Censorship Archives - Page 2 of 2

15 July 1944

Dear folks:

I should have much to write about this time for the censorship regulations have [been] cut down and now I can tell you some of the many things I have wanted to. As you guessed I am in Saipan on the Mariane Islands, about 3200 miles from Hawaii and I don’t know how far from the house. [illegible] which is the capitol and most heavily populated of the Mariane group. Looks much like the islands of the Hawaiian group. The island is about fifteen miles long with a mountain of 1500 feet in the center, and which was the most fought for point in the battle. Three miles to the south is Tinian which is still swarming with Japs [the rest of this sentence was blacked out by the censor]. The boat ride from Oahu was a long one and a hot one. Each day as we progressed nearer the objective the Chaplain gave a short talk about the islands, the makeup of the naval forces, the enemy strength, the battle plan and so forth. We didn’t know where we were going on leaving Oahu and when we were told it was Saipan I think we were all pretty surprised. I was myself for I thought we wouldn’t take such a big hop quite yet. On our boat were mostly Marines [the rest of this sentence was blacked out by the censor]. Aside from a few submarine alerts and unidentified aircraft warnings the voyage was quite routine. I remember the night before D-Day when we first caught a look at the island. It was about three o’clock in the morning and we could stand on deck and see the battleships, cruisers and destroyers bombarding the island with their big shells. About a half hour later we had breakfast and it was a big one. Ration and a half for each man including steak, potatoes and the rest of it—more like a Sunday dinner. About this time H Hour was coming around and although the artillery doesn’t go in as assault troops, I really said a prayer for the Marines who hit the beach first. The Chaplain also had the boat quiet for a minute and said a few words. From our position on the boat we could watch the battle although we were quite a ways out and could only guess as to how we were making out. A few hours later rumors began to fly—we were going right along, then we were taking a beating and all versions were having their round. Almost every evening on the boat the Japs would send over a few planes and that began my first war experience I guess you’d call it. On the boat you go below and sit in the hot holds listening to the announcer give the location and speed of the enemy planes over the loud speaker and hope to hell they will miss you. One night I remember I was sweating more than usual, our own pom-poms and anti-aircraft started a barrage and I thought if they ever hit us we would go straight to the bottom. The first day after D-Day some of troops were ashore. I wasn’t among them and secretly I wasn’t disappointed. The scenes of battle were everywhere, the effect of the naval shells, the Japs own mortar fire on our troops and many bodies lying around, in all positions and all stages of decomposition. Sights that you hope you will never see again. Along the beach, in and out of the water, were wrecked tanks, alligator debris and a thousand things necessary to the campaign. The smell was terrible and the dust from tanks and vehicles was so thick you could hardly breathe. Well the first thing for the night was dig a foxhole and that first one I built was a stinker. I thought it was all right but when our artillery began to fire the thing almost caved in and the sand was all over me. I couldn’t hardly get out of the thing for fear of being shot and I wasn’t feeling too brave anyway. About the second day after I landed Dick came into camp looking dirty and disheveled. I knew he must be having it pretty tough in his outfit and I was pretty worried, but he had a big grin and I felt better. He had a lot to tell me, he gets up close to them and sees the Japs firsthand. He said he killed two Japs the day before and he had a nice flag taken from one of them. Well a little after dinner he had to leave, and that was about ten days before the battle was over and I felt anxious again, and kept hoping the thing would be over in a few days. Can you imagine Dick doing what he is doing? Every evening without fail the Japs would send over a plane to drop flares and keep a line on the situation, and who came to be known as “Bedcheck Charlie”. Later two began to appear and he was called “Bedpan Charlie”. One night they were circling over and dropped a few bombs, and I was laying in the foxhole hoping he wouldn’t get any closer when we opened up with our anti-aircraft and in a few minutes he was hit squarely and caught fire immediately. He dove to the ground and set off a mighty explosion. When he was hit you could hear the dogfaces for a mile or two around. All gave a big cheer. The guys that knocked him down were big favorites after that. About an hour later they bagged another Jap plane and he made a big flame too. Our jeeps have a radio that can get Frisco and at six o’clock we would listen to the news especially anxious to hear what they had to say about Saipan and hoping you were listening too. But when it came time for the GI programs, an air raid would sound and we would hit for the foxhole. Radio Tokyo is easy to get also and of course we always heard their version too. The reports would be exactly opposite and their reports of casualties about four times what we thought they should be. Tokyo also has a night program called the Zero Hour and dedicated to the American soldiers in the south Pacific. The nerve of the guys. Tokyo Rose speaks perfect English and tries your patience by recalling for you how nice it would be to be home and that sort of stuff. But the music is pretty fair and we don’t mind listening. Well the battle went on and I hadn’t seen Dick for about eight or nine days and I was hoping he would show up. He was in the front lines about five or six miles from our positions and it wasn’t too easy for us to get together, but he showed up with a lot of souvenirs and more dope. Said he killed two more one of them a Jap officer, and from him he got his bayonet, a pretty good one. About this time we were pushing the Japs back over the mountain and getting them cornered in the northern point, and Dick thought it would be over in a day or two so I thought easier about him. In our battery we have a shower and that felt damn good to Dick who hadn’t cleaned up for sometime. Our rations were mostly K-rations, single boxes one for each meal and pretty good. We had plenty of them and nobody lacked enough to eat. Cigarettes and toilet supplies are also issued gratis. On the fourth we celebrated by eating a first meal from the kitchen. By this time Aslito airfield was well in our hands and many of our Thunderbolts were already based there, and they looked mighty good. During the night the Japs from Tinian would send over a little artillery fire but it did not damage [anything] and I believe we knocked them out in short order. The report of the Jap navy being around didn’t make me feel better although I was sure we could stop them. Jap opposition from the boats in the sea was practically nothing as far as Saipan itself is concerned. The Jap soldiers were interned in stockades or wire enclosed areas and separated. I wanted to see them so one day we took a walk down and had a look. There are about forty thousand civilians on the island I believe and there were plenty of them crowded in the wire. The women had nothing on above the waist and they had no modesty at all. They were dirty, thin, bewildered and there was more small children than I ever saw. The Koreans were separated from the Japs. Later we saw the two Jap prisoner soldiers. I get a hell of a hatred when I see them, and I wish they were all dead. About 85 percent of the population is Jap with the balance, Koreans and Chamorros, who are a half Filipino and [half] Spanish. Later things began to quiet down and the battle was coming to an end. At this time the Japs got saked up and made their last ditch stand and were successful for a while. Dick was in on that and told me that he was caught on the beach by the Japs and had to be taken off on an alligator. He has had some close shaves and told me of times he thought sure they would get him, but he just laughs about it. He killed a Jap officer with a grenade and then shot the hell out of him to be sure. He looks very good, and now that the campaign is over we’ll have it easy at least for a little while. He was down yesterday and the day before and it’s mighty swell to have him around.

