Oct. 20, 1942 - Dear Audrey

Jan Palson

20 Oct 2026 — 4 min read

The Daily Item - kids get free movie admission with scrap metal. Support this work: Newspapers.com

It is my tough luck this lad is in my barracks

Get ready for some first class comedy. Then the Star Journal from Lansing, Michigan ruins his day. Nice short letter though. Fingers crossed for the 27th.

Original Letter

Transcript follows.

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!

Research, learn, and support this work. Go to: Newspapers.com

October 20, 1942

Bat H - 9^th C.A., Fort Ruckman

Dear Audrey:

What would you say about a guy who got up at 3:30 in the morning to go horse-back riding. Would you say he is as crazy as the fellow who gets up and goes swimming at 6:30 in the morning or would you say it is all right if you like it – Well the correct answer is, Paul Revere did. – I’m glad I’m not there to see if you like that one because I think it’s corny however it is being tossed around as if was the story of the year. There is one yokel who sits on his bunk waiting for some one to come into the barracks so he can spring it on them. Then he rolls on the floor and howls with glee. I guess maybe this Army life is affecting him. Then he has another (he really has dozens of them but some of them are smutty and then you don’t want to hear all of them. Maybe you don’t want to hear these but that is your tough luck and you have to listen. It is my tough luck this lad is in my barracks). “These two farmers each had a horse and they had trouble telling the two horses apart. When they were working out in the field together they were always getting them mixed up so one night one of them decided to do something about it so he cut his horse’s tail off. Unfortunately the other farmer had the same idea and he cut his horse’s tail off so the next day they were no better off.

But that night one of them figured to fix things so he braided what was left of his horse’s tail but the other farmer did the same thing. So the next day there were still no better off – worse in fact because they were getting mad at each other. Now they were getting the horses mixed up worse than before so the only thing left to do was to sell them. And that is what they did – both the black one and the white one. “ Do you want me to tell you another or is that enough? I see what you mean. The way they bang a story around here it lasts two weeks. They add and subtract and stretch it then hold a knife at you until you laugh or stop laughing. I’m on the twelve to four shift and so I got up this morning at 11:30 allowing myself just enough time to get my mail and get down to the hotel. It takes about twenty minutes to walk over and the rides aren’t so frequent as they use to be. I got a letter from you and then I grabbed the newspaper and we started down there. We get down there and I settle down and rip the paper open and what do I have? It’s the Star Journal from Lansing, Michigan. It looked like the Boston Herald. I was disappointed because I had been thinking all the way down of settling back for an hour and just reading the paper. It spoiled the whole afternoon because I had nothing to do and I had to hang around for an hour with nothing to do. I still haven’t found out about the 27^th. I’m a little afraid the answer might not be in our favor but I’ll give it the old try right away. I love you very much and am looking forward to seeing you very much. Love, Leonard

War Updates

The Lynn Daily Evening Item

So the Lynn High School can charge admission for the Sunday game. That is, if they're allowed to have a Sunday game. And freedom of religion is losing the battle concerning a Jehovah Witness boy.

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

Meanwhile in Hartford...

They're extending the hours for voting. And if 18 year olds can be drafted, they should be able to vote.

The Women's Page for Mom

I guess some hats can be used to land small aircraft. Dorothy will always blame the woman for marriage problems but at least we're getting meat for dinner!