June 5, 1944 Monday

Dearest Marjorie,

I got my first letter from my wife today. It was a big thrill for me. Isn’t it nice to be married? I got your name put all over my official papers today so that the government is sure to know they have a married officer. I can’t get over how wonderful it is to have you legally my very closest relative and all. Everybody recognizes our right to be very close.

Well, today I was put into “C” company of the 56th Arm’d. Inf. Battalion. There are a lot of fine officers there. Too many, in fact. All I do is mill around and look official. There are too many officers, and in this real outfit the noncoms are so god the officers don’t do anything, anyway! I can be happy just overseeing anyway. Makes me feel powerful. An officer is an officer here—more so even than at Knox. Wearing my arm out saluting and giving “rest.” A man makes my bed and shines my shoes and cleans my private cabin. There are some other Lt.’s with me in the cabin but they live in Abilene, so actually I live all by myself. Wish you could live out here with me. Went to Abilene to hunt again tonite. Found that transportation will be no problem, but getting a place is still hard. No response from our ad yet. Nothing new from the C. of C. or Travellers’ Aid. They say “Is your wife here?” I say no, and am licked at once. Tonite I did reserve rooms for you at the Wooten Hotel starting June 16. Can move it up if you don’t arrive until later. If I don’t get a place—but I’ll keep trying—you come to there for a week maybe. By then, with you here, I know we can get something. There are rooms, but they let couples here, or the ones that get there “fustest” have them. Maybe I’ll have a chance to get there first Wednesday. May get in in the morning.

Sleepy again tonite, Hon, so good nite. Feel very close to you after getting a letter so soon. I have a wonderful wife. Very best variety. I am very happy about us—we’re such a good couple.

All my love, always,
Wallace