TRANSCRIPT
V-MAIL DATED 4-19-44
Dearest Folks,
Just a few lines tonight to let you know I’m fine and I hope every one at home is allright.
I’m still in Ireland somewhere.
Have you ever received those darn pictures I sent from N.Y. to you. I sure hope you get them allright. They should be there by now if they are coming. The last time I heard from you was the letter you wrote March 30th so they are probably there.
I want you to send me the Oldham Era every week if you can. It has lots of news in it that I’d like to see.
I got a letter from Mary & Judith Ann today & Mary said Judy got her box of Easter Candy allright. I’d like to see her now.
I haven’t hear from Lee yet. I wish I’d get a letter from her soon.
I’m going to sleep early tonight and be a good boy for once.
Love
Earl E. [*]
[*] Beginning in his letter to his mother from 4-18-44, Earl alters his middle initial (actually “D.”) at the end of his letters to various other initials. This is because Earl is attempting to use his middle initial to gradually spell out where he is stationed so that his family knows where he is – something that would usually be censored in such letters. This is the same method that Earl talks about in his letter to his mother on 3-28-44. Earl eventually spells out “Belfast,” as in Belfast, Northern Ireland.