Nov. 3, 1944
Hello Family,
We finally have been able to get some air mail stamps so I’ll try to get a fairly decent letter written. I don’t know if we’ll get mail tonight but of course I hope so. Before I forget it I’ll tell you what I did tonight and then it will be off my chest. I told you that I was going to increase my war bond allotment but I decided to do it just a little differently. I made an allotment of twenty dollars to be sent home in cash every month. It’ll save me the costs of trading it for British money and sending it home and will be just a little more flexible than bonds. Most of the time I’ll want it put immediately into a bond and the extra dollar and a quarter can sort of be held as a reserve for incidentals. The bonds will also be as an addition to the school sales or any other drives in the community. Or if for some reason you don’t want to buy them in Orestes you can always get them in Alexandria. I had my allotment made out in mother’s name because some of my other things, insurance, etc. are made out like this and I figured that this will be a more permanent address than if I made it out to Richard. Any bonds can be made out just like my others with Richard’s name on them.
This way if at any time I either need money or something bought it can be used for this. Then if I am ever stationed in the U.S. again I won’t have to change any of my allotments but can just cancel this one altogether. All in all I hope and believe that this will work out OK.
For the first two times it comes home, without any back talk I want it to go for the payment of my watch. With this, what I sent the other time, and what is left after a bond is bought a third month, I should be just about square. Now I want it this way and don’t try to argue me out of it. Let me know when it starts arriving. Well so much for that.
They have finally got an exchange system set up here but it is sure operated differently than I ever thought of. There is a regular rationing system to it. We each have a ration card and can only buy a certain ration of anything each week or periodic weeks. For instance: one bar of soap a week, a box of razor blades every two weeks, tooth powder once a month, 3 or 4 bars of candy a week. etc. I guess that makes it fair so that everyone will get his share but there may be times when I want you to send me things to sort of supplement this. I expect, to start with, that any time you want to drop a stick of gum in a letter, it’ll be appreciated.
We’ve not been able to get Vmail yet but I’m definitely getting to the place where I don’t care much for it anyway. I have a harder time writing one of these than I do writing a big letter. I guess I worry too much about getting in the important points that I forget everything I was going to say.
The last few days we’ve been sure lazying around. I just wonder how long this easy life will last. I’m still feeling well and doing OK.
Oh yes. Your last letter mentioned about the number of letters you had sent up till that time and I think I’ve received them all. I would be very glad to get the Sunday School papers if they allow you to send them. If newspapers can be sent overseas it’s worth a chance to try this. They might be a long time getting here but they’ll be good when they do arrive.
I’m sure anxious to hear about Uncle Floyd’s accident. I just hope I get a letter tonight or tomorrow morning.
I’m about run down and if I hear from you before morning I’ll have room to let you know about it. If not – Good night and God bless you. Donald
If you think I’m cutting myself short of money, I’m getting about as much as ever. I’m not paying for laundry now, am getting 20% extra for overseas and four dollars for Pfc. Just figure it up for yourself and see.