[November 15, 1917]
Dear Bess:
The socks came today, and they are beauties. I want to find some way to wear them on the outside. I told Miss Mayer I would wear them down the streets of Paris with low shoes. I certainly appreciate them and shall only wear them on state occasions or Divisional Parades.
This was a fine day I got a letter from you. We have been having fine spring weather all week. I am scared it's only a weather [illegible] as we have never gone this long before without a storm. I am now Battery Mess Officer which adds a few more hours to my day. I have a grand time keeping my money, the Battery money, the canteen money, and money the men give me to keep from getting gloriously scrambled. I have $863.80 on my desk for change besides enough more scattered around in different places to make $1000.00. I count on it about an hour every morning and sometimes it's right and sometimes not. More often not.
I am going to raise sand (which isn't hard to do down here) with our mess sergeant today because I don't like him no how and he has his books mixed up. Don't forget to tell me what to get for Miss Nellie's wedding present. They are still joshing me about my trip to Kansas City. Ask me how I found 12th Street and all kinds of questions like that. We have schools of all kinds now from School of Fire to how to write the Brig a letter. You know it is necessary to unreel about seventeen yards of red tape when you want a Divisional Pass and one is necessary now to go away from here over ten miles. You have to request your Bty Com. [Battery Commander], the Commanding officer of the Reg and then the Brig. It takes nearly all day. I don't ask for any. About the only way any of us will get to see our home folks is for them to call on us. Write me real often, I am always happy when your letters come.
Yours always,
Harry.