Wartime Love Letters

Johnny (June 21 - 25, 1944)

Wed. Eve. June 21, 44                                                                                                                                                  Dearest Sweetheart Ella Mae:

I got two letters from you tonight darling. When I came back from my last day at the gun fire place. One of you r letters you wrote Saturday night and the other Sunday night. I was awful happy darling to get those letters from you. You don't know how much those letters mean to me darling.

I'm glad to here they found the skii pants. I am awful sorry to here he's giving you trouble. Its bad enough to have your husband away and thinking about him, without worrying what the dog is up to.

I'm glad to here the news about your Mother and Dad. I'm glad your mother has made her first communion and so they are married again. I wonder if they got the same thrill out of it as they got the first time. I'd write and congratulate them but they might resent it and I wouldn't hurt their feelings for the world. I think to much of them to have anything happen like that. I'm glad they went through it and I think it was very nice for the both of them.

You said you didn't send me anything for Fathers day. Well darling just one letter from you is as nice a present as I could ask for so don't feel bad that you didn't send me anything. I am pleased to think you are thinking of me and have some reserve cash for me to come home if and when I can come home. Last night our yeoman was telling that next week we all go to sea for three days on a D.E. but return each night so I asked when do we leave for Boston so he said June 30th. That's next Friday instead of Wednesday. So I don't think we'll get any week end liberty July 1 and second. He said our ship woud be ready to go July 15th. If that's the case maybe I can get a week end July 8th + 9th. That is only a possibility honey but I do hope I get a week end to come home. We then go on a month shake down cruise and when we return we should get a leave. I hope the ship isn't ready on the 15th of July and holds us up longer. If that happens they will give us delayed orders leave and boy would that make me happy. If I don't get a leave or a week end before the 7th or 8th of July I should get a pay. Maybe I'll have to get some money from you to get home as you can't figure what there going to pay you. It sure is a mistery to me how they figure it.

I haven't had liberty to go even to the ship service since last Friday and it hasn't mattered as my friends are rather low and I want it to last if possible. I have to go out tonight and get some more writing paper if I'm going to keep my darling sweetheart happy and on the string. I don't want to loose you to anyone else for the world. I know you'll stick by me but theres no use of letting you be lonesome because I haven't got paper to write on. You know darling if I only had 55 cents left I'd buy paper to keep the letters coming to the sweetest wife in the world if I had to go without everything else. Don't worry darling I still have 5 bucks left. The thing I've been having the most trouble with is my cigarettes have been disappearing out of my bag when I come to look for them. So I bought two locks and although they cost me quite a bit I don't have to worry about losing anything out of my seabag now.

So your using your bike honey. I wish I were home riding right beside you. Oh darling when those days return I'll be the happiest guy in the world.

So Barney didn't get home. I have been think ever since I got the letters yesterday telling me he was coming home last Sunday, I said to myself I'm going to miss him after hearing we were not leaving here until June 30th. I only hope we get delayed orders when we get to Boston and they send us home. If they do darling I'll be counting on you to give me a lift home unless I get paid before that time. I know if it is possible for you to spare it you will. I'm sorry I have to ask you to help me out but in such a case I know you will and I'll return it as soon as I can. Well we don't know yet do we darling so we'll first hope and pray for delayed orders cause darling you don't know how much I love you and long to be home with you. I hear today the U.S. did a job on the Jap fleet. I hope they did a finish up job.