Fort Lewis Wa. Sept 25, 1939

Fort Lewis, Wa.

Sept 25, 1939

Dearest Mom, Dad, and All,

     I have some bad news for you.  I won't be able to come home again until Christmas time.  Ray and I got into a ditch last night for something we didn't do.  We didn't have any money to go to Gig Harbor or home either so we went to see a couple of girl friends in Tacoma.  Last night we parked my car in the alley just back of their place and when we left at 10:00 p.m. we were heading out the alley when we shined the lights on two men stealing gas out of a car about half a block from the girls home.  Naturally we stopped and they ran, so we ran after them.  They beat it around a building and we didn't find them any more.  When we went back to the car and was just getting ready to pull out another car  pulled up along side of us and cornered us.  They called the police and we spent the night in jail.  It did look bad for the jug of gas was sitting by the car, and you know how cops are, you can't tell them a thing.  They said if we confessed they would only restrict us to Ft. Lewis for 3 months in Mr. Nierlichs care.  If not they said they could prove we did it and give us 3 months in jail and take my car away so what could I do?  We had to admit something that we didn't do.  But they didn't put it down on the record or anything, didn't take our finger prints or nothing.  So I guess they didn't think we were too guilty.  I never knew that it was so darned easy  to get mixed up in something you didn't do.  Mr. Nierlich had to do as they said but he told us he wasn't going to make us stay here that long.  We can do just as always only we can't leave the post.  But General Sweeney said that a soldier isn't a soldier until he spends a night in jail.  It sure taught us a lesson.  (STAY OUT OF ALLEYS)  Ray and I decided that we could sure save up money here by not going any place.  I will send you the money for Sears and Wards every month and George can make the payments.  But I don't think that we are in the guardhouse because if we were we wouldn't be getting paid for it.

     So don't worry about me, mom.  I know that my record is clear and that is all that matters lately anyway.  We will just lay around and get fat.

     I will write every week mom and hope that you will write to me also.

     We had a lot of fun on our hike although it was terribly hot.  

                                    

                                                        Love,

                                                           Rex

Please believe me mom (I don't lie).  It was terrible in that jail.  I will tell you more about it there next time I see you.