UNITED STATES COAST GUARD
Boston, Mass.

9 December, 1942

Bryant College Service Club
Bryant College
Providence, R. I.

Dear Friends,

Thanks a lot for the boxes of cherries. They arrived, as you see, in time for Christmas and in good condition. I enjoyed them a great deal; in fact the whole office enjoyed them. By the time the other fellows in the office got through with them I had only about half a box to myself.

I would like you to know that although I am fairly close to home, through no fault of my own, receiving gifts and knowing that you are remembered means a great deal.

I am fortunate enough to be stationed in the District Office but some times I wish I was seeing some action. Maybe I will some day.

The training I received at Bryant is of great value. It helped me to start off with a rating. At present I am waiting for a promotion. I have taken and passed the second class exam and right now the forms for promotion are in the process of being filled out. I hope to be able to notify you of a change of rating soon. I guess that is enough about me. Thanks again, and keep up the good work.

Very truly yours,

Joseph H. Buerdsell [Transcription ends]

Dear Miss Blaney:

I thought you might like to know my where-abouts. Before I joined the service I dropped over to Bryant to see you and Mr. Ripley. However, no one was in your office so I could not tell you I had enlisted.

As you see by the address, I am now in the Coast Guard with a rating of Storekeeper Third Class. I was sworn in on July 20, 1942, and have been stationed here in Boston since that time. Of course, the way things are in the service I do not know how long I will be here, but I hope it is for a little while longer at least.

If there is any other information you would like to know, just drop me a line and I shall be glad to help you.

Very truly yours,
Joseph H. Buerdsell
[Transcription ends]