Dear Dad,

I thought you might appreciate a personal letter not that there is much to relate but time hangs pretty heavy on board ship and letter writing puts it to some good. I imagine by the time you receive this letter and the one I wrote to the whole family it will have been some time since you have heard from me.

The novelty of this boat ride wore off a good many mile back and now about all you can see to it is alot of water. However, it is a great experience and one that I should never forget. Not that I wouldn’t rather be home, because I think just about everyone is thinking of the day he can come back even before he gets on the boat to leave. If he’s not then I’d say he’s damn fool.

The food is still exceptionally good in fact we’ve even had ice cream several times.

I still can’t get use to these salt water showers. You might as well try to lather with a block of wood as a piece of regular soap. We have to use regular salt water soap. The lavatories have fresh water.

Has Zoe been up to visit again. I guess train riding tires her out pretty much. We have four babies underway in our bunch which is a pretty good average.

Well Dad I have to go on duty from 10 to 12 tonight and it’s almost 10 now so will sign off. There isn’t any more that I can tell you and I’ll let you know as soon as we get to where we are going.

Love,

Tom