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 10 November 1943 at 3:30 a.m.]

Nov. 4 – 43.

Dear Ralph –

Say, your last letter was swell, I actually could read it without having eyestrain for the next halve hour.  Yes you noticed right, my rating finally came through and I’m now a carpenter’s mate third class.  This has nothing to do with the type of work I do, it’s just that there were no Storekeeper ratings open I guess.  I don’t mind what I’m called, I’m interested in the $15 per month raise.  Well here we are back in Australia, got back yesterday after a swell cruise of nearly a week.  Nice to be back, and boy, how they do eat down here.  I’ll be fat as a pig in a few weeks.  I put in for a five day leave so am planning on seeing Sydney while I’m over here.  Don’t know how long we’ll be here or where to next.  Came down on a C-1, nice job too.  We’ve had to buy mostly all our smokes, so I don’t know where the Red Cross ones are going.  Maybe to the Army.  Will try to send you a picture soon.  The censors don’t seem to approve of much.  Well, so long for now.

Write again –
Bud.