Letter from Norman Smith to Howard and Violet Smith, February 23, 1944

Boy as I sit here and write this letter I sure wish I could sleep and write at the same time.

We had an orientation about morale furloughs last night. It seems that we will not know until the Monday after we come off bivouac where we are going. That is overseas, a line company, permanent personal, or specialized training. If you get the furlough its a good sign of overseas duty in the near future. Naturally we all signed up for them so now we just wait and hope. Only 33 out of a whole battalion got furloughs in a neighboring Bn. to ours. So really I don't know what to think.

According to schedule we will graduate March 18 which is now less than a month away.

Dad, you remember how tough I was on clothes, well I'm now on my third rain coat, 3rd leggings and 2nd pr. of gloves. Boy I'm on a cost plus basis. Oh yes and my 3rd pr of fatigue clothing.

I have K.P. to do tonight but I'm sure glad that I've got it. I miss a nice long night hike. Tomorrow we go on the J. Range. That where we crawl under live machine gun fire and go through a 2000 yd course with our gas masks on.

Sleep here seems to be on ration too as I've got 8 1/2 hrs in the last 4 days. We sure are kept busy. I guess that I'll be short on sleep for the next two weeeks or at least until we get off bivouac

It certainly seems strange that 14 weeks have gone by. Certainly hope

that it has been as enjoyable for you as it has been for me. You know mud, mud & rain.

Say I sure can use that knife as I seem to have misplaced my little gold one. I'm sure lost with out one.

Well guess I'll sign off for now.

P.S. May have to wire for furlough money. Don't be surprised fare is $26.06 to Seattle