Dear Dad & Mother!

      After waiting about 2 wks we received our mail yesterday. We sure were a happy bunch. I certainly got my share. In all I received 18 letters, 4 packages, & 3 papers. You can't imagine how surprised & tickled I was to get the ring. It was just what I wanted & it fits to a T. And the tobacco you sent sure came at the right time as I was out.

      Tell Earl & Sid's that I got the candy & tobacco & will write them later. But the ring takes the cake to my opinion.

      Now I will try & answer your letters from March 13th to April 14th.

      Mother, you ask if I done my own washing. Since we have been here at the front I have & I intend to do it all be time as it kind of a pleasure & here we have plenty of rain water & time also. So you see when I come back I'll have a trade to work at. Ha, Ha.

      Mother, Joe McFadden was right in what he wrote concerning the Y. M. C. A. but it doesn't bother me as you folks keep me in everything I need.

      I have not seen any of the other Coleridge kids except for the four that is with me. Charley & I are still together & always intend to stick. I ask Ed Gartner if he wrote home & he said every wks so you see it must have been lost on the road somewhere.

      Tell Ernest if he enlists to be a driver as I think that is a good place for him.

      Say but the population of Coleridge had ought to be greater than ever. I believe some of those guys are a little bit yellow or something like it.

      So Joe is about to have a new brother-in-law Ha, Ha. I sure hope he isn't like one of them.

      Dad, don't let the old Pollets show you anything just use a close fist on him. I would like to be there for a while. I would show a few of them something & another thing, Dad, I wish you would can that Wellington Meyers & don't take anything off of those yellow Lawn Ridge guys.

      I know you folks are certainly doing your share at home & we will do our bit over here, but we all plainly see that you folks are depriving yourselves of a great deal to make it easier for us. But we are here to the end & then things will go on better & we will live happier than before. And I don't think it will take long.

      Now I'll try & describe the weather, one of the sunniest days one could ask for, & the trees all leaved out & the birds sure are doing their part at cheering us up.

      I just got back from taking a bath. We get one once a wk, & it sure feels fine. I intend to do my washing this afternoon. Do you remember how I used to help with the washing? Well I am a little better washer now.

      Oh Say, if you see Tavada Gibson tell her I received her letter & will write later on.

      Now, Mother, I don't want you & Dad to worry too much, as if anything to me you folks will be the first to know it. And I am taking the best care anyone could & I want you folks to be there in as good a health as when I left. It won't be long either.

      Well, Mother, I can't send anything for your birthday now but I have some to send when I get the chance.