45 10/1/1944 Jim Erwin to Helen Carlson

Jim Erwin 497th Service Sqdn. 44th Service Group, APO 487, NY Sunday, October 01, 1944

Helen Carlson 382 Robertsville Road, Oak Ridge, Tennessee

Dear Helen, Your handkerchiefs and a very nice letter both came yesterday. Was very glad to receive both. You really have gone to way too much bother in getting things for my Christmas. I know I'll just love everything you send. You're always doing things for me and never receiving anything in return. Don't give up, I'll do something for you one of these days. I'm on guard duty tonight. Have a five hour shift and go on at three in the morning. Came back to the tent for a little while to write a few letters. The boy a few tents away was playing his guitar. He came over and is playing now while I'm writing. Just like having a radio on. He certainly is a wonderful musician. Cliff and I were certain that we'd make a rating this month. Some came out but we weren't on the list. Everything was going so well, a few days ago an officer told us he was sure that they would go through. Don't know what stopped it this time. Ratings will all be frozen soon and then there won't be any chance of advancing. The moon is out full tonight and the sky is clear. Really a beautiful night. It's one of the warmest days we have had in a long time. Just like being in the middle of summer. Yes, I shaved off the beard. Had let it grow for a month and a half. It was red too. Cliff does look young but not because he has lived a sweet and innocent life. That boy has really been around. The black market seems to be going strong there. First it was a couple of dollars for a roll of film and now seven dollars for a bottle of whiskey. Glad you got one good bottle anyway. A boy just informed me that he could get me a bottle of American whiskey for every case of beer I could get. Cliff and I are going to trade one case this month and two next month. We'll then have three quarters for over Christmas and New Years. Maybe you're lucky that school started and your nurse girl had to quit. Guess stealing wasn't enough. Trying to set the house afire was going a little too far. We were paid yesterday morning and then hitchhiked into town. Bought some shorts, walked around and came home tired. Every time we say never again. Lay around the tent so much just feeling like going someplace though. We'll probably go again in a few weeks. They're giving us a full day a week off now so are pretty lucky. A new shop that's bigger and with more equipment is being built so working conditions are going to be even better. They're good enough right now. We'll be moving into a new area soon. The tents are better and the area is all cleaned up. Our day room and bar is nearly finished so everything looks pretty good for the future. Will close for now. With love, Jim