June 14, 1942 - Dear Audrey

Jan Palson

14 Jun 2026 — 3 min read

With this anti-aircraft we can go anyplace.

They never could have imagined the drones of today. It sucks that instead of less war, we have more efficient war. Anyway, he is NOT looking forward to moving. He won't hold back. The map shows Winthrop where Fort Banks is and just northeast is Nahant and Fort Ruckman. It's about 10 miles but far less developed. It's all part of Boston Harbor Defense. Very important since Russian and German subs are out there.

Nahant is about 10 miles driving up Revere Beach Blvd.

He has directions. It's not far. And running into your best friend's sister on the way? That's crazy. Rumors are flying for future plans. Stay tuned.

Original Letter

Transcript follows.

Transcript - June 14, 1942

Sunday, Fort Banks,

Dear Audrey,

I’ve just come from a look at my new home. As bad as Fort Banks is, I think I would rather stay here. The coal pile here does not look as big as it used to. I would go but for infantry drill in the morning without a complaint. A day in the kitchen is only a breeze. Over there, there are coal stoves for us to keep going and the dish washing facilities are not as good. Of course I’m painting a gloomy picture. What ever it is you have looks better when you have to pay more for it. The place can stand improving. Our part of the fort is being built on a golf course. They will have me sleeping in a sand trap. The buildings they have slapped up for us couldn’t have cost any more than a $1.09 apiece. A match would take care of everything except then we really would have to sleep in a sand trap. I suppose if they told us we had to sleep in tents we would think it was terrible. I’d take the gas pipe. You should see the piles of rocks over there that have to be cleared away. It’s all we need to make it seem like the good old days at the Charles H Jail. The uniforms are different here – no stripes. My eyes are a little better today. They worked me today and so I didn’t miss reading the Sunday papers. The bright sun makes me squint a little.

We were piling stuff in the trucks and moving it over to Ruckman all day and on one of the loads I saw one of Tony’s sisters. I think it is the one who went to school with you. She was riding a bike over in Lynn. I was surprised and didn’t recognize her until she waved at me (the first girl in three months to wave at us). What is her name? She had a funny hat and colored glasses so it is no wonder I didn’t know her. There was an awful crowd at Revere and Lynn beaches. From here we go right by Revere beach but to go to Ruckman from Boston you take route 1A to Lynn and then turn right towards the beach and head for Nahant. From there it is hard to describe in a letter so you will have to ask questions. I’m thinking you are coming up here some time before Sept., but of course I’ll see you in a couple of weeks. After Sept. I wouldn’t give a plug nickel for our chances of staying there. As soon as we learn all about these new guns we will go. Of course it is only a rumor so far, but there is some talk of eventually going to Hartford. With this anti-aircraft we can go anyplace. Don’t think too much (I’m not) about this because it is a long way off. Well I’ve go a chance to mail this now so ------------

Lots of love

Leonard

I’ll send my address tomorrow.