New Guinea
Sunday eve.
Sept. 24, '44
Hi Sweetheart;
This has been an ideal Sunday to catch up on back correspondence. That rain that started last night kept right on all night and a good part of the day so you can see it was a day to stay in. This morning I wrote five letters. Vi, Mom, Marg, Harold and the Dulaneys. That cleans up the duty letters for the present again and all I have to worry about are my privilege letters. They all go to a very sweet, chubby, dark haired girl with the warmest look and sweetest smile a man ever saw. She's built too! The kind it's hard to stay away from. Want to get an armful of her and squeeze and then go exploring. Being an explorer at heart anyhow, I really go for her in a big way. I'm in love with her too. That may be a bit unusual seeing as how she has been my wife for the past four years, but it's true and I'm so glad about the whole thing. She's my one and only and always will be. I love you Baby.
I got another letter from you today. Your Sept 13th. For some reason my mail, from your reports, must have slowed up a bit at this time. Maybe it's a good thing. That might shorten up the blank stretch while I was at Jungle School. I'm a bit curious to hear what you thought of me going off that way when I really didn't have to. I know you'll be sweet about it but maybe I can read a little between the lines and see what you really are thinking about it. I see, in today's letter, you say you'd sooner I took an airplane ride than go back in the jungle. The airplane ride may be coming I hope. While I think of it, Steve's wife's information about where he landed is correct.
This afternoon I started work on another of of the little projects I had in mind. Of course it will probably be several weeks yet before I can even send it but nevertheless, it's cooking. One thing about it though, I don't think it will be too heavy to come air mail but it might. I hope not 'cause I think you'll like this. It's really for a Christmas present but I just can't wait to send it to you. You can just consider it an early one. I bet you can't guess what it is can you? Don't you wish you knew? No, it's not a bracelet, so there too.
There, you old devil, I guess I can tease a bit too. I'm mean aren't I? I love you though.
Now I'm going to get busy on your letters. Sept 5th. You tell me you're going around showing people your ring. Well, I'm showing everyone your picture too. They all say, "Very nice" and then wonder all over again how you came to marry me. They don't know it yet but I'm nice. I'm proud of that picture honey. No, I'm not carrying your nice lady picture around with me 'cause I don't want to ruin it. I keep it propped up in my desk right where I can look at it when I'm sitting here. Now I've got the beautiful lady picture right along side of it. Gosh, honey, you sure do look good. I had to change the cellophane idea. It's so damp at night the cellophane stretches and then in the day dries out and shrinks. I can't keep the edges anchored so I've got them in a folder now.
Honey, the cigars and a lot of the stuff that I didn't ask for at first were only suggestions. They aren't things I really need so don't try too hard to get everything I ask for. The things I really want are, writing paper, tobacco, cigarette lighters, film, and things to fess on. The rest are only suggestions. I forgot to add, soap, in small quantities. I'm getting a good stock of it now and a bar once in a while will keep me going. As long as our washing machine keeps going I won't be using much laundry soap. This week was my first to have my washing done. Does a good job too. We pay 32cents a month to buy soap and pay the operator a little. McDaniel is doing it for the whole company.
Mick has probably been put into some sort of supply or clerical work. At least it's the logical thing seeing he had no combat training at all. Never can tell in the army though. The number of supply men, truck drivers and such is tremendous for a thing as big as that.
You aren't the only one that thought there might be method in your sending such big sheets of paper. Last eve "Rip" Rentleman [Staff Sgt] was paying a visit. I had just about finished my letter and the sheets were laying on my bunk. He wondered where in hell I got the paper and when I told him he said, " I bet she did that to keep you writing a decent size letter." He said he didn't see how in the hell I could write so much. Then I showed him the stack I had from you and that explained it. I showed him my new picture too. "Very nice" was his remark. Can't believe you're 21 though. See, I told you, you looked as good as any 20 year old. I love you, darling.
So you're comparing Bob's actions to his Jackie, to mine with you, and say, "exact opposites". Well, we seem to be almost exact opposites in everything don't we? Anyhow that is only public actions. After we got started and were alone I don't believe you suffered very much from inattention. Did you? He's been a ladies man a lot longer than I had to. Remember you were my first girl and I was innocent.
Poor Art and his mishap at three in the morning. You can tell him not to be belittling himself by saying he's too old to do such a trick. When a man's too old for that he might as well knock himself in the head. I'm not as old as he is by a few years but I seem to have the same trouble rather regular and I'm not a bit ashamed of it. Anyhow it's proof there is no cheating going on. I don't think Marg is very nice to laugh at him about it. Ain't fair.
That was real timing on the anniversary card. Getting there exactly on the day. I had really meant to send them sooner but when that bastard stole the one ring I had to wait until I could make another. Anyhow it came out all right. I'm trying to get ideas now for Christmas cards. [If I have time].
Honey, I don't believe I was the main reason you went to football games. I got you started but I've seen you have a darn good time at many a game and even when the weather was plenty bad. Remember the Wadsworth game two years ago? I rather believe it's like you once said, you got used to doing outdoor things after I came along and have really grown to like some of them. I wish I could go to the games with you, but seeing I can't, you see 'em for me and tell me about 'em.
So Charles Stevens is on the sick list again. I guess he had better stick to the country life. Doesn't seem to be able to take it in the city. Wisconsin always intrigued me too. We talked of going there several times but it was just too far for a weekend and we were too busy on our last vacations to take the time to go. We might some day if our plans don't develop too fast. A good fishing and ______ trip up there would be swell.
You don't have to apologize for reading a book about Marines. Remember I always wanted to be one and I'd still like to be. I'm only in the army 'cause that is where they put me.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------that are doing----------------------------------------------------------- [These lines were censored, cut from the page]
You can tell Mrs. Claggett that I can and will send her some coins. I can put a couple in an envelope and that way they'll get there sometime and not next year. I haven't been able to get hold of their penny or pence but I have the other common sizes. I'll be sending them. I'll donate them in return for some of the bits of learning her husband drilled into my head. I like teachers anyhow. Whoops, forgot, librarians are supposed to come first now.
