January 14, 1944

                                                            Jan. 14
Dear Folks:
            Well, we are out of U.S.A. — South America for a [censored] location It is strictly tropical here. Have been taking atabrine (quinine sub.) since leaving U.S. We don’t wait for symptoms of malaria to show up but take the atabrine every day. The barracks are open all around and screened. The humidity is pretty high and we are back to summer kakis. We can get about any of necessities in the P.X. They have no hot water for showers but water is about 60°.
            They all drive on the wrong side of the street! We were first acquainted with the fact when riding in a truck. We were going around a sharp curve when –zoom– another truck comes at us and passes on our right side. They say the fishing is a sporting proposition here — [censored]. Half the time you get the fish into the boat and take him home and eat him. The rest of the time the fish gets you into the water & eats you.
            Navigation was made simple by a colonel this afternoon. He was using a map showing one half land & other half water. He said you couldn’t miss because the ocean was so big you couldn’t help but see it and the continent was so big you couldn’t miss it!
            Pass this on to Marvel Lee. We probably won’t be here long. Suppose Arlan is located and becoming G. I.
                                    Yours truly,
                                                John