August 9, 1944 Wednesday

745 Hickory St.

Dear folks,

Well, howse youse all been? Things are about the same with the Russells of Texas. I am instructing on the Expert Infantry Course again, after spending a week on duty with “C” company. We are working longer hours this time, which makes it less pleasant. Am still getting in to Marjorie every evening, tho. Our radio has come and it is all we needed to feel perfectly at home here.

Last night we went to a piano recital at A.C.C. It was very good. Tonite I am writing letters while Marjorie is playing the piano here. She’s getting really good.

I lugged home half a watermelon tonite from a place four streets down from our house and we ate it all first thing after I got home. Had Mrs. Watts’ little niece or granddaughter or some such help us on it. But even so, we don’t go in for little slices of melon here in the deep south. It comes in big hunks of 1/8 or ¼ of a melon. Real Texans eat it with salt, but I can’t see that yet. Do go for the quantity, tho.

Don’t ever talk about “90 in the shade” to me again. I only wish we’d have a day as cool as that—how refreshing! However, the heat isn’t as stifling as it was in Georgia last summer. You just sweat and keep going here—there it made you weak. We drink loads of water and soft drinks.

I wanted Carlton to have those guns, even tho I don’t recall ever having had such a pair when I was a __________. Tell him we see real cowboys in Abilene, with everything but the guns. Boots, hats, shirts, and all. Quite a coincidence that Carl will start his long years of childhood at Fuller School!

Your last letter spoke of the coming vacation for you all. Hope you get thru it all right!

Love to Russ, as well as all at 23,

Your son,
Wallace (Addy)