July 3, 1942 - Dear Sneezy

Jan Palson

03 Jul 2026 — 5 min read

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

Anyone that would tell a story like that deserves to be in the Army.

So the pass is Tuesday not Wednesday. She's joking around. And he's shooting his mouth off - lol. Just FYI - In 1942, our country is 166 years old. And it's at war... again.

Original Letter

Transcript follows.

Transcript - July 3, 1942

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

Dear Sneezy,

How did you like that joke I sent you yesterday? Good, eh? Only if you were going to tell that about me, you couldn’t use the Fourth of July. You would have to find a holiday that comes on the eighth or ninth of Month. Isn’t that right? Or is it? Anyway, it has a meaning behind of it and that is more than I can say about those _ _ things. (I was going to say jokes, but that wouldn’t be right) you send me. It makes sense and comes to the point. No beating around the bush. Do you see what I mean? You do!! You can’t because I don’t follow it myself. You must be saying you do just to please me or stay in my good graces. Do you realize what would happen if you got me mad? I’m not the sort of person you can trifle with. When you trifle with me, babe, you are walking on thin ice. And what is the idea anyway. Just because ice is cheap is no reason why you should put your dirty feet on it.

And speaking of dirty feet. For fifty cents and a bottle of beer I can get a whole one to sleep with so why should I bother with a pair of feet. Besides, they will be cold as h-ll. Have you begun to get mad enough to tear this letter up and then sit there chomping your finger nails waiting for me to show so you can cuff me around. All this would never have happened if the Fourth of July hadn’t been so close. I could never have written such a letter if the Main clan could only refuse a dare. Well, it was this way – one of the fellows came back from town and brought along some firecrackers. Naturally we started doing tricks with them and one thing lead to another and I duplicated whatever he did. He held one in his fingers and so did I and then he put one in his teeth and so did I. And that is the reason I shot my mouth off. Whoops, how the h-ll did that get in here. I swear I shall tear this letter up myself. Anyone that would tell a story like that deserves to be in the Army.

What they should do to a guy like that shouldn’t happen to a dog. Are you mad yet? You are!! (here we go again). I was only kidding about your jokes. I like to hear them, but I like to get your goat by pretending not to like them. There that should prove to you that I can be serious for four lines at least. I have rechecked for the third time about my pass and it is July 7^th and that is Tues. I said Tues. the first time but someone told me Wed. so I wrote you saying it was Wed. and now I find it is really Tues. So look for me then. They will have to do some heavy thinking to cheat me out of this one. Your intuition will tell you I’ll be down July 7^th even if I have to go over the fence. They can keep me from my girl just so long and then I’m like a man on the desert with water in sight. Nothing can keep him from the water and likewise nothing is going to keep me from you.

I get that idea in my head and then all I can think of is seeing you. I love you so very much. I must say that the same way in every letter and yet it does not seem so bad to keep writing it the same way. I don’t get tired of writing. I love you so very much. Every time I go on guard it rains. Boy, did it rain last night. We got soaked. I’ll have to break the iron out and press these pants. They look like my fatigues. I am all thru guard today. They took me off so I could pull my regular turn in the kitchen. At least tonight I shall get a good nights sleep and then I have to work on a holiday. Usually we get most of the day on a holiday. We won’t march in any parade because there are too many fellows on guard duty. Well darling, it is going to be a long weekend without you. It will be a long one for you, won’t it? I’m looking forward to it because soon after it is gone, I shall be on my way to see you. I told you that I got a card from Laura saying they were going on a picnic. I wish we were going, but it is impossible this year. Oh well, I’ll be seeing you soon.

Lots of love

Leonard