Tag Archives: New Caledonia

Keeping the chin up (Roscoe)

In today’s letter, we FINALLY learn Dr. Fred’s last name and we learn the name of the “boss”. In case you haven’t noticed, Jake has been censoring his own letters lately. Perhaps some of the news from this letter will explain why.

: December 5, 1942 Envelope

: December 5, 1942, p. 1

: December 5, 1942, p. 2

: December 5, 1942, p. 3

: December 5, 1942, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Dec 5, 1942

Dear Mother,

A day of rain and all that goes with it – mud wet etc – but it isn’t so bad living in a hut, only we have two leaks in our roof – but luckily they don’t come over my bunk. We still have to get in the mud to go to chow and to the P.O. but we can do them both at the same time.

I counted the letters both V-mail and others and to date I have received 77 from you. All others I destroy so don’t know how many I’ve gotten all together. I’ve just about decided to write to Dr. Joe and Reinhart. I put those letters away and had to search for them so I found them today. To get the address.

Your attitude on the keeping the chin up is admirable because that after all is the best way. You don’t see many families around home in

[page 2] circumstances as similar to ours but I see and am around many men in exactly the same state of affairs as myself, and we are no better than they and all have a part to play and a duty to do. For example one of my roommates has two children – the oldest just a little older than John and the youngest about Mark’s age. Then Fred has one son 19 months old and Dr. Porterfield our boss has three children – Two boys and a girl – His two boys are both in the service – And he doesn’t know where one is – the other is in Calif. at present or was at the last writing. Dr. (Fred) Williams and Dr. Porterfield both were asking me about my family last night and they both talked as if they were asking their wives to write you. I thought I would not suggest you write them first. I did for Dr. Walsh but you haven’t said if you heard from her or not. They suggested their wives write to you so maybe you’ll be hearing from

[page 3] them, but that is getting away from my original story. I know a first class hospital corpsman who has a child about 3 years old and plenty of others in the same boat and then we also run into men who haven’t been home for 20-26 months – So our lot isn’t any worse than others and I’m glad you are taking it as you say and as I know you can. I’m not cheerful and happy about the whole things but I’m trying to do the same thing you are.

I’m almost afraid to say this but it now looks as if there will be only 3 of us remain here – Williams, Porterfield and myself. Porterfield is boss being a Lt. Comdr – while Fred is a (jg) like myself. We aren’t entirely sure but the latest gossip is to that affect and we should know in a few days. Of course we don’t know for how long but for the present at least and possibly indefinitely. That is, as

[page 4] far as the Navy is able to be definite. That last isn’t very clear, but it looks as if it will be sometime. There are other places much worse that this so we won’t complain.

No mail today but we have hopes for tomorrow. That is what keeps us going and after all that is what keeps the whole world going.

The dentist is scraping a fellow’s tooth and it isn’t a pleasant sound. He has sinus trouble so I get him down in his chair and work on him then he works on me – That way we are both careful not to be too rough.

The show was very good last night – funny as well as a fair plot. The ground is too wet tonite so won’t see another until Mon. as there is none on Sun. night. The shows are fine but it sure breaks in on the letter writing period.

Well, I think you and I have looked at this whole business in a sensible manner and and I hope we can continue to do the same –

With Lots of Love

Daddy

Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/08/10/keeping-the-chin-up-roscoe/

Christmas Greetings (Gladys)

1 Reply

: Christmas Card, p. 1

: Christmas Card, p. 2

: Christmas Card, p. 3

: Christmas Card envelope

Letter transcription:

Dear Daddy – I just finished writing a letter, but since it is uncertain as to when you will get this, and wanting you to have it by Christmas thought I would send it now. It is very simple and not in the least pretentious but I thought the verse would convey my feeling about Christmas. We go from one Christmas to another and build our own little traditions around it perhaps without fully realizing how important those traditions have become to us. It is unnecessary to say how much we will miss you this year, and our Christmas Eve guests, the trip to C.C. [Clay City]

[page 2] but we must have Christmas tho not as usual, and hope the next one will be different than this. So as the little verse says, we will honor Christmas in our hearts and our thoughts will be with you and hope you will enjoy your festivities there, because I am sure you will make special observance of the day. I am not gifted in putting my inner thoughts on paper but hope I have conveyed my feeling to you for this special occasion. I feel more words are unnecessary