While I'm thinking of it, I'm issuing you a warning. You better treat me nice 'cause there is a bunch of W.A.C.S. in this area now and beside that, Vi wrote me the name and address of an old school friend of hers who is over here on Red Cross work. She is only four or five miles away. So there too. Aren't you worried?
You're wrong, honey. I haven't been trying to think of any new positions and don't think I will. In the first place, I cease being numb and the second, I think we do all right as we go along. I like to do things by trial rather than blueprint. Anyhow it'll all be plenty fun and very satisfactory. It'll all be new for quite some time.
Sure I'm interested in hearing all about Bob & Jackie. I'd like to have been there to meet her too. If I had been maybe you wouldn't have been hurtin so much from watching them woo. You'd have had some of your own to do. Probably been able to show the kids a few new ones even, I know they couldn't have been any more sincere. I loves my honey. I am very glad to hear your revised opinion. You've done so well in most cases I had about accepted your first estimate and thinking Bob had maybe made a mistake. I sure hope not.
Time to quit this prattle again. I'm getting caught up now. Up to Sept 11 with my answering but I still have a train trip to finish and some more about N.G. and etc. I won't run out of things to write about for some time yet.
Night, sweetheart. I'm loving you so much. It's getting harder and harder the longer I stay away. I want to come home Mummy. I love you. Here's a long juicy kiss.
Your hubby.
Norm.
Monday, August 27, 2012
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Letter # 477 September 23, 1944
New Guinea
Saturday eve
Sept. 23, 1944
My Sweetheart;
Got two more letters from you today. Sept 11 & 12. That's two more to catch up on now. I'm going to start right in on this pile of them now. Sept 3rd comes first. You devil. Saying you'll see what you can do about sending me a picture of you and all the time you have one on the way and never peep about it. You must have learned self control. The Babe I used to know would never have been able to keep a surprise that long. It was sweet of you to send it and I don't mind the teasing a bit. Putting your hair up and all just to have your picture taken for me. No dead pan in this one either. You're really putting out. I'd sure like to plant a few good solid kisses on those smiling lips and then a lot more juicy ones. Would you tell me to close my mouth like you used to do? Remember? Don't know why but I'm betting you wouldn't say a word, but would take and return. How about it? Gosh, honey, I'm tingling just thinking about it. Did you know you're very beautiful? You are. This picture proves it. I love you.
I can see you really are sold on being a family woman. After making dream plans of all the places you want to go, you discard them all in favor of staying home and raising a little "it". Seeing I can't call it Velma I'll dub it "it". Not having much of a preference for names I'll let you furnish the suggestions. I always wanted to go traveling too but after all this I'm ready to stay in our own back yard and learn to be Pop if it's so willed.
As for being like your folks and doing our going after the family is grown, I don't know. We didn't get a very early start and aren't going to be so young by that time. Want me to send a test tube so we can get a start right away?
Now you're even raking the gravel back in the drive and worked so hard you got a blister. Gosh, honey, you're really becoming more than a wife. You're surely doing your best to keep things going until I get home again. I'm proud of you. You're more than perfect. I love you so much. I know it isn't necessary to say this but I will anyhow. If the drive looks like it needs any more stone, be sure and get it put on before spring. No use getting stuck and causing Art any more trouble.
I sure like that. You hate insects around you and then add, you don't mean me. You can call me an insect or anything else but don't ever say you don't want me around you or so help me I'll stay over here and get me an Aussie red head. They tell me the Aussie girls go for the Yanks 'cause they aren't as reserved and, as we say, slow, as their own men are. So there too. I saw an Australian red headed nurse a while back and she sure looked pretty good. Maybe I wouldn't even want to come home.
It's been thundering and lightening for the last hour or so and sure has the feel of a big rain on the way. A thunderstorm is unusual down here. Maybe I'll get a chance to try out the curtains I put on some time back. It's starting to sprinkle now.
The victory garden is coming along in great shape. If we hadn't had to wait for seeds to get over here we'd have some produce to eat now. Things grow much faster here than at home. Tomatoes are big, healthy plants and have flowers and some green ones already. Did I say it was sprinkling? It's pouring.
My storm curtains are doing a good job. The lights aren't even blowing very much. We also finished putting a wood floor in our tent this afternoon so we're really getting fixed up. Get it all in shape and then take off, I expect. Things are always damp down here anyhow so if the tent leaks a bit it makes no difference. I can even sleep in a puddle of water anymore. I did one night on the trail and never wakened enough to realize it until morning.
Honey, I wasn't telling a tale about the June bug. That's surely not the name for it but I can't describe it any better. They really are at least three inches long. I know it sounds like a creation at a liar's club but it isn't . As I've said this is a bug paradise and they really grow big. I've seen thousand legged worms that look like a greatly magnified edition of our own. Some are nearly a foot long. Most of the flies are like the big blue bottle ones at home. Few small ones. The little snails we find in the woods, well, down here, the shells are as much as three inches across. Some butterflies are so big they look like a robin in flight. I saw a lot of the most beautiful blue ones. Captain Spencer says it is the "Blue Emperor" and would be worth $50.00 in the states. I tried to catch one but they usually fly high and seldom light. I wasn't after the money. I just wanted one. Really beautiful. Ants come in all sizes from ones so small they almost look like a crab, to some big black ones over an inch long. When we came back to our base camp after being away for the trip one of the boys in my squad found an ant nest in his extra pair of shoes. They were these big fellows and their eggs were nearly the size of a quinine capsule. The grubs the natives eat are almost like a shrimp. An inch thick and three to four inches long.
