January 30, 1944

                                                            Jan. 30
Dear Folks:
            I sent Marvel Lee a letter from here and you may have it by now but I’m still in west Africa. Three of us of our crew went to chapel this morning. The chaplain is a captain. For music there was a melodian.
            There is a steady wind from one direction and the temperature runs from 65° to 80°. We went to the beach yesterday. Took a dip in the ocean and hunted for sea shells along the beach. The sand is white and water was pretty cool.
            Went thru a native town on the way to the beach. Living conditions are pretty primitive. Many natives (negroes) wear long kimonos that are sleeveless and split up the sides to knee height. They all wear necklaces, bracelets and arm bands with charms on them called “giddy-giddy”. Quote: “Giddy-giddy good. Get knife in belly, no die. Go to boom-boom (war), no die. Go way out on water, no die if have giddy-giddy. White man good. American, plenty good.” Unquote. They are all very superstitious (spl?).
            The food is G. I. but good. Guess thats all now.
                                    Yours truly,
                                                John
The note is worth 10¢
Notice where is was made.