Talks about going into the hospital, so before one of the “unknown date” letters
(Ward C-13 Station Hospital)
Tuesday Evening
Dear Folks,
I don’t enjoy telling you this but I am now in the hospital. I began feeling bad Sunday afternoon and I had to struggle pretty hard to keep going yesterday. I thought my trouble was mostly a chest cold but I could tell that I had some fever and I and I also had a bad headache and sore throat.
I was supposed to be on guard duty last night but before my shift came up I went down to the dispensary. My temperature was 103.8 and trouble, as you might have guessed, was tonsillitis.
This was about 7:30 and by 8:30 I was started to the hospital and a substitute was taking my place as guard. It was lucky that I went to the dispensary when I did because the doctor said that if I had slept in the tent one more night with the fever I would have had pneumonia.
I have felt pretty bad today and have taken about a ton of medicine. I think the medicine is mostly to make me sweat & sleep, both of which will be good for me. My fever is going down and I feel better this evening.
I don’t know how long I will be here but it oughtn’t be too long. Anyway it could be worse. This basics sure is giving me some varied experience.
Don’t worry and don’t broadcast it too much.
Love, Donald
If I lose less than 6 days I will be sent back to my old company and will make up the work. But if more than 6 days I will be sent to another battalion in about their 6th or 7th week of training. This will make me 4 or 5 weeks later in finishing my training but it can’t last forever.
Now it is your turn to keep your chin up.
Thessalonian 5:16
Unless you have done so don’t send my Christmas now until I give the signal.