August 10, 1942 - Dear Audrey

Jan Palson

10 Aug 2026 — 4 min read

Big Guns! Casemated 12-inch gun at Fort Ruckman. Source: Wikipedia

If you would throw those old letters out...

I find it funny how he is referencing these letters way back then. Little did anyone know. He sure didn't. He's got to be worried all the time that he may get called for deployment. That has to weigh heavy and muddle around in the back of your mind all the time. Although he tries not to show it. Then there's Mother Nature. What's up with her? Anyway we can hope the weather improves for guard duty.

Original Letter

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Transcript

War Updates from Lynn, MA (local paper), the latest from Hartford Courant along with the women's page follow. For more, visit: Newspapers.com. Hey, did you know we have a Facebook?

August 10, 1942

Bat H - 9^th C.A., Fort Ruckman

Dear Audrey:

You know it is a funny thing but when I am walking guard I am so sleepy I can hardly stand up. I stumble along dragging my feet and not daring to sit down for fear of dropping out to sleep. Then when I am relieved and get into bed I find myself wide awake. Last night I laid there for quite a while trying to think of something to fall asleep on. About the only nice thing I could think of to fall asleep on was you. It would be so nice to fall asleep on you every night. You are so nice and soft and I love you very much. I am sort of taking it easy today. When we come off guard we are supposed to have eight hours off and most of the time they find something for us to do but I am making sure they don’t catch me this time. There is too much hard work to be done. I don’t think they will ever finish these gun emplacements. Yesterday was a good day to lay around and read the newspaper. Boy, did it rain! With a hard wind blowing, it came at you slantwise and stung your face. I know because as usual I was pulling my guard shift. Nine times out of ten it rains on my trick. Or do they wait for the rain and then put me on? I wouldn’t wonder if this was true. I’m afraid the people up here don’t see toe to toe with you. You are probably biased. I can’t be as good as you say I am.

I can’t help looking forward to the middle of this month with an uncomfortable feeling. I don’t think I shall be one of the boys going but you never can tell. I got a letter from you this morning. You know that ending you put on it (your girl) had me puzzled for a while. Why don’t you sign your name to it? I had to figure out which “girl” the letter was from. If that girl next door is only twenty and on her second baby and you still feel fine, well you should have invited her husband over instead. It is obvious that your husband is no good. I’m only kidding darling. The more I think of it the more I’d like to have you have one. Old Mother Nature does pretty much as she likes and there isn’t much we can do. I want you to be as happy as possible. One of those little bundles of trouble would make us both happier. Is that a complete reversal of form for me? Or did you have me figured out? I thought I was pretty strong against it before. I was talking with a fellow once who owned a motorcycle and he told me he used to take girls riding on it to get them excited. Especially on a rough road. They were cold turkey after a short ride on a bumpy road. Maybe I’ll get one so that I can get around you. Don’t throw those boots away. The next time you go to Natick or Boxboro you can leave them there and in that way you won’t have to leave them in the car. If you would throw those old letters out you would have plenty of room in the trailer. Well my pretty little wife, this is enough for today.

Your loving husband,

Leonard alias “Sterling Hayden”