Se

fine until one day they got me and my boys in a hot-box. I theught for a
while they were going to call in the ovtfielders to get us out. Fortum-
ately for us, hewever, we got out before they had tine.

I have called it a gamo, Doc, and to me that's just about how it: seemed.
The same is true on most of the boys that return. The had part of the

whole war is tndse boys who give their life tc wine I had some of those
and for tiem it must have been mere than a gamee

Bleanor's viedéing must have been a. very, impressive offair from the ‘way
you descrited it. You and Mrs. Allen aro just about bask where you.
started, as far as child: on are concerned, aren't you? Well, the Bible
says,"It is good to marry",. and I think 1'1l try it myself some doy. I
hope '44 will sce them woll ‘on their road to happiness,

The athletic situation sounds. goods “iish I was in the big middlo of it.
We may have a little. athlctic activity around here pretty soon.

Thanks to the boys that remembered me in their letters.

Yours truly,
é T- Hamb onc. "

TePes they will have a tough tim Sere you out, brother. ‘hen you begin to
bat those eyes the opposition had better look out, and I know you ere throwing |
oe lot more stuff at them than basketballs and baseballs over there. I remember .
nighty well when you went down to try for your commission in the Marines, Mit
wlien, Bod Allen and a host cf other boys that I talked with said, "I'll bet |
old T. P, makes a great officer", and they weren't missing a bet either on that
guess. Everyone of us would put our last dollar on vou, old fellow.

The Kansas basketball team played the Fert Riley CeoeT.C. On February 7
at Junction City and we stopped in the bank to see the dad.of-our former
scintillating star in basketball and track, Fen Durand. Captain Fen writes as

follows:

Capt. fr. As Durmid, ~~ 26 January 1944

H-S Co., .2nd wimph. ths Di, ‘Dear Doe:

2nd Marino Division, I haven't written. lately so I'll
c/o Fleet Postoffice, drop you a short note, Bill McKinley
San Francisco, California. dropped over for a few ninutes this

afternoon, and in discussing X.U., I
recalled that I hadn't written for some time. Your news sheets, Rebounds,
have ‘been coming. in ro gulariy and I really a ane thome

I was roughly indoctrinated into action on 20 November when I landed in .
the. assault wave against the Japs on Tarawa. iftor having my landing
craft shot out from under me when 100 yards from the beach, I spent nearly
two hours swimming in the water before reaching shere. These Japs are
worthy opponents and we Marines don't uaderestimate them. I was lucky to
survive since about one-hal? of those in-my craft were killed and several -
others wounded.

At present we are in a "rest" camp (so-called), where we are again under-
taking strenuous training in preparation for the next opcratione We man-