3 mi outside Claiborne Louisiana.

June 21 or 22nd

Hello Isabella Honey.

As usual sweetheart I've moved again. We left "Boyce" LA yesterday am and came to the same spot just outside of Claiborne where I started from on the 11th of this month, only this time instead of being with B. Co I am still with the regular army- I've got a lot to tell darling. First of all I do have my "Corporal" rating now. When we pulled in here yesterday I got to talk to my Capt of B Company, he said that I had my rating and as far as I know I started to draw the $54.00 pay from the first of June, if I did I'll be paid $54.00 this pay. How does that sound?

I've told you a lot of our troubles, that is the seven other men of mine who are on detached service from the 37th but I didn't tell you all of it cause there was no point in worrying you but now that its about over I can tell you. These last 11 days have been hell, "hell" honey. As I said we are under southern officers and "non-coms" of the regular army and they have really taken advantage of us. The regular army hates National Guardsmen and on top of that these southerners enjoying making it as tough as possible for a northerner so they have really laid it on us. We have been worked half to death, I was lucky to get Col. Lowe as my officer as he has been swell but some of these poor devils had 6 hrs sleep from Sun to Wed, worked all the rest of the time. We were given every dirty detail they could find and there is one particular non-com who has bullied us to death. Any one of we eight men would gladly split his skull if we could get away with it. I've never hated anyone the way I do that man. One of our eight men refused to work anymore last nite and this non-com threatened to beat him up, we other 7 men just quit what we were doing, walked over and surrounded him. We must have looked pretty tough cause the guy called for an officer and for the first time we got a square deal. The officer told him to lay off us & let us go to bed. If he'd have laid a hand on that kid we would have beat him half to death. We'd had all we could take.

As I said I talked to Cap't of B. Co last night before they left here & he said I had been "made". Told him how we were being treated & he raised "hell", you see our officers thot we had it pretty nice, they didn't know how things were. I told him that the regular army intended to keep us till Oct. and he said "like hell they will. I need you here and I'll get your discharge from there inside of three days. Go on back & wait on it". So I've only two more days of this crap to take. I'm glad of it. I've never felt more like murder in my life.

The other seven men will have to stay till at least June 28, the only reason I can be discharged so soon is because I've been given a non com rating. In the army you can put a non com in charge of a detail but you can't make him work on a detail. Well my troubles are about over so enough on that.

Got a letter from you yesterday, it was mailed the 16th, written the 14th & sent to Shelby – I received your letter written to Beauregard on the 17th the day before this one. That makes sense if you read it twice.

Honey do you honestly think I'm good looking enough to be mobbed by a bunch of women if caught alone? – Maybe in an "old maids" home huh? You dreamed you had a little boy eh? Gosh honey I'm glad you liked him. Having a boy isn't so bad, now is it? Bella, what do you say we have two girls & two boys, twins each time, that would be unusual, save a lot of time and bother and we'd both have what we want then. How about 2 boys and 2 girls at the same time? Do you think you could do it? If so you'd get your name in the "Sunday Star" too just like I did. Or did I? Have you ever seen my picture yet? Honey our children whether boys or girls will be marvels, my good looks & your brains, how could they be otherwise? Did you visit Sam & Emily as you planned? Whats happened to their two darlings lately, surely something has.?

Honey after I get out of this "prison outfit" and back to my own company I still don't know where we'll be headed for, at least not until I find out what is planned for B. Co but near as I can tell, here it is. Today is Sat so I should be back with B. Co by Tues, they are out on maneuvers this week some where near Texas border so that's where I'll go from here. They are due back at Claiborne by June 26th and then we are to back in Camp Shelby by June 31st- or July 1st-Now get this straight honey, (keep writing to) on second thot, soon as you receive this letter change back to my old Shelby address. –Corporal E.A. Masen Co B 166 INF. APO 37 Div Camp Shelby Miss. That sounds pretty familiar doesn't it?

Great days Isabella honey. When you receive this June will be just about be on her way out. Soon as we push through the month of July we're more than halfway thru our year dearest, Maybe I can come home in Aug. hot dog, if not then, I can for sure by the first week of Sept. That will only leave 3 mo and 3 wks to go after my next leave and if I've got the dope straight we are allowed 30 days of leave per year. I took eight days last April, if I take 10 days then Sept that adds up to 18 days which would leave me 12 days to come home over Xmas if you wanted me to – Back here for 23 days in Jan of next year and it's all over. Isabella my sweet, that's wonderful. I'll hunt me a new job, we can be married and start to have those things we have wanted and planned for, for so long, house, kids and you & me, its going to work out Bella, just as we've both prayed it would. Keep the chin up my Bella, we've got this year and our trouble beaten if we just hold out a while longer. –Just one thing, when I come home on leave this time you either kiss me in front of your mom or I won't marry you. I really think she ought to know I kiss you. Bella, as your Mother she has a right to know. How bout it Bella. What do you think?

Well darling I've got to close so ever I'll tell you I love you. No need for me to try & write how very much I love you, need you, miss you. I know I can't and you know I do.

Congratulate me on my promotion & I'll send you some dough, otherwise I'll spend it for drink. Bless you my darling & from now on make each letter longer than your last.

More Love Than You'll Ever Need.

See You Tomorrow.

Edward

P.S. Don't worry about the two boys & two girls at one time. I'll love you even if it isn't possible, what a joke if it should be.

E.A.M.