October 4, 1942 - Tanks & Seems Army Just Waiting for the Go Signal

Sunday Morning

Dear Mom + Dad,

I’m enclosing in this letter my drivers license renewal stub. It runs out on Nov. 4 and I’d like to have a new one. So if you will get me a blank and fill it our and ship out to me I will sign it and send it back to you. Then when the new one comes in ship it out to me. Of course, make my home address out as Marion Ave. I’d appreciate it very much if you would take of this matter for me.

I’m now on duty but I have a snap today as most of the boys have come around in good shape. There is nothing much to do except sit around and do nothing.

All around where we are camped the blue army is moving in. There are several divisions packed right across from us now. I went over this morning and looked over one of those new M-4 or General Lee Tanks. (Blogger’s note - hmmm, I think he means M-3, which were called General Lee tanks. M-4’s were called Sherman tanks.) The papers claim they are using them in Stalingrad now. This was the first chance I’ve had to look them over closely although I’ve seen thousands of them running around here. It seems that they have a tremendous amount of equipment tied up in these maneuvers. I sure hope we start using some of them soon and get this war over with. From what I’ve seen out here I’d say we are ready to start going. It seems that there is but little doubt but that U.S. Army is just waiting for the go signal from somebody. I believe that when we start this big push and start utilizing our equipment the war will end very quickly. Let’s hope so anyway.

I still haven’t received my pay but tomorrow is supposed to be pay day. I sure hope it comes through. I’m down to my last pack of cigarettes and no means of getting more. It seems that this five day extra wait has just about caught everybody short. The miseries should all be taken care of tomorrow.

Thats all for now if I receive your usual Thursday letter today I’ll write you later on.

Love
Bob