Cpl Roman F. Klick 36620923
Co "A", 353rd Engr Regt
A.P.O. #502, c/o Postmaster
San Francisco, California
29 December 1943

A lot of good it did for me to have that half an hour or so before supper anyway. I picked up a Saturday Evening Post Magazine and began reading it. That not only kept me busy for that time before supper but also until eight o'clock after supper. I just had to read all about how they scientifically choose the targets for bombing in Germany and I also had to read all about how Douglas of Douglas Aircraft got his start and built up his billion dollar business and I just had to read the other small items scattered throughout the magazine.

It was after eight before I went down to the shower room with Larry for our daily cleansing and then it took me almost until nine o'clock to finally get at my laundry and put it away. Even now I have two sets of fatigues and a set of khakis with no place to put them and they are laying on my bed.

According to the Sopac, General Eisenhower says that we will win the war in 1944 if every one does his part. That is a pretty bold statement for a general like that to make. Probably his being appointed as supreme commander of the Allied invasion of northern Europe has gone to his head. I sure hope he is right and that we won't be like the German people who now look at the boasts of their leaders and wonder. By his saying it so flatly that we will win that European war next year you begin to wonder that maybe he has now put the hex on it and we will be a long time in winning it.

It is funny how the war looks to us these days. It seems as if every step of the road to victory is clearly mapped out for us and all we have to do is to take those necessary steps and the war will be over. Why then, the question arises, don't the Germans and the Japanese see the inevitable and just give up right now and save a lot of bloodshed. In a way this war reminds a person of a game of chess. Some players will concede games and when they realize the opponent has the superior position and a sure winning combination, they will give up then and there. Yet there are others who will play to the bitter end no matter how hopelessly out numbered or outmaneuvered. That is what it seems the Germans and the Japanese are going to do --- make us pay plenty for finishing the business.

O yes, there was another article in the Post which I paid particular attention to. It was about our oil supply. It seems that we haven't any cause for worry about our fuel giving out. It is true that our natural oil is due to run out by 1950 but by using coal, oil shale, or chemical synthesis we will have enough fuel (a bit more expensive though) for quite some time to come.

The big tent looks like a regular USO now with all the writing desks, ping-pong tables, library, piano, organ, magazine table and lounging benches. The fellows are first now beginning to see the improvements in it and are beginning to come over to the place in the evening to pass the time away.

Two candy bars went down the hatch this evening to bring the count for the day to three which isn't so bad seeing as how they were spaced at intervals.

Two bottles of beer were on sale right after supper. Two for twenty-cents so Larry and I went up to get our quota and then bring it into my tent where we turned them over to beer drinking John T. Edie. The only thing is that I doubt if he ever drinks all of them because he is continually giving Censky and Burkard a bottle of beer to drink every time he has one.

It is only nine-thirty and I am wondering whether I should write to Bob Hesser, read some Galsworthy or go to bed. For some reason or another I seem to be rather tired.

By the way, are the V-mails coming in postmarked from Chicago yet?

So-long,
/s/ Roman
Roman