Well the campaign for Saipan is over and now the island is humming with repair work and defensive installations, but each night we can see flares on the mountain where the Marines are rounding up small pockets of snipers or civilians. Many Jap trucks have been put to use and one of them is a water wagon and that has helped to hold the dust down. One Jap truck was caught in our area, a repair truck and pretty well equipped. Some of the dark boys fixed it up and used the motor for a pump. The Japs had plenty of bikes and you can see them everywhere, many wrecked ones but many in use. Most of the civilian cars are Fords and in Headquarters the boys got a 1940 model in good shape. They have it running in good order now.

It looks like the Japs kept the other nationalities in pretty much servitude from the stories they tell and the looks of their homes. All of the houses I have seen are grass and tree limbs but everyone has a reinforced concrete cellar and stocked with Jap array supplies. In Chalan Kanoa the buildings are thick concrete. Apparently the Japs were making every house a strong point.

Well the biggest part is over now, and twice in the last week have seen a movie—old ones but they looked good. And we even have a little time for a bridge game. Doesn’t seem to add up does it? We are pretty close to the Jap homeland and are set for big things now—from now on it will be the clue chips.

I have written quite a bit (probably the censor is using every profane word in his vocabulary on me) but I know you will be interested and perhaps there are many other things you wonder about. Dick and I are fine and not the least bit worried. The main topic is when will we get home. The rumor is that President Roosevelt made a statement that a surprise was in store for the Saipan soldiers. Have you heard it?

The mail has been coming in good but we haven’t received any papers or packages since leaving Oahu but I can understand that. I am anxious to take those dozen back Free Presses and get together with Dick about that. I think I had best stop now—this has been quite a job.

