7/4/53

Dear Ila,

Sitting around wondering this evening whether I’m in the doghouse or that the mail hasn’t come through. Haven’t heard from you in what seems quite a long time and couldn’t help thinking that I’ve probably don the usual and put my foot in my big yap again. I sincerely hope that I haven’t said anything off color that might lead to false conjecture on your part. I’m honestly interested in this correspondence and am thoroughly enjoying myself in writing to such a sweet girl. We’ve been getting in a lot of experimental ammunition lately; a new type of still casing. The Dept. of the Army, for some reason, selected the 45th Div., and with only 3 light battalions in the Div. and 2 to choose we were selected. We have to give a detailed history on each round including such data as the charge fired, how the casing loads and how it ejects. Haven’t fired any yet because it requires Divisional clearance, but we should be blasting it off “more sukosh.” Claim it is a whole new idea in casing and should work twice as good as the old brass casing. Have a bunch of Div Arty T.O.T.’s tonite, so the battery commander has delegated me a crew of one to stay up all night ad fire the blasted things. Nothing like putting in an 18 hour day for $4.50. You can bet I’m going to sneak off in the morning and get some sleep. They won’t see my handsome face around here very much tomorrow, believe me. Put together a big feed tonite, by scrounging from everybody in the exec. Post and adding a few cans of junk of my own. Had the works, including shrimp, sardines, hamburgers, dill pickles and chicken. Very tasty, about the only thing it lacked as a woman’s touch in putting it together. I’m afraid most of us weren’t cut out to cooks. Invariably end up with a greasy mess of tools and mess gears. Time is now quarter of five and a rather draggeldy evening this has been. The only firing we’ve done all night are the T.O.T.’s and not very often, so my “sense of urgency” on the job is rather highly taxed. Must beg off now,

Love Frank

P.S. Remember, I was the favorite corporal!

Love again, Frank