September 7th, 1944
“Hello Darling,
Boy at this minute I miss you more than anything in the world, darling; right here, so very much, I want to hug you, and kiss you, to hold you really close to me … Guess I’m just madly, sadly in love with you sweetheart, and want to be near you.”
September 12th, 1944
“Hi, Darling,
Told you I like to roam all over, cutie. Tired of Meade so I came “here”, where “here” is must remain a secret for security reasons, and something else – from here on in all my letters will be censored.”
September 18th, 1944
“Hi Darling,
Well, cutie, in just a short while I’m off to town again; we’ve been pretty fortunate about passes. One-catch the longest time is a 12 hour pass! Naturally that isn’t enough to come see you, darn it! Since I haven’t really written for a couple days, I’ll start with Sunday. Another guy and I went to Yankee stadium to see a base ball game – very good (if you like baseball). Then hopped a subway to Coney Island, it is a place full of amusement parks and very nice beaches, just like our beach at Lorain, only much better. It’s on our must-see list, cutie. While there I tried the 250 foot parachute tower (world’s fair)! is very thrilling. Then we went back to NBC to see the Texaco Star Theater, with James Melton (tevor) and Joan Edwards (Hit Parade) – really nice darling. Then stopped in at the Stage Door Canteen; it isn’t very large at all but is very nice. The lad that is going to replace Sinatra – (?) Allen – came in and sang. He really is good, and I don’t mean perhaps (even better than me.). Here is a ticket from there – just for the heck of it.”
Thanksgiving 1944
“I certainly have plenty to be thankful for: For one thing, I’m alive, in one piece, and in good health; am with a swell gang of guys; have a darn swell family, and a mighty wonderful girl waiting for me back in civilization.”
December 17th, 1944
“With few regrets I can truthfully say, it would have been wonderful if we could have been married, darling. But after seeing how things are over here, I’m not sorry we’ve waited.”
December 31st, 1944
“Every day that passes brings us closer. I know you well enough the girl I want to be with in 1945.”
Works used:
All excerpts are from the personal letters located in Bridgewater College’s special collections.