Unusual growth doesn't only apply to insects either. There is a variety of pigeon here that weighs as much as fifteen pounds. There is also a flightless bird, the Cassowary [I don't think that is spelled right]
that is similar to an ostrich but only about four feet tall that can kick hard enough to break a man's leg. Lizards from one to two feet long, snakes of the python variety as long as 32 feet, rats two feet long, bats or flying foxes with a four foot wing spread.
The vegetation doesn't take a back seat either. Trees are all big and tall. I'd guess a lot of them at well over a hundred feet. Vines so long they go over the tops of several trees and may be as much as a foot thick at the root. The oranges grow on trees as big as our oak in front of the house and look like grapefruit. Green skinned when ripe. Bananas with more than a hundred on a bunch and some of them a foot long. The banana are anywhere from ten to thirty feet tall and have wide flat leaves as long as ten feet. Make excellent roofing for temporary shelters. You can check any of these statements and I think you'll find them nearly correct.
Strange as it may seem I could tell some "tall" tales but I'll leave that until I get home.
I sure got sidetracked there didn't I? I hope all the statistics didn't bore you. Now I'll get on with the letters.
I guess I told you that I found out I don't want to raise a beard even over here. It wouldn't scratch you much after it grows out but if I were you I'd sure hate to be smooched by a mass of hair like that. It was very annoying.
Gee, honey, you make me feel flattered by telling me you were jealous about me kissing someone else first so you tried to act like you didn't like to have me kiss you. Huh! Whiskery! You devil. Makes me feel good to know you were a bit hurt. Didn't think I ever had a girl jealous about me up to that time. If you'd have told me that then I wouldn't have been so slow trying it again. I liked it and wanted to bad enough but didn't think you wanted me to. You see, even then, I wanted to please you and have you like me. When your birthday came around I couldn't hold out any longer. It may surprise you to know I had my mind all made up to try it again no matter what the circumstances when I came out that night. You may remember how uneasy I was and how we sat and talked. I fidgeted until I finally worked up the nerve to carry out my plans. I lost my nerve as soon as I kissed you and took off. I liked it so much and hoped you wouldn't kick me out next time I came around. You didn't. Gosh, sweetheart, I love you so much.
You can bet I remember the night out in the yard where the cistern now is, while we were building the house, and also the time upstairs. I'll never forget a one of those firsts. I also remember another time before we went to Met. Parks with Gus and Vi. You said never again 'cause you were all worn out. By the way, the upstairs time was after Sept 8 by about a week and four or five days. Remember you waited until we got home and then had bad days. That was the first good day and, until you came to Ky. held the record. Know the score then and now? I do.
You can take a box of Duz [?] to bed with you but I don't think it'll be as satisfactory as another package I can think of that will really does and does some more.
You seem to like the ring so much it encourages me to work on some more projects if I can find the time. I like to do things for you. You always seem to appreciate anything so much. You're sweet and I love you and miss you so darn much. I need you to keep me thinking I'm worth quite a bit. You'll have me conceited pretty soon if you don't watch out.
Honey, I like this big stationery. It does take a lot to fill them but I don't get interrupted by changing sheets very often. Did you ever, out of curiosity, count the words in a letter on this paper? It's over a thousand. A thousand word essay in school seemed a whole dictionary but these don't seem to be any work at all. Takes a little time but it's a labor of love and time well spent.
Don't get spoiled, honey, by these four page ones. I'm trying to make up for the two weeks I missed and will probably go back to two or three pages after a bit.
Here I am out of paper again and only up to Sept 5 letter. Oh well, another day coming.
Night, sweetheart, I love you so much and I'm dreaming of you a lot. Good dreaming too.
Your soldier.
Norm.
Saturday eve
Sept. 23, 1944
My Sweetheart;
Got two more letters from you today. Sept 11 & 12. That's two more to catch up on now. I'm going to start right in on this pile of them now. Sept 3rd comes first. You devil. Saying you'll see what you can do about sending me a picture of you and all the time you have one on the way and never peep about it. You must have learned self control. The Babe I used to know would never have been able to keep a surprise that long. It was sweet of you to send it and I don't mind the teasing a bit. Putting your hair up and all just to have your picture taken for me. No dead pan in this one either. You're really putting out. I'd sure like to plant a few good solid kisses on those smiling lips and then a lot more juicy ones. Would you tell me to close my mouth like you used to do? Remember? Don't know why but I'm betting you wouldn't say a word, but would take and return. How about it? Gosh, honey, I'm tingling just thinking about it. Did you know you're very beautiful? You are. This picture proves it. I love you.
I can see you really are sold on being a family woman. After making dream plans of all the places you want to go, you discard them all in favor of staying home and raising a little "it". Seeing I can't call it Velma I'll dub it "it". Not having much of a preference for names I'll let you furnish the suggestions. I always wanted to go traveling too but after all this I'm ready to stay in our own back yard and learn to be Pop if it's so willed.
As for being like your folks and doing our going after the family is grown, I don't know. We didn't get a very early start and aren't going to be so young by that time. Want me to send a test tube so we can get a start right away?
Now you're even raking the gravel back in the drive and worked so hard you got a blister. Gosh, honey, you're really becoming more than a wife. You're surely doing your best to keep things going until I get home again. I'm proud of you. You're more than perfect. I love you so much. I know it isn't necessary to say this but I will anyhow. If the drive looks like it needs any more stone, be sure and get it put on before spring. No use getting stuck and causing Art any more trouble.
I sure like that. You hate insects around you and then add, you don't mean me. You can call me an insect or anything else but don't ever say you don't want me around you or so help me I'll stay over here and get me an Aussie red head. They tell me the Aussie girls go for the Yanks 'cause they aren't as reserved and, as we say, slow, as their own men are. So there too. I saw an Australian red headed nurse a while back and she sure looked pretty good. Maybe I wouldn't even want to come home.
It's been thundering and lightening for the last hour or so and sure has the feel of a big rain on the way. A thunderstorm is unusual down here. Maybe I'll get a chance to try out the curtains I put on some time back. It's starting to sprinkle now.
