Camp Horn – Desert Training Center,

Sunday noon July 18, 1943

 

Dear Mother,

Nothing new, but will try to fill a page or two. It is lovely here today, so it’s rather pleasant. Any time the sun isn’t shining its OK here. We are getting a little more used to the heat, but its’ really hot. Very few have fallen out yet on account of the heat, but we don’t work very hard and none at all during the hottest part of the day – 12 to 3:45 PM – They told us yesterday that we would be here only 2 months and then they (“tho’t”?) that we were going to Indio, California for maneuvers. That’s the hottest place in the U.S. and is absolutely void of any vegetation at all. Some say its’ even hot at nite there (?). If it is hotter there than here, I don’t see how you can stand it! Maybe we’ll get a break and go to some pleasant spot instead.

            Enjoyed your letter a lot and hope it has rained there by now. Did you even sell your steer? It took your letter 5 days to get here, so maybe you’d better use air mail which takes about 2 days. It won’t cost you too much!! Did you even get your phone in? In case of an emergency, I can be reached here by Phone by calling thru’ Phoenix-P.I.E. in HQs. Co – 323-INF-81st Division-Desert Training Center.-(will stop now for dinner)

Well, here I am again full of Banana Pudding and iced tea, so I feel rather satisfied again! Nearly all our food is canned out here and lots of fruit – canned and raw. We usually have iced coffee for supper that doesn’t appeal too many of us, except it is cold.

They are going to be pretty considerate on 3-day passes. One bunch we’ll have from Monday to Wednesday and another from Thursday to Saturday in Phoenix every week. They are going to furnish transportation, a place to sleep and fuel us, so it will be nice. I hope to go to see the Grand Canyon and Boulder Dam if I can in 3 days. They are 250-300 miles above us.

            Hope the farm is progressing OK and that the rains come soon. Did you even do anything about the wagon? The fishes must be growing in the lake!

            How did Roy get the idea that I phoned Madaline when I passed through there? I didn’t even see anyone but a Negro that I told to tell Joe that I went by there. That must have been what happened! Wish I could have stopped there a while, but didn’t except for the train to get water. I had a 3 hour pass to carry one of my officers up town in Memphis, but the train didn’t stop there long enough for us to get off.

            Did you even get your pigs?

            Think we have church to-nite at 8:30, so I

am figuring on going if its close by. Know Miriam enjoyed her trip. I wrote her yesterday.

            Write when you can and I’ll try to answer as soon as I can.

            We begin shooting out here the 26th – That’s about all we have to do – and get acclimated.

                                                Love to all,

                                                            RE