It’s that old Friday the Thirteenth again! —Dad’s favorite day, from what I’ve heard. Nothing unusual happened to me so far. Two more letters from home were forwarded to me – thanks a lot to Mom and Dad! I’m always glad to hear from home, and it is a special treat when I first arrive at a new base and don’t know nobody or nothing! I also enjoyed Bonnie’s letter – very fine of her to send me all “the news”.
Mom and Dad are too squeamish about bringing up certain subjects, but not my sister! She came right out and asked, “Vern, are you going to Germany, to occupy it or something?” V-e-r-y interesting, yes? Well, it is still too early for me to answer that definitely, one way or another. You understand, of course, that with my points, I’m destined to stay in the Army quite a while yet – and I will be serving “someplace” overseas, that’s for sure. Now, carrying on from that point, I would say that there are just these three situations:
- remaining here in the European Theater of Operations and eventually being shifted to the force occupying Germany (all installations in Great Britain, France, etc. will be closed down as rapidly as possible).
- being shipped directly to the Pacific (many are going that way)
- being shipped to the Pacific via the states (giving me perhaps a month’s furlough – and then, overseas again!!!)
Naturally, I haven’t got a choice between those three (except in a very indefinite and uncertain way), but if I did, I wonder which one Mom and Dad would rather I’d do. If it were up to them, which would they pick for me? (P.S. Is the Pacific area large enough for two Mackliets?) I’ll ask Mom and Dad to write me exactly how they feel about this. If the mail service is good, perhaps I’ll still be here when their answer comes!
As a joke (?), I asked that same question of Jayne before I left the country, and she thought I should stay in Europe (even though she would like someone to send her a grass skirt from the Pacific! A job for Cleon?). As a matter of fact, she narrowed “Europe” down to Northern Ireland —– I guess about the only G.I.s over there now are on furlough from England.
I recently asked Mom to find and send me a pair of those manicuring-type scissors with the very sharp-pointed blades. I hope she doesn’t go to too much trouble looking. I already have some large shears and a pair of stubby “sewing kit” scissors. I have been expecting a package from home with a toothbrush, but it must be temporarily (I hope) lost. It has never come, anyway. I hope Mom and Dad know how greatly I appreciate the “buying jobs” they do for me. And they won’t even let me pay for my own stuff and junk!
I have missed Mom, Dad, and Bonnie very much lately. Also, I neglected my boy friends while going with Jayne, depending solely on her to be my “pal” overseas. Now I’ve left them all behind except Bob and Herb. I enjoy knowing those two boys and working with them, but neither of them are the type with which I would regularly go to town. They simply must have their liquor and both have already found new girlfriends around here already!
I heard from Cleon a few days ago. Now there is a fine boy – I would give anything to run into him, now that he is grown up. We should have a lot of fun together after this is all over. Am looking forward to that day! Maybe we’ll be “green Frosh” together in college—-
Well, folks, there’s your post for today —- hope it’s okay. You’ll probably be hearing from me again!
[letterstohome copyright 2008]