With All My Love
Mother

Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/08/08/christmas-greetings-gladys/

Who showed them how? (Roscoe)

2 Replies

: December 4, 1942 Envelope

: December 4, 1942, p. 1

: December 4, 1942, p. 2

: December 4, 1942, p. 3

: December 4, 1942, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Dec. 4, 1942

Dear Mother,

Just a little time now so this is the first try – maybe will be able to finish maybe not. Last night I answered the greetings I received yesterday and also wrote a short note to Dr. Matthews. As I said before don’t know if he is peeved or not but I wrote just the same. I’ll try to write a short note to each person who sends me a greeting. Just happened to think the other day that I hadn’t written to Reinhart or Dr. Roberts yet so will before long when I’m more in the mood [for] that right now. Last night after the show I felt like writing. Today not so much that way.

No mail yet today – weather hot good breeze and some few clouds. That takes care of the usual things we say about those common topics of conversation. We still have hopes of mail because it isn’t 5 P.M. yet.

You mentioned that you and the

[page 2] boys were taking care of the furnace. Who showed them how? And you should stir around the retort frequently to remove any clinker because it might burn out the retort and I don’t believe you would be able to buy a new one now. Maybe one of the neighbors would look after it once in a while.

There was one question I asked you several times and haven’t received an answer yet – and that was the date my first letter arrived. It is of no importance only just interesting so if you can remember let me know. You might have sent it in one of those missing letters, which I hope catch up with us some day. I’ve tried to save all of your letters but the burden may get too great as time goes along. All the other letters I destroy in a few days after I’m sure I don’t want to refer to them again.

The bridge games I used to talk about are no more – too many of the players are gone and we don’t seem to have the

[page 3] interest we once had. Fred, Our boss and I pay [play] a game of domino now and then – very exciting. These are a little different. They run up to double nines and the addition sometimes goes beyond or [our] limited counting range. Maybe we haven’t gone into that bad a mental slump but I sometimes wonder – Don’t worry about that last sentence it’s the weather or something.

Just had a little argument. Some fellows say the war will be over by Feb. or Mar. Sure wish I had that much good outlook about things. Maybe they are right – hope so. It could be wishful thinking.

Just back from the P.O. Three or 4 letters air mail and one V-mail. The reason I said 3 or 4. You had two letters in one so that the reason. The latest letter was Nov. 24. The V-mail Nov. 7 so you see which is best.

About those pictures – David wasn’t hardly in the picture and I thought the rest of you folk took [look] terrible all except Mark standing back of you in the front door.

[page 4] John looked like a native of here in that one taken in the back yard. The last bunch were much better but John still couldn’t be natural, possibly his glasses. Have him look off to the side at some disinterested object next time.

Hope by this time you have the money orders and check I sent. I had forgotten about those. And I don’t believe I would burden the bank acc with any expensive piano – no baby grand now. I still think a coat would be a good idea anyway you had better get it out of the bank acc. Either in bonds or on interest because if it stays in the bank acc it won’t draw any interest and before long it will just sorta be attached and you’ll not have it as I had planned. If you don’t want to get a coat see what interest you will be able to get at the Building and loan or in Bonds. No use to let the Bank get the interest. That is if you don’t need it otherwise. Hope that uniform money get thru – That will help some. This is about all the space I’m allotted now so solong until tomorrow

Lots of Love
Daddy

Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/08/07/who-showed-them-how-roscoe/

Just before chow (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: December 3, 1942 Envelope

: December 3, 1942, p. 1

: December 3, 1942, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Dec. 3, 1942

Dear Mother,

Just before chow and before the last mail delivery for the day so don’t know what if anything might come. There hasn’t been any mail come into camp for the past two days neither air nor otherwise so one of these days things should break loose with a big bang we hope. My latest has been around the 15^th of Nov. Some have gotten some mail as late as Nov. 18^th.

I’ve just about finished the candy mom sent so by the time yours gets here will have a fresh supply only I’m afraid it won’t be very fresh unless it’s wrapped in paper because all other kinds seem to get soft and sticky and you said something about removing it as soon as it gets here and that doesn’t sound good.

