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"...Today I have been scrubbing the bulkheads getting all dirt from them in the starboard troop lobby as we are having both personnel and ship's inspection by the captain and officers tomorrow. Back on 'mess cooking' well as I don't know, too much about the Navy I'd just as soon be on that as anything...." [Censored areas have been excised from page 1 and page 2 of the letter]

Scope and Contents "...I laid up in the sun this afternoon on a cot and got a little more tan. With the time that I have off, I spend most of it sleeping. Seems like I've sorta lost interest in writing letters. I suppose because there is nothing to write about, censorship being so strict and while on 'deck force' not much time to write...Today I suppose 'we live in deeds, not years'. Wars are horrible, destructive and heart-tearing, but it is written in the Bible and according to God's word...'There shall...

Scope and Contents "...The censors let down and so now I can tell you where I've been but I can't tell you where I am now, and some of the things I've seen but I can't mention dates...I may as well start at the beginninig--way back in New Orleans, LA. From OGU (out going unit) in Camp Peary, VA I was sent to the naval station ['Algeria'] Naval Repair Base across the muddy Mississippi River and three miles from the heart of the city, there I picked up this ship--LST 713. We shoved off from these and sailed on...

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Written on Fire Association of Philadelphia letterhead. "Please excuse me for not writing more than I have been. I'm working at an insurance office and haven't much time to write. Hope you are feeling all OK...."

Envelope is stamped "Deceased. Verified by Statistical Division HAEF."

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"Why don't you write me. We haven't received a letter from you in a long time now. Mama is worried about you...."

Envelope stamped: "Deceased. Verified by Statistical Division HAEF."

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Note of sympathy.

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"Dear Dad, I am traveling. Will write soon. Everything looks good along the country. Fine crops."

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"Season's Greetings. My love, Pete."

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"Merry Christmas from...the blue Pacific."

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"2 Mar 1945. I now have some more V-mail stationery so from now on, for awhile at least, you can expect to receive them from me. That is I'll write you every chance I get, but goodness knows when you will receive them...."