July 7&10, 1944 (to Marion Sneen)

S.W. Pacific

July 10, 1944

Dearest Marion:

For heaven’s sakes what’s come over you – three letters in one week! You sure have me back on my heels. I’d better get this pen going right now & catch up before you get mad & quit.

I certainly had an enjoyable time today. Spent a large part of the morning flying one of our grasshopper planes. They are training me to be the aerial observer when we go into combat. I’m fairly lightweight & that’s what they want because those cubs have to take-off & land in just any old excuse for a field. We aren’t s’posed to take the stick ourselves (just practice adjusting fire) but for the last 4 or 5 flights, I’ve done most of the piloting myself. Hate to brag, Marion, but today I did five “tail-spins” in a row without a slip up & then learned how to do some “lazy-eights” & “wing-overs.” It’s wonderful – guess I should have joined the Air Corps instead of the Army. One of these days I expect to load up an extra tank of gasoline & head out over the open seas – ending up right at Wold Chamberlain field. Or maybe I’ll set it down right in your own back yard (maybe even right in your lap). How would ja like that?

We’ve been playing bridge most every evening before show time. I’m learning, I guess, but am still pretty much of a clerk at the game. I’ve gotten over trumping my partner’s aces tho so that’s something. You & I will have to team up against Mr. & Mrs. Stensrud some quiet week night next year. Eh? Say about Aug. 21, 1945 – am I being optimistic? I hope not, Marion, cuz I’m getting so fed up & sick of this war that I don’t care what happens anymore.

S’cuse me for being so pessimistic all of a sudden – my morale is sorta low tonight. Your letter came just in the nick o’ time to cheer me up some.

Say, Marion, I’ve been meaning to ask you for some time now if you have met my Uncle yet. He works up there at Soo Line – name, Charlie Alquist. Don’t ask me what dept. he’s in cuz I don’t know. I wish you’d look him up & say hello though. I’m sure you’ll like him – he’s full of fun.

Tsk, tsk, Marion, losing your temper on the green – I’m surprised at you! Don’t you know you can’t play golf worth a darn when you’re mad? Now let’s cool down.

Yes – I surely would like to see your tan now. I’ll bet your back, shoulders, & legs are pretty nice. But to get back on the subject – it’s the winter season down here & I’ve lost most of my healthy color.

Did you now that on July 17th I will be celebrating the third anniversary of my entry into the custody of the officials of the U.S. army. If you are “up” on your army slang you will know that that is one complete “hitch.” In the old prewar days one would have to reenlist on that day if he was sucker enough to lay himself open to 3 more years of that sorta living. Today it means just 3 more years serves, however there’s one bright beam – I now get one fogy. In other words an increase in pay of 5% of base pay. Which amounts to a $7.50 a month raise – nothing to lose any sleep over but it all counts.

Gee it’s too bad about Hiawatha being so affected by all the rain this year. I sure used to like that course how about you?

When ya going to send those pictures you promised??

I enjoyed the jokes you sent. I mean the ones your boss didn’t appreciate as much as you. There were some dillies in there.

Well gotta get up at 0500 in the morning so, Marion, as much as I hate to I must say g’nite. I’ll see you in my dreams. Write.

Love, Dip