Jan. 1, 1944

 

Dear Mom.

            Your package came to-day thanks a lot.  It contained everything I need so don’t send me anything else unless I ask for it.  Now I have enough stationary to keep me busy indefinitely.  The coat hangers will be sued on my winter coat and the candy last about 5 minutes with this bunch of wolves.  I just finished my washing and hung it up to dry.  Next thing is a shower later on in the day.  The boys are sitting around gambling and sleeping.  This is a much more pleasant pastime and a profitable one too.  Another of my dollars is going into a pool which will total $74.00 when completed.  The three highest men in the platoon will get it and you can bet I’m trying very hard.  I sent every one of those New Years cards to everybody.  I could think of as soon as I got them.  I’m using this large paper 1st to conserve room since you know how little of it we have to spare.

            The sun is shining outside and the temperature in here with the stoves going full blast would gladden Mollie’s heart.  It’s quite warm and blue with cigarette smoke likewise.  I see by that clipping that Cleveland is putting on 60 more coppers.  Well they need them bad enough.  I hope the city can fix it for me to get the hell out of here before I shove off for combat duty and I’m not particular who knows it.  The chances are pretty small however.  Remember what I told you about needing some money for a garrison camp, the one we wear now are fore and aft camps as they call them and they look terrible.  The ones they have here cost about $5.00 and we really need them.  Also if I make Expert Rifleman or Sharpshooter, I’ll have to buy what ever medal I qualify for.  What they cost, I don’t know, but it’s probably enough and I’ll have to ask you for the necessary change since I’ll have barely enough for train fare.

            Milless, Schagers, Weiss’s, etc all got cards from me so that settles that.  I wonder if Tom got back yet or not?  I hope you don’t have too much trouble reading my scribbling.  I’ll let you know how things go from time to time when I can.  I should be home in February around the 6th or 7th if nothing develops.  Take good care of yourself and tell Mollie to do the same.  Thanks for everything and tell the neighbors I said hello.  I’ll probably write to-morrow.

                                                                        Love,

                                                                           Bun.