Mar 13, 1942
Camp Livingston, LA

Dear Mom,
I received your letter today. I also got a long (also long overdue) letter from Ruth this morning.
Poured part of my green ink into a nearly empty bottle of blue just to see what the result would be. Seems to have just made the green a little pale.
My name was one of several called to apply for Officers Candidate School. Everyone with an IQ of 110 or over was eligible. I signed up and have to attend special night classes, once a week, I imagine.
Out of the number going to these classes, about six men, will be sent to Carlisle Pa, for training for officers. M.A.C. (Medical Administrative Corp). I don’t imagine I stand much chance with so many going to classes, but it won’t hurt anything to try.
Thanks for sending the stamps and clippings. How did they ever get those three items close enough together to get them in one clipping? They must be slipping.
I have felt better today than I have in quite a while, though rather tired. I’m still stuffed up a little but I think that will clear up. I reported to sick call last Friday and they packed my nose with cotton soaked in cocaine and angoral (misspelled, but you might know what I mean, weak sort of Silver Nitrate), and gave me some expectorant (tablets to loosen phlegm, etc.). This treatment helped a lot, should have gone days ago.
Tuesday I was on K. P. along with “Chuck“, Roy and three more who don’t like work. We had a good time and almost drove Sgt. Kearne and the cooks mad even though the work got done.
Yesterday, I thought I might to go to glasses for a change. We had about four hours of litter drill, a carry of a 180 lb. man for 800 yards, stopping but twice. They picked as rough and muddy a place as there is around here. It got to be darn hard work about the fourth time and I was too “tired out“ to go to afternoon classes. “Had a lot of work to do to the truck”, but didn’t do much.
I went out with the company on a road march this morning to keep us trim but when they mentioned “little drill” again I was the little man who wasn’t there.
I really worked on the truck this afternoon, cleaning spark plugs engine and body wiped excess oil and grease off under sides transmission, differential, etc. so I am a little tired, not being used to such a thing as exercise.
I am on guard tomorrow night so I already know what I’ll do for a couple days, tomorrow nothing (if I can help it) and Saturday – guard.
I won’t need any extra money as you probably know from my last letter but thanks anyhow. I haven’t much left but I won’t need much. It’s the first week that we spend money, getting the months supplies laid in and paying debts of the previous month.
I’ve stopped smoking cigarettes and am again using pipes entirely now. I have quite a collection, including one about 16 inches long.
Tell Wanda I’m sorry not to have answered her letter but just haven’t gotten To it yet.
I guess it’s time to close for I can’t think of anything else to write.
Love to all, Wayne