9-20-1943

Dear Don,
Well I hope the Cyclone hasn’t blown Houston off the map, or did you even feel it there? I heard over the radio where it was supposed to hit Galveston Friday but I imagined that it would get you guys too.
I was glad to hear from you again and hear that you are ok and getting along good in your radio work. I just talked with mother and Dad over the telephone and they said that you have put on some weight. I sure hope you have. I have put on about 10 lbs. & I now weigh 131 stripped.
Well Poky is still here in Idaho and it is still the deadest hole in the world. All of the people are so dirty looking they make you sick and the damned Indians are still laying on the sidewalks. Even though the city is dead we can sleep over liberty hours and I sure did today. I stayed in the sack until noon. I guess I (& all the rest of us) should study over week ends but hell we’ve got to rest and relax some time or we’ll go nuts.
Do you guys have any physical work down in “taxes”?
We sure as hell run our legs off up here. Ever day we run 2 miles at the least & 4 miles usually all at once, without stopping, & boy does that poop you out. I ran 4 miles in 26 min & 40 secs which was way above average but boy that really tired me out.
It is getting cold as heck here now and those old pea-coats are really coming in handy. This morning there was frost on the ground so you can see what we’re in for this winter. I’ll bet there will be a lot of sick boys in “ole’ Gravely” just like in boot camp when you were there. I guess you got your share of cold at Farragut because that is farther North than Poky.
Last night Coon & I went to a dance with a fellow from Pearl Harbor. He is a 2nd class Radio tech. & he really likes radio. He says to tell you that he knows how hard your school is but what you get out of it is really worth something. He has been in 6 major engagements and really saw some fights. How soon do you think you will get a leave: & How soon do you think you will ship out of Houston?
Well I guess I’ll hit the sack, its 2300
Good night and Good Luck
Bill