January 5, 1943

                                    Jan 5.
Dear Folks:
            Cloudy and cool enough for gloves to-day. Have been playing volley ball in the afternoon with just a pair of trunks on so am getting a little sun tan. Won’t be out without a shirt this afternoon however! No one else in this barracks has the mumps yet and have about 2 weeks of quarantine to go yet.
            Most of Sq. 107, 106, & 108 got an open post to-day — except us! However, the weather being cloudy, cool, and rainy, we don’t mind much. Men in 1700 (this barracks) don’t have to do K.P. or Guard while under quarantine. The men classified as navigators & bombadiers (except in this barracks) left for a pre flight school this morning.
            Got paid yesterday – $127.57 Am sending $120 home. You might put $100 into bonds and use the rest.
            Got my hair cut by the “barber” here in 1700. He used only a pair of dull scissors and a comb but did a better job tha[n] the regular barber. In order to get stuff from PX I have to make a list, collect the money and get a runner from the orderly room to get it for us. Have collected as high as $25 in one day for things at the PX.
            Haven’t got any Dispatches for quite a while. The Russians seem to be doing all right yet. Hear lots of good Spanish and Mexican music — and some not so good — over the radio.
                                    Yours truly,
                                                John

P.S. Just got a bundle of Dispatches & letters from Schimmels and Fred Yarrow Had a slow rain all day yesterday — Jan 6 Could you send me some more “Vimms” [vitamins] and a few of those green cold tablets. The dispenser gave me some pills that have the same effect as “Zerbst’s [Capsules].” Just got through listening to Presidents speech to 78 Congress.