TRANSCRIPT
DATED 4-23-44
Dear mom,
I recd. your letter and was very glad to hear from you. I guess I’ll get the mail you sent since I’ve been here some of these days real soon. I hope so anyway.
I’m still feeling super (as usual) and still here somewhere in northern Ireland.
Just in case you didn’t get the letters saying I got my pen & watch & money order I’ll tell you I did again.
Guess it is spring time at home now isn’t it. Is pop going to farm anymore.
I guess you got another bond from me this month didn’t you? How many do I have now? Have you paid Aunt Virginia out of the checks yet?
I had half a day off today so I slept most of the morning & then went to church about eleven thirty.
Are any of the kids I used to run around with over here any where? I’d like to run into some of them some time. I may meet Buddy Schray later on.
Is C.K. going to be drafted or was he deferred again. I doubt if he’d like it much anyway.
It seems as if I’m going to have a very front seat in the greatest show in the world. (Exciting eh!)
Have you heard from Lee lately? What did you send her on her birthday and Easter Sunday. I wish she was here now.
I’m out of news again so will close for now. Be good & write soon & tell everyone hello for me.
Earl A. [*]
[*] 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.