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Aug 18, 1944

DEAR JOE: It’s Water Carnival night at the pool. A committee of teenagers, the Junior Business Men of Elmhurst Avenue, have taken over, leased the pool and are staging something fancy... Bob Cumming, Bruce Rogers and Bill Fox are the members of the committee. The oldest is a gray beard of fifteen... There’ll be an egg and spoon race, a candle race, a pajama race, a tub race, clown diving, a bathing beauty aqua drill and fancy high diving. Then, for the grand finale, Lloyd Erwin in a fine dive, followed by a watermelon scramble. It’s going to be fun. But, Joe, it’s the kind of fun you have in wartime. Not lighthearted fun, but empty hearted fun. The kind of fun you have when your heart is far away. Our hearts are all far away today with you. We wish that you were here, that the war was at an end... We'll have a water carnival when you come home... It’s been hot here. Good corn weather. But it’s been even hotter in the east and south. The crops look wonderful. Corn detasseling is over. The sunburned youngsters, girls and boys, are back from the fields. Soon school will start again, and merchants are advertising now about those “back to school” duds... Won't it be great, Joe, that day when you walk down Central Avenue and buy sport shirt and slacks and all the trimmings. Uniforms are swell, Joe, but there’s nothing like your own duds.

AROUND THE TOWN, Richard Mitchell, of Fort Dodge, Dem., Bob Blue, of Eagle Grove, Rep., opposing candidates for governor, spoke on the same platform at Des Moines the other evening before the League of Municipalities. Both said what the city officials wanted to hear, that city tax sources were drying up and that something would have to be done about it... Home for good is Gould Campbell, honorably discharged from the army... The draft groups from the county are now going to Ft. Snelling... Rural teachers of the county are meeting here August 24th... Dave Rhodes, well known auctioneer, is dead of a heart attack at 52 years of age... Art Bailey died Monday. He had been ill for some months... John H. Mitchell has been appointed referee in bankruptcy, succeeding John Schaupp, who is new district judge... Jewel thieves took five thousand dollars’ worth of rings and trinkets from the car of a jewelry salesman in broad daylight, Tuesday afternoon. Chief of police Mericle says it was done by organized jewel thieves... There was no D-Day alarm in Fort Dodge for the opening of the 4th front in Southern France. Morning papers had no story on it. People heard it first as they turned on radios for morning news... The 4-H achievement show will be held in Fort Dodge August 22nd and 28th... The Dodgers begin fall practice August 24th. Marquis has asked 52 players to report, eight are lettermen. Prospects for a fine team are excellent. The Dodgers will play Albert Lea, Boone, Independence, West Waterloo, East Waterloo, East Des Moines, Roosevelt, Mason City and LaCrosse. Looks as tough as the Gothic line, The opening game, September 15th, at Albert Lea. We'll cover it... 2200 attended the packing house workers’ picnic held in Crawford Park Sunday. Picnicers ate 500 pounds of potato salad, 60 Tobin hams and drank 150 cases of pop... Dale Johnson, instructor at Muroc Field, Calif, has been promoted to captain... Richard Taylor has received his wings and commission... Jim Williams won the singles in the city tennis tournament. He defeated Bob Rathermel in the finals. Donna Peterson won the junior women’s title from Louise Constantine, then played her again and won the woman’s championship... The Dodgers took a beating from Moorland Sunday, 10 to 3... 1st Lt. Father Robert Joynt has been made a Captain.

DOWN THE CENTER AISLE. Miss Jerry Mitchell and Ensign Richard Thompson, of Rockwell City, at Fort Dodge, August 14th... Ann Thorne and Ray Hurley, September 11th in Fort Dodge... Genevieve Brown and Ensign Frank L. Lambert, of Tigard, Ore., at Norfolk, Va., July 31st... Lt. Mary West, of Fort Worth, Texas, and Lt. Geo. Robertson, August 12th in Alexandria, La.... Irene Backer, of Terrington, Wyo., and Lt. Gale Stromberg, July 15th in Cheyenne, Wyo.... Marcella Kelly and Louis Morf, of Fredericksburg, in Otho, August 9th... Margaret May Oleson and Robert A. Thompson, of Badger, August 27th, in Badger... Bernice Fink and Pvt. Munhard Hollman, at Camp Blanding, Fla., July 25th.

