I looked around a bit to find out more about the Red Cross packages. Most of the information I could find was about the packages the Red Cross prepared for POWs, not the regular service members. While searching this topic, I am reminded of several articles that circulated a few months ago about the game Monopoly being distributed to World War II prisoners with maps hidden inside. You can google Monopoly and World War II or you can follow this link to find out more.

Letter transcription:

Tue Sept 15, 1942
Dear Mother,

I’m writing this early in the A.M. Went to a movie last night, one of the neighboring camps came over and invited us to see their show. It was an old picture but it at least was a change. The show started at 6:15 and we have to have all our lights out at camp at 9:30 so that didn’t give any time to write after the show.
I’ll try to get the money order in the next mail or two. It’s a complicated affair to get a money order and it takes some time and when I promised that in the last letter I didn’t know how difficult it really was. I’ll keep the stubs until I hear that you have the money orders.
It’s a funny thing but every time we get out of camp most people we run into are foreigners or do I have that turned around. And another thing the kids I’ve seen must really be smart because some of them look to be only 2-3 years old and they can talk French while most of us older fellows don’t even know what they say. And I don’t mind saying we have a heck

[page 2] of a time sometimes. I’m always afraid when I take my laundry that they will think I’m bringing them a bundle of clothes for the poor but so far they seem to understand.
The Red Cross gave us a package yesterday. Had a sewing kit, a package of chewing gum, a deck of cards and a murder mystery and a few other things. The chewing gum was I think most appreciated because things like that are rare. Candy bars, cakes, etc are things we don’t have but only in memory and strange as it seems we can get along without them and with very little difficulty. And may I ask do you still use chairs and tables or do you just sit on the edge of the bunk? You won’t need to answer that question I was just wondering.
We had French toast, bacon, oatmeal and coffee for breakfast all of which tasted pretty good. On the whole the meals have been pretty good but occasionally we get too much peppers. You know I’m not very fond of that type of food, but I eat

[page 3] it just the same. And I get up at 5:45 and like it also. So far I don’t know just when we are on or off duty but we don’t go anyplace so what difference does it make.
You will have to write the folks once in a while. I’ve written them once and will again one of these days. It’s some effort you know to write too often. I wrote to many people at home and at Clay City before we left Moffett Field and haven’t received any letters from them yet so won’t write again until I have something to answer. Did Ed Barce every get into the Navy and how about Art Kenney?
Well, I’ve about run out this early in the A.M. and too I’m not very “thinky” at present. I’ll try to get another letter off tomorrow A.M. and maybe get that much talked about money order. So solong

Love Daddy