Friday, Feb 4, 1944, Camp Blanding, Florida

Dear Es,

For the first time, I don't know at all where to begin. I've got to make you understand in some way what is going on here in order that you may feel more secure and less agitated than your letters to me showed. I'll put it this way. I imagine a Japanese soldier, thin, wiry, trained from infancy accustomed to living on a few grains of rice a day, sleeping anywhere in the top of a tree if necessary, expert in the art of jiu jitsu and the use of his body and his weapons, disciplined and fanatical or a crack German infantryman, his mind twisted with adoration of Hitler, ready to die for Naziism, trained to a keen edge, technically proficient; imagine this and then you may glimpse something of what we have ahead of us if we are to achieve that condition that will make us able to withstand them and be superior to them. This is not exaggerated and it is the idea our officers rightly have in mind in our training. I was never so busy in my life nor would it be possible for me to be more occupied. We are driven, and drive ourselves mercilessly  with that goal in mind. This is a maelstrom, a whirligig, going at top speed. Therefore, do not expect much of me darling. I will do my best. I will only write to you and I want you to make explanations for me to my family and yours. Perhaps I will have more time later. I can't even look over your letters to answer the questions you ask. I will write to you telling you what I do need when I draw up a list of such things. However, don't get the idea from the foregoing that I am unhappy or dissatisfied. That would not be true. There are times of course when I'm mad or depressed or disgruntled but these feelings pass so quickly that they do not even matter. On the whole I'm glad to be in this, to strengthen my body and my mind. It is like being back at school. with classes, 5 or 6 of them on all subjects, Drill, Exercise, Chemical Warfare, Organization of Army, and a million other things. We do not yet use live ammunition. We will be taking apart and learning about and cleaning our rifles for wks before we begin to use bullets. The program is well planned and the courses are given at breakneck speed.
I have been separated from Vinnie as the fortunate ones were sent here. It is supposed to be much safer than the Co. I was originally in.All the guys here are well up in their marks and could easily qualify for O.C.S. if there were any openings. There is about 1 in 1000 at the present time and it's best forgotten about.  Our actual work is still a mystery and will not begin until our 6 wks basic infantry is finished with. They are attempting to give us the usual 17 wks work in 6 so you see the situation.
I received all of your letters by now and also one from Adele, in which she told me about Louie. She can consider herself lucky.
I am not afraid to tell you that we will probably be shipped overseas as soon as our 17 wks are through after we get a furlough which is guaranteed to us. I am confident that you will find the steel in yourself to look the facts in the face and even find comfort in the larger fact that we are both sacrificing our comfort for a great cause. I'm sure also that we will continue our lives in the future as little people at peace.
I am together here with a mixed (of course) group of lawyers, accountants, clerks, technicians, etc. I don't care for them as I did for the "lower classes". They're a pretty smug, complacent, and goody-goody outfit. I am making friends though and getting along well as usual with everybody. ---- I did have to laugh at your letter and your questions. No, I don't drink and have no leisure. Nobody has here. I also received a very interesting letter from Elliot White. --- Now to shave and wash socks -- I love you, brave britches - You know I do. A kiss huge
Your Joe