May ?-6, 1944

Dear Folks:
            Well, we got our lawn sodded. We found sod near a little creek here. Used an axe to mark in squares and dug it up with a shovel. Got a jeep and trailer to haul it to the orderly room and then loaded it into wheel barrows for last lap. We thot we had enough the first trip but had to go after more. Then we had too much so enlarged the yard a “bit” (“bit” is an English expression meaning anywhere from a few feet up to 20 miles). Now we don’t have enough grass so don’t know how it will come out. Like bread and syrup. They are reducing the coke for summer so we are going to be forced to cut more wood. Oh, my achin’ back! Life is rough in the E.T.O.
            Heard the first thunder here. We don’t miss it, though, because we have an authentic imitation of it. The last letter I have is Apr. 24. The vitamins and candy came May 2. Thanks. The sergeants I wrote of were gunners on the crew. A buck sergeant is next grade above a corporal and staff sergeant is next above buck sergeant. The tall man is Lt. Horridge. The 2 men without hats are the sergeants on our crew. One sergeant (tail gunner) is missing, came on the boat. The other Lt. was our “borrowed” navigator. Yes we still have chicken on Sundays. Hope your combine came in. You’ll have to tell the Sunday school class how to operate it. Yes, there are lots of flowers in bloom here, even some lilacs. Country now is really beautiful to ride thru. Is the electric Fence in working order yet? I’m not going to get a picture in London. It’s highway robbery and I’ve seen some pictures which were very poor.
            If you get 2 more film it will be enough for awhile. I’d rather have pictures taken there. Horridge is getting his wife to send some film for my camera. Got a letter from Marvel Lee saying she got the car stalled in some of that water. Where is Jr. Chestnut located?
            May 6. Our cross cut saw has been missing for sometime so have been cutting small stuff with an ax. Located the saw this afternoon so we have split wood again to-nite. Some captains that live in the hut we moved from wouldn’t help cut wood while we were there and now come over and sit by our fire. Grrrrr! Have a slow leak in my front tire but can’t find it. English products are certainly cheap quality. All for now.
                                    Yours truly,
                                                John

            Please send me some cookies.
                        Lt. J.D. McClurkin
                        391 Bomb Gr. 575 Sq.
                        A.P.O. 140 New York N.Y.