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April 23rd 1944 Sunday 'Dearest mom'





Dearest Mom,
Just got back from camp Butner last night and received your letters-one dated the 10th and two the 18th with dad's letters in one of them. Gee it's good to get mail again after a week away, there were 9 here too from Leona.

No mom, you don't have to put on my serial No. (36826849) That's just army post regulation for my return address so that I can use "free" mail.

Mom I do wish Tec 5 meant Tec sergeant but I'll just show you how the ratings furn: (see image of page 1)

Tec. stands for technician and the No. for the grade.

Camp Butner was good experience for me because all we did was survey and didn't have to take time out for any details.

The artillery range at Butner is an old worn out Plantation land. Most of the old Tobacco plantations have been bought up and the buildings and log cabins left empty. It was very interesting to wander through those old cabins that slaves probably once lived in. It's hard to tell which cabins were used by slaves and which by 20th century white (and black) trash. I'm certainly glad for the upbringing I've had when I see how some of those poor southerners live.

Those photos of you really turned out nice mom. The only trouble is I get homesick looking at them. They are getting pretty strict on what we can keep to take overseas with us so I may have to send all pictures larger than a snap shot home to Leona for safe keeping. I don't want to but maybe it's the best policy.

Poor Mip is getting the tough breaks now isn't she. Well maybe if she's in North Carolina long we can get together again. She should be able to get home as soon as she's assigned a definite unit though.

The garden ideas sound very appealing mom & I wish I could get my hands into something like that for awhile. I don't know about rabbits though. They may be good eating but I'd hate to be the one to kill them. I don't mind hunting wild cotton tails with a gun, but tame rabbits are too much like pets.

I'll close this letter to the family now and just add a note to Ken on the last sheet. I love you all very dearly. Write me soon.
All the love in the world,
Lu

Ken,
What's this I hear about you getting into the hands of the law? Hmm, sounds bad!

Well but I don't blame you for wanting to learn to drive. I learned a lot younger than you, but right now there are a lot of disadvantages to driving. First, it costs much more to keep up a car than to ride the bus. 2nd there's plenty of chance for accidents and 3rd, it's pretty tough to get gas and unessential driving isn't patriotic right now. I'll tell you what-you work hard these summers and save what you can and by the time this war is over Dad and I will see that you get a car of your own-what do you think of that?  I don't get to drive these days either so we're both in the same boat.

Keep the old show going and write me once in a while
Your Old brother
Lu

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