August 4, 1943

Dearest Mom & all,

            Just finished dinner and thought I would drop a few lines.  I put out my monthly wash this morning, is the third time I have washed any clothes since we have been over here, but even at that my clothes are cleaner then some you see around.

            Mom you mentioned something about selling the home place, that is entirely up to you all, suppose you all could get more for it now than it is really worth but if you wanted to buy a place in Ft. Worth, would have to pay more than it would be worth, or just rent one until things drop some, whatever you do will be ok with me. There is one thing I have in mind and that is for Pop and me to go to the Produce business when I get back, for I know we can make some money.

Sure hope your back is ok by now so you can put up lots of those good tomatoes and everything when I do get out of this army. All I am going to do for about a month is eat and sleep on a real to goodness bed. If Allie Mae was operated on, sure hope she gets along alright. I wouldn’t have ever thought that Bertice would do like he has when a man has the best chance of his life then turn it down. I’ll swap places with him and make myself some of that good money that is to be made there now, and save some of it too.

Well after so long a time I got a letter from Buck Ashbrook, he is Lt. Ashbrook now. Boy would I like to see him, it would be a pleasure to salute a guy like him, if I had used my head and done what he did, get into the Air Corps, I might have been something by now, but a person in this outfit hasn’t a chance. But the only chance I want to get is to get out of the Army with Honorable discharge and then I will be happy.

Got a letter from George Dobbs the other day, he is still in San Antonio, Texas. I never did get to see Junior or any of the boys and don’t suppose I will now. For no doubt they are in Sicily now, sure would have liked saw them.  Lots of boys in Junior’s outfit from Weatherford will be an accident if we should happen to meet.

I hope everyone stays up and able to go at home, and I hope to be there before many more months go by, so will close for now hoping to hear from all again soon.

                                                                                                                                                Love to all,

                                                                                                                                                            Marlin

P.S. tell Aunt Dove and HenRey I said hello and to keep everything going.

Mom, you asked if I wanted you to buy bonds with the money, you can buy bonds with part of it if you want to, it doesn’t make any difference with me.  Just forget about the lighter, the thing that I hate is that some low down, sneaking thief stole my fountain pin but I have one borrowed from guy that has two so I am ok even though my pin is gone. Wouldn’t have minded to it so had if it hadn’t been the birthday Present from the ones I love.