ENJOYING MOM’S COOKING. Vanna Hoffman, Y 3/c, from Moffett Field, Calif.... Lt. M. E. Paddleford, from Wilmington, Del.... Sgt. Merle Hill, from Camp San Luis Obispo... Capt. L. K. Breland, of Callender, Mustang fighter pilot, from England, after 85 missions and after shooting down 12 Nazi planes... Flight officer Arthur G. Edwards, from Long Beach... Pvt. William Armstrong, from Camp Livingston, La.... Sgt. Richard M. Lowry, from San Diego... Flight Officer Robert B. Michael, from Luke Field, Ariz... . Pvt. Elden Peterson, from Camp Van Dorn, Miss... Pvt. Geo. Fritz, from Camp Hood, Texas... William Hoop, Jr., Petty Officer 2/c, in the Coast Guard from Government island, Alameda, Calif.... Pvt. Bernard Amo, from Camp Ellis, Il.... Sgt. LeRoy Parson, from Columbia, 5. C.... Sgt. and Mrs. Matthias J. Harbecheck, of Moorland, from Joplin, Mo.... John Hefly, WT 3/c, of Barnum, home from the South Pacific, where he had played his part in seven major sea battles. In Pearl Harbor, he met his brother, Harris, MM I/c. Another brother, Ray Lee, BER I/e, is in New Caledonia. John’s headed for an aircraft carrier on the east coast... Cpl. Floyd. Stanek, from Pomona Ordnance Depot, where he’s with the petroleum engineers... Cpl. Bob Johnson, from Harlingen, Texas, where he’s been with B-24’s to Lincoln where he'll join a B-29 crew as gunner. Bob tells us his brother, Art, over in England, is now a Capt. and should be home in Sept.

WAR’S GRIM TOLL, Pvt. Lawrence E. Vrehoticky was wounded in France in July. He’s back in England now, hospitalized... S/Sgt. William Hubel, wounded in action in Italy June 26th, is making normal improvement... 1st Lt. Gerald Steussey is reported missing in action over Germany as of July 29th... Sgt.

M. A. Oleson has been wounded in action in the South Pacific... Pfc. James Mailander is ill with appendicitis in India... Cpl William Peed, of Duncombe, is a prisoner of war in Germany.

SERVICE PAPERS. “The SnapRoll” from Sgt. Chas. Konvalinka, Minter Field, Calif. Thanks, Sgt.... “The Brief” of the 7th AAF, from Cpl. Lester E. Person, somewhere in the South Pacific. Thanks, Lester... The U. S. “Dispatch” of the Persian Gulf Command, from S/Sgt. Wesley Y. Hill. Thank, Wesley... “The Keesler Field News” from Pvt. Gene Person, and a very grand picture. Thanks, Gene... “Seadust” from Bob Porter, S 2/c, Gulfport, Miss. Thanks, Bob... “Blood and Fire”, the mild-titled publication of the 68rd Infantry Division, Camp Van Dorn, Miss., from Sgt. Evert Halbach. Thanks, Evert... “The Kearns Post Review” of Kearns, Utah, from Cpl. Eugene Curl. Thanks, Gene... The “20th Armored Division” from Pvt. Geo. Vincent, at Fort Barraness, Fla. Thanks, Geo. We'll say that hello for you... “The Amphibian” of Camp Gordon Johnston, Fla. from 1st Sgt. W. W. Burke. Thanks, Sgt... “The Desert Bomber” from Pfc. Richard E, Johnston, Oakland, Calif. Thanks, Richard... From Sgt. Bob Lawson, in Italy, a copy of Bill Mauldin’s “Mud, Mules and Mountains. ” Thanks, Bob... The continental edition of the “Stars and Stripes” from Pvt. R. A. Harp, somewhere in France. Thanks, Rossette... “The Guidan” from Pvt. John S. Dowd, Fort Riley, Kan. Thanks, John... The continental edition of the “Stars and Stripes” from Pfc. Pete Rodenborn, somewhere in France... A miniature edition of the “Pittsburgh Sun Telegraph” from K. Kelly, S 1/c, Great Lakes. Thanks, Ken... Cletus Haire sends us the “Todd Pacific Keel” from Tacoma, Washington. Other Dodgers there are Duke Sawyer, Charley Byrd, Ole Burke and Bill Bartlett. Thanks, Cletus... “The Night Hawk” from Pvt. J. H. McNeilly, Fresno, Calif., and the patch of the 4th Air Force. Thanks, J. M.

