25/4/53

Hi Doll,

Got your lovely letter this evening which boosted my morale considerably after a rather miserable day. Was up all last evening figuring out data for a turkey shoot, so I spent a little time in the sack only to get up and find the battery commander pulling a bunch of baloney on me. I’m afraid I don’t get along with him too well and vice versa. After just making me Sgt. I can’t see why he’s trying to give me such a hard time. Heck, no I’m not mad at you for being a little slow in writing. I’m just glad you want to keep on. They’d tried to put me on the hook yesterday afternoon but I was too smart for ‘em, thank heavens. Had to call out 4 guns in the battery because all the boys had gone to a character guidance class at Hdqts. It requires at least 3 men to fire the gun and with only 6 in the firing battery I naturally had no choice but to call the guns out. So last night the big brass cornered me and wanted to know with what authority I’d called ‘em out. After I patiently explained to them the reason for my actions they just let it go and forget it. But that didn’t please the battery commander and he had to stop me in the mess hall and try to make a fool of me in front of everybody. I’m afraid my temper got the best of me though and by the time I finished sounding off he was squirming, much to the enjoyment of the boys. Harold Schoch is on the way home and left here about 10 days ago. From today he should be home in probably about 20 days. And as far as I could find out he just has to get home and will be discharged immediately. I’m glad we see eye to eye on this correspondence business and thanks for the “swell guy” compliment. As far as I’m concerned you’re a sweet young lady and I’m thoroughly enjoying myself in writing. As far as I can find from the grapevine the division Infantry is supposed to be moving off line in a very short time but I don’t think we’ll move. Artillery can be used anytime regardless of who’s in front of us. I’m sure the steel tastes just as good to Joe whether Americans or Koreans are on line. Weather has been beautiful lately. Temps up to 70° and the skies beautiful and yellow. Course the yellow is dust but I love to grind my teeth on it. Almost as good as Army chow. In fact the dark yellow is better. It comes from the productive valleys where the gooks raise rocks and dirt. Heck no, I don’t have any girl friends at least not really speaking. I’ve got 2 more years of college before I start fooling around. Sure, there are a few I go around with once in awhile, but nothing interesting to write about. I gotta sneak off. Love, Frank