7 February 1945
Dear Dad,
How does this enforced hermitage appeal to you? When the family left you alone during the summer it wasn't so bad, but to have to hivolate and like it in winter was another story. I wrote mother at Aunty Gertrudes to let her mind at ease she wanted me to write as soon as I heard.
Dad, I plan to take out a naval allotment. I figure about $50 a month would be sufficient. Instead of letting my pay rest on the books it would be better I believe, if sent home monthly to you and you could put it in the bank. I have over four hundred dollars on the books now and will send it home within two or three weeks on a money-order. With the money already deducted for insurance and war bonds, plus the 50 dollar allotment to you will leave me thirty odd dollars monthly. As long as I'm out here even thirty dollars a month isn't necessary, but if the Prairie or I ever should return sometime I'd not be broke. I never want more than $100 on the books again - if anything should happen to the ship or I'd spend get lost, I'd be out that much toward college. Let me know if it's okay with you, then I'll fix up my end here and start the money rolling to you by April - I hope.
I guess Tommy can is a one for a cod. Tid tell me that they now have a 1741 Plymouth Cream-colored at that. Did you ever sell the Rio? I'd forgotten.
The war is beginning to look a lot better isn't it. It's a terrible thing, but I hope the Russians and British and us make a bloody battle field of Germany. If the German People understood the full terror of war like the French and British they'd never start another war. They're learning now. Gosh, even the war in the Pacific may be over by next year.
Pop, these articles on baseball are swell. Everyone likes to read them.
Say, I don't have to sleep on the deck any-more I have a bunk now. It's kind of warm in the compartment so I'd probably end up sleeping topside anyway.
I've improved 20% in the recent checker games. In fact won 100% yesterday. It was a swell game. I'm still in his dust but am slyly catching up. Neh - by the time the war's over I might even stand a chance of beating even. Today my percentage in games won is .398. The actual score will remain a military secret.
Lots of love,
Bud