DIY History | Transcribe | World War II Diaries and Letters | John William Graham letters, May-July 1944 | 1944-07-20 M/Sgt. John W. Graham to Mr. & Mrs. W.J. Graham Page 1

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John William Graham letters, May-July 1944

1944-07-20 M/Sgt. John W. Graham to Mr. & Mrs. W.J. Graham Page 1

July 20, 1944
Italy
Dear Dad, Mom & Grandmother:
Grandma I got your birthday card and present today, thank you very much. doesnt seem as tho I'll soon be a year older and my third since I've been in the army. Wish I could get a rain check on them as it seems to me they've been kind of wasted ones but I guess it's a necessity.
It's still very hot here but thats okay for those kind of days are suitable for the work we're here for and they dont need rain here for growing corn as we do at home. The wheat threshing is  still going on the Italian's funny little thresher hasnt turned out in three days what we would in as many hours back home. They all work at it from the smallest to the very old ones. The machine doesnt have a blower on it and the straw & chaff is hauled away by a couple of boys with horses hitched on a small log, kind of like a [buck?] rake.
I've been doing a little more carpenter work fixing up some shelves for my tool boxes and gas and oil cans if a fellow has a place for everything you can put your finger on it the minute you want it. Have to get nails from old boxes, crates or wherever you can find them.
Just carried a can of water to our shanty. There are lister bags which a truck keeps filled and most every tent has a five gallon can. It is surprising how fast a few men use up the can full, a gallon of water now gives me a magnificent bath. When back home I used to fill the tub clear up to the overflow. Would like to crawl into a brimming tub full for a change however

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July 20, 1944 Italy Dear Dad, Mom & Grandmother: Grandma I got your birthday card and present today, thank you very much. doesnt seem as tho I'll soon be a year older and my third since I've been in the army. Wish I could get a rain check on them as it seems to me they've been kind of wasted ones but I guess it's a necessity. It's still very hot here but thats okay for those kind of days are suitable for the work we're here for and they dont need rain here for growing corn as we do at home. The wheat threshing is still going on the Italian's funny little thresher hasnt turned out in three days what we would in as many hours back home. They all work at it from the smallest to the very old ones. The machine doesnt have a blower on it and the straw & chaff is hauled away by a couple of boys with horses hitched on a small log, kind of like a [buck?] rake. I've been doing a little more carpenter work fixing up some shelves for my tool boxes and gas and oil cans if a fellow has a place for everything you can put your finger on it the minute you want it. Have to get nails from old boxes, crates or wherever you can find them. Just carried a can of water to our shanty. There are lister bags which a truck keeps filled and most every tent has a five gallon can. It is surprising how fast a few men use up the can full, a gallon of water now gives me a magnificent bath. When back home I used to fill the tub clear up to the overflow. Would like to crawl into a brimming tub full for a change however