March 29, 1954 Camp Vieques My Dearest Wanda, Back again - had a pretty busy day. We fired the 50 and 30 caliber machine guns today. Also fired the 45 cal machine gun. I'm coming to the conclusion I've been away a little to long - can't no one do anything to suit me any more. Guess I'll get by, just a couple more weeks and I'll be on the way to you. Wanda that is all I'm living for. I guess by the time you get this, you'll be packing up the car to come home. Wanda if you have to much to bring back, why not leave what gear you don't need and I can bring it back when I go back after Mom. Is dad gonna drive you and mom down? You know it doesn't seem possible that I'll soon be with you again - it's just to good to be true. The First Sgt checked more on our orders today. They have been cancelled indefinitely. Of course, that doesn't mean to much but enough to be glad of it. Now I probably won't get them until July or August. Darling, please don't worry about the orders. I was going to keep it from you until I got home. But since Margaret told you a little about them, I might as well give you the rest of the story. Now you know and you know there was no use worrying. Worrying never has accomplished anything and it sure can't help you and our baby. Wanda I'd die if anything happened to you. No I'm not worried - just stating the facts. I'm just lonesome, baby, and can't help it cause I love you and need you more than ever. I should feel good tomorrow nite as I'll get three or four letters from you. We're gonna have to straighten out these mail people out as this getting mail every four days is hard on the morale. I don't care cause I know you're writing and I'll get them sometime. March 30 Good morning baby - I stopped writing last nite and took in a movie "Crimson Pirate" - it was pretty good, nite before last we had a pirate picture also, "Captain Blood". I'd seen it three or four times. Guess we'll be about due for a horse shit and gun smoke picture tonite. The doggies are pulling off the island today - they made a landing yesterday. It's the Puerto Rican National Guard. Their umpires have been here about a week - they were staying in the tents Warner Brothers moved out of. I sure haven't got anything to do today. Had to send 9 men to a Demolition school and a few more to various working parties, so that left me with 5 men and 1 of those have to go to the hospital. Guess I'll just take things easy today - just sleep, wash and patch some clothes. Boy my dungarees are going to hell. By the way Wanda, got a little job for you if you have time for it. When you get home, cut the stripes off of some of my shirts that getting raggy and sew them on the shirts I got from Green. Fix about three or four of them. Tell ya something else that wouldn't hurt. Send some of my civilian trousers to the cleaners if we can afford it. We get paid Friday - I'll be able to send you some money. I'll send it to the base. We'll be paid March [probably April] 15th while aboard ship. Guess I'll just have to bring that to you. Boy I wish this time would get gone. Just 14 more days and we sail - just 22 more and we land, about 25 more and I'll be with you, and last but not least about 40 more and we'll have our baby. Honey I'd better shut up for now just remember I love [you] more than anything, and need you still worse. You're mine darling - I'll write again tonite. Yours Forever, Dave Brad Tesh - transcribed 2005-01-13