Saturday Evening
September 23, 1944
Hello Folks,
This is one week end that I don’t have a whole lot of news but of course there may be things come to my head as go along.
They’ve been pretty good to to us this afternoon so I’ve about got my work done up to writing. We had one hour of actual classes and then we had about ¾ hour of cleaning up our weapons. Then I washed up my necessary clothes, cleaned what equipment I had to and then took a shower. Now I’m just waiting for them to call chow. It should be in 15 or 20 minutes now.
I haven’t been put on detail for tomorrow yet and I’ll sure be thankful if I can be free. I guess I’ve been pretty lucky along this line and I really appreciate it.
Well yesterday morning we ran that demonstration problem but the general didn’t turn up. The highest officer there was a Lt. Colonel but be talked pretty well of our work so we got by with it alright. I’ve been put in a squad to run another demonstration Tuesday and again there are supposed to be high ranking officers there. I don’t know whether the General will be there like he was for the other one or not. The reason why we are doing this is because they are trying to find some new system for control of the squad in combat and we are just trying out the different ideas.
After supper
I sure had Christmas tonight. I got both of your packages. And I can’t express my gratitude for being so good to me. You even remembered me down to the detail of the bill fold. I had about forgot that I asked you for one. I’ve been tying a string around my old one and getting by. But this sure will help.
The watch sure is grand. If I’d picked it out myself with regards to looks and features and forgetting price, I don’t see how I could have picked any other. It certainly suits me to a “tee”. If I don’t get a furlough, I’m going to help what I can on it.
I don’t know how the cake tastes yet but it looks good & got here in very good shape. I’ll let you know how it goes down when I cut it tomorrow. I don’t know what I’d do without you guys to do things for me. Even the Sunday School papers sure are appreciated. I am just ready to start reading something else and they’ll be enjoyed.
Well, I’ve about run down now and I’ll want something to say tomorrow anyway.
So long till then,
Donald
Sunday Afternoon
I usually have my letter written by this time but, I guess, it’s just as well not to do everything the same way all the time.
I was so excited about receiving the packages at the time I was writing you last night that I had forgotten to open the greeting card-letter from you that I had in my pocket. I was sure glad to hear just a word from you. You can sure bet I’ll be waiting to get your week end letter and hear from all of you.
Whether it means anything or not, they have set the dead-line for getting rid of our extra stuff on Wednesday of this week. So I got my Gruen wrapped up this morning and it is ready to start on its way in the morning.
They say now that we can keep our civilian shoes so until they tell us different, I think I’ll get what use I can from them. Since we have permission to hold on to them surely the worst they could do would be to make us send them home.
Now a little more about the Gruen. I think just as much or more of it than I ever did but I can see its not built for this kind of a life. I only wore it for one or two weeks of work and you can see the results. I hope its not hurt and after things cool-off a little I wish you would ask Leo (or somebody else if you don’t want to ask him) if there is enough dirt inside to hurt the works. If so of course I’d like to have it cleaned.
If it is alright I’ll take care of it when I get back to needing this kind of a watch. I’ll get it cleaned (especially under the crystal and get a light colored leather strap put on it and once again it’ll be the nicest looking dress watch you ever saw. I hope you’ve still got its box to keep it in. I guess I can’t help sending it through the Orestes post office as you did but Bernice needn’t know any more than that its the same watch being sent back and forth to be fixed. I’ve got sort of the same situation with the mail clerk here but I’m not making any explanations.
I got up just in time for church this morning and besides attending church I’ve read entirely through those S.S. papers. Thanks again for them. I’ve not cut the cake yet but we may get a hungry spell on just before bedtime tonight.
I can say that I’ve had an enjoyable day and I hope it was possible for you to have the same. It’s sort of drizzling rain this evening and it’ll sure make good sleeping tonight.
No doubt you read about the big storm that swept along the East coast last week and I guess we were very lucky. It clouded up a little that evening but it missed us entirely.
Hope everything’s as usual with you. Unless something else happens I’ll sign off for this time.
Lots of love and good morning,
Donald
In reading over the letters I see that I wanted to just say a word about my old bill fold which you’ll get with the watch. It’s in good shape except the long zipper which either can be fixed or torn off and the sewing which sure is shot. If sometime you have the time & inclination to try to give it a going over with good linen thread I won’t be mad. It’s especially nice for carrying change and of course it has my name on it. It may be possible to get it fixed up so that it can give me a good bit of service yet. Because I have one now it would be best to let me know about it before you send it back. If you think it’s beyond repair there will sure be no harm done.
If you want to tickle me real well you can send me a few air mail stamps so I’ll have a few extra to use if I get a chance to let you know any important news.