Atlantic City, N.J.
March 26, 1943
Dear Howard,
Well, here it is nearly April and spring is just around the corner. It just doesn’t seem possible that I have been in the army as long as I have. One more week and I will have been in just three months. It seems as though I can’t get out of Atlantic City. I was up for shipment again the other day but was an extra and so didn’t get to go. Willard and Tommy are still here. Willard was an extra the other day too and didn’t get to go. We must be all three in the same boat. Oh, well, we will get out of here one of these days. As long as we are in Atlantic City we can’t be anyplace else.
The weather is starting to get nice out here too. I’ll bet this is a nice place in the summer time when all the bathing beauties get out here. They say that there will be plenty of them–war or no war. I suppose they will keep me here until about the middle of May and then send me out just when the bathers and vacationists start to arrive.
It is about 6:30 A. M. and Willard and I are waiting to go to chow. We generally work a little while in the morning before we go to chow. You know we both work in the office now. I am beginning to get darn hungry, though, I hope they have something good. They serve breakfast from 5:30 until 8:30, dinner from 11 until 1, and supper from 4:30 until 6:30.
As you probably know Mowry is at Ft. Monmouth, N. J. about 60 miles from here. He has his corporals’ stripes. A lot of the boys who have gone out of here have their stripes now. They give them their stripes and then they have to maintain a certain grade in school or else they lose them. They tell me that Ft. Monmouth is a swell place but just the same I would like to get someplace off this east coast. I don’t like these dimouts and blackouts.
How is everything back in God’s country? You must write and keep me posted on all the happenings. I must write to Lewis. I owe him a letter. I just can’t keep my letters answered. I get a letter from Marge every day and one from my mother nearly every day so it sure keeps me busy just answering them. And of course, they must be answered. I owe Kay Byrnes a letter and I guess maybe I had better answer it or else. It seems that she had just come back from Leadmine when she wrote the last letter.
I have seen some good shows lately—–Random Harvest & Air Force were the two best ones. If you get a chance to see them be sure and go—-that is if you haven’t already seen them. Hitler’s Children is also a good show. Shows are about the only recreation we have around here. We have been to the USO Club twice we were there. I sent one to Marge and one to my mother. It is a lot of fun to make them. I think Willard sent two home to his folks.
Tell all the folks around there hello for me. I had a letter from my mother yesterday and she said your mother had written her a nice long letter. She sure did appreciate it. Thank your mother for me. Tell Rena Mae hello for me and if you get to see Junior and Jenelda be sure and give them my regards—also every-one else around there that I know.
It is almost time to go eat so I guess I had better sign off for this time. Hope that you will write soon. Tell that girl-friend of yours that she owes me a letter. Tip me off on all the dope around Benton, Shullsburg, and Leadmine. Oh yes, and don’t forget New Diggings.
So this case with Marjorie surprised you. Well it didn’t surprise me a darn bit.
Goodbye for this time—-write soon
Your pal
Art
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