| dc.description.transcription | 3-28-45Dear Folks,The wandering boy has returned, at least he has returned to his semi-permanent stomping grounds. Just in case this thing does happen to beat the V mails home that I wrote six days ago telling you I was going on pass, I’ll tell you I’vebeen. (I dare you to try to read that last sentence in one breath). Before I get wound up on my pass I’ll tell you that when I got back last night I had mucho mail. It was almost like two passes, one right after the other. Also the air-mail is making the V-mail run second place for speed. One air mail just took nine days the V’s are still taking two weeks.Now for my pass. It was a fine day affair and I enjoyed every second of it to the utmost. John, Bob, Tom, and I took off for London before the rest of the boys and got hotel rooms at the Reagent. We only stayed in London a couple of days but we managed to see everything we missed the first time. After that we took off for Bournemouth and I had one of the best times I ever had in my life. Before the war Bournemouth was a resort town and now it is a rest home for soldiers on leave. The city is clean, the street are wide, the people are friendly, and there are things to do. These things include golf, tennis, horse back riding, swimming, good picture shows, ice cream, theaters, and everything else that any modern town in the states might have. So help me, you would swear that you were in a different country from London or [page torn]. The people talk different too. When I get home I’ll talk for you in a London Cockney accent, then I’ll switch to the more dignified sounding talk of the southerners. If I go to Scotland on my next pass there ain’t no telling how I might talk. I have been called away from this letter for a brief meeting and now that I am back I haveanother batch of letters. I’ll get around to them in a minute. But now back to Bournemouth. As for my activities, I didn’t get around to doing everything but I sure tried. I also had late tea with a very nice English family. I met this family’s daughter at a dance at the Red Cross Club Sat. night. I asked her what was buzzin’ in town on Sunday night. She said not much as the town closed down on Sunday. I said how about eating at some first class joint and she said it was possible. I asked her if she would come to dine with me, she said she would. I asked her if she could get some chick as slick as she was for Tommy. She said she would and could, but she didn’t. Tom got stuck, and I had the belle of the ball. (I can see thatthis going to be a long-windedaffair so check the numbers on the sheets for proper reading sequence.)If the censor wants to cut anything out you’ll love what was said on both sides but I don’t think I’ll say anything that will have to be cut out.Anyhow, after we got through eating, allthe means of transportation had stopped so we had to walk the galshome. It was about a four mile walk along the sea shore. I learned a lot about England and she had a chance to learn a lot about Texas and the U.S. I don’t know whether she believed it allor not. Can’t blame her if she didn’t. When we got home her mother didn’t seem perturbed at how late we were either. It was 11:30. Anyhow she invited Tom and I in. We had already walked Tom’s gal home. She had tea prepared for us so we teaed. Mr. & Mrs. Hammond had to know all about the civilian situation in the U.S. so Tom and I gave out with the pertinentpoop. All kidding aside I really enjoyed myself. Mrs. Hammond told me that if I were ever in Bournemouth again to come out and see them again and I plan to do just that. The next night Tom, Bob, and I sawthe rest of the town that we hadn’t seen during the day time. We saw a good portion of it getting in our horseback riding, tennis, swimming, etc. The next morning, yesterday, we started winding our weary way back to camp. Here we are and now I’m ready to go back to work and help Ike and Patton finish off the rest of the Germans. | |
