February 2, 1944
(Camp Abbot, Oregon)
Dear Mudder and Dad,
(Camp Abbot, Oregon)
Dear Mudder and Dad,
Wot a week this has been! Whew! I might as well begin at the beginning and maybe you’ll see why? On Monday we were issued out bivouac equipment—over $400.00 worth of equipment. I got special heavy all wool kneelength stockings (each pair is as heavy as my civilian oxfords) special boots with 3/8 inch felt insoles, waterproof pants, wrist length heavy field jacket, heavy sweater, a 50% angora wool ¼ inch thick muffler that must be worth about $10.00, a fur coat (squirrel or rabbit or sumpin’), a heavy reversible parka with hood, wool lined hunting type hat, 2 pair of wool mittens which go inside a pair of leather mitts, a special pack and a sleeping bag. Wooie.
Tonight I signed up for a furlough. That’s no sign I’m going to get one but it’s a step in the right direction.
I received your packages. The cake was delicious and the socks will be plenty handy. Thanks a lot.
I’m awfully tired now. I know this isn’t much of a letter but it’s the best I can do tonight. I’ll try and write again tomorrow.
Best Love,
Bill
Best Love,
Bill
I wonder how a soldier is supposed to function with all that gear. I bet they still get cold.
ReplyDelete3/8" felt insoles and a $10 muffler sound impressive in Bill's letter, but they are decidedly "low tech" and no doubt "orders of magnitude" less effective than today's modern insulation.
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