May 26, 1942 - Dear Audrey
The Army is going to train you to be a good soldier too.
I don't want to bury the lead, but she's ok for another month if you know what I mean. Passing inspection is no guarantee of a 24 hour pass so she'll just have to be surprised. Bayonet practice is kinda graphic. All that sneering and such. Rookies better take it seriously or the price is double timing it around the parade grounds. It's molding peace loving fellows into war fighters. It's physical and mental. It's war and they just want it to be over.
Original Letter
Transcript follows.
The Boston Globe - May 26, 1942
Note the small story regarding medical budgeting. Healthcare is an issue back then and it still is. Crazy. They are taking the gas rationing very seriously. One wrong punch on the card and you'll be in court. Talk of eliminating the W.P.A. means those funds can go to the war effort. The workers too.
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The Boston Globe - Evening
There is no greater tragedy than the loss of children. The story is devastating. Plus all the loss of life in this war. It's depressing. There is no good news regarding the gas situation. And criminals continue to crime. I guess that's why there's Delicious Caldwell's Rum. 86 proof.
Meanwhile in Hartford...
Dorothy nails it again. Of course you don't want to marry him. Live your life girl and let him find someone closer to his age. I could so be Dorothy Dix. Now, have you ever heard of Eggs Shrewsberry ? I have not but I guess I'll try it. Sounds fantastic. And I can't tell from the picture, does she want to play tennis or not?
Transcript - May 26, 1942
Bat H 9th C.A., Fort Banks
Dear Audrey,
The latest developments to the rookies in Battery H at Fort Banks is bayonet practice. As you have probably heard there is an art to it. We’ve had various lectures on it and yesterday we started in on the actual thrusting and jabbing. I think I’d rather just pull the trigger and shoot he enemy. The thought of stabbing with your bayonet so that it goes pass the bones is not a pleasant one. It’s enough to make your lips curl so that you almost automatically assume a sneering expression which is what they want. I hope all this does not bother you. Today they had us double-timing (running) around the parade grounds as punishment because they refused to take it seriously. After each stab we would stop and wipe off the imaginary blood from the blade or roll a loose head out of the way.
Don’t mind me, I’m only kidding. Anything to break the monotony and for a laugh. I don’t know whether or not you have been able to read between the lines or not. But our training here is not only physical but mental also. That is they have to take peace-loving fellows like myself and make them want to fight. Make them anxious to get at the enemy. Mold them into a modern fighting machine. I think this is the hardest part and when I think and see the fellows they have to work on, it’s even harder. Of course, they haven’t changed my ideas too much, but they have to a certain extent. That is, I’m anxious to do my part and to get it over with. Can you see any change in me? Or don’t you see me enough?
Another thing I feel is that I won’t stay at Fort Banks very long. If I don’t go with this Battery I’ll be going some place, some how. This is too good to last. All these lectures we hear are filled with subtle propaganda that is supposed to change our attitudes and I suppose it is necessary and also does help influence us in one way or another. Maybe some of the fellows have the right resistance to this by promptly falling asleep. I don’t know where all this philosophy came from tonight. Cold sober too. If I stop to read it over, I’ll tear it up so you might not get it. Maybe it was an outburst or something that has been in the back of my head. And your announcement today you were O.K. relieved it. I’ve been thinking of you more than ever lately. I feel sure that when the time comes, we can have those ten brats you want. That is if you don’t suddenly decide to be mean to me.
From now on if you spend more than $.60 on your hair, there will be a revolution. If you can do it good once, you set the price and pace for good. The Army works along those lines and I learn quickly. Maybe I can pass inspection this weekend. Don’t plan on it because it’s possible that I won’t be able to make it. All the follows that work with me in the plotting have only received 12-hour passes and so they would be showing favoritism, even though the next day is Sunday, by granting me a 24-hour pass.
So let me surprise you and don’t be disappointed. I know this that it will be my last chance for over a month. We are going out to the island around the 10th of June and will be gone a month and so it will be more than a month.
The Army is going to train you to be a good soldier too. You will be quite a woman then. Not only a good soldier, but the nicest wife in the world. No matter where they send me, I’m sure I won’t find a nicer gal than you. I love you and can’t stop. You are so soft. You can forget I said anything about being shipped away because I’m only being pessimistic. I’m only trying to scare you. For the most part I’m glad you are safe this month, but I’m not as glad as I thought I would be. If you could compare it with a victory, it’s a rather hollow victory. Does that make sense.
Lots of love,
Leonard
Next letter tomorrow, May 23, 1942
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