CAMP CROWDER MISSOURI

Jan 11, 1943.

Dearest Ruth,

I received your letter over a week ago, but have been out of camp for 7 days. A week ago yesterday I tried to call you from Joplin but Central said it would take 3 hours and I did not have time to wait. So, we went to Tulsa, Oklahoma.

We have been working on the line between there and here since. We slept in tents and caves every night until Saturday and when we got back here, what do you suppose the first thing I saw on the bulletin was K. P. for Sunday, the first time since I have been in the Army.

I can see by your letter that the boys at home had a good time New Years. That day was the same as any other day here. 32 of us in my Company were on 24 hour guard duty from 5 p.m. until 5 p.m. the following afternoon. I was really thinking of home that night when walking out there in the dark for four hours at a time.

When we come off duty we get all the coffee and sandwiches we can eat and sometimes a few beers if we have a good Officer of the Day or one that forget to look under the bed where the case is hidden.

Had a letter from B. Decker today, he is really sick of the place where he is, but in 3 more weeks will become Staff Sergeant so he is doing alright for himself.

12 including myself in A. C. W. were busted 2 weeks ago, the lowest with a 92 grade, and put on filed line and switchboard for what reason we don’t know yet today. But the Army will do some funny things. We were to ship out the middle of Jan. but now it will be 2 more months. But by the way some boys write us from other camps, Crowder is not bad, only for its location.

We are having some wonderful weather here so it’s nice working outside except for climbing them 40 ft poles to couple our wires. We dig them spurs in the post as deep as they can go. Sometimes one comes sliding down full speed, that makes a good laugh for the rest. I have had some good spills myself so it is fun to see the others do the same.

Well I think this will be all for now. Tell them all Hello!

Love,
Thorgel