Monday, Nov. 15, 1943

Dearest Wife:

I love you with all my heart and soul. In your letters you say that my letters sound lonesome, well I am. How I pray and hope for the time when you will be in my arms.

Now for some news. Saturday night I went into Tallahassee for the weekend. We arrived at 8:30 and made arrangements for beds. After that we went and had a "Broiled Sirloin Steak". Was it good! Hm.

After that we went and had one and only one bottle of beer. By that time it was time to go to bed. I almost forgot, while waiting to be waited on I went out and made a little purchase. You should receive a little box in a few days. In case you would like to know, the little red stuff is genuine Florida coral. I hope that you like it. Be careful of it because it is rather expensive. No! You will just have to wait until you open the package before you find out what it is. It is not meant for your Christmas present, because I have something else in mind for that.

Come Sunday morning, I arose at 8:30 and attended 9:00 Mass. After Mass I went back and picked up the two men that I had gone into town with and we had a good breakfast. After breakfast we started for the golf course and finally got there after walking about two miles. It cost 50¢ for green fees and 50¢ for the clubs and $1.25 for some balls.

Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church building - Tallahassee, Florida
Built in 1892, it is shown here shortly before destruction in 1952.,  State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory, http://floridamemory.com/items/show/25881

It took us 4 1/2 hrs to play the eighteen holes. It was a long time but we had a good time. The other two men had played a few times before but not as much as I had. I spent more time looking for their balls than anything else.

I enjoyed myself which is something anyhow. After returning to the town we went to the Service Club and shaved. After that we had supper and after supper we went from one store to another window shopping. It reminded me of the times that you and I used to go around looking at some of the things that we would like to have.

Maybe after this is all over, we may get all the things that we planned on getting.

We got back to camp on the convoy at 11:30.

Last night I had a rather bad dream, I dreamt that you had gotten sick or had an accident. It seemed that there was nothing that I could do to help you out. You were all bandaged and were unable to speak to me.

I was perspiring and shaking like a leaf. I was shaking so bad that I woke myself up. Although it was cold out I was actually perspiring and was so nervous and shaky that I had to get up and smoke a cigarette to quiet down. What a terrible sensation.

You are just realizing how lucky you are to be in the lab. It is not so easy when you have to work in the production line huh?

I am glad that you got new shades, we sure needed them. It sure will be nice to get home and see all the new improvements that have been made to say nothing about how nice it will be to see you and my little family.

It never occurred to me that you would notice the change in the way that I sign off my letters. There is nothing on my conscience to prevent me from signing in the same manner, I just thought that I would change it a bit and make it a little different for a change. You need not worry I am still your faithful husband.

I was glad to hear that you bought a new coat. I can hardly wait to see you in it or even out of it.

What do you mean, do I find your letters too long? Of course not, the longer the better. I look forward to your letters so much each day. Your letters and my furlough are the things that I have to look forward to each day.

The dream that you mention on Friday morning was just about the time that I was informed that I was allowed one pass for the weekend for my whole section. I was wanting to go in myself and I also had two men who wanted to go out. I immediately came to the orderly room and started working for more passes. By the time I was through, I had three extra passes instead of the two that I originally wanted. I wanted a pass because I wanted to buy you a gift and may mind was on you at that time. It is possible that it was due to that that made you awaken and dream of me.

Tonight I am on C.Q. again. I took the place of one of the other men who has his wife down. We are supposed to go out on a problem tomorrow for three days in the woods. He wanted to get home tonight, so I took his place. Nice of me, huh? If you do not hear from me for the next three days, it will be because we are out on our problem

I love you Beautiful, and miss you more and more with each passing day.

Regards to all & kiss the babies for me.

Your Loving, Devoted, & Faithful Husband

Bob

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I wish these were real (xx)

Friday, Nov. 12, 1943

Dearest Wife:

I love you. My thoughts are of you all through the days. Although there are times that I have to forget you and concentrate on being a good soldier.

Yesterday I received your letters of Monday and Tuesday. Today your letter of Wednesday.

Thanks for the stamps. They almost got spoiled though this afternoon. I had your three letters with the stamps in my hip pocket and I had to take eleven men through the street fighting course. They have an old town fixed up to give us training in street & house fighting. There are booby traps and craters with dynamite charges. The craters are loaded with mud and water. I was leading my men between two craters when they set one off. We hit the ground, I should say mud, and as we were laying there they set the other one off. Did we get plastered. My rifle was so dirty that I could not fire it when the time came. While trying to fix my rifle when we had hit the end of the course and were firing into a building with targets, they set off another crater right behind us. Mud and water was coming down for about two minutes. By that time we were in great shape.

Tomorrow being Saturday, I had to wash all my equipment and clean my rifle. Of course I did not need a bath! Not much.

I may go into Tallahassee tomorrow. As yet I have not made up my mind. The only reason I want to go in for is to play a little golf if possible.

It is about time that you received my pictures. Are they really good? You seem to be satisfied anyway.

The way that you want to pass them out is just the way that I had planned for you to do.

...

There sure have been a lot of change in that plant. It would not worry me if you did get laid off in a month or two. You would then have to take care of our children and by then, the new allotment system would be straightened out. You may not get a check this month due to the changeover. You will be receiving $100.00 a month and I will receive around $60.00.

I would be able to send you some and with what Mother gives you, you should be able to get along very well that way.

