August 30, 1944

(Letter from Vic in Bougainville to brother Paul in Berkeley, California. Photo is of entertainer Carole Landis in Bougainville, who performed at the USO show there in mid-August 1944.)

Wednesday evening,

Dear Paul,

Was surprised to receive a letter from Yuts on Monday that was postmarked in Racine. He certainly didn't waste any time getting home. Mentioned getting thirty days furlough! That's more than considerable when I learn that two-yr.-plus men that go home from over here (the lucky few) are only getting twenty-one days. I'm naturally referring to Army enlisted personnel.

Does Yuts know how fortunate he is? I sent him a prompt v-mailer on the spur of the moment the other nite and asked that he visit my friends. Find out if he got around much back in Racine. Incidentally, remind him to write immediately and give me the whole story when next you see him on the west coast. Noticed he has a new address so he must have been reassigned to another unit.

Had a brief line from Jake Valentine the other day and he mentioned that his name was finally drawn in the August quota to go back Stateside under rotation. Imagine the slap-happy character is almost blowin' his top! Execuse me, I know Jake better than that, but I don't think he'll especially regret leaving these jungles, but then too I can't imagine the ole Army red tape back there will please him either. Guess he's seen his share plus, and deserves any breaks they might possibly throw his way.

If you should see him in the bay area, I presume you gave him your address, show him a good time by all means but kinda take it easy. Quite a few of the lads who've been around here can't take too much at one time. There's any number of reasons for this as you must've heard. My guess is that Jake won't make the Frisco beach-head until Sep. or Oct. Have you heard from his recently?

Do you read Time, Newsweek and Yank regularly? Time is quite authentic in its report of these parts and a spring or early summer issue of Yank carried an interesting article on cannibalism in the Solomons. Have you noticed any interesting news items lately? Best you take most of them with a grain of salt.

The folks wrote to me from New Jersey and seem to be really enjoying themselves down there. However, at this time they must be well settled back home. Guess they had a vacation coming, eh? Do Ed and Rudy write you often? They haven't been too prompt at replying my letters of late. I imagine they're quite busy tho, and the summer heat down there doesn't instill any too much ambition in a person.

The war news from the European fronts is very encouraging and things seem to be coming along pretty good over here. Well, it's coming around to lights out so I'll sign off.

Vic

Paul, were you ever able to obtain copy of "Seranade" by Cain? None of your packages have arrived recently other than the air-mail envelopes.