Oct. 21, 1942 - Dear Audrey

Jan Palson

21 Oct 2026 — 5 min read

Front page Boston Globe - both stars giving up the acting careers for the war effort. Newspapers.com

You Grala girls are a bunch of hot rocks.

So they own their own trailer. Very exciting. It's only 5 days until he gets his pass and high-tails it out of there. Along with the furlough, it's a well deserved rest. Unless he breaks his neck playing football. Lot's of things to discuss.

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 21, 1942

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

Dear Audrey:

Well, the trailor is practically ours now. I wrote Al a letter this afternoon telling him we would buy since he agreed to our arrangement and also asking him when he could pull the thing down there. I suggested Nov. 1^st because it was Sunday and seemed the best time. You could take the train up Sat. afternoon and I could meet you that night because I can get my furlough early then we could all go down Sunday. Or something like that. By the way I can have my three-day pass but they have changed the pass list so I’ll get it the 26^th. That is if they give it to me. I got permission to get it but they are forever changing things. I won’t feel sure of it until I have the darn thing in my hand. I am going to ask to have it made out from noon to noon and in that way I’ll be there early or probably in time for supper. But anyway, we can chew over a lot of things that we need to and then we should have things straight. We’ve got to hash this auto problem over. Don’t tell me you have stopped using the car because I have the registration. Hell, go ahead and use it. If you are stopped, they will have to give you time to show your registration. I got my hair cut again and very short too. I think I’ll have it this way until the duration has durated. Instead of growing a beard or going without something I’ll wear my hair like a porcupine. You’ll like it, won’t you? You Grala girls are a bunch of hot rocks. This paper from the Hotel Taft is the pay off. What a bunch of crooks you gals are. I’m glad you have gotten some time even if it is only for a couple of days. We can have a lot of fun in four days.

I’ll take good care of my wife. I won’t let you out of my sight for a minute. These football games we have nights here will ruin me yet. I run and run until I am doggy. I guess I enjoy myself or I wouldn’t be going out there every night. One lad fell into the culvert tonight and hurt himself. He banged his jaw and crushed his knee and we had to carry him off. He was new here and so wasn’t used to the hazards. The rest of us can run and dodge the holes and ditches easily but he just kept running and running until he disappeared. Oh well, we will get a new player tomorrow night. Manpower is no problem – what is one more man to the Army. Well honey, it won’t be too long now. I’ll be seeing you Monday and that is only five days away. I love you. I love you so very much that nothing matters but seeing you. I love my wife very much –

All my love

Leonard

War Updates

The Lynn Daily Evening Item

Is that an ad for a lobster dinner for $1 at the bottom of the page???? Wow. Apparently, Lynn does have the ability to send registered voters an absentee ballot but it seems the process is confusing and time consuming. A deployed soldier may not know where they will be from one day to the next. Believe it or not, they debated the south over a poll tax. a g.d.poll tax! Here's more:

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

Meanwhile in Hartford...

Hartford will afford a special gas allowance to get folks to the polls to vote. Watch where you get your bologna from. And maybe some good news for the older guys.

The Women's Page for Mom

Nancy Page will explain why we can't have a maid and we'll have to do chores ourselves. Thanks a lot WWII. At least meat is on the menu with double-decker hamburgers. And Dorothy continues to annoy, I mean advise.