Wartime Love Letters

Johnny (April 13 & 17, 1944)

Squeezed up in the left-hand corner just above the United States Navy emblem is a little written side-note)

Did you get my clothes they were sent by express

Apr 13, 1944

Dearest Ella Mae,

How is everything sweetheart. I see by the letters I received to night you stayed with Ma + Pa a few days. I am glad because I imagine that helped a little for you to get ajusted to the situation. I here the dog raised the devil with Pa. What will he do when I show up. I suppose my sailor Pants will catch hell from him.

Well dear how is the job going these days. Is everything O.K. You will receive soon your allotment I think and you will also receive a 10,000 dollar insurance policy of which after this thing is over I am going to keep if it is possible as all it will ever cost me is 7.40 a month or I make change it a little when I get through but that will remain to be seen when it is over.

I am feeling O.K. I am a little sore from the strains they put me through but I'll be able to take it I guess. I do get a little lonesome sometimes but don't let it get me down because its got to be done and I got to take it. I'm doing fine but have plenty to do as I'm not used to this kind of live but beat others in many ways.

I'm going to use the other side of this paper for a letter to Johnny and I address it to him because that will make him feel good.

Best of luck to both of you dear and I' will be a good sailor. Love you dear

Kisses                                                                                                                                                                                            Johnny

(Squeezed in the right-hand corner on this side of the note is a little side-note)

Send daddy your picture and mommys

Dear Sonny,

So you wrote daddy a letter well that's fine sonny. I am very glad to here from you and hope you keep on writing daddy love to here from you. I hope you are a good boy in school and with mommy + Gramma. Can't you teach your dog to be a good boy and not scare grandpa. I bet he'll growl at daddy when he comes home soon. The officer said today our training is about 35 days so you can be looking for day early in next month if the rest of the fellows behave here in camp and I guess they will.

I here you and Tommy were to grammas during your vacation. I suppose Monday you will be going back to school won't you.

It Rains + snows and blows all the time here its some place. We are right on beautiful lake Seneca. About 12 miles from Geneva. Today was a sunny day the first one since we been here.

Well sonny I'll write again when I have time be a good boy and we'll have a swell time soon.

Kisses                                                                                                                                                                               Daddy

(The next letter found until a couple of days later – I will have to double check the letters to make sure I haven't missed them – but for now.)

Sunday afternoon Apr. 16, 44

To My Dearest Sweetheart

I am sitting here on my bunk dear thinking of you and sonny. I am wondering what you are doing this afternoon. We don't have anything to do until this evening except our laundry if we want to do it. I expect to get at my laundry after I write this letter. I haven't to much to do but I want it done as when we start cleaning the barracks for tomorrow we don't have time to do much. It has to be ship shape every night and every morning.