March, Monday 15, 1943

Well, nobody knows when we'll leave now. We should of got our notice today but we didn't. I sure was warm today, too warm for jackets. We had to fall out in our helmets today. They are our sun helmets and they're very light in weight. They are the same color as our fatigue suites. When we fell out today we were marched over to the orderly room and there we were issued a rifle belt and rifle. All morning we had the march of arms. First we learned them then we practiced. In the afternoon we practiced some more but this time we had bayonetes. They're over two feet long and are they sharp. I got two letters tonight, one from Aunt Elsie. Tomorrow we fall out at seven o'clock and are on guard duty for twenty four hours. You are on duty for two hours and off for four. There are posts all over the camp, but only three posts have live ammunition, the rest just have fixed bayonetes. But I can tell you a lot more about it when I come off duty. I do know when you are resting during your four hours you have to stay completely dressed including wearing your bayonete. I won't get off duty until 10 AM Wednesday morning so I'll miss a day in writing a letter to you. I think I'll go to sleep now so I won't be tired tomorrow. My next letter will be much longer.

Love,
Rae

P.S I never salute officers when I see them. I just look the other way. I haven't saluted any yet, and I sure did see a lot of them in town the other night. I washed my clothes yesterday but i didn't have any laundry soap. I had mostly hankies and three towels. Do the towels get dirty here quick. Whenever you wash your ears, even if it three times a day, you get brown dirt on the towel. It's the dust.