February 3, 1944

(Letter from Vic to younger brother Paul, from the Bougainville, Solomon Islands to Berkeley, CA. Photo shows U.S. soldiers working at an artillery gun emplacement on the island.)

Dear Paul,

Though I'd enclose a few lines with this money order. Aside from the weather and latest war developments I can't find much material to write about. A fairly steady downpour has been falling for the past twenty hours and plenty of rain fell in the previous forty-eight hours.

To-morrow the sun willbe shining early and before long it'll be quite torrid again. During wet nites it's comfortably cool and normally so from about mid-nite to dawn. The fellow I share quarters with in our hole suggested we improve the canvass roof (shelter-halfs) about ten days or so ago so we mixed a waterproofing solution and applied same that did the trick. Now e have water flowing into the fox-hole thru the entrance step and under, thru, and round sandbagged upper wall. Quit a problem - this precipitation.

The new of Am. landing in the Marshalls is being received here with great enthusiasm. It sounds like a large-scale operation involving some damn big forces. Look forward to clearning the situation up in that area shortly although it won't be a picnic. You should realize by this time that the Nips will be doing their utmost to hold every point they now have in the Pacific. Future engagements will probably tend to become more contested and even bloodier.

Our increasing superiority in quality and quantity of arms will really be needed to neutralize the advantages of defense with the Japs.

I won't mail this letter until I get the actual money order. Made out a $20.00 blank for you and should have it tomorrow or shortly. I know you can readily use in financing yourself in your studies. Only had a months pay coming so I didn't have much on hand.

What hours are you working outside of studies now? Wasn't that rather tough in the shipyards without having to keep up with studies? What kind of job do you have around the campus and are wages favorable? Did the Vet's Administration kick thru as regards tuition. Why doesn't Wis.'s Rehab Bureau hlep? "Cause you're living out of state and going to college? Are you still getting compensation thru Wash.? Just why do you want to drop engineering in favor of some other degree? Were you ever interested in chemistry and what credits could you manage for that line? I think metalurgy would be a very interesting profession and even realized after the war. Do you have any interest in the subject? Is it a four-year subject? How many college credits do you have and for what subjects?

The picture you enclosed of Alvin Richow doesn't quite apply to us. Neither the cake nor gal presenting same are to be found here. Those Hawaiians look good but not so the native belles inhaviting these locale.

Everything is OK by me and thingshave improved. Please write frequently.

Your brother,
Vic