Thurs., 16 Aug '45

Dearest -

With time on my hands this morning I thought I'd visit the library & write this letter to you. Naturally, however, the library {is} ^would be^ closed until 10:30 a.m. (I started over there at 9:30 am) & I began to write this while seated on the wooden, uncomfortable steps of the library. That is the way here with all activities - ship's service, bluejackets club, barber shop, western union, etc - they're bound be to shut down at the time you could & would like to utilize them. And should one be open, why then there's too long a line to stand on. With no particular duties, most of us just wander around, restlessly, looking for a place to sit - & there are few such outdoor places in these barren grounds.

My woe with this letter didin't end with the steps. A guard came out of the library & chased us all off. I went to the rear of the library & sat on those steps until I discovered my pen to be dry. And so back to barracks 1444 -