Smyrna times., 1943-05-06

rainy season. 1t rains for days at
time.
At present we are sleeping in
pup tents" directly on the ground,
but so far We have managed to
keep our blankets reasonably dry.
AT least the part that covers our
chests and necks. The rain beats
in the front end of the pup tent"
on our blankets. Weather makes
quite lot of difference out here.
One does not notice things like this
SO much at home, but out in this
part of the world, you just can't
help it.
We all miss lot of things that
we used to take for granted while
we were back home, such as news
papers, coca cola, etc. Sometime
back, in French Morocco 1 was
complaining about the French
plumbing, and thought how much
advanced we were back in the
States. Now 1 could even go for a
French shower bath; even if the
plumbing is bad, and the water
cold. 1t was not as bad as it is
here right now, for there just is not
any shower here at all. You wash
out of your helmet or five gallon
tin can for a basin. We build no
fires, therefore night duty is often
very chilly. On the way over here
saw snow in the mountains. And,
although there is no snow where we
are stationed, l have thought sever
al times that it has missed a splen-
did chance. Our outfit has been
camped at an old ruins that I be-
lieve dates back to the time before
Christ. One time it was in the
hands of the Romans. 1t is a
strange country indeed. One of the
things that we learn to do is to dig
in for protection. While 1 was dig
ging away at my fox hole, 1 uncov-
cred pieces of old pottery, necks of
bottles, old jugs and bowls. The
ground surrounding here is full of
such stuff.
The Arab women in these parts
carry water on their backs in red
clay jugs, very much the same
shape as the pieces we have been
digging up. So perhaps this is a
holdover custom from their old CIV
ilization which these ruins repre-
sent. This seems to be a country
of many wars and war is nothing
new to the natives. The territory
we now sleep on was German-in
German hands a few weeks ago
and SO it is that this old military
prize has changed hands again.
Well mother, I guess I had better
close this letter now. I can hear
motors running, and that isn't too
funny. Love to all and a Happy
Easter-write soon.
Your loving son,
Marshall
Pvt. Marshall A. Clough
ASH. 2O256766
Headquarters Battery
2626th Brigade c. A. A. A.
APO. No. 302, c o Postmaster
New York City, New York
Dribbles thanks you lot Mrs.
Harry B. Amos for the loan of your
sons letter. AS you perhaps know
Marshall is one of our old standing
friends and we wish him all of the
very best in his present African ad-
venture. God grant that he passes
through this war and returns to
you all safe and sound. Folks back
home do not begin to realize what
Our Boys are facing. If they did
miners would not even think of
striking, and factories would be
running full force without any of
this absenteeism that they call to
our attention so often these days.
Those of us who wish to enjoy the
fruits of freedom and happiness
here in this cuntry, must put their
shoulders to the wheel and do a
little pushing all for themselves.
Otherwise, they do not deserve the
right to be called Americans. It is
indeed shameful to think that so
many people do not realize what
war can mean until it is brought
near to them. Then they throw up
their hands and gesture as much as
to say: "Oh why didn't you stop it"