FEBRUARY 26, 1945

Dear Bernice:

Night duty. Not particularly busy, but of all places for me to be working-the psychiatric ward. Have been on ten nights, four more to go. Am taking for granted you received my letter saying I was on detached service at another hospital. Have been here about five weeks now. Not a bad spot, but would like to get going ourselves if ever. It's not quite so cold here now. Most of these poor fellows coming in here have just had all they can take and more. Just cracked under the strain.

There just isn't anything to write about. I stopped after this first paragraph and wrote a V-mail to Aunt Doad for a birthday greeting. I had one-perhaps you might recall-last week. Don't like them thar things any more. Had a nice card from Aunt Clara. I didn't tell the other girls about it until one said, 'Well, this was George Washington's birthday.' So says I, 'That is nothing, day before yesterday was mine.' They were wild because I hadn't told them. Lo and behold, a couple of nights after when I got up there was a lovely birthday cake, and it was nice. White butter icing and 'Happy Birthday' in blue. The best cake I've eaten since I've been overseas. They also had little gifts for me. Stationery, handkerchief, comb, a garment bag, and a Florentine bottle cork. Had quite a little party. I fully expected an armistice, as something strategically important seems to happen around my day. Nothin' came of it however, and we battle on.

Did I tell you I had the box from Aunt Clara and it had the beans? Am saving them until I get off nights and feel beany-then, oh then you know the rest. Aunt Clara seemed to be so much better, and in better spirits.

Had a V-mail from Gladys last week. She sure puts a lot on one of those, I can hardly read it. However I did make out one thing which distressed me. You know I sent all my blue outfit to her to keep for me when we changed over to the brown. She casually tells me she is making over 'the blue suit' for Frances. 'Can she wear the bottoms, as she would like to.' Can you imagine it? I prized that suit, and wanted it kept. Even though we are not wearing them over here, it's the dress uniform in peacetime in the USA. I probably would never wear it, but it has a bit of sentiment attached to it. You know my 'Civil War' suit and all that. What possessed her-she never made anything over for Frances before. Well, what is done is done.

You remember A[?] Taylor, the one who almost bought the tulip quilt. She has been in England for over two years, and was sent home with sinus trouble. She is now over here. I had a letter from her last week. She is about two hundred miles or so from me to the rear.

How is the Brown man-that was a terrible accident wasn't it? I heard a shot outside here last night. When we investigated, a fellow had been shot. He was caught stealing sugar to sell. I suppose he refused to halt, so was shot through the leg. They brought him in here. Bad enough to come over here and be shot in combat, but shot for stealing sugar! I reckon he won't steal any more. Two big bags of it. No doubt would get quite a price for it on the black market. We are trying to put a stop to that.

Nothing more to write, so will say good night.

Love, Frank