Love,

2 April 1944

Dearest Folks:

Well, there has been another lapse in my writing but there hasn’t been a change in my habits but a change in the training schedule. Interruptions are becoming more frequent and sometimes it isn’t always easy to find time to write. Also haven’t seen Dick for a week but am expecting to get a phone call tonight. Hope we can get together in a few days. I know you have had a birthday and Dad one soon, and Dick and I plan to fix up a box with a little of everything in it. Today was Palm Sunday but I couldn’t do anything about it—the circumstances precluded it.

Tonight I received a batch of Star-Heralds from Dan Gettman so had to glance thru them. Most of the fellows are from New York and California and when another fellow from Coldwater, Kansas and I discuss our small town life, they think it’s quite a joke. When I came across an item about an overseas soldier getting a furlough I mentioned it and that always draws a laugh or a divisive sneer.

I thought you might be a little interested in the clipping I cut from the Honolulu Adventurer of this Sunday. At one time or another I have been to most of them (attractions). These Hawaiian names might look difficult but they are very simple to pronounce.

There’s a lively, silly, conversation going on around me about the Army and us dogfaces that make it up. One GI sitting on the other end of my bunk is re-reading his wife’s letters and making some witty amusing remarks. He’s been here for over two years. This business of troop rotation gets quite a bit of discussion but few favorable comments are expressed.

Received two letters from you last week and also one from Nancy. I certainly look forward to them. There are so many things I would like to tell you about and experiences I have had but I can’t do that. Many of my letters must sound dry and newsless but actually I’m not spending the vacation the letters may suggest. About the AAL taking my job – no, I don’t think that is possible. Gee, you must think I’m not a fighting man—ha-ha. The WAC’s sure get cussed and discussed in this group. Sure we’d like to have a dozen or so. You know that recently a detachment arrived in the islands and they immediately caused a big flurry. Dick was telling me about a tough buxom sergeant he saw. Most of them go to the Air Force who usually have everything.

As I was writing Dick phoned and I was glad to talk to him for a few minutes. It certainly is a lucky coincidence that we can be so near each other and just by picking up the phone get in touch with him. He is expecting to go on pass Tuesday and we want to make that day a big one.

Well, I haven’t said a lot in this mess but it’s some sort of a communiqué, so until the next time I miss all of you so much and am busting to see home again.

Love,

10 March 1944

Dear Folks:

This is Saturday night, inspections are over, everything cleaned up and now we are spending a quiet evening. A few minutes ago finished a hotly contested bridge game but our side finally came out 30 better and fifty cents richer. Saturday nights usually mean a bridge game while the Hit Parade is going on. We hold the sessions in my room in the back of the billet and just made for such things. News is again slipping off to the leaner side at least as to what I feel I could write about. The office seems to keep up a pretty fast pace. Last week we undertook to do a GI remodeling job and now it looks pretty professional. Keeping account of the records of so many dogfaces runs into quite a lengthy job.

Dick called up last night and we had a drawn out conversation. We made arrangements to spend a weekend together and you can never tell when this may be the last one for along time so better take advantage of it. He seems always in good spirits and looks fine. But regardless of what he thought before, he misses home just as much as I do.

The mosquitoes are about as bad here as they are in Minatare. The billets are screened and we use nets at night but quite a few still bite while sitting around. You know that the day mosquito caused an epidemic of dengue fever for a while and parts of Honolulu were quarantined, and it may break out again if some precautions aren’t used. They say infected mosquitoes probably camp up on airplanes from the South Pacific and brought it here.

Received two pairs of GI glasses so have three now and fitted to the latest eye vision. These GI’s don’t look too good but they are certainly durable and can take a beating. I think my vision has gotten a little worse since I’ve been in but only a very little.

Had a letter from B. Emick a few days ago. I think he’s in another romantic tangle with that WREN in London. Wherever he goes I guess he always makes out with the womenfolk. Competition is terrific over here and I never get close enough to smell the powder on one. Well this isn’t what you could call a good letter but at least it will keep you informed and (a) little less anxious and I guess that’s a big part of it so goodnight for a little while.

Love,

25 January 1944

Dear Folks:

I’m so far behind in my writing that I hardly know what to write to start off. Recently I’ve had a change of station and that has meant a lot to do and little time to do it in. I suppose you have been wondering what has happened and maybe worried a little, but as a matter of fact I think this place is a better deal than before. Now I am where I can see Dick pretty often and call him up once in a while. Last Saturday I called him to make arrangements on a pass day, so Sunday morning he came around and we went to town and spent a civilian Sunday walking around the beach and looking at fish in the aquarium. He’s looking good and seems a little more talkative and lively than ever before. We heard a good band in the afternoon – Claude Thornhill. We talked about a lot of things and one of them was Phil. From what he told me there’s a little difficulty some place and I’m a little worried about him. I can imagine what you feel and know you wonder what to do about it. Also in Kate’s letter she mentioned it but made me promise that I would say nothing to you. I would be sick too if he should quit school to do what he has in mind, and I would do everything to keep him from it. Fellows on the outside see only one side of this military life and never hear of the other. I wish I was around to help you out. My spirits will drop a good deal if I hear that he has quit and taken the other road. I hope it isn’t as bad as I fear.

