August 9, 1942
Camp Livingston, LA

Dear Mom,
I’m sorry I haven’t gotten around to write before, but when I did have time, it was so hot and uncomfortable that I just hated to start. It is cooling off some now, going to rain I guess, so I will try to write a few lines.
I got one of your letters friday and the other today. I got a letter from Alice friday, one from Peg yesterday and one from Ruth today. I have already answered the first two and started the third but interrupted it to write this while I can. I can finish the other later.
That picture of dad is a ‘dilly’. He looks as though he were wrapped in a blanket.
I’m glad to hear that you and the baby are getting along OK. Ruth said she asked who he looked like, and you told her his forehead was like mine. She says maybe it will look like me when he is older. God forbid!
Say, how come everyone is getting stung? Jay, Edward and Ruth said she got stung while berrying. I almost had a hemorrhage when I read about Edward, sure would like to have seen that.
Boy, you don’t need a sweater around here. I went swimming this afternoon and when I came back, I lay on my bed for a while. My comforter is soaked through to even my surprise. That was about 2 1/2 hours ago and it hasn’t dried yet.
“You ain’t just a woofing off” when you say that mowing away in pa’s barn would give anyone a pain, I know. I hope Jay’s back is better now. He’s having the damnedest luck this summer.
The baby’s name sounds all right to me, I never care what a name is anyhow, as long as I can pronounce and spell it. I think you did right by using David as the middle name, Berwin would be hard to shorten, though there are a lot of nicknames like Shorty, etc. he’ll just be another ‘Smithy’.
If I didn’t read my name on letters etc. I’m afraid I’d forget it. I so seldom hear it now that there’s only one Smith in the outfit. In fact, most of the fellows don’t know my first name. Say, tell Jay that if Basil gets a pretty good revolver or automatic, any caliber, to get it for me and I’ll pay him for it. Any price just so it’s worth it.
Our First Sergeant is a very nice fellow and I get along good with him. He will go out of his way anytime to help the fellows, and I don’t expect to get paid for it. He shows no partiality to noncom or anyone else and he don’t try to run the whole army like Chet did.
Well, it’s time to go to bed so will close.
Love to all,

Wayne
PS. I am on administrative duty with my truck all this next week so expect to keep busy. WS.