November 4th, 1943

 Dearest Betty,

I received your two letters today and if mail was complete happiness I would be the happiest man in the world today. I hope school is fine, and you’re doing all right on your studies. Betty, being away from home and people it makes a fellow think a little more, and to tell you the truth I’ve been thinking an awfully lot, about what I’m going to do when the war is over, and I come home for good. Who knows I may sign-over or maybe have to go on relief, or anything. A guy just doesn’t know exactly what he’d do. He might even get married. But as a guy gets older he either gets sillier or smarter,  which one I am becoming I don’t know yet. I hope it’s a mixture as I never want to become a stump on a log.

Well, let’s say we skip the solemn part of this letter and talk about you and what you’ve been doing lately. Are you learning any new dance steps so you can teach them to me when I come home after this deal has come to a climax? Hey have you viewed the picture I sent you of myself I had taken in a set of blues? If you have how did you like it? Really Betty I understand about your letter writing after all I haven’t been batting 1000 in my letter writing either so you’re forgive. I wasn’t sore or anything so please forget about it.

Well Betty it wasn’t too much like Christmas over here as I told you in my last letter. They had a celebration (two days in a row the 26th and 27th) And there were beer and blackened pig which turns my stomach upside down every time I think of it, but it was more or less like a same all day in the corps for me. I certainly am glad your father had a nice time and wish to thank your mother, dad, and Johnny for the swell Xmas card. That certainly was nice of you guys! That thanks includes you also so don’t feel left out! This is the first time really that I’ve had time to actually sit down and write a letter but I am going to attempt it more and see how I do. Lately we have been getting some swell pictures and some pretty bad ones too. How did you like that picture “Claudia”? I thought it was darn good, especially the part of the mother played by Ina Claire. She played the same part in the stage in New York. There have been quite a few changes made in the guard here in the past week and it has put a lot of work on the officers shoulders and myself. We’ve been making the payroll up and it’s pretty rough in some places.

Well Betty I’m afraid I’m going to have to go now and write my mother and sister Marie. Here’s hoping I find a letter with three pictures in it of you and myself soon. Say hello to your father John for me and tell Johnny he’s breaking a marines morale in half by not slugging that druggist that’s got your pictures.

With all my love,
Your Marine Private
Norman