Around the lighter side – I have a new APO number now 958 and I’m on Oahu. Having visited here twice before on pass I was broke in a little and knew a little what to expect. The big city is a cauldron of fast moving traffic and big crowds of people hurrying to get someplace. With the…..cut out by the censor. Every bar, theater and café has a line in front of it with people waiting a long time for a little service, and it’s hard to escape the crowds no matter where you go. It’s hard to imagine that there was a time when everything was plentiful and all you had to have was the dough. But with all this activity we were moved into a quiet secluded cool spot that makes me forget once in a while that there is a war going on. This would be the spot for you Mom with the big trees and numberless shrubs everywhere. Adjacent to our area is a large open lawn space with a baseball diamond and volleyball court. Each afternoon we put in a couple of hours at volleyball and absorb a little sunshine. Yesterday while we were out the ‘Mars’ – the new flying boat that recently flew to Brazil and back – flew very low overhead and gave us a real idea of just how big it really is.

I did receive the packages from Colson’s and Carroll’s and I will answer them with a little letter if I can first find time to answer my ’must’ correspondence.

Tonight the open air theatre the local USO put on a variety act affair that to me was very boring and corny. The big part of it was hula dancing and that’s pretty tiresome by now. But there were girls in it so we had to go. Mentioning the Carroll’s, another change has taken place with Shirley now taken out of circulation. So she married a soljer? I hope she got out of the usual Carroll rut and picked someone with a little better prospects. Duane is pretty lucky to stay in the States and been near his wife and get home once in a while. If I am here much longer when people ask me…..(cut out by the censor) where I am from I will say the Hawaiian Islands, and strolling around the better sections of the big city that idea doesn’t sound bad.

You have been doing a good job of writing – all of you – and I especially liked your commentary on the Christmas holiday. I could visualize the whole affair and know having Stevie and Kate and Tom with you must have made the celebration especially happy. You can’t imagine how much Dick and I would have given to have been with you, and when we get back to the next (Christmas) it will have more meaning than any before. Everything I did as a kid and in school and later in Lincoln seems like a short dream I had last night after eating too much before going to bed.

I have the books with me after carefully packing them for the trip and I try to find time to study every day and I hope in the near future I can put things on somewhat of a schedule. Being here perhaps I can get a taste of things more urban. This month there is a symphony concert of 65 pieces and I want to hear it so darn bad. My experience with the Nebraska symphony is now a most valued experience and a cherished memory. The University of Hawaii is also here but probably I can’t do anything about that. Well I think I’ve said my speil for tonight and I hope you will forgive me for not answering as I should. Watch Phil and I hope everything works out to a happy solution. I’m glad you liked the picture – I thought it was pretty good too. Well goodnight – the time seems endless before I will be home.

Love,

Mom:

Advise Reader’s Digest of my change of address

18 September 1943

Dear Folks:

If I don’t write soon you will think I have evaporated or something. The fact is, I am the same as ever except I forget to write as often as I should. But while I have failed to write, the situation has been good the other way. Yesterday a book from Gram came and that added a good deal of morale to my life. She had to send to Minnesota for it, but she got it. With the ones I have now I don’t worry about something to do in the evenings. If I should move or leave I will leave them with a civilian friend who can mail them to me. I suppose you have wondered what has happened to the razor I said I sent. Well after I had it wrapped ready to go there was the matter of rewrapping it after the censor was through with it. In the interim I started using it again so I still have it.

I haven’t been to a show in a couple of weeks so I think I will take the night off and see one, even if it is the corniest horse opera ever produced. The shows have been pretty fair lately but once in a while they throw in an old number and I mean old. In a short time ‘Macbeth’ on the stage will be on the island and I hope I will be lucky enough to see it. Tomorrow is another Sunday and I hope to go to town for services.

