Letter from Norman Smith to Howard and Violet Smith, February 16, 1944

Well we're well into our 13th week of training and so after 4 more I might be home. As I've said before nothing is definite.

The week after next we go on bivouac for 12 days. That will be fun as the nights here are really getting cold and one or two blankets seem like nothing.

I just got back from enjoyable time at L.A. visiting Irma. We went to the "Riviera Club" and had dinner and saw the floor show. Don't let the name fool you it's nothing swanky. Boy do the Jews congregate there. What I can't figure out is that so many of them are of draft age and

yet not in the army.

We also went to the "Worlds Fair Museum". That was a clip joint right. All they had was a bunch of deformed people who showed how they overcome their disabilities.

I got your box of candy and was quite suprised and grateful. Hope that you got mine.

Had a letter from John saying that he was on the move and for me not to write.

Also heard from Tom Crossett. He's in Fairbanks and likes it pretty well except that the weather is pretty cold. He said that it had been hitting 40 to 43° below. Of all things his nose got the coldest.

McCue tells me that Ben Edwards is overseas in the S.P. fighting with the marines.

Well I have to sit down right soon now and figure out my Income Tax. If I get stuck I'll have plenty of help as we have a lawyer here in our Barracks who knows that stuff from a to z.

California is still a scary state as far as I'm concerned. When we went down we went through Oil Fields that looked like a forest of trees. These were wells as far as you could see and all pumping. I sure got a laugh when we entered the Los Angeles State Forest. The biggest tree I saw was about 15 foot

high and, like all the other trees I've seen around here, scrawny as the devil.

Haven't had much spare time any more as we've been training day and night. Getting on the average of 6 hrs of sleep per night. I've lost 10 lbs as near as I can figure and now weigh in at 180. That's still too much.

Say you asked me what to do with the balance of the money I sent you. Well I'd like to have you buy me a good little pocket knife and keep the rest of the dough for your services. I sure have use for one here when I clean my rifle. In fact I've just about worn out that little gold knife that Irma gave me a long time ago.

I heard from Bob Bheme the other day. He didn't say much except that he was getting ready to ship out any day now.

Some of these guys you meet here are sure men of peculiar traits. I used to walk behind a fellow who walked pigeon toed, and got a sideward sway and a slouch at the same time. I finally started to walk that way myself so I moved to the back of the column.

Well the orchestra I'm in has gotten me out of a little work so as far as I'm concerned it is quite profitable, we play again this coming Friday night. It's sure funny how you run into people. For instance, at the other Co. parties

around here we had a blonde singer who entertained for the boys. When I went to L. A. I mentioned her name to Irma and here this blonde was the wife of Irma's boss. Sure is a small world.

I met a Lieutenant the other day that was born & raised in Twinfalls. His name is Ethers. He knew of Harry Musgrave and also knew, presumably, Mr. Tafulmise (Boy what spelling).

I've got a chance to go into the paratroopers. Should I take it! It nets $100 per month. But you don't live long.

Well guess thats all

See about that knife please and keep the rest. It'll take care of the mailing charges that I've caused.