Thursday August 17, 1944

Dearest Kitten:

Tonight I am very lonesome. It has been a beautiful day out and it seemed that everything that I looked at or thought about reminded [me] of you and home. If things do not begin to straighten out in this mess, I am afraid I will be forced to turn in my resignation to the President. A h--- of a lot of good that would do me, huh?

Honestly though you have been  in my thoughts all day long and it has stirred up such a yearning for you that I broke a date with an Aussie Blonde. That gives me an idea. You wouldn't mind if I got acquainted with some Aussie Blonde just for companionship, would you? Hm, I guess you would. Such is life. I guess that I will have to remain a bachelor until I can get home to my own little wife.

In letter #73 you mentioned the number of Lassies marrying American soldiers, well, the other night I read in a local paper where there had been 10,000 such marriages since the start of the war. From what I understand the gals over here are dying to get to America.

Stop worrying about me will you. I am old enough and big enough to take care of myself. Did I say how big? Only 175 lbs is all.

The beer over here is like whiskey, and it is good. I am going to be spoiled when I return home. The beer in the states will be too tame after this Aussie beer.

Boy, Julie must have been happy to see her husband to be. I bet that they do not want to waste time in getting hitched. Nobody can blame them for that.

It must have been fun to go swimming with the children. We sure are going to have a lot of fun together when this is all over.

Our son is certainly growing up. It is good training to send him to the store, it teaches him responsibility and makes him think he is quite a man.

When I get so old that I can not kid you about Blondes, you will know that I have really slipped. Thank goodness you know me or you might take it to heart.

I am enclosing the picture of myself and I want you to take and have a few more prints made. Send me one of them as the fellow that took my picture wants a print. You can give Mother one also.

Sorry to have to disappoint Pauline but the T/Sgt. is married. I admit that he is a very good looking boy and I do not blame her.

This afternoon I played a game of baseball. It sure was fun but I am afraid that my muscles are going to be stiff. It has been a long time since I have done much running around and I am not used to it.

This will have to do for now Sweetheart.

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

Your Loving, Devoted, & Faithful Husband,

Bob

P.S. Brunettes are nicer.

Monday August 14, 1944

Dearest Kitten:

The days and weeks really roll by over here. That may seem strange but it is true. The days roll by so fast that there are times when I can not keep up with the proper date. Things are moving along so fast all over the world that it may have something with the way that I feel about the days.

And how do I feel about you?

How else could I feel when I have the best wife in the world? Why, I love you with all my heart. There is only one thing that I want from this world, and that is to be left alone with you. To live our life the way we see fit.

I would have liked to see you in action when the two drunks approached you & Lorraine. They must have wondered what hit them. It is always the best policy to get rid of them as quickly as possible. Lorraine's point of view is rather surprising though.

How often do you get nightmares like the last one? I got a kick out of it. Never fear, nothing like that will ever happen. You know how I hate to be too serious with you and love to tease you. Stop worrying. I am coming home in one piece and live happily ever after with you.

If you can send me some hard soap for a shampoo I would appreciate it. My dandruff is very bad and you know how I hate it.

Anyone who has put in thirty months overseas is entitled to go back as far as I am concerned, but of course there is a war on. Until that is won I can not see much sense in sending men who are needed and are physically O.K. back to the states to stay. For a furlough, yes, but anything other, no. Every man is needed and can be used. The faster they send them over and the more that there is of us, the better off we will be.

M-m that lipstick imprint looks good. I only wish that I could kiss the lips that made them The card was very cute. From the note on the back, I take it that Julie's boy friend finally reached home. I am very happy for them, and give them my best wishes.

Letters 73 & 74 are missing. Today I received Letters 72 & 75. Maybe tomorrow huh?

You may just as well take your milk from one of your friends as anyone else.

Thanks for reminding me about Suellen's birthday. [born August 17, 1940] I never thought about it. I will send something to try and make up for it.

Smart children we have, when they can even write to their Daddy at their age. You are apt to spoil them so that every time that you sit down to write, they will want you to let them write.

Thanks for the cake. I have not tasted it yet because I am saving it for a snack before going to bed. I will let you know how it tasted in a later letter.

Gosh but I love you Sweetheart. Boy am I a lucky guy to have such a beautiful wife. And how I love her.

Well until next time Beautiful, I love you.

Regards to all & kiss the babies for me.

Your Loving, Devoted, & Faithful Husband,

Bob

P.S. I got the picture that I told you about and I will send it as soon as I have some more prints made, because the fellow that took the picture wants one.

Friday 11 August, 1944

Dearest Kitten:

With the passing of each day, I realize more and more, how much a part of me you have become. I am very lonesome for you and home and am only looking forward to the day when we will be together again. This time, let us hope, that it will be for good. I love you so muh that all that I will want to do upon my return is to be with you always.

Letters # 69-70-71 came today. The first thing that I want to straighten out is, I do not want any more money. All that I wanted to begin with was the original $25.00 that you sent to me. I wrote asking for you to send it out of your August allotment, because after my original request I received a letter from you saying that you were low on ready cash due to buying the linoleum & paying for Bobby's operation. Is that plain enough? I have received the money that I wanted and do not want any more. O.K.?

You must expect Bobby to get dirty. He is a good healthy & active boy and under those circumstances you have to expect him to get dirty at every possible opportunity.

Do you remember saying that little girls are better about wetting themselves than boys? Do you still think so?

Sorry to hear that my slipper caused you so much trouble. They sure soaked you for them. I only hope that they fit now. My GI shoes are 9 1/2 but of course they are large as compared to civilian shoes.

