Letter or Postcard – Letter
Sender – Ralph Peterson
Recipient – Phyllis Peterson
Postmark Place – St. Petersburg, Florida
Postmark Date – 5 April 1943
Letter Date – 4 April 1943
Text:
Dearest mother and baby,
Here it is Sunday already and I am still staying in for measles, but I am getting out Tuesday night, so Wednesday I will be back on the drill field working my head off. Still, I might not be here by then because there is about 40 more of us guys going out tomorrow and I might be one of them. Our Sarge is trying to get us out so we can go if we are supposed to be shipped. I hope he does, as I would like to get my teeth in some job where I know I am doing something. All we are doing now is just trying to pass away the time until we go. The same thing day after day. There is no chance for ratings here at all. They all go to the men who are stationed here. After we get to school and we show we have a chance to go ahead with our work pretty good then we have a chance for our stripes. I want at least one when I come home. Was it ever hot down here today. I went up on the top floor for my sun bath and did I ever get one. I am just cherry red from my waist up to my neck. I got a little too much on my back as it is starting to sting a little now. I got the mail for our squadron today, but no mail from you. There is only one mail call today so I can’t expect one from you now, but I figure on one from you tomorrow. You know, honey, there isn’t much news to tell you as I ain’t doing much to tell you about. Oh, yes, last night a boy from Shawano (a town north of Wautoma) and I took care of the hotel’s office from nine until midnight. About 50 guys went out and at least 30 of them came back drunk. I put a little Mexican to bed. He was so damn drunk that he climbed in the bathtub and thought he was in bed. Then he asked another guy for a match. We asked him what he wanted a match for and he says to light that cigarette you are going to give me. I can’t think of anymore tonight, sweetheart, so I will have to close. All my love and kisses, sweetheart, from Daddy PS – Hurry up with those pictures, as I want to see what my baby looks like.