Transcription of Document FFDoc-0731.pdf

Co. A 3170 S.S.B.

The Night of the Big Rain

Approx. Aug 3d ± 1 day

Dear Frank,

Camp Edison is currently suffering an invasion of the Atlantic Ocean or a reasonable facsimile thereof from all the c.c.'s of water which are collecting from a small cloudburst that doesn't know when to quit. Being outside man on K.P. today - incidently having conducted extensive research on the subject while in the 1st company, that is a goldbrick's job - I managed to collect a considerable quantity of the aforementioned liquid in my shoes, socks, leggings, pants, etc; not to mention down the back of my nick from our illustrious G.I. helmet. Whoever designed the damn things ought to be made to sit under a cold shower the rest of his natural life. Having just looked out the window delete the word "small" in the first sentence in reference to the cloudburst. I imagine will be in the nave before morning.

August ?th

Along about then we began to ship water from a few imperfections in the barracks roof which called for immediate action - (the imperfections, not the roof). We have a bad habit of writing a letter over a period of time but I trust the interim will not be so great as to have to include the year. Until further notice it is 1944.

Just to keep the records straight we probably should mention that a short while back we suffered the most infamous fate possible fro (just to turn the "r" and the "o" around and you have "for" which is what was intended) a radio man to undergo, namely be made a wireman. For some strange and unknown reason - and we are assuming a great deal in stating there even was a reason - some character up at personell decided that obviously anybody who had any experience in radio would also be an expert troubleshooter on submarine cables. So there's where we are. Actually the aforementioned mentioned* bitching is not strictly legal as I have no objections to the latest "good deal," but it is sort of an abrupt about face in our vocational pursuits. Maybe now I'll be able to look at a diagram in one of the wire textbooks without suffering from an inferiority complex. Our knowledge to date on the subject of wire communication ends with which end of an EE-8A to talk into. And that confuses us no end at times. Anyway the program of coming events has it that we go up to Western Union in New York for about 3 months of combination schooling and team training. That of course will be hard to take if it goes through.

Right now we are sweating out a furlough which according to the latest word is starting Thursday or Friday. So far we had furloughs starting August 2nd, August 5th, and August 7th, but we're still here. About 81.95% of the company went out last week, and I have been engaged in large quantities of barracks guard since then.

Enclosed if I remember to enclose it is a letter from Uzdella which is more or less self-explanatory. The outfit is Press Wireless. Incidently have you heard anything new on any of our late ionisphere experts?

When you get yourself a little time, let's hear how the Shield's branch of the S.C. is progressing with the war. I trust the title will soon be T/Sgt or M/Sgt Francis J. Shields - or at least should be.

That sort of takes care of any and all bright remarks from this part of the country, so mit luff and kisses -

Sincerely

Dave

* Rule no. 1 in letter writing states, and I quote, "Thou shalt not engage in conversation with others while attempting to present one's thoughts on paper." Unquote.