Feb. 24, 1944

Dear Mom.

The same old stuff again but a different version. These boys play for keys. I’m in a special weapons section at present-may be transferred to someplace else later. As I suspected, Parris Jr. was a playground by comparison. Those dungarees were a lifesaver because my sea bag isn’t here yet. I can throw my rifle away now, its machine guns and mortars. This is a replacement battalion. I’m in, in a place called Tent City far away from the main station, we came up the bay about 15 miles, in a Navy landing boat. The chow is bum as usual and the mess halls and showers a little dirtier. Something coming up soon so this will be short. Don’t answer immediately because of a possible transfer soon. I’ll let you know. Now I’m sorry I didn’t spend a little more time home but you know how it is, after being penned up for a while I like to lose energy fast. The boys can go out to a saloon in town every night unless confined but I always stay here-its good policy. Tell Donny when I know what my permanent address is I’ll let you know then she can take care of something that should be done by somebody or other. Those that are here don’t stay long so that’s why I say what I do. I met a soldier with lots of money on the train back-he bought 16 little bottles of Scotch and a 5^th of Rum on the train back. He and I and 3 Spars and a WAC got most of it so it was a picnic on the way back. Those women in the service are funny on furloughs also. One thing I’ll never do here is anything to cause me to be jailed here because this place is full of prisoners, the most sorry lots I’ve ever seen-poor devils-I feel sorry for them-Devil’s Island couldn’t be worse-these are Navy (Marine Prisoners). You know me, I’ll behave because I have to make my reward good so don’t worry about em. Once again tell Donny as soon as I know, she’ll know-but we get shipped soon someplace so it’ll have to be done fast. Love to you Mom and Mollie and depend on me to make the best of everything (what little there is) so set your mind at ease. Hello and Love to Mollie, with lots of love and hope for the best.

Love-Mom.

P.S Write anyway-maybe I’ll get it.