Oct. 15, 1942 - Dear Audrey
Now Btry F wants a game.
Apparently, the letter "J" is not used in military naming of barracks and such primarily to avoid confusion with the letter "I". At least that's what the google says. They're playing pushball and I found that image so you have an idea of what it is and why they need ambulances on stand-by. Mom continues to work too hard but making plans for their new place - very exciting, if they get it!!
Original Letter
Transcript
For some context, War Updates follow the transcript. It includes the front pages of The Daily Evening Item from Lynn, Massachusetts (local to Fort Ruckman) and Mom's local Connecticut paper the Hartford Courant for additional news, plus the Women's Page so you're up on the latest recipes and styles, especially hats!
October 15, 1942
Bat H - 9th C.A., Fort Ruckman
Dear Audrey:
I’m getting sick of writing that heading up above on every letter I write. Even a different Battery letter would help some but no, it is the same thing every day over and over. Did you know that the Army doesn’t use the letter “J” for identification purposes. Such as Btry “J” or Company “J”. I don’t know why and I can’t find anyone who knows either except that they don’t use it. Just another peculiarity in the Army and there are plenty more of them. I don’t feel any better tonight than I did last night and I mean mentally. In fact I haven’t felt right since I left you on my last pass. Sort of just marking time. I finished my week’s K.P. a little while ago and I’m glad that is over. Another week in there would kill me. I worked hard and I am tired and it is not from today but from a whole weeks work. I got two letters from you today so I won’t look for one tomorrow. What is this letter you wrote Emily? You never said anything to me about this letter. By all means, borrow the money from the Credit Union if you want and get the taxes out of the way. It isn’t that I had forgotten about them that I haven’t mentioned them lately but like everything else I have been letting them slide. It is a terrible habit. You sound as if you are practically in the trailor. They might not like the offer and then we will be right back where we started from. As yet I haven’t heard from them but I expect to tomorrow or Saturday. You still haven’t told me whether or not old Sheckatoff will let us keep the trailor there until we get ready to move into it. I hope you aren’t working too hard. In your letter you said you were very tired and were going to bed early and so I am taking it for granted that you are trying to work too hard.
Yesterday it was cold chills and cramps and today you are very tired. You are going to have me worrying months before my time. But I would rather have you telling me these things than for you to feel badly and not tell me. I want to know how you feel every day and everything you do and how you do it. I want to be with you all the time. I am madly in love with you. I can’t believe any man ever loved his wife as much as I love mine. I am crazy about you. No one can say anything about married life to me because I am all for it. They only point I’ll give in is that you have to have the right girl like I did. I married the nicest and prettiest and sweetest girl there is. That was quite a spiel for me. Am I out of the bashful class yet? You are always saying I am bashful and like a little boy but I think I am of the reckless devil-may-care type. Not that I didn’t mean what I said above because “I love you – I love you – I loff ya (that is Polish). We had quite a game of pushball here yesterday. In pushball you have a large ball about seven feet in height and you try to push it through your opponents goal. There are 30 men on a side and is very rough. So rough in fact that they have an ambulance and two medical men handy all the time. Well Btry U challenged Btry H and made some remarks about beating us. Well the game got rolling and so did Btry H and we rolled right over them. It is a tall fellows game and we have our share of them and so they took a beating. As far as the score goes we skunk them but the physical beating they took was terrific. You have to see one of these games to realize how bruising they can be. Now Btry F wants a game. Well what do you know the end of the page. So with all the love I have here tonights letter.
War Updates
The Lynn Daily Evening Item
They continue to crack down on alcohol sales while the war makes everything hard. Expanding the eligibility for service will affect all young men. And dress warm is the best advice for the fuel shortage, ladies.
Meanwhile in Hartford...
I wonder if the Wartime Homemakers Classes was provided across the country. Or was it just Hartford. Scrap collection continues. And maybe Mom and Dad can get some tires for the Packard.
The Women's Page for Mom
First, marriage, especially to a poor man is no "soft snap". In 1942, Humane Society is for people and animals. And more meat substitutes for dinner. Damn war.
Next letter tomorrow, October 16, 1942
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