Pvt. W.D Johnson Jr 34945847 June 27, 1944
B Co. 226 Trg. Bn.
69th Trg. Regt. IRTC
Camp Blanding, Fla.
Monday
Dearest Mother & Dad –
Surely was glad to get your last letter Mom. I haven’t answered it sooner because, as I have said before, I don’t have time to do much writing and I try to keep Louise posted as she seems so worry when she doesn’t hear. You all understand, don’t you. But I haven’t written Louise any too much.
I’m glad you thought to look at Rip’s horn & glad it is okay. I tried to fix it so it would last a while before I left.
I did K.P. yesterday and peeled the proverbial tub of potatoes & washed dishes mainly. We feed about 215 men in our mess hall. That’s a pile of dishes. But the Army has good equipment and a good system for handling.
Grandma really is bloodthirsty! Tell her I said she ought to come down to see me & Id let her follow me over our bayonet course where you jump ditches, into trenches, under wires, over logs etc & every few feet on the course there is a dummy which we are sposed to imagine is a Jap or Nazi and we make a lunge & drive the bayonet through it. All the while we’re sposed to be shrieking blood curdling yells and they really get after us if we don’t yell while making a bayonet charge. So Grandma would love it.
I haven’t written Rip yet, but you all remember me to him in your letters.
Dad I’m really proud of you in your new club work & I’m glad to hear you’re enjoying it. Your trip sounds interesting & I know you’ll enjoy it. It’s swell that Mom can visit Alice.
You all write as often as you can, but I know you have a pretty stiff correspondence to keep up but I’m always happy to hear from you all. Give my regards to G’ma & Dixie & all the family.
Love always
David
Louise tells me that Julie really loves to be with you all. (Included upside down on top of first page.