Wartime Love Letters

Johnny (May 23 - 25, 1944)

Tuesday afternoon May 23, 44

Dearest Ella Mae + Johnny

I have just returned from the classification office. There I had a phone test and passed 100%. Then I was classified for my job aboard a D.E. (Destroyer Escort) I asked about my chances of being storekeeper and he said O.K. I told him I asked for it at Sampson and they said I didn't have a chance and he said there crazy. Your chances are good on a new ship. He asked what my second choice was and I told him machinist mate and he said O.K. as long as you have had 120 hours schooling at H.F. So sweetheart if I get either one I sure am tickled and my chances are good as he put me down as well qualified for either one. If I get it boy will I fly for a rating. I don't mean maybe. If I can land 3 strips down and a cage. I'll be the happiest and proudest guy in the world. If I get the chance sweetheart I'll do my best.

Now we go to school here for four weeks and then go out on a shake down trip. When we return from the shake down trip we make get a leave for 7 or 8 days if there is anything more to do with the ship and loading. Gee sweetheart would I be tickled to get home to you before going out it sure will make me happy. Keep your fingers crossed that we get a leave because if you knew how much I long to be with the sweetest in the world for 6 or 7 days. It sure would make me real happy. There is no chance of leave for home here unless it is vital necessity by very serious Illness. So hoping nothing like that occurs. I only hope we get that leave after the shake down trip.

I have to go to the dentist tomorrow morning to find out about my plate. I sure hope I get it soon. Well sweetheart I hope every thing is O.K. at home and you and Johnny are getting along O.K.

I must hurry this letter as I have to jump into my whites and drag tail for chow.

I feel swell but boy is it hot here. The sweat just runs off like out of a faucet.

I have to laugh there are 3 or four little fellows from 229 here with me and they hang around me like glue. I don't know why but they seem to like my company and want to be around with me. There all good kids. There 17 years and 18 years old and they tell me they want to be good and gt home the same as everyone else. Young Kiddy is a little fellow and he wanted me to go to ship service with him this noon. So I went as I needed some soap for washing and some writing paper and cigarettes so we shipped and come back in time for chow at 11:30

He went with me when I went for classification too. He has to go for another test tomorrow and I hope he makes out O.K.

Well darling all I can say is I love you with all my heart and just can't wait to get back with you and sonny again. I hope you go to bingo once in a while or even every week and please go to the show or go out once in a while some place to make the time go by a little faster because I know how it can drag if you stay in every night. I don't have to worry about you running out on me because I know you'll always be true and thats why I love you so much and can't wait to gt home to you.

All my love to your darling and also to sonny                                                                                                       Johnny

Wed. morning May 24, 44

Dearest Ella Mae:

Well sweetheart heres another letter from the same barracks. I went to the dentist again this morning and I still have more dental work to have done. I guess they are small fillings to be done. I also asked abut a plate and they marked it on my dental slip. Tomorrow when I go to have the work done I'm going to see about getting it. The fellows here tell me that you get them soon after you ask so maybe in a few days I'll have a full set of teeth again.