Dear Folks:
In keeping with my promise to write often here is another letter. I was told today that a Red Cross message had been received, which was sent by you. I know how you must be worried and what a strain it is on you, much more so than you indicate in your letters. But I am really fine and feeling well and in little danger. I’m sure before the year is over I will be home then all this period of worry about me will be over. I can well imagine how you feel with Phil gone, but we’ll have to ride it out, and remember it is always darkest just before the dawn. So believe me Mom, I’m okeh.
Today was Sunday but it was noon before I realized it. I had intended to write a slug of letters today but something always came up to keep me from it. Getting the news each day for the paper takes some time and in addition I collect individual stories for the hometown papers. Anyway about four, I managed to get a bath such as it was, so now I feel pretty good. For dinner today we had steaks, yes, good fresh steaks. Some of the boys killed a cow and they did a good job in butchering and cooking it. We are eating from the kitchen which beats cooking your own rations.
They say the good souvenirs on this island are lacquer vases and dishes, supposed to be rare collector’s items. I hope I can manage to find some, although Dick and I resolved not to hunt military souvenirs as it is sometimes too dangerous and it’s getting too close to rotation to be taking any chances. In Dick’s jeep the other day, he already had a candry sword taken from a Jap they killed near his foxhole.
I rode through the civilian camp the other day and had a close look at the people. Almost all of them are really young or very old, the rest behind the Jap lines. The old people are sorry sights. Their skin is deep wrinkled, they are bent over, and they look all the worse for the black clothes they wear. They are unemotional although some bow low from the waist as though we were Jap gods or something. I guess they are cooperative and harmless. The young children smile and wave or laugh. Our troops hardly notice them and probably they will be better off than ever after it’s all over.
Well I’m going to amble over to the radio for awhile and hear a little music and shoot a little bull, then get ready to turn in.
So much for this time.
Love,
