Thursday
Dear Mom + Dad,
Today is my anniversary. I’ve been in the army exactly six months today. It seems as though I’ve been in all my life and yet it is only ½ a year. I can’t hardly remember the days when I was back in civilian life it seems so long ago. However I’ve lived through six months and even though it has been a long six months I’ve been able to stand it. I just hope that I won’t have to live through too many six months in this type of life. As you undoubtly know I have no love for it and would have no part of it except that it is necessary that I undergo this for my country. It will be all over soon I hope and perhaps I and millions of other people can return to normal again.
I think my pay is coming through this afternoon. If it doesn’t I will get it for sure tomorrow. Finance has it ready now and it is just a question when the office is going to hand it out. I need it pretty badly right now as I’m down to my last 17c and I refuse to borrow anymore. I’m going to hold up sending this letter until I find out if they are going to pay me today or not. If they do I intend to have a money order made out and sent home to you. If not it will have to wait until I receive it.
A lot of the boys are going out on furlough today. This will be the last bunch to go for quite awhile. Orders have come through that there are to be no furloughs after Aug 15 except in the case of emergency. The reason for that is that maneuvers start then. I don’t think my outfit is going out on them but the order applies to the whole camp so of course we can’t get any. I think the ban will be off them around October when the maneuvers are finished. They have been sending the boys out of furloughs based on the amount of service. The ones who are going out now have the same amount of service as I’ve had. I will be up the next batch that comes as my furlough did not count against my time as it was a case of emergency. That means I should get one around Oct. or when the ban is lifted. Perhaps by the time I get around to getting it I maybe a little closer to home. One consolation is that I can’t be any further away without leaving the country when the time comes.
I’m on guard duty tonight and I don’t like that either but I can’t do anything about it so on guard I go. It makes me pretty certain that I’ll get off this weekend. I’m beginning to need that relaxation as I haven’t been out of camp in two weeks.
I went swimming yesterday and that was a lot of fun. After swimming we stopped and had some beer and it tasted good. I don’t drink beer anymore unless I get into town. They sell it at the post exchange but it is 3.2 and I don’t like it. Thus I leave it alone.
Well I’m all set now I just received my pay. $78.00 This is all the back pay and doesn’t include this month’s. I get paid my regular $50 at the end of August. I’m going to pay off my debts and then go up and make out a money order to you for $25. That leaves me clear $38 or so which should last me until the end of the month. Put it away or use it as I want to keep it for the future if I ever should need it. I’m going to try and build up a reserve in case I ever get a furlough. Isn’t it wonderful I’m making $50 a month and can save some. I couldn’t when I was making $45 per week. It’s all is that I haven’t the time or place to spend it here. The only time I spend much is when I go to L.A.
I guess this letter will hold until tomorrow when I’ll write again. I’m going to send this air mail so you get it sooner.
Love
Bob
Bob
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