696 5/31/1944 Jim Erwin to Helen Carlson

Jim Erwin 497th Service Sqdn. 44th Service Group, APO 9898, NY Wednesday, May 31, 1944

Helen Carlson Box 1310, Knoxville, Tennessee

Dear Helen, You have probably had your baby by now and hope you and the little boy are fine. Maybe it is a girl though. Wrote to the folks but Mother is probably with you. Had a nice trip on the boat and arrived in some port in India. Got on a train and traveled some more. Don’t know what part of India I’m in myself. This is a strange country but a beautiful one. The Indians ___ everything. We are in a lovely place and are living like kings. The boys in states haven’t got it as nice. The natives clean our barracks, shine shoes, make beds, carry bags, do the K.P. They even try to give us our baths. Most of them speak some English and everybody gets along fine. Am in a nice cool building now. Fans are on and makes it nicer. A phonograph is playing swell popular records. Candy has been sent out for the fellows. What a deal. Can’t believe it. It really is wonderful. Pardon the change [in pen color] Upon hitting port our mail was waiting for us. I got 30 some letters. Was sure glad to hear from everybody. I am sending you $50.00 as soon as they pay us. Haven’t been paid for a couple of months so expect to get quite a bit. We have a P.X. and bar, also have movies. Each man is rationed but things are available. Each man can get 1 case beer a month. This is just like a vacation and would like to sweat the war out here. Have more letters to write so will close for now. Will write again soon. With love, Jim