Letter from Jewell H. Spears to Eva S. Moorefield, Jan. 27, 1944

Co. "B", 1st Bn, 27 Marines, 5th Div. F.M.F. Camp. Pendleton, Oceanside, Cal. Jan. 27, 1944

[letterhead: UNITED STATES MARINES CAMP JOSEPH H. PENDLETON]

Dear Eva:

Well I finally got a transfer, I am now at Camp Pendleton which is about forty miles from San Diego. I am in the 5th Division, a new division which is just being formed. I am glad to get a transfer but I had hoped to go over right away as it is, this being a new division it is just starting to form so it will be quite awhile before we go overseas. Quite a few of the fellows in this outfit have been overseas before so I have an idea it is going to be a good outfit. We have a platoon sergeant in this outfit who is the only enlisted marine that has won the congressional medal of Honor in this war.

I would like to see you and the rest but I don't think it very likely that I will be able to for quite some time. Maybe it won't be so very far off that I will be able to come home for good. I hope everyone is alright at home, I think maybe I will have more time for writing now. I am sorry I didn't write more often than I have but it seemed that everytime I started to write something would happen, and I would have to put it off.

Eva, I didn't ask for this transfer because I think it is a lot of fun to go overseas and fight, I know from past experience that it is no fun at all but I want to

go over again because I have a score to settle. The sooner I can kill a few yellow monkeys the better I will feel. I am not trying to give you the impression that I want to be a big hero, it is not that at all. I know it is a lot easier to sit back in the states and let someone else do my fighting for me but I can't feel right if I do. I think this time when I go that it will be different, we won't be on the defensive as we were before.

I am going to write Henry a letter after I finish this one. You know Eva it has been quite some time since we have all been together. Lets hope that it won't be to far away when we can all be together again. I sure would like to see Judy & Snooky, I guess I wouldn't know either one they have probably grown so. I never have seen Faisons kid, he sent me a picture of him though. Well Eva I guess I had better close as I want to write Henry a letter, by the way in moving I lost Velma & Faisons address will you send them in your next letter? Tell Velma & Snooky hello for me. Tell Harry I said he had better get planty of practice with a rifle if he wants to go hunting with me when the war is over, I am getting plenty of practice myself. Eva my address now is, Corp. J. H. Spears, Co. "B", 1st Bn, 27th Marines, 5th Div., F.M.F., Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, California Write soon

Love Jewell