The Pit and the Pendulum (Image courtesy of Wikipedia Commons) Illustration by Harry Clarke, 1919.

The ax has again fallen for now there are only about 10 of our original bunch here. It reminds one of the story by Poe (I believe). The Pit and the Pendulum. If you haven’t read it you won’t get what I mean. It’s a short story I read in H.S. years ago. Anyway that’s the way we feel now, but it wouldn’t be so bad to be sent on to where some of the rest of our bunch have gone. It would be a kind of an old time get together. I don’t know if the good or the bad ones are remaining here. Who knows?

Did my washing and ironing today – we now have

[page 2] an iron of our own and we can make shirts and pants look half way presentable. Only there is no starch for the shirts, but at that I believe they look about as good as when I had them done the last time I was home – you remember.

Our home is in the back of the dental office. There are two chairs and we can hear someone grinding ever so often. I’ve had mine partially cleaned but it seems I can’t them finished and I have one small filling to be done.

Have been to the P.O. got two Christmas greetings. One from Schlagel’s at C.C. and one from George McCray. I’ll try to get an answer back to each of them possibly a V-mail letter. Those were both mailed with regular 3¢ stamps so it didn’t take them so long as they were mail the last day of Oct.

I just happened to be reading one of your old letters today and in it you said David didn’t like orange juice from the bottle. Many is the time I’ve told women they were lazy for giving their babies orange juice that way. You have the right idea about the spoon business and if it isn’t too much trouble start him on the cup before long. I can give good advice when I can’t be there to help – don’t you think?

Well, it’s about time to go to work. Then the movie – maybe I can add a little tomorrow, but in case I forget –

Lots of Love
Daddy

P.S. Fri A.M. no new developments

Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/08/05/just-before-chow-roscoe/

The Country Side is Pretty Fine (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: December 2, 1942 Envelope

: December 2, 1942, p. 1

: December 2, 1942, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Dec. 2, 1942
Dear Mother,

Just after evening chow – so maybe I can get this off before work because I can’t miss a show. Don’t know what it will be but as I’ve said before that doesn’t matter.

Red bottlebrush tree (Photograph from http://www.new-caledonia-photos.com)

I was out two directions from town today. On business this time and the country side is pretty fine. There are some large widly [wildly?] spreading trees which have a bright red flower and they are real pretty – just a mass of red. Every once in a while the odor of Gardenias can be smelled and that’s pretty fine only it’s sorta spoiled by the bust because it’s been ever so long since we’ve had rain. People don’t seem to suffer from lack of rain however. They have a crude system of irrigation. Most of the gardens rather fields are small and on hillsides and about the middle of these there is a series of barrels one set lower than the next in line. Ech Each is connected by a trough and it seems the top barrel is filled until it runs into the next and so on. From each of these pipes lead sideways or they carry water in buckets. Where the water comes from at the top I’m not sure. When you drive past these the odor of human manure is pretty strong, so I have a suspicion they don’t buy fertilizer. And I

[page 2] also don’t want any of the green vegetables. In fact I’ll take the dried food from the U.S.A. It may be worse but I don’t know that.

Our breeze has been good again today but the sun hot. I’ve said that so much you are probably tired of hearing it but it still is true and fills up space. No mail today – none came into camp – just one of those no letter days. Of course we are always expecting and when we get mail regularity for a few days it seems very hard when it doesn’t come.

The coffee rationing must be hard on your mother. She won’t have enough to go more than 2-3 days out of the week. We have plenty of coffee here – In fact the Navy lives on coffee. A pot is brewed in some divisions both morning and afternoon. I haven’t gotten the habit that bad yet.

It’s almost show time so I’ll try to add the remainder after that. Thur. morn – put my laundry to soak last night and didn’t get back to finish this letter. Not much to add. The name of the show was “Topper Returns.” It was about like some of the Shadows programs over the radio. Fantastic but entertaining.

