March 17, 1944
S.W. Pacific
March 17, 1944
Dear Mom & Pop: -
It’s 8 P.M. Friday night – a quite cool & pleasant evening. I’m seated at my desk writing by the light of a Coleman lantern. Incidently – the things are made in Albert Lea Minn. & really do the job – almost as bright as regular electric lights. If I can manage to dodge all the moths, grasshoppers, & bugs that are racing around this lantern – I believe I can manage to bat out a few words to you.
Everyone is in pretty high spirits tonight – we just had our regular monthly ration of beer – a case per man. Nothing quite like brew to raise the spirits of the men around here. This time we cot cases of Schlitz & Pabst.
We’ve had a little excitement around here about this rotation plan. It’s actually in effect now & our Bn. Has already held a drawing as to who will be the lucky ones to go home this month. Of course we all realize this is only a scheme to get votes, & after election is over it will be a thing of the past. It doesn’t mean a thing to me personally, of course, because one has to have at least two years overseas to even be considered. I’m only a rookie still with only a little over 6 months. I’m hoping this old war is over before the “rotation” catches up with me.
I wish you could see this little “cottage” I’m living in now, it’s really swank. Our battery carpenter has gone to work on the officer’s tents & built up a regular framework with a solid wood floor & sides. If there was a lake out in front here I’d think I was on vacation somewhere up in northern Minn.
Had a letter from Marion Sneen yesterday. She’s now back living at home with her folks. She liked California O.K. but found it too expensive to live there. She probably got lonesome for good ol Mpls & won’t admit it.
The only mail I got today was a letter from home. In it you complained about not hearing from me for over three weeks. I surely hope my recent letters have started to come in by now.
Can’t understand how Dorothy can hold out for so long! Doesn’t she realize that we’re all sitting on needles & pins waiting for the big news. Why doesn’t she take a big dose of castor-oil or something?
When you see Virginia you might remind her that she still owes me a letter!
So Mrs. Jones is still taking all kinds of drugs. It used to be headaches & now sinus trouble. Surprised to hear about Evelyn’s being engaged – still think of her as a little girl.
Well, I’m out of news so I’ll say goodnight.
Love, Dorance
P.S. Daddy – that last piece your looking for is probably under the chair or card table, or else Gramma has it in her hand.