COINCIDENCE. Pfc K, E. Gilbert is in the Gilbert Islands.

INSIGNIA AND SHOULDER PATCHES. The “Panama” shoulder patch from T/3 Eugene H. Peterson who says things are quiet in Panama. Thanks, Gene... From Sgt. Bob Lawson, the blue field and the three silver bars of the 3rd army. Thanks, Bob... The Northwest Service Command, an outfit formed in northern Canada, from Sgt. E. V. Johnson. Thanks, Sgt. That address is on its way... The Radio Mechanic sleeve insignia from Pvt. Gould Campbell, Chanute Field, Ill. Thanks, Gould... The 3rd Air Force patch and a picture, Cpl. Raymond Newbrough, Hunter Field, Ga. Thanks, Ray... The 23rd Army Corps from T/5 John E, Vohs, Camp Howze, Texas. Thanks, John, will be locking for the picture... The 4-leaf clover of the 4th army from Pfc. Dean Wright, Camp Hood, Texas. Thanks, Dean... The dragon of the 18th Corps from Cpl. Marvin McCoy, of Camp Pickett, Va. Thanks, Marv... The “90th” Division from S/Sgt. Stan Pingel, who was wounded in action in Normandy the 12th of June, but who is now back in France, Thanks, Stan, for the patch. We'll play that number... The 71st “Division” and the U. S. Service Command from Sgt. Garland Porter, at Camp Beale, Calif. Thanks, Sgt. Garland. Brother Hap is a T/Sgt. Roy is a Lt. Col. commanding an infantry battalion in France.

OVERSEAS. Pvt. Paul Ivory, now in Corsica, hasn’t seen a soul from home since going overseas. But he did see Humphrey Bogart and wife some months back... Pfc. Ray Peed is a Bn. Wireman, also a switchboard operator with Co. G. in Italy but attached to headquarters... Sgt. Dino Gardini, of Lehigh, wounded in France, is now hospitalized in England... Henry Stensrud, S l/c, with the Pacific Fleet, says hello to his brother, Pfc. Sterling Stensrud, in Italy... Pvt. Clarence Forslund is in France... Rudi Anderson, fighter pilot, in the Italian theater, got two more Jerries. Now he’s folded his wings, his missions are over... Lt. P. R. Smith, Jr., now flying a P-38 down Honolulu way, has been meeting Dodgers regularly. Don Evans was out that way flying a night fighter and “Bud” Smith is there at another field... Pfc. Irene Miller is now receiving her mail APO 7912, San Francisco.

