October 1944

I guess Roy and Dad are pleased with the second game of the world series. I got to hear the 10th and 11th innings.

I won about 80 or 85 dollars last night. I wanted to try to get 100, but I was afraid I'd lose it all. I am sending it to you in a money order. I know you don't want the money, Mom, and will probably want to put it in the bank for me, but don't do that. I owe you a whole lot, and I want you to use this for Christmas presents. I know it is early, but I won't be able to get you anything else.

I can't hardly write because there is a guy here cursing a 4F back home for marrying his girl. He is awful mad, and I can't write while he is yelling, so I will close for now.

I hear a football game going on now. I think it is Ohio State.

Yes Mom, I guess you miss Roy a lot. Pretty soon you won't have anyone at home. You would worry yourself to death if he was going into the service instead of to Charleston.

I think I told you that they didn't exactly fine me for that money. I'm supposed to get it back when I get my discharge out of the Marine Corps. The reason this happened is that there is a lot of malaria here, and they caught me with my shirt unbuttoned one evening and I had to go down to see the Col. They put me on probation for 5 months and will take money out of my pay for 5 months.

If those Christmas presents don't get here until after Christmas, it won't matter because I don't think we will be here to get them anyway.

Yes, I heard about Wendell Wilkie dying. No one even knew he was sick, did they?

Well Mom, news is awful scarce over here, so I will close for now.
No mom, I can't kick much about the food here. We get pretty good food to be out of the U.S.

I won't be here to write to you for about 7 days starting next week, so don't worry if you don't hear from me for a while.