So Solong

Love Daddy

Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/08/04/the-country-si…ty-fine-roscoe/

Topics for conversation (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: December 1, 1942 Envelope

: December 1, 1942, p. 1

: December 1, 1942, p. 2

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

Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/08/01/topics-for-conversation-roscoe/

Missing letters (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: November 30, 1942 Envelope

: November 30, 1942, p. 1

: November 30, 1942, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Nov. 30, 1942

Dear Mother,

Another Monday almost gone and it’s about the same as usual other than I got 4 letters one from each of the older boys and 2 from you. These today were all dated Nov. The latest being either the 15^th or 16^th the other the 8^th. V-mail is now about one week behind the ordinary air mail. You or the boys or both might send a V-mail now and then because they’re not bad. So far I’ve saved all my letters or rather yours – all but those first few, and I’ll give you the dates of which I have as yet not received mail. All in Aug I’ve received not received in Sept. 9, 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 23, 24, 28 – Oct. 1-10-22-26-29-30-31 – Nov. 5, 6, 7, 14. Sundays of course I didn’t expect any mail so I crossed those dates off. I got your pictures. The one of the boys and you. All that you have sent. When the Christmas rush is over I wish you would get a picture taken say about 4 in square of yourself and send it. Something about the size of the one I had in the office. It would be nice to have but not too large to handle.

The watch situation is Ok. If I need one I’ll send but nothing expensive. Many have sent good watches home and have inexpensive ones sent out. Mine is doing fine so I don’t have to think of that at present at least.

I suppose we will have another show tonight but as usual we don’t know what it will be. Guess don’t make any difference.

We are getting an extension on our living quarters today so have been bothered with lots of flies, but

[page 2] it is about closed up now.

Still don’t have any of the packages you talked about. Those seem to be very slow in coming in but maybe it hasn’t been long enough yet. I guess I’ll have to send the pictures on to Lentz. Too bad they couldn’t get here before he left.

I want to write to Uncle Wes but I’m not sure of his address guess it would come back. I keep thinking his letters will come but you will note that during the time when he wrote the mail wasn’t coming. Again about that tax. I believe the last payment was to be Jan. 1. Maybe you can make them both at that time. I know expenses are heavy around about that time but that was last year’s tax. I’m afraid they will come and get me and put me in jail. What do you think? I really believe there would be a penalty on last years. Well, I’ve said all that before etc.

You can tell Mark his letters are coming along and I do really appreciate them. And if they write at different times my chances of receiving mail more often will be increased. They don’t need to wait for me to write each time for often it’s all I can do to get one letter per day written and too I have several others to write to.

Well, I’ll try to add more later but in case I forget –

Solong

Love Daddy

P.S. Got another V-mail from you dated Nov. 9 and you said you had sent stamps – I haven’t received them nor the commission.

Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/07/30/missing-letters-roscoe/ ‎

I still think of you folks lots (Roscoe)

5 Replies

Back in June, I alluded to my upcoming vacation. I generally do not like to publish when I am going to be away from home after my in-laws suffered from identify fraud several years ago while they were away on vacation. I have been back for a little while and now I am ready to share.

The trip’s two main purposes were to see my Dad and to visit many of the places I lived in my youth. My children had never been to New York or New England. Overall I think the trip was a great success. The only negative memory was the car rental agency. We disembarked from the train in Boston only to be told that no cars were available. Luckily, the problem was quickly solved by taking a taxi to another location.

Me with my ancestor Capt. Finney Leach at Burial Hill, Plymouth.

The trip was not intended to be a genealogical journey. I had promised my children that we were not going to spend lots of time trudging through cemeteries. As it ended up, we spent one Sunday in two cemeteries, Old Burial Hill in Plymouth, Massachusetts, and Wendell Cemetery in Holbrook, Massachusetts. It was a somewhat miserable day to begin with due to the extremely high humidity. My children whom I love dearly do not like spiders or bugs. In New England, there were many new species of insects that they had previously not been introduced to. They accompanied me through Burial Hill but the bugs quickly became too much for my son to handle. In Holbrook, they just stayed in the car. I was able to take new pictures of many of the stones I had photographed 15 years previously. Wendell Cemetery is where my great grandparents are buried. We took many annual trips there when I was a child to plant flowers on their graves for Memorial Day. As I have delved deeper into my family genealogy, I have discovered the many other generations of the family buried there including dozens of cousins. I specifically wanted to photograph the grave of one of my Revolutionary War ancestors who is buried there.

