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Thursday, January 17, 2013

Sunday Oct. 3, 1943



Dearest Kitten
Here it is, the day of the anniversary of my birthday. Today I am twenty seven years old but I do not feel more than twenty.
Thank you for the box of candy and the card was very cute. I received it last night. Your letter of Tuesday was delivered yesterday noon.
It was very gratifying to know that my letter to Eva did just what I intended for it to do. By this time she should be home with Peter and that alone should keep her busy enough so that the time will pass rapidly.
Do you remember how you felt the first two weeks after I was inducted?
Keep dreaming of me, Sweetheart. Last night I had the most natural dream of you...
Last night I saw Sonja Henie in "Winter Time". Enjoyable, but nothing extra. Going to the show is about all we have to do in the evening. We do not have a day room, as a result thereof, if we want to write or read we have to do it in the barracks before "lights out".
Sweetheart, please do not be too tough on me if my letters do not seem to be what they should be. There are things and responsibilities that I have, that trouble me at times, and that keeps me on my toes so much that there are times when I would like nothing more than just relaxing and thinking of nothing. Unfortunately it is impossible for me to do so. The only relaxation that I seem to enjoy is going to the shows at night.
Now for some good news. The rumors of furloughs are becoming more and more persistent. According to the way things look, they may start the first of November. We will get five days and traveling time. I do not know but I should get about six days traveling time. If I do, it will give me about six days at home. So put away a little dough because I may need some to get home with. It will not be for a month anyway and if I get another pay before then, I may have enough to take care of it.
The following is very confidential. In other words, I should not even tell you, but as we are so far from  you and I know that you will not say anything to anyone or "even mention it to me again in a letter." In other words destroy the next piece of paper after reading it.
I love you, Sweetheart, Beautiful, Darling, Kitten. Here it is the fifth page and I have just got around to telling you. Must be the Army that is making me lax, or it could be the responsibilities that bother me.
Do you understand now why I do not write too cheery a letter at times.
We have a man in our company that wrote a couple of songs that you should appreciate.
Oh Mother take down your Service Flag your son's in the EAC
He does his bit by shovelling shit and is always on K.P.
He'll never get to battle - He'll never get to Sea.
Oh Mother take down your Service Flag your son's in the EAC.
Not bad huh? The tune is "Rambling Wreck from Georgia Tech".
The following is to the tune of "Pistol Packing Mammy".
Oh! Lay that Gig list down, Sarg.
Lay that gig list down.
Gig list packing Sergeant,
Lay that Gig list down.
How do you like them?
By the way, you should have seen what was left of the candy by the time I got through passing it around. In the Army, a box with eatables may be addressed to one man but it eventually is received by the men within arms reach of the contents. It is an unwritten law.
Clothes or presents or anything other than eats of course are different. I still have about 3/4 lb. of candy left and it will be for myself.
I love you, Beautiful. I wished that it were in me to write a song that would tell you more than plain words just how much you mean to me. You are the world to me. My nights, my days, the air, the birds and beasts, my universe. Without you, I would be as a lost soul that is rejected by heaven and can not find hell.
How can I help myself when, to me you are the most perfect being that I ever met. Thank God that my heart says this even if my mind knows that you are far from perfect.
Tell Mother that she will have to write before she hears from me again.
Give my regards to everyone & kiss the babies for me
I love you more & more with each passing day. Remember me in your dreams. This is your husband saying so long until tomorrow.
Your Loving, Devoted, & Faithful Husband
Bob
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
(xx)
Roster of 534th EB & SR (Engineer Boat and Shore Regiment) companies at Camp Gordon Johnston, FL
Book about the 534th EB & SR in WWII:

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