Sunday  9:30 AM.

[Actual date most likely: 6/11/44]

Dear Mother,

            I’ll start my letter writing before I go to church. Got your very interesting letter yesterday. Too bad that it keeps raining so, but maybe it will quit soon. Also heard from Luther & he said the rain was holding him back too.

            Our time must be getting very short for we are running on regular schedule to-day & no one is out on pass. We haven’t done anything so far but are supposed to have an inspection of our clothes & equipment to-day. They are going to let us go to church, but otherwise, we are subject to call just as on a week-day & we don’t appreciate it much either!!

            They have given us our “change of address” cards & we are filling them out this A.M. – all we put on them is our names & company address, then we turn them in & our Company Commander fills out our “destination” & sends them to you after we are gone! We don’t have many, so you can send my address to Miriam & Martha for chance I don’t get any more. I’m sending Ester one.

            We are getting new clothes, equipment, etc., & having inspection after inspection every day & will from now on, so we can be ready to go at a moments notice. We still don’t have the faintest idea of where or when we are going, but it doesn’t look like it will be long!

            We had our wire & switchboard tests yesterday & I think all of us passed with flying colors. All the other sections have had theirs too.

            Never mind about sending the address to Mir. & Martha, for I just got some more cards.

            To-day is beautiful & pleasant. It has been nice & pleasant all the week & we’ve done hardly anything, so have enjoyed it. Just got thru’ with rifle inspection, so hope to go to church in a few minutes if something else doesn’t come up.

            Was surprised to hear that Lee was at home & I know he enjoyed it a lot. Pity he has to go back. I don’t imagine he said much, did he? Guess he & Paul & Tommy Walker had a big time together again. It was nice that they got to-gether. Maybe we will all be to-gether again soon!

            I’m hoping to get off next week-end & go to Friso, tho’ I hate to get mixed up in the “traffic” jams that go with the trip. Jimmie Joe & I want to go to-gether if possible, tho’ it may not work out that way.

            I have a little money saved up that I’ll have to send home if I don’t get to spend it on some week-ends or a furlough before we leave & you can put in the Bank for me. I’ll hold it until I find out we are leaving! Too, when I tell you, have my meager bank account withdrawn & then deposit it again in both our names as a “Joint account” & then you wouldn’t have any trouble getting it out if anything happened to me (which I trust will not!). I believe the car is already in Martha’s name, so for the exception of my interest in the Beagler, motor boat, & the 22 rifle, I believe that about covers my “real-properties”; so I won’t go to the trouble of making out a will & executor, etc.  Don’t change the bank account until I tell you tho’ unless you know I’ve left for overseas, for I might write a check on it sometime. My war Bonds will come direct to you, so take care of them.

            I’ll use this smaller sheet to finish, for I don’t think there is much more to say.

            Hope Martha got to see you this week-end & that you had a big time. It was nice that you got to go to Memphis & know you enjoyed your trip.

            Where did all those people come from that joined the church? Were they mostly children? That was really fine & I hope the Church continues to grow! I rarely hear from Mr. James but realize he is very busy.

            Pity the cotton & fertilizer got washed up & hope you have better luck from now on. Sounds funny to hear of so much rain there & none ever here. We could use some. Guess it’s hard on the strawberries, isn’t it? I saw where they were, bringing $10 each.

            I don’t think it would pay to make Eugene mad about the corn, for there is always a chance that you could be wrong, tho’ it’s probably true! Just take it easy & overlook little things like that. You are lucky to have such a good tenant & “old & settled” at that.

            Well, it’s about church time, so will close here. But wishes to you on this “your day” & may God Bless you & all mothers & grant you much happiness!

                                                                                    Always remembering you,

                                                                                                            Russell

 

[Written in pencil in corner: This clipping came out of a New York paper – we did it!]