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 7 September 1944 at 12 p.m.]

August 24 – 44.

Dear Ralph –

Have a day off today so will answer your letter of the 14th that I got last night.  Still fairly busy over here but the work is tapering off.  Wouldn’t be surprised to find myself on the high seas again pretty soon.  So you’ve been asking about the Merchant Marine.  That appears to be a good deal!  Wish I could have made it.  The chances for work after the war sounds good too but what about Yard #2.  Do you think they will continue to operate after it’s over?  Don’t think I’d want to get back into that game anyhow, unless forced to.  Would like to open a business of some kind if the money is available.  I understand us vets will be eligible to make government loans at a low interest rate.  Say Ralph, do you have any news about conditions out at Camp Parks?  If so, pass them along, uh?  That might be our home after while.  Well, write again soon.  Best regards to you and your mother.

So long now –
Bud

Exhibit 4: Bowling for Soup.

On request, he produced his driver’s license. Embarassed: “Doesn’t really look like me.” “Sure it does,” she said, unhesitatingly.

[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 26 August 1944 at 4 a.m.]

August 14 – 44.

Dear Ralph –

Yes, the mail service is really lousy.  Your letter of July 27th just arrived today, which still isn’t good time for a V-mail.  I can’t understand it either as we have our own F.P.O. here now, and that should speed up the service somewhat.  So you were just about all washed up over there at the yards, huh?  I should think so, by the looks of all the many varieties of ships out this way.  There’s no end to ‘em!  Over here things are rolling merrily along, in fact we ought to be on the move again in a few weeks.  The job here is almost completed and I guess [CENSORED].  From there it’s a toss up as to whether [CENSORED].  Thanks for the tip on the Model A Ford Ralph, I think I’ll try to pick up a staff car from Uncle Sam if we have first priority.  That Port Chicago mess was terrible, wasn’t it?  Well, so long for now, write again.

As ever –
Bud.

One day we’ll look back at all this and laugh, they keep saying. But my good humor supply dried up well before my savings account.

Card is titled: “Tunnels on the Rim Drive, Colorado National Monument.”

Printed on back of post card:

One of the most impressive sights when passing thru the mammoth canyons filled with the many gigantic rock formations are the tunnels thru which you pass on the Rim Drive in Colorado National Monument near Grand Junction, Colorado.

Publishing information:

Published by Elmer C. Clark, 739 Marion St., Denver, Colo.  Natural Color Post Card, Made in U.S.A. by E.C. Kropp Co., Milwaukee, Wis. – LBY

[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 20 August 1944 at 7:30 p.m.]

July 30 – 44.

Hello Ralph –

Say, how did you know when my birthday rolled around?  I’ll admit I’m getting older right along and I have just passed one more milestone but I thought it was more or less a secret.  Anyway, your comic card arrived today and it’s certainly appreciated.  Considering when you mailed it, in June, you didn’t do bad because it only got here a little over a week late.  Got another card today and still have two packages coming.  By the way, did I tell you that I’ve joined the V.F.W.  I’m a member of Post 1010 in Emeryville, Tony’s old hang-out.  So they’re cutting down on the help at all the yards now huh?  I hope an old-timer like you don’t get the axe.  Are you a leader-man now?  I’m sure that by now you’ve heard from me a few times since we left Australia.  Our job here is over half finished so they say and of course we are all wondering what comes up next.  Naturally we all hope that we start heading over your way but of course it all depends.  You know MacArthur is boss down this way.  So long for now.  Best wishes to you and your mother.

Bud.

Exhibit 3: Talking Heads.