Being in the hospital here is a new experience for me. Just one more precedent for me since I’ve been overseas. Since I’ve been in almost every other part of the base at one time or another, my stay here could hardly be considered complete if I did not spend a few weeks at this place. And I must say this is one of the best parts of what must be one of the best camps in the ETO.
If I keep on raving like that much longer, you are going to think I’m pretty much sold on the base. You wouldn’t be too far wrong, either. I have spent 4/5 of my time in the Army here, you know; being something of a “homebody”, it has been a pleasure to settle down at this place, even if only temporarily. And remember, it’s always “temporarily” in the service!
One of the nicest features of remaining at one place for some length of time is the friends one makes – some merely acquaintances, others who are real pals. Fellows I know seem always to be stopping at the ward to say Hello. One of my fellow patients is a boy I came overseas with. The sergeant in charge of the ward is no stranger to me, for he is a regular visitor at the Presses’ place in Belfast. The sergeant who assisted the doctor in my operation and several other guys who work here lived in my barrack for a time. I have worked with the hospital’s chief clerk in preparing certain reports for our own statistical office. When the radio speaker went on the blink, who came down to repair it? My “buzzum” buddy Jack, who is still getting over that terrible fall he had through the mess hall roof some months ago.
In other words, I know my way around the place, and it is chock full of familiar faces. Take that, plus mail from home, plus good food and living conditions, and one has the makings of contentment and high morale. On the other hand, some guy’s parents have had some cause for concern. Our family has been very fortunate.
Some of my friends are no longer in Ireland. Some are in England, some on the continent. John (the boy with whom I went on furlough and have played tennis, pinochle, etc.) has received letters from mutual friends of ours who are in France.
My boss was down to see me last Sunday. A very nice young guy who reminds me sometimes of Albert Hansen. He wanted to find out how things were coming and if he could do anything for me.
Have I ever mentioned George? He was the youngest of the eight enlisted men in our department and the one who always took care of our boy Bennie when he got “high” (a job he disliked because he couldn’t get drunk himself). I say “he was” because he is no longer with us. He came to the hospital to say goodbye to me recently because he was being transferred to the Ground Forces, presumably the infantry as soon as he is trained. According to our newspaper, the Stars and Stripes, each month is going to see the transfer of 10,000 Air and Service Force men to the infantry. I wonder if this news has made it to the papers back home. There’s a rumor going the rounds of Northern Ireland to the effect that there’s a war on!
[letterstohome copyright 2008]