The text of the letter Bill wrote to Charlie is shown, unedited, below. It is worth noting that Bill probably wrote this letter Nov. 24 (not the 14th) because the E-P game on Thanksgiving Day was Nov. 23rd. Bill stopped writing the letter to "muster at 7 A.M." and it's doubted that he waited 10 days to continue it.
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Nov. 14, 1944; 7 A.M. Dear Red; I just received your letter today and was very glad to hear from you. Well, Red, our outfit got commissioned last week to a regular Navy unit so no more Seabees and believe me, they can stick this new outfit up their asses. Most of them (inc. officers) have just come out of Boot Camp and boy!, what a time we're having. We're the only Seabee unit that got transferred into it and they really want to put all the shit on us. Our new O-C told us to take all liberties because we're leaving very soon, probably about Jan. 1st. We also got transferred to another base about 10 min from Hueneme called Point Mugu. We're living in tent, 8 men to a tent, and the food, etc. really stinks. Sorry to hear that you didn't receive Eleanor's letter. I wrote her and told her about it so she'll write again. I talked to her over the phone last Friday and boy!, did I ever get homesick after that. She said that Billy gets into everything, he walks now you know. Easton and P'burg played a scoreless tie on Thanksgiving, would have liked to have seen it, wouldn't you? Must have been good. How's the cigarettes over there? Over here we can't even get them, the canteen has been out for a week . It's really a lot of shit when they say we get everything. Will cont (meaning, continue) later. Have to muster at 7:45 A.M. The weather here is very bad, it has been windy ever since we've been here, and dust, there's so much dust that we have to hang our clothes inside to dry. Hoping to hear from you soon. Take good care of yourself, Red, and may God look over you. Your Pal, PS: My address won't change until we get shipped. |