Two Free Presses came yesterday and they added the usual bright spot to the week. It’s really interesting to follow the hometown from a long viewpoint, and see where the fellows scatter out to. Geo Butler seems to be getting his share of the fighting from what he wrote. All those guys coming home on furlough kind of hit the soft spot, but I shouldn’t complain considering what some of them are putting up with.

I started this letter last night and now Sunday morning I’m still trying to finish it. What halted me last night was a bridge game, which for once was a winner. I’ve been wondering every day if I’m an uncle yet. I suppose I am by now. I’ve been waiting for a telegram or something.

This is pretty much of a flop for a letter but I guess it will fill in the gap until I can get a better one off. I’m always looking forward to the day when we can all get together again and forget all this mess that we’re in.

Love,

2 February 1943

Dear folks:

I’ve been wanting to sit down and write you a long letter, and until tonight something else seemed to take up my time. Perhaps tonight I can do it. What occupies my time mostly in the evenings is going to the show or reading. And when I do this, the first thing I know I’m behind several days in my letters or have little time to write anything more than a line or two. By taking advantage of the library on pass days and drawing books from the traveling library I manage to keep plenty to read on hand. I just finished a J. Hilton book tonight “And Now Goodbye”, a story of an English preacher and his inner urges. The Reader’s Digest is dissolved in short order but there is always some one who wants it next. The libraries are very limited in their law books and I have read all of them. I had intended to ask you to send me a couple but that is now impossible, or at least involves too much red tape to attempt.

I can never write a letter without recalling some of the beauty of the islands or their difference from the states. I wish I was in a better position to describe it more fully and let you know actually where I have been and what there is here, but I guess that will have to wait and for the time being be satisfied with generalities. Maybe I go a little off the deep end on the subject, but I don’t think so—it makes me realize this is just a sample of the world. What is over the next horizon? Although the sunsets perhaps aren’t congruous with the descriptions the travel bureau puts out, many of them are really stirring sight to see and the sunrises aren’t far behind, in their own right. The cloud formations near the mountains put the final touch to them. Maybe it’s the proximity of the old and new that is appealing. In many places what the people did a hundred or so years ago is still carried on, while on the other hand some of the places you go take you back to the hometown main street. At our weekly battery get together the highlight of the program was a talk on the islands by a Scotsman who came here a long time ago and who since then has visited most of the South Seas. He was a very good orator but aside from that he points out legends and places to visit, supplemented with technicolor pictures. Sometimes I get an uncontrollable urge to take off after the war and just start wandering and go in any direction I feel like. I could really discourse along here all night if I didn’t have to worry about the scissors. As far as I know none of your letters are censored, at least nothing has ever been deleted.

By the time you read this what you wanted should be on the way unless I can’t finveigle these oriental storekeepers to get sufficiently interested in my case. Whenever you ask information from one of them, nine times out of ten, are ‘no got’ and offer no suggestions or show a substitute.

When I get down to the final analysis perhaps I haven’t written any more than I usually do, but it is really hard to put together a newsy letter. Practically everything I do is GI and on the other hand everything GI in letters is verboten. My mail situation is pretty good all told, and I don’t go very many days without something from somebody. Had a letter from Gram today, says many foodstuffs are getting scarce but that otherwise everything is jake. I better write Katie tonight and thank them for the pictures and the gifts. I’ve really extended a sensible limit already so I’m going to stop and wait until I get another (letter) of yours to answer. And there’s no better way to end it than by repeating there’s no place like home.

Love,

22 December 1942

Dearest Folks:

I have plenty of time this evening so here’s another dubious attempt at a letter. A poker game is going on nearby and it’s a temptation but have several letters to answer. I engage in the sport to some extent but not enough to imperial my finances. I had two letters today, one from you and one from Nancy. I seldom miss a day for letters unless there is no mail at all. Your letters arrive in pretty good time but often not in the order you write them, for instance the ones today were dated earlier than your last airmail. Censorship precludes giving the exact date, the theory being the enemy might be able to ascertain by schedules, our station. Yesterday the piece of wedding cake came. It was hard but I nibbled on it and ate the candy. The bells add a little to the adornment of my bunk. Also the Reader’s Digest came. There is an article in it called “Never Shoot An Hawaiian Twice”. I’ve heard the story over here several times.

