FORT LEWIS, WASHINGTON
Fort Lewis, Washington
February 14, 1943
Dear Howie,
Well I am finally going to get time to answer your letter. We have been plenty busy here the last while, as we have been on a full time schedule. We are getting in about nine thousand new recruits here and we hope to train them. They are going to replace the 14th Inf that went to California and the one battalion of 71st that is in Alaska.
I stayed in this weekend as I have a bad chest cold. I went on sick call Friday and he sent me back and told me to go to bed for the day. The hospitals are full out here and unless you are real sick you can’t get in. I am feeling some better, but have a heck of a cold yet. There is an epidemic of the flu out here in this part of the Camp now. This cold, damp weather and then all the dirty coal smoke here is the reason I think. They burn a cheap, soft coal here and it is really dirty.
I have had a weekend pass the last three weeks and could have had one this week, so that isn’t so bad. Two thirds of the Company gets them now. That is for the whole Division too. It used to be only ten percent, but since we are out of the Northwest Defense Command now we get more.
I had letters from Willard and Willie the other day. I guess Mary is in the hospital with the measles. He doesn’t love this Army life so much I guess. I had a card from him a week or so ago. But Mary will be leaving soon too I guess.
I guess you knew Spileman that was in California. They left here right after the first of the year. Spike was made corporal just before Christmas. When I saw him last he said he was to get a furlough sometime in February, but I don’t know whether he got it or not.
I am supposed to get mine about March 20th unless something else comes up. That is the way it is now anyhow. Have they caught up with that guy, Caulthard, yet? He has been dodging the draft a long time now. It would be different if he was working on a farm or in a defense plant, but I guess he doesn’t do anything. I heard he went over to Darlington the day they left. I don’t see how he could. If he really was working hard on a farm it would be different. I think a lot of soldiers will have to help out on the farms this year, if they keep taking everyone.
Well, Howie, I can’t think of anything more to write. Army life is about the same. It is treating me O.K. But after all it is the Army and I’ll be glad to see this thing over with. Have you heard from our old pal, Pat Harvey? I was up to my cousins place in Seattle last weekend. He works in the Bremerton shipyards and he was saying something about the Enterprise being in some big action. I haven’t heard from him for a long time. Be sure to write soon. Kind of like to hear from you.
Your loving pal,
Norm
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