January 17, 1944

Dear Mom-

Sorry I haven’t written sooner. We’re to be held over until February 10, 1944 because bad weather held up our training schedule so you won’t see my intelligent face around till later than you expected, but rest assured one of these days I’ll be kicking in the front door. Frank and Henry both write regularly and letters from the three of you comprise the bulk of my mail. It’s been quite cold here for the last few days, much colder than I thought the South would ever be and it rains here as much as it does in the tropics. Strangely enough the whole platoon has bad colds and they cough incessantly, but me of all people suffered least of all. There’s a spinal meningitis epidemic going around and I missed that too so far. I save all your letters and will bring them home with me. I’m down to twenty dollars and 16 cents now and my next pay will be small because an additional 8 dollars will be deducted for junk we have to buy. Therefore, the money I told you about I have to have but there’s time enough to let you know about that. Too bad all your gambling friends are ill, since it makes it difficult for you to lose my hard earned pennies. Mama probably feels better since John passed away seeing that he was hopeless. How’s Mollie holding up these days, tell her I said she should stay away from the furnace? Be careful about leaving valuables laying around with the strange roomers you get. Have you sold the car yet? I’d get rid of it since there’s no further use for it and you’re losing money everyday it stands there. Why don’t you go and visit Mrs. Weiss as she asked you to, the food you’ll get will build you up and it helps establish a close bond between the two families. A carload (bus) of Lady Marines passed up on the range today, there’s a lot of them coming here to replace guys sent overseas. I spent 4¢ unnecessarily the other day (Sunday) for ice cream, a pint for myself and one for a kid in the nest bunk. The 1^st time I was in a P.X. a kitten playing along the road attracted me, and I gave him a fingerful. It was fun watching him lap it up. Give Tom an extra big feed for me tonight. Well Mom that’s all the news except that I’ve done some bum shooting lately but maybe I will improve by record day. Keep writing and take care of yourself.

Love,

Bun.