My dearest darling-

Boy this army life is funny. First you run your neck off with hardly time to breathe and then again you can sit around for hours in your bunk trying to duck the Sarge.

This morning for example. I got up at 10 min to 5!! We dressed and stood around until 6:10 in the freezing outside air waiting for the mess hall to open. It is pitch dark and very very shivery outdoors and all we wear are thin pants and jacket with a sweat shirt and a “crew” hat. This outfit is called “fatigues.” We do all work in these clothes. We went into the mess hall and they started making breakfast. These duties in the kitchen are called KP, everybody gets a chance at it. Just about this time the mob starts coming in for eats and everyone gets a duty to take care of. The boys walk in with their mess kits and each guy gets a portion of food from an individual KP. This AM everyone got first a slice of bread from one guy, from another you get a spoonful of sauce made up of hamburg and better and water, coffee and orange. I was the guy who handed out the oranges. I handed out 2 crates of oranges. Very elementary, my dear sweetie. After everybody was served they appointed men (me) for various duties. There were dining roomers (mop floor), G-men (garbage), and vegetable men (potato peelers). I was a veg man. Myself and 2 other guys sat down, were given apple corers and started peeling potatoes. It was fun - and listen honey - tell Mother that there is adsolutely nothing for peeling potatoes like an apple corer. No fooling, tell het to throw away all her foolish paring knives and get 1/2 dozen apple corers. No fooling!

We were peeling potatoes until about 8 o’clock & outside it was still pitch dark. Can you imaging working for 3 hours and it’s only 8:00 in the morning?

It’s lots-a-fun peeling potatoes. I’m really very good at it. No kidding when I get back I’ll really show you a thing or two about peeling potatoes and other household duties - hones honey!

Oh yes - it was just about 8 o’clock this AM and I was peeling potatoes when in comes a guy with 3 replacements for us 3 potato peelers. We were ordered out and told to report to the Orderly Room from where we were ordered to the Air Cadet Board where we took the Air Corps Exam again. Boy was it a tough test. It was more difficult than the one I took at the Federal Bldg. in Sept. It took us 3 guys 3 hours until 12:00 to finish. My pal Jack Jones flunked with 58. My pal Johnny Boyles flunked with 72. I also thought it was tough. After the exam we ate beef, potatoes, cherry pie, peaches and coffee. And all afternoon we have been laying around this darn barracks going nuts!

Going to eat now - I am going to take a physical Monday AM.

So long from your loving hubby, Teddy

P.S. I passed the test with 88%