Sunday Afternoon, June 25, 1944
Hello Folks,
Well I didn’t expect to be free today but because of some miracle I didn’t get any details. So I am enjoying a very pleasant day of doing very little. The only trouble is that I find it hard to keep from being just a little homesick. I got a letter from you today so that helps out quite a lot. The box hasn’t come yet but no doubt it’ll be here tomorrow. I had plenty of “extras” anyhow today. I got a cake from La Vera and we just got through finishing it off. She had made it for Ben but the box was too large to comply with postal regulations so instead of unpacking it she just put on a new address and sent it to me. Of course, it didn’t come amiss here.
I went to church this morning and got a letter written to Uncle Everetts’ and that’s all I’ve got done except sleeping and reading. I am feeling sort of in need of a nap so I’ll probably not stir around much this afternoon.
Well it seems as if communications school is over for me. We finished up on Friday evening so I suppose I’ll go back to training with the company tomorrow. They talked as if we would have to carry on communications within the company whenever problems or maneuvers start so I don’t know whether or not they’ll try to keep us in touch with the subject until that time comes.
I was very sorry to hear about Mandy King’s death. I wonder how it will effect Pappy.
I saw in the paper that the church had hired the preacher from Rosedale. I wonder if he started preaching for you today or if he had asked for a few weeks to finish up with his other church.
I am beginning to wonder how Leo is coming on the work with my watch. He should at least be almost ready to get around to it. I don’t know how hard this been on my good watch but if as much dirt has got into the works as is between the crystal and face it must be about ready to stop. I have also broken my good strap and a cheap one that I got here. I’ll either have to get another strap or quit wearing it. Drop in and see Leo one of these times just so he won’t forget this will you?
I was just looking over some old school letters and I see that Richard wanted to know a little about parades. Well a parade for us usually means a lot of practice for a very few minutes of parading. We march for about a mile out to the parade grounds and then stand for about an hour in formation while the whole division assembles.
The parade itself only lasts for about 15 minutes while each battalion marches past the reviewing stand. Usually the only spectators are the general and whatever dignitaries happen to be around. But on infantry day we were viewed by, I suppose, 4 or 5 thousand visitors. I think about half of them were soldiers’ wives. In fact the whole area was open to the public that day and there were several displays and demonstrations put on for the public here in the division area.
About Daddy’s job: although I don’t know the exact function of armatures, I wonder if he knows just what those he handles are off of.
Well I started this letter this morning and have written on it whenever I thought of something all day. It’s now about 1830. I’ll not seal this now but since I am about out of paper I’ll not write any in the morning unless something important happens.
Lots of love and good wishes, Donald