July 31, 1943

Dear Mammy, Pappy, Mat, Mary and Oliver,
  
   Received letters from Mom and Mat today with the pictures. The boys got a great kick out of those pictures, especially the one where I am smelling the rose.
  Here is is Saturday night and all the boys are brooding over the tests we had today. Boy- they were honeys.
   The fourth battalion left yesterday and now my battalion is the senior- senior present. Another four weeks and I will be out of this place. It's pretty certain that our group will go west since the last stayed in the east. Now all the boys are praying that we get a leave. The most we will get is four days but that is better than nothing.
 In another three weeks they are supposed to issue another uniform. They will be the winter green. Maybe you might have seen some officers wearing them last winter. It's not like the C.C.C. uniforms Gallagher had, but more like the Marine Corps. Real sharp stuff.
  It seems I get less sleep every night. Anyone that tells you that sleeping hours of the serviceman is good for you is a little touched in the head. Nothing like sleep.
   How's Mary making out at the bank? Still taking guff from "Flash". I owe so many letters to those in the bank that it isn't even funny.
  I don't want to write too long because the boys are waiting for me.
  I will bed you "Good-night"
                                                     Your loving son, brother and nephew,
                                                                                                     Jim