May 15, 1952, Thursday

Pfc. Robert Gimbel
U.S. ########
85 Boat Co.
APO - 928 - % Postmaster
San Francisco, California

Dear Mom and Dad,

      I received your very welcome letter yesterday and the money also.  I am very happy it got here as I was sort of short.
      Here's hoping things are fine at home, as they are fine here.
      Boy, Jack sure has lost a lot of guys, huh!  (Daleiden) I don't feel sorry for him though. I see he doesn't advertise about painting much anymore.
      I am glad my car has a new motor in it now, but I never dreamed the other motor was so bad.  It's a wonder it ran as good as it did.  It should have a lot of pep as the old motor only had 84 H.P. when new, that is and the 1941 Dodge is around a 100 I think.
      It ought to be a little power house on wheels. 
      That sand blaster really sounds nice, and I am dreaming of the day I can get home and get back to work again.
      They keep me so busy here that they won't let me go on 3 day pass or nothing.  But I think I'll catch up with it later on so I can.
      It's starting the rainy season now and I am glad as it is cooling off a little. 
      Back to the sandblaster, it would of sure made a quick work of those McNamara jobs we used to have.   
      I don't know about Russ, he always talks about quiting Lockshore, so he can work for us, but I don't know, he works hard when he's here, but if he's not dependable, well that's another story.
     You should of seen me yesterday, they wanted to paint a M boat in a rush and they had to get Black paint in a hurry, so they got some in five gallon pails.  It's called Quigley's Triple "A". 
      I was sort of leery of it, it smelled like tar, but the Sarge said put it on, so I put it into the pot and it came out just like mice turds, boy did it plug up the gun and stuff.  I was really mad, being in a hurry we didn't pay much attention to the ingredients.  It was 60% pitch and 40 percent something else, I don't know what that was, shit, I think! Ha! Ha!  But the worst of it, they bought 300 gallons of it so they felt bad too.  But I am sure that will never happen again.
     I've taken some pictures of the equipment and when they get developed I'll send them home.
     Well, I guess this is about all for now, so write soon and I am always thinking of yo all and love you very much.  Tell the kids Hi and I miss them.
     All my love,
     Your Son,
     Bob