October 8, 1942
Leesville, LA

Dear Sis,

I got your letter last night, but I had to answer one I got from Mr. Lawrence Ward a couple of days ago, so will answer yours now.

The next problem starts tonight, and as one of the ambulance drivers slipped off the running board and cracked a rib, I suppose I’ll have some more blackout driving to do, taking his place.

I suppose you heard about my tipping my truck over from the folks, so I won’t elaborate on it. We were just darn lucky to get out of it alive.

Well, here goes again. They just dismissed us from a meeting. They called, interrupting this. I may not have time to finish before dark and we can’t have lights so if I start scribbling, you’ll know why.

Jerry let me read the letter he wrote you and I laughed till tears came. He is my best friend here. I imagine you have heard me mention him. Some of those letters are from his sister in Rutland, Vermont.

Oh! There goes the whistle again. We have to load up and move out. I’ll finish in the morning.

Well it’s morning and we haven’t moved yet. I didn’t think they’d pull out last night, they’re always giving false alarms like that.

We had breakfast before daylight, then I had to move the ambulance under better cover so it got warmed up enough to use the heater.

Don’t think it doesn’t get cold here, it does. I always sleep in an ambulance and use two blankets, doubled, to cover myself even with my clothes on. The air here is damp and penetrates more than it does at home.

I’m glad you like school and the people you stay with, it makes it a lot easier, when you’re away from home. I imagine it’s a little easier for you than it was for me, because here it’s “hurrah for me and to hell with everybody else”.

There is a possibility of furlough after maneuvers. Sure hope so, maybe I could meet a few of your friends, don’t you know.

I haven’t heard from RR since we left Livingston, three weeks ago. I haven’t heard from Joe since I was home. Peg writes about every two weeks and Alice has cut down to about once a week.

Ruth Ward asked me to write to Larry if I could. She gave me his address, so I suppose I should do it. She said she didn’t know where he was and hadn’t heard from him for two weeks.

I got into a little card game the other night and made myself about $25. I think I’ll send $100 or so home next payday. I kinda hate to carry too big a role in this part of the country. I usually loan it out so I won’t have to take a chance on getting a knife stuck in my back. I have $81 loaned out now and I’m carrying over $50, besides what I’ve spent so far this month.

I don’t spend as much as I used to. I haven’t been drinking since Jerry and I started running around together. He doesn’t drink anything but water or milk (not even Coca-Cola, he doesn’t like it). He doesn’t use tobacco and his strongest word is ‘damn’. We argue all the while, all in fun. You have to think plenty fast to keep up with him.

Well, I reckon this is enough for now. Write and tell me what you do, etc.

Your brother,

Wayne