F. F. Sill. Okla.
July 4,1943
Dear Mother, Dad, and Grandma,
By the time you receive this it ought to be just about July 7th -- and time to say "Happy Anniversary!" What is it this year, your 26th or 27th? How I wish I could be there to help you celebrate! Doing anything special this year? Or are your having the Steins over for cards as we used to.
I'm anxious to hear how your party out at Snyders turned out. How did you like the walk? I bet Snyders are really hit by the gas rationing. It was my of Birchards to thow some business their way. I suppose Blake's Tent is closed this summer.
Some evening this week I shall go over to the main post and call on Mrs Bucher. I suppose I should have gone this week-end -- but I just took things very easy and didn’t do anything.
I had classes for our enlisted instructors yesterday afternoon. They're on a 48 hour week. now -- so one or two of us have to be on duty Saturday afternoons to take care of them.
And then last evening I read, listened to the radio and wrote a few letters. I finally finished Sandburg's long biography of Lincoln. Now I've started to read some of Walt Whitman.
This morning, I slept late and got up just in time for church. I enclose the bullitin. After dinner, I wrote letters and had a much appreciated nap. This evening I went to the GI movies to see "Mr. Lucky". Its very good and enjoyed it immensely.
Two more weeks and we go on the new schedule. The way things look now, none of us will be shifted. A few more instructors will have been here a year in September. I suppose when they leave there will be no replacements and they will cut down the department in that manner. Nor do I think any of us will be shipped out on the range. One or two of us may have to spend a day or so a week out there -- but I don't think there will be a permanent transfer. Of course, we never know.
Our range is honeycombed with prairie-dog (or gopher) holes -- whatever you want to call them. There is one fat little fellow whose front door is only a yard or so away from our #1 machine gun on the anti-aircraft range. When we're firing, of course, he stays inside. But as soon as we finish and move away from the gun -- out he comes. He sits there as unconcerned as anything. He's just about the size of a grown rabbit -- but he looks more like a guinea pig. When we try to sneak up on him, he runs for his hole in a hurry. Grandma would have a grand time watching him. Those farther out on the range, we shoot at -- but this one has become a friend.
I felt sure that our invasion would take off by July 4th. But it hasn't. Now I'm not at all sure our troops will move onto the continent before next spring. I guess I'm not a very good prophet.
Nothing else new.Again, Happy Anniversary!
Love,
John