U.S. Army, Camp Blanding, Florida
2-29-44 10 P.M.

Dear Alice and Ronnie,
I feel pretty darn good tonite even though I have just finished about the busist days I have had in a long time. Received two letters from you today and they were both very nice. So much better than the one I got yesterday that I am staying up after “lights out” tonite to tell you about it and to let you know I didn’t mean everything I said in my letter last nite.

I got up at 6 A.M. today and just finished our day 1/2 hr ago 9:30 P.M. We were allowed 1/2 hr for lunch and the same for dinner. The rest of the time we were on the go “Double Time”. Double time doesn’t mean walk either. We scrubbed our hut this morning, listened to lecture by Colonel of our Regiment, took drilling exercises, exercises and another lecture in carelessness, 1/2 hr for lunch. Then 2 hr of 1st aid lecture and practice. More drilling, more lectures on saluting officers and about 4 moving pictures on above. Then an examination. I was fortunate to get 100%. Tonite we stood 1/2 for dinner. Then 2 hr lecture in rifle cleaning, dismantling its care. Then 1 hr lecture on care of kuts and dissipline. And if you think that isn’t a big day — just try 10 min. of guerrilla exercises. I am so darn stiff and sore that when I sit down I almost need a cane to get me up again. I received a postal saying I had a package but had no chance to go get it today. I hope to be able to get it tomorrow. My cold is a little better but I am still suffering from headaches. A little sinus trouble I think. It’s this damp climate here. We are about soaked every morning from fog and dew and its like putting on wet clothes. Our barracks are nothing more than a roof as the side walls drop down all around and it is just like out doors.I haven’t had any sheets or pillow cases since entering the army. They claim we get them tomorrow but I don’t believe it.

Certainly glad to hear you and Eleanor and the Pages are getting along alright. Sounds like Eleanor is paying you enough. Well Ronnie, old boy, you are getting to be a smart boy are you? Just don’t let Monny out of your sight and then we both will know she is being a good girl. No kidding though Mom, you had better get out once
in a while. For your own good and then I think you should not let Ronnie get such a hold on you that you have to be around him 24 hrs a day. That wouldn’t be too good for either one of you. Certainly glad to hear that other people believe that you are taking good care of Ronnie and that I picked a good mother for him. Of course I knew that when every one else, or a lot of people did anyway, thought differently. I am still convinced that I got a break getting in the message center in the infantry. Our instructors claim we are 180 picked out of 50,000 for the special training and when we are finished we will be qualified to go across and step into vacant jobs with Battalion, regimental,or Divisional
headquarters. If I should enought to be sent to a Divisional headquarters it will be right in with all the hight officers and quite far behing actual battle lines. However if I am sent to Battalion headquarters I will be about 500 to 1000 yds behind battle lines. Chances are very slim for anyone being accepted for officers training here. There was one taken out of 75,000 men in the last 4 mo. cycle. You see this is an infantry replacement training center and it means just that. All men here are given a very concentrated 17 weeks training and then shipped across to replace casualites in divisions already in actions. However message center is something new. There are only two camps in the U.S. having it and we are the second class here. The other camp is someplace in Calif. I think. So we will not exactly replace casulaties but in many cases be the first to take over where we are sent.

That brings me to something I have had in mind for a couple of days. Housing facilities for wives are terrible here but there are quite a few wives down here I understand. When we are shipped out after 17 weeks we either go on regular troop trains to point nearest our home then allowed to go on there home for 7 days. But if we have our own car here when out time to go comes we can leave about a day early and are allowed extra for driving home. Now I thought between now and 10 or 12 weeks from now if you could learn to drive well enough you could get a driving license and a lot of gas and drive down here with Ronnie about the last two weeks of my stay, then we all could to back together and maybe have a little vacation on the way. Its just an idea but you can start working on it. Maybe Kuester could help you with the gas. The rest would be
up to you I’m afraid.

Well its 10:45 and we have bed check at 11 PM. By the time I get this mailed and undressed and in bed I’ll just make it. So bye for now and lot of love to both of you. I wish like everything I was there with you.

Daddy
P.S. How about Junior?