Cpl Roman F. Klick 36620923
HS 1393 Engr APO 709
c/o PM San Francisco, California
18 May 1944

The light in the building is something terrible this evening and I have to strain my eyes even by typewriter so my aim of writing quite a few letters is once more dashed to the ground. I only hope that the people concerned will forgive me for the long delay I have taken in answering them. Do you realize that time is flying so swiftly along that we are already on this island for a good length of time? The first month or so on New Caledonia passed by with interminable slowness but time seems to be ticking off with a fantastic steadiness and swiftness. It is good too that such a thing is taking place for sooner the war will be over and the sooner will our two years overseas service be over with the possibility of a quick return home again even if only for a furlough. Jack Molyneaux on the other hand is already sick and tired of this island and wants to be on the move to another joint. I can't see that myself for first now we are settling down to a real good existence after all the hubbub of moving and setting up camp that I wouldn't want to move for another year if it could be arranged. One of the things which may be making this time pass fastly, I think quickly would be a better word, is that my work hasn't been caught up for some time and the day just starts and it is already time to stop. Then there is the evening canteen with the usual chewing the rag with the boys which also helps pass the time away.

But one thing which I'm going to curse my fate for is that I didn't get any mail today. That mail situation is worse than I have seen it in a long time even to go as far back as New Caledonia. Even there it was rare when I went so long with so many mailless days. By the way, I guess I will not be answering your letters this evening either for that would necessitate reading the small V-mail print by this poor headachy light and that would be no good.

Perhaps later on in the evening the lights will be a little better. It may be that the show (stage show) is drawing all the electricity off the generator and consequently causing our lights to be so dim.

You'll pardon me, I hope, in the fact that today we had another beer ration and I bought and drank the same. You can blame Uncle Jack for my taking to this vice without a qualm of conscience anymore since he said an occasional glass of beer would do a person more good than harm. And he also said it would be better for my stomach than a lot of Pepsi-Cola. In fact, this evening I had my choice between three bottles of Coke and two bottles of beer and I chose the latter. Do you think that a wise choice or am I off the base?

Well, the barracks are finally set up and we will be rearranged shortly in the new arrangement by sections. Fortunately, for me, it seems that the barracks I am now in is the one that is going to be assigned to the headquarters section so evidently I will not be called upon to move out which is something I wouldn't care to do for it is quite a job to cart all your personal belongings, barracks bags, cot, rifle and foot locker from one place to another and then straightening out all over again when you get there.

After supper, Lewis, George and I broke down two more boxes of jungle rations which means breaking open eight individual cartons. Our yield was 32 cans of Nescafe, 4 cans of cheese, 4 cans of Borden's powdered milk, 4 cans of an unnamed brand of whole milk and about sixteen bags of good cocoa. The rest of the stuff we either threw away or gave away to someone who wanted it. For instance, the eight cans of peanuts we opened up along with the rest of the contents were distributed among the fellows going to the show including for one, Lt London.

The supper this evening was delicious with fried hash patties if you have any idea of what they are. Meanwhile the other canteen boys didn't go down for their meal but opened up three cans of cheese and toasted it on some toast for their meal.

So-long,   /s/ Roman   Roman