Fort Bragg, North Carolina

March 1, 1943

Dear Mom and all –

How is every thing down in that part of the world today? It is cooler and trying to rain up here. I haven’t been feeling so good the last two or three days, went to the doctor this morning he told me to gargle with hot salt water and stay in, out of the weather. I think I will be O.K. in a day or two, nothing to worry about just a sore throat.

Got a card from the War Department today saying the allotment application had been received and not to inquire unless I was notified, so I guess it will go through O.K. It will start this month and you all should get the first check on or around the first of April. And as I said in the last letter you all can divide it up the best way you see fit, for I couldn’t make it out to both you and Papa.

And as for me trying to get out to farm, I haven’t heard form the Chaplin yet and haven’t said anything to the Company Commander about it yet, for I doubt if it could be done now the way things are now. And besides if I did get out it would cost almost as much as we could make this Crop if it was a good Crop year to get started. And I would have to go back in the Army January 1944, and from the way things look it is going to take all the able bodied fighting men we can get to win this war. And I don’t believe I could face my friends, being out and Pillie, George and Buck Ashbrook and the rest of my buddies doing their part so I believe I will just stick it out and do my part the best I can until this thing is over. Then I can face the world with a clear mind.

Haven’t heard from Lucy and Bert in quite a while or from Allie Mae either don’t suppose they have forgotten my address. They may be like I am, just keep putting off writing. As for the little Green Book, don’t let that worry you even though I would like to have it, there isn’t much lost of that.

Those papers were O.K. and the Lieutenant said he would send them right on to the War Department. Did you ever say whether you got that money order or not I have forgotten if you did or not. We should get paid the last of this week and will send the rest of it ($25). May have to wait until next pay day for the $10 I owe you Papa. But will get around to it after a while.

Well as this about runs me out of anything to write about so [I] will close for this time.

Love to all

Marlin