Spitball Army

[V-mail addressed to Ralph N., Richmond, California.  Return addressed to E.R.G., C.M. 3/C, 55th Battalion, Company D, Platoon 4, c/o FPO San Francisco, California. Envelope postmarked 23 August 1943 at 11:30 p.m.]

August 12, ‘43

Dear Ralph –

Your letter of July 30th arrived tonight and I was sorry to read about your Model A getting banged up.  Say, I’m surprised that that old jalopy is still running.  By the way, aren’t you about due to blossom out with a new car?  I can hardly wait to get back so I can get a halfway decent car again.  Boy will that feel good after having to spend so many years afoot.  Remember our conversations about the Seabees before I left Calif?  None of it turned out as we had figured, it’s strictly a military construction outfit with very little chance to pick up future valuable knowledge.  Also the way you learn to do things in the Navy is entirely different than the way you would attempt to do it in civilian life.  Therefore, time spent in any of the branches of service (in wartime) is more or less wasted as far as future usefulness is concerned.  Something to remember in case your number comes up.  Personally I’d say, stay there as long as possible.  I’m still in perfect health and hope this finds both of you the same.  Tell your mother “hello.”

So long for now
Bud.