28 NOVEMBER 1944
U S S PRAIRIE
DEAREST FAMILY,
THIS IS THE SECOND ATTEMPT AT A LETTER TODAY THE FIRST ENDING IN THE WAST BASKET.
TODAY I RECEIVED THREE LETTERS FROM THE FAITHFULL HOME STEAD. MOM, DAD, AND HARRIET ANN (VIA POP) FURNISHED ME WITH THE LATEST DOPE FROM HOME. SUNDAY AFTERNOON I RECEIVED A XMAS PACKAGE FROM HARLOW. IT WAS REALLY A SWELL UNIT "EH?" CANISTER- A PAPER BAG FULL OF NUTS WHICH I GAVE TO THE SUPERVISOR OF MY WATCH AND A DELICIOUS FRUIT CAKE WHICH EVERYBODY ENJOYED ON THE MID-WATCH LAST NITNO... SHE ALSO ENCLOSED "HO DAMN IT-I" TIED IN A PRETTY STRING. I JUST CONGRATULATE MARY ON HER JOB OF WRAPPING THE PACKAGE. EVERYTHING WAS IN FINE CONDITION WHEN IT ARRIVED. MOST OF THE PACKAGES TO THE MEN ARE PRETTY WELL MASHED BY THE TIME THEY GET THIS FAR FROM HOME.
I STILL PLAY FAIRLY REGULARLY WITH THE SHIPS BAND AND RECENTLY HAVE FOUND QUITE A FEW MOMENTS IN A FEW MOMENTS OF PRACTICE. I'M TERRIBLY DESAPOINTED AT THE WAY I PLAY NOW BUT I GUESS ANYONE BEGINS TO GIVE OFF AN PECULIAR ODOR AFTER BEING ALLOWED TO ROT FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. BESIDES PLAYING WITH THE BAND I STAND MY DAILY RADIO WATCHES AND THEN IN MY SPARE TIME I STAND MY DAILY RADIO WATCHES AND THEN IN MY SPARE TIME AND CATCH UP ON LOST SLEEP OR READ MAGAZINES. WE HAVE MOVIES EACH NIGHT AND SO EVEN THOUGH THE LIFE OUT HERE ISN'T EXACTLY WHAT "WERE" USED TO OR CANNOT CALL IT DULL AND COOL AS A DESERT THAN MOST SHIPS. THE PRAIRIE MAY NOT BE A GLAMOROUS SHIP BUT SHE IS A GOOD ONE AND I'M WILLING TO STAY WITH HER AS LONG S I HAVE TO STAY OUT HERE.
WE HAD A FINE THANKSGIVING DINNER LAST THURSDAY. TURKEY WITH ALL THE TRIMMINGS. I'D FORGOTTED WHAT DAY IT WAS UNTILL I GOT IN THE CHOW LINE. EVERY DAY IS ROUTINE- A WORKING DAY SUNDAY TO SUNDAY. ONLY THE COOKS CAN MAKE US FORGET THE ROUTINE OF THINGS- THEY AND THE MOVIES AT NIGHT.
I WAS CERTAINLY GLAD TO HEAR THAT CARL FETZER HAS REALIZED THE BENEFITS OF KISKI. HE IS FORTUNATE THAT HE HAS HAD AS MANY YEARS AS HE HAS AT SCHOOL. THE TWO YEARS I SPENT THERE HAVE BEEN UNFORGETTABLE AND HAVE AND I'LL CONTINUE TO PLAY A GOVERN-ING PART OF MY LIFE. I HOPE TO HIGH HEAVEN THAT I CAN GIVE MY KIDS SUCH A BREAK- THAT MY PARENTS GAVE ME. IF I CAN AT ALL HELP IT I'LL SEE TO IT THAT THEY ATTEND A PRIVATE SCHOOL. IN MY ESTIMATION THERE IS NO BETTER EDUCATION THAN THAT AFFORDED WHERE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS LIVE AND WORK TOGETHER. IS THE NEW SYSTEM A SUCCESS AT KISKI? ARE ALL STUDENTS SUBJECT TO IT OR IS IT AN OPTIONAL AFFAIR? I'M WAITING FOR MY ALUMNUS MAGAZINE TO COME. MOTHER SAID SHE HAD FORWARDED IT.
LAST THURSDAY. TURKEY WITH ALL THE TRIMMINGS. I'D FORGOTTED WHAT DAY IT WAS UNTILL I GOT IN THE CHOW LINE. EVERY DAY IS ROUTINE- A WORKING DAY SUNDAY TO SUNDAY. ONLY THE COOKS CAN MAKE US FORGET THE ROUTINE OF THINGS- THEY AND THE MOVIES AT NIGHT.
I WAS CERTAINLY GLAD TO HEAR THAT CARL FETZER HAS REALIZED THE BENEFITS OF KISKI. HE IS FORTUNATE THAT HE HAS HAD AS MANY YEARS AS HE HAS AT SCHOOL. THE TWO YEARS I SPENT THERE HAVE BEEN UNFORGETTABLE AND HAVE AND I'LL CONTINUE TO PLAY A GOVERN-ING PART OF MY LIFE. I HOPE TO HIGH HEAVEN THAT I CAN GIVE MY KIDS SUCH A BREAK- THAT MY PARENTS GAVE ME. IF I CAN AT ALL HELP IT I'LL SEE TO IT THAT THEY ATTEND A PRIVATE SCHOOL. IN MY ESTIMATION THERE IS NO BETTER EDUCATION THAN THAT AFFORDED WHERE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS LIVE AND WORK TOGETHER. IS THE NEW SYSTEM A SUCCESS AT KISKI? ARE ALL STUDENTS SUBJECT TO IT OR IS IT AN OPTIONAL AFFAIR? I'M WAITING FOR MY ALUMNUS MAGAZINE TO COME. MOTHER SAID SHE HAD FORWARDED IT.
IN A RECENT ISSUE OF THE LAKEWOOD POST THAT VEEN SENT ME I NOTICED WHERE JEAN JAMES, A CLASSMATE OF MINE WHO USED TO WORK WITH THE CIEGER TWINS AND MYSELF AS ACCOMPANIST HAD WON A THOUSAND DOLLAR SCHOLARSHIP TO THE SCHOOL OF MUSIC IN CHICAGO. SOME BREAK. SHE PLAYED PRACTICALLY EVERY INSTRUMENT IN THE BOOKS. VIOLIN IN ORCHESTRA.. FRENCH HORN IN BAND AND PIANO FLUTE AND OTHERS ON THE SIDE. THESE WOMEN. BY THE TIME WE MEN GET HOME FROM THE WARS WE'LL BE JUST ABOUT IN TIME TO VOTE FOR SOME CO-ED FOR MAYOR OR SOMETHING.
I'VE RUN OUT OF STUFF TO TALK ABOUT- IF WE HAVE ANY EXCITEMENT WERE NOT TARE TALK ABOUT IT AND THERE IS NO EXCITEMENT THERES NOTHING TO SAY ANYWAY. SO FOR NOW I'LL SIGN OFF.
LOTS OF LOVE
PS. YOU WERE PRETTY CLOSE MOM.
PPSS-- HOW ABOUT SOME PICTURES- YOU'VE LET UP SINCE THE EXPEDISH TO TEMAG.
[Hand-drawn cartoon of Thanksgiving dinner scene with characters at a table saying "GOOD CHOW HUH!" with a menu board showing "TURKEY - HAM HEAD SAUCE, POTATOES PEAS COR UP, ICECRAN WITH GRAVY" and a character labeled "I'M GEESED"]