THIRTY

Oct. 16th: 0830 hours

Dear Dad,

I finally received the letter that you wrote to me about a month ago. And, in a long-delayed response to your question; YES! Please mail me some long underwear! Send me gloves, mittens, socks, scarves, parkas...you name it, I need it.

It is already cold here: and getting colder every day. Soon, we can be hip deep in both blood and snow. So send what you can. I'll probably get it some time in May.

We had a visit from one of Sarabeth's brothers the other day. He's a colonel in Army Intelligence. I'm not sure exactly what he does. Reconnaissance, I think—they were both vague on that point. He is probably one of the few people connected with A I who may actually have any intelligence. I had the feeling that he was analyzing and evaluating everything we said and did.

Crockett and Sarabeth act very much alike in many ways. They have many of the same facial expressions. Their sense of humor is similar. They like to make each other laugh, as well as other people.

She played a wonderful trick on us the other day. We were in the Swamp while she was teaching us how to play a domino game. She shared a package of baked goods with us. We all ate some of the cookies and raved about the taste. They were very good!

B J asked what kind they were. Looking us straight in the eye---without a hint of planned mischief---she answered: cow pies

Being city boys, it took us a few seconds to realize what she was implying. You should have seen the looks on B J and Charles's faces! It was priceless! I don't know how I looked---but Sarabeth was laughing so hard at us, she was having trouble breathing.

Finally, with tears running down her cheeks, she managed to tell us that the cookies weren't made of cow manure...only called that. She said that, years ago, her brother, Travis, had named those chocoalte chocolate chip cookies 'cow pies' because they looked very similar to the contributions left by the cattle on their ranch.

We all started laughing and carrying on; except Charles, of course. And even he smiled. The puns got even worse after that. For the rest of the night, until she had to go on 11pm duty, anytime we reached into the cookie tin or made eye contact with one another, we'd dissolve into laughter. I really enjoyed that evening! That was probably one of the best times we've had over here. It was also one of the best jokes I've ever had played on me.

When Sarabeth first arrived, I expected us to become much better acquainted...if you get my drift. Instead, to my initial disappointment---and now to my delight---we've become good friends. I enjoy being with her.

Recently, she has taken to wearing a different colored ribbon or bow in her hair every day. I know I'm not the only one who anticipates seeing her smiling face and her colorful ribbons fluttering in the breeze each morning.

Our plans for the costume party at Halloween are coming along fine. But, planning this party has made me think of all the fun we had in the fall. I miss you, and Crabapple Cove, this time of year. Who am I kidding? I miss home every day---every minute---of the year.

I still need to think of something to cheer up B J. It has to be very special. Having him, and Sarabeth, here has helped to make it bearable for me.

They just called us to triage, Dad. I'll try to write more later.

Love always---your son,

Hawkeye