Tuesday, Jan. 4, 1944

Dearest Kitten:

My heart is so full of love for you that there is never a spare minute that I have that my thoughts are not of you. How I yearn to be able to hold your loveliness in my arms. To pet you and tell you of my love for you. The day is not too far distant when I will be able to do just that.

God is just and ever forgiving. With all the prayers that are being said, for this mess to end, he will not turn a deaf ear to our pleas.

Tonight I am lonely for the comfort of home. To be able to nestle on your bosom and feel the warmth of your body would be the closest thing to heaven that I can imagine that there is in this world.

After taking care of a family of almost four hundred, taking care of my own little family will seem like a very easy job. Perhaps it is the responsibility that I am feeling tonight that makes me feel the way that I do.

Pray for me that I do not change too much. This job is making me change to a certain extent. Just pray that, when this is all over and I can forget the Army, I will not have changed too much.

Yesterday I received your letter of Thursday and also a letter from Mother.

We have been extremely lucky about finances since I came into the Army. Six dollars a week will be a big help to you. By the time that you collect all of them, I should receive my promotion. Then I can send you quite a bit from my pay. I plan to take out a Class "E" allotment for you as soon as I get straightened around. By Class "E" I mean, additional money taken out of my pay and sent to you with your regular allotment. Next month I will be able to send quite a bit as these last two pays were only partial payments. The Army owes me about $25 for the past two months and I should receive it in next month's pay.

I am happy to see that Rita is happy again. You know, her case reminds me a great [deal] about Mother. Hank was figuring that his mother would pass the news on to Rita. Just like I figure that you pass the news on to my mother. How's about filling in the blank spaces when I do not write to Mother? A few minutes chat with Mother will keep her satisfied until I can get around to writing to her.

Stop letting your family worry you, will you? The big trouble is the fact that you got used to my waiting on you and you are noticing that your family never puts themselves out physically for anybody. They would gladly help anyone out financially, but if it costs physical exertion, that is where they draw the line.

Well beautiful, it is 11:00 P.M. and taps are playing. I must get to bed as I arise a half hour earlier than the rest of the Company. The end of another wearisome day.

I love you Sweetheart, much more than I will ever be able to show you. You are with me always, but recently I have not had the time to think of you as much as I like to.

Regards to all & kiss the babies for me.

Your Loving, Devoted, Affectionate, and Faithful Husband

Bob       

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