Dear Mom and Pop, Well here's another letter with no news in it. The mail hasn't been too good lately - I got a letter from Bud, Bob, and Gif so I'm still happy. I've got 17 in now - it's pretty certain I'm headed for the South Pacific from here.

The weather sure has been bad lately. You said something about me wasting my time - well I'm getting to be quite the bridge player. Say if you can get it please send me Jack Frost's address. I can't understand you - you send me addresses of people in every country over here - and the one person in this country you don't even bother to send it - talk about being forgetful, how about yourself.

As far as your order on sulfa goes there's an old Army expression that covers it quite completely - blow it. I don't know how civilians can possibly be so dumb. If you people could only imagine how many lives have been saved by it. There is always an exception to the rule, especially when a dumb civilian doctor uses it. If you could see how fast it cured my cold you'd be dumbfounded. I recommend it for your colds if you can get it. You don't have to bother about cigars any more because we've worked out a deal where we can get all we can use now.

Say Pa, haven't you got that high game yet? What are you waiting for, bowling season doesn't last all year? It was cold here for a while and the mud froze but it didn't last very long - right now it is just as muddy as ever. Oh yes we're getting canned beer every week now - four to six cans a week - that's just dandy.

Say Pa, Say, I just turned this page over and look at what's at the bottom. I didn't know it was there so I guess I'll have to - Oh hell I'll cut it off and write the last few lines over. It was just a bunch of doodling and numbers but it wouldn't pass any censor; I'd cut it out if I found it in a letter.

Say Pa, when I get home we are going to Silver Cloud until one of us has to carry the other one home, I've only been high twice since I've been in the Army, once at Capri and then celebrating our promotions. The next time will be after the end of the war or when I get completion of my missions.

Now are you completely confused or did you follow all that? What a mess this letter turned out to be.

Sorry Ma, [I] can't write to Doris, you don't understand the circumstances. From all I have seen and learned in the Army, I wouldn't be at all surprised if I never get married.

This is how I classify the male and female of our species - all men are fickle and all women are dumb. I don't mean intellectually but in their classification of man. Well enough of that. I'll end the war and come home and tell you all about it. Well it's time for bed 'cause I'm sleepy so I'll sign off for now.

Love,
Rae

P.S. Please send me something to read.

P.P.S. This is what another crew did to our ship on a practice mission.