The victory garden is coming along in great shape. If we hadn't had to wait for seeds to get over here we'd have some produce to eat now. Things grow much faster here than at home. Tomatoes are big, healthy plants and have flowers and some green ones already. Did I say it was sprinkling? It's pouring.
My storm curtains are doing a good job. The lights aren't even blowing very much. We also finished putting a wood floor in our tent this afternoon so we're really getting fixed up. Get it all in shape and then take off, I expect. Things are always damp down here anyhow so if the tent leaks a bit it makes no difference. I can even sleep in a puddle of water anymore. I did one night on the trail and never wakened enough to realize it until morning.
Honey, I wasn't telling a tale about the June bug. That's surely not the name for it but I can't describe it any better. They really are at least three inches long. I know it sounds like a creation at a liar's club but it isn't . As I've said this is a bug paradise and they really grow big. I've seen thousand legged worms that look like a greatly magnified edition of our own. Some are nearly a foot long. Most of the flies are like the big blue bottle ones at home. Few small ones. The little snails we find in the woods, well, down here, the shells are as much as three inches across. Some butterflies are so big they look like a robin in flight. I saw a lot of the most beautiful blue ones. Captain Spencer says it is the "Blue Emperor" and would be worth $50.00 in the states. I tried to catch one but they usually fly high and seldom light. I wasn't after the money. I just wanted one. Really beautiful. Ants come in all sizes from ones so small they almost look like a crab, to some big black ones over an inch long. When we came back to our base camp after being away for the trip one of the boys in my squad found an ant nest in his extra pair of shoes. They were these big fellows and their eggs were nearly the size of a quinine capsule. The grubs the natives eat are almost like a shrimp. An inch thick and three to four inches long.
Unusual growth doesn't only apply to insects either. There is a variety of pigeon here that weighs as much as fifteen pounds. There is also a flightless bird, the Cassowary [I don't think that is spelled right]
that is similar to an ostrich but only about four feet tall that can kick hard enough to break a man's leg. Lizards from one to two feet long, snakes of the python variety as long as 32 feet, rats two feet long, bats or flying foxes with a four foot wing spread.
The vegetation doesn't take a back seat either. Trees are all big and tall. I'd guess a lot of them at well over a hundred feet. Vines so long they go over the tops of several trees and may be as much as a foot thick at the root. The oranges grow on trees as big as our oak in front of the house and look like grapefruit. Green skinned when ripe. Bananas with more than a hundred on a bunch and some of them a foot long. The banana are anywhere from ten to thirty feet tall and have wide flat leaves as long as ten feet. Make excellent roofing for temporary shelters. You can check any of these statements and I think you'll find them nearly correct.
Strange as it may seem I could tell some "tall" tales but I'll leave that until I get home.
I sure got sidetracked there didn't I? I hope all the statistics didn't bore you. Now I'll get on with the letters.
I guess I told you that I found out I don't want to raise a beard even over here. It wouldn't scratch you much after it grows out but if I were you I'd sure hate to be smooched by a mass of hair like that. It was very annoying.
Gee, honey, you make me feel flattered by telling me you were jealous about me kissing someone else first so you tried to act like you didn't like to have me kiss you. Huh! Whiskery! You devil. Makes me feel good to know you were a bit hurt. Didn't think I ever had a girl jealous about me up to that time. If you'd have told me that then I wouldn't have been so slow trying it again. I liked it and wanted to bad enough but didn't think you wanted me to. You see, even then, I wanted to please you and have you like me. When your birthday came around I couldn't hold out any longer. It may surprise you to know I had my mind all made up to try it again no matter what the circumstances when I came out that night. You may remember how uneasy I was and how we sat and talked. I fidgeted until I finally worked up the nerve to carry out my plans. I lost my nerve as soon as I kissed you and took off. I liked it so much and hoped you wouldn't kick me out next time I came around. You didn't. Gosh, sweetheart, I love you so much.
You can bet I remember the night out in the yard where the cistern now is, while we were building the house, and also the time upstairs. I'll never forget a one of those firsts. I also remember another time before we went to Met. Parks with Gus and Vi. You said never again 'cause you were all worn out. By the way, the upstairs time was after Sept 8 by about a week and four or five days. Remember you waited until we got home and then had bad days. That was the first good day and, until you came to Ky. held the record. Know the score then and now? I do.
You can take a box of Duz [?] to bed with you but I don't think it'll be as satisfactory as another package I can think of that will really does and does some more.
You seem to like the ring so much it encourages me to work on some more projects if I can find the time. I like to do things for you. You always seem to appreciate anything so much. You're sweet and I love you and miss you so darn much. I need you to keep me thinking I'm worth quite a bit. You'll have me conceited pretty soon if you don't watch out.
Honey, I like this big stationery. It does take a lot to fill them but I don't get interrupted by changing sheets very often. Did you ever, out of curiosity, count the words in a letter on this paper? It's over a thousand. A thousand word essay in school seemed a whole dictionary but these don't seem to be any work at all. Takes a little time but it's a labor of love and time well spent.
Don't get spoiled, honey, by these four page ones. I'm trying to make up for the two weeks I missed and will probably go back to two or three pages after a bit.
Here I am out of paper again and only up to Sept 5 letter. Oh well, another day coming.
Night, sweetheart, I love you so much and I'm dreaming of you a lot. Good dreaming too.
Your soldier.
Norm.
Letter # 476 September 22, 1944
New Guinea
Friday eve
Sept 22, 1944
My Gorgeous armful;
You are an armful too. A big one. I know. I got something when I get hold of you. Very precious something too. I love you. Wish I had an armful of you right now. Bet you'd get squoze as you've never been squoze before. I'm hungry for a hunk of you. Gosh, it's nearly six months now and that's way too damn long to be away from you. Something about you. I always want to be near you. The nearer the better. Think it's because you're so nice and sweet and beautiful and satisfying? That's got a lot to do with it. I love you.
