| dc.description.transcription | 2-20-45Dear Folks,It has been several days since I’ve written so there has probably been quite a gap between my letters. I hope you haven’t worried because I’ve been safe and well as a bug in rug. That is as safe as a small town boy like me can be in the city of London. Tommy, Johnny, and I went together and we really had quite a time. We couldn’t get a hotel room on account of crowded conditions and had to be content with a room (6 beds) at the American Red Cross. It was a bed with sheets, a mattress, and a pillow. I could hardly sleep the first night, not being used to such dainty things.We got up Sunday morning, rather late, but it was still morning, and started out to see the sights. I think we saw most everything except No.10 Downing St. Buckingham Palace was the biggest disappointment of the lot. We saw Big Ben, The London Bridge, the London Tower, PiccadillyCircus, and Westminster Abbey. Oh yes, The House of Commons, and the House of Lords and every other place of Historical interest including the part of London that was leveled by bombs. A good portion of London hasn’t been hurt very badly but other portions are ruined. If at any time you should start to feel sorry for Germans because of the damage we are doing to their towns, take my word for it and don’t. I know that I never gave it much thought until I got over here at close quarters, now I can think about it all I want to and never feel sorry for them. I also met a rather nice girl. Women definitely are not hard to meet but those that I wouldn’t be ashamed to be seen on the street with are. This ones name is Ray and she is in the A.T.S. She is awfully cute, for an English girl, and I intend to write to her. That is I intend to write once and thank her for the sheets she is going to send me. She can buy them and I can’t.Ha, clever aren’t I? that reminds me, I guess the Castelaws have moved back by now. Tell them welcome home, and howdy for me.The best part of my leave was coming home, I never thought I’d call this place home, and finding a stack of mail. There were about five each from Mama and Amy, one from Brother and one from Marcia. She got my address from Tommy, who had written to Audrie. She just had to thank me for the lovely bracelet whether I wrote to her ornot. You can tell that one to Iris. All of the mail still had my old address so I still can’t say which is faster V or air, however so far V mail is running just a little bit ahead. Mama, in case you are wondering, your letters have gotten as far as Lynwood burning the light all night to keep his guinea pig warm, Papa promising to go fishing as soon as he gets his books caught up and your sending Papa’s pants to the cleaner without emptying his pockets. I’m anxiously awaiting the second chapter to all of these installments. I think I’ve already answered all of the questions in previous letters before they were asked except one. No, I didn’t or haven’t gotten any mail that was written to me during my brief stay at Topeka. The rest of them I can’t answer until I get back.I intended to stop on that last page but since I ran out of paper too soon so I’ll have to do it on the back side of the sheet.That is about all for tonight so,All my love,Joe | |
