Well I got your letter today and was quite glad to hear from you. I too have been quite busy lately. Lew, our navigator, used to live in Silver City which is about 167 miles from here so he took us up there over the 4th. We were supposed to fly the night of the 3rd but we got out of it so at 12 AM we started for Silver City in Lew's cousin's car. We arrived at 6 AM and let Lew off at his sisters and we got a hotel room. Well we shaved and then started out to see the town. We hired a taxi and had the gal drive all over town - she knew everyone and everybody so we got quite a complete history of the place. Well when we finally got out and asked her what we owed her she said 50 cents. I almost passed out. We rode for at least three quarters of an hour - so we gave her $2. Here in El Paso they charge $2.50 to go from town to the field. Well then we called up Lew and he came down and we went out to see the parade - flag raising and everything - well then we went out and saw some of Lew's friends - every one in the town is so friendly. We had lunch at Lew's sister's restaurant - her husband is the cook and she's the manager. She's about the nicest person I've ever met and she is good looking - quite cute. She has five children, the oldest about 10 and every one is cute - they're the best behaved children I've ever seen. Well we had a big steak dinner or lunch I guess it was. After we ate we went around and saw the town some more and then we got some dates, Lew's sister got them for us. We all went on a picnic and had fried chicken, watermelon and everything. After that we went to the girl's house and danced all afternoon and evening. At about 10 PM we went over to the restaurant and had a real good chow mein dinner. We left the girls off home - checked out of the room we never used, and then returned to the restaurant. They gave us half a box of cigars and they tried to give us the whole place. Lew's brother-in-law then drove us back to El Paso and we got here about 5 AM and had to get up at 7 AM. We sure had a swell time.

Say, Ma, did you ever get that letter with the money order in it? I sent it quite some time ago. I could use another shirt and pants of that cool stuff - rayons you called them. I could use some shorts, white if possible. I can't get them here either - I also need some sox, khaki colored, and not too high - they can have a rib or something in them - I don't need undershirts because I never use them. Boy I sure am behind in my letter writing. Last Friday we flew to Abilene, Texas, in a 18 ship formation. That sure is a lot of ships to have all together. We fly tonight - probably will have bombing. Well I don't know much about a leave. I doubt if I'll get one now. When we go to staging we may be there one day or two weeks. I can't say but it doesn't look hopeful. Right now the only thing that I can see is for you to go to Omaha the end of this month and then if I get a couple of days I could see you there. Right now I think we'll go to Topeka, Kansas, from here, of course we might go to Omaha but I don't know. I can't see you coming here although we might get three days here when we finish up. The only thing I'm sure of is that I won't get home. Every thing else is too indefinite. Well that's all for now. I got the oil okay, did I tell you?

Love,
Rae