Unless things change a great deal I doubt if I will be able to hold you in my arms as soon as I had hoped. I may not get home before the first of the new year. The Mass. group is slated to leave around the middle of January. I still have hopes of being home for Christmas though. Just keep praying.

It is time for lights out so:

I love you. Regards to all & kiss the babies for me.

Love & kisses

Your Husband

Bob

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Tuesday, Nov. 9, 1943

Darling Wife:

How I wished that I were home petting my kitten. There is nothing on earth that would make me happier than to be doing just that. How nice it would be, to be able to take you in my arms, to kiss you, to tease you. Then after loving you up until you were all warmed up and ready to go to town, strip down and do just that. Wouldn't that be sumping! Um-m-m.

Yes dear, I am putting on weight. Sunday when I went in to the main P.X. to see about my pictures I weighed myself again. I weigh 168 now. That is with my clothes on of course.

They told me that it takes about a month before the pictures are delivered. You should be receiving them anytime now.

I think that I will buy a good supply of "safes". Just in case I get home more often than I expect or sooner than we both expect.

Didn't I introduce to you Herbert Knutsen at the Railroad Station one Sunday afternoon. He was taking the same train as I was. He was returning from a furlough. There was also an Artillery Officer with him at the time. He is very nice and a swell guy too.

Am I glad that Roland did not pass. It is bad enough for me to be in the Service without him being in also. Although I imagine that he would like to be doing his part also.

I hope that Bobby always likes books. Nothing is more educational than wide reading in all types of books.

Was sorry to hear that Bobby has a cold. Be careful with him because if he is like me, a cold is rather serious with him.

That little hint about fur coats was not entirely lost on me, Sweetheart. I promise you that after this mess is cleared up and we have the money, you shall have your fur coat.

Sunday when I was in to the main post I was introduced to the wife of one of the men in my old platoon. His name is Arden and we used to get together and talk about our married life. We still do. His wife came down for three days and was staying at the Guest House. She went back to Georgia this morning.

They are very nice and have been married for only a short while, about a year. No children as yet, and no signs of any.

He has been with me ever since Devens. We went to New Orleans and all over the Cape together. He is a T/4 like I used to be.

I like my new job but during this present training, we are doing the same training as everybody else in the Company. It is hard to get used to a new bunch of men though.

It has been cold down here for the past few days. We have been having to wear our field jackets to keep warm. Yesterday I even worm my woolen gloves to keep my hands warm.

I doubt if I want to drink coffee for every meal, but it sure will be a pleasure to get a good cup of coffee for a change.

You will have to tell me what MLISI. Could it be "My love is sealed inside"?

Tomorrow I have to give a lecture on "Street fighting" so I will have to close and read up on it.

Regards to all and kiss the babies for me.

I love you with all my heart.

Your Husband

Bob

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Letter (page 1 only) Mom to Dad, Nov. 4, 1943

[This letter was in an envelope with one of my dad's letters. Maybe she rewrote it and didn't throw this piece out. Whatever happened, it provides a rare look into my mom's thoughts.]

Thursday - 2:00 p.m.

Nov. 4, 1943

Dearest Sweetheart,

I'm starting this letter now but I doubt if I have enough time to finish it here. I'll finish it at work.

Do you know it's exactly nine months today that you are in the Army. It's such a long time to be away from your family. It's seems like ages since you've been home.

Darling, the mail isn't coming in very good. I received your letter of Sunday today and you mentioned something about a ??? (new job?)

Monday, Nov. 8, 1943

Dearest Darling Sweetheart:

How happy I was this noon when I received your letters of Thursday and Friday.

You wanted to know about my new job. I have charge of fifteen men and our job is concerned with the operation of the Company. We do the navigation for the Co. & have two patrol boats that keep track of all the boats during a boat problem. We also man the Staff boat. Our job is to check on how the Company is operating. That is why it is called the Operation Section. There are two Lt. assigned to my section alone. They are my bosses.

Ordinarily, two Lts. are in charge of four times as many men. You can see how important our job is.

No, there are no more stripes attached to my job. I have gone as high as I ever will in all probability.

Hey, Fatty, you better not put too much weight on or I will have a hard time getting my arms around you.

Maybe I should explain my organization to you. We have three boat platoons in our Company. In each platoon there are four Sections that make up the platoon. The platoon Sergeant is a tech Sgt. The Sect. Sgt. is a Staff Sgt.

We also have a headquarters platoon. In this platoon is the Communication Sect., Operation Sect., Maintenance Sect., & the Salvage Sect. Each with a staff Sgt. in charge and the platoon is handled by a tech Sgt. who is only a mechanic by trade and is mainly interested in maintenance & salvage.

"Pier 2 at Camp Gordon Johnston", State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory, http://floridamemory.com/items/show/152794

http://floridamemory.com/items/show/152794 

The Operation & Communication Sgts control their own sections separately. Do you understand now?

Well, you will just have to wait for me to get home and explain in person.

Gosh! But I love you Beautiful. There is very little that I would not do for you, except one thing. That is to tell you how much money I have. It is not a hundred or over, and that is all that you get out of me.

...

The rumor is going around that furloughs are going to start again despite the training program. Just keep praying.

I love you and can hardly wait to get home so that I may take you in my arms once more and love you to my heart's content.

There are some things that I have to attend to right away, so I will close.

Regards to all & kiss the babies for me.

Love & Kisses

Your Husband

Bob

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