August 19, 1942  Wendover, Utah

Dear Donna,

48 hours, and no smoking yet.  I am going to write once a day until I do smoke again.  That way it is worth quitting for.  Are you going to help me with it?

When I wind up, I might make a real upstanding soldier with no bad habits whatsoever.  Will that tend to increase my chances in my fight for the ultimate goal of a young man.

Today was a little slower than yesterday.  In fact I have hardly done anything that is of value to the military service, except to drink 6 cokes so far.  I know that is way too many, but for the time being, something has got to take the place of the nicotine.  I forgot to mention the fact that I’ve got 8 full packages in my foot locker too.  In about 3 or 4 more days, I’ll put them up for sale or gifts or something. 

It is sure quiet around here tonight.  Just like the lull before the storm, or something, only I hope there isn’t a storm brewing.

I was wondering, Donna, what the town gossipers thought when you came to Salt Lake to see me.  I have a good idea about what they talked about, but we should marry, our heads are straight, and our consciences are clear.  Hope no personal trouble is caused you in regards to it.  You are much too swell of a person for anyone to try to hurt through gossip.  In fact, you are too good for me, and I hope that if you will only let me, that I can try to make myself worthy of you. 

I am on my seventh coke now, I’ve got to quit that too.  Take care of that in a couple of days.  Can’t quit everything at once.

Tomorrow, we or rather a few, of us start our shots over again.  Hope we don’t have to take them all over again.

The subject has turned to army cooking, and who was our best cooks.  It all winds up to the best we have ever had was at Fort Douglas.  Those were really good days.

Still don’t know when we are to move, or where we will finally stop, but we are all hoping and praying for Pueblo, and I am praying and hoping still further than that, depending upon you.

Well, Donna, for tonight I can’t find anything more to write about, until tomorrow, providing I haven’t smoked yet, I will say goodnight and lots of love.

Wayne