1945-08-03 Beatrice Lemire from Ogunquit, ME, to Irene Lemire

Ogunquit Maine

Aug 3, 1945

Dear Irene,

I hope you will forgive pencil and delay in writing as we did not get our pay checks until this morning and as I had put my tips money in the bank.

I am well but am kind of tired and fed up but it will be only another two weeks that this rush will be on and after that it will sort of drop off as people start to go around the 15th or 20th of Aug.

I got a surprise Rolly and his family were down Thurs with Marion's sister and all her family. I was sort of disappointed I did not see you but - we had a nice time I was with them from 11:30 until 3 o'clock as I had to work at 4 but they were in for sandwiches and I saw them before they went. I rec. your letter and was very pleased to get it. I hope the children are well and Barbara how is she. I kind of worried wondering if she was coming down with something as some of the children are having some kind of sickness here of vomiting and diarrhea - something in the air I guess.

Well I won't write much as I have to go at 5 o'clock working a few spare hours to help the girls I worked until 12:30 this noon and as it is so rushed that we have to take turns and go in to help at night. I got another sunburn yesterday and it sort of made me stiff but I am all right- I got some Rex-em-e to put on me and it is helping me. How is your Mother I sent her a card. Remember me to Lorraine and all your girl friends.

Kiss my little children for me - Love to all of you.

Mother Lemire

1945-06-12 Beatrice Lemire from Ogunquit, ME, to Irene Lemire

Ogunquit Maine

June 12, 1945

Dear Irene,

In ans to your lovely letter of which pleased me very much am well and hoping you are all the same. I am still here at the "Inn" but have started working for Rene. I help her here mornings and from 4-8:30 go to "Renes" waiting on tables. Last night made in tips $3.10. I've made almost $10.00 in tips and only worked 6 nights but as soon as business picks up will work every day as she hasn't enough work here for her and I so I will still keep my room here but will have my meals with Rene. He pays $10.00 a week and meals but the tips are wonderful.

How are my little children. I miss them very much and am very pleased to think they are eating good and if you only have a chance to come down to see me it would please me very much.

This is starting to be very busy now. We have had very bad weather. It has rained every day since I've been down here but for 3 days now it has been very lovely.

I was offered another job in a hotel as a chambermaid but I think I will stay at Rene's as I think the money is better at the "Surf room" that is the name of Rene's place so if I am not at the "Inn" you will find me at the Surf room.

I was glad to hear your father was much better. Were you pleased with your earrings. I thought you didn't have any pearl earrings to go with your necklace. Have you heard any more from Bob. I have written 2 letters but haven't heard as yet.

They have started the movies here so it won't be so lonely. I went Sunday night and saw "Bring on the waves."

Irene I forgot to get my ?? from Payette. I hope you got it and I will pay you for it - If I get any mail either send it or open it to see what it is.

I have started a bank account down here as I think I will be able to save some money here. Have met a lot of my friends. Last Fri. night went to Graduation Exercises and children that were in baby carriages when I first lived here. It was surprising how I had lost tract of them how they had grown. It made me feel a little old and all those that graduated from high school when Bob did they have their names on the honor roll those who are in the service. Mrs Lord from the Information Bureau came and asked me where Bob was so I guess they will put his name on the honor roll.

Will close now as I have to get ready for work and I imagine I will be very busy as it is lovely here now. I hope you have nice weather for the beach. Well will close now and kiss the babies for me and all my love to all of you.

Love

Mother Lemire

P.S. Remember me to Lorraine

Friday 27 July 1945 - Final Letter

Dearest Kitten:

I love you very much and wish that I were home right this minute. This army has been getting me down. I am fed up but just have to keep plugging along at it hoping that things will soon change for the better.

From your letters, I see that Bobby is rapidly learning self reliance. It is always a good thing to teach a youngster how to take care of himself. You seem to be doing a very good job of raising our children, without my help.

You asked if there was anything I needed, well, yes there is. Please send me my Army discharge if you can manage it. That is the only thing that I need to make me the richest man in the world. A man is indeed a rich man who has a loving Faithful wife such as I am fortunate enough to have.

About four days ago one of the men came into the orderly room with a monkey. It was given to him by a soldier that was going to the States. He tried to take the monkey with him but the officials would not allow it. He gave my man the name and outfit of the man he wanted to give it to. I phoned and left a message where he could pick up the monkey. This morning he came after him. We had a great deal of fun with him and had gotten attached to the little tike. We hated to let  him go.

No you had not told me about André and Estelle were not going to move near her sisters. It must be a very nice place. Sounds nice anyhow.

Can you imagine my surprise when Lt. Donohoe walked into the Orderly Room two days ago. One of our men took him to shore from a transport and informed him where to find us. He left yesterday after staying overnight.

I can understand why you got disgusted the way some of the Servicemen act when they are away from home. They think that it is necessary to act fresh simply because they are in uniform.

There is a Novena going on for Service personnel that I would like to attend but I have a meeting every night with my platoon sergeants and it usually lasts until it is too late to get to the chapel.

There are rumours that Japan is getting ready to holler quits. I only hope that it is so. It can not come too soon to suit me.

