April 18, 1943
Sun. nite, 5:30
Dearest Mother,
Just a few lines to let you know that I'm feeling fine and hope that you are the same.
Mother, haven't you been feeling well lately. Please write and tell me. Rosie wrote and told me
that Tony was home on a furlough. Was he mother, why didn't you write and tell me. She also told
me that Joe left for the army. Is that also true mom.
If Joe did leave mother, don't worry too much, because he'll be O.K. It will seem hard for him
at first to get used to the army and the food and training, just as it was for me and probably Tony
and Phil but after a while he'll be liking the army, and the things he does each day will gradually
become easier and then after a while longer he won't even mind them. So mother, I know that it's
a lot easier to tell you not to worry than it is for you to do it, but please mother, try your best
not to worry or get sick over his leaving and our being in the army. We won't be away for long. I'm
sure that this war can't go on forever, and mother, when it is over we'll all be coming home, all
as healthy as we left, and even healthier.
Mother we haven't been out on the range since Mon. All wk. we've been getting ready for a big
test that is coming Wed.
There are 4 barracks in Co. X and each barracks is going to be tested on certain things. My
barracks is going to be tested for 7 different things and the other three will only be tested in
two things each. The reason we got 7, is because we're supposed to be the best barracks of
the 4. That's what the cpt. said, anyway.
Mon. and Tues. we'll continue to review the things that will be tested on, then Wed. we'll have
our test. This past wk. we've been reviewing and practicing after supper for about an hr. and a half.
The Cpt. said after wed. we'll have all our evenings to ourselves and that he'll give more night
passes then. So far we're the second best co. in the 342nd and on Wed. in our test we're going to
try and come in first.
Well mother I guess this is all for now, so I'll close with lots of love to you mother dear,
daddy and the kids.
God Bless you mother, and please don't worry about anything and take care of yourself always.
Your loving son
"Jimmy"