I don’t know what I’m going to write about for news. I suppose you have the papers by now. This weeks (battalion newspaper) is out done up in a little fancy Xmas cover. I’ll send it. Gladys Davis has been writing regularly and gives me the dope on the guys that I lived with. I sure want to go back. If Congress passes the six month’s pay for the expiration perhaps it would be easier but anything may be a long shot now. Maybe I’m wrong but I believe after the war there will be many opportunities. With the organization and development that aircraft will undoubtedly realize, every country in the world will be open to development. Wait and see.

This is all I can dig up tonight. I can’t realize its Christmas but every time I hear a carol it beings back plenty.

Love,

28 November 1942

Dear Folks:

It hasn’t been twenty hours ago that I laid down my pen on the last letter to you but I can’t sit around tonite without writing you. Received a card from June today with a dollar bill in it—a cute card. Then had a letter from Geraldine who is teaching in Elk Creek. The Davis’ do good by me in writing. A good day for mail. Suppose you are all subsiding after the holiday and can’t hardly imagine Kate as Mrs. Creal. I hope she gets the message I sent her. Today was Saturday, the old Saturdays still reflect on the ones now. Heard part of the Army game and the Hit Parade. Something warming about hearing the same programs. I wish I could tell you a little more in my letters but it only takes a word or two to disclose something that might be damaging. Tonight have been doing the weekend polishing. My laundry is done by a Filipino lady who does a very good job.

Love,

5 November 1942

Dear Folks:

This is going to (be) a short round and definitely not newsy but stationery is plentiful and I’m loafing so here goes.

All your duck and pheasants sound good from here—Don must be developing a shootin’ eye. I guess him and Hammy really made a pair.

I’m enclosing the first page of our paper and on it you will find a few lines by me on the outfit—this is the second time I’ve been in but couldn’t find a copy of last weeks.

For the past three days a crew of men have been harvesting a field of cane adjacent to our camp—it’s quite a process and entails the use of a lot of equipment including caterpillars and derricks to lift the cane onto small cars on a narrow gauge railroad track. But before the stuff is cut it is burned to destroy the underbrush and facilitate cutting.

All that fancy stuff about Kate’s wedding has the tone of a coronation.

I might be putting on the gloves with the censor but we are near a town about the size of Ritchell and it has a large Kress store and a couple other up to date establishments. I mailed two or three packages a few days ago so let me know if you get them. Couldn’t find anything for Don or Dick but I’ll find something.

There’s a soldier’s program from Hawaii, in fact two or three I believe and I think you can get them.

I think I’m getting all your mail although it doesn’t arrive as rapidly as mine does to you.

The General was around today but guess we’re up to snuff enough to satisfy him.

Well, am out of material so here’s the curtain.

Love,

11 August 1942

Dear Folks:

I should be working I suppose but I’m going to try to write you a letter before they catch up with me.

Perhaps the wind is beginning to blow a different direction because there are again some rumors of furloughs—as a matter of fact the CO told us that he thought perhaps we might be given a little time off after we got to ‘Frisco—but for how long I don’t know. We’re still in Fort Lewis but leaving for Frisco tomorrow on the train. On your next letters address them to San Francisco at the address I gave you.

Got your two swell letters yesterday and was gong to write last night but felt so tired out that gave it up. I’m all over the flu but it made me feel pretty low and weak for awhile. Took it easy over the weekend but Sunday night that girl I’ve told you about came around with her car so we went to the beach and later to Tacoma. She made me a batch of cookies but they are practically all gone now.

I’m going to buy a dozen rabbits feet, throw horseshoes over my shoulder and engage in any other good luck omen that I can think in hopes that it will promote some kind of a furlough. I was thinking of it last night when I went to bed and thought how swell it would be. Logically it would seem like it would be better for the fellows if they could be granted a little vacation but maybe the military strategists know what they are doing. If I could get a little travel time along with it the trip wouldn’t be such a rush.

I’ve got a lot of new equipment and have been getting rid of any telltale markings on my old stuff, have my bags marked and about ready to take off.

I better write a letter to Grandma and let her know my new address or I’ll have mail chasing me all over the country. I was thinking it would be a good idea for you to send the Star Herald to me but I don’t know what arrangements or what newspapers would be allowed overseas; perhaps I can find out.

It seemed I had so much on my mind last night to write about but now it seems to have gone like the darkness. Suppose Katie is home now and you are enjoying her.

This didn’t turn out to be much of a column but at least it’s a token of a letter. Suppose my friend the censor will be reading my letters pretty soon and won’t let any out for awhile but maybe that won’t be for sometime yet.

Will see you in the next letter and all of you keep your mugs in the breeze and your shoulders back.

Love,