March 17, 1942 - Guard Duty

Company B, 2nd Platoon
53 M.R.T.C
Camp Barkeley, Texas
Tuesday Evening.

Dear Mom + Dad,

I received your second package and was very surprised and gratified. A lot of the boys with me have been getting stuff from home so we’ve been having quite a feast lately. It was really good and disappeared in no time.

I went roller skating Sunday afternoon with the fellows and it was a lot of fun. The rink in Abilene is rather small. I guess it doesn’t compare to the one in Peekskill from all the reports I’ve heard of it.

Last night I was on guard duty. I had a very good shift from 8 to 10. A guard is on for two hour shifts from 8PM to 6A.M. I was lucky to get one of the early shifts. It isn’t bad at all except that it cuts into your own time.

I don’t know what to write as I don’t feel in the mood for it. My letter writing tasks seem to be getting harder + harder all the time. I just can’t seem to find the time to do it. I usually can’t write during the day and after hours I have time to relax and just hate to get around to it. I hope you will forgive my lousy letters of late.

I’m beginning to be fairly happy here. I just made up my mind lately to try and like it. Of course I don’t believe I really can like it but it isn’t bad at all. It is just getting broke in that is hard. I’m getting used to it now and take it for granted.

We were just informed tonight that our company was picked to put on an inspection for some general coming in on Monday. We do such a good job on our weekly inspections that we get this additional pain in the neck. We also will not be issued any passes this weekend so we can prepare for inspection. It just doesn’t pay to do anything right in the army, I guess. Inspections are just a pain in the neck as everything has to be laid out just so. Then every time we do it they change the way they want us to do. Oh well I can’t figure the army methods out. It seems there are two ways the right way and the army way.

I’m sorry to hear brother hasn’t been feeling well. I’ll drop Marion and him a line in the next few days. How is Marion’s baby coming?

I’m going to close now as it is almost time for lights out. I’ll write you again on Thursday

Love Bob