1 March 1945 (Thursday)

Dearest Kitten:

It has been so long since I have written to you that it seems like a year. Believe me, I wished that I could have been able to write but it was not possible. Despite all my troubles & woes, you and home are constantly in my thoughts, & heart. Due to military security, I cannot tell you anything about what we have been doing. This is one of the reasons that I have such a hard job, at times, to write to you. A man’s main thoughts and topic of his conversation is his job. When a man cannot speak of his job he becomes tongue tied.

Your letters 188 to 203 gave me quite a bit of reading material. I will try to answer as many as I can tonight and finish them tomorrow night, I hope.

Enclosed you will find a money order for $35.00. I hope that this will help you out.

The class E allotment for the bank has not gone through yet. It is fortunate as I have found a use for the money that I have been paid. There is always something that I am buying for the company. Small stuff to be sure but it mounts up in the course of a month. I will be glad when I will not be able to send into town for this, that or the other.

Enclosed are some pictures taken the first of last month that I finally received. Except for the two taken in camp, the others were taken the last Sunday of January before Sgt. Donohoe left for O.C.S.

What do you think of shorty McMurray?

He is taking Sgt. Ryan’s place as one of my platoon sergeants. We get along very well and he is doing a fine job of his new responsibility.

The pictures of Bobby & Barby in the snow make me homesick for a little cold weather.

If our son looks just like his father, our daughter looks like her mother and I am not kidding. The two pictures of her in the doorway are a miniature picture of you.

The new linoleum has a nice pattern for a kitchen. Mothers picture looks as if she has been putting on a little weight.

Bobby looks like a regular roughneck and I certainly recognized that scarf around his neck. The d--- thing was always too short for me anyhow and you may as well make use of it as to let it sit around and get moth eaten.

Sgt. Nicholson was happily surprised to get a letter from Connie, but you must tell her that he is worse than I am about writing and he does not make the time to write that I do sometimes.

What do you mean, that you turned out to be a pretty good wife? You always were as far as I am concerned. As a matter of fact, the bestest of the best.

You asked for a kiss in about two years from now. Will you please be a wee bit more optimistic. Cut it down to about a year please.

I am just as happy that Norman is not coming this way. From the best information that I can get, the beautiful tropical isle is highly over rated. Most of them are stink holes.

I wish that I could make all your dreams come true right away, but I am afraid that you will have to be patient. The Army has given me a job to do and it is by no means an easy one. Little did I think when I first came in that I would be given the responsibility that is now mine. At times I am not sure that I am capable enough and at others I am proud of the responsibility. It is hard to explain how I feel about it. There are times when my humane feelings get all mixed up with my sense of duty, it is then that I realize, or rather, feel my incompetence.

S/Sgt. Stephen C. Nicholson 32727294 - Unmarried. Girl friend - Yes, but not serious. Character - Excellent, most of the time - Satisfied? - Nope, haven’t been for some time.

Being as good hearted as you with money, I should give you hell for spending so much but I cannot say a word as the past three months I have been spending my money like a drunken sailor. Whenever I get out, it always seems that I do all the shelling out. It is mainly because I can not accept anything from anyone and I do not want to feel obligated toward anyone.

Enclosed is a slip for Lorraine Smith. I know that you will get the joke, I hope. So do not give it to her.

We used to have a lot of fun together huh? It was fun just to stay home and shoot the breeze. They were nice talks, I wish we could have one now.

I enjoyed the cartoons. but is that a hint I smell? They were both with the mail men in them.

This has to be all for this time Sweetheart.

Do you realize how much I love you, Beautiful? With all of me, how else can I say it, for every bit of me is yearning for you. More & more with each passing day it is getting deeper and stronger. I love you Sweetheart.

Give my regards to everyone & kiss the babies for me. I love you.

Your Loving Devoted & Faithful Husband,

Bob