14 Oct. 1943

1930 N.T.

Dearest Lil --

Life is assuredly full at Sampson--and often I forget to tell half of what goes on. Last night we returned from Geneva at 10:30 (2230). At 1:45 A.M. I was aroused by the dormitory guard. I slipped into my clothes, leggings, pea coat and all, and out into a moonlit night to take up my guard watch which covered an area between two barracks where the clothes lines are. there they are, clothing of all descriptions whipping before a strong wind and there was I, alone except for a brilliant moon, with nothing to do but walk up & down & all around--or even seat [sic] down (which is strictly forbidden since watches *must* be *stood*.) During those two hours I watched a solitary rat running to a garbage pail & scurrying back to a spot underneath the barracks--and later two guards on fire patrol throwing rocks at a skunk--and chatted with a chap tending the boiler rooms.