I do not know what gave you the idea that I was in the hospital. My cold was bad but not that bad. it was just bad enough to make me miserable as h--- for a few days.

As far as Roland is concerned, I am not going to write until I hear from him. The little trouble that they are having is their own business and I will keep still about it. So do not worry about my saying anything that might cause trouble.

Sorry to hear about your dad. He will never be well again I'm afraid. Sorry to have to say it but it is true. He has had a hard life and at his age you have to expect it.

Barbara must have taken a nasty fall. She is tough though and can take it. She will take more bumps than just a few before she grows up.

It will be nice for both you and the children to go out to the lake for a couple of days.

Your card game gave me a big kick. You sure are in love with your husband to do all the things that you do for him.

I appreciate, more than I can tell, everything that you do for me and I love you so much that everything I plan on is based on that fact. It will be nice to get home and start courting you once more. For the rest of my life I am going to court you. Would you like that?

Being good for about an hour is a tough job for a healthy youngster. You are lucky that he lasts that long.

Of course we have a couple of grand youngsters. See who their Mother is. How could they help but be nice with a Mother like you.

Bobby is starting to write young isn't he? I got a boot out of his little paragraph.

Am glad that you and Lorraine S. are going out together more. Now that you are both in the same boat, you should get to be old friends.

Well Sweetheart I am about run out so till next time I will close.

With all my Love & Kisses - Regards to everyone and kiss the babies for me.

Your Loving, Devoted, & Faithful Husband,

Bob

Monday 7 August 1944

Dearest Kitten:

You will have to forgive me for not writing to you yesterday. I had very good intentions about writing to you yesterday but it is this way. Saturday night we had the grand opening of our new clubhouse and I imbibed quite heavily and my head was slightly out of round all day yesterday. I did not get sick or drunk, but this Aussie liquor has wicked after effects. Thank goodness it was Sunday as I had a chance to rest.

The Noncoms have been working hard on the club and it is very nice if I must say so myself. The Officers are as proud of it as we are ourselves. They are slightly envious because we were fortunate enough to have the time to build it ourselves and of course the officers do not have the time to do their own work.

Gosh but I love & miss you Sweetheart. Every night before going to bed I always get to thinking of you and home. There are times, when I am feeling blue and I start thinking of you, that a huge lump come up to my throat. When that happens I usually look around for something to do or somebody to talk to.

Do you know that we have twin daughters? The small pictures that you sent to me is sitting on my desk and almost everyone that comes in looks at my family. Both of Barbara's pictures are tacked together with your's and Bobby's. I tell everyone that they are pictures of my wife, son, & twin daughters. So you are now the mother of twins.

I received a letter from Mother saying that you had received the shakers. Be careful of them, they are a lot more expensive that what they look like. I almost fell over when they told me the price. Believe when I tell you that they are nothing for Bobby or Barby to play around with.

You had better not let your daughter get too fresh, it is not becoming to a young lady. I like a youngster with plenty of spunk, but there is a limit.

Hector sure isn't losing any time. If he doesn't watch out he will be a regular family man.

You sure have been getting around and I am glad to see you get out so often. There is no sense to your staying in when you have the opportunity to get out.

Don't tell me that our daughter does not like your singing? Well anyhow that makes two of us that don't.

Your writing about the beach brings back a lot of pleasant memories. If we do not get a summer cottage somewhere, it will not be my fault. With the children we can have a great time during the summer months.

Forget the shampoo & slippers. I can get along without them. Thanks anyhow and tell Mother not to try to send the shampoo. In her last letter she said that she was going to try to send it anyhow.

Mrs. Girard is sure getting sporty in her old age. I wonder how she can afford it. It must have broke her heart to spend all that money.

That bracelet was hand made for me by one of my sergeants. They sell them in jewelry shops but they are not as nice as the one that I sent to you.

The peanut butter was and is still intact. The week after requesting some peanut butter from you, we got a lot of canned peanut butter and have had a good resupply ever since.

Bobby must have been funny in church Sunday morning. I got a kick of your telling it. He must have embarrassed you quite badly to make you leave.

Most children like to ride in a car, and ours are no different that the others.

Yes I received Marion's letter and I answered it. Maybe mine got lost someplace. That could happen too.

I was sorry to hear about my two old friends from Maine getting killed in action. Tell Mother to give Lil & Mrs. Estes my regrets for me.

Of course I would like a miniature picture of my children. If you do have their pictures taken be sure to send me one.

Beautiful, I have to close now. You have all my love. How I miss you, Sweetheart.

Regards to all & kiss the babies for me.

Your Loving, Devoted, & Faithful Husband,

Bob

August 2, 1944 V-mail

Dearest Kitten:

Just a short note today to let you know that I am feeling fine and still very much in love with you. Today letters 63&3 and one from Mother came. When I receive mail it seems to keep me from being too lonesome of you and the children.

Most of your letters have reached. As far as I can tell they have all reached me up to and including #66. I can not imagine what could have happened to the set of shakers that I mailed to you. I will have to check and see if they were sent from the store that I bought them at, postage paid & everything.

You must expect that my letters might be re-censored. They can not afford to take any chances on information leaking out.

Do not be too sure about my getting home so soon. I may decide to stay with some Aussie babe. The only thing wrong about that is that I love you too much.

I am planning to go into town and see a show with my mess Sgt. tonight so I must cut this short.

Regards to every one & kiss the babies for me. I love you with all my heart & miss you more and more.

Your Loving, Devoted, & Faithful Husband,

Bob