U.S. Army Air Forces

March 15, 1943

Darling;
We had an early noon mess today, so I may as well write my darling's letter now when I have time. This morning we had some drilling and another lecture on rifle ranges and of course our colisthematics. This afternoon we are going to have a parade. The first one in about 10 days. It is now 12 o'clock and we're not scheduled to fall out till about 1 p.m. tonite I want to get a haircut, it's about one inch long already and my side burns are coming back. I'll get "gooffed off" if I don't get one.

The term "gooffed off" is applied to the head when it closely resembles a cue ball. You wouldn't want me to look like a cue ball would you my dearest. After I get my haircut I'm going to study in my books till bed time.
Yesterday as the story goes, a soldier was stung by a sea creature called, a "spanish man of war" which resembles a jellyfish with a real long stinger. Today he lies in the infiremary partly paralyzed. Frederick warned me about a season, which begins about the middle of march and last throughout April in whihc these men of war and harmacubs are very prevalent in these waters. Somehow, I

didn't get to go swimming yesterday although I had wanted to. I'll be very careful, darling don't worry. Lots of our men were out too long yesterday and got a terrific bum, they had to go on sick call this morning. You can get bummed something like we did that one declaration day, remember darling? (it's still a sweet memory in my heart in spite of the bum) In short two boms down here. This tropical sun is really hot.
Darling all the fellows are hoping that we go way up

north near home for our pre-flight training. Somehow or other I'd rather go somewhere we've never been before. For instance I wouldn't mind going to Texas/ Louisianna or someplace near the sea - wouldn't you? In fact I wouldn't mind going to the middle of L.A. Although I imagine it well e terrifically hot down here in the summmer. IT's getting hotter everyday already it seems. Every part of my face is getting a tan except my nose I don't know what I'll do with it. It seems like I've peeled off about 4 layers of skin now. Soon I'll have to have some skin grafted back on again. It still peels though. Oh well I guess it'll be o.k. Well dearest darling snootie, that's all for today. Don't work too hard and more tomorrow.
All my love
Herb