Cpl Roman F. Klick 36620923
Co "A", 353rd Engr Regt
A.P.O. #502, c/o Postmaster
San Francisco, California
August 29, 1943

Dear Aunty Clara,

Sunday Evening



The old prolific typewriter was really working today as I knocked off letters to my Dad, to Uncle Jack, to Mrs. Boyer and to Eleanor. And naturally this is the second one to you for the day. I wrote to my Dad because I received a letter from him yesterday and it was high time I stopped the stalling and wrote one to him anyway. I wrote to Uncle Jack so that his letter wouldn't fall by the wayside as the others have done in the past. I wrote to Mrs. Boyer because this afternoon I received a third letter from her and I have answered none. She shoved herself high on my priority list by sending that third letter and also bawling me out for forgetting them. I wrote to Eleanor because I owed her a letter and felt like writing to her.

After show this noon, I walked into Larry's tent and played Snelsire a game of chess. This time I entered the contest with the resolution not to get beaten. I did plow right into the boy and maneuvered him out of a major piece but then I made one of those foolish mistakes of not seeing that I was placing my Bishop in front of his Rook without protection. Naturally, he took the gift without a moment's hesitation and then a few minutes later I lost one fairly and squarely to his. That made the situation turn from the sunny side to the cloudy side but in spite of that, I managed to checkmate him with two pieces and win the game. I can see that in the future I will have to watch every move very carefully until I become used to checking against these foolish mistakes once again.

My finances are hitting rock bottom. The total money on hand is 25 cents cash. One measly quarter and no more. I hit a spending splurge today as I bought two boxes of cheese tidbits for Larry and myself and three packages of candy wafers. That only amounted to 20 cents but a little later in the afternoon I resisted the temptation to buy a can of peanuts which set me back 25 cents. They are Planter's Cocktail Peanuts and come in a vacuum packed can.

By the way, the Boyers have moved. Their new address is 5756 W. Huron, Chicago "24", Illinois. She mentioned nothing about moving in the letter but that was the new return address. Here is what she says: "Hello Ro: --- What's happened to you, no word from you since that letter telling us about crossing the equator. Hope you're O.K. Everyone back this way is OK and every once in a while some one will say, 'By the way, how is Roman & where is he' but I can't give them the information they're looking for, because I don't even know. Hope you got my last letter or do you imagine we're forgetting about you? Well, get that idea right out of your head. I'm ashamed to say that I haven't contacted your Aunt Clara in quite some time, but I'll get around to it. Bob is still in Richmond, Va & he says to tell you "Hello" in his last letter. Wish you were home so you could enjoy the nice weather we're having right now. Good Luck." Come to think of it as I typed this letter out, she did not mention what Bob's job is anymore. And I didn't tell her to say hello to Bob for me all I could think of was Muriel at the time.

In addition to receiving a letter from Mrs. Boyer I received your letter of the 18th. You ask again for things I might need for Christmas. Didn't I tell you that I was finally issued a pocket knife? It has the usual can opener, screw driver, leather punch and cutting blade. I am wondering, though, about another flashlight. It would happen that after mentioning a flashlight, mine was stuck and refused to light until jimmied around a bit. It is alright now. The batteries are the things I'm interested in more so than even the bulbs. There isn't very much also that I can think of which I might need or want as a Christmas present.

It is definitely established that my new watch gains about five minutes a day; but gaining time is a lot better then stopping completely as the other one did.

So-long,   /s/ Roman   Roman