17.

Thursday, June 10 

Darling:

Tonight I have every intention of getting my first full 
night's sleep in weeks. But before starting I wanted to say 
hello to you.

I have talked personally to no less than 279 guys in the 
last day or so on subjects ranging all the way from foot 
blisters to the fact that their girl was not writing to them. 
etc. All that has to be solved and all that is the headache 
of the commissar.

You know that I have worked pretty hard at times in the 
past, but I can tell you truthfully I never worked harder 
in my life than I have since we started on the Third 
Battalion.

But it is fascinating work. You see it taking on more 
shape, discipline and mobility every hour. The raw recruits 
who two days ago turned in four different direction at the 
command of "Right face" today turn as one man and click 
their heels together in right smart military fashion. We do 
not put much emphasis on parade ground fancy dress 
parade, but we do stress quick response to command in 
order to bring about the mobility that is required in action. 
Already we have started field maneuvers, and it is a real 
pleasure to see how the boys grab hold of things.

In the letter that you probably didn't get I told you of my 
last day on the shooting range where we fired the rifle, 
light machine gun and heavy machine gun. I scored well 
with all three. Man, what a feeling of power you have when 
entrenched behind a heavy machine gun! You know how I 
always enjoyed gangster movies for the mere sound of the 
machine guns. Then you can imagine my joy at finally 
being on the business end of one. I'd much rather be a 

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