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 20 January 1944 at 12:30 a.m.]

Jan. 13 – 44.

Dear Ralph –

Got your V-mail today and as usual it was very nice hearing from you.  So you got the picture O.K. huh?  I mailed about 15 of them to the States before Xmas and you are the first one I’ve heard from that received them.  I’ve forgotten now whether I wore whites or blues for your picture.  Anyhow, we do our own laundering and it usually turns out much better than any Australian laundry service would, if one was available.  Although it’s a lot of work, it pays dividends with nice clean clothes.  Sorry about the “Gold Braid” my friend.  Guess I don’t know the right people.  Best I can do is the pigeon on a roost.  We wear our white most of the time now, due to the weather, and believe me, it keeps us busy washing.  Say, I’d like to hear more about the big slash in help where you work.  What caused it, too much loafing?  Naturally we were glad to hear about it (you know how the service men feel about conditions back there).  Give me more details in your next letter, huh?  So long for now Ralph.  Glad you liked the picture.

Write soon.
Bud.

In New Mexico, writers drink Negra Modelo. In Mississippi, writers wear seer sucker suits. In Montana, writers go fly fishing.

Card is titled: “D-24 Palo Verdes and Sahuaro in Bloom; Photo by Campbell Studios; Natural Color Reproduction from Kodachrome; 1B-H732.”

Printed on back of post card:

Central and southern Arizona is a riot of color during April, May and June. The Giant Cactus has waxy white flowers. Palo Verde trees present a mass of glistening yellow, while other thorny desert plants blossom forth in brilliant red, purple, lemon yellow, and orange.

Card is addressed to Mr. & Mrs. I.A. Johnson, Star Route B, Box 12a, Austin, Texas. Postmarked in Chandler, Ariz. in 1943.

Text of written message:

Dear folks,

I came down to see how our soldier is getting along. He looks beautiful – suntan and everything. By the way, did you receive my letter? Should have received about the time you wrote to me.

Let me hear from you. Will be here a few days.

Love – Inelle

Publishing information:

Distributed by Lollesgard Specialty Co., Tucson, Arizona.  Genuine Curteich-Chicago “C.T. Art-Colortone” Post Card (Reg. U.S. Pat. Off.).

I love films and movies almost as much as I love music. Today’s playlist, then, should come as no surprise to anyone who even only slightly knows me. The following 31 selections were taken from the soundtracks of as many films, and include music score excerpts as well as songs. Some will be familiar to you; others may not be.

To keep you on your toes, and hopefully encourage a little interaction, I’ve listed the movies alphabetically (which is not the order in which they are heard on the playlist) and, then, the release year of each film in playing order. Can you identify all of them? C’mon, give it a shot.

Approximate playing time: 80 minutes.

• American Beauty
• Atonement
• Breakfast at Tiffany’s
• Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
• Casablanca
• Doctor Zhivago
• Duck Soup
• Gigi
• The Godfather
• The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
• Hero
• The Hours
• It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
• Jarhead
• Juno
• Lilies of the Field
• Lolita
• The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
• O Brother, Where Art Thou?
• Ocean’s Twelve
• Once Upon a Time in the West
• Pee Wee’s Big Adventure
• Romeo & Juliet
• Singin’ in the Rain
• Sophie’s Choice
• The Sound of Music
• There Will Be Blood
• The Thin Red Line
• To Kill a Mockingbird
• The Tree of Life
• Vertigo

1. (1965)
2. (1969)
3. (1962)
4. (1968)
5. (2007)
6. (1961)
7. (1958)
8. (2007)
9. (2000)
10. (1986)
11. (1963)
12. (1952)
13. (1933)
14. (2000)
15. (2011)
16. (1965)
17. (1969)
18. (2005)
19. (2004)
20. (2007)
21. (2002)
22. (1999)
23. (2004)
24. (2003)
25. (1958)
26. (1982)
27. (1962)
28. (1966)
29. (1942)
30. (1972)
31. (1963)

[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 9 January 1944 at 12 p.m.]

Jan. 3 – 44.

Dear Ralph –

Well here it is a brand new year and it looks as though things are starting to go in our favor at last.  Two months more and we will have a year in overseas.  Time sure flies, don’t it?  Maybe our outfit will go home later on this year, if we’re lucky!  I think though, that we have more work to do yet up north somewhere.  Glad to hear you got a couple days rest over Xmas.  We just had off the 25th, but all of us had a very nice Xmas over here.  It’s midsummer now you know, and watermelons are in full swing.  Have you contacted Red & Dot Kuder yet?  Got a letter from them.  They are definitely in Calif., at home for a while anyhow.  On Xmas Day I had my picture taken with three American Army nurses, gold bars and all.  Very nice, my friend, even to hear them talk.  Right now my brunette is up from Sydney.  Having a nice time.  Don’t you wish you were here?  Write again soon.  So long for now.

Your friend
Bud

Bangkok rust / moss / cream in your coffee / Woodrow Wilson presidential white

Tom Wolfe’s pocket square / Mark Twain’s ice cream suit / Ernest Hemingway’s rifle

[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 December 1943 at 10:30 p.m.]

Dec. 15 – 43.

Dear Ralph –

Got your V-mail this noon so will answer now while I have the time.  What with having liberty every other night, washing clothes and a little reading to keep up on, it pays to stay caught up on your correspondence.  I see now why Harry don’t write you.  Can’t say as I blame him as you’re quite a radical!  Anti-this and anti-that.  I got a Xmas package a few days ago from Red & Dot.  Return address 6706  – Cotton Blvd., Oakland, – their home, so perhaps he was transferred to the West Coast.  You might give that number a try.  As you know, they have a daughter now.  We’re busy as the devil again, working on the base down here.  Don’t know a thing about our next move.  Am working with a Frank Harvey, an old hand at yard #2.  During the yard’s early days he was a big shot in the general whse, later in the material control force.  He knows Don Adams, Tony Lawrence, etc.  At last I can tell you.  In a few days I’ll send you that long awaited picture.  Hope you recognize the old tar.  Gotta close for now Ralph, so best wishes to you and your mother for the Xmas and New Year holidays.  Write again.

So long –
Bud.

Card is titled: “Aerial View of Austin, Texas – 41.”

Printed on back of post card:

Aerial View of Austin, The Capitol of Texas. One of the most beautiful cities in America.

Publishing information:

Distributed by Austin News Agency, Austin, Texas.  Natural Color Post Card Made in U.S.A. by E.C. Kropp Co., Milwaukee, Wis.-FBY.