February 20-24, 1944

                                                            Feb 20
Dear Folks:
            Well, finally got to our destination. The wind’s howling over our hut to-nite and we are sitting by a coal stove about the size of a 5 gallon can. We live in a “Nissen” hut which looks like an inverted half-cylinder. It is tight so even though we can’t heat it, it isn’t so bad. The coal is rationed to a small three shovels a day and it is coke at that and hard to start. We can only have a fire from 4:30 P.M. on until bedtime. We shave by putting a canteen cup of water on the stove to heat it. The officers mess is a nice long walk from the “Canary Cottage” (our hut) and it also contains the showers.
            The radio really comes in handy. We hear all the best American programs thru a re-broadcast over here. Some of the best music comes from German stations. If they only knew how they were lifting our morale! The current here is 230 v. so have the radio in series with a light bulb. The chow is good and served cafeteria style. We get the modern eggs instead of the old ones you have to crack (Bob Hope)
            Man, did I get a load of mail! Didn’t get the cake or cookies. Suppose they’re at Fort Knox. Was surprised to hear of Uncle Chris’ death. Got several birthday cards. Hope you are over your flu by now. Our sunshine days are over I guess since the sun rarely shines.
            While I think of it, could you send me some good vitamin pills? What we need is a sun lamp but the restrictions on over seas packages is 36 in. over all (total length, width and thickness) and 5 lbs. Send them along with some cookies, if possible, and show this paragraph to the mail clerk when you mail it. Wrap it strong. That sunshine got me over my flu in a hurry. Keep sending me the “Men in Service” column. The mail service from here should be good. My mail probably won’t leave England for 10 days for security reasons. Where were some of your guesses as to where I was going? Got my winter underwear on now. Airmail & V-mail get here about same, I believe. I like V-mail fine & if it isn’t more trouble keep sending it. Don’t send this to Marvel Lee & Arlan since I’m writing to them. The last letter I had is Feb. 7 — less than 2 weeks coming by airmail. The picture is of honey bears.
            Was just interrupted by an air raid which looks & sounds for all the world like a big line storm.
                                    Yours truly,
                                                John
Note the new APO #638

                        Note: A.P.O. 638                                    Feb. 24
Dear Marvel Lee:
            Got to our destination and surely did have a stack of mail. The last letter I got from you told about the rats getting the lost cake. We can have cookies sent but you have to show the post master our request and box cannot be larger than 36 inches overall (sum of length, width & height). I wrote the folks for some cookies so you needn’t bother.
            My radio is surely nice. The current here is 230v so we put the radio in series with a light bulb to get 110v. We get all the big programs from the States thru a re-broadcast. English stations also have good music. A large percent of music heard from the continent is classical — waltzes, and played by string orchestras. Some German stations put out the latest American music mixed in with propaganda.
            The land is gently rolling, about like Clay county and main crop here seems to be wheat. Most work is done by tractors, and horses are big draft horses with long hair below the knee. Haven’t see the cows yet. Could you buy a photography magazine at a newstand and see if you can send east for some 620 film? We can take lots of pictures over here. Keep this letter since I wrote both Arlan & the folks. V-mail is okay Don’t know whether V-mail or Airmail is fastest yet.
                                    Yours truly,
                                                John