29 October 42
Dear folks & all:
Almost another month has gone and it seems as if we are not making a great deal of progress against the Axis powers. The people of the United States had better wake up to the fact that we need more than the U.S.O. to win this war. We need ammunition, airplanes, tanks, ships and more Marines. It seems as if the Army and the U.S.O. are so busy entertaining each other that they forgot the Marines on the islands in the Pacific who are ready to give up their lives to defend our nation.
Life here is the same except we have had to boil salt water & put iodine in it for drinking purposes lately because we haven’t had any rain for over a week and the rainwater supply is a little low.
The bird on the top of the fellows head is called a Gooney bird. They are called Gooney birds because of the way they fly. They fly into anything—automobiles, airplanes, trees, and etc.
Am enclosing two snap shots I thought you might get a kick out of. There is some writing on the back of them.
Your son has been assigned some more duties that being mess officer of an enlisted mens mess. I can’t tell you how many but it is quite a few. Believe me I have made some changes in the galley. It is a great deal cleaner and no food is being wasted. Mother I am glad that Dad and you made Robert and I be so clean and also the rest of the good habits you taught us come in very handy in ones later years of life. Now that I am mess officer I expect I will drink at least 8 to 10 cups of coffee a day. You know Mother I have to sample the cooking.
Hope that this finds all of you feeling fine and remember I miss all of you so write often.
Also, thanks for the stamps you enclose in your letters. I got my Veterans card ok.
Dad, how does the gasoline rationing effect you?
Love to all,
Leo
Lt. L.J. McLoskey
P.S. Dad I met a Mr. Potter who is a C.B. in the Navy – he was the man who paved East Broadway – he is from Jacksonville Ill. He said to say hello to you and Chris Merrillat. He is the head of a C.B. or Construction Battalion.
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