June 8, 1942 - Dear Audrey

Jan Palson

08 Jun 2026 — 6 min read

Fort Banks - 1940s - Artist Unknown

Oh yes, I didn’t spend any money at all.

Getting out on a Sunday afternoon is a wonderful break with an extended visitors pass. Just a normal trip into Boston with your brother-in-law, Brownie. David is a cute kid. Finally that money thing is getting resolved. It's about time. Baseball helps to pass the time and fun - especially when you win. The upcoming practice firing meanwhile is interfering with Dad's time off and his eye doctor appointment. But June - Dad's younger sister (not the month) is graduating and hopefully she gets a gift. He's off to see his family tomorrow over in Natick. Funny how Mom lived in Boston but moved to East Hartford since they had no idea he'd be posted so close.

Original Letter

Transcript follows.

Transcript - June 8, 1942

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

Dear Audrey,

You know I sat in the theater listening to the Chaplain or I should say trying to because all I could think of was how nice you would look in your new outfit if I could only be there. All I could think of was how much I miss you. How much I love you. You are so nice and soft. This being away from you so much and so long is making me bitter. I don’t know what I would do if you didn’t write me every day. Perhaps I look forward to your letters too much, but I can’t help it. I get such a nice feeling when you tell me you are my girl and only mine. I never thought it was possible to love any one so much. Is that bad? Anyway, I love you so very much. Sunday no one came over here but around four o’clock Bernice called up here and want to know if they could come over. I told you how Bernice wrote me a card saying they would be over Sunday and probably Laura and Frank or didn’t I? Well we still can’t have visitors except to talk thru the fence for a short while and so Sat. I put in for a visitors pass in order to sit in the car or go a short distance from the post. When I got the pass Sunday noon, the clerk had made a mistake in filling out the pass. He made it out until Monday night at 7 o’clock instead of from Sunday at 2 to 7pm. So when Bernice called up I decided I would go in there and see them instead of making them come out here and stand around.

It really wasn’t much of a chance and legally I had a 29-hour pass and they couldn’t say anything. If I hadn’t had to be here today, I would have beat it for E. Hartford. They would have made it hard for me for not being here today. Brownie, David and I took a walk down to the Park Sq. building to the liquor store where Brownie works and we got something to drink. We took it back to the apartment and had quite a talk. I guess we covered just about everything. One subject we agreed on was you. I said you were the nicest wife I have got and he agreed with me. He walked down to the subway with me around mid-night to see me on my way and we happened to go by the Hotel Imperial. Just by accident you understand and so we had to stop and listen to the cowboys for a while. I got back here around one-thirty and had to bum a ride at that. It was raining and I got so wet that I had to bring the suit to the tailor for pressing this afternoon. I don’t think I was drunk and this morning I didn’t feel bad so I guess I wasn’t. Oh yes, I didn’t spend any money at all. And speaking of money, if the newspapers have things straight are troubles will be over. With fifty dollars a month, we can do a lot and especially I can do something for you. Maybe I can buy you something. Maybe a dozen red roses. Only the best for my girl. She deserves it.

I got the undershirts this morning and they look good. But two is not enough. I’ve got to have 7 or 8. But the ones I have here will last quite a while. We played softball tonight and we beat the other team very badly. Something like 17 to 8 and we laid down the last few innings. There is no competition around this fort for us. They have definitely postponed my eye examination until we get back from the island and that will be three weeks. It also means I won’t see you for at least that length of time and maybe more. I’ll be crazy to see you by then. They will be holding me back. If they don’t let me out, I’ll get out under the fence. If I was 2000 miles away from you I might resign myself to the inevitable but here I am only 100 miles away and I just won’t be able to stay away from you too long. I got a letter from Tony today and he tells me he is on a vacation. He had a great trip down and he seems to be in a swell camp. But you probably know all about that from Vicky. The only draw back is he is so far away from her. So I am not too surprised at your telling me she is thinking seriously of going down to where he is. I can’t say it is a bad idea because that is one of those things where your heart does the deciding. I know if I was down there that would be the only thing I would want. In fact, that is what I want up here. If you still lived on Myrtle St. I would be up to see you every night. Now I don’t want you getting ideas. You stay where you are. The both of you are pretty well fixed.

I have a 12-hour pass coming up tomorrow nite and I really am not looking forward to it. They want me to go to Natick and I guess I will. Oh how I wish I was reckless enough to start for E. Hartford. Just up and go and don’t care when I get back. I hope I get over this feeling or I am apt to start off. David is quite a boy. I brought him some gum and he put so much in his mouth that he couldn’t talk. Some day we will have our ten, won’t we sweet? I love you darling.

Lots – Lots of love

Leonard

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

June’s graduation is either this week or the next one. There is no harm done if you are a little late. It would probably be just as well. I never got anything when I graduated but if you like to get something it would be fine. She would appreciate it.

Some more love,

(I’ve got loads of it for you)

Your husband