Letters To Home

I wonder what my Mom’s parents think about my going overseas after four months of service, with my uncle Ralph in over two years and still in the states.

I can’t blame any parents for not liking to have their sons in the army, but it seems to me my grandparents are being rather unreasonable about Ralph.

I’m sure it hasn’t been easy for my parents, not nearly as easy as I expected, but they’ve stood up well compared to their Mom and Dad. And my Mom and Dad have more reason to feel badly than their parents do.

Ralph was much more a “man of the world” when he went in than I was, as well as being a couple of years older. During his entire first year and more, he was in California, little more than 1000 miles from home. I was 3500 miles away in two months, something like 7000 miles in four months.

Then too, many folks in our family have been leaving home to get married over a period of more than 20 years. They should be getting a little used to it, it seems. I had hardly been away from the family overnight.

In saying these things, I hope it doesn’t sound as if I’m complaining. My family knows me better than that.

I just want to show Mom and Dad how well they have done. They have taken everything as it came along, good news and bad. They have kept their sense of humor and always have a few cheery words for me each time they write, no matter how they feel.

As for myself, I have been growing up some and feel that I have done a fair job of adjusting myself to army life. I wonder how much Ralph has had to do with my grandparents feeling the way they do.

I wonder if my uncle Ben is still afraid of the draft. Ben is almost 10 years older than I. He always told me the army was just the thing for a young man, makes him tough! If he wants to toughen up, he should know that enlistments are still being accepted.

Well, I believe I will close on a lighter note.

When Bob Hope was here, he and Frances Langford pulled what I thought was a good one. Bob (I call him “Bob”. You see, we used to go to different schools together.) was getting fresh and Frances (now I’m getting fresh) wanted to know what the idea was. Bob said it was just his protective instinct, that he was once a Boy Scout. Frances said, “You’re not acting very much like a Boy Scout.” And Bob replied, “Well, I belonged to the Wolf Patrol.”

If my parents don’t get it, they should see if my brother Cleon is available.

[letterstohome copyright 2008]

If everything worked out as planned, Mom and Dad have been living in their new house for about 10 days as I write this.

Mom and Dad have been so busy anyway since I left, and with the addend work of moving, they are probably glad to get settled again, and in a place where they shouldn’t be disturbed for a good many years.

It sounds like Mom and Dad have been getting a little “high-tone”, what with a big range, telephone, Venetian blinds, and fireplaces (to say nothing of fireplace screens). But they know how I feel about things like that.

I think it is swell the way the Landreth’s have helped and encouraged Mom and Dad in the buying of the house. I’m sure that Mom and Dad have made every effort to help them out when they need someone.

I do notice that Mom and Dad have cheered up a lot. And that makes me feel better too. I can’t always write a cheerful letter, though, as we get paid only once a month!

It wasn’t very nice of me, I guess, but I had to smile a little when I read, “All Daddy said was that he guessed they had sent the kid over the pond.” That’s what I expected him to say, word for word! I wouldn’t have been satisfied with anything else because it shows that his attitude on the matter is the same as mine.

Well, I expect Mom and Dad have received four more letters by this time. I’ve had to cut down on letters to home a little for lack of news (that I can write about), but I wrote Cleon three letters last week and hope he likes them. I know he’s busy – I hope he knows that there’s no hurry about writing back.

The cablegram I sent recently didn’t cost much considering the distance it had to go. Just $2.30 for 25 words. However, in the 25 words one must include the address, “Dear Folks”, and “With love, Vernald”, so the actual message was about 10 words. If they cut out 10 or more words, I’m going back after my money, so help me!

The cable took longer than I expected but I’m sure Mom and Dad appreciated it anyway.

[letterstohome copyright 2008]