Army Service Forces
Camp Howze, Texas
8th Service command

3 January 1945
Dearest Mardean:
I had just gotten back from the city of New Orleans on a very interesting purchasing trip for the battalion when lo and behold I found your letter of December 29/1944, laying gracefully across my desk. If I didn’t say it made the day a 100% brighter I would be with/holding the truth---your letters are so delightsomely interesting and very enlightening in every respect. And to contine to want to thank you for your promptness in answering. Of all the people in this wide world (and there are millions) you are the only one who has kept one step ahead of me in keeping the correspondence from bogging down. So if I were in a position to honor you with a Legion of Merit—it would be forthcoming post haste on the first thing coming in your direction.
It is a wonderful experience to travel from place to place if the money and time needed to learn about the interesting historic spots is available. For instance I am here in New Orleans but do I have the time and cash to visit some of the Bayous and inland regions where white people seldom enter? Nope and that’s what makes me kind of disappointed to have to leave here before my curiosity has been satisfied. Maybe someday when I get to be real rich I can come back and pour over the landscape to my very amusement---who knows—I might even have you with me. Women are even greater travelers than men and by far more adventuresome. Wouldn’t you just love to fish in some of the bayous that are just teaming with catfish and meet people of the inland swamps (half Indian & Negro) in their primitive haunts?
That lovely box of candy arrived and what a toothsome delight. My buddy was handy when I opened it and of course I had to give him the case history of those lovely creations of yours. I even told him of the two blisters. He and I both agreed that you have indeed mastered the art of candy making and we further agreed that if your cooking is on the same par we would both put in our bid for your services in our kitchen deluxe. What would you charge us for your chow supervision?
You’re Christmas and the results thereof made me very envious. My! What a gal---What in the world are you going to do with all those presents and what happens when your birthday comes along? Speaking of birthdays when is yours? I’m the one to look around for souvenirs and you’re the one to receive one on account of the candy. Your generosity deserves my kindest reply both in word and deed.
Say! Did you note my new address---You see I’ve been transferred again and this time it is in Texas---Were you ever there child? It is this:
Edwin O. Lindbloom, SWO,
W-2103755, 8th Serv Cmd.,
Camp Howze, Texas
(Per SO #310, Par #10)
I might even send you a cow from Texas—you know that the state is full of them and I know you would take good care of one if a Holstein wandered into the regions of Hyde Park. The above is not the souvenir I was talking about a little while back in the letter.
Mardie—I’m curious…What were the oysters for and why did you underline it? Is there something I should know about the undersea creatures?
Thanks for trying on the film and only yesterday I hit a jackpot and found 4 rolls by luck so if you haven’t already got some you can let it go until I mention it again.
My work is administrative and usually with Headquarters, very interesting at times and later on I will elaborate more clearly my duties and routine.
About going overseas again---The Army can send us anywhere anytime so my dear we’ll both hold our fingers crossed. The “O” has a long story attached to it. Would you like to hear it next letter? Be good and write, Lots of Love Eddie