GLAD TO SEE EACH OTHER. Pfc. Leo Parker and Eva Johnson of Parkersburg, Ia., in France. Eva used to teach in Gilmore City. She is now a Red Cross worker... Cpl. and Mrs. Fred Breslin, Mr. and Mrs. Thatcher and Cpl. Bob Thatcher and his wife, at Seattle at a party. Fred is at Fort Worden, Wash., and Bob is at Lowery Field, Denver, Colo... Pvt. Earl J. Rowley and Marico Beletti, both of Lehigh, in New Guinea, Thanks, Earl, for the “23rd Shore Bn. News”... Wm. “Gill Skophammer, HA 1/c, and Kenneth Pride, somewhere in the South Pacific... Nels Larson, 5 1/c, and Leonard Drake in San Francisco. Leonard has been in the hospital but is out now and feeling fine... Cpl. Stan Ulrich, of Humboldt, and Pfc. R. E. Brown, somewhere in England... A/C Milton E. McEwen and Dean Gadbury in Waco, Texas. They are both at Brooks Field, Texas... Cpl. Stan Lawson has been stationed in Abadan, Iran. Now he is in Bahrein Islands in the Persian Gulf. In two years, he had seen no one from Fort Dodge. The other night while waiting to see a movie he met Norman “Doc” Habenicht.

OVER HERE. Pvt. Earl Ball is stationed at a post in Alaska where 1800 lb. Kodiak bears are not uncommon. There’s lots of wild game and “you can catch all the fish you want in your hand”... Pvt. Al Habhab is at Camp Shelby, Miss... Carlyle Kelly, S 2/c, is in signalman school at Great Lakes... Dale J. Taylor, tank mechanic, is now Pfc. with the marines at San Diego, Post war ambition—a walk down Central Avenue up to his knees in snow... Robert H. Guffey, F 2/c, is at Gulfport, Miss... Alva Leo Long, AMM 2/c, of Dayton, is at Corpus Christi, Texas... Lt. (j. g.) Harland L. Larson, of Goldfield, is in the armed guard school at Gulfport, Miss... Pvt. Paul Berger is joining the Paratroops. He’s at Camp Shelby, Miss.... Pvt. Bob O'Connor, on maneuvers and living on “jungle rations” at Camp Livingston, says the peanuts and lemonade are the only edible parts of that army desiccation.

Sounds like a circus, Bob...

D. F. Johnson, A/S, USN, is at Central College, Fayette, Mo... Roy Hogan is at Keesler Field, Miss... Pvt. Arthur Sigurdson graduated from ASTP electrical engineering at Kentucky last month and is now in the Signal Corps and going to a tech school in Philadelphia... Ted Lindberg, FC 3/c, of Lehigh, has been assigned to a destroyer. He is now at Treasure Island, Calif... Pvt. Roger Fevold is at San Diego, Calif... L. M. Burrell, CGM, is stationed at the Receiving Barracks, Tacoma, Washington. He’s been there since the U. S. S. Wasp went down under him back in September of 1942, leaving him swimming in the blue Pacific. He and Mrs. Burrell live at 4603 N. Cheyenne. The latch string is out for visiting Dodgers. P. S—That’s not our “Hoot.”... Bob Ault, S 2/c, is at Shoemaker, Calif.

DOWN UNDER. Pfc. Otto C. Williams is in New Guinea... Pfc. Ted Cooklin is with the fighting 6th, “The best division in the Pacific,” and has seen a lot of Japs, dead and alive. Thanks, Ted, for the invasion money. We'll play that number.

FROM T/5 DICK BROADSTONE in Italy, a copy of “Lili Marlene” in German and a photo of two young German officers taken above an Italian city. Dick writes, “When Iowa’s 34th finally smashed the perimeter of the beachhead, many Jerries took off in headlong flight to save their skins, and searching through one guy’s dugout I found all his personal effects left behind, including not only his picture but this copy of “Lili Marlene.” Thanks, Dick.

FROM LT. K. A. BELL still another translation, a very good one, of “Lili Marlene.” There are several phonograph records of it now in this country. Perry Como and Hildegard sing it. It’s on the networks. ASCAP has one version, a poor one, and BMI is bringing out another. Y. L. F. H. goes way out on a limb and says it will make “Hit Parade.” It is requested frequently at this station.

STAN BETTERS, CM 2/c, has a young helper at home now named Terry Joe, Yes, sir, arrived the 4th of August and weighed all of eight pounds.

