U S S PRAIRIE
20 SEPTEMBER 1944
DEAREST FAMILY,
THE OTHER DAY MARYS LETTERS OF THE 8TH OF SEPTEMBER AND 16 OF APRIL ARRIVED. THE LATTER HAD SEVERAL NAVY POST-MARKS ON IT AND MUST HAVE DONE SOME HIGH-POWERED TRAVELLING BEFORE IT REACHED THE MIGHTY "P". YESTERDAY I GOT FOUR MORE LETTERS FROM HOME WITH THE PICTURES OF CANADA ETC. IN THEM. I IDENTIFIED TWO OF THEM AS THOSE LIKE MARY AND I TOOK IN BUFFALO LAST YEAR. RIGHT? DORA SURELY LOOKS HUSKY, BIG ENOUGH FOR A FOOTBALL LINE. SHE SURE IS SOLID. VEEN ALSO SENT AN INFORMAL POSE OF HERSELF- NOT THE PIN-UP VARIETY, BUT I'M COUNTING ON ONE OF THOSE IN THE NEAR FUTURE. CANADA CERTAINLY LOOKED INVITING- ~~XXXXXXX~~ I FELT AS IF I COULD WALK RIGHT IN THE PICTURES AND GO FOR A SWIM. I'VE TOLD FRIENDS OF MINE SO MUCH ABOUT TEMAG THAT THE PICTURES HELPED PROVE WHAT I HAD BEEN RAVING ABOUT FOR SO LONG.
I HAVEN'T SENT MY MONEY HOME YET BECAUSE UNLESS ONE IS FIRST IN THE POST OFFICE LINE HE HAS TO WAIT HOURS BEFORE HE GETS ANY RESULTS ON MONEY ORDERS. AT PRESENT I'M LETTING MY PAY RIDE ON THE BOOKS. IT IS JUST AS SAFE THERE AS ANYPLACE ELSE UNLESS OF COURSE, THE BOAT SINKS AND THE PAY RECORDS GET LOST. BUT ON THE PRAIRIE THAT IS PLENTY UNLIKELY. AT PRESENT I HAVE TWO HUNDRED AND SIXTY ONE DOLLARS COMING.
MOTHER, I'M NOT PARTICULAR WHAT YOU SEND FOR CHRISTMAS. IN FACT, THERE ISN'T MUCH ONE NEEDS THAT HE HASN'T ALREADY GOT. READING MATTER IS THE ONLY THING I LACK AND MAYBE YOU CAN SEND SOME OF MY TRUMPET MUSIC SO I CAN WORK SOME NUMBERS WITH ONE OF THE OTHER BAND BOYS HERE. OTHER THAN THAT I CAN'T THINK OF ANYTHING I WANT. DON'T SEND ANYTHING VALUABLE- IN THIS HEAT AND RAIN IT WOULD ONLY COME TO A PREMATURE ENDING. SHOULD I THINK OF ANYTHING ELSE I'LL LET YOU KNOW, CHEWING GUM IS SOMETHING FROM HEAVEN I MIGHT ADD, THOUGH.
MY HEARING IS GETTING MUCH BETTER. ONLY WHEN INTERFERENCE GETS BAD DO I HAVE TROUBLE.
THANKS, DAD, FOR THE QUARTERLY. NOW I WONT HAVE TO WAIT TO START THE NEW QUARTER.
RIGHT NOW I CAN'T THINK OF ANYTHING MORE TO SAY, WHICH IS GENERALLY A GOOD SIGN BECAUSE AFTER I MAIL THE LETTER I ALWAYS REMEMBER SOMETHING AND HAVE TO RIGHT ANOTHER LETTER.
LOTS OF LOVE,
Bud [signature]
HARLAN SHIREY YENNE JR S2/C RM