Cpl Roman F. Klick 36620923
Co "A", 353rd Engr Regt
A.P.O. #502, c/o Postmaster
San Francisco, California
17 November 1943
Dear Aunty Clara,
Wednesday
I received your letter of the 9th today. I would suggest that if you cut down my address to what I put in my return address, you would save yourself a lot of extra writing and the mail wouldn't be delayed any since all the necessary information is there. You know, you always did have a good idea when it came to mailing packages by writing my address on the inner wrapping and on the book, can, or box itself. During mail call yesterday a few rolls of Lifesavers fell out of a poorly wrapped box. That same thing could happen to larger articles and by writing the address on them, you are insuring its delivery.
Now if only the bond for February 1943 will come, we could stop worrying about them. It is a relief to hear that they have finally arrived. During the past year, that has been one of the most frequently asked questions, "When are they going to get my war bonds at home?" I guess people like to keep track of where their money is going.
I feel sorry for you now that the snow has come. That means living through another miserable winter while I am basking in the warm summer sun. It is too bad, though, that the new coal is going to give you additional trouble by causing so many clinkers. Coke was the miracle coal to use, eh, because it never gave us a bit of trouble?
I may not have changed the ribbon of this typewriter the way I said I was going to but at least I went and got my haircut per my threat of yesterday and the last three weeks before that. I walked into the PX before getting the haircut and explained that they had mixed up my tickets and gave me a tailor ticket instead of a haircut ticket and they exchanged it on the spot.
The ice cream can has gone into town today and by tomorrow this time we of Personnel and Special Services will have filled ourselves to the ears with more than a quart of ice cream per man. I was in charge of washing the can, and I think it is as clean as it will ever get because you know how fussy I am about such things. The present from the Millers of fudge candy and peanuts is just about gone so I am ready for another package. Or is that the wrong attitude?
The laundry came back today, and they did an excellent job on the washing. They even press the khaki pants and shirts for us, and better yet, they pressed the wool socks and winter underwear of mine. All told, I sent 50 pieces to the laundry, and it is the rule in GI laundries everywhere to only allow 30 pieces per man. I was fortunate in having my things checked by a fellow who let the laundry go through after he wrote the laundry slip that in the future, only 30 pieces could be sent. However, 1st Sgt Goldenberg was madder than a hoot owl when his entire laundry returned unwashed because of the same thing.
I was working on the Good Conduct Awards today, and they are a bigger job than would be expected because the regulations have been altered so that you have to really investigate each man to see if he is eligible for it. Captain Hanton will have to approve of them of course before they will be issued. Then we clerks have to prepare these news write-ups for each man receiving the ribbon and have them sent to his home town newspaper to build up morale all the way around. You probably know that a good conduct ribbon is red with three white stripes on each end. After the war they will give everyone a medal to go along with these ribbons.
I do not know how true it is, but according to Lt Maack, this regiment must have been cited by the War Department for some job it did either back home or here, and the Army Regulations state that after two such citations, each individual will receive a blue ribbon with a gold frame around it. People will be fooled into thinking we are heroes when we get back home if we have all these ribbons on our chest.
So-long,
/s/ Roman
Roman