Aug 29, 1945

Aug. 29, 1945

Darlingest you,

     This place is definitely the confusedest place in the world.  Nobody knows nothing and everybody hates everybody.  I went to every type of headquarters on the field and couldn’t find out anything that was definite.  There are of course , rumors.  The soundest one is that we leave with a group around the fifth or sixth.  There are two rumored destinations.  One Tokyo, two the Alutians.   How jolly!   Sooner or later someone may accidentally let out a fact.  Until then incongruations are running wild. 

      I’m slightly stinko!  This being my third anniversary in the boy scouts, it called for a celebration - three beers worth. 

      Yesterday afternoon I went to the town of Alamogordo.  Comment “ what a blank ing place.”   Real genuine mud houses with muddy streets and muddy Indians living in them.  They must have gathered up all the nothing within a hundred miles and piled it all together to make one big nothing.   There were two things open.  The drug store and the movie.  One of Gene Autrey’s latest (1942) was playing so I went in.  Walked out pretty quick.  To hell with him and to hell with Smiley Brunette and to hell with his horse too! !  Begad! To hell with Republic Studios!!  I came back to the barracks and read a faith restoring murder mystery.  Honey I’m not happy here!  Been doing some more plotting now.  Boss pay 150$ plus 5% longevity - 157.50 plus??  Overseas 10 % pay 173.25$ plus 50% flying pay of 86.60 all together 259.85.  we get 21$ for food but it usually costs us 35$ so knock off 14$ that leaves 245.85 minus 6.50 for insurance - 239.35.  I’ll get along on 24.35 so that leaves 215.00$ a month instead of 200.00$. First four months take care of the debts.  Then every 12.50 we hold on to means a day of our six months.  Every month I can send home 215$ means 17 days knocked off.  If we can get 180 12.50’s while I’m in the army we oughta be able to get a car pretty quick when I get out.  See, it’s practically licked. Hmmmph, nothing to it.

      Hey, why don’t you make a list of the places you want to go.  We’ll have about 25,000 miles to cover.  No straight line stuff.  Strictly zig zag.  Here are the boundaries.  Chicago to Seattle.  Seattle to Los Angeles.  Los Angeles to Mexico City or further south.  Mexico City to New Orleans.  New Orleans to Havanna.  Havanna to Palm Beach.  Palm Beach to Chicago.  We’ll save the East and New England for next time.  You know how I am Ive, started to live the trip already.  Even working about burning out a bearing in the car.  Remind me to check the oil.  Even wonder if you’d make me get haircuts regularly.  Would you?  Another thing I worry about, but that’s in your department.  Aside from worrying I ain’t gonna be much use.  Heh heh.  Or am I ?   Ye gads!

       What ya doing?  Got your vacation plans all settled?  Where ya going to stay?  When ya leaving?  Hey, you keep both your big blue eyes open all of the time.  No afflictions!   Well, not too many.  Wants borrow the thermos bottle?  What’s doin at the salt mines?  How’s Bill?  Did you ever see the pictures that Mabel took?  Who wrote King Arthur?  Been doing anything besides working lately?  How’s your pop? 

     Write long and lots darling.  You’re my morale and I need it here.  Just exactly whatever happened to my genuine boys out knife?  Lemme know how long it takes these letters to reach you. 

I’ll be loving you always

Ray