To:  Mrs. Louis Hartley
The Mart Herald
Mart, Texas

March 20, 1943

Dear Mom,

I haven't had a letter from  you in quite a few days now, and I have begun to wonder if you are alive and well.  I still have had no mail from Dad, so I have begun to wonder if he has been receiving the lettes which I have been writing him.

Our barracks is still in quarantine, and it seems that we will be for quite a while yet.  Spinal meningitis, scarlet fever, and measles are raging over the field, and more barracks are going into quarantine each day.  Two men have been carted off by the ambulance from our barracks, and no one knows what was the matter with them.  The Lord only knows how long we shall be in here now; rumor has it eight or ten days from Monday.

I am enclosing a clipping from the Texans and a letter from the General which I received yesterday.  The girl Mary Nacol is the little Jewess or Greek I met with while in Austin; she worked in the office.  The letter is one which I want you to save.

I'll write more tomorrow.

Love for you and Louie from

Your Son.

Ben

Gerald C. Mann
Attorney General of Texas
Austin

March 17, 1943

Dear Ben:
We were so glad to get your letter of March 12 and to konw you are getting along so well and are enjoying Army life with the rigorous training you are being subjected to.  I hope you stay in there, work hard and don't get discouraged.  I know the rough treatment will be taken in your stride in a few days.
Please keep us advised as to your location and how you are progressing.  We are always glad to hear from  you.
With best wishes, I am
Sincerely Yours
<SIGNED GERALD MANN>

Pvt. Ben Hartley
A.S.N. 18,232,843
Barracks 293, Service Squadron 32
308th Training Group
B.T.C. #3
Sheppard Field, Texas

Remember me to your Dad when you write him.