Addressed To: Thora Thoreau
From: Lt.Col. James Thoreau
January 4, 1944
Dear Mother,
Sorry for the last letter I sent you. I forgot the letters were being checked over and things were being censored. By the time it reached you the whole letter was probably blacked out and two months late. I'll try to do better in the future. Anyway, it seems like I haven't sent you a letter in a while (I've been very busy!) so I decided to fill you in.
I finished training several months ago. I already had some experience with piloting, so I passed the written and practical tests after just a couple of months. Although it was lonely at first, I’ve been making good friends with my fellow comrades. When we’re not on duty, it can get very miserable. All we have to pass the time are some playing cards and a couple of smokes for every day.
We've been running a couple of attacks on small German targets, like railways and sometimes even small airfields and U-boat bases! My bombs fell so accurately that my comrades gave me the nickname “Lightning Shot”. The colonel was so impressed with my flying skill that I was promoted to Lieutenant! He told me that if I keep this up I'll be a Lieutenant Colonel in no time. How great it would be if I could command a whole squadron all by myself!
There's also more good news. The war has been going well on the Eastern Front. This has lessened the tension on us on the Western Front, and we are expecting to see more success soon (unfortunately, I cannot put the specifics in this letter). We may also be seeing some action soon, so wish me and my comrades good luck!
I can't discuss things that are too specific, so I'm hoping to tell you them in person eventually!
Lots of love,
James.
From: Lt.Col. James Thoreau
January 4, 1944
Dear Mother,
Sorry for the last letter I sent you. I forgot the letters were being checked over and things were being censored. By the time it reached you the whole letter was probably blacked out and two months late. I'll try to do better in the future. Anyway, it seems like I haven't sent you a letter in a while (I've been very busy!) so I decided to fill you in.
I finished training several months ago. I already had some experience with piloting, so I passed the written and practical tests after just a couple of months. Although it was lonely at first, I’ve been making good friends with my fellow comrades. When we’re not on duty, it can get very miserable. All we have to pass the time are some playing cards and a couple of smokes for every day.
We've been running a couple of attacks on small German targets, like railways and sometimes even small airfields and U-boat bases! My bombs fell so accurately that my comrades gave me the nickname “Lightning Shot”. The colonel was so impressed with my flying skill that I was promoted to Lieutenant! He told me that if I keep this up I'll be a Lieutenant Colonel in no time. How great it would be if I could command a whole squadron all by myself!
There's also more good news. The war has been going well on the Eastern Front. This has lessened the tension on us on the Western Front, and we are expecting to see more success soon (unfortunately, I cannot put the specifics in this letter). We may also be seeing some action soon, so wish me and my comrades good luck!
I can't discuss things that are too specific, so I'm hoping to tell you them in person eventually!
Lots of love,
James.