Thursday 18, March 1943

Well another day is over and by the looks of it I'll be here a month from now. One of the boys, our boys, came down with the measles today. They are the three day measles so we won't be quarantined but I'll probably get them. It's just my luck. Today we just about boiled in the sun. It sure was hot. I have trouble blowing my sunburned nose.

This morning we saw movies on how to use the bayonet. We learned all the jab strokes plus the butt strokes. Boy, if you use a rifle and bayonet right they sure are some weapon. If you miss with one end you can get him with the other end. The butt end of a 9 pound rifle sure could do a lot of damage to someone's head. We also learned how to disarm a person who had a rifle with bayonet. The fastest man lives the longest. We also learned to disarm a person with a knife. This afternoon we played games on the cow pasture. We played a game that you tackled a guy and then you both tackled the next and so on until everyone was caught. It was a little rough because there was no grass to fall on. Then we had a free for all. One guy would be the horse and the other the rider and the object was to be the last pair up. The rider had the hardest job because he had to fall farther. Then we had a chicken fight. You hop on one foot and try to push the other guy on his a___. Of course, we had an hour of exercise first, before the games. We didn't go over the obstacle course because it's being changed or fixed. Anyway, they're doing something to it. I got three letters today, more from you. I got one from Shirley Wallace, one from Em, and two from Doris. Pretty good, eh. I still haven't heard from Robin. We have officially finished our basic training. You get guard duty as a grand finally. So now we are due for details (picking up paper on the ground, K.P., digging ditches, and going one 30 mile hikes.) That's the main reason I want to get out of here. I went to the show last night but other than that, I've done nothing amusing. Well, I guess I'll take a shower before I go to bed so I'll close now.

Love, Rae