October 5, 1944
Thursday Evening – early
Hello Family,
I’ll begin this letter a little earlier than I usually do of evenings and if I can think of enough, maybe it won’t be quite such a skimpy letter as the last one was.
Before I forget it I looked over the letter you wrote last weekend which I received yesterday. I am very pleased at the way the football season is progressing. Good luck on this week’s games. It sure made my heart sink when I heard about Wendell. But I am glad that you told me about it. I don’t know any appropriate statement I could make on the subject so I just won’t make any.
Daddy asked about my watch and I can sure say that it is filling the bill perfectly. When it was brand new it gained about a minute a day but it seems to have settled down now and is doing almost perfect. I sure get a lot of good and enjoyment from it. I still am thanking you.
I remember Dola Austin who you wrote about.
Our work has been progressing along the very usual lines. I think from what I can gather that we’ll be leaving here about the middle of next week.
Yesterday was spent on KP so that takes care of that. I was pretty tired when the day was over.
For some reason or other (I guess it’s because we are leaving) yesterday was declared a holiday in the 87th division. And something which might not be expected – they gave those who were on detail today free.
But our company had to have an inspection yesterday morning so they took yesterday afternoon off and we are supposed to get off tomorrow afternoon. I guess they feel our morale needs some lifting.
So since I was on detail yesterday afternoon they gave me this afternoon to do as I wished. I decided that this would be a good time to go to town and catch the stores open and also miss the big soldier crowds. I got a chance to get a couple things that I’d been wanting to get for a good while and also got to see a little of the town. I didn’t leave till the middle of the afternoon so I got back just a little while ago.
Oh yes, this morning we had another clothing inspection. That made two inspections in two days for the company. The rest of the fellows had a hike in the afternoon so I felt lucky not only in getting off but at getting off at such an opportune time.
8:30PM
Well if I am going to do any more writing I’ll have to get at it. I can’t do like you folks do and let someone else help me out with my writing so I expect with no new ideas my letters are a whole lot the same. But if you are still willing to receive them I’ll continue to do my best.
I certainly am wondering about my chances of getting home. No doubt we’ll be near some port for a little while. But if its only for a week or two then I don’t have much hopes. Lets continue to hope and pray for the best.
That’s about all I know unless I say that I have spent most of this evening reading. I’ve only 4 or 5 pages left in the October Digest now so I’ll be looking for something new very soon.
Best wishes to you all.
Love, Donald