A.W. (Peter) Machen to Henry Machen

March 9, 1969

Parris Island, SC

Dear Henry,

How is everything?  I got your letter yesterday and was real pleased to hear from my favorite brother.  I've been learning to fight with bayonets and rifles and tomorrow we start learning to shoot the M 14 rifle.

When I get home you and me can do some shooting and maybe some hunting with shotguns.  I know where I can get you a 410 shotgun to use.

Are your gerbils still alive?  They have probably chewed a lot of paper by now.

I wish I was home cause I miss eating a lot of junk and sleeping till 12:00 in a nice warm bed.  Pretty soon you will be 10 years old.  May 5th.  I'll be home sometime around your birthday and I will have some presents from the Marines for you I think you will like.  Well, I have to finish shining my boots and then go to bed.  I have guard duty from 3 to 5 o'clock in the morning and I lose two hours sleep.  What a drag!

See you soon Hank! 

Love,

Pete

P.S. Take good care of Bluff