August 26, 1942 - Dear Audrey

Jan Palson

26 Aug 2026 — 6 min read

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

Damn this war.

Alert - change of plans. He will need to be present for payday on Monday. She'll still drive up Sunday in the Packard. Handy to keep a typewriter in the back in case a pass needs updating. I love how they figured out to change the date and time so they get more time together. Anyway, a lot to consider since he's been promoted to Private First Class. Which path provides a better future. That's the question. For both men and women! And it's great that Tony and Vicky got some time together. Finally. Tony (his best friend) is stationed in Texas I believe, so quite the trip up to East Hartford and quite the workout in the old trailer. Now everyone is going to be having babies :)

Original Letter

Transcript follows.

Transcript

For some context, War Updates follow the transcript. It includes the front pages of The Daily Evening Item from Lynn, Massachusetts (local to Fort Ruckman) and Mom's local Connecticut paper the Hartford Courant for additional news, plus the Women's Page so you're up on the latest recipes and styles, especially hats!

Research, learn, and support this work. Go to: Newspapers.com

August 26, 1942

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

Dear Audrey:

Well that was good news you sent me. I’m glad Tony was able to get up to see Vicky. It must have been quite a surprise to have him walk in on you. Has he lost his mustache? It is too bad he couldn’t have more time. I am quite sure he will get some time off when he finishes his training at Officers’ Training School. Did the trailer shake at night? Yes, they need quite a few officers in the Anti-aircraft as well as the Coast Artillery and the Field Artillery and you are right about them sending newly commissioned officers out. The C.A. is the best outfit but it is also the hardest to get into. They put older men in this and the younger men go into A.A. and F.A. they are encouraging us to put in applications so as to take the exams in Sept. but I had to be different. I filed out an application for the Signal corps. They expected me to go to A.A. School and they had been giving me quite a few breaks so as I would be better prepared for it. I even had instructions on surveying.

I don’t think they will like the idea of my going some place else after they have been preparing me for A.A. well I can’t see the A.A. and I really don’t like fooling around with these big guns. If I could get into the Signal Corps the experience would be very good for me. Something I might use later on. I did this a few weeks ago and I wasn’t saving it as a surprise but just if I got the break all right and if I didn’t OK. It is because that I’m afraid I won’t get it that I haven’t told anyone and in that way avoid any unpleasantries. I think the reason I didn’t tell you is because of the same thing Vicky intends to do when Tony receives his commission. We could be together all the time. I didn’t want to raise you hopes. You could quit that madhouse and leave that lousy trailer camp and we could be together. Well I’ve gone and said it. But that is quite a ways off and I don’t want you to think about it. Right now I am as far away from the Signal Corps as I am from Adolf. To expect to see you more than twenty-four at one time is too much for me. I don’t allow myself to think of such things and so you hadn’t better either. To be with you is all the inspiration I need.

So you are going to save your money and buy a house. Aren’t you twisted around a little? Don’t you know I am the one who is supposed to buy the family home. Your place is in the home. Damn this war. That will be one of the evils of this war. You might say the women are only taking their proper place but I’m not sure of it. What they are doing is making fools out of the men and doing a good job of it. I think they are going too far with this Army and Navy business and the part of the fool will be reversed. Oh well that is neither here nor there. I’m glad you are going to buy a house. Will it be a big one so we can take in boarders? I don’t see why Tony wouldn’t use the car. I wanted him to use and I am disappointed that he didn’t. I think I’ll write him so too. I accepted his hospitality. I will be waiting at Woods Court for you Sunday. Please hurry up but don’t drive fast. Not over forty. I’ll be looking for you from seven o’clock on. What shall we do? Get drunk!!! Oh you don’t like that, eh? You know what I was going to do if the little old lady hadn’t come around. Seeing as how my expectant wife couldn’t drink I was going to give up drinking myself for nine months or so.

Well I’ve just come from the office and I guess we will have to change our plans a little. If I want a three day pass I have to wait until Monday because they can’t hold my money more than twenty four hours and I have to be here for pay call. It is not that I have to be here but they have to have so many fellows here and there are so many gone that they want all the men they can get for pay call so they won’t let me off. But you drive up anyway and come down here to the fort and I think I’ll be able to see you Sun. night. I’ll expect you around eight o’clock. Maybe you can sleep over at you sisters and then pick me up around noon Mon. Drive around to the fence like you did before and if I’m not looking for you there, someone will get me. I’ll arrange my shifts so that I can go out with you and then you can drive me back here at night. You’ll have to find someplace to sleep Sun. and then pick me up Mon. I guess that is the best way I can think of and I hope it will work out. Be careful driving because I will worry all the way with you until I see you. The only thing that might detain me Monday after twelve noon is the time we get paid. We have to wait the Btry’s turn and I think we are due to be paid early in the morning. Last month it was one o’clock. Is that all right? if I don’t hear from you by Sat I’ll telephone you Sat. nite after seven o’clock.

Lots of love

Leonard