Dearest Mother:

I feel very cheap and low because I overlooked something very important so I guess the least I can do is to write you a more or less personal letter – or something like that.  I forgot your birthday.  Dick reminded me of it yesterday and then today your letter came with the remark in it.  So we decided to make up for it but that will come later.  I guess that was always one of my weaknesses–forgetting things.  And knowing how you like to be remembered makes me feel especially neglectful.

As I mentioned, Dick and I got together yesterday and spent the day in Honolulu, among other things seeing a show at the Waikiki, ‘Old Acquaintance’ with Bette Davis.  I went for it in a big way.  In my estimation all of her shows seem to have a little more on the ball than most.  I hope you will get to see it if you haven’t already.  Later we went to Kapahulu and then came back to town to finish up.  We talked a lot about our civilian days in the old country and brought up a lot of things that seemed good to recall.  And we laughed about a lot of things and how at the time we thought we were putting something over on the folks.  And of course we discussed all the womenfolk we used to know as every soldier uses this as his big topic.  Dick has learned to appreciate many things that he used to regard as trifling and especially a greater regard for the efforts that you both have made.  He was in a buoyant mood and looked heavier and better than ever.  And of course he wants to get home pretty bad.

I read the item about ‘doc’ Blome and I would certainly like to see him.  Sounds like he’s been in some hot water.  I think he was about the best friend I had in Lincoln and I’m going to affect a meeting if it’s possible.  The Red Cross in Honolulu can usually find about anyone.  I knew his wife pretty well too – I mean in a social sort of way, whew!

I can’t get over you guys shivering in the cold, when the weather is so ideal here.  The Honolulu papers usually manage to sneak in a little quip about the cold weather in the states and being over here for a while, I don’t wonder but what they are right.  Of course this is the cooler part of the year and the beach at Waikiki doesn’t have a whole lot of swimmers.  The waves looked pretty high yesterday, good for surfing – but you have to know how and I don’t.

I’m glad you heard the program from the Jungle Center.  If you could have the opportunity to see the place in action you would learn plenty.  One thing about learning to fight the Japs is to use any means at all.  There is no sportsmanship about the affair – you just kill him no matter how, which I think is not so practiced in Europe.

The time seems to go very fast for me – it seems that it’s time to hit the hay before I get anything done.  I’m preparing an outline of a book I received from Washington, and I’ve found the effort educational as well as interesting.  Trying to make arrangements at the university hardly seems worth the effort when everything is so uncertain, although if I could ever feel any permanency in things, I would undertake it.  Dick and I were talking yesterday of how you must have the house fixed up and how happy we are for both of you.

Well I guess this is about all, better get a little work done tonight and end up with a shave before the lights go out.  Our radio bogged down this weekend while we’re attempting to inveigle, beg, borrow or swipe a tube, it’s pretty hard to get along without (one).  We looked all over for the shells but there just aren’t any that would do at all – seems funny too when the shops offer about anything for sale to get the money.  Our next trip out we will get something very nice and try to cover up for our thoughtlessness on your birthday.  You know this letter goes for Dad too. Being your celebration I thought it would be a little more appropriate to address it to you.

Love,