March 19, 20, and 23, 1944 Washington, D.C.

Hello, Mom

Will write you a few lines while I'm sitting around. Had a good time last night and got back in about 15 till 4 this morning. Some of the other boys just went back out, but I'm broke, so I thought I'd better stay here. I get paid tomorrow, at least I hope I do. They pay off on the 5th and the 20th.

Well Mom, here I am again. It is Monday morning. I went out last night after all. I borrowed 3 bucks from one of the boys and went out and had a pretty good time. I met this girl and have seen her the last three nights. She's a pretty nice girl. Last night, she just wanted to walk around, but it is just too cold to do that, so I slipped off from her. She is plenty mad at me now.

The roads here are a solid sheet of ice. It snowed just about all night last night.

I went down and got paid about 20 bucks a while ago and I was sure glad to get it. I guess I'll be able to keep this a while because I'll be on guard duty from 4:00 to 8:00 this evening, and then back on at 8 in the morning until 12:00 noon.

I tell you, I'm not going to be worth nothing if I stay around here very long. All I do is lay around and go on duty once in a while for four hours. I don't do no hard work at all. I could go out every night if I wanted to, but I'd stay broke if I did. There are lots of girls here. One of the boys here, Red, and I met a couple of WAVES last night, but they had to be in by 10:00,

I'll close for now. Tell Betty I'll write her tonight or tomorrow. You and her sure helped me out while I was home. I hated to take your money because I know how much you all needed it, but I'll give it back as soon as I get another pay or two.

Your son,

Pedue



March 23, 1944

Hello Mom,

I just got off guard duty at 4:00 this evening, and it is 5:30 now. It rained all day, and I had to stand out in it for 4 hours. I was watching the gate for the WAVES today to see that no one else came in. There's about 3,000 of them here.

Mom, they don't furnish dress blues anymore. They stopped that. I sure would have liked to have had a suit o them.

That call when I called you only cost 50 cents. That wasn't bad. I'd give that anytime to talk to some of you.

I will close for now.

Your son,


Pedue