Wednesday afternoon. Jan. 26^th 1944

My dear John Milton:

Before Elizabeth comes in for a stay over until Friday, I want to get started on this note for you.

How are you? Got your letter saying the candy had gotten there O.K. and after I sent that kind, I think I remember hearing you say one time while you were home that nuts didn’t agree with you. If I am right I’m sorry I sent that, next time I will send some other kind.

Your letter came in yesterday that I refer to, and I hope by now ours as to the auto has reached you, and that it may be everything you wish it would be. Of course you know by now “Mamas and Papas” always have to start off with an “object lesson” and follow up with what ever else there is to say, and even if you were to get married and not tell us until after it was all over, I guess we would excuse you, but please don’t try us. You’re our sweet old kid and we do love you so much and every thing we do and say we hope it will be for your good some time in your life.

Well, I wasn’t going to have a word to say along this line in my letter, so now I’m going to hurry on, and if you know that you have here a pair of olive dab trousers, a shirt I have cleaned, and a pair of shoes. Do you want them?

Never forget, always let us have your problems. Good or bad, maybe we can help when you least expect. You’ve helped with some of ours and we want to help you, especially, if at any time something goes wrong.

Your Camp Picket has been very much in evidence for the past several weeks. First I read where several of the service men have been “jacked up” for the misuse of gasoline coupons, and now this morning a bad accident where two were killed and five injured in a station wagon while on furlough.

Mr. Pribble’s case doesn’t come up until Feb. some time, but when I see more of it I will send the write up on to you. I am anxious to see how that thing is coming out. Some said they think he was a bit quick on the shooting, and others seem to feel it was O.K. so, it remains to see what the judge or jury think. It would be too bad if someone serious turns out with him, he’ll wish he never had seen that sailor.

Referring to the Infantry and what there is to learn and who learns it, Bud says there is a plenty. Is the same crowd you went there with still on the job?

Capt. Rickenbacker spoke here night before last to the Kwa club and the few words that were published in the paper as to what he said, doesn’t look to good for the length of time he feels it is going to be necessary to whip the Japs. Five years he says, especially if we try to take them island by island.

It is so like spring today that your dad wishes to be down “on the farm”, (so do I, if you don’t care what you say.) It is lovely really, but we may do like last spring, pop up here when we think everything is lovely and have a freeze.

Now this isn’t much, but a little, so here’s best wishes and good luck now and for ever.

Mother.