Thursday 8 March 1945

Dearest Kitten:

This is your wayward husband who has just returned from three days at the beach. I went to Coolangatta with three of my sergeants and we had a very good time. Forgive me for not writing but being lazy and what with the other sergeants not giving me a chance to be by myself to write I failed to carry out my duties as your loving husband.

It was wonderful to feel so free from the usual grind of the Army that they insisted that no one would write. All we did was rest, eat, sleep, swim and sun ourselves on the beach.

There was Sgt. Nicholson, McMurray, the ex Sgt. Ryan, Sgt. James and myself. We had a good time and had a lot of fun. We spent most of the daylight hours on the beach swimming, sunning, and singing. We sang a lot and got so we could harmonize quite well together. Of course I am not sure that anyone nearby enjoyed it but we had fun.

There was a little drinking, we hit pub call only at supper time and the most that we would have was four glasses. Just enough for an appetizer. We also had two qts. of American whiskey that we rationed at two shots apiece in the evening, one before going to the show and one before returning.

In the evening we would go to a show and after the show we would drop into the recreation hall for a few hands of Casino, at 11:00 P.M. They served coffee and cakes and we would stay up for the coffee.

We got in quite solid with a couple of Red Cross girls that worked there and we could get practically anything that we wanted. They are both married and we used to get together and talk about married life, show pictures and crack jokes. They told us all about their husbands and we about our wives and children. The only single man was Sgt. Nicholson and he used to just enjoy listening to us.

After the past couple of months, it was wonderful to be able to relax and enjoy being lazy with nothing to worry about. You were always with me though and I kept wishing that you could have been with me.

Thank God that the other sergeants were with me because everytime that they noticed me getting dreamy and lonesome for home they would pipe up with something and we would be off again singing and raising cane.

I must tell you about Sgt. Nicholson. He is my one real friend. We are very much alike in our tastes and everything. Seeing that he is not a line N.C.O. I can get a bit more friendlier with him than the rest of my N.C.O.s. We usually go out on Sunday evening to a show together. First we stop at the Red Cross in town for supper then go to a show. We are both moody and it is not necessary for us to have a continued conversation going.

There are times when we both are very busy with our own thoughts and times when only one of us is that way. We appreciate each other’s silence and know that it is not necessary to always make a reply to some remark that either of us make. We respect one another’s privacy in our own thoughts. Can you understand what I am trying to explain?

We can enjoy an evening together without saying ten words to one another. Then there are times when we do not shut up.

Sgt. Nicholson is only 21 but we get a great deal of enjoyment going around together.

Now to answer a few of your letters that piled up on me.

Yes there are a lot of married men who have steady girlfriends over here, and I suppose that, as you say, there are a lot of wives who are two-timing their husbands who are overseas.

How can I ever forget the last time that I saw you. There was a lump as big as an apple in my throat. I had to leave you the way I did or I would have started crying for certain. Do you remember the last time that I called you up? I was crying then. The tears were dropping off the end of my chin and I had to wipe my face before leaving the booth. Walking out of the building I felt as though everyone was looking at me and could tell that I had been bawling. I felt so small, like a little boy who just broke his favorite toy.

That is some position that Lorraine W. has. Tell her for me not to overwork herself.

You are going to be the most Beautiful gal in the Easter parade with your new suit. I like the material very well.

It certainly has been a rough winter back home. I am glad that you have been able to get along as well as you have.

Sorry Sweetheart but I must close no matter how much I love you.

I love you with all of me and am only waiting for the day when I return to take you in my arms again. Be careful because I am apt to eat you up the first time that I see you.

Good night Darling. I love you. Regards to everyone and kiss the babies for me.

Your Loving Devoted & Faithful Husband,

Bob