While visiting my Dad, I packed up seven boxes of family photographs and documents. He was the keeper of his parents’ vacation slides from many of their trips around the world in the 1960s-1970s. Now it is my task to view and scan them as well as decide which ones should be preserved. Another treasure that my Dad had recently discovered was the Kentland Newton County Centennial book which was published in 1960. The book has pictures of many of the people mentioned in the letters as well as all sorts of information about Kentland. We will seeing some of these pictures soon in future blog posts.

: November 29, 1942 Envelope

: November 29, 1942, p. 1

: November 29, 1942, p. 2

: November 29, 1942, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Nov. 29, 1942

Dear Mother,

To begin with I’m pretty sure I forgot to finish yesterday’s letter. I thought about it after it was sealed and sent out. Maybe I didn’t anyway if I did I hope you understand.

There is another ball game this P.M. but it was too hot to walk down and I can see it a little from our front porch. We watched the boxing bouts from the porch last night. It’s a little far but I don’t think much farther that one would be from the ringside in a big bout in the states, and we could hear the band pretty well here also. Didn’t have a movie last night – nor none tonite. Guess none tonite on account of church.

We had chicken again today but it isn’t nearly as good now as it was at first. It is probably just as good but after having it once each week and turkey in between time it isn’t such a novelty. Once in a while we draw a poor meal but for the most part we have been fed very good. In fact we get much more than we need.

[page 2] This seems to be a typical lazy Sunday afternoon but I don’t know why because every day is very much the same except church and chicken but it’s just something that makes one want to take a nap. I’ve already written to the folks and want to write C.J. yet before sleep over comes me.

I’ve told you about many of our Drs. leaving to other locations and I wouldn’t be a bit surprised to see others do likewise and I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if I wasn’t one of them. I’ll write you if I am – but won’t be able to tell you when or where. I think we I will know before long if I’m to be transferred. It seems as if the whole bunch will be broken up. Must have been a rotten bunch.

Again if you have the papers I’d like for you to pay the Federal Tax for last year. That we know will always have to be paid and I think will cause less trouble if taken care of now. I’m going to write on the back

[page 3] because I want to send a copy of our paper on Thanksgiving Day. You can see the whole menu we had that day. I tried to get one on Thanksgiving Day but they seemed to be too few, but I did find one later.

I’m going to finish this and leave a little space in case things develop – because I don’t like to leave them unfinished. I can also add a line if mail comes which it didn’t this A.M.

I th still think of you folks lots and love you more and put in a little prayer each night for your welfare –

I love you

Daddy

P.S. I didn’t mean to be a softie at the end. It’s just the way it happens.

P.S. Got 2 letters from you dated Nov. 12 & 13. Got lots of stuff – some repeat – but that’s the first I knew of your hospital trip etc –

Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/07/29/i-still-think-…ks-lots-roscoe/

The first package arrives (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: November 28, 1942 Envelope

: November 28, 1942, p. 1

: November 28, 1942, p. 2

: November 28, 1942, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Nov. 28, 1942

Dear Mother,

I’m hanging around on duty tonite and maybe will have time to write a letter all at once – went to a baseball game this P.M. between the army and navy so have to hang around. The Navy won.

You can tell Mark I got a letter from him today Nov. 8 and was glad to get it. If the boys keep writing at different times it will increase my chances of getting mail. The last latest mail I have received from you was Nov 2 and that was several days ago. So there is lots yet to be gotten. In fact I have never received those that were written when David arrived.

I received a Christmas birthday box from Mom today. She had some stick candy and some various other kinds and the whole mess was sticky. This hot damp weather seems to simply melt candy but it’s pretty good. She also sent some butterscotch rolls and 5-6 packages of chewing gum and one box of menthol cough drops. C. J. Easley included 2 Indianapolis Stars and a package of V-mail envelopes. Do you have to pay for those things? We have plenty of

[page 2] those can get all we want at the P.O. Maybe I can use them – I’ll write him and thank him for them. The box was open at one corner and if the candy hadn’t been sticky one sack would have leaked out. I sorta shudder to think what the candy will be like you sent because I believe you said it was a little soft. And boxes must be tied very good because the best of them look bad when they arrive.

I’m rooming with two dentists and our quarters are in back of the dental office. And I’m writing at a desk in the back of their office and just now one of them is in the process of pulling a fellow’s tooth and I think it broke off and he is scraping it out from the sound of things. Sorta makes my teeth feel on edge to hear that scrape. I ran the above all together with ands because he was scraping pretty fast.