FROM THE FIVE CORNERS OF THE WORLD. F/O Merlyn E. Natto, Lake Charles, La., “My stay of five days at Barksdale was wonderful. Barksdale has been given the name, “The Country Club of the Air Corps,” and rightly so. It is the most beautiful camp I have ever seen. Officers there lead a swell life. We didn’t do very much, but lay around and swim at the Officers’ Club during the evenings. It was too good to last, though. We shipped out at the end of the week for Lake Charles, La., where the B-26 replacement training unit is, We fly every day here and it gets rough at times. I’m not only bombardier, but navigator too. There are only six men on the crew including myself. We have a lot of fun working as a team and it is work. I’ll be on my way overseas in less than six weeks. The B-26 is a wonderful ship—you can’t beat it.

Cpl. Billy Goodman, South Pacific, “Hello, there, just received “Your Letter From Home.” And very happy to get it. Although I am a Chicago boy, I was once a traveling salesman through Iowa. Many times I stopped at the Wahkonsa Hotel for over Saturday and Sunday. Laramar Ballroom was my favorite place to spend a lovely time. My favorite eating place was directly across from the Wahkonsa Hotel. I sold a few of your shops in town, Boston Store, Lilyan Shop, Children’s Shop, Gates’ Dry Goods Company, Holly- wood Shop. I was always treated swell in Fort Dodge and never will forget it. My customers know me as Billy Russell. I traveled for a Millinery Concern called Richter-Friedlander of Chicago. The people were really swell to me. Being friends with my customers meant more than just being a so-called salesman. And thats what Iowa stands for, “The Friendship State.” This is my second cruise overseas. I was in the invasion of Guadalcanal. Left there October 16, 1944, to return to the states. While in the states, I was married and again sent overseas in July, 1943. Yes, it’s been over two and a half years since I saw Towa and snow. But the saying goes “Business before pleasure.” Lt. Lizer, a Fort Dodge boy, was a pilot in our outfit. I am a mechanic. We used to talk of Fort Dodge and the good times we had there. It seemed I knew quite a few people he did. Small world, eh? ‘Well, I'll have to close now. Best regards to all. Keep sending “Your Letter From Home.” It’s really swell.”

Pfc. Palmer Strom, Italy, “See in one of the papers where S/Sgt. Frank Carlson, S/Sgt. Otto Mueller and a few other boys were on the Anzio beachhead where I was. All the time we were there, they couldn’t have been more than five miles from where I was. The places they mentioned I was there too. So Frank, you have nothing on me. Also see Arthur Knudson has been in France a few times.”

Pvt. Marvin Bowers, APO New York, “Hi Ed and Gang, Received two more of the Y. L. F. H. and many thanks. We just got back from a Frenchman’s house and drank a couple of glasses of cider. You should try some. We were in the house and you should see it. The room we were in was as big as a barn and had one table and three or four chairs. I guess it’s the kitchen. We can buy five gals. for 50 Francs—$1.00. Well my Spencer buddy wants to write a line so guess I will sign off. Yours truly, Marv.” “My name is Ken Reed. I have known Bowers for quite a while. He has told me lots about you and your radio program. We like it better here than England. The people seem plenty friendly. Well, Ed, I wish you would tell all my friends around Milford, Ia., and Spencer, Ia., and Clear Lake, Ia., hello for me. Thank you, Cpl. Reed.”

Capt. Phil Hardie, Italy, “Finally had a chance to take a run over and see some of my old gang from Co. “G.” Saw Sgt. (Tiny) Coats and John Calicici, and others—not from Fort Dodge. Missed Sgt. Bill Pray by a few days. Hope to see more of them later. Hated to miss seeing Col. Marchi and Capt. Manchester but hope to see them later. Both have sent me “Hi” through other people who have talked to them. Those boys from the 34th have done a grand job and I’m plenty proud to tell anyone I came from Co. "G,” 34th Div.!!! We’ve had our own little arguments with the “Krauts” now and we think we are doing a pretty good job, too! All of us would like to finish this thing and get home and live like people again! Keep up the good work.”

