A letter written to Mr. T. N. Carswell, Abilene, Texas from Mrs. J. H. McLaughlin, Sweetwater, Texas, dated February 13, 1944. McLaughlin requests Carswell's advice regarding her son John, who will turn 18 in April, is a Freshman at Hardin-Simmons University and will be joining the service. She describes John regarding his education, intelligence and physical attributes expressing her hope that Carswell can advise him since his father had died when he was nine. She advises that John would like to train for Chaplin service but is hesitant to request advice from strangers fearing it "might be interpreted as finding a way to shun Army service". She also advises Carswell of her other sons noting that Charles is in his last period of training for Combat Bomber service at Biggs Field in El Paso. The reverse side of the last page of this letter includes a postscript advising of their hope that John can finish his freshman year before entering the service and requests any assistance from Carswell to make this possible.