Friday, Nov. 12, 1943

Dearest Wife:

I love you. My thoughts are of you all through the days. Although there are times that I have to forget you and concentrate on being a good soldier.

Yesterday I received your letters of Monday and Tuesday. Today your letter of Wednesday.

Thanks for the stamps. They almost got spoiled though this afternoon. I had your three letters with the stamps in my hip pocket and I had to take eleven men through the street fighting course. They have an old town fixed up to give us training in street & house fighting. There are booby traps and craters with dynamite charges. The craters are loaded with mud and water. I was leading my men between two craters when they set one off. We hit the ground, I should say mud, and as we were laying there they set the other one off. Did we get plastered. My rifle was so dirty that I could not fire it when the time came. While trying to fix my rifle when we had hit the end of the course and were firing into a building with targets, they set off another crater right behind us. Mud and water was coming down for about two minutes. By that time we were in great shape.

Tomorrow being Saturday, I had to wash all my equipment and clean my rifle. Of course I did not need a bath! Not much.

I may go into Tallahassee tomorrow. As yet I have not made up my mind. The only reason I want to go in for is to play a little golf if possible.

It is about time that you received my pictures. Are they really good? You seem to be satisfied anyway.

The way that you want to pass them out is just the way that I had planned for you to do.

...

There sure have been a lot of change in that plant. It would not worry me if you did get laid off in a month or two. You would then have to take care of our children and by then, the new allotment system would be straightened out. You may not get a check this month due to the changeover. You will be receiving $100.00 a month and I will receive around $60.00.

I would be able to send you some and with what Mother gives you, you should be able to get along very well that way.

Unless things change a great deal I doubt if I will be able to hold you in my arms as soon as I had hoped. I may not get home before the first of the new year. The Mass. group is slated to leave around the middle of January. I still have hopes of being home for Christmas though. Just keep praying.

It is time for lights out so:

I love you. Regards to all & kiss the babies for me.

Love & kisses

Your Husband

Bob

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