25 January, 1945
U.S.S. Prairie
Dearest Family,
This letter has been coming due for some time. I generally prefer to write my letters during the mid-watch when I have 7 hours (watch is from 12:30 to 7:30) and there is little traffic and the typewriter's free. Just night I was supposed to leave the mid only they dogged the watches and I won't have it until Saturday nite (Sunday Morning).
Mothers v-mail letter of Jan. 3rd arrived on the 18 and the one (air mail) with the Oahmans pictures arrived yesterday. Please Don't write v-mail. It's as slow, must of the time as Pony Express. V-mail is frowned upon by everyone - it is as bad as getting a post card. Sometimes it takes over a month.
The music (Piano scores) that Harriet Ann sent me, I turned over to my buddies in the band. They're good arrangers, and since the Swing Band has no currently popular tunes, these tunes are the most recent we have and the musicians will turn out fine arrangements. I still play with the band, but not as often as before.
I'm sitting under a light on the Signal Bridge and the wind is taking over, slightly. It's a contact to see how fast I can drop my pen, reach out and grab a few photos or unanswered letters before they blew over the side. A fellow Radioman having the same difficulty was just finished his fourth two page letter since I started this one. Anyway he writes much bigger.
He must!
Did Lommy get his car back yet? Neh! walking won't hurt either he or Tidi.
Shucks, I'm a failure as a letter writer today. This has turned into one of those "Even if it's just to say you're feeling fine" letters mothers asks about. I'm feeling fine, healthy, wealthy and getting a bit wiser.
Lots of love,
Bud