May 18, 1944

(Letter from Vic to brother Rudy and wife Ann, written from the South Pacific to Passaic, New Jersey. Photo is of the 'new' burial grounds at Bougainville, 1944)

Thursday,

Sorry about the delay in answering. However, I expected the additional letter or letters you promised to write me to supplement your last reply which was rather brief.

I find it impossible to answer your inquiries concerning or whereabouts, operations, etc., and even to reply to the comments you stated I'd mentioned. Earlier this month I mailed a letter to you on a Friday and had the same returned the following Wednesday! In all that time it had never left the battery 'cause our local censorship officer refused to pass it.

In the contents of that letter was only some vague references to some of your questions that would pass any other censor. Once I wrote of reading various novels, etc. and the titles of those books were clipped out so you can judge for yourself as to our screwy set-up.

Will you please pass on my thanks to Ed, Rose, and Sit for the film and candy they recently sent me? I mailed them a brief card at the time, but , as it travels via regular mail, it may not have reached them yet.

Have you received or seen all of the pictures I sent you and, Ed and Paul? Did you forward same on home?

When next you write me will you please enclose a few sheets of stationery such as this material and several air mail envelopes with wax paper protecting the sealing gum edges? Paper is virtually unobtainable over here and air mail envelopes aren't very readily available.

Are you getting a vacation this summer? If so, where do you plan to spend it? Have you been up to Nature Friends recently?

Say, Ruts, haven't you been re-classified? Read where most married men and many fathers will be inducted regardless of present status shortly.

Sid Goldberg just wrote (V-mailer again!) and mentions having been home on furlough. Boy! I could sure go for one of those fabulous things, and in the States on top of it!

What has Dick Loss to tell of the situation over the other way from what he's seen? Is Nick still maneuvering in the States?

Jack Valentine and Bob Mueckler have some yarns to spin from over New Guinea way. They can get away with most anything in their correspondence, including beefs about their officers, set-up, etc. Not quite the story with us - amen! Write soon.

Best regards,
Vic