Smyrna times., 1943-04-01

MlutI Is Playing INV II . q icNOAo
program. Later today I'm going
to church. We don't have church
until four o'clock in the afternoon
because the Chaplain has to come
from Seattle.
I'm glad Mama and Papa had
chance to get away from the Diner
and have some time to themselves
for change. 1 hope they had a
good time. 1 hope they can get
help in the Diner so all of you
won't have to spend so much time
there. 1 hope if Dad leaves the
Arsenal he will take some time off
for a rest and when he gets an
other job he won't have to ride the
bus all of the time and can get
home more.
'Dad"-we got a gas mask and
rifle and other equipment. We have
been training with equipment for
the past week and went on a hike
with full field pack up into the
mountains. The hike was about
10 or II miles. 1 wish you could
see the fat fellows trying to keep
up with the rest of the gang. We
really have nice rifles. 1 wish I
could bring one home. I'm in Glass
8-that's the 9Th class that has
trained in this camp. Glass 7 NOV
ed out last week so we have to do
guard duty. Two hours on and
four hours off for "a hours at a
time. 1t isn't bad-the guards get
to eat first and get more than
others
I've been wondering about that
check from bravo. I forgot to get
it before I left I think the amount
was right because I didn't have
much overtime the last month.
Take the check and buy something
you want. If you have
a chance get something for Dad,
too. If you don't have enough take
some of my savings. You can get
something and send it to Jean to
ILL.,; put her address in this letter.
1 didn't get her any Xmas present.
You can send The Smyrna Times
if you send it on Thursday, so I can
get it here. Tommy Dorsey is
playing ut Started All Over
Again"D. Save one of the papers
so you can send it later on in case
I don't get the first one. We get a
Seattle paper here on Sunday-not
much in it.
I hear they are rationing shoes
people won't be able to
get anything if they keep on. 1
have 2 pair of shoes and the ones
I brought with me. We are ra-
toned on sugar, butter and milk.
We get ice cream on Sunday.
Some times when one of the
Corps go in town they bring us ice
cream in the evening.
I told you I got my package in
other letter-so I'll tell you aagin
to make sure. The sweater fits
swell-candy was good, pen writes
good even if 1 can't.
I'm glad to hear that Elf Jolls is
a Lieutenant Colonel. 1 would like
to be shipped where he is in charge
or maybe he could have me sent
back East-but I doubt it very
much.
I'm already assigned to the 308th
Coast Artillery so guess 1 won't
get back East-Im in a part of the
39th c. A. and they are all station
ed around Seattle. They might
send a regiment back East, and r
might get in that by luck, some
time. 1 guess I'd better forget
that before think I'm coming
home.
We have two more weeks from
today before we leave here unless
orders are changd.
I got a letter from Jean Truax
and Marian Doughten and Helen. I
haven't heard from Jean Phillips
yet. 1 hope I have her right adj
dress.
1 thing I'll send one letter with a
note to each one at home to save
air mail stamps because they are
hard to get here-you can't get any
kind of stamps here. Sometimes a
Corporal will get us some in town
if he is in town when Post Office
is open. I'll send letter to you and
you can give notes out. 1 could
send them Free but it takes so long
to get mail that way. I'll send
some Free any way later on unless
I have something important to say.
Say hello to everyone for me
and call Nom and tell her I'm ok.
in case / don't have a chance to
send her letter.
1 got a swell letter from Jean
Truax. She told me. about all of
the boys and where they were ship
ped. I'd like to have Huffy's adj
dress-I might get a chance to see
him out here. See if Jean will give
it to you.
It's still warm and haven't had
any rain here.
can't think of anything to ask
you or tell you so I'll say so long
for now.
Love,
Rod