Aug 1, 1943. Dearest Mary: Well its only fourteen, […]p’s I mean 13 more days, until we will have had 2 years or happy married life and all but about 2 mo. of it together. I must say it was of the bests moves I made. I realize it more each day. I don’t know how its possible, but I just know I love you more than I could imagine 2 yrs ago. I hope you are as happy as I. That’s one of the reasons I think it isn’t quite so hard being in the Army. Even though I miss you so much. Its a consolation to know I have someone that cares as much for me as I do for you, and can trust in any situation. So much for that, but I do mean all of it. Well we went on our night problem Fri night, and it was a lot of fun. We hiked out about 3 miles. Then they turned us loose in the woods by squads, and my squad was the first one through. You see it was supposed to be as though we were in combat. To make it real they had fellows stationed in the woods representing the enemy, and we were supposed to get through the lines without being captured. They fired blank amunition [sic] which helped make it seem real. We got through easy. When we got back the cooks had coffee & doughnuts which tasted very good. I finally got to bed at 1:15 AM after cleaning my rifle, bayonet & taking a shower. Then we got up at 5:15 AM, ate breakfast, and went out from 7:30 AM to 9:40 AM on a 6 mile conditioning hike. They then gave us 3/4 hr to clean rifles again and dress for inspection. When we were about half way through this, they called the alert. Then we had to go in and read up our beds, fold up our sheets & blankets & mattress cover and roll them up in the mattress. Then put on our leggins close the windows, put on our full field pack & rifle and fall out. This was just for practice, but it’s what we would do in case we were called out to some city for a riot or something. After all this we had chow at 11:45 AM and they paid us around 2 pm. Then we had the rest of the week end to ourselves, but about all I’ve done is rest. Although I did write L.B.H. a letter. What I wanted to tell you was I received $31.58 which accounts for the fact you didn’t receive an allotment for June. They only file them once a month, so you will receive one for July, but not for June. I wrote Dr. Forrest for a recommendation but didn’t use it, because it didn’t get here in time. I will inclose the letter he wrote with it. I will send the pictures also. But there is some ink on some, That was when I was warm and the ink in the letter got on them. I wish you would have a picture taken and send me one. Not a large one but a wallet size. If I pass the board at the Air Corps I will probably receive a furlough around the end of Aug. I think I stand a good chance. Some fellows are going on theirs this week already, but I would rather have one later. Well darling I have a lot of writing to do. So I’ll say so long for now. But remember there’s someone who thinks of you and loves you always. With all my love — Harold (Punky)
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Place Name coordinates. (May be approximate.)