Cpl. R. A. Swanson, France, “Our favorite friends over here are our rifles, helmets and foxholes. By the way, speaking of foxholes, digging them in this country is just like digging in the Gypsum mills back home. I think that all they have in this country is stones. There is one fellow from home in our outfit, Lt. Norman Wiggins. Tell Duke Skophammer to keep shooting them down.”

M/Sgt. Gayle F. Archibald, Iran, “We here in Iran are not in actual combat but we have a job getting supplies through to Russia and it is no snap, especially for the Port Bn. men working in weather which varies from 120 to 130 degrees it the shade. Of course, many improvements have been made since I came overseas 21 months ago—snack bars, service clubs, PX’s, recreation facilities (as if we needed those in this weather), improved roads and housing conditions. But the one thought foremost in our minds is the fact that someday this conflict will be over and we can all go back to the good old USA where we are really appreciated.” (We'll play that

record, Gayle.)

A/C Don Martin, Santa Ana, Calif., “It’s old home week here for Iowans! I was looking around today and ran into 24 Iowans who were inducted into the army with me. I met Gene Brown over in Advanced Pre-Flight and there too was Virgil Bond, who played with Sam Campbell in Fort Dodge. Bob Vincent is here but I haven’t seen him yet. I have been having a great time merely seeing and talking to the old boys.”

S/Sgt. Carl Heffner, Normandy, “Monday evening and just finished a nice supper of fresh beef. These French calves that weigh around 6 or 700 hundred lbs. have trouble with mines if you know what I mean. Jerry keeps his airplanes under cover pretty well, but one came over a while ago and I really dove in my hole. It’s really funny. We’re a lot like a bunch of gophers. We go down our holes then come back and stick our heads out again and shake off the dust and go about our business again. I saw Bob Champlain and Fred Nordgren when I came back to the outfit and they’re still going strong. They’re good boys. The French have a lot of wine and cider but if a guy wants a real drink its cognac. Boy it will make your hair stand on end. The French towns seem funny. There aren’t any residential districts, You just hit town then you’re out but I guess that makes street fighting easier.” (Thanks, Carl, for the patch.)

Ralph Coats, Italy, “The last letter I wrote we were on the Anzio Beachhead. That was some spot a few miles of coast at our back and Krauts facing us in all other directions. My little hole often seemed like an apartment building. No doubt you followed the big push and the fall of Rome. We were in the midst of those happenings. Since then we have been busy and by following the Americans in Italy you can keep close tab on us. Had a house for a home for a few days. Some joint, nice hath, rooms, first time on a stool for months. It was worth carrying the water for the flush. For a bath, just heat the water outside and fill the old tub. Just like the old Saturday night bath. People at home don’t know how lucky they are that this conflict is being fought on foreign soil. As the armies meet, there is nothing left for the civilians to do but to hit for friends in other cities. If they don’t have a place then the next best is caves and dugouts in the hills. You can imagine what is left for them to come back to.”

Ronald Wearmouth, S 1/c, FPO New York, “Time hangs heavy around here and there’s nothing much to do, so any reading material is mighty welcome. One of the important calls in our day is the mail call and if everyone could see how much letters mean to the fellows I am sure they would write more often. What we’ve been going through the last few days is murder and in big capital letters, too.”

Cpl. John E. Swartz, Italy, “I have been receiving “Your Letter From Home” in good time. But at present I am in a hospital and my mail is all balled up, but in due time it will catch up to me. I sure do miss, not only your letters, but also hearing from home. The more I see of the world through travel, otherwise impossible, only by this war, and the more men I meet or books I read or questions I answer the more I come back with increased conviction to the place where I was born and played as a boy narrowing my circles like a bird going back to its nest. Let’s hope and pray this war will end soon that seems to me the end of all travel and especially of the widest travel—to get home. When one has time to think and away from the front, he can even surprise himself what he can write.