No more letters today so I'll go on where I left off last night. I was talking about the native dance. I had just come in the day before from the hike and then walked about ten miles to see the dance. Guess the hike must not have hurt me too much. I'm tough. Call me Jungle Jim now. I guess I must have a queer makeup 'cause I really enjoyed the whole thing and most of the fellows hated it all.
As I was walking up to the dance I passed several young couples coming away from it. I was struck by the happy look of them and more so by the fact that they were holding hands as they walked along. I later learned for sure what I suspected at the time. They were young fellows who had bought their first wife at the dance. That look couldn't have meant much of anything else. For them the dance had lost its interest. Wonder what they had in mind? I can't even venture a guess. Ordinarily there is absolutely no show of affection or tenderness between man and wife. In fact, it usually seems much the other way. She is practically a slave.
You mention that their marriage vows are not held sacred at dance times. In the first place there are no vows. She goes to the highest bidder and is apt to be one of three or more wives. Not a very good set up for fidelity. After all, she is a female and maybe she likes someone else better than her husband. Ain't it?
Every race of humans has its harlots and these people are no exception. At one of the missions they have a bad girl institution. They have been trying to curb adultery among the natives and when a girl is caught cheating she is confined to this place for six months or so and not allowed to associate with any men. These girls work the mission gardens and flowers and etc. There were quite a few of them serving time too. I can also see why. They were, even to my eyes, the best looking bunch of "Marys" I've seen among them all. They couldn't miss being popular. All young and in their prime. No men allowed, honey. So don't worry.
In some tribes, when the husband dies or is killed the women are also killed. That practice has been discouraged by the white men and where it has had effect, they find the widows usually become the village harlot. Guess they are only human.
Another interesting bit of information I picked up is that they know and practice a sort of birth control after conception. The Aussies have tried for years to get the secret without success. An unmarried girl or a wife that isn't to be that way and is, goes away from the village for a few days and comes back ready to start all over again. Curious huh?
I guess I better get at these letters again or I'll never get them answered.
The Charlie I mentioned: The bugler isn't in the picture. He is in another company. No I'm not any better at music than I ever was. I was told the piece was "Lady in Red". Hell, honey, I can hardly tell the difference between retreat and chow call. Look at my watch to be sure.
Gosh, honey, I guess we will have to get busy on this Mom & Pop stuff. Even the kids like Bob Kindig are getting way ahead of us. When we get the chance we'll do our part or, if not, it won't be for lack of trying will it?
Your mention of Dick Elder reminds me. He made the whole trip like a man and we had a picture taken together at the end of the trail. Two Medina boys are staying in the same unit anyhow.
Still teasing me about your surprise, you devil. I couldn't forget it if I wanted to, which I don't. I like your surprises. If they are all as nice as the surprise I have already gotten they are worth being teased about. Then there are some other surprises you've given me in the past months that didn't come by mail. [ Wish they could, damn it]. I'm talking about the kind you turned loose for the first time last year in Kentucky and then again, both times I was home. That kind of surprises are my favorites but these others are swell as long as we can't do any better. I'm going to expect some surprises when I get home again too. Can you furnish 'em? You're a surprising girl. I think you can. I'm so proud of you and love you so much. You're my darling wife. Gee I'm glad I gotcha Mummy.
Yes, honey, the worn out material in our sawmill was the big reason we gave it up. We had gotten enough material to build the camp anyhow and now we have other things to do.
I had another letter from Steve and it's a good thing I didn't get a chance to try to find him. He left the same day he wrote the letter. Said he had 54 letters waiting for him when he got there. That's quite a few. Also he had gotten over his first drunk and was ok, only missing his wife plenty. I know all about that. I hope he wasn't drinking jungle juice. If he was I bet he's cured now.
Jean's friend's brother isn't in this area and I don't know where that A.P.O. is. New one on me.
While you're talking about boxes, it reminds me that I haven't sent any request for a couple weeks. The same old stuff still goes. I can use tobacco and soap and lots and lots of that candy and cookies you sent. It sure tasted like more any time. The tea and canned stuff went very good too. I've used the last of the tea only last night. I drink a cup of it while I sit here writing. You do get swell ideas on what to send. You're swell. I love you.
I do like the idea of bunks for our upstairs only I'm not sure how they would work out. I'll have to do a little drawing. They would only be used in the small room 'cause we were figuring on the big one for us and I sure as hell don't want any bunks there. I want you right in the same bed where you can wake me up once in a while as you've promised to do. Bunks in the small room might work out and would be the thing for a son if we have one. We'll think about it.
Getting pretty big for your pants aren't you? Only working a couple weeks and doing it all by yourself. Smart girl. I'm so glad you like it so much.
I'm sorry about Harold getting the picture of me. Steve was going to send them to you but I guess he can't be blamed for slipping. Just married and then being shipped over right away. Guess you'll just have to visit Helen once in a while if you want to see it. There should be others also. Maybe you'll get them yet.
Honey, I was crocodile hunting one day on our trip. Got one too. What do you think of that? That's stretching things quite a bit. I wasn't hunting. I was swimming and it was entirely accidental and he was only a baby one. I saw him floating along in the current and thought he was dead. I picked him up and the poor little devil wasn't dead but darn near drowned. Laid him on rock in the hot sun and gave him a bit of artificial respiration and in a few minutes he began to come to. When he had sufficiently recovered he tried to make up in fierceness what he lacked in size. He was only about a foot long and had hardly any teeth yet. He did his best though. Squirming, hissing, and trying to snap at us. Gave him to a native. Suppose he ate him. See, you were beginning to get excited over nothing weren't you?
I'm told there are some, though, as big as 35 ft in length and so powerful they can easily drown a horse. Gosh, I would like to have a crack at some of them. I'm glad you're giving me permission 'cause I'm afraid I would anyhow.
