Dear Mom, Dad & All:-

    Here it is Saturday night and nothing much to do so will try and write a few lines.  My landlord, Mr. Barland, is at home so will go down later on and have a chat with him at his invitation.  He's doing government work of some kind, I guess, and this is the first time he's been home since I arrived here.  He's the typical English gentleman, about fifty years of age, with grey hair and moustache and a proper accent.  Judging by his home he must have bucks.
     I was over to our closest U.S. Army dispensary this afternoon and got an anti-tetanus shot in the arm which is now a bit on the aching side, will have to have two more at three week intervals.  I'm now immune to typhoid, typhus, small pox, and tetanus.  Had a real honest to gosh American meal at the officer's mess while there and certainly did it justice.  Chili-con-carne, carrots, green beans, bread and, believe it or not, real butter; cake with, of all things, chocolate sauce, and coffee.  Bought the weekly allowance of 5 packs of cigarettes, 4 cigars, 2 candy bars and some Aqua Velva shaving lotion at the PX (Post Exchange).  Being in Uncle Sam's Army has its good points.  Several of the CTC boys in my line of work have transferred to the army as Technicians 4th Grade which gives them the same rate of pay as the C.T.C.
     Haven't heard from anyone in the USA since Dad's last letter a couple weeks ago.  Send me George's Army address so I can drop him a line occasionally, also Mike's, if you have it.  How does Ernie stand on the draft.  Don't suppose he's physically well enough off to make the army but he might in a limited occupations group.  I suppose Butch and Rung are in a continual state of apprehension about Junior, but it's just one of those things that can't be helped.  Don't waste any time worrying about me because I'm in the safest part of this island and still haven't seen anything to even remotely suggest danger.  Maybe it would increase our general sense of urgency and stimulate us to greater efforts if we did, but we know enough of what's going on to keep us on our toes fairly well at that.  The Russians have certainly been glorious in their defensive stands and I imagine all of us over here should be mighty grateful that they have.
     It's autumn here now and the leaves are just changing color and beginning to fall.  Against the green of the grass, it's always green throughout the winter, and the green needles of the pine trees which also grow abundantly it's very beautiful, something like the St. Croix valley in the fall.  The high hills around us are covered with shrubs which are also every hue of the rainbow.  The temperature hasn't been really cold yet, although cool in the morning and evenings.  It's about like it used to be in September at Forest Lake and there is a similar mist in the mornings.
     With an eye to the winter evenings I'm building myself a small radio set.  I managed to get some parts in a nearby city and hope I can get the rest as I go along building it.  I'll have to wind all the coils and transformers myself.  It's going to be six tubes and cover the short wave and broadcast band.  I have some hopes of picking up the states although the hills about may prevent that.  The difference in time also complicates the situation a bit as the best programs can't be heard until the wee hours.  However, it'll be a source of entertainment and give me the time and news.  I haven't got my watch fixed as of yet so never know what the time is except on the hour if I happen to hear the church clock strike.  You might send me a little Ben or a travel long Ben alarm clock.  A $1.00 one (at) home costs $6.00 here so I haven't thought of trying to get one of the "Bens" which are about $3.50 over there.  I sure could use one.
     I'm enclosing a picture taken from the newspapers here showing the view in front of St. Paul's.  The round black objects are water tanks filled at all times for fire fighting during air raids.  Art & Mary will remember how this looked before the war, maybe they have a picture of it.  I suppose in their tour in 1939 they climbed up there to see the city.  It's supposed to be the best vantage point.  I haven't been up myself since it wasn't open for a long time, but it is now and I hope to go up one day.  It wouldn't do to miss anything.
     I ordered some Christmas Cards the other day.  I suppose I'll have to mail them about the first of  November to have them reach their destination by Christmas.  They're rather nice, I think.  There won't be a great deal of Christmas giving over here I don't suppose with the prices so high and the rationing.  Everyone has enough for himself, but nothing to give away.  I don't think the true meaning of Christmas will be much more felt than it was in peace time.
     Well, it's seven o'clock Saturday night here and just about one in the afternoon there.  I suppose Dad and Pete are just coming home from work and Jerry had finished her breakfast (hah! hah!); the Eastern football games are beginning on the radio and you're conjecturing on Minnesota's chances in today's game (I heard they won the first one against Pitt 50 to 7, but haven't heard of any others); the tea kettle will be whistling and Mom will be busy about the kitchen getting lunch and wondering what she's going to have for dinner Sunday.  Gad, it seems like a long time since I was home.  I show everybody here that picture of the family at supper the last Sunday I was home and have them look through the jeweller's magnifying glass I have at that Swiss steak on the platter covered with onions.  Oh, boy!  Does their mouth water?  I wonder when we'll have another, altogether again.  It's certainly something to look forward to.  Let's hope it's not too far distant.
     Well, enough of retrospection.  We'll have to work, not dream, to make it a reality, and it won't be done in a day or a month, or possibly even a year, I should say probably.  The forces against us are too strong to be quickly overcome without a severe struggle and a long one, and to attempt it before we were fully prepared would certainly be disastarous.  Witness the fall of France, for example.  We can't afford another Dunklrk, either.  The next attempt must be final.
     I better sign off, I'm beginning to sound a bit like a politician.  I got that way arguing with the blokes over here on the same subject.
     It's a lovely cool night with a moon and "bags" of stars.  I'm going down and chaw the rag with Mr. Barland for a while and then hit the hay.  Cheerio for a while and goodnight.
 

Thatch

P.S. Send any packages the same as my mail to APO 640 US Army c/o postmaster, New York City.

                     Bob