Oct. 9, 1942 - Dear Audrey
This Army is the — well let’s not go into that here.
This letter has the most embarrassing joke - it is cringe. Maybe skip this one all together. Or not. You've been warned. He's so lucky he's married and happy. Keeps him out of trouble. All kinds of trouble. The focus as usual is getting back to his one true love. Getting a pass plus a furlough is too exciting to even think about but that is what he's looking forward to. Along with updates on Mom's current condition. During the 1940s, giving birth changed from primarily at home to structured hospital delivery. Back then, they used the rabbit test, when needed. Military base hospitals were not up to speed with maternity care back then. But she's keeping busy with work, stealing stationary, and basketball?
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 9, 1942
Bat H - 9th C.A., Fort Ruckman
Dear Audrey:
Well, I’m a little worried tonight. No letter from you for over two days now and I don’t know what to think. Are you stealing my thunder? If I don’t hear from you pretty soon I’ll jump the fence and go down there and see if you got hit by a truck or a piece of machinery fell on you or what. Or, maybe you are sick? You know if I don’t hear from you pretty soon, I will think you are mad at me for not writing to you Tuesday and you are trying to teach me a lesson. I wish I could be down there with you tonight and love you. I would smother you with kisses and hold you so tight your ribs would crack. You are so nice to wrestle with and I love you so much. You can disregard what I have said above about not receiving any letter from you. I started this letter last night but a “alert” stopped me and so I am picking up where I left off this afternoon. I got two letters from you this morning and I was very glad to hear from you. I like to hear you tell me I am a great lover. It is easy for me to love you because you are so nice and soft and sweet. Everything seems to be so natural.
You are the sweetest thing I ever wrapped my arms around and I’ve wrapped my arms around a lot of things and I am including a pillow in that too. Whenever I wrap my arms around a pillow I think or dream of you. And you are the sweetest thing to dream about too and I dream of you all the time. I love you. If you still think I am holding anything out on you, you can rest at ease because I did not get any punishment last week and in fact not many fellows knew about my being late. I won’t be able to come in late anymore though because they are going to put in a new rule. They are making it harder for the poor private every day. They must stay awake nights just trying to think of ways of making it harder for us. This won’t affect me though because my furlough will be coming up and I won’t risk losing that. For the past three or four days I have had an idea that I have been bouncing back and forth. I have a pass coming up on the 27th and so if I could have a three-day pass then I could come back the night of the 30th in time to be paid and also to get my furlough the afternoon of the 31st. Wouldn’t that be nice? I don’t see why it isn’t possible and I am going to give it a good try. I won’t go up and see about it until the end of next week and so I won’t be able to let you know if it can be arranged for a while. That fellow who had to go to the hospital with the venereal disease came back this afternoon. They treat that stuff pretty quickly now, that is, if they can get it in the first stage.
He loses quite a bit by being so careless. He loses his rank pay and his reputation not to speak of the effect it has on his own body. I’m glad I am married to the sweetest girl in the world. And speaking of dreaming of you, I want to tell you of a dream I had of you. I was bowling and I was getting a wonderful score – all strikes and spares. Just as I threw the first ball on the last box of the last string the bugle blew and woke me up, but not before the ball knocked down all but one pin. So there I was with two balls and one pin standing up straight in the air. Sort of making a tent in the blankets. I had to take my shoe and beat it down. I am wonderful at telling stories aren’t I? Do you like that? That tale brings up something else. I am also disappointed in that doctor. We are still out on a limb and we still don’t know what to do. We shouldn’t have to wait three more months because if your figuring is right, two months have gone by and so we should know soon. If nothing happens from two months ago something should come from my last pass because I didn’t pull any punches then. And as you say, we will be glad either way but I am hoping a little you are caught.
Am I a traitor? I change my mind once in a while and besides I have a lot of confidence in you. Say, where did you get that stationary? Just because I steal things is no reason why you should or don’t you call that stealing – just borrowing. What is this about your playing basketball? I bet you quit after the first night. You will probably lose two days work after the first night because you won’t be able to walk. Why don’t you pick a game not quite so strenuous (Hm, that word doesn’t look quite right) anyway that’s too tough for you and so for you getting to be as good as me. I hope you do, but I’m afraid Nancy will be able to run rings around you. I’ve been listening to the football games and there are some good ones. I miss Saturday afternoons. A bottle of beer, the radio, the couch and nothing to do and just do nothing. This Army is the --— well let’s not go into that here. Twenty days till my furlough and it seems as far off as the duration. When it comes it will probably go by so fast it will make my head whirl and I will really hate coming back to this place. And that is known as “counting you chickens before the egg is grown” or “who hit Nellie in the belly with the meatball”. Oh yes, before I sign off, the seam on one of my pants has let go and I want to have my blouse fixed and I only have fifty cents left so if you could advance me some cold cash anytime between now and the 27th, I’ll gladly owe you. If you don’t send it I won’t love you but right now I love you with all my heart.
Leonard
War Updates
The Lynn Daily Evening Item
Not only is Lynn restricting liquor sales but they may do away with Sunday football. Apparently, the Lord wants his day. Scrap metal collections continues to be the focus.
Meanwhile in Hartford...
I bet Mom would benefit from the Homemakers School happening in Hartford. Experts on all areas of homemaking. I wonder if she attended. Note 18 and 19 year old kids - enlisting is now a privilege.
The Women's Page for Mom
I still can't get over yesterdays Dorothy. If you missed it, check it out.
Next letter Monday, October 12, 1942
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