May 21, 1943
Dear Howard,
When you talk about playing ball it seems funny. I don’t think any of these guys from Texas ever heard of the big leagues etc. at least they never ever mention ballgames. After all the guys who have left these small towns its sure awful hard to see where they get half enough players but as the old saying goes there is always somebody to take everybody’s place. Just like the women taking mens place in war plants.
The Studebaker boys will sure have the pick of all the girls now. That Burch is a green one if I remember and a pretty nice car too but as far as I can see they sure had it coming. Old Herman gets his moneys worth out of them especially Lewis. Don’t you think so? Big Fred will think he owns New Diggings but if I had a motorcycle I’d feel the same way. In fact if I had a little toy wagon here I’d think I were on top of the world. It’d sure be nice to jump in the old red Ford and head out for anyplace but I guess I went enough to make up for a few months or so before I was in the Army.
Willis and I are both working nights now. He’s working in the next ward at the old hospital while I run an elevator here at the new one. I’ve been over to see him twice or three times in the past five days. We go to town in the afternoons and by the time he gets in half dozen taverns on me his pretty tight and doesn’t want to go back to work. Either I’m going to have to start drinking again or wear my gas mask to town so that I won’t get drunk from his breath. I don’t see where he puts all that beer but we’ve only got $1.25 between us until pay day which is only 10 days off. We signed the pay roll Wed. and had short-arm inspection this morning and I passed ok again. Willis did also.
We’ve had one day of rain in the past two months so you can be thankful you’re not a Texas farmer. It’s still awful hot, about 98° in the shade so you know it’s hard to sleep very good from ten o’clock on.
I guess there is plenty of dances, graduation etc going on. Too bad you can’t get more gas so you could get around more but it could be worse. As far as these furloughs go you never want to believe a guys got one until you see him because this Army changes a guys plans by the stroke of a little pen and they sure know how to use that pen.
Bet can’t be gaining any more weight than I am. I weigh over 175 now and I’m as fat as a pig. In fact I’m so fat it looks like I’ve got T.B. (Tavern Belly) but that’s not the reason. It’s because I’m always eating.
Willard seems to be about the luckiest one of the bunch. He’s in a place where there isn’t very many soldiers. I often wonder how him and Anna are going to make out.
I got a letter from Virginia H. today. She is in Rockford working again. She writes about three letters to my one and I think I’ll take her out a few times when I get a furlough. Should be pretty good.
Well I’d better close for tonight Howard so be good and keep those home fires burning.
Yours
Richard
Whats this I hear about Beachy Carter going to close the Tavern. Leadmine will die again. Sure lots of new babies around there. Be careful.
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