A Lt. Commd that used to be our big boss was promoted to Commander today and he treated the officers to cold beer at evening chow. It went pretty good the weather being as hot as it was today. As long as there is a breeze and one can find shade it’s OK.

[page 3] but just get in the sun without the breeze and it is hot.

I’ll have to write C.J. and Mom tomorrow and thank them for the package and hope to get yours in the next few days. I believe she sent hers before you did. I’m really more interested as much in packages as letters because news from home are most important but don’t mistake me I appreciate the packages also.

Fred got a package yesterday and carried it all around showing it to everyone and he also asks you to listen to parts of his letters etc. I don’t care anything about those things and I don’t read any of mine to him. He is a fine fellow to get along with but he does have peculiar ideas. He is an only child so I suppose he gets some of his peculiarities from that.

I’ll add a line in the A.M.

Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/07/26/the-first-pack…arrives-roscoe/

A case of cold beer (Roscoe)

1 Reply

Destry Rides Again is a movie staring Jimmie Stewart and Marlene Dietrich. The movie has a rather infamous fight scene between Marlene Dietrich and Una Merkel and Jimmie Stewart. Although I have never seen the movie, here’s a clip of the big fight from the movie.

: November 27, 1942 Envelope

: November 27, 1942, p. 1

: November 27, 1942, p. 2

: November 27, 1942, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Nov. 27, 1942

Dear Mother,

The dates on my letters are a little confusing since I write in the P.M. The letter goes thru the censorship routine the next morning and to the P.O. about noon then to the main P.O. in the P.M. and then leave the next day so you see a letter is about 3 days off old before it really leaves the island but I guess that doesn’t make much difference in the long run because of the length of time it takes them to get there. I never seal the envelope until it is ready for censorship so if anything important comes up I can add it and that takes off one day. There is no point to the above whatever only just telling you the procedure.

I’ve been very lazy in the letter writing business the past few days. It seemed that when I wanted to write there was something else that had to be done and when I had time I wasn’t in the mood. The nightly shows cut into my writing schedule but they are pretty good past time. Last night’s show was a little odd. I guess. The name “Destry Rides Again.” Don’t know what the one is tonite we always have pretty good house even if the title isn’t

[page 2] known ahead. Most everyone goes even if they have seen it before. And many persons who go to the movies often have seen them, but as for me they will have to hunt pretty hard if they find one I have seen, as you are well aware.

Our living quarters are pretty good now. We – Three of us – have a space 12 feet by 16 feet. Have Iron bunks with springs. And electric lights. I’ve told you that before but I’m so pleased. We were up last night until 11:00 P.M. We seem to be in a part of the outfit where lights out don’t affect. So we can read write etc. And too the mosquitoes aren’t so bad but we still use our nets at night because the little bugs slip in some way.

Today outside the heat is very oppressive and the sun really burns. Inside the hut it is rather comfortable and there is a slight breeze, but standing perfectly still in the sun is almost unbearable.

So far today I received a copy of the Newton County Enterprise dated Oct. 22 and two V-mail letters one from you and one from John – Yours was dated Nov. 5 and John’s Nov. 3. That’s two V-mails from John and none from Mark. The one I got from John on Nov. 1 sounded more like Mark but it had John’s name.

I haven’t written Bart yet about the paper

[page 3] but I intend to in the very near future and I also intend to write Boonie again. I got his letter 3 days ago but wasn’t in the mood to write and have been a little busy what with moving etc.

Was interrupted for a time – Have just been to the P.O. but no mail or packages. I brought two packages for another Dr. but none for myself. Guess mine will be along sooner or later. It is now 1700 and still the sun is very hot. It’s supposed to be the dead of summer or very near it and by 1915 it is dark enough to start the movies so that proves the period of twilight is shorter here than there because it still very light there at 1915 in the Eve. As I remember it.

Just got a case of cold beer and is it good. Most of the time it is warm but once in a while we are able to get a cold one. Our beer supply is running low and I’ll be sorta glad because it put on too much weight.

Well, I’ll save the rest of the space until morning. It isn’t morning yet but the show was short. The name “Gold Rush Mazie”. It was about as good as it sounds. I’ll add more in the morning.