Dear Jack,

By the time you read this, you should've gotten one from my time in Honolulu. I'll say it again though! You weren't lying when you used to rave about Hawaii. That place is pure beauty. It's a miracle you ever came back to the mainland after you finished your job.

After Honolulu, I was sent to Tokyo with the other four women. All of them are brilliant. I know I've said that before too, but really. You know how hard I fought to get into Johns Hopkins. Well one of them, Dr. Lauren Hunstman, was named a Major immediately upon entering the service because she'd spent residency there during World War Two. It was even harder to get in then!

That being said, her bedside manner could use some work. I watched her at Tokyo General where she's been stationed. Same with Captain Cynthia Sydenstricker. In fact the only one of the surgeons I really got along with was Captain Marjorie Thomas. She's from Arizona, and did her residency in California somewhere. I can't recall now. She reminds me a little bit of Molly. She got stationed in Seoul along with Captain Catherine Halloran.

Big news of the letter, I suppose, is that I'm a Major now! I outrank you now. I got the promotion after saving a choking general during a dinner in Tokyo the day after I arrived. Some Lt. Col. nurse was in attendance and heard about what I did, and she pushed the promotion through. I think they did it for press reasons. She must've had some connections up high.

Regardless, I'm a Major now. I'm also now in the 4077th! I've been here about half a day now. I arrived at the Kimpo Air Base this morning and caught a ride with the company clerk to the MASH unit. As I write you, I'm sitting at the desk in my tent. It's small, but I can't complain. At least I'm bunking by myself, unlike our apartment back in Baltimore. Odds are if I had to bunk, I'd have a roommate like old Sally Hudgins, and I wouldn't luck out with a Molly instead.

Speaking of that little devil, my next letter will be to Molly. I have your Hawaiian shirt hanging on my wall and her matching shot glass below it. I already broke it in; I managed to pick up some inexpensive twelve year old scotch in Tokyo along with some vodka.

I can hear you now telling me to be careful. You know I always am. But drinking has seemed like a national pass time since arriving in the East. I have to fit in. And yes, I am grinning like a crazy looking at that sentence. I can hear you rebuking it. Fine. I don't feel the need to fit in. But hey, good scotch!

I've met a few nurses and the surgeons so far. All of them seem very nice. I wish I had more to tell you, but I haven't done enough with any of them to form a full opinion yet. One of the doctors reminds me of Matt Douglass. Yes, that Matt Douglass. The one you offered to send a threatening phone call to if he didn't stop propositioning me. I'll remind you now of what I said then: I can take care of myself. Besides, phone calls to Korea are a lot harder to get. I'd rather you talk to me than Hawkeye.

The commanding officer is Colonel Potter. Everyone who's talked about him say he's great. And so far I would agree with them. Upstanding citizen, caring, but strict. Sort of like dad was. Then there's Major Charles Winchester. Not many people seem to like him, but so far he's been nothing but cordial to me. Captain BJ Hunnicutt is the last of the surgeons. Quiet, but clever. I heard him and Hawkeye making expert puns and jokes to each other in the compound when some of the nurses showed me around.

You'll be proud to know I'll be taking part in a poker game tonight. Apparently it happens every other Friday. And who knows how many other times during the week when it isn't organized? I hope to do you proud. I also promise not to lose all my money. Maybe just some of it.

Well it's nearly dinner time. I'd better say goodbye. I might send you a second letter tomorrow with the outcome of the poker game. I love you Jack. I miss you. I'll write soon, and maybe even call if I get a chance.

Love,

Nellie O'Hara