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Saturday 8 Jan 1944 Dear Jack, Got your Christmas greeting, but this is the first chance I've had to write. Was shipped down here to work on the guns, without getting the furlough I'd been hoping for. Most of the non-coms, by some chance, are from St. Louis. One or two pretend not to recognize the sacred name of Otty Snake Shaeffer. but it's a thin pretense. George Williams, the mess sergeant, lays claim to Fallon, but to no known Shaeffer.

  We have a weekly lecture on world trends by one Lt. Apteker. Wasn't there an Apteker with NM? The name is familiar; and his talks indicate he could be. If you happen to know, I'd like to know that. I want to get off the guns if possible and he must have connections with Intelligence; or some such outfit.