June 2, 1944 Friday

Hello hon,

I am writing with a hotel pen, which is second only to a post office pen.

Well, here we are in Abilene, the town that goes with Camp Barkeley. We arrived here at 7:40 tonite and are staying at this hotel tonite [Hotel Wooten]. Will clean up and go to camp tomorrow.

Abilene impressed me first as being a clean, up-to-date city. The country here is flat and grassy, with scrub trees. The buildings of the city here are low, but clean, and the streets are quite wide. I took a walk to get oriented, having the idea of living here in the top of my mind. The town is dry – bone dry. Perhaps it will be different on Saturday night but there were not too many soldiers around tonite. Those that were seemed to live here – were walking out with their wives! Many officers seemed to have found places somewhere.

To break in – try particularly to get pullman reservations for the last part of the trip. That is, from Dallas on – the train was crowded and all pullman seats sold.

Bought a copy of the Abilene Reporter-News and looked over the want ads – a few rooms and apartments are advertised and a lot of people want to rent rooms or apartments. Typical ad – “OFFICER and wife desire furnished apartment or house. Call 8822.” Some are longer, saying “no pets, no children, no drinking,” and stuff. If I can get in tomorrow I’ll look into the apartments advertised and put in an ad myself. I’ll take a place as soon as I can get it, and hold it until you come.

Gee, Bunny, I’m tired. Tom and the boys have gone off to a movie, but I’d rather stay right here. I think of you all the time and hope and hope things go well for us here. Texas is a new kind of country, people and land different from anything I’ve ever seen. Pretty tho. Not like a desert as I expected. Tom is of course crushed by the thought of Abilene’s dryness, but it may make it more as we want for ourselves.

If it is at all possible, I am going to try to graduate from UNH this summer by taking army institute courses here, if necessary. I only need 7 credits. Tom says they are now giving credit for what we did in A.S.T.P. If so, I’m in already. If not, they do accept theses army correspondence courses. I’ll take some of them. It will make things so much easier right after the war if I can get my degree now. I will write to UNH for details right away.

My eyes are really getting out of hand now, so goodnite, my honey. I’m kissing my ring instead of you tonite. I’ve really got some wonderful plans on the fire – just let’s hope that they don’t crack up too much when I report for duty again tomorrow. I don’t know what I’ll meet there.

I love you every minute,
Nite, Bunny,
Wallace