Oct. 24, 1942 - Dear Serena

Jan Palson

24 Oct 2026 — 4 min read

Boston Globe - Mrs. Roosevelt tours war damage in London. Support this work: Newspapers.com

Like the cool soft wind whistling in the pines...

This is the last letter for a couple of weeks. It starts poetically but then gets to Hatchet-face and goes completely off the rails. I guess that's to be expected when he not only gets a 3-day pass then it's furlough! The trailer will be there on the 1st - hope all goes well.

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 24, 1942

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

Dear Serena:

That is a beautiful name. Like the cool soft wind whistling in the pines – Like the surf purring at low tide. Like a tall cold foamy one after a hard day or like the jugging of the frogs at night out in the country. Like my wife’s cool caresses – say, that reminds me. Can you send me ten bucks? I’ve got an old blister up here who wants me to take her out and naturally you keep me broke. Her name is Hazel but I call her “Hatchet-face” because she is so small and sharp. She is a natural for me - bow legged and everything and knows all the tricks. Her teeth or rather her two teeth are like fangs and so that is why I need a sawbuck to take her out. She gives me the leaping horrors unless I am cocked and then she is a bright little cow. She used to go with a lad in one of the other batteries but he got arrested and now she wants to be my girl. He was arrested because they caught him putting salt-peter in cement to see if it would get hard. That should make me about as popular as a cat in a gold fish bowl or as a elephant in a china shop or whatever animal it is that is suppose to get into china shops.

I still think that cold dark foamy one is a good idea. This is Saturday night and it won’t be long until I see you. Just one more day and then I’ll be holding you in my arms. I called Al up and he is going to pull the trailor down the 1^st anyway. You will have to be there when they get there. You should have seen me down on the beach this afternoon. I had three youngsters and a dog walking the beach with me. The kids just flock to me. I draw them like flies. I would make a great family man and just wait and see if I don’t. We’ll, I’ll probably beat this letter down there so I think I’ll tear it up. No use in sending a crazy letter like this.

All the love in the world

Leonard

War Updates

The Lynn Daily Evening Item

Folks will be lining up to register for heating oil. Country clubs are out of luck though. Golfers can wear sweaters. Coffee rationing starts soon so it's serious now. And a beloved WWI hero is missing.

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

Meanwhile in Hartford...

War is expensive so the pleading for not only war bonds but the war chest continues. And that's all across the country. The first lady continues her tour of London. And Eddie Rickenbacker is missing!

The Women's Page for Mom

Finally, help with wearing a powder puff. Apparently, it's the material of the jacket they refer to as powder puff". More meatless meals and Dorothy Dix dishing out judgement, I mean advice.