Miami Beach Fla.
Nov 24, 1942.

Dearest Ruth:

Thanks a lot for your letter. It was really a thrill to hear from home. You should see us boys go wild when we have mail call. We have one every evening before chow, like they call it in the Army.

Last Sunday we went for a 50 mile boat ride sight seeing in the largest glass bottom boat in the world. I can’t begin to tell you all we saw but it was a lot of fun. It took 2½ hours for the trip. There were around 200 of us along, we saw Al Capone’s home that was really beautiful. It lays on a little island be itself. Lots of us had cameras along but we were not allowed to use them. I wish we could of (sic). There were many things I would like to get picture of.

I met one of my old friends from Minn. shortly after getting down here. We have lots of fun together discussing the times we had together up there, we are also on guard duty together. We have every night this week from 10 p.m. till 2 a.m.

I wish you could be here and see the place at night. It looks just like some of the pictures you see with a full moon shining over the beach. I have moved to a different hotel now. It’s closer to the drill field. Today we had a real rain shower while we were out there. Everyone got soaked and mud clear to the knees. Still we had to keep on till noon. Good thing it’s nice weather here. I suppose that’s why so many are here for training. I talk to boys from all over the U.S.

You were asking what kind of school it was here. There are several of them. The Government has taken over the whole beach for soldiers. There are very few tourists left here and they are to be out of here by the 1st of the month. The school I go to is a gunnery school. Have 4 hours training on the field in the morning and 3 hours schooling in the afternoon.

I think we walk 20 miles every day and you know how well I like walking, but the only thing is to like it. I really like the afternoon, though we sometimes lay on our stomach for an hour at a time shooting at targets out in the ocean. They are all the way from 200 to 1600 yards away from us. When I get home again I ought to be a pretty good shot. These rifles get plenty heavy handling. They weigh 9½ lbs. Next week it will be machine gun practice. Them are the ones that really mow the targets down.

After next week I am due for shipping orders. You can still send mail here. If I am gone when it gets here they send it on to the next Post. When you write again would you please send Ma Parson’s street number. I am going to send out some Xmas cards. We are supposed to have our Xmas mail sent before Dec 5 if it’s to get home in time.

I haven’t got much more time to write tonight. It’s just an hour till I go on duty. I’m going across the street to get a lunch first. Meals are high here. A person can’t get a lunch for less than 45¢ and dinners are from 1.50 and up. And still it’s mostly fancy dishes and nothing to eat.

The Army food is really good here. I have gained 9 pounds since I got here. We all eat like pigs, they say. Thanks a lot for looking after the Folks. I guess they are rather lonesome. Had a letter from home today. Had some pictures taken last Sunday. They will be ready in a few days. I must close for tonight. I will write again before leaving here. Tell them all Hello! from me.

Love,
Thorgel

address.

T. K.
U. S. Army.
1145th T. S. S. — TS 1226
Miami Beach Fla.

< See the envelope image with the return address for the full name of the training location. And notice the little airplane image in the lower left with the slogan: “KEEP ‘EM FLYING” >