on, every one of them wishes to
Christ they never heard of this outfit. You should hear the sob stories I
get on guard duty. I’m not supposed to talk to anyone but early in the
morning its dark and nobody sees it. There isn't another army or corps or
outfit of any kind in the world as rigid as this. It’s an accepted
fact. Lots of their requirements are plain damn foolishness. Well
one consolation is that I didn’t sign up forever. Thank Heaven.
My civilian clothes will come home one of these days. They’re in pretty
bad condition so don’t spend anything on having the hat blocked or
cleaned. Remember how I used to lose hats. One of them blew off
behind the bank on
One thing I’m glad for is that the gambling bug has not affected me.
Gambling is prohibited here but the boys still lose lots of money matching
coins.
We can’t drink for there is nothing to drink and it doesn’t bother me at
all. I will though when furlough time comes fill myself up with as much
That bum Tom is still missing. I hope he comes back soon because he’s the
best cat I’ve seen yet anyplace. Tomorrow will not be considered a
training day for us so that means we’ll have to stay one day later. It
won’t be so long until you set eyes on me again but time drags so that it will
seem much longer.
I thought I’d scream laughing 2 days ago. Ten battalions (4000 men)
paraded for the commanding officer. My outfit was among them (5th
Battalion) and some stupid fool from the platoon (ours) came home from the
parade with the 7th Battalion. They got mixed up in a column
movement.
You don’t have to write long letters, a lot of short ones about 3 a week are
better than a big one once a week. I’ve just been interrupted for a
couple of hours. Mail call (we get 2 a day) has come and Bob Febley sent me a letter, the navy got him. Well that
cleans out the street. He said he hasn’t been sober since Saturday.
Well mom we eat soon so I’ll wind up. I’ve got my clothes in a bucket
soaking and will wash them out after chow.
That stuff scratched out was a train storm I had and got over quick. Be
sure you don’t lose that picture of Betty, I want to save that. It’s
in those magazines by the radio so don’t throw anything out that belongs to me.
Well Mom I’ll wind up now so good luck to us all. You,
Mollie, and myself. Thank her for the letter and card.
Take care of yourself and don’t get the idea they can give me a beating I can’t
take.
Love,
Bun