December 16, 1943

Thurs., Dec. 16, 1943

Dear Mother:-

I received your most welcome letter this morning and I was glad to hear from you. I also got the package which you sent me this evening. Thanks a lot for everything.

Yesterday it rained all day so we had classes indoors all day. the rain started the night before and rain all during the day and part of last night. During the night it got cold and windy. I always thought Florida was a warm state but here is what we wore today and some of us were still cold. I put on my heavy underwear; wool knitted cap; overcoat and gloves. I sure didn't think I would ever wear the overcoat down here but it sure felt good this morning and tonight.

I guess Dora will be surprised to find it so cold down here as I told her the other day how hot it was here last week. She should be on her way by now. I signed up for a pass this evening but we are to work until 5:15 this Saturday so it will be late before I get into Jacksonville.

I sure wish it would warm up before tomorrow night as I've got to walk guard again. That sure does come around quick. That will be about my last time while I'm at this camp. It's my 4th time.

I didn't get last week's Staunton paper until yesterday evening. Mail is sure coming in slow. I wrote a letter to Uncle Henry last Sunday. I told him to show it to Lillian and Mary to save me from writting so much. I got the Xmas card from you and bill. I got about 10 Xmas cards so far. I even got one from the Carters from Wentzville, Mo. who work at the TNT powder plant. I sent out 35 and I'm not going to send anymore.

I sure was surprised to hear that Jack Hockmuth had died. I wonder who will get his filling station now.

There is a lot of flu and cold down here also. The hospital is full of fellows. Our Captain told us yesterday evening when we were done to go to our huts and stay there out of the rain. He also said that we should be sure to take off our wet shoes.

I'm glad you like the picture of me. I didn't think they were so good but still they were a lot better than I had expected. Maybe sometime later I'll get it taken again and I can give everyone a picture. I sent Dora some snapshot that I took down here. I guess she'll show them to you when she gets up there.

Well it's time for lights out and I told you all the news so I'll close and I'll write to you later. thanks a lot for the package and Here's Wishing you all a Merry Xmas & a Happy New Year.

Gus

Dad was kept up-to-date on happenings back home through letters from his mother, his wife, and many others, in addition to the Staunton newspaper, and he often mentions Staunton news in his letters back home. Jack Hockmuth and his wife Johanna lived on East Main Street in Staunton. He owned the Hochmuth Service Station on West Main Street.

At some point in the early 1940s, before Dad was drafted, he and my mother lived in Wentzville, Mo., where he worked at the TNT powder plant, and it seemed that a number of friends and family did the same.

Dad mentions asking Uncle Henry to show the letter he wrote him to Lillian and Mary. They are Uncle Henry's two daughters, Dad's cousins, Lillian Glenn and Mary Wasilewski, both of whom lived in Athens, Illinois.