Reading the letter is an attempt to lighten the mood in the bunk house, but it is ineffective. Ironically, it would probably be more comfortable if they weren't trying so hard. The fact that they do try to provide a distraction, though, shows compassion on a ranch where such things are rare.
The fact that the men remember Bill Tanner is interesting, too. Most men, it seems, come and go anonymously--disappearing from existence. The fact that he has reached a kind of celebrity status because of his letter speaks to how lonely and disconnected these men really are. It is another subtle reminder of the plight everyone on the ranch is faced with. What will they leave behind? Who will know that they existed?
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