May 23, 1944

May 23, 1944

      Dear Shirley,

     Seems to me that you are leading one hell of a mixed up life.  There's enough trouble floating about without Ed getting emotional.  Your poor Mother!  She can take an awful lot.  I hope everything is straightened out by now.  It seems that everything has to be eventually straightened out.  What this country needs is a good five cent corkscrew.  

      I recieved a "v" letter from John.  He's drinking ale and bitters somewhere in England.  God, I'm a lousy writer!  Can you read half this stuff?  

      I went up to 38,000 feet in the altitude chamber last week.  I volunteered to take my oxygen mask off at 30,000 to see what would happen.  I was supposed to take both of my shoes and stockings off and put them back on.  I did, but in the middle I passed completely out.  As soon as the Doc gave me oxygen I came to and proceeded to finish the job.  The fascinating thing is that I never knew that I passed out.  At 38,000 you can only go about six minutes without oxygen.  I had a slight case of the bends in my wrist, but it wasn't serious.  It was a good experience.  

      The temperature hasn't been below 90 degrees in the past ten days.  Needless to say, it's hot.

      We're supposed to get open post next weekend.  It'll be the first time in six weeks.  I'm going to try and tear Montgomery apart in 24 hours.  

     I never told you this, but the first thing that happened to me here was having my haircut so that there wasn't more than a quarter inch anywhere on my head.  I looked like a moron.  It's grown back now and I've got almost an inch.  I can't figure it out but the damned stuff is growing back straight.  Also, my sunburn's sunburn is sunburned.  I look like one of the seven dwarves king sized.  Oh well, I never was very pretty.  Hey, the local P.X. wants nine bucks for sunglasses.  If you're flush how about dashing over to Kresge's and getting me a two bit pair?  I would be eternally grateful.  My eyeballs are sunburned too!  

     How are you coming on the job?  Do you have to crack the whip to keep the gang on the ball, or are they cooperative?

      Bah, I feel as much about writing a letter as I do about getting a tooth filled.  Be good and stuff.

     Love 

      Ray