Dear Mom:
I forgot to put the form I was telling you about in the other letter so I will enclose it in this one.
Glad to hear that Ben has himself a soft job, little exertion and fairly good pay. That’s what counts.
Mom, it seems that if I want to vote, I have to register by filling out a form of some kind. Next time you go to town, would you please see about this for me. You can ask someone where you would get the form.
I am really considering going back to school; I understand that the government is going to send us for as many years as we have been in the army up to and including five. Not any more. I’ll probably be in the army until I am 25 or so. I expect about two or three more years of service before I am discharged. I don’t mind it though; it’s not a bad life at all. Really seen the country as I never would have before. Had gotten a pretty good education out of my training too.
I don’t think I will ever regret the time I have and will serve in the army. I hope that they make military training a requirement after the war. Would do lots of guys plenty of good.
All I want to do is go overseas and serve my time and come back feeling like I have done my part, then I’d be content to stay here until the war is over. But now I feel like a slacker or a draft dodger. Seems that it wouldn’t be too hard to see what I mean or how I feel about it – I suppose I will go to four-engine bombers from here. I don’t want them but will get them anyway I suppose. That’s the way the army operates so there’s nothing one second lieutenant can do about it.
Next month I am going to put my whole check in the bank after I pay my mess bill and Aunt Cora and see if I can’t save money by writing checks instead of carrying all I have left around with me cause the more I have, the more I spend and I am tired of being broke all the time. I have had lots to pay since I have been here but I am hoping I will have a little more now. If I just don’t get another leave soon because as soon as I get out of debt from my first leave, up came this one and I was right back in again. I had to pay income tax again this month and a bond a month and $6.50 insurance each month. I sometimes wonder what’s the use. It just takes all I make and then some to live on this post. I’ll keep trying though and maybe someday I can save something.
Better close as I am flying tonight. You stop worrying about me Mom. Just remember your son is the most careful pilot Uncle Sam’s got and that he’s flying the safest airplane ever made. That’s the truth too. No one ever gets killed in an AT-11.
Love from me to all,