May 13, 1944

Dear Folks:                                                May 13
            Having some rain and warm weather so our yard is looking nice. This afternoon we transplanted 2 wild rose bushes into the yard. That is, the bushes had thorns on them and green stems. We will have to wait to see if they are roses. They also have dandelions here.
            A good percent of English men look like the Yarrows and Fowles. Have blue eyes, ruddy complexion and many have light red or sandy colored hair. One of the men got a telegram the other day saying he was a papa. It was a girl and he wanted a boy but he was greatly relieved as he had been sweating it out for a time. Horridge and 2 more men were riding bikes in formation. Horridge was lead man and other 2 were wingmen but they couldn’t follow him and got tangled up. One lost some spokes and other lost a pedal. The other day we had class in the hangar and while waiting for the instructor some pilots got in a rat race on bikes in the hangar. Full speed in & out of planes, boxes, & props. No casualties. The mechanics were scared to death. I got outside where it was safe. I can ride my bike hands-off now.
            Will have communion in chapel tomorrow. Got a couple pictures from Marel Lee showing water in Wichita. I got mixed on the dates & thot Daddy’s birthday was 10th. Horridge just got 2 roll of film. Don’t need any more vitamins. They must put vitamins in our food because I only had the one cold since arriving.
                                                John

Please send me some cookies.

            Lt. J.D. McClurkin 0693061
            391 Bomb Gr. 574 Sq.
            APO 140 PM New York N.Y.