EDITOR'S NOTE: The 768th Field Artillery Battalion (Motorized 155 Howitzer Tractor Drawn) was activated on May 9, 1944 at Camp Barkley, Texas per General Order No. 2, Hq 418th FA Group Camp Barkley, Texas dated 8 May 1944. The enlisted men cadre was made up from the 248th Coastal Artillery Regiment, 1st Battalion which had previously been stationed at Fort Worden, WA. This is the first letter Clifford sent home since March 28th, over two months ago.
June 1, 1944* Approximate 2110 CF Camp Barkeley, Texas
Clifford tells the Folks he is really sunburned; it hasn’t rained and is really dry; the climate is hard on the fellows that were at Fort Worden before the war; hears they are to be reserve field artillery in case anything goes wrong with the invasion; went through the filtration course at 10:30 last night – tracer bullets looked pretty but he really hugged the ground; has 155mm Howitzer now; will probably never get a rating -doesn’t really matter; is with soldiers of the old school and will follow the old-timers any place.