Letters: September 23, 1951

    Dear Barbara (Legs) I’m a wonderful letter writer, aren’t I? I’m so modest. But I mean I do write fairly often--I think I do anyway. Come to think of it--that’s a hell of a way to start out a letter but it’s getting so damn hard to start a letter. Not too hard to write a letter but really difficult (new ink) to start one. If this letter sounds odd it’s because I’m nipping on a bottle of Canadian Club. It’s awfully cold and we haven’t a stove so--Sort of anti-freeze but that’s corny I guess--
    I am supposed to be rotated, either to some rear echelon job or maybe Japan (I hope) in about two or three weeks. I’ve had almost eight months of combat with two R&Rs so I’m ready. I’m the oldest (figuratively) pilot in the 25th Division in point of service. So I’m the first one to be rotated. I’m sweating it out.
    I guess school has started by now and I wish to God I were back in a classroom. I wish you’d tell me how it is again and what courses you’re taking and whether you like the courses. I really miss school--more and more now that I understand the whys and wherefores of education.
    I’ve gained quite a bit of weight here in Korea. Not real fat or even chubby but I feel good. But I’m woefully out of condition. I never go anywhere when it’s in an airplane or a jeep and the roads over here are so bad that jeep riding is kept to a minimum.
    Hey--no mail for five days--I’m crying in whatever I happen to be drinking--I did receive a notification from the Alumni Ass’n that I owe them some loot but that’s not a love letter. I don’t love the Alumni Ass’n. Can’t even get interested (biologically) in them. Now take you, for instance. Do you know the picture I like best that you’ve sent me? It’s the one taken at the beach, in a bathing suit, natch, with long hair, down at the sides, a white suit--looks like a play suit--and it shows your shape and legs--to good, real good, advantage. Yes it’s really nice. Anyway that’s the way I picture you most of the time. The other times wouldn’t get past a censor, no matter how lenient, but that’s because of being in Korea. Me I mean, not the censor.
    Have you ever been to Lake Tahoe? Real nice. And a real swell golf course too.
    Well, the bottle is gone and I’m just about. Besides it’s real cold--damn. Wherever we live it better be warm--about twelve months out of twelve. Please write real often--please--Bye for now.