May 1944

I played ball for a couple of hours this evening. We are going to have a game on Friday with a team from somewhere in Washington.

I'm going to quit writing to Louise. If she asks you where I am, just tell her you don't know because you haven't heard from me for a while. Now, don't ask me any questions. Just tell her that.
...

Two of the boys were uptown yesterday and had an awful fight with 6 policemen. They got into it over something, and another marine happened by and started helping them, and they sent 3 of the policemen to the hospital, and one of them got hurt. It was on the front page of the paper today. The boys are in the brig now, and I don't know what they are going to do with them.

Mom, I'm going to ask you something. I hate to, and if you can't do it, that's all right. If you can, get Jewell to give you 3 dollars, and Betty 3, then you put it 3 or 4, and then send it to me. If they don't have the money, don't you send me any. The reason I need it is that I might get to come home before I leave here. If I don't, I'll send it back to you. I don't know for sure where I'm going or when, but I think it will be before the 20th. Now Mom, if Jewell or Betty don't have the money, don't you go out and borrow it, because I don't have to come home. And I might not even get to come. I've got enough money right now to come, but I have to get laundry and dry cleaning out.

We started wearing our summer pants yesterday, and I don't like them worth a damn. I need to go press them now.

.....I'm glad Dad is raising a garden this year. I know it will really help you all out.

May 19, 1944 Camp Lejeune New River, North Carolina

We got here this morning. I believe it's going to be all right. We had a swell time on the train last night. There were about 50 of us in the car. There were men coming around selling ice cream. We did have one boy to slip off the train. They will be hard on him when they find him.

Today was pay day here, but we didn't get paid. We will get paid on the 5th. I will get about 50 bucks. The closest town is about 10 miles from here, so I won't have much use for money. Maybe I can save a lot. I know I will get more rest here than I did in Washington. They say we will get every weekend off, from Saturday evening to Monday morning.

I don't think we will be here for more than a month or two. Then, we will be moved to some other camp.

I will try to write you every day.

...well, they have slapped me on mess duty for 30 days. They picked me out of about 150 others, so it looks like I got shit on again. I hate mess duty.

The closest liberty town is about 20 miles from here, so I guess I won't go on liberty again until I leave here.

It's not bad here. Except there are no women. haha

I haven't missed a meal since I've been here. I think I had started losing weight while I was in Washington. I ran around too much and didn't get enough rest. I'm glad I got away from there.

They've got me washing dishes now. I sure wish I hadn't gotten this mess duty. We feed about 1400 boys every day.

I had to have a short arm inspection yesterday. I guess you know what that is. haha

I went to see a show tonight. It was called The Pride of the Yankees. I heard Roy talk about it a lot, so I thought I'd go see it. It was pretty good.

No Mom, this place isn't close to Parris Island. This is North Carolina, and Parris Island is in South Carolina.

I guess Ruth is glad that school is out now.

I hear all the boys out firing on the rifle range. I sure wish I was out there instead of in the mess hall.

Did Louise ever call you or come up to the house? I have written her a couple of letters since I've been here