May 30, 1918

Dear Bess:

Decoration Day, a holiday and a grand one - got a letter from you postmarked April 1 from Independence and April 5 at Camp Doniphan. It evidently went all over the world and finally found me at this artillery school. It was your letter thanking me for the Easter violets. I am glad you got them and that they were all right. I was on the sea sure enough when you got them. I am sure you must have heard from me before this. You hoped in that letter that you would get my cable. I could not cable but I'd made other arrangements at New York which

should have reached you a few days after we landed. I have also written every time I've had a minute to get a letter in.

You've no idea how much pleasure a letter from you can give. I am the envy of every officer in the school who didn't get a letter and there were only about four. We can't understand what has become of our letters. I suppose they must have gone wherever the division is. I hope to get an armful whenever they arrive. Oh won't it be a grand day when they all arrive. If one can put me into the seventh heaven what do you suppose seven or eight or a dozen will do. I'll probably be so happy I'll simply float away.

Wouldn't it be one grandglorious feeling to get into Lizzie and take a ride over the country to Atherton and have a picnic as we did on several holidays I can remember.

I am glad you got to see Oh! Boy. I tried to see it in New York and couldn't get in.

We had a regular field meet today in the Chateau Park. Major Gates[18] and Major Rutlege tied themselves together and ran in the three legged race. For a wonder they didn't fall down. They had relay races and two baseball games. The student officers ran a relay race against the teacher officers and beat 'em to death. They had it all primed against us too to run in a couple of ex college runners and we went them one better and ran in three. I was an interested spectator in all thier [sic] games.

We hope to be with our organizations in about ten days, and you've no idea how glad we'll be. Please keep up that three a week because it will make life worth living for another sixty days when they come. I appreciate Mrs. MacDonald's inquiring about me. I told Geo Arrowsmith[3] his girl is wearing a pretty ring and he blushed like a school girl. I saw the ring before she got it and it is mighty pretty.

I wish I could see you tonight.

Yours always,

Harry

Harry Truman

1st Lt 129th F.A.

American E.F.

Via New York