5-27-1945

Dearest Mother, Dad, toots and R.
Well, I am back at A.T.B. again so I will drop you a line and tell you all about our weeks work. We loafed a lot in between landings—but, when the time came to land we made up for our time of leisure.
We didn’t hit any port all week and we sailed up by Catalina Island & out past there quite a ways.
Our big invasion was Thursday at San Clemente Island—about 40 miles out. We had rocket ships firing, ships bombarding, & planes bombing all day long—of course they were working inland when our boats hit the beach so no one was in danger. I didn’t hit the beach because I was control officer & merely sat on an LCI directing the waves as they left for the beach.
All in all it was really swell. Monty Richards & I were together most of the time so we quite enjoyed that. Ship-board life is really O.K. It is just like a hotel or something like that. There really isn’t much difference in this & ship life except that you can’t go as far. They have movies every evening—ice cream in the afternoon & candy etc. anytime.
I saw Gordie & last evening when we came in and he said he really had enjoyed his leave. Said he saw Dad & was glad to talk with him.
I was also glad to receive your swell bag candy & 4 letters, too. I am glad you had such good luck with bus reservations & even-though it was a hurried up get-away you made it was, nevertheless, best. Sorry you all caught cold while in sunny Cal. But, I guess the change of climate was too rapid.
Really, I can’t get over the fine time we had in those few days. And I am glad you came when you did. The, I thought I would leave in a few days—but now we don’t know when. However, it is still only a matter of days or very few weeks. But, it wouldn’t have done to put off your trip because things probably would heave turned out different.
I’m glad you heard from Don. And glad he is O.K. I’m sure he has seen plenty & it won’t be long ‘til he is back here for good.
I hope to see Bob again today. I was going to D.D. But my blues are in the cleaners & I won’t be able to get them out.
Well, excuse this scrawling but I am trying to write on my knee again.
Hope you are felling fine.
Love
Bill