Letter transcription:

Dec 1, 1942

Dear mother,

I’m starting this early after noon day chow – Don’t know why – just didn’t have anything else to do. Our weather contrary to the past few days has been very cool. In fact last night we almost had to go to bed to get warm. Of course the sun is still hot but there is a much better breeze than the past few days. Weather always makes good conversation and since there isn’t much to write about it sure takes a beating.

Number two topic is mail but so far today that is a blank – but we never give up with that until after 1700. So I’ll save space near the end to give the latest report on that. Comparing my mail with many of the others around here I’m far ahead of them.

We have most of our rearranging done and now we have a room 16’ x 16’ with only three of us. There is a small dormer on each side about 4 feet wide which gives us a pretty good cross breeze.

Govt Got paid yesterday and had to pay my months mess bill. My pay for the half month was 46 – and the mess bill was 16.50 so I should have enough left for beer, tobacco, etc. In a few months I can send a little more home again but it takes time to build up much of a reserve. My share now amounts to about 92-3 $ per month and mess etc comes out of that not to forget stamps and writing paper which you’d be surprised how it counts up. So you see you are getting the lion’s share of the salary. But then you have everything to keep up so why not.

[page 2] We really can get along financially better than when I was at Norfolk because expenses are much less here.

We have a loud speaker here now for announcements. Something like in a hospital and it seems to be going most of the time. Even the bugle was blown over it this A.M. and there was no doubt about it being heard.

I suppose by now the stores are all getting ready for Christmas and are they putting up the town decorations this year as of old? I haven’t been to town for some time so don’t know what it being done here. It will be interesting to see what they do do during this time of year.

If I don’t get too lazy I’m going to write Floyd & R. this P.M. but I feel like first of all I should have a little relaxation. I’ll finish later.

The show is over – “The Magnificent Fraud” was pretty good. The winds blew pretty hard in our open air show house but the stars are pretty over head and since there is no moon now they stand out very pretty.

There was no mail in camp today so that was easily settled – maybe we’ll have better luck next time.

Well so long until next time
Lots of love
Daddy

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney

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