Cpl Roman F. Klick 36620923
Co "A", 353rd Engr Regt
A.P.O. #502, c/o Postmaster
San Francisco, California
July 31, 1943

Dear Aunty Clara,

The time now is 8:20 PM and I have just come back from seeing the "American Empire". It was being shown at the movie down the road a bit this evening. Sad to say, it did not live up to expectations and was a so-so movie. They tried to put to much in a movie and as a result the emotions portrayed by the players were not transmitted to the audience. One rather unusual feature at the movie was the native gals who were standing in back of us and occasionally chattering away in French. They belonged to a soldier who had somehow gotten hold of a jeep. It looks like the gals go for the guys with the cars away out here too.

No letters today. I can't complain any because there are so few days like this when I do not get at least one letter. And speaking of letters, because it is still early in the evening I intend to write at least one (if not more) letter before checking in.

It's been quite a while since I had my last haircut and even I can feel the extra bush growing long on the back of my neck. Of course getting a haircut this month was out of the question seeing as how the financial condition was in the red. Even Lt Podelwitz noticed the long hair and yelled to me from the Orderly Room Tent, "Say, Klick, you need a haircut." And "Yes Sir," says I agreeing with him which was just about the only thing I could do. It is a good thing payday is only hours away now and I'll be on an equal footing with my fellow soldiers once again.

We finally did get some news for the Home Edition of Bulldozer out but none of us really thought much of it. It is coming out tomorrow and if it is worthwhile to send to you, I will air-mail a copy home.

This has been the big day for Jack Molyneaux. He went into town to take his mental test for the Air Corps. By tomorrow morning or maybe even later on this evening we will know how he made out in it. But jack isn't any dummy and it should have been a snap for him. The tough part will be the physical. He doesn't think the physical will stop him even though he told me the doctors had gone into conference at the induction board debating whether he was fit for service in the army. Of course, he came into the army away before war was declared and they were fussy about the requirements then. Perhaps whatever was the matter with him will be no bar to the Air Corps.

I'll never forget the day when you wished me good luck and I went downtown to take the mental exam for the Air Corps. And then how I came back for a quick lunch after making that test and running back downtown for the physical. It was all over so soon --- just a few questions, the color vision test, then the eye test and that was all. Then came that possibility that perhaps they could still find room in the Ground Crew but that was just a transitory hope and a few moments later I was again walking the streets a civilian. At that time there wasn't such a love of flying in me and it didn't matter one way or the other. Now it would be a different story. I'd like nothing better than to be there along with George and Tommy in the flying crew. But why do I ramble on over something that just will never be? I guess it is just because I have been thinking about Jack going through the things I did and that brings back all those old memories.

O gee and O gosh and O golly! I haven't sent out those birthday greetings yet. They just slipped my mind and not until this very minute did I think of them. I guess I had better work on them right now before I forget once again. It's almost a cinch that one or two will arrive late now. And after you went to the trouble to caution me to send them out soon.

So-long,
/s/ Roman
Roman