Cpl Roman F. Klick 36620923
Co "A", 353rd Engr Regt
A.P.O. #502, c/o Postmaster
San Francisco, California
July 1, 1943

Dear Aunty Clara:

This business of having to write "50" after Cicero reminds of the printer's "50." Whenever a printer reaches the end of a column of type, he inserts the number "50." As near as the amateur historians have been able to dope it out there is no significance to the figure other than it just fell into use and became the custom. Therefore, "50" tacked on so irreverently after Cicero needs be reminiscent.

Today was payday, and I received the total sum of $29.48. There is a fellow that owes me five dollars and if I can get it out of him now that he too has become flush once more, I am sending thirty dollars home to you for your birthday. If I don't get the five from the fellow, your birthday present will drop to the sum of twenty-five dollars. I don't know which way I should send the money yet --- by money order or by the Army Finance Department --- but I will let you know what and how I do it when I do it.

The reason I am telling you about this so far in advance is because I want you to realize that there is some money on the way and so that you will know what to do with it when it arrives. The overseas method of sending birthday greetings in letter form will hold until your birthday draws closer.

Here is something that I found mighty interesting: on the reverse side of all five dollar bills all the names of all the presidents are inscribed. They are found in very fine printing just above the huge columns of the Treasury Building (oops: my error, it is the Lincoln Memorial that appears on the reverse side of a five dollar bill). Nevertheless, up along the top in two rows are the names of the presidents and I imagine that with the small magnifying glass you have you will be able to see them quite plainly. A fellow showed that to us this evening as we were feeling the fresh five dollar bills that were lining our pockets.

I am not writing to anyone else this evening as it is rather late now --- ten o'clock.

By the way, I get a big kick out of that Jack lately. He has been writing home to his wife that he is preparing to go on a big deer hunt while that is the furthest thing from his mind. Now he has the office in stitches as he says that in his next letter to her he will have to tell her all about the deer hunt and the big 350 pounder he brought in. That is the best one yet.

One fellow in the regiment that we know of has finally received a return mail. The rest of us are now waiting and hoping that our next mail is that kind.

The surveying course bogged down for a day or so because I haven't been able to break away and have a solid evening to myself for studying but I hope to do so tomorrow and start those letters with completed lessons in them back to the States. That is one way I will use up the supply of air-mail envelopes I bought just before leaving the States.

So-long for now,
/s/ Roman
Roman