The question about why Sgt Jarvis and now private Jarvis. These ratings aren't any more permanent than any civilian job. A man can be fired there. Here, he's broken.
What do you mean, I always had some project that didn't include you? If you remember I was always telling you, you should get out more and get some exercise, wasn't I ? You just didn't take to it very much. I had lots of work to do outside and Sunday was the best chance to do it. I reckon it will be the same in the future, but it always includes you if you want it to. We're partners in everything you know. I like to have you around if you don't bother me so much I can't work. Hard to keep my mind on work if you're too close. You're a luscious, exciting devil to me and I love you so much.
I'll always be satisfied to get up first only I'll still want Mummy to get my breakfast. O.K.?
Now, I'm up to your Sept 3 letter so I'm catching up a bit. Maybe I can finish up over the weekend. I'm only hitting the high spots and not commenting on them as Id like to but, gosh, to do that on on two week's letters and still keep up on the current ones, is more than I could manage. I think I'm answering all your questions.
Well sweetheart, here it is the end of another letter and another day. Every one is just so much closer to the day when we won't have to talk and love by long distance letter. It can't be too quick for me. I may not be much of a talker but by talking and acting I think I can do better than by letter. I'm loving you sweetheart.
Your hubby.
Norm.
Friday eve
Sept 22, 1944
My Gorgeous armful;
You are an armful too. A big one. I know. I got something when I get hold of you. Very precious something too. I love you. Wish I had an armful of you right now. Bet you'd get squoze as you've never been squoze before. I'm hungry for a hunk of you. Gosh, it's nearly six months now and that's way too damn long to be away from you. Something about you. I always want to be near you. The nearer the better. Think it's because you're so nice and sweet and beautiful and satisfying? That's got a lot to do with it. I love you.
No more letters today so I'll go on where I left off last night. I was talking about the native dance. I had just come in the day before from the hike and then walked about ten miles to see the dance. Guess the hike must not have hurt me too much. I'm tough. Call me Jungle Jim now. I guess I must have a queer makeup 'cause I really enjoyed the whole thing and most of the fellows hated it all.
As I was walking up to the dance I passed several young couples coming away from it. I was struck by the happy look of them and more so by the fact that they were holding hands as they walked along. I later learned for sure what I suspected at the time. They were young fellows who had bought their first wife at the dance. That look couldn't have meant much of anything else. For them the dance had lost its interest. Wonder what they had in mind? I can't even venture a guess. Ordinarily there is absolutely no show of affection or tenderness between man and wife. In fact, it usually seems much the other way. She is practically a slave.
You mention that their marriage vows are not held sacred at dance times. In the first place there are no vows. She goes to the highest bidder and is apt to be one of three or more wives. Not a very good set up for fidelity. After all, she is a female and maybe she likes someone else better than her husband. Ain't it?
Every race of humans has its harlots and these people are no exception. At one of the missions they have a bad girl institution. They have been trying to curb adultery among the natives and when a girl is caught cheating she is confined to this place for six months or so and not allowed to associate with any men. These girls work the mission gardens and flowers and etc. There were quite a few of them serving time too. I can also see why. They were, even to my eyes, the best looking bunch of "Marys" I've seen among them all. They couldn't miss being popular. All young and in their prime. No men allowed, honey. So don't worry.
In some tribes, when the husband dies or is killed the women are also killed. That practice has been discouraged by the white men and where it has had effect, they find the widows usually become the village harlot. Guess they are only human.
Another interesting bit of information I picked up is that they know and practice a sort of birth control after conception. The Aussies have tried for years to get the secret without success. An unmarried girl or a wife that isn't to be that way and is, goes away from the village for a few days and comes back ready to start all over again. Curious huh?
I guess I better get at these letters again or I'll never get them answered.
The Charlie I mentioned: The bugler isn't in the picture. He is in another company. No I'm not any better at music than I ever was. I was told the piece was "Lady in Red". Hell, honey, I can hardly tell the difference between retreat and chow call. Look at my watch to be sure.
Gosh, honey, I guess we will have to get busy on this Mom & Pop stuff. Even the kids like Bob Kindig are getting way ahead of us. When we get the chance we'll do our part or, if not, it won't be for lack of trying will it?
Your mention of Dick Elder reminds me. He made the whole trip like a man and we had a picture taken together at the end of the trail. Two Medina boys are staying in the same unit anyhow.
Still teasing me about your surprise, you devil. I couldn't forget it if I wanted to, which I don't. I like your surprises. If they are all as nice as the surprise I have already gotten they are worth being teased about. Then there are some other surprises you've given me in the past months that didn't come by mail. [ Wish they could, damn it]. I'm talking about the kind you turned loose for the first time last year in Kentucky and then again, both times I was home. That kind of surprises are my favorites but these others are swell as long as we can't do any better. I'm going to expect some surprises when I get home again too. Can you furnish 'em? You're a surprising girl. I think you can. I'm so proud of you and love you so much. You're my darling wife. Gee I'm glad I gotcha Mummy.
Yes, honey, the worn out material in our sawmill was the big reason we gave it up. We had gotten enough material to build the camp anyhow and now we have other things to do.
I had another letter from Steve and it's a good thing I didn't get a chance to try to find him. He left the same day he wrote the letter. Said he had 54 letters waiting for him when he got there. That's quite a few. Also he had gotten over his first drunk and was ok, only missing his wife plenty. I know all about that. I hope he wasn't drinking jungle juice. If he was I bet he's cured now.
Jean's friend's brother isn't in this area and I don't know where that A.P.O. is. New one on me.
While you're talking about boxes, it reminds me that I haven't sent any request for a couple weeks. The same old stuff still goes. I can use tobacco and soap and lots and lots of that candy and cookies you sent. It sure tasted like more any time. The tea and canned stuff went very good too. I've used the last of the tea only last night. I drink a cup of it while I sit here writing. You do get swell ideas on what to send. You're swell. I love you.
