February 28, 1942

Nick,

Received your letter today, the best day of the month, payday. Was glad you received my letter from Fort Eustis. Took a chance in writing there figuring it would be forwarded.

Really has been tough plugging along and trying to get ahead without a chance. Was hard in the C’s getting ahead but the fellows were a lot more decent than I have met so far in the army. Perhaps my luck is changing for the best now. I hope. Today I was put to work in the aircraft supply section. We are being broken in by civilian workers for our job in the trailers. We are to spend a week in every department, five in and then we are on our own. Am going to put all I have in it and do hope I make good. Do wish you have as much luck and get your break soon. Would give anything to see you in this outfit. You would do alright in supply work because it is something in the order of what you did. You know keying property cards and such, changing out and I receiving property.

Had a twenty four hour pass yesterday and went out to Hollywood and L.A. They are both near each other and about fifty miles from the field. Hollywood is beautiful, but L.A. is as dirty as Baltimore, only larger. This is the place for scenery with orange groves in the valleys and snowcapped mountains in the distance. The towns near here are beautiful with palm trees and red tile roof homes. I just can’t seem to put it down on paper. One must see this place to really enjoy it. We are nine miles from Riverside, California and it is one of the most beautiful towns I ever saw. Boy, this place must have been like home during peace time.

Had an alert here at 3:00 A.M. the other day and it lasted three hours. This is one thing you fellows don’t have to put up with. We must bail out when the alert is sounded and go to our station and stand by. I am assigned to the firefighting team and must stand by whenever the alert is sounded to help put out any fires if such be the case. You know it is hell dashing around in the dark bumping into things and banging my shins. I cussed the ass them damn Japs and was mad enough to take on an army of them myself. We stood by until the all clear was sounded then it was to work ye bullies. This bailing out at 3:00 A.M. and getting only three-four hours sleep is not so good. Guess we will have to knock hell out of them in a hurry, Nick, and then we all can get more sleep.

Wrote your brother Steve a card from L.A. but addressed it to Indiantown Gap Did not know he was transferred. Have not heard anything from my brother for over a month and no one else has. Don’t know where he is but do know he is someplace across the pond. Hearing about Bird in the Cavalry beats everything. Bet you a doughnut he got a bellyful. Dan the horse tail still did not write to me.

Just heard that I missed going to school by some days, screwing up the works. They sent too many of us here from Keesler Field and I was one of them. After I left, my name was put in the bulletin at Keesler Field to attend school and Lowry Field, Colorado. The dopes don’t even know they sent me here. Took all their examinations for nothing, but now that I am started on something, I at least feel a little better.

The lights just were put out in our bay and here I am finishing up in the upstairs latrine. The dayroom downstairs is crowded so this will do. Right now, three craps games are in full swing and the ring of silver is loud. Twenty one bucks don’t last very long in these games from the looks of things.

Will have to stop now because it is almost impossible to write with all this shoot a luck, come on dice, blabble, blabble, your faded, dollar to a half he’s wrong. Until next time Nick, cheerio and lots of luck. Don’t let up fellow, you have what it takes.

Your pal,

Pub

P.S. Tis a funny thing, but in the last two days I have received five letters and everyone spelled materiel. M-a-t-e-r-i-a-l. Everybody seems to think I misspelled the word.

Will write Bird a card too, might even if I have to do it with all of this noise.