The sub., 1943-09-23
Dear Folks:

| EOp OdJ6U Au&s US Wn1CA \ Ch- joyed reading very much. I'm glad that you folks are satisfied that I haven't been hiding anything from you In regard to my wound. Re- garding my wound, it seems that was Jap machine gun Gone of many) that was making things warm for us, and which we were trying to eliminate by the ancient but effective method of crawling and throwing hand grenades. My job at the moment was to coor- dinate our platoon's attack with that of another, so was standing up. My last words in that parti- cular action were Let's go!'
 I've often wondered how long that Jap had me in his sights. l had five holes through my uniform, (can't tell where) about a second after my famous last words, but only one did the job.
 It's strange about the dream you mention. It was close, but in a slightly different spot. Jerry re- ceived a letter at the hospital which was written by his wife be- fore he was wounded in which she told of 8 gloomy dream she had in regard to him, with blood all over, etc. It was the first time she had ever mentioned dreaming about him. He is saving the letter-Quite coincidence, right?
 In regards to the Nips being tricky and dirty, Pop, you are cor rect, but we were well trained in what to expect, so we weren't sur- prised at anything. Don't worry about the boys; they can fight just as dirty if they have to. And as for getting hit, we were on the of fensive and pushing fast and we knew we were going to lose some men. The only way fellows who are advancing know where the de- fense is located is when they open fire. One minute it's so quiet you can hear a pin drop and the next all hell breaks loose. Boy! Does the lead fly back and forth!
 I have my watch, but whoever is c O in the outfit has my pen. Some day Shippee will probably find it for me, if 1t isn't lost mean while.
 Capt. Nelson was also hit and is probably on the way home. If you ever get an opportunity to meet him, thank him for me. He's my biggest booster and one of my best friends. Incidentally, you can learn lot about the outfit by watching the Willimantic news. That town got some bad news, I'm afraid. Capt. Burr, who is the regiments Protestant chaplain, is also a very good friend of mine. Good boy, hey? Palsy walsy with all the sky pilots.) He took Doyle'S place in Catholic rites and did a swell job. He had to carry tommy to pro- tect himself.
 Shippee was so sure that would be sent back to the U. s. to O c s after 1 passed the board and phys ical that he gave me Seventy-five dollars to get drunk On in Frisco. The reason he was so certain was because boys were being shipped to QuartermaSter and Medical Ad- ministration schools, but as 1t turned out, no one was sent to the infantry school. The reason being the campaign that was brewing. I'm lucky in not being sent, actu- ally, because of reason that l can't disclose now. Remind me sometime when I get back to tell you. Paul Marshall told me con- fidentially that when Capt. Nelson submitted my name for O c s he gave me the highest recommenda- tion of anyone applying in the bat talion. Paul was battalion sergeant major at the time.
 So you see, whether or not ever manage to go to school in the future is not of importance to me now, because so far it seems that in my case everything turns out for the best. If l do go, might go to school for four months and be attached to an outfit heading over seas a week after graduation. AS anxi0uc ac uJo ara fc oof hack uOnp