The news is very encouraging anyhow. The Navy certainly are pounding the hell out of Japan. Wish that I could be there to see them do it.

Sweetheart, I had a beautiful dream about you this morning just before I woke up. Was I mad when I woke up to find that it was only a dream. Boy was I loving you, wow.

Give my regards to all the folks and kiss the babies for me. I love you, My Darling wife.

Your Loving Devoted & Faithful Husband,

Bob

Thursday 26 July 1945

Dearest Kitten:

The evening breeze is wonderful tonight and it seems to be cooling my fevered body as well as brush away many of my indecisions. There are times when I do not know what to do and it is a no good feeling and keeps me on edge.

My bright spots are when I receive your letters and can lose myself for a few short minutes while I read it. How I appreciate your kindness in being so faithful to me.

So you changed your mind about the pots & pans. As for moving if you find a more satisfying place, go right ahead. When I return there are going to be some changes made anyhow. In the meantime you may as well satisfy yourself as best you can.

How I love you Sweetheart! If I could only take you in my arms and show you how much that I love you. How happy I will be to return home to you and my children. You will find that I will be very nervous at first but I hope that it will not take me too long to quiet down.

I have been getting nervous and have been concentrating on slowing down and keeping myself from getting overheated.

Gosh Sweetheart but all I seem to want to tell you is how much that I love you.

Goodnight Sweetheart. This is all for now.

Your Loving Devoted & Faithful Husband,

Bob

20 July 1945 (Friday)

Dearest Kitten:

I love you. Enclosed you will find a piece of Mother of Pearl. Have a set of earrings made and have the diamond shaped one mounted on a ring. The dark one is for myself. I want to have it made into a ring.

Have a good job done on the earrings. Am busy so I must make this short. Give my regards to everyone and kiss the babies for me.

Your Loving Devoted & Faithful Husband,

Bob

Saturday July 14, 1945 - Dad to Bobby

Dearest Son:

I hardly know how to start as writing to you is like writing to a stranger and I do not know whether you will understand what I am writing or not.

Son, it is not clear in your mind what is going on and why your Daddy has to be so far away, but maybe some day you will grow old enough so that many things will become understandable to you.

Your father is away from you now so that you will not have to go around begging for food like many youngsters all over this world are doing right this minute. Man being the greedy creature that he is, is forever trying to get more than what he has, and to do that he must take it away from some one else.

There are a number of ways of doing this. The honorable way is by purchasing it in a legal and honest way. Then there is the way of taking it by force. The second way of obtaining anything is one of the main causes for all the troubles of the world. For these reasons your father is miles away and very lonesome for you.

I know that while I am away that you will be a good boy and will always mind your loving Mother. In my absence you must take you Daddy’s place as the man of the house. It means a lot of responsibility and you must show that you are worthy of it.

Daddy loves you and Barby very much and prays every night that he will be home with you very soon.

While I am away, Daddy is depending on you to take care of Mother & Barby.

Give Mother and Barby a big kiss for your Daddy.

Your Loving Father

Saturday July 14, 1945

Dearest Kitten:

I have a bit of excitement to tell you about. We had quite a fire just a few minutes ago. A gasoline tank with a hundred and twenty five gallons in it caught fire. After burning for about ten minutes it blew up. The flames shot about five hundred feet into the air. A lot of men are suffering from burn just from the heat.

Quite a few men went to the hospital for burns and a few from broken bones when everyone panicked. One of my men went to the hospital with a broken collar bone.

I was standing about a hundred feet from the tank when it blew up. I took off like everyone else because like everyone else I was scared and afraid that the gasoline would fall on me. I have been scared but this took the cake.

Today I received your letters of July 3rd & fourth. You seemed very agitated and humble because you have not been writing every day. You seem to think that I have been going through quite a bit of danger. Well tonight was as close to danger as I have been in.

The two bronze stars on my service ribbon was really earned by our second Battalion. The regiment was given credit because our work in Brisbane was as helpful as our being on the spot, and we did do a good job.

Right now we are working hard and it is taking a lot out of us. The heat has slowed us down a lot and we will slow down more as we get acclimated.

You said that you were going to write more often and send more boxes. As for the writing that is O.K. but unless it is something special. We have a very nice variety at our PX which opened yesterday. So unless I ask for something special, do not waste your energy and money.

I am happy that you like your jewel box. I had it made special for you. As for the wallets they were hand made by one of my cooks. As for the price, nothing is too good for my one and only. Just tokens of my great love for you.

You know that I do love you Sweetheart and would do anything for you. How I miss you and the babies. I only wish that I could explain my feelings, but I seem to be unable to properly express my feelings. My only regret is my inability to tell you how much I love you.

The city of Lowell used good sense in not getting fireworks that go off with a bang. Remember there are a lot of discharged veterans whose nerves are not what they should be.

I appreciated the picture of Mr. & Mrs. Gagnon. How happy they must be, and how jealous I am of their happiness.

Well Sweetheart this will be all for now. Give my regards to everyone & kiss the babies for me.

I close with all my love.

Your Loving Devoted & Faithful Husband,

Bob