October 13, 1944 Friday

Dearest Marjorie,

This looks as tho it should be quite an epistle. The other end of this sheet may be dangling in the dirt for all I know. I can’t see it from here.

The usual cold rain here continues with enthusiasm. Tonite it looks as tho the house “C” officers built by ingenuity and covetousness is crumbling before our eyes. The lights were removed by higher command, the stove is [fr] ashes and there is no fuel, our lanterns and axe have been stolen, and one side is caving in due to rain. Crime does not pay, no more doubt of that. We have evacuated it for Battalion headquarters for the evening. That has only about 2 inches of water on the floor.

Tho all this is true, we aren’t near as miserable as it would appear. Only an army man can be comfortable in such weather, but believe me I am now an army man. Olewine and I spent the afternoon playing cribbage in our orderly tent. He is currently suffering from a severe charley horse—received it when a pfc. tackled him in a football game! No respect for rank!

In case you remember Sergeant Sohl—I had him for a platoon sergeant when you first came to Abilene—he has now become our company first sergeant. I still have Sgt. Siverling, the boy wonder, as my current platoon sergeant. He’s a good man, too. Lts. Fairbairn and Bukovenic took a pass today, so Olewine and I had the company. They are very liberal with passes—they don’t let training interfere with them at all. I have only had the one I told you of. If I were a private I could have one every other day! I’m about due tomorrow or the next day, tho. Oley and I have some sight-seeing planned.

Mail seems to be coming thru every other day for some reason. This was the off day. Mail certainly does add a lot to the morale of the men. Wonder who looks after the morale of censors? We do cartloads of mail a day. The redeeming feature is that I do the same men’s mail each day, and so get in on some colorful continued stories.

Well, bye now hon. Remember I love you all the time.

Loads of love,
Wallace