Date inferred because based on context it is sometime in the June timeframe, and mentions being after his furlough and after Father’s Day (June 18) and there is another letter for June 22
Thursday Evening
Hello Richard and all,
I’ll write this letter to Richard first because I haven’t written a letter to you for some time and have received several letters from you and certainly appreciate them and because I wan to ask a favor of you. I want you to buy some bonds for me. The money order and directions are enclosed. I don’t care where you buy them. The war bond drive will likely be over by the time you get this but maybe you would want to buy them through the factory or some special place like that. Just get them this month so they’ll have July on them.
Here is the explanation why I have decided to buy a bond for the folks (they’ll read this and you won’t have to explain). Over half of the money came from my furlough ration money and then I sure have been very negligent on sending anything home. I let Christmas, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and everything else lip by so I hope this will cover up a little of this. Of course, if you would rather use the money some other way go right ahead.
As I said before, this training is getting pretty rough now. We have been going out a distance of an hour’s walk every morning and then, of course, we have to come back every evening. That in itself makes a hard day's work not including all the running around we do out there.
This morning we really had a hike. We took a forced march of 9 miles in two hours. That's twice as fast as the normal rate of march and going at that rate for a distance of 9 miles just about finished us all. We had a 4 mile forced march in basic and thought that was awful. They gave us the rest of the morning to catch our breath. This afternoon when I walked around I could just feel my lungs pulling when I breathed.
I was sure glad to get your weekend letter yesterday. It had been several days since I had heard from you and I was getting anxious for a letter. I hope Richard doesn’t have to be out of work too long. I am glad to hear that you are getting some paint on the garage. I also was glad to get a little more insight into Daddy’s job.
I was a little surprised to hear about the talk of buying Pelfry’s place. But if some satisfactory arrangement could be made, I say go right ahead. It sounds quite alright to me and I think that would be just about what we (you) need.
Well I’ve got to clean my weapon and maybe do a little washing before I go to bed.
Your brother,
Donald
Even though I wrote this letter to Richard you can tell I had an awful hard time not writing to everyone as a whole.