9-22-1943

W.R. smith A.S. USN
V-12, U 15 B--Graveley Halls
Pocatello, Idaho

1800

Dear Mother, Dad, Shirlee, & Rhoda;

I just wrote to Don so thought I would write you before I shove off for chow. Don said he was waiting for that hurricane. I guess it's not going to come after all. He said he has about 7 more months of this work he is in now. I only have 8 more before I can go to midshipman's school so we both have about the same amount of time.
We are really getting the tests again this week. We are having our 12 week (3 mos.) exams now. Boy the time has sure gone fast--3 months almost--
The restriction is still on S.L.C. so I guess I won't be down for another month but I'll be down then.
We had some good boxing lessons in Physical training today. I boxed, bare handed (flat hands), with a little guy from the flat--we did "purty" good.
We will box now all winter I guess--I really like all of the physical work--I can almost feel the muscles growing on me.
Boy when we get up in the morning for calisthentics now it is just as dark as midnight--all the stars are out and the moon is shining bright--you can just barely see a little rime of silver on the eastern range of hills showing that the sun is shining somewhere.
The war news sure sounds good lately, doesn't it. I guess it won't be long before we will get a good foot hold in Europe where we can really fight from. At the rate they are building up are Army &Navy we ought to really be able to fight.
Don said that Houston was reallly a dead town but Idon't see how it could be any wors than Poky.
boy, I got the "scrub-board Blues" (Drawing of Music) They took all of our washing machines a month after we got here & replaced the with glass scrub boards--my knuckles are so sore from pushing towels, skivies, hats, etc. that I have a hard time pushing this pen around. (ha-ha-ha-)
Well I guess I'll go to chow
Lots of Love, Bill

Shirlee--How do you feel by now. Hope you are ship shape.