Sept. 22, 1942 - Dear Audrey

Jan Palson

22 Sep 2026 — 5 min read

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I like Polish better and I think I’d better stick to my “Jendobcha”.

Darn the luck with just missing Tony. Scary incident outside camp. Even well trained soldiers can't overpower a thief with a gun. A lot of excitement over a hurricane warning. They have to take it seriously even though storms typically head out to sea. They could've just asked Dad. Fingers crossed for the gas rationing board. And plans are in the works for the next pass.

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!

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September 22, 1942

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

Dear Audrey:

I got your letter today and was surprised to hear Tony was down. That is the second time I have just missed him. If they hadn’t changed the pass list, I would have been there because originally I was slated for last Saturday night. It is just as well though that I missed him. What kind of stuff are you handing me? See me off in a blur of tears. Egad woman, don’t you think I saw those two lads waiting for the train to pull out. You probably said to yourself, “well he’s gone, now for some real fun.” I guess that is not funny and I’m just dumb enough to be kidding you about it. I thought you were a good soldier. I wanted to go out and take you in my arms and hold you ever so tight and then take you with me. I love you so very much. The lad from the bunk across from me went out on pass tonight and he just came back and broke. He stopped for a drink on his way out and then started for Lynn but he didn’t get very far. The other side of the Coast Guard Station a fellow stuck a gun in his ribs and relived him of what money he had. He had spent quite a while this afternoon shining his buttons and shoes and getting ready because he had a heavy date and then to have this happen is a real tough break.

He is back here now looking for some more money and I wish I had some to give him. He still hasn’t gotten over the quick scare it gave him and I don’t blame him. It is all right to say or think about what you do in a case like that but when the occasion arises you just don’t think. You don’t have time to think of tossing him over your head or any other disarming trick you might know. You just give him your money. At least I know I would be scared. I hope he gets some more money to go out on. He came to the wrong end of the barracks when he came up here. We are all as poor as church mouses. (that is what my Grandmother used to say when she didn’t have any money for me). The Weather Bureau sent out storm warning to us about a approaching hurricane and it caused enough excitement around here that I thought only the end of the war would bring. You should see the foolish and unnecessary preparations they are making. It is evident that they aren’t very familiar with New England weather. They’ve lashed everything but the dog to the ground, put all the fires out (we will have a cold supper tonight), taken all the other camoflag? (if that isn’t spelled right, you know what I mean) down, and we have all our stuff together ready to move out on a minutes notice. But the storm has gone out to sea or so the report has it and I could have told them that at noon time. The German class is hard or at least it is for me. Chinese would be easier. It gives me something to do nights so I’ll probably continue but I don’t expect too much.

I don’t think they will consider me as a good prospect for a spy in Germany. I like Polish better and I think I’d better stick to my “Jendobcha”. Yesterday I had peppers and onions for lunch. I never ate the darn things before and considering what they are, they weren’t bad. Did you bring the papers down to the Rationing Board yet? I hope you have a little luck. I didn’t write or I haven’t written (is that any better) to Amelia as yet. I’m going to wait until the end of this week. If I can’t get my three-day pass maybe I can arrange my pass so that it will come on your day off and then you can come up the day before and we will have the day off together. Your day off is the 30^th isn’t it? I think we will be able to arrange something and I’ll try hard to get a three-day pass. Well babe, the time has come. Darling you are my girl, aren’t you? I love you.

Love

War Updates

The Lynn Daily Evening Item

There's a war going on and the Navy is optimistic. However, churches are upset about Sunday football.

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

Meanwhile in Hartford...

Apparently, someone parachuted down and the cops want to find him. Crazy.

The Women's Page for Mom

Dorothy Dix: we have a new Eve but the same old, lazy Adam. I added the lazy part. Women have been complaining about getting help from husbands for such a long time. Will they ever get it???? Splurging on lamb tonight!