May 25, 1942 - Dear Audrey

Jan Palson

25 May 2026 — 6 min read

Just like a herd of cattle only naked.

Wedding presents and a baby someday? I've posted pic of what i think "grand stand" shoes look like under the Courant page. Or is it Grand Stand-by? They're $6.50. Cute but they look uncomfortable. And $18.98? What a fun shopping trip that must have been. You have to imagine she got a lot for that. And please stay healthy - get your vaccines. I had no idea they took your pay if you got sick.

Original Letter

Transcript follows.

The Boston Globe - May 22, 1942

Here's a good idea. Let's get Brazil involved.

Read more about it and support this work: Newspapers.com

The Boston Globe - Evening

It's called the Victory Bike because "basic, bare bones bike with no safety features" is not as catchy. Everything is for the war effort. Even drafting 18 - 19 year olds. These nurses survived a harrowing experienced and suffered along side the troops before getting rescued and the paper's headline is about the new hair-do.

Meanwhile in Hartford...

Per Dorothy and thanks to the war, women have been set free! They can now be more assertive in relationships. Yes, pick the husband you want. And the one you can tolerate. Mushroom soup is on the menu along with a zippy salad. That sounds a bit better than "jello mold".

Grand Stand - bys

I wonder if these are the shoes. These that will compliment any outfit day or evening and get ohs and ahs. I believe the holes in the leather is what they call "air-cooled kid". I could be wrong. This is from 1939 btw.

Transcript - May 25, 1942

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

Dear Audrey,

“Oh my head” You’ve bankrupted me. I’ve got grounds for divorce right here in black and white. With this letter to you, I’m also dispatching a letter to the Finance Co and to the Bank claiming bankruptcy. Also, the first thing in the morning I’m going up and see the Adjutant and file suit for divorce. I expect my wife to spend at the most $.79 or $.98 on clothes and what does she do. She plunges me hopelessly in debt by spending $18.98. “Oh my head! What a blow! I think I’ll charge you with cruelty, but I can’t decide whether to make it mental or physical.

I’m only fooling and I love you very much. But you didn’t mention anything about those grand stand shoes. When are you going to get them? Did you have a good time shopping? (I just had to take 5 minutes off to stand reveille. I’ll write this letter in relays because in another 15 minutes, nite chow will blow).

Did you write Elmer a letter yet? I got a letter from him and he asked about you. He wrote you a letter and it went to four different addresses and finally was returned to him. I wrote him this noon and told him you were going to write him, but I didn’t give him your address. I told him that since I married you, it will be all right if he writes you. You are all mine and no one can take you away from me. He also asked about Tony and Vicky. His address is the same one that you have and I know he will be glad to hear from you. What did you sister Sophie have to say?

Part 111. I’m just come back from chow and so I’ll continue. Some day you will get all the wedding presents that are coming to you. A few of my cheap relations should dig down.

Yesterday in church a young couple had their baby christened. They were a nice looking couple and the baby was (it was a baby and that’s as close as I can come to it) anyway I sort of envied them. But that guy wasn’t as lucky as he thought because his wife couldn’t be as nice as mine. If I have not already fixed my wife up, I’m going to someday. I love you, honey, and I miss you. I’m still worried about what I did last time.

We had a physical examination and so I guess I’ll get paid next week. If they pick you up with some disease and have to put you in the hospital you lose your pay. If you spend a month getting over it, you have to make that time up when you have done your time in the Army. It’s quite a sight. Just like a herd of cattle only naked.

Well, this is part 4. I went out to play softball. We played the Medical Detachment and we won. This is Battery H’s team and we win them all. It must be because we do so much work and get to be so strong. I’m still sore from lifting those crates yesterday in So. Boston. I tried to pick the potatoes up this morning at breakfast and almost dropped them.

That sounds like an interesting permanent wave you are going to give yourself. If you aren’t going to use any of those things you mention, what are you going to use? Did you cut it short? I really got mine cut short. A good sanitary Army haircut, but I can still comb it so don’t get excited. I almost forgot that you are going to that dance sometime this week. Maybe by the time this letter reaches you it will be all over. If anyone steps on your feet you can think of me. If you get this letter before you go to that dance or rather before the dance is due, don’t forget to go to it. Because I want you to go.

By the way, you never told me you loved me in this letter. The first thing you know I’ll begin to doubt you love me then what will you do. Another reason I’m so tired today is because of that huge washing I did Sat. and Sun. I think I’ll start taking in washing and make a little money on the side. Well darling it’s getting dark and so close to your husband’s bedtime so I will close. Don’t forget to let me know how you feel because I’m interested. I never thought I would miss anyone as much as I miss you.

Lots of love,

Leonard

P.S. I’m all out of writing paper, so the next letter you get will be on Scott Toilet Tissues.