July 1, 1942  Tucson, AZ

Dear Donna,

I received your most lovely and welcome letter this afternoon.  Right on the ball, so to speak, due to the fact that it arrived on Wednesday.

I left your letter over to our new office and I am over to the 39^th to see how the boys are getting along.  They seem to be doing just as well without us, so I’m going to write to you. 

I guess I am going to have to disappoint you in regards to whether or not I decide to fly.  I withdrew my application for the gliches.  The main reason for it was because they made me mad when they turned down my application for Officer’s Candidate school because of it.  So I says to myself, I says, if that is the way they are going to play, I’ll fool them, and so I withdrew it.  I am glad to because Dad is coming down Monday, the 6^th, and I would have been gone by them.  And that wouldn’t have been nice, would it.

Now for a little more news.  In one way this is good, in another way it is bad. 

We were informed the other day that we are to be stationed here, in this desert, for the duration.  That is going to please Mother to no end, but my chances of seeing any action are just about void.  We aren’t even going to send out cadres so they tell us, just combat crews only.  If I am to be placed in one place for the duration, I can think of a lot better places than Tucson, but they didn’t ask me, so I won’t tell them.  Due to this latest news, I am going to attempt to get another furlough and come home and bring my car back with me.  How would you like to come down for a vacation?  I would really like to have you come down with me.  Maybe this is a little abrupt, or something, but Donna, I mean it.  I honestly believe that I would love to have you down with me for good.  But I wouldn’t want to try a courtship via correspondence, cause I doubt if that would work out any advantage, but I do like to think about it, and I rather hope that you would like to think about it too.  Please don’t hold nay grudge or hate against me because of this, and I would appreciate a tentative answer.  I know that it would work out if it was certain if we were going to be stationed her as long as they say.  Of course, there is always the chance that orders can be revoked.  So please think about it anyway.  The Army makes it very nice in a financial way for married personnel, so that part is a cinch. 

The heat is still about the same. It all depends upon how you happen to feel, whether or not you feel the heat.  Last night I stayed in town (payday), and I really had an oven for a room.  There was absolutely no rest to be had.  Next week when Dad is here, I am going to have myself a furlough and really take it easy.

Went to one of the nightclubs last night, but didn’t have a very good time.  There just isn’t the appeal there to be had and I didn’t feel like drinking, so no fun.  Have you had any to speak of. 

Think I’ll sign off for tonight and get some shuteye, so goodnight and pleasant dreams.

Lots of love,

Wayne