Oct. 25 – 44

 

Dear Mom,

            Your Oct. 16 letter came yesterday, along with a couple from Barbie, and I tell you they certainly were welcome, because it’s at least a week since I’d had any mail.

            Thanks for getting the underwear. Please do send it along anyhow. Briefs will be alright as long as they fit loose enough. Thanks ever so much. You can’t imagine how I hate to run short on underwear before I do my weekly wash. I don’t wear under shirts because it makes just that much more unnecessary wash.

            Guess what my smart little girl, Barbie, has accomplished? [She] overworked herself picking apples – got soaking wet – bronchial pneumonia – and [she’s] in bed for a couple of weeks. I told her that I’d write more often and I’m glad she wrote and told me. I was getting worried. She always takes those things too lightly – [she] seems to almost have to be tied down to the bed to rest up and get well. But, she’s happy and not worried, so I told her I’d trust she’d stay in bed and cautioned her more than once. You’ve really got to hand it [to] her for her stubborn spirit, but she just has to slow up now and then – and I’d rather she’d do so before she caught bronchial pneumonia and had to stay in bed. But, I admire her just the same. I shouldn’t talk too much about taking it easy when I had my paper route. I guess it must be human nature, huh!

            Gosh, the way you talk - everything certainly must be changed back home. I mean Mr. J. Kimball going to “P.C.W,” etc. I bet I’d hardly know the place. I spend many long hours thinking what it will be like to go home.

            It’s kind of ­­­­­hard to talk about. I just get off dreaming about it and the rest of the world around me is completely blank. If someone should speak to me, I say “What” or maybe not even hear them. In other words, I [want to] go home, and I’m [not] the least bit timid or ashamed to say so, either. It’s not rough living and fighting and working over here, but it’s tough missing you all and Barbie - it’s a terrific strain on my nerves – but I guess they’ve hardened like iron.

Just so I can write you like this and forget it all while writing. [I am] so alone once in a while and [lay] awake and dream and wonder about home and – well – I think you understand, don’t you, Mom? It kind of makes a lump in my throat. But, I’m far from being down and having sad morale. I’m just relapsing into a kind of mind-losing pensiveness. It’s really pleasant. Thank God I can go to church and have faith and laugh and smile and think about you all – then I won’t mind waiting at all. Then, too I think of the fellows who will see a different world back home from physical disabilities. Well – I’m very thankful and grateful to the good Lord above that I have a good chance of coming [home safely].

            We really have a swell 7 tube radio in the hut now. [We] can listen to the American Forces Network all day long – and does it make a difference!!

            Oh yes – I’m planning to go to Scotland and on a furlough in the near future. Will it be a relief to leave this place.

            Will try to write Paul – envy him much.

            Will write more later.

            All my love and regards to all –

 

Chuck