Edward J. Thomas - World War II
Dear Mom & Harry, Friday, May 28, 1943 This is the first day of our bivouac. It's 5:15 pm. I'm waiting near my put tent for the show signal. We started yesterday at 5 pm (Thursday) and walked south on a paved highway toward Anniston. We turned off on a side gravel road and hiked cross country on an unused wagon road though woods.
It was very pleasant walking the first hour. The next hour was beginning to wear me out. The scenery helped. We passed several farms, several looking like average Michigan farms. But Alabama has more pitiful looking farm buildings with houses looking like sheds ready to fall down. It looks like the people living are at fault because I hardly ever see anyone in the field working and I seldom see any cows or chickens, and if I do it's one or two. The third hour I didn't care to see scenery. I was getting too tired. We have a ten minute rest each hour, but that didn't provide much relief. The fourth through sixth hours were very painful. I didn't have any blisters but my feet ached like a bad toothache. We pitched our tents in the dark after 11 pm. My flashlight came in handy.
The next day was our rest day, so I had time to write this. In the morning I went to a big stream and bathed. The water was very cold but I felt better. I wrote Issy and Mac an airmail letter about some of the things I wanted during my bivouac. I am finishing this letter in the dark of May 29 (Saturday) and can't see anymore.
I received your letter Harry. You better cancel the trip. I'll write you if I get a furlough and you can pick me up, otherwise thee is no time for you to see me here. Love, Ed P.S. Mom could you send me a dozen of those Christmas candles. I hate to pester you about such things, but they'll save on batteries.
