January 3, 1944

Dear Bun,

Got the dope on your attitude on military life. Glad to hear you love the life of a Marine. It’s a goddamn good thing you’re in a gold-brick outfit and not in the Army. You always did have a knack for picking safe jobs.

Being home on furlough was fine-yeah, from the standpoint of being away from a lot of dog-faces and military discipline but I never saw a deader neighborhood than the upper Hoodland Avenue section. All I could do was dissipate at Angie’s amongst a group of either “Has old or has young” civilians-and it ain’t fun. All we need around there is a general furlough-a sort of an American Legion Convention under the auspices of Shettnefield, Kerlis, Shelly, et cetera.

As of today, brother, we’re in for 5 more weeks of-let us say ‘basic training? Get me pal! Severe training films, infiltration sources, gas chambers, marches, ______ oh-that same old [censor] again. ‘Cause I don’t give a goddamn, I always liked that stuff and I had enough of it at Wake Forest to not mind this so-called “refresher course.” To put it specifically-we’re attached to the Armand Infantry Battalion.

Christ sake, old Max Kruse, at the age of 45 thought nothing of Paris Island; Brother, you’re just not in shape. A guy can’t be in tip-top shape if he drinks Southern Comfort with a dash of Geldy’s and a mug of Erin Brew 15 times a night and then tops it off by varnishing his cane 29 out of 30 days per month. Don’t worry, pal, this war’d be over in 5 or 6 years and you’ll have a chance to beat your hoofs and the pavement around 22 and Scrvil and Cherry Street in a blue suit, with a silver badge and a pearl handled .45.

Just as a little practical advice to a rookie-if you do feel you’re not being treated well-[censor]’em-take a 10 day leave or raise hell with the C.O. on your top-kick. It’s always good policy to get yourself a bottle and get stinking drunk so you can’t get up in the morning.-They can’t do a goddamn thing about it. You have your right, pal. You don’t have to stand for all that chicken-[censor].

Well, chum, I gotta buzz off to a U.S.O how tonight so let me hear how you’re getting along-and don’t take it so hard.

Shack