I Am On The Switchboard Again Tonight

(Post Marked February 25, 1944. Written Wednesday night 7 P.M. February 23, 1944)

Hello Sis.

How are you today? I am fine as usual. Well the last time I wrote you, last Sunday I said it was raining and bad. Well, its still raining and we sure are disgusted. Everywhere we go its mud up to our ankles. We were on the alert last night for flood at a small town outside of Riverside. But we never had to go out.

Yesterday 60 of us had to go to the stockade and guard prisoners. And guess what I had to guard? I had to walk around the WAC barracks. But it wasn’t any fun in the rain. I stayed in an empty barracks most of the time.

Well as I told you before we have to go to the desert or Camp Irwin to make it sound better. We are to stay out for 10 days and we leave Monday. So, about the time you get this, we may be out there. And I’ll bet they have us out on some of those God Damn problems again.

I am on the switchboard again tonight. But guess I am better off here as it is to bad to go anywhere. I’ll get to bed about 1:00 A.M. But have to stay here at the stick board.

I received those papers and was sure glad to get them but haven’t had time to look at them yet. And I also received the money from Mom, and you know I was glad to get that! see Bob about every day now but I don’t know when he will get his furlough. Boy, he sure is hoping to get it soon. That picture you sent of me and you was pretty good but I looked like a telephone pole in it. But you looked pretty good, at least the boys thought so. They all want to meet my sister now. HA, HA. I am going to send you a Camp Haan paper this week. It has something about the 144th and my Sargent wrote it for our Battery. The 143^rd Battalion we have been with on our problems and all through our training has been ascended to the 4^th air Corps and are going to be stationed at an air base out here. And some of the fellows think we will be too. I hope we are and I can get stationed closer to home where I can come home on a weekend pass or even close enough for you and Mom and Dad can come and see me. But I don’t think I could be that lucky.

I haven’t heard from anyone but you and Mom since I came back but if I did I couldn’t answer because I hardly have time to write you and Mom. Well, I had better sign off for this time and write Mom before I go to bed. Oh yes, I would like to have your telephone number in case I might want to call you up sometime. Well, be good.

Love from your little brother.

Private Bert

I Been Bumming Smokes for The Last 2 Weeks

(Post Marked February 21, 1944)

Hello Sis:

Well, its been over a week since I last wrote you and I know you are wondering what is wrong with me. Well, I guess I’m just lazy. I didn’t do much last week and I sure was disappointed when I never go that money. I been bumming smokes for the last 2 weeks. It is now Sunday and we haven’t got anything to do. It is raining and is a gloomy old day. I went over to see Bob yesterday afternoon and we talked about our old times back home. That other boy from Washington was over to see us too. You know the one I told you about, his name is Donald McBride. He was over last Sunday too. I think I will go to the show tonight if I can get the money. I went to the show last night. The name of it was In Our Time.

Well, we are going to the desert February 28^th for 10 days and then I don’t know what we will do. I haven’t received those papers yet. You ask me if I would like some cookies and I would like them very much. I haven’t heard from Mom for some time now. Well, I can’t think of anything else so I will close. I will try to write again next week.

Love and Kisses

Bert

The Great Alvino Rey Is Going To Be Here

(Post Mark – February 14, 1944)

Dear Sis:

How are you tonight? I am on the switchboard tonight and have a little time to write. Haven’t been doing much the last week but go to the show at night or the Service Club. I can’t go out on Pass this weekend as I am broke, and my clothes are in the cleaners. But may go out the weekend after you get this card. I saw Bob today and he has a bad cold, he can’t hardly talk. It is pretty cold when we get off in the morning. I saw some ice this morning. The Great Alvino Rey is going to be here next week, I may go see him. Well, I think I will close for tonight. Will write Sunday. Good night and be good.

Love,

Bert

I Had 4 or 5 Teeth Filled

(Written February 8, 1944 – Post Marked February 11)

Hello Sis

How are you by this time? Swell I hope. I have been pretty busy the last week. We are going to classes about all the time and having parade drill. Well, last week I went and had 4 or 5 teeth filled. But they never said anything about the 2 in front.

I went out on pass Saturday night with Bob. We just went to Riverside, so we came back to camp to sleep. And I still can’t get along with him. We went in with one of the fellows from the 823^rd. I went back Sunday and went to a show. The name of it was A Yank in the R.A.F. It was pretty good.

Mom sent the clipping out of the paper about me going back but I wanted it in our men in service. And my address too. Well, how did Princeton make out over the weekend? Hope they won both games. Did the two boys pass for the army? I bet you and Mom think I am pretty bad for not writing more, but I would rather take a beating than to write a letter, but I will try to write more next week. I have been getting all your letters and Mom has written a lot. I don’t know how long we will be in Camp Haan they say we have to go back to Camp Irwin for 10 days. But I’ll be glad when we leave California, just for a change. Well, I will say so long for this time and write later. Be good and take care of yourself.

Love,

Bruce

P.S. Good luck in the Sectional

Back to Camp after being Home

(Post Marked February 2, 1944 - Evidently Dad finally got his furlough and went home for a short visit. I have no information about his time back in Washington, Indiana however, but this letter indicates his return from home, back to basic training.)

Hello Sis

Well, I can’t do anything but say I’m sorry for not writing sooner. But I have been pretty busy since I left home. I had to stay in Chicago 24 hours because the train was over an hour late and I bet you know how I felt. I went to 2-3 shows with a soldier I met there. Then when I got to Camp Irwin my outfit wasn’t there that Sunday morning. I had to wait until I could (find someone) going to Camp Haan. I had to ride all the way in a Jeep and it was cold as hell (in) the Mountains. When I got to Camp Haan I was too tired to go down to the telegraph office, so I didn’t.

Bob Came over to see me Monday and I am on guard tonight. Haven’t did anything at night since I came back but try to rest up a little and shoot dice. I won a little cash too.

I got all your letters and the pictures too. And was sorry to hear that Jakes team got beat. But maybe he will do better next time. Well, that’s about all until tomorrow. Be good and take care of yourself.

Your heel of a brother,

Bert