Pvt. Robert A. Geiger, APO New York, “Gang, I don’t know what else to call you, so if you don’t mind I’ll just call you gang. Things here are really grand. In fact, almost too good to be true. No reveille, no retreat. In fact, not much of anything. Indian bearers, cold drinks, and by the way, Ed, no C Rations, but now Water Buffalo meat, which is pretty darned tough, all in all, except for the chow, it is a Seventh Heaven. Give my best to all, and you are all doing a grand job. See you Christmas 19——???? Thanks again.”

Floyd N. Ewing, MM 3/c, FPO San Francisco, “In your letter that I received today you expressed someone's belief that Chicago was the best liberty town in the States. Now I don’t wish to start any feud or battle royal, but I have made a few liberties there myself and to my notion it wasn’t even in the race with Detroit, Michigan. “I spent four months in Detroit when there were no S. P.’s (Shore Patrol) and a sailor rated above anyone or so it seemed. I never hope to find any better liberty town that Detroit throughout the rest of my naval career.” (Thanks, Floyd, for the mine sweeper’s insignia.)

S/Sgt. M. L. Wickersham, Northwest Africa, “I’m in the Air Transport Command of the Army Air Forces. The traffic carries passenger and freight and all other things. I have looked and watched for someone from home but never a person do I see. In your letter I see where Mert Williams and other fellows are in this area, but I can’t seem to find them. Say hello to them for me. The weather is hot, and I work at night most of the time. The wind and sand blows continually but I guess you can get used to that.”

And oh, there were lots of other letters this week, a whole drift of them, some of them touched with heartbreak and others full of fun. It’s strange, Joe, that you are never bitter, not even when you are hurt inside. You always manage to squeeze out some kind of a grin. Other letters came from Pvt. Bernard Kutz, Camp Davis, N. C... Sgt. Merle Meyer, March Field, Calif... Pvt. Alfred M. Holm, Camp Berkeley, Texas... W. C. Howard, AMM 1/c, Gustine, Calif... Pvt. Philip McAlpin, Fort Bragg, N. C... Cpl. Warren E. Phillips, APO New York... O. J. Anderson, F 1/c, Ft. Pierce, Florida... Jack M. Fitzgerald, F 1/c, FPO San Francisco... Capt. Wilbur C. Thatcher, APO New York... Lt. Edward C. Degner, Corsica... Pvt. Arden M. Swanson, England... F. E. Bloomquist, AMM, 2/c, FPO San Francisco... A/S Vernon Fiferlick, Decatur, Ala... Lt. Louie Katzman, Aberdeen, Md... Pvt. Don McLaughlin, Truax Field, Wis... Cpl. Ronald H. Huebsch, France... Phil Dorweiler, A/S, Farragut, Idaho... Harold Rohrer, AOM 2/c, Atlantic City, N. J... Lt. I. C. Wogensen, Malden, Mo... Pfc. Walter Vargason, Italy. (Thanks for that picture, Buck. You look right handsome.)... Pvt. Robert Wickwire, Ft. Benning, Ga... Cpl. Don Allan, Camp Polk, La... Pvt. Dean Olson, San Diego, Calif... A/C Warren M. Peterson, Bakersfield, Calif... Sgt. John J. Moore, England... Pvt. R. H. Schoellen, Camp Gordon Johnston, Fla... Lt. C. T. Johnson, APO New York... Lt. M. O. Barbee, APO San Francisco... Pfc. Arthur A. Hamann, APO San Francisco... Pvt. Pat Derrig, England... Sgt. J. S. McElhinney, South Pacific. August 18th, fateful August. Joe, it looks awfully good. Just between you and me, I don’t think that we will be writing these letters another August. Not the way you are going, Joe. You’ve got ’em on the ropes and one of these days they are going to throw in the river Until that happy day, good luck, Joe, and don’t forget to duck.

Your hometown correspondent, Ed Breen.


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