In the past two days I've received three letters from Jerry. My mail was slow catching up to him but evidently it's starting to come thru. You have no idea how glad I was to hear from him. Today I received the first package from you. This package contained peanut butter, jelly, sardines, ink, chewing gum and after shave lotion. The outer wrapping was pretty well beat up but the contents are in perfect condition. I want to congratulate you on the packing. It really was a marvelous job.

At the present time I try to avoid thinking about post war conditions. The only thing that I'm concerned with is banking enough money to take care of me and whoever else needs it after the war. I was considering canceling the allotment to the Bronx County Savings Bank and transferring it to the Dollar Savings Bank to let the money earn money for me. As long as you intend to use it to pay the insurance premiums I'll let things continue as they are.

At the present time I have approximately $1600.00 in the banks with $350.00 more to come as soon as I get paid. I'd like to have $5000.00 in the bank when I'm discharged from the Army.

I'm getting used to the heat so I don't mind it at all. The thing I'm afraid of is coming home in the winter and freezing. You remember how I was after Florida.

The organized reserve keeps you on an inactive status until each time as you are needed and are called to active duty. Jerry was in the enlisted reserve while he was attending radio school downtown and was later called to active duty. Two weeks a year are set aside for maneuvers to maintain proficiency in your specialty. I requested Signal Corps instead of Air Corps because there is no future as a bombardier.

Twenty five years is a long time for anybody. It's really remarkable how the years roll by. I received a letter from Bennett and I never realized he was capable of writing such a letter. Jerry and Ben could both take lessons from him. I think my two brothers are the poorest letter writers I've ever seen. So much for your letter of Feb. 16th.

I couldn't say whether I've put on any weight but I think I'm a bit heavier now that back in the states. I don't do any exercise worth while but I don't eat too much either. I don't know what Mrs. Boyer's origin is but she's swell. Those two make one damned couple.

I'm attending these Masonic meetings every Tuesday and they've elected me chairman of the entertainment committee. Last Tuesday I arranged a 45 minute program which went over big. I obtained the talent from a Navy unit on the island. This week I haven't been able to devote much time to it due to flying so I'm trying to get the same show for next Tuesday with a few variations.

That takes care of two of your letters so now I'll give you the latest news from the Philippines. Giving you the war news is silly because you get it about the same time I do. We both know that the war can't last too much longer because of our successes on all fronts. The weather has been quite dry lately with infrequent rains. We now have dust on the roads instead of mud and the change is marvelous. We are going to move in the near future and I don't know whether our APO number will remain or not. I'll advise you of any change so keep on writing. I cannot divulge the date or the place of our new location so you'll have to be content with what I have written.

Compare this letter to any you have received from Ben or Jerry and notice the difference. I don't mean to boast but you know what my letters have consisted of in the past.

That's about all I have to say for the present so I'll say goodbye.

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