Pvt. E. L. Pierzchalski US55263754
Hqtrs.Btry. 48 F.A.Bn.
A.P.O. #7

May 23, 1953

It's fairly warm out now. It stopped raining this morning. Right now I'm just lying around. This morning I fixed two tires. The dinner wasn't too hot today, liver. Our radio is working perfectly. We haven't got the phonograph running to our satisfaction yet.

I saw a very good movie last night, "The Hitchhiker".

We're still in the blocking position. Until today I was an "acting corporal". That means I do a corporal's work but do not receive a corporal's pay, but I'm the first to make corporal when the quota comes down. Yesterday I got a call from Headquarters telling me that I'm going to make full corporal in 2 or 3 days. Then I'll receive the pay. The raise is somewhere in the neighborhood of twenty dollars or more a month. It sure will look good. Hell, I might as well get paid for the work I do. This should bring my pay to about $168 per month. That of course includes $45 per month "combat pay". If I don't "foul up" I should be a Sergeant before I leave Korea. I hope so, but that all remains to be seen.

As I said before, I took a couple of pictures with my buddy's camera. They won't be ready for a few weeks. When they are ready, I'll send them home. Please save them for me. Is my camera on the way yet?

I expect some mail later this afternoon.

I'll sign off for now. Everything is quiet around here.

Eddie