Enclosed, find a check for 6.97 it was for some meals I had to pay for way back and I finally got reimbursed. Dad, you and mother take it and go out and have dinner and take in a show. I only wish I could be with you. Look at the check close and perhaps you can find out where I am located.
Am also enclosing two pictures one of a group of us and one that they snapped of me one day at the battalion office and I didn’t know they were taking it. I will send you a large one of the five of us also when I can get it wrapped properly.
Must hurry now as I have to get a lot of work done. I feel ok.
Today I received your package and thanks a million. It was like receiving a million dollars. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it. Although Marines are supposed to be a tough group of men and are it brought tears to my eyes just to feel the package and to know you had touched them. Mother, I won’t chew when I get back home.
I also got your letters, a letter from Elizabeth, one from Leota and one from Mary. Your letters that is the one from Mary and one from you was postmarked the early part of June.
Personally, I think you are wise in selling the property in Los Angeles and I think you got a good price. Oh! Yes I also got a letter from Bob Whiteman. He told me Uncle Joe had been in and told him he thought you were foolish to sell. Well I don’t.
The heat has been so intense here the past eight days that I have almost had to drive my men at times. I feel awful sorry for them but I must keep my equipment up and I have a big job and I have to make good. Not only my life but several other peoples lives depend on my judgment.
Golly I forgot to mention that I also got another letter from Aunt Ella and I will answer it this week.
You should see me. I am getting as solid as a rock although I am not loosing much weight.
How are my letters reaching you? I hope in good time. Will we ever have a lot to talk about when we get together again.
Hear Bobby has already had to set in the corner. I’ll bet he is a live wire. Poor Anne she must have quite a time now.
Looks as if the Marines are going to have to do all the fighting in this war. I don’t quite see why we have an Army & Navy.
The bugs are about to eat me up in my command post this evening so I will close for this time. I hope this finds all of you in the best of health. Regards to all and thanks again for the box.
Received your letters a couple of days ago and surely was glad to hear from all of you. The day I received your two letters I also received one from Robert, Aunt Ella, Elizabeth, Mary, Larry Adams, and some other officers.
I didn’t receive the package but I am sure I will one of these days. But, on the other hand I sort of have a sneaking hunch that I may be moving on again.
Am sitting at my command post writing this by a kerosene lantern. I am now up all day and night every other day for reasons I’ll have to tell you when I see you.
I am enclosing the blank and I did not fill out 3 questions for reasons that I can’t at the present writing and I believe they will understand. I think it is darn nice of Lambert to pay my dues and by the way, I also received a letter from Leota. I am going to write Lambert and thank him.
We are working pretty hard and have a little excitement now and then. Wish I could tell you more but I pray each day that this will soon be over and that I will return to all of you.
Dad, I am glad you are feeling better and take care of yourself. Mother, you see that he does.
Am glad you liked your gifts. I sent Elizabeth three dollars for a dollar a piece for the children. Would I ever like to see all of you. I’ll bet Bobby and Bobby McKee are quite the characters in the class room.
Is it ever warm. I am sitting at my field desk in the nude except my skivy drawers and the sweat is rolling off me.
My outfit is still fine and I maintain I have the greatest group of men ever assembled under my command.
Tell Elizabeth the cartoon she sent me out of the Post must have referred to me.
Hope this find all of you feeling fine and I trust you have gotten the necklaces ok and remember I made them and I’ll tell you all about the shells when I see you as they are very rare.
Here it is Saturday again and another week has gone bye. Where I am one hardly can remember the day and the month as they are about all the same. All it is or amounts to is sleep when you can find time, sweat, work, worry, rain, heat, rust, and be on the alert all the time.
Sorry to hear about Algie and Aunt Mabel. I do hope they both have a speedy recovery. It surely is a crime about those children of his. They are so smart and sweet and well mannered.
Mother, I mailed the package with beads in it for Elizabeth and you. As your birthday is the 29th of this month you will have to consider it as your gift until the first of the month then I will send you some money and you can buy yourself a gift. I sent the children a dollar a piece this week. I am glad you received the candle stick holders and the bridge set. Also, I am glad you liked them. Did my $25.00 allotment arrive at the Monmouth Trust & Saving this month?
Dad, your letters sound as if you are as busy as I am. When do you find time to sleep or do you do like I have been catch as catch can.
Should be some mail in again one of these days. It surely is a holiday when one gets mail. Am glad my mail gets to you as fast as it does.
I just finished reading 72 letters (censoring them) how would you like that job? It is a tough one.
It doesn’t look to me as if the war will be over this year. But, I believe it will be by the middle of 1943. At least I hope and pray so. The sooner the better so I can get back and see all of you. Golly! I surely do miss all of you.
Not much news but a line to let you know I am ok and that I think of all of you all the time and that I am proud to belong to the fighting Marines.
Here it is the beginning of another month and the war still at full blast. Will I ever be glad when this conflict is over so I can return home.
I can hardly realize that Bobby will be starting to school with Anne. Golly! If I don’t get home before long Mary Alice will have grown up and Bobby and Anne will have forgotten they ever had an Uncle.
See where Joe Dixon was appointed Principal of the high school. Was glad to see it. I always liked Joe.
Received a letter from you the other day but since then no mail. The service here is not so good. I only hope the outgoing mail is better. How often do you receive my letters and how long does it take?
Was glad Margaret and her sister stopped by to see you. Where did Martha say her husband was or did she know?
You ask why some fellows are able to give their location. As you probably know by now I am in a combat zone and where I am is rather a secret due to its importance of the U.S. defense. Why don’t write and let me know where you think I am stationed and I’ll let you know if you are correct.
Mother, I mailed the beads the other day. It probably will take quite awhile for you to get them as I could only mail them by parcel post. Hope you and Elizabeth like them and they are made out of very rare shells.
Was glad you took Aunt Ella up to Harry’s. So she didn’t thin much of their place.
It is now 2:30 am and we have been on alert. I am at my command post. Surely wish we could take some pictures and send you some but that is out.
You can tell Mary I might need her sweater yet. I have been doing quite a bit of flying lately and it gets pretty chilly at 10,000 feet altitude but at the present my combat uniform keeps me warm. Now don’t worry. It is just part of my job to do some flying now and then for purposes I’ll have to tell you when I see you.
Tell Mrs. Jay’s I got her letter and I’ll try and drop her a line one of these days. Be sure to give my regards to all the family and friends.
I pray each day that the Lord will return me safely to all of you and that all of you are in the best of health.
