July 1, 1942 - Dear Audrey

Jan Palson

01 Jul 2026 — 4 min read

1940s Fort Ruckman - Nahant, Massachusetts (Picture Credit: Capt. Gerald Butler)

Wow! What did I tell you. I’m going stir-crazy.

This letter includes rig-a-ma-role. You are forewarned. Note: he is at Fort Ruckman, not Banks. The 4th of July weekend is coming up but there won't be any major celebrations. It'll be low-key because of the war. President Roosevelt does NOT host big, expensive events on the White House lawn or parties due to the seriousness of the times and because he's a real president. In fact, most people continue to work as the war machine rages on.

Original Letter

Transcript follows.

Transcript - July 1, 1942

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

Dear Audrey,

Another day gone. Each day that goes by brings me that much closer to you. If I only had you here now so I could squeeze you until your ribs crack. Well, maybe I wouldn’t hold you that close, but I might not let go until you hollered. I love you, sweet and I never thought I would miss you so much. You are nice and soft. I love everything about you. Even your dirty feet. Not much doing today except work and more work. They are training us for something. The only thing I can think of is work-horses. We went over by a beach this morning and got some sand. I took my jacket off and got a sunburn. You lay out in the sun all afternoon and don’t even get pink and I got a good burn in an hour. See what kind of a man you have. You lucky stiff.

I can’t quite see why you are lucky or what that is doing in this letter. If you have any ideas on this write me by return mail. The person sending in the most ‘Chewing” gum wrappers and having the best idea will receive and promptly a real, genuine, well-thumbed detective story. I will vouch for the story. It is about a three-year-old girl who kills her mother and father and then cuts them up and stuffs them in an old trunk in the attic. Naturally in case of a tie, the judge’s decision is final. Wow! What did I tell you. I’m going stir-crazy. How did that rig-a-ma-role get in here? I’ll be going around knocking my head against the wall pretty soon. If you were only here to put ice packs on my head and put me to bed. But seriously, I don’t think you should come up this weekend. I will be down the following Wed. and we can last until then. In fact, I am prepared for the worst. If they take this pass away from me, I’ll probably say nothing and wait for another.

On a second thought, this is the Fourth of July weekend, isn’t it? Don’t you work Sat.? I read in the papers where all the defense shops will work this weekend. I would be glad to see you and I couldn’t send you back, but I think it would be just as well if you didn’t come up. You are the only one I would jump the fence for and I certainly would this weekend if you come up. The past few nights I’ve been real tired. I go to bed at 8:30 and sleep like a log until 5:30 in the morning. It takes me five minutes to get the sleepiness out of my eyes. If you were in bed with me I would just roll over (I mean turn my back on you) and go to sleep on you. Wait a minute, does that sound right. I meant well.

If there are soldiers down there you will have to move. I’m not going to have my wife associating with soldiers. They are a bad lot. I think I’ll put you on a island. You are much too nice. Some soldier will be hitting you over the head and doing the job I don’t dare do on you. I’m only kidding about soldiers. I love you very much darling.

Your man

Leonard