Smyrna times., 1944-09-07
DRIBBLES
FROM
Our Boys and Girls
in the Service
David C. Harrison Post, No. IA,
American Legion, and Unit of the
American Legion Auxiliary.
European Area
by

European Area
Hello Dribples:
Since l have never contributed a
letter to your column, 1 will at
tempt to do SO now.
Over a period of time I have
promised number of people that
I would write them, but it seems
almost impossible to do so under
the circumstances. Since so many
of my friends read your column, 1
am going to try and make this one
letter take the place of many.
Well, to start with have been
in England about a month, and
have seen quite a bit of their coun-
try in this time. This has been
due to the fact that I have been
stationed in several camps during
my short stay.
The countryside here is very
pretty, but in no way does it COM
pare to the good ole U. S. A.
When L first arrived on this side of
the Atlantic I was rated as a radio
operator After my arrival I vol
unteered for the Paratroopers. At
the time this letter is being written
1 have finished my basic training,
and completed four jumps. The
first two jumps were so easy that
really did not realize what it was
all about. On the third jump, how
ever, had to muster up all the
courage l had to go out the door.
Following this, made the fourth
Jump o. X. Since have put my
life in the dependability of silk, or
nylon, I can more readily under
stand why it was necessary to cut
women a bit short on the number
Of silk stockings they could pur-
chase.
Tomorrow, if all goes well, I will
graduate and receive my wings.
Recently a letter arrived from
home, stating that in the future 1
would receive The Smyrna Times.
I'm hoping that it will be helpful
nm assisting me to locate some of
the Boys from home who are sta
toned over here, also in giving me
the chance to catch up on the
Home Town news.
VI hn
hope that l will hear from some of
my old friends soon. If do, will
try to answer all correspondence
received.
tSo-long everybody.
Pvt. Russell w. Gardner
Pvt. Russell w. Gardner
A. S. N. 33S07635
A. P. o. 230, Postmaster
New York City, New York
(Balance of address on application
It's been nice hearing from you,
Private Gardner. We're also glad
to know that mother is having The
Smyrna Times sent directly to you.
Through this medium, you should
be placed in a position to learn
much about the Old Home Town
that you have been missing during
the past months. We certainly
trust that this will be the case.
Your idea in using this column
TO write to your friends is indeed
an excellent one. In this way you
have a good coverage, and we hope
that they will reply to your letter
i'm such numbers that you will be
assured of the fact for all time. 1t
is no secret that Servicemen like
TO find the incoming mail heavy.
So you decided that you wanted
to become a Paratrooper! It's a
real mans job from all that we
can learn, and we do not wonder at
your feeling of awe when you first
stepped out the door of a flying
plane. In the course of time, no
doubt this feeling changes. Never
the less. it's always a good trick
when you take such step, espec-
tally should you land on spot not
exactly of your choosing.
Now that you are one of us Rus
sell, well be expecting word from
you every once in awhile to let us
know how things are going fol
you over there across the Atlantic
AT the rate the European war is
now progressing, the folks back
home are hoping and praying that
it will be over before long. And
with this prayer we're offering uI
a second one regarding the safe