"It's all I can do to keep my eyes open"

Sat. March 3, ‘51
Wongju, Korea

Dearest Helen,

This is to be just a note tonight I think. I’m pretty tired tonight for some reason or other and I’m about half asleep right now. And I still have to wash up and shave. Just got done giving my rifle a good cleaning and it sure did need it. This place is getting really dusty now that it’s drying out and I had a guy take it out and fire it today because I dropped it and didn’t know if it knocked the sights off or not, so with all that it was really dirty and an awful chore.

The weather was pretty cold again today but the stoves here in the tent are going full blast and its so cozy in here it’s all I can do to keep my eyes open.

We didn’t do anything interesting again today. Filled sand bags and hauled rock to improve a silly little side road that doesn’t go anywhere and doesn’t do anything, but we fixed it anyway. Guess there isn’t much of importance left to do here and they’re just shopping around for anything to keep us busy. The bridges are all fixed and traffic is moving good now so evidently we’ve done our job well.

They say the commies are retreating from here and the division is going to move up. I don’t know if we’re going to move up with them or not but I guess we will since there’s not much left to do here. Sure hate to think of if cause it sure it a chore but I might as well face it cause that’s the way it’s going to be all the time. It’ll be easier to move when warm weather gets here cause you don’t have to mess with so much gear. Another good reason for spring to hurry up.

No mail again today but I bet I get some Monday for sure, don’t see how I can miss by then. Hope you’ve been getting these things regularly. It could be that they’re letting them stack up some place and if you get many of them at once I don’t think you could stand it.

I’ve got a piece of Japanese money and a piece of Korean money I’ve been wanting to send you and I guess now is a good time. It’s worth about two cents all together so don’t try to buy much with it.

Doggone it baby, I better quit this and get on with my cleaning up, cause I’m really passing out sitting here. First, if you get that watch to send me, try to send it air mail in a real small package and maybe I’ll get it right away.

Goodnight lover girl and pleasant dreams and things. I’ll see you in mine in a little while.
All my love and kisses,
Bill