Oct. 9, 1943
Sat. nite 6:30
Dearest Mother,
I received your most welcomed letter today and was very glad to hear that everyone is feeling fine.
I'm glad that you had Phil and Tony home together for at least one day anyways. I hope that Phil
had a good time while he was home, and if you give Tony a magazine to read and the couch to read it
on there's no doubt that he'll be happy to (ha ha).
Mother please don't worry too much about Joe's new address because he may have that address till
he gets a new camp, and in the states too.
Mother, in your letter you said that if any one of us got hurt, you hope that you're not alive to
hear it. Mother, you didn't mean that, did you. What you meant was that if anything happened to one
of us, you hope when you hear the news it isn't true and just a mistake. Because mother if you wished
what you said, then you would be forgetting about your 5 other sons and two daughters, who love you
and want you in spite of what may happen, so mother, please, please don't ever say that or even give
that another thought. Besides mother, nothing is going to happen to any of us. Anyhow how we're
all supposed to die a natural death from old age so we all have a good while to live yet. Can't you
just picture me a little old gray haired man. Ha ha.
Well mother, I tell you a little of what I've been doing. To begin with I'm in camp. We got back
about 10:30 Thur. nite. All day yesterday we had to wash up and salvage all torn or unserviceable
clothing and equipment.
Today I've had a showdown inspection and they checked all our equipment. I didn't need much new
equipment but these fellows in the 88 div just came off of maneuvers and they needed quite a lot.
By the way mother I'm in the 88th div. and there is no longer an 86th. My insignia looks
something like this. (drawing of four circles making up clover). It's solid blue and real plain.
I don't like it at all. I'll send one home as soon as I get one.
Well mother, I guess I'll close now, so until I hear from you I'll say good nite to my dearest
mother, and give my love to daddy and the kids.
P.S.
Tell that "gold brick" of a cook to drop me a few lines. He gets more time to write than I do.
Of course tell him in a joking way mother. ha ha. Well so long mother and please don't worry about
me or any of us. We'll all be O.K. and home soon.
Love Son.
Jim