I do like the idea of bunks for our upstairs only I'm not sure how they would work out. I'll have to do a little drawing. They would only be used in the small room 'cause we were figuring on the big one for us and I sure as hell don't want any bunks there. I want you right in the same bed where you can wake me up once in a while as you've promised to do. Bunks in the small room might work out and would be the thing for a son if we have one. We'll think about it.
Getting pretty big for your pants aren't you? Only working a couple weeks and doing it all by yourself. Smart girl. I'm so glad you like it so much.
I'm sorry about Harold getting the picture of me. Steve was going to send them to you but I guess he can't be blamed for slipping. Just married and then being shipped over right away. Guess you'll just have to visit Helen once in a while if you want to see it. There should be others also. Maybe you'll get them yet.
Honey, I was crocodile hunting one day on our trip. Got one too. What do you think of that? That's stretching things quite a bit. I wasn't hunting. I was swimming and it was entirely accidental and he was only a baby one. I saw him floating along in the current and thought he was dead. I picked him up and the poor little devil wasn't dead but darn near drowned. Laid him on rock in the hot sun and gave him a bit of artificial respiration and in a few minutes he began to come to. When he had sufficiently recovered he tried to make up in fierceness what he lacked in size. He was only about a foot long and had hardly any teeth yet. He did his best though. Squirming, hissing, and trying to snap at us. Gave him to a native. Suppose he ate him. See, you were beginning to get excited over nothing weren't you?
I'm told there are some, though, as big as 35 ft in length and so powerful they can easily drown a horse. Gosh, I would like to have a crack at some of them. I'm glad you're giving me permission 'cause I'm afraid I would anyhow.
The question about why Sgt Jarvis and now private Jarvis. These ratings aren't any more permanent than any civilian job. A man can be fired there. Here, he's broken.
What do you mean, I always had some project that didn't include you? If you remember I was always telling you, you should get out more and get some exercise, wasn't I ? You just didn't take to it very much. I had lots of work to do outside and Sunday was the best chance to do it. I reckon it will be the same in the future, but it always includes you if you want it to. We're partners in everything you know. I like to have you around if you don't bother me so much I can't work. Hard to keep my mind on work if you're too close. You're a luscious, exciting devil to me and I love you so much.
I'll always be satisfied to get up first only I'll still want Mummy to get my breakfast. O.K.?
Now, I'm up to your Sept 3 letter so I'm catching up a bit. Maybe I can finish up over the weekend. I'm only hitting the high spots and not commenting on them as Id like to but, gosh, to do that on on two week's letters and still keep up on the current ones, is more than I could manage. I think I'm answering all your questions.
Well sweetheart, here it is the end of another letter and another day. Every one is just so much closer to the day when we won't have to talk and love by long distance letter. It can't be too quick for me. I may not be much of a talker but by talking and acting I think I can do better than by letter. I'm loving you sweetheart.
Your hubby.
Norm.
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Letter # 475 September 21, 1944
New Guinea
Thursday
Sept. 21, 44.
My sweetheart wife;
No letters today so maybe I'll get a chance to catch up a bit. I sure have a stack of them to answer. Don't be expecting any more two letter days. That's a bit much for me. Lot of writing on two letters. I just wanted to say I had done it at least once anyhow. You seem to be able to do it quite often but you're just that much better than I. I'm not going to try to compete. When it comes to loving I think I can compete favorably. You can't possible love me any more than I love you. That's for sure.
Well, honey, for the first time since I last saw you I spent I spent a day at the old monkey wrench business. Seems pretty strange. Forgot a big part of what I used to know. It's been almost six months and that's a long time to remember such stuff. There are things that I may get a bit out of practice on, but I'll never forget or want to forget. Know what I mean? You can guess I'm sure.
Now I'm going to answer some more letters. I had seen the piece in the Gazette about Dr Wildrom getting hurt but I didn't know he had been sent home. The Gazette gets here regularly but it's pretty old. The latest I've got is Aug 11.
Gus is really doing all right, isn't he? Third class P.O. and only been in a short time. That is the equivalent and carries the same pay as mine. Good for him. I imagine his expenses where he is are a lot more than mine where I am now. So far this month after I paid for my beer and cigarettes, I've spent a shilling [16 cents to you]. Cheap living isn't it?
I rather thought you would reconsider not playing bridge with the girls. I know you'd want to. How would you keep up on the dirt and gossip if you didn't? You know I'm not very good at playing newspaper. I don't remember that I ever made a special effort to stay awake until you came home and I'm making no promise to that effect now. I'm very apt to be a sleepy head after this army training. Anyhow I think you used to come home early before.
You devil you. You no more than quit teasing me about one surprise and you start in on another. This time a four ounce package that you are sending first class mail. You say I'd better like it but don't mention the penalty if I don't. I'm sure I will anyhow. I like anything you send. I like anything that has anything at all to do with you.
I can see that Jean is in a pickle and no mistake. I don't blame her for wanting to be by herself and yet it's a hard thing with the children. I guess it's another of the miseries of war and can't be helped.
Gosh, honey, do I still have a bottle there? Don't remember. The anniversary would be a good time for you to kill it. Did you? I surely couldn't drink a toast of anything stronger than tea or coffee to you on that day. I was way up in the mountains at that time. Some different than four years ago when we were in the mountains. Didn't need anything to drink then to make things rosy, did we?
Speaking of a bottle. If I had that bottle of liqueur here, I bet it would surprise you the price I could easily get for it. Fifteen pounds would be easy. That's $48.00. Think of it. Some of the boys will pay any price for anything alcoholic to drink. There is some bootleg stuff made here by some of the G.I.'s. Called "jungle juice" cause it's made in hidden stills in the jungle. It must be about 150 proof and probably rubbing alcohol or something similar. Anyhow the fools that get drunk on it, really get drunk and boy, do they have a hangover. Remember that raw corn that Gus gave Harry one night and he nearly exploded when he drank it? Well I had a taste of this stuff one night and that corn is soda pop in comparison. I only had one swallow and it took me five minutes of gasping and washing with water before I could get so I could talk. A couple hours later I could still feel a hot spot in my stomach. I'm cured until I get back to civilization. Even such stuff sells for six to ten dollars a quart. Guess I'll turn bootlegger and make me a future.
