Cpl Roman F. Klick 36620923
Co "A", 353rd Engr Regt
A.P.O. #502, c/o Postmaster
San Francisco, California
23 October l943

Dear Aunty Clara,

Saturday



No mail today even though the mail clerk called my name out five times at mail call. The mail consisted of the air-mail and slow mail variety alone without any V-mails coming in. The five times he called my name were for official letters regarding the allotments etcetera which come to me in the end so he hands them to me at mail call just to kid me along for a second making me believe I actually got some mail.

There is, however, still hope just as last night because a whole flock of newspapers and packages are awaiting distribution at this evening's mail call. The home edition of the Bull Dozer came out today and I've already placed it in an air-mail envelope and sent it on its merry way homeward.

For a while it looked as if I was to be taken in on the movie deal again tonight but it has ended up as a cooperative affair. Lt. Yantis asked Gordon and I who was to run the show and Gordon said he had to meet the USO show performers in place of Lt Carryzozo who was to be in town this evening. Therefore, the burden lay upon my shoulders. But Lt Carrozza is going to be there anyway and we arranged it that Gordon will look over the film, check it for torn sprocket holes etcetera and I will come up and show it.

The movie is "The Cat People" with Simone Simon and promises to be entertaining. The USO unit also is supposed be rather good and is a musical affair. There are no big name performers.

At quitting time this evening Jack Molyneaux and I wandered into the Special Services tent and spotted a checker board and checkers. He wanted to play me a game but I refused on the grounds that I just haven't played checkers in a long while whereas he has been playing right along. He insisted, however, and we agreed to play one game. Perhaps he thought I was going to be easy meat and perhaps I was especially alert knowing he had been at the game; nevertheless, it was a rout for my side.

My name is on the bulletin board for a three-day pass and we now have our choice to go hunting, fishing or sightseeing. The rest camp is out since we have used up our quota and can send no more men there. As much as I would like to take a three-day pass, I think I will be unable to go because hunting doesn't appeal to me, fishing is also in that same category altho I wouldn't mind giving it a try and sightseeing is the best bet, but what is there to sight-see? What I would like to do is to spend three days in town even if was only to get back a little of the city in me. It has been funny that since being in the army I've not once even come close to living in a big town like Chicago.

There are a few fellows from C Company who are not living with their company; so they mess (that means eat) in our kitchen. We can spot them immediately, of course, because they are strangers in our midst but Larry and I noticed that anyone could tell the difference between them and the average A Company man. They take their hats off when the enter into the mess hall and never never would think of sitting down to eat with that hat still on their head. That is peculiar for C Company for the rest of A Company and just about every other company in the regiment marches in and eats with the hat still on the head.

I ought to be getting back some answers on the mail I sent out about a month ago. The letters which I am anxiously awaiting answers from are the ones I sent to Dolores, Eleanor, George and Tommy. I'll bet Tommy's story will be a good one after not having heard from him for a half a year. And you know why I'm especially interested in getting a return letter from Dolores. I'm wondering what she is going to say?

So-long,
/s/ Roman
Roman