Wartime Love Letters

Johnny (July 1 - 6, 1944)

Sunday Morn. July 2, 1944

Dear Sonny:

Well sonny it's Sunday morning again and daddy slept a little late this morning. I had to get up at guarter to 4 Saturday morning because we had to have our Barracks clen for captains inspection before we left to go out on the ship for training. We had a 4-0 inspection yesterday morning. 4-0 means perfect and boy were we glad.

I got up at 6:30 this morning and went to Breakfast. After breakfast I came back and wahed and haved and got my shoes shined and got ready to go to church. I went down to church and it had already started my watch must have been slow so I came back to the Barracks to write you a letter and go to the next service at church. I'll mail this letter to you on my way to church.

Well we went out on the ship 531 yesterday and the sea was kind of fough. Some of the sailors got a little sick. I felt a little funny myself but I didn't vomit or anything and soon as I came out of the warm hold is the ship to the top side that means the main deck where it was cool I felt O.K. again. We had an awful nice dinner on the ship yesterday. We had steak, potatoes, cabbage salad, string beans, orange ade, bread + butter and pineapple. It was a nice dinner and you ought to see daddy eat. We get nice meals all the time on the ship.

Well sonny how is my boy. I thought I'd be coming home to see you this morning but I'm still here in Virginia. Maybe I'll get home to see you yet. I think at least from Boston anyway. Well sonny be a good boy and hope daddy can come home to see you soon. I love you sonny and hope and pray to see you soon.

Sailor,

Daddy

*Top left hand of the paper written in the corner is written – P.S. now I'm going to start for church and mail your letter on the way. I hope you'll like my letter.

Sun. afternoon July 2, 44

Dearest Sweetheart Ella Mae:

Here it is Sunday afternoon and I have had a busy day so far. This morning I went to church at 8:30 and my watch must have been slow because I was late so I didn't go in I came back and wrote sonny a letter and mailed it when I went to 9:30 service. After church I came back and then went to noon chow. We had steak, mashed potatoes, string beans, ice tea, and pinapple pie. Not bad hey honey. Right after dinner I decided the first thing I wouild do would be my laundry. I did everything that was dirty and now that I've finished I'd write a few letters before chow and the first letter is to my darling wife whom I love so much and thought I'd be on my way home today to see but I got disappointed as I'm still here and don't know yet just when we are leaving here. There isn't any definite information yet as to when our ship will be commissioned. You know what I said in my secret. It was kind of looks at though its still delayed honey but how long we don't know.

We are out on the shea again yesterday and it was rather rough but I didn't get sick

Well my buddy Ray Gorham shoved off yesterdy morning and I didn't see him to say so long because we left for our ship cruise for the day before they went out of there sacks. He sure was kind of blue because he hoped they would give them a few days before leaving but he didn't get that break.

I am pretty certain when we do get to Boston I can get home for the week end if I have the fare and chances are I probably will have as this week is pay day and I should get my pay in fact I know I'm going to get some pay but out of that comes $3 for the ship party and $5 for the ships store of course the $5 for the ships store I'll get back later.

My little friend Keddy who was in boat camp with me went home on 10 day leave yesterday. They go to Texas for their ship.

Well darling its getting close to the time for evening chow. So I suppose I better put on my whites and get to chow. My friend Hover is here by my bunk waiting for me to get ready so I'll finish this letter after chow, darling.