MilColl_WWII_118_ODonnell_John_B_Papers_B2F2_Corr_Apr_May_1944_003

be thrilled with them. Understand me, darling - they are strictly a
matter of taste, and I am not certain whether you (and I too)
like those particular things. I am not mentioning what they are,
for I would rather for you to see them - surprise!

Incedentially, the packing cases I used were obtained through
the good wishes of our Camp Commander, A Cap't. Allen from
Greensboro (an old schoolmate of Romies) who went with me to
our supply tent and together we carefully unpacked the contents
rebuilt the boxes, and packed the objects as carefully as possible.
Just remeber that for the future. He was as interested and
excited as I.

Where shall we spend our next Easter Sunday together ? This
Lent and approaching Holy Week have certainly been under peculiar
surroundings and conditions for me, what with the cold ground as a
kneeling bench, a Franciscan monk whose habit is donned and daffed between
jumps from a jeep to a tent and back again, his confessional being
an isolated corner, and screen the good earth from which he raised his
his eyes only in giving his absolution; with soldiers from the mess halls,
work details and "office jobs" waiting their turn, with canonacle hours
dispensed with so that the hoot owl (or its English complement) or
my early friend the "Cheerie-o" serve equally as musical accompani -
ment for the Stations of the Cross or the mass. Pen don't "set more
relegion" but a finer sense & appreciation and their Thanksgivings
are far and beyond the fundamental meaning ^(feling) of the expression, "there's
no atheist in a fox hole."
Good night, sweets -

I love you,
John Burke