Sunday noon – July 25, 1943

Dear Roy,

Your letter [was] received yesterday & enjoyed. As for being dry and hot there, you should see and feel this country. No rain in over 28 months and yesterday it was 130 [degrees] in the shade – Today is just as bad – or worse. I spent all the AM washing, the first I’ve done since being here. Guess I’ll just lay here on my cot all the afternoon and sweat it out and drink water. It’s really tough and I don’t believe I’d get used to it in 40 years!! I’ve gotten as brown as an Indian, as we go without our shirts all the time. Very few got blistered, as we took it easy with exposure for almost a week – just a few minutes a day. There have been a few rattlers killed, but so far I haven’t seen one.

We thought we were to start shooting tomorrow, but I see on the schedule that we remain in camp all the week. Guess the “rifle companies” will shoot first. I’m leaving for Phoenix at 5:00 AM Tuesday – for 3 days, so have a better out-look for the coming week. We go on trucks, 120 mile ride, but anything to get away for a few days. Guess we’ll get off about once a month, as transportation is very scarce now. Most of our vehicles here left in Tennessee, so we just have to wait our time. They will feed and sleep us while there. Hope I have time to go to see the Grand Canyon (“Arizona. Lover’s Leap”!?). Anyway, I’ll get in a few souvenirs somewhere.

Glad to hear that you boys have at last gotten the old bridge fixed again. Wish I could be there and enjoy the camp with you! Won’t be long, will it? I can imagine now how old that child is now.

Last week I went by an irrigated farm of several hundred acres about 4015 miles from here and it was just like Paradise in the middle of a wilderness! He had about 250 white-faced calves that all weighed around 600 lbs. that were really pretty – also a big herd of old stock in another field. There were doves, some “white-winged”, by the 100’s, covey after covey of California Valley quail, pheasants, rabbits, etc., everywhere. Also saw an eagle there. Boy, would I like to take just one hunt in there!!! It shows what this desert could do with some water.

Well, have a good time and help mother all you can. Write again soon –

Love to all,

R.M.E.