March, 1943 Friday 19

Boy oh boy was it cold this morning. We wore overcoats and field jackets and were still cold. It went from 69 degrees to 32 degrees in about five hours. We fell out this morning and were marched over to the supply house and were issued pieces. We were supposed to get bayonets but they ran out of them. After we were standing in line about an hour the sarge made a mistake. He said all men who hadn't seen the movie on bayonet drill yesterday should fall out. Well, I'd much rather see the movie over than freeze out on the cow pasture so I fell out with the rest. Quite a few of us fell out that had seen the movie before. Well we turned in our pieces and were marched to the show but when we got there the show was filled. So we all got stuck. We had to drill all morning in the cold. It warmed up in the afternoon so we could take our overcoats off. When we fell out in the afternoon they said all men who had bayonet drill in the morning should fall out with leggins and helmets. Well this time I figured those who drilled in the morning would go on a road run in the afternoon so I fell out in helmet and leggins. Well this time I was right. We drilled until 2:20 then the boys in the next barracks had to go to get a physical so we went with them back to our barracks. That gave us the afternoon off from 2:30 until 4:30. I wasn't feeling so good so I slept. I sure was glad to get off. Tonight we had to GI the barracks so I was busy all evening scrubbing floors. I didn't get any mail from you for the last two days but I presume it was because you changed from air mail to regular post. I'm still waiting to hear from Robin and I'm still waiting to be shipped. Well it's late and I'm tired so I'll close and write again tomorrow. The reason there are so many spots on this letter is that I'm writing in the can and everyone keeps splashing me. It's after lights out that's why I'm here. Well, good night and cross your fingers and hope I get out of here damn soon.

Love,
Rae

P.S The only thing that's bothering me is that I'm afraid we'll be quarantined and then we never will get out.

(c) 2006 Patheal Family Estate: This document is being made available for research and perusal purposes only. No part of this document may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the Patheal Family Estate. For more information contact Robert E. Rowland at bob@rerowland.com