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 1 May 1944 at 10:30 p.m.]

April 24 – 44

Dear Ralph –

Here I am, down here in good old Australia yet but I can say that it won’t be long now.  We are putting on the final touches now before shoving off.  Although we’d like to be heading for home, I’m afraid we’ll just have to wait till later in the year.  So you’re on the last of the old mud scows and will soon start on Victories, huh?  Well I guess you’ve got your belly full of working on the others.  It seems that you see one everywhere you look (that is, on the water anyhow).  Over here, one that broke in half is being used as a machine shop, the forward half.  Wouldn’t Henry J. like to see that?  Hope you don’t wear out all your 10% longies, I might want to mooch a pair up there in the cold & fog.  For the next few months, I won’t be needing very many clothes.

So long for now –
Bud.