April 25, 1943.
Dear Mother, Dad, + Grandma
That you very much for the Easter candy. I do like Birchard's Peanut taffy very much -- and the candy loaf wasn’t too unwelcome either. However, as I told you in my last letter, if you keep on feeding me this way I'll soon be fat again.
I haven't received any mail from you, since Wednesday. It's probably because I'm using the wrong address. Using the field artillery school address, mail comes over to the main post and then comes to our office via Message Center. If you address my mail as above to O.C.S., I think I'll get it about a day sooner.
I had a birthday card from the Steins. Thank them for me, will you?
My alarm didn’t go off early enough this morning -- so that by the time I got over to the chapel there was no more room. I had to come back to my room and get my Easter service on the radio. I heard a very fine service from a Presbyterian church in Ft. Worth, Texas.
It's a beautiful day -- and very warm with a mild breeze blowing from the south. Shay and I are at this moment engaging in sun bathing between two of the officers barracks. I shall have to be careful not to stay out too long or I'll acquire a sunburn instead of a tan.
Wells was over last evening. He's very much embarassed because the box of candy you sent him was not opened until just yesterday. He thought it was from his Grandmother -- and because he had another box open he stored yours away. Now he's very much embarassed because he didn’t thank you promptly. He has 2 1/2 more weeks to go
The past week slipped by without anything particularly eventful happening. I taught almost a full schedule. This coming week I have it a bit easier, But I would much rather teach each period, than just sit around with nothing to do.
Yesterday afternoon we instructors had a service practice. I'm amazed at how much I have already forgotten about shooting and adjusting fire.
Thursday afternoon I took a group of O.C.S students out to the small arms range. Since some of the older instructors were also along I didn’t have to conduct firing -- so I had a grand time doing some shooting on my own. The range is riddled with prarie dog holes. So I kept watch and bagged two of them. They are very wary + fast -- so its no mean trick.
Th boys on the anti-aircraft machine gun range get a shot at wild life once in a while too. They let go at hawks everytime they get in range. But the hawks are smart. They know the safety limits of the range and stay out of the zone of fire.
Tonight I think I shall go to a movie - either here or in town. It depends upon where the best movie is playing.
I haven't seen Dorothy Griffith or Anne Bucher I think I'll take your advice & not call on Anne Bucher until after June.
Ask Mrs. Brownell about Roscoe. I haven't seen him since I returned here, and I suppose by now he has been shipped out.
I guess that's about all for today --Love,
John