10-21-1943

Dear Don;
I was sure glad to hear from but sorry that you chow isn’t too good. Ours is “purty” lousy too. We get enough to fill us up but it is always potatoes and gravy meat. However, I am getting fat on it.
Boy this is sure a cold place. It has been snowing here steady for two days and blowing to beat hell. I imagine it stays around zero as soon as real winter hits the joint.
Well tomorrow starts the final exams for us and they will really be “pips.” I have one in math tomorrow, physics Friday & the rest next week.
You asked about my V-5 standing—well the whole thing is kind of messed up but as it stands I am in V-12a which means “V-5 college program” V-12 without the “a” is for deck officers & we take the same as they do but we get out about 9 months sooner than they –However I can transfer to “V-12” from V12a” if I want & thus become a deck candidate (This way I would get a commission much sooner than in V-5 (V12a)
It sounds all messed up I know but this is the way the skipper told me. There are only about 15 of us out of the 500 that are in V-5 (V-12a) so I guess we are sorta lucky—but I am seriously thinking of transferring to Deck. What do you think about it?
I called Mother and Dad last night & they are all well & happy. Boy that was some hunt Dad went on and really a coincidence about getting his Deer. I guess he wrote & told you about it. I would sure liked to have been there but I guess that will have to wait.
Well Best of Luck
Bill
P.S. How are the “taxes” girls treating you & how do you like Texas so far