August 21, 1942

Camp Livingston, LA

Dear Mom,

It is nearly time for lights out, but will try to drop a line before then. I’ve had a full week and don’t mean perhaps. I don’t remember just when I wrote you last, but I will start with Monday and go through the week.

Monday I changed oil in the truck and kept working on it the rest of the day. That night we went out black out. I got a little sleep between 3 and 5 AM in the back of my truck.

We came back in about 2 PM and had the rest of the day off.

Wednesday I tightened body bolts, etc., and the drivers and assistants on the one and a half ton had to pull out at midnight to practice crossing pontoon bridges, so we went to the show and I, using my flashlight, wrote some letters while we were waiting to leave. We got in at 4:30 AM, went to bed at five and got up at six for reveille. There were Corp inspectors around so they wouldn’t let us stay in our hut Thursday.

I went up to the parking lot and found a team of Corp inspectors nearly ready to start on my truck. I worked pretty fast to check everything over; blow up tires, fill battery, radiators, etc., and I’ll be damned if they didn’t change their mind and inspect another truck.

Thursday afternoon we went out, taking the station equipment, at 1:30 PM and got back at 10:30 last night.

This morning I went on a 12 mile hike, and this afternoon I washed my truck. While I was washing it I found a shingle nail in my inside right rear tire so had to put my spare on and tear the other apart.

Tonight I got a haircut and have been fixing equipment, etc. for tomorrow’s inspection. I wouldn’t be too surprised to find my name on the guard roster tomorrow night and if I am, somebody is going to think hell has opened its gates wide open.

Well, I reckon this will have to do tonight.

Love to all Wayne.