August 7, 1942 - Dear Mrs. M.

Jan Palson

07 Aug 2026 — 5 min read

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

There isn’t any organ but what do you want. Salt in your beer?

Well, I think she should send the pic back to Elmer and look to the future. It's laundry day every day now thanks to Mom. He calls the summer outfits the "sun tans". Don't know why. I'm pretty impressed with my old Dad in Algebra class. And it's too bad that Labor Day plans have to change. Alternate plans will work just fine.

Original Letter

Transcript follows.

Transcript - August 7, 1942

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

Dear Mrs. M.:

No letter yesterday but a nice long one today. I’ve read it twice already and it is only noon. Don’t send the picture back to Elmer. Keep it and let him get another. He only wants it so he can look at it occasionally and if his life is anything like this up here, he has no time to look at it. The inspirations he gets will be from a tough sergeant. I bet he wishes he was back painting houses. But if he looks to the past, I look to the future. Someday somehow you and I will have our little house with rose bushes climbing all over it. The past only has memories for us and they were so good they hurt to think of now. When this mad business is all over I am going to try and make this all up to you. You deserve so much and you are getting so little. I love my wife with all my heart. I’ve been taking your advice and doing my laundry every day and although it is easier, it seems so though I am continually washing clothes. I’m afraid I don’t get them as clean as they should be. Maybe the fellows talk behind my back of tattle-tale gray. The cats! I am going to try and wash the sun tans out. That is the summer outfits. It costs too much to keep sending them to the cleaners.

If they come out good I’ll wear them down to E. Hartford so you can see what a wonderful laundress you married. This lad on the left could take some lessons from me. The smell from the direction of his bunk is real foul. It is just my luck to get moved beside something like that. Oh well there I go griping again. I don’t seem to be able to write a letter without complaining. It’s night and pretty near time to go to bed. I’ve just come from the algebra class and my head is spinning with Y²’s and other fractions. If y=ab, what is the price of mustard. The white picket fence looks good. And why didn’t she get there quicker. What is the area of the chimney if the roof leaks. Those are only a few of the questions I am called upon to answer. Sometimes there aren’t enough letters in the alphabet for me. What a guy you married. I’m glad you have found out this early that you have to work Labor Day. Better to know you can’t have the three days off than to go on a planning and then find out at the last moment that you have to work. I was beginning to look forward to it but I’ll forget it now. How nice it would have been. I want ever so much to see you this Tues. but I can’t see it. That is if they don’t let me save up this pass so as to have two days later on.

They might make me take the day off when it comes up. Maybe I’ll go to Natick or just hang around Boston. Chances are I’ll have to take the day off. (I’m writing this letter in the day room and there is so much noise it is hard to concentrate) I got your money and thanks. I need toothpaste, brush and shaving cream and something else I can’t think of now so I’ll knock the h-ll out of a dollar right off. The rest I’ll squander on a couple of blisters tonite over at Murphey’s so you had better forward me another bunch. What do you mean the buttons on that blue dress were not very handy? They didn’t bother me — that is very much. An old timer like me doesn’t let a little thing like that bother him. It’s the pants that give me the most trouble. I got a small package from the St. Pauls Church in Natick and guess what. A bottle of Cobbs Creek? No! A bible for soldiers and sailors in the Armed Services, an Episcopal Cross, and a certificate showing my membership into that church. I suppose it was nice and thoughtful of them but it is something that I never gave a thought and could get along without. I’ve told all the fellows that my church services around my bunk would start punctually at 11:30 o’clock Sunday. Some of them thought it was too early but I am just naturally a early bird.

I believe in starting the day off bright and early and with a bang. I’m looking around for an organ player. There isn’t any organ but what do you want. Salt in your beer? Oh you don’t like beer, ek! Well then we won’t let the organ player in. How’s that? Don’t you know it is wrong to talk like that. It’s hypocritical. I’m only kidding darling, it is nice to have it. I just couldn’t resist the chance to say something. The churches are having a little easier time these days. People can’t get out to go other places so they go to church. They have always played second fiddle to something. That is something you never have to worry about. You never have to take a back seat to anyone. You are the tops and the only girl for me. I love you very much and think of you always. I’m going to bed now and I shall fall asleep thinking of you. Don’t miss me too much Tues. I might break down and try to make it just to see you for a couple of hours but don’t expect me.

From Mrs. M. Husband

Leonard

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx