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 18 February 1944 at 9:30 p.m.]

Feb. 13 – 44.

Dear Ralph –

How is the welding situation?  Any chance of you being replaced by a woman?  A ninety pound fragile young thing for instance?  I’ll bet it’s rather nice working in the yards now with so many goo-looking girls around to take the eye.  Have you picked out one for yourself yet?  Even way over here I’m not doing so bad.  The gal who came up for her vacation has gone back home but in March I’ll be seeing her again because then I’m getting a seven days leave and intend to spend it in her home town.  Of course it’s pretty obvious what that means as to our chances of coming home in the near future.  I guess you got me wrong Ralph.  I just thought you might want to call Red or Dot up to say “hello.”  I don’t know their phone number (if they have one).  Scotty is married now and expects an addition to the family this summer.  He’s living in Richmond now too and still works for the creamery.  Quite a surprise, huh?  So long for now.

Write again soon.
Bud.

Just read in a social media proposal: “Each month we send our clients a weekly update.” I’m sure it made sense when they wrote it down.

Tyler Perry is so totally not funny, but his brother Rick certainly is.

[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 11 February 1944 at 2:30 p.m.]

Feb. 4 – 44.

Dear Ralph –

Thanks for your letter of all the gory details of the new set-up back there.  Boy, oh, Boy!  Even with all the good money I’m sorta glad I’m not still there.  Yes we had heard that there was no more of that “cost plus” business.  I guess it’s about time someone got wise to that old racket.  I guess the old place isn’t the same anymore.  Things over here are no different, still busy, but not for too long it seems.  We all got a seven days leave now and I’m taking mine the first part of March.  Going back where I spent my five day leave.  Expect to have a good time too.  We are breaking in our relief now so things ought to be happening for us before very long.  By the papers, it seems like this area is going to be quite a busy place in the future.  Don’t you kinda wish you were in on some of the fireworks?  Speaking of Admirals, one stopped me for not saluting him the other day.  Fine sailor I am, huh?  Too busy looking at the girls in town I was.  Well write again when you can.

So long now.
Bud.

washing machine / lounge chairs / canoe

Card is titled: “Ye Olde Rockingham Meeting House, Rockingham, VT. 23. Constructed 1787, Repaired 1907. 117330.”

Publishing information:

Published by C.W. Hughes & Co., Inc., Mechanicville, N.Y.  C.T. American Art Colored.

How very sad to have this great band break up, though it very nearly happened several years ago, at least once.

I’ve been revisiting some of the R.E.M. albums the last few days (my favorites: Lifes Rich Pageant, Automatic for the People, Around the Sun…yours would be different).

Here are most of my favorite songs from the R.E.M. catalog.

Yours will be different.

Approximate playing time: 66 minutes.

1. Why Not Smile  (1998)
2. Finest Worksong  (1987)
3. (Don’t Go Back to) Rockville  (1984)
4. I Am Superman  (1986)
5. Find the River  (1992)
6. Losing My Religion  (1991)
7. Laughing  (1983)
8. Try Not to Breathe  (1992)
9. The Outsiders  (2004)
10. Feeling Gravity’s Pull  (1985)
11. What’s the Frequency, Kenneth?  (1994)
12. Texarkana  (1991)
13. Aftermath  (2004)
14. Fall on Me  (1986)
15. Nightswimming  (1992)
16. Pretty Persuasion  (1984)
17. Moral Kiosk  (1983)

[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 February 1944 at 4:30 p.m.]

Jan. 27 – 44.

Dear Ralph –

Don’t worry about me not ever wanting to come home again.  The girls we meet over here are alright for company but they can’t compare with the good old American variety.  The Aussie girls get very tiresome after a while and what few American nurses we run into are all officers and therefore don’t associate with us plain enlisted men.  Sorry to hear about the new cut in gas rationing.  Can you save up your coupons for a month or so and then get enough gas for a short trip?  Perhaps some day you can phone Red & Dot if you can’t get up to see them.  So they’re still having accidents in the yards, are they?  I guess it’s bound to happen now and then.  You better watch your step, my friend!  I understand you’re having some real winter weather over there now.  Snow in Livermore & Orinda!  Brr.  I’ll take our warm weather, if you don’t mind.  Going swimming up in the mountains next Sunday.  Have you seen Al Morrison lately?

So long for now.  Be good –
Bud.

Shake-A Pudd’n / Zotz / Der Wienerschnitzel

…for the 2011 Vienna International Film Festival. Don’t even try to figure it out.