Camp Barkeley, Dec. 28, 1942.
Dear Omar:
It’s about time for another letter from these parts. There's not much to write
about. Our division is doing a lot of bivouacking in this beautiful Texas weather.
The wind’s got speed and trying to snow Xmas eve. It was like summer, real
hot but today it’s nearly freezing. We’re going through a series of army tests in
the field. Pretty soon we are going to graduate from these Texas hills and all I’ll
hate to leave is my wife which some of you will no doubt be surprised, as Santa
Claus brought me. I married a Kansas girl at 8:00 pm., Xmas night. We had a
time hunting up the county clerk. We found a minister at his home and he married
us there and was more than nice. We had been on a test for three weeks and just
returned to camp. My wife had been working in Wichita Falls waiting for a
lapse when we could be married. Our company had a beer party Xmas eve,
but I hurried off to join Ruth.
The order had just come thru that we were transferring to different squads. I’ve
been with the mortar section for a month and now I am back with my old squad
My wife intends to work near here in Abilene until I am shipped.
The Sun is really enjoyed by all of us soldiers, and the folks back home surely
do their part in giving greetings for Xmas. I want to thank you for the Sun
and wish you and the folks back home a Happy New Year.
You old bachelors back home who think you can’t get married, take it from a
soldier and join the army and the right girl will come along. However, I knew this girl
back in 1937, but I was too bashful to ask her then.
Well, this about all. I thank you for the Sun and wish you all a Happy
New Year to you all.
Very Truly,
Pvt Hugh Melrose