Sgt Roman F. Klick 36620923
HS 1393 Engr APO 709
c/o PM SF Cal
24 July 1944

Dear Aunty Clara,

Monday, Somewhere on Guadalcanal



When a shoe salesman himself endorses a product that he isn't selling, it must be good and Walter N. Louis, former shoe salesman for Endicott Johnson Shoe Company of Fulton, New York, has given his stamp of approval to the moccasins which you sent to me for my birthday. You and Aunty Florence sure can pick 'em.

It is quite a bit after four o'clock this afternoon and the reason I got such a late start on the letter writing is because both Cooley and McGaugh want to apply for Warrant Officer and I am helping them out on filling out the forms and things. They would have to come in just five minutes before quitting time. Cooley and McGaugh both should make the grade because there is no doubt about it that these two fellows know their heavy equipment and motors both backwards and forwards. You see, before Cooley came to us and became a 1st Sgt he had spent most of his army time in the motor pool. McGaugh, on the other hand, is a much older fellow than Cooley and has told me on occasions of the work he did operating and supervising heavy equipment jobs all over the USA.

The show this evening is "Going My Way" as I have told you some two or three times before this. Although it has been raining intermittently ever since yesterday afternoon and even though it may rain during the show this evening, I am going to see it. Of course, I want to get some letters written for sure this evening also and to do that I'm pounding this one out with the idea that before five o'clock I can get another one done and then perhaps one or two more before going to the show.

Mike Nyalka and Lt Yantis were in the office this afternoon checking over the records just as the IG used to check over our records periodically heretofore. Of course, they took a look at the Morning Reports and they did find something. Occasionally a carbon slips out of place as happened in these cases and the date does not print on the second or maybe the third copy. Mike swears that I let the Morning Reports go through without a date on the original but I bet him that no such thing ever happened as I check specifically for those things on the original. However, seeing that such an error has happened and there is no guarantee that it will not happen again, I'll have to scrutinize the carbon copies more closely in the future.

The news continues to be good on all fronts except for the slowed down Normandy campaign which is tending to become similar to the Anzio beach-head of the Italian campaign. The way the Russians are rushing, there will not have to be any big push by the Allies in France for those Reds are now within 72 miles of Warsaw itself according to the latest bulletins this noon.

The mail situation this afternoon didn't help me a bit even though there were two bags of mail. After all, I can't expect to keep getting mail and more mail without a let up. According to Mike and Tommy Campbell, they wrote a letter to 6614 Kenwood Avenue (Eleanor's address) using Pat's name on the address. I don't know why they have to go and do such things but the fact is that they did it and it is a lucky thing I forewarned Eleanor of such a possibility. I don't think their joke will go over so well if I turn up with their letter providing Eleanor thinks of sending it to me.

The necklace isn't coming along so good because I can't seem to locate any real cement glue which is almost a necessity in this case. Perhaps some plastic wood of some sort might work but I don't know. I'd hate to patch it together with cotton and wax and then have it come apart while Pat is wearing it. But as it is, I don't see how else I am going to manage.

Goodbye for now and if I have time after the show, I may drop you another line.

So-long,
Roman