April 28, 1942 - Dear Audrey

The telephone number here is Ocean 1326.

So that's the plan. She'll come up Saturday and he'll slip under the fence. They can spend the night together, then he'll sneak back in. Rock solid. What could go wrong? In the meantime, great progress if you can take your rifle apart and get it put back together without any extra pieces. He's such an old timer now. The idea of flying for only $9.60 round trip does sound great once he starts to get passes. Spoiler alert: that'll get shut down so they can avert more planes to the stupid war. So let's focus on those fundamentals first. And the brownies and getting over that cold. And no griping.

Original Letter

Transcript follows.

Boston Globe - April 28, 1942

Yesterday, I posted the morning Globe with Hitler's plans for 1942. I also posted the evening Globe with President Roosevelt's plans. Today, we have some feedback for the President.

It's Affordability

President Roosevelt has a plan to keep life affordable while the war rages on. It includes higher taxes, price fixing, freezing rents and wages, farm parity, war bonds, rationing, and restrictions on credit.

Boston Globe Exclusive

Here's chapter 2 of the Globe's exclusive: Defense Will NOT Win the War.

Transcript - April 28, 1942

Btry H. 9th C.A., Fort Banks

Dear Audrey:

This is another one of those non gripe letters. I have no feeling for these guys that try to make our lives miserable. I just ignore them. They slide off my back like water off a duck. They were kind of worried last night. We took our rifles apart and I mean completely. They were afraid we wouldn't get them together again and I had doubts myself. There were quite a few small parts. But I didn't have any left and I swept the floor this morning. Some of the fellows might still have parts in their pockets. I don't know.

They gave us some more clothes this morning. I got another pair of pants, so I'll have something decent to wear when you come up to see me. The other pair are spotted and I'm ashamed of them. In fact, I was so worried about getting a pass because I had nothing presentable to wear coming and going down to Hartford.

It would be very nice to see you this weekend but be sure you can afford it. The first of the month is coming up. You can come up and I'll slide under the fence and spend Saturday night and all day Sunday with you. That would be nice. There are a bunch of fellas going under the fence every night. They claimed it’s easy and they seem to get away with it and so I guess I can. It would be worth it to see you. It's a good thing I haven't been there for you to cook for me, in a way. Because you would probably be walking around like the rest of these pregnant women by now. Maybe we can fix it so you can if you like.

I don't suppose you'll come up Friday, will you? It’s quite a drive and then over to here. But Saturday is like every other day here. We are not free until after 5. I mean really free. We can have visitors anytime, but it all depends on what the soldier is doing.

I was talking with an officer from Hartford and he said he flies home whenever he goes and it only costs $9.60 round trip and he is there in about 15 minutes. I think I'll keep it in mind. Maybe I'll go one way by air. I can spend a lot more time with you and it will be worth it. Besides that sounds quite reasonable.

As for my day off I don't know when that will take place. We seem to get dumber instead of smarter. So we have to master the fundamentals before we get any passes. How's your cold? I hope you take better care of it then I do mine. Mine seems to have gone from my throat to my head or else this is a new one. I have a sharp ache over my eyes. Nothing serious so don't worry.

I've just been to the day room for the afternoon mail and I got your package. The brownies are good and they are as good as I got Sunday. The rest of the fellows are eating them even after I told them my wife made them.

Well sweet, I'll sort of look for you this weekend even if I do tell you not to come up. Call me up before you come over Saturday that is unless you can come up Friday night. Then I can tell you where to meet me outside Saturday night. I can find out the best way to get in and out of this place from one of the other fellows. The telephone number here is Ocean 1326. Or you can call me out to the gate first and then I'll tell you where to meet me. And that way you can come over early and then we can wait until dark and I'll come back here and go under the fence and meet you on the street outside. It sounds as if we're plotting a criminal offense. Well we’ll see.

Anyway, I love you very much and I wish you were in the Army too.

All my love

Leonard

here are some more xxxxx xxxxxxxx

Next letter tomorrow, April 29, 1942

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