Oct. 20, 1918

Dear Sister,

Well, I received three letters from you today and was sure glad to hear from you. I got two letters from home today. I think ma is worrying unnecessarily for I’m alright. This leaves me pretty well, had my tonsils removed a few days ago so my throat is still pretty sore.

I was in bed five weeks with diphtheria but couldn’t have had better care than I had. I don’t think I’ll have any more trouble with my throat since I got my tonsils removed. They were about as big as my fist.

I got my first pay yesterday-nineteen pounds-that’s over ninety dollars. Want to send some of it home when I get around to it.

I expect to be back on duty in eight or ten days and I hope I never have to go to a hospital again. Was sorry to hear that the baby got hurt. I never knew I was so close to Clarence Miller-his ship left as we came.

Well, I think I will close for this time.

With love, your brother, Claude S. Smith

P.S. Oct. 21^st. Just got two more letters from you. U.S.S. Texas, Care of Postmaster, Box E.D., New York, N.Y.