March 17, 1944

Hello Mom,

Well, this place isn't so bad after all. We get to go out in the town every night. There are plenty of women here and also beer if we want it. We can stay out all night if we want, just so we are back by 6:00 the next morning. That is, if we are off duty.

I am not where I thought I was going to be. We stayed last night down about five miles from here, and then they moved us here this morning. There is a boy here who was in Guadalcanal, and he has told me a few things that happened over there. Boy, they really had it tough. Anyway, he and I went out last night and stayed out until 2:30 this morning going to different places. This place isn't nothing like Parris Island. We have all kinds of freedom.

We don't start guard duty until Monday morning. We get to carry a big 38 special and a Raising submachine gun. We guard government buildings. We just stand and look at all passes and make sure no spies get in.

Jewell told me that Betty got mad at me right before I got on the train. I guess they did think I didn't act right, but there were so many friends there that I wanted to see. I think she got mad when I went out in a car to see four girls from Decota, and she thought I had left. But, all of them wanted to kiss me goodbye, and you know I couldn't refuse that. haha

So tell Betty I will write her tomorrow and she'd better not be mad at me.

I don't know what Louise thought of me not stopping to see her, but I guess I just didn't want to.

Mom, we won't be getting a 72-hour pass every other week, but we get a 32 hour once a week, so I don't guess I'll get to come home so often after all. I guess I should have stayed home more than I did when I was there, but I just wanted to go out and see everyone. Maybe the next time I come home, I will stay in more.

Your son,

Pedue

I am going to stay in as much as I can for a good while, so I can send you all a little money since you helped me out so much when I was home.