Sunday September 3, 1944
Dear Family,
In order that I could get some of the things done that I like to do on Sundays I had to get up and get started at it early. It is only 7:30 now and I’ve already washed and done a few other things so you can I didn’t waste all morning sleeping. I didn’t get up for breakfast but since I couldn’t go back to sleep right away after they called breakfast, I got up soon afterward. Thank goodness I’m pretty well caught up with my writing so this letter will be all I’ll need to write today.
We are going out to the range today but I’m happy that we don’t move out till afternoon sometime. This will make it so that I’ll get a chance to go to church this morning. I don’t know what ever got into them that we don’t have to follow the usual routine of going out on Saturday night and then firing Sunday but I’m sure not going to kick.
Boy this is sure a different kind of weather from what we had last weekend. It was cool or almost cold then and now it’s hot as all get out. Friday we did the usual kind of stuff and then yesterday we ran another firing problem. And boy the heat was sure terrible. Our platoon didn’t start the problem till just after noon and, of course, that’s just when it’s the hottest. We just had discussion type classes in the morning when it was just a little bit cool but I’m not blaming anyone for that because we just had to take out turn at the area over which the problem was to be run.
The problem was about 1200 yards long and we started out with 23 or 24 men altogether. When it was over six men out of that number had fallen out because of the heat. They all recovered but you can get some idea of the intensity of the temperature.
I was glad to get the pictures in your last letter. I’m going to keep one of the pictures but since I didn’t know the calf personally I guess you can keep the pictures of it. It sure does look like a good sturdy calf and I’ll bet it will turn out to be quite a chunk of meat. Seeing the bee-house and garage all painted up gives me a kind of funny feeling inside. I don’t know whether you’d call it homesickness or not.
About that dream that Daddy had in which I came home. It’s alright to think about it but please don’t do any planning on it. The chances are just as good or maybe better for not getting one as they are for getting a furlough. So let’s just keep on writing and get along with whatever turns out.
I didn’t hear from you yesterday so, of course, I’m sort of hoping for a letter today. If I’m too busy next week and this is the last letter I get written for a while, I hope you’ll understand the situation and look over my short-comings.
I’ve about run down so I think I’ll sign off and maybe read a little before church time. I forgot to tell you but we are going to have communion services today. If I don’t think of any more news before noon I’ll put this in the envelop and start it on its way. Best wishes to you all.
Love, Donald
I forgot to tell you that I found my sunglasses broken in my glasses case yesterday. I don’t know how or when it happened but that’s not the question. I don’t know how long I’ll be needing them but I’d appreciate another pair. The kind I had served quite well. Thanks