Dear Folks,

      I received your letter last nite. Maybe you think I wasn't glad to get it.

      I have been awfully busy lately. I was on guard Wed. and came off Thurs. at 1:30. I had to work Friday afternoon. That is all the guards have to work.

      Next afternoon after they come off the guard walking is fine. We have three relieves so you see it isn't long walks. I went on at 5:30 Wed. evening & came off 7:30, then on at 11:30 & off at 1:30, on at 5:30 in the morning, off at 7:30 & then on at 11:30 Thurs. to 1:30. So you see we walk 8 hours out of the 24.

      Along about 12 o'clock at nite it gets awfully foggy out here but the post are all lit up except some places but a fellow can see most everything.

      Herb said I had grown considerably, but Dr. Caldwell did not know us boys but when we told him who we were he ask us about a thousand ? - but he remembered us the second time we were there. They all seem to think we are about all O. K.

      I sure am glad to hear that Joe's oats are so good. The kids sure need the crops.

      But I don't think this war will last much longer. I am sending you a piece I cut out of a paper.

      We might be sent to France but I won't leave here until I have to. Lots of the new soldiers are be transferred to Field Artillery. Pat being one & they will leave us about next week for Texas, but it is too hot down there for me. Besides that the big guns here are the best. I will try & send you some pictures of them if I can find any. I think they have some for sale somewhere here.

      I am awfully glad to hear that Will & Dess have a car. Maybe Dess can have a little pleasure.

      You didn't say wether you folks had gotten your car yet or not. Now folks, you had better get one because the more pleasure you see the longer you'll live.

      Oh, yes, Corporal Flowers & I were over to Oakland Friday nite. They had a free dance for the soldiers. It was in the Great Fodora Park, the prettiest park I ever saw. They have everything Short the Shoop & all things like that. The Corporal is sure a fine fellow, about the size of Mike & acts just like him, so you can see why I chum with him. And he thinks I am about right.

      Say, do you know if Sid's have sold my colt yet? If so, tell him to send me some money because we won't get paid until after the 4th of July & it cost me some much to get my clothes cut down to fit me & I had to buy all my gun cleaning outfit, so you see my little old $18 didn't last long. I am what you call financially broke now.

      Oh yes, I heard from Myrtle Barnes, Chas Duncan, A. C. Stephens and Gloda Johnson. But Chas letter was the best. He sure sent me a nice letter. I read 8 letters Friday & 5 Sat. so you see it keeps me pretty busy ans, but I never get tired.

      Don't you worry little Mother, no matter where they send me I'll write often. The further away the oftener I'll write.

      Does it thunder & lightning much back there? We don't ever have anything like that here. Just the guns make it sound like thunder.

      The only fruit that is very cheap here is oranges & strawberries, & you know I don't like strawberries.

      Oh Yes Mother they sure have some dandy long lunches out here & they are awfully cheap, too.