WWII Diary of Chick Bruns – 70 Years Ago

Dear Mother & Dad;
I have just came home from mass, so I thought I had better drop you a line while lying in the mood. It gets pretty hot here in the daytime and you don’t feel like doing anything. Today is Sunday and we have the day off, but there is nothing to do, and no place to go. I think this afternoon I will play a little pinochle for a change. All we do here now is have a little training to keep us in trim. Last night we went on a small hike of about 8 miles. We are suppose to hike at the average of 5 miles an hour. When we arrived home I took a shower and then went to a show over at HQ Company. The name of IP was Wake Island. I had saw it before I had left the states, but it was good to at least get to see a movie.
How is everything at home? Okay I hope. Now mom don’t listen to anyone about me coming home. There is only one way to get home and thats to get this war over with, and then come home to stay. So don’t go building your hopes up. I have received your candy yet, but I will let you know when I do. Let me know when you receive the souvenirs I sent home. Goodbye to you both and I’ll be thinking of you.
Your Son “Chick”

Dear Mother & Dad;
It has been some time since I have written to you, but you’ll have to expect it from now one. You don’t know one day from the next, of what you are going to do. I have been in a lot of hot places but this country takes the cake. My god! But it’s hot here. It hasn’t rained for so long now that I forgot what rain looks like. The only time it cools off is at night that way you at least get a chance to get some sleep. We are starting a new training schedule now, we work from 5:30 AM until 10:00 AM. Then we have off until 5:30 PM. Then we worked till 9:30 PM. From 10:00 to 5:30 is the heat of the day, and I hope we get to go swimming in between times.
We had a ball game with the HQ Company the other night, and we won 4 to 2 in extra innings. It was really a swell game and the Fellows played a swell. That’s the first time we have played ball since we left Port Lyautey the 1st of April. We have come a long way since that time go. I have enjoyed every bit of it though.
I went out to blow up some duds today and they were so hot from laying out in the sun that I had to wrap my handkerchief around them to carry them. They were so hot that you couldn’t pick them up with your bare hands. Well this is all I have to say for today, goodbye an please don’t worry. I’ll be thinking and loving you both.
Your Son “Chick”