July 5, 1944

Dear Mom

The idea struck me that you wouldn’t have any objections to hearing from me so here’s a few lines. As usual all goes well with me but it’s the calm before the storm I think. It might not take place for quite a while yet but there’s small doubt about it happening sooner or later. I broke one of my 3 remaining 5’s for some Post Exchange beer last night and managed to struggle through four bottles of the stuff. Maybe its strange beer or maybe I’m losing my taste – anyway I’m not drinking anything to speak of. The mail is jammed up some way and I haven’t heard from you or anybody else for a week, you are mailing it to the right place no doubt and it will get here in time so keep it up. You may have noticed I was in the 4^th Division for a while, now I’m in the 2^nd.

Will you call up the Civil Service Commission and find out if service in the armed forces entitles one to the 10% additions on promotional exams, or if it just applies to the original exam like the one I took? I mean if I took an exam for higher rank would I get 10%- find out will you and let me know. Also see if you can get this information for me, how many guys are in the service from the department. I might be gaining a little weight, I don’t know. Here’s another thing, remember that friend of mine from Parris Island, Idemy Deying, call up his wife and ask her if he’s in the service yet. If he is, get his address and I’ll write to him, you’ll find the name in the telephone book. It’s [censored]

One of these days when I get around to it I’ll write Jan, lately I can’t think of anything worthwhile to say but a lot of uninteresting dribble as I’ll wait for a while. How’s Tom getting along? I envy that cat sleeping in the sun all day. If and when I get home, I’m going to but him a collar with a bell on it. Does that goofy nurse live next door yet? Also who is that one who keeps her car in our garage? – what’s she like?

I started a letter to Sehager but so far haven’t finished it. Wally sure is a good kid. You might say hello to the Sehager’s and Miller’s for me and tell Mr. Miller I’m going to send a card to his friend at Central Station. Someday I’m going to kill a potato sack full of pheasants and give one to every one of those fellows down there. That or I’ll have the whole outfit up to the place some night for a pheasant supper – all night with you?

Well Mom with the exception of my usual enquiries about the about the and by the way have you met Dorothy yet? – I’ll hang up. Take care of yourself and say hello to Mollie. Keep writing and send clippings.

Love,

Bun