22 October 41
Time 2030
Quarters Tents
Weather Rain
Dear Folks:
Received my clothes and suitcase o.k. and thanks very much. I want to especially thank you for the candy, gum and new hose. You don’t realize how greatly I appreciate them.
Dad you ask about my pay. Well I now get $21.00 per month less 20 cents per month for hospital care (including dental work, operations, etc.) less $3.55 per month for insurance. I am enclosing my policy. It is for $5,000 and I have named you folks as the beneficiaries. So I now receive a total of $21.00 less $3.75 or $17.25 per month. At the end of four months my pay goes up to $30.00 per month. Then you get raises as you increase your rank. A pfc or a private first class gets $36.00 per month a corporal $54.00 a seargent $80.00 and on up the scale. At the end of my first eight months at the rate I am now going I should be making $54.00 per month.
Talk about rain—you have never seen any rain in Illinois. It has been raining almost steady here for a period of 72 hours or ever since Monday. You will get a laugh out of this—I have gone back to kerosene heat. It is so chilly we have a kerosene stove going in our tent and also one in the tent we use for an office.
This evening I shined my civilian shoes, my dress marine shoes, my belt and saddle soaped the bag you sent my clothes in.
Oh! The term they use in the Marines for your bed or bunk is “fart sack.” The top Seargent told me to go see if the Captain was in his “fart sack” today and I had to ask him what “fart sack” meant?
Mother, I am doing office work only my office is a tent and with my office work I also have other duties.
Am always glad to receive mail from home and Dad thanks for the papers and magazines.
This life is surely a rugged one but I am enjoying it very much. Haven’t seen any drunkenness or gambling here. As a matter of fact they put those that do in solitary confinement. That is one thing the Commanding General of the Camp here does not permit.
Am glad the Tuesday evening crowd enjoyed the letter. I will drop them another one before long.
Will be seeing the Whitemans this week end–will be glad to see them.
Write whenever you have time. Hope all of you are in the best of health.
Love to all,
Leo
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