NEW CALEDONIA
January 19, 1944
Dear Howard,
I was sort of surprised to hear from you – after all, here comes a letter, out of a clear sky. I had the day off yesterday and when somebody told me I had two V-mails waiting for me in the office I just naturally figured they were from Virginia Cherry because she writes me V-mail quite a bit, and is the only one that does. I certainly was glad to hear from you and to hear that you are O.K.
Here’s a little dope on Harvey Bennett – if he told you that he got an honorable discharge, he’s crazy because I was talking to some of the boys off his ship. They told me he got an undesirable discharge because he went over the hill. Of course, they could be wrong, but it doesn’t sound very reasonable – they don’t just hand out honorable discharges in time of war for going over the hill.
So you’re still going with the same girl? There must be something there – she’s a nice kid all right. I can’t quite figure out who I’m supposed to be hooked up to – there’s Janice, who is so jealous that she don’t even believe me now; there’s a girl in Sydney who wanted to marry me, but I’ve got her quieted down now, and there’s Virginia, but she is more or less a good friend, although at times I get to thinking different. She’s about in the same shape I am – she’s got quite a few on the string too. In fact, I hear you had her out one night – that’s right, isn’t it?
I suppose you’re farming these days – it’s probably a little cold for such things as haying, but you can still milk cows no doubt. I wrote to Evelyn Boyle some time ago – she sent me a Christmas card and I answered it. I thought by now that she would be married, but she hasn’t gone that far yet.
You should have a pretty good time now with all the boys gone – I’ll bet the girls are wearing a path in the pavement in Shullsburg. I’d sure like to take a run up to the college – more skirts there than a guy can shake a stick at.
And speaking of girls, there’s a few here – French, of course, but some of them are pretty swell dishes – wish I had more time to get around, but so far I haven’t ventured that way.
I’m still banging the daylights out of the keys – sometimes I wonder why I ever took up typing. My shorthand could stand some practice, but I get along now because I don’t get much dictation. The next time I get home, we’ll have to take a run up and see old B.J. I missed him the last time. As things look now, I should be home by August at the least – maybe not, but I’m planning on it – it has been almost 15 months since I was shipped out the last time, but I could stand it for another 15 if I had to – here’s hoping I don’t have to though.
Hope this finds you all well there at home – drop me a line any time and I’ll see if I can’t find a spare half hour to do the same.
As ever,
Pat
Arnold T. Farrey. y/c, U.S.N.
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