Wartime Love Letters

Ella Mae (June 7 - 10, 1944)

83 Merchant St.                                                                                                                                                                      June 7, 1944

Dear Johnny,

Well darling the mail man was pretty good to me to-day. Two letters from you. I'm sorry you hurt your head. Are you sure that its healing O.K. Keep a good check on it and if it looks ugly better check up on it. I don't want any thing to happen to that head of yours as I rather like it.

I got the picture of you in whites and I like the large one of you alone. But I don't think the small ones of you are too bad. Your mother says that "The more they come the worse they are." We went to Bingo to nite but no luck. On the way home we stopped and had a sandwich and coffee.

I took quite a tumble to-day. I went to jump the line and caught my toe. I didn't hurt myself much but I'm a little lame to-night. I was darned lucky I didn't break and arm or leg. And I've had the hives too. I don't know what caused them. The nurse at the Alco said they might be from the medicine Dr. Weiss gave me or something. I've eaten. They're better now tho. But boy did they itch. And of all the places I had them right on my back side. And of course I couldn't scratch them all the time.

Jean is down to-nite. She ahd her fortune told to-nite and I'm hearing all about it as I write. From what she tells me she's going to get a lot of money and get a blonde man. She wants to know if you have any sailors lined up. She says you promised to bring her home one and she'l be satisfied with the one whose picture you sent. But I told her that was off as you said he had a girl. She's reading a true story and she just said if she can't get her love any other way she can at least get it synthetically. What a kid! She has enough a pep for ten. Sometimes she makes me nervous she has so darn much life.

Johnny is pretty pleased with his letter from you but his so darn busy that the only time he wants to write is when its time for him to go to bed. He's trying hard to be a good boy but some times its just too much for him.

I don't think that they've heard anything definite about Barney leave except that he may get it the 18th. That will make him just too late to see Ed as he has to go back the 18th. Bob Rourke is home from overseas and has three Oak Leaf Cluster and the Distinguished Service Cross. He looks quite good.

I ws talking to Mabel Hay on the phone to-nite. Larry is going to Quarter master school at Sampson and is about 100 yds from the old barracks. It's a four months course and all the leave he gets is 40 hr passes once a month. So I guess he's not any better off than you are. He was assigned Friday. She said he was all packed to leave for the week and when he got assigned. I hope to hear to-morrow if you were assigned Tuesday. I just can't wait for the mail on Thurs and Monday. I hope you do get a break.

Well darling I guess I'd better call it a day. I'm pretty tired and six o'clock sure comes early when I stay up after 10 o'clock. I'm doing O.K. in hearing the alarm and I always thought that was an impossibility. I love you so very much sweetheart. Don't ever forget that please –

Goodnight darling                                                                                                                                                            Ella Mae

June 8, 1944

Dearest Johnny

So they finally assigned you to a ship. I don't know whether to be glad or sorry. I'm glad because you may get a chance to get home if only for a couple of days and I'm sorry because I hate to see you draw sea duty. But I guess I'll just have to make the best of it.