Dear Mom, Dad, Sis and Jack the Commando,

Have a few minutes to myself and so am going to make the most of it, but haven’t  the slightest idea what is going to be in this. It is almost a week since I last wrote but it sure isn’t my fault folks…. Your mail is coming in real well now and I received the parcel with the toothbrush, mirror, etc. Thanks a million folks, it was sure a treat and those bars were a sweet meal after being so long without them. I also got the three hundred cigs and thousand you and Jack sent Mum, so have been really lucky. Guess I will smoke for a while at least.

Mum I want to apologize for not sending a cable and flowers for Mother’s Day. I had full intentions of doing that but…was in a position where it was impossible. I sure didn’t forget it and I hope it was a perfect day for a perfect Mother.

I sure envy Jack fishing so much. It would be swell to fish the old brooks and lakes again. I see plenty of water, but can’t fish. Jack is doing OK for himself. Evidently he is going to be quite the fisherman. Is Dad going out for a week or so this spring? I hope he goes it does him good to get out for a while…. He and Burton must be quite busy getting the place all fenced up. You said there wouldn’t be any odd jobs for me to do. Well Mum, you don’t know how much I wish I was there to do your painting, take down the storm windows, etc. Guess I used to think I was overworked back home, but I understand now; it is live and learn, I guess. I took too much for granted, but now realize what a lucky fellow I am and hope that before long I can be home and try and catch up on some of the things I owe you folks. My biggest problem now is what I will do after this is all over. I want a job that will give me good security, but sometimes I wonder just what there will be for us.

I was surprised to hear that Red met Ron in a pub over here. I didn’t think he went “pub crawling” but maybe he changed since he came over here. The fellows say you can’t stand it in the army without drinking. I have proved different I think. I have yet to taste any of it and I guess I have passed the worst time. I’ve been in pubs just out of curiosity to see what they were like, but never found it was at all necessary to have any.…

It is nearly a year since I landed in this country and it seems to have gone awfully fast in a way. In the past year I have learned a lot in many ways and maybe will profit from some of it. Surely by this time next year I will have crossed the ocean again and things will be straightened away over here, but somehow I think it is going to take a bit longer than that. I hope I am wrong. All the best to the best folks a fellow ever had.

Lots of Love to All,

Bill