Hey, PFC –got a “Devin-o-gram” from your folks yesterday; seems they’re going down to see you next week.  Great.   Don’t do anything to lose the time off now.

Sounds like you’re getting along pretty well; he says you’re headed for the 82nd Airborne.  That’s the guys who lead the charge and jump first, right?  Well, you’re joining a long line of real soldiers there. 

Hope you enjoyed the cartoon book we sent; it was the infantry “bible” in WWII (the BIg One).  Bill Mauldin traveled all over Italy and France and Germany  with the infantry and drew the cartoons as he went.   

All is quiet here; Spring has sprung and the grass has riz (wonder where the birdies is?)  and we’re getting the yard squared away.  Grammy is sporting around in her new car, and I’m putting around in my old junk as usual.  Got to get the electric scooter out of the garage and get it running pretty quick.  I’m a charter member of Hells Angels Senior Division, you know.  Motorcyclists pass me by and bust out laiughing.  That’s OK — it’s pretty hard to break my old bones traveling at  5 mph. 

Hope to see you when you get home; we’re saving our pennies for the trip South some time soon. 

Meantime, stay safe –and that’s an order !

Grampa   

Gee -you’re in the Army now !  And they didn’t have to draft you !     Hope you’re getting settled in and getting used to it; it’s sure a change from civilian life. 

    I told your mother she could write to the commanding general at Ft. Benning and let him know what time to wake you and what you like for breakfast, etc.  I’m sure he’s interested. 

     So you’re getting a few push-ups ?   Good — that’ll toughen you up for what’s ahead.  Wait till you get to airborne training.  Guess you’ll be packing your own chutes?  I wouldn’t trust anyone else !  I remember we had a parachute rigger in Newfoundland who had a drinking problem.  All the pilots repacked their own chutes every time they went up.  Not that they were any better at it, but at least if they failed it was their own fault.  It was customary for anyone who had to use a chute to bring a bottle of champagne to the rigger afterward. 

     Sounds like the folks are behind you all the way.   Great !  Your grandmother and I are too.  Grammy says she wants a picture of you in your dress uniform; she always was a pushover for men in uniform (like me!). 

      We got your letter(s); Grammy sniffles a bit over them, but she’ll get used to them.  I suspect Mud does too. 

     So — write when you get time, and we’ll answer every chance we get.  And here’s a parting shot from WWI (days of iron ships and wooden men). Courtesy of Irving Berlin:

Someday we’re going to murder the bugler

Someday you’re going to find him dead –

And we’ll amputate his reveille

And stamp upon it heavily

And spend the rest of our  lives in bed. 

God bless   –

Grampa