September 29, 1943

Desert Training Center, California

Sept. 29, 1943

Darling Mark,

         Hello Sweetheart ! !

I got your letter last night – but was too tired to answer. We’re back at camp now & maneuvers have been called off. We started back Sat. morning & got back last nite. We’re going to be out of here by Nov. 1 & from the looks of things we’re headed for Camp Polk, La. This place is hell, but that camp is worse. Our Div. is getting reorganized & a lot of the outfits are getting split up. I don’t think the 89^th will be in the 9^th after this. It’s hard telling where we’ll end up but I care less. I’m going to try the Paratroops anyway.

         Coming back our half-track had motor-trouble & we had to lay over 2 days & get a new motor. We were the last vehicle in.

         Honey I’m going to have to cut this short. I’ve got so much straightening out to do. When things get back to normal again – I’ll try & write a long letter.  Bye now.

         Write Soon.

All My Love                 Johnny

X       X       X

July 26. 1943

Desert Training Center, California

July 26, 1943

Mon.   7:00 P.M.

Darling Mark –

         Hello Sweetheart!!!

Got your card today – first mail from you since last Wed. You can do better than that honey.

         We just finished another inspection. We had one Sat. this afternoon & again tonite. We had to mark our equipment & clothing again.

         We had a retreat formation tonite too.

         Last Thurs. we traded our Scout cars for half-tracks. We didn’t get back till Fri. nite & some didn’t get back till Sat. nite. They were sure in a mell of a hess. We had a lot of fun coming back. 9 of us from ‘C’ co. were alone together – so we had a race. I could only get 45 M.P.H. out of mine & then I thought it was going to fall apart. There were 25 in the convoy coming back & only 17 made it all the way back here.

Halftrack

         Mercy has it been hot here. 148° Fri. 150° Sat & Sun & 150° today. I can take 135° & 140° but when it goes past that – I wilt.

         Honey I wish you could write oftener. I miss you so much & when I don’t get a letter honey – well I don’t feel too good.

         So how about a nice long letter huh.

         It’s getting dark now – so I think I’ll take in a show. Goodnite now.  Write Soon.                                          X O X

X O X         All My Love                 Johnny

July 21, 1943

Desert Training Center, California

July 21, 1943

Wed.    8:00 P.M.

Darling Mark,

         Hello Sweetheart!!!

No letter today – but I’d better write a short one.

         I’ve just finished shaving & a shower & washing my fatigues. The co. went on an overnite hike – 6 miles. I got out of it. We’re trading our Scout cars for half-tracks. This desert is too rough for the Scout cars. We have to get up at 4:30 tomorrow morning & be ready to leave at 5:30. We have to drive 150 miles to another camp – I forgot the name of it. They figure on 14 hours of driving & we haven’t any assistant relief driver. We’ll probably start back Fri. morning & get back in camp late Fri. nite, so you see honey – I probably won’t have a chance to write again till Sat.

         This morning we had gas-drill & vehicle decontamination & map-reading & navigation. This afternoon we had maintenance & got the Scout cars ready to roll for tomorrow morning.

         I was planning on going to L.A. this week-end but got restricted – over just some trivial thing. This Army is driving me bats.

         Well honey I’d better close & get some rest. It’s getting dark anyway.

         Bye now.   Write soon.

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                 All My Love                 Johnny     XOX

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