As far as I can see you are a long ways from loosing your grip, as you put it. I think you're doing a very splendid job. So good, in fact, that I don't see what good I ever was to you in any way except loving. Even there you could find a lot of very good substitutes. Don't ever get the idea that I'm not coming back though. I need you even if you don't really need me. I love you and I'm sticking to you plenty tight under any conditions. Anyhow I'm very proud of the way you are carrying on in a hard situation. So there too. I have never doubted for a long time that you can and will keep things going for us. Think I'll let you keep on after I come home. How about it, honey?
I'm very glad that you like your library job so much. Too bad you couldn't have had it last year and saved yourself a lot of dissatisfaction. You can remember some of the spicy books and pass them on to me, but not when I'm old and infirm, you devil. I'm not going to be that way for a long, long time and you darn well know it. If you don't I'll be plenty ready to prove it and maybe make you say, uncle, even. What do you think of that? Oh, well, honey, I don't care what you say I'm so in love with you I can't even tease you back.
Go to it, honey, if you can pull a deal like getting the weeds mowed that easily. That would be a simple fast way of doing it.
OK, honey, I won't say another word about your leg picture. I was only teasing you anyhow. I like any picture of yours and you know it.
I guess I must have written a "blue" letter or something to get this pep letter you you wrote. I didn't mean to and I usually am holding my morale in good shape and will. I'm only wanting to get back to you so much it hurts. Then, it can be taken more than one way too.
I'm sorry to hear about the "eyesore" across the road. I was hoping they would at least be presentable. Maybe they will be yet. I hope. Anyhow we can shut them off and only see it when we come and go. Leaving our wood in front was a good move I guess.
I've gotten to your letter of Aug 29 where you say you'd as soon I didn't get into the interior. Guess it's kind of too late for that now. I got back before I got your letter and anyhow I don't believe I'd have let your reluctance influence me much. I just had to do it. The old itchy foot you know. The opportunity and really no reason why I shouldn't. I'm very glad I did go and you probably will be too when you hear the whole story. Anyhow the army says you have a right to be proud of me for taking one of the stiffest imaginable physical and guts endurance tests the army has ever put out. I came out with a very excellent rating, in fact one of the few that got the highest rating given. I also had the honor, if you can call it that, of being one of the first Americans ever to cross a few of the trails and in fact, except for a few Aussies, the first white men. Almost an explorer now, aren't I ? Does that make you feel better or worse? It's all past history now anyhow. Your picture was with me.
It was safe to tell me about the intriguing aspects of the native dances, cause, like the other, I had already seen one by the time I got your letter. This one wasn't quite as bad as the picture you paint of it. It was held at one of the Missions and I was only there in the day. At night is when they get wild and unrestrained and this one was plenty so, as I found out from a native police boy the next day. He was still a bit tipsy and so worn out, not from dancing either, that he could hardly stay on his feet. Consequently the tracking class he was to teach was a loss. He couldn't even follow a trail in the mud. A preview of my condition the first week or so after I get home.
The dances are very colorful and similar to Indian war dances. They paint themselves all up and wear feather headdresses and colored grasses and all the leg and arm bands they own. The music is all drums which are made in the shape of an hourglass from one piece of wood, hollowed out in the center, of course, and over one end is stretched snakeskin. They beat therm with their hand and the sound, similar to the sound of a cork being quickly pulled from an empty jug, only louder. Can hear it a long way and yet, when close, it doesn't sound loud. There is a definite simple dance step and movements similar to a square dance only the men and women don't dance together. The women stay on the outside and follow the movements back and forth. The men sing a chant all the time. I took a whole roll of pictures of it.
There were hundreds of natives participating. Quite a sight. Quite a smell too. I've found out though, that it's possible to get used to the odor to the extent that I don't notice it. My smeller never was very good anyhow.
Gosh, honey, I've used my quota for today and only scratched the things I have to say. Didn't answer many letters either. Oh well, tomorrow is another day and you'll get another installment of something. When I can talk to you I can really elaborate on all this so you have more than loving coming. Loving comes first though you can bet on that. During breaks I might be able to talk a bit if I can get my mind on the subject. We'll make out somehow over a period of time.
Night, sweetheart. I'm loving and dreaming of you even if I haven't said so very much.
Your hubby.
Norm.
Thursday
Sept. 21, 44.
My sweetheart wife;
No letters today so maybe I'll get a chance to catch up a bit. I sure have a stack of them to answer. Don't be expecting any more two letter days. That's a bit much for me. Lot of writing on two letters. I just wanted to say I had done it at least once anyhow. You seem to be able to do it quite often but you're just that much better than I. I'm not going to try to compete. When it comes to loving I think I can compete favorably. You can't possible love me any more than I love you. That's for sure.
Well, honey, for the first time since I last saw you I spent I spent a day at the old monkey wrench business. Seems pretty strange. Forgot a big part of what I used to know. It's been almost six months and that's a long time to remember such stuff. There are things that I may get a bit out of practice on, but I'll never forget or want to forget. Know what I mean? You can guess I'm sure.
Now I'm going to answer some more letters. I had seen the piece in the Gazette about Dr Wildrom getting hurt but I didn't know he had been sent home. The Gazette gets here regularly but it's pretty old. The latest I've got is Aug 11.
Gus is really doing all right, isn't he? Third class P.O. and only been in a short time. That is the equivalent and carries the same pay as mine. Good for him. I imagine his expenses where he is are a lot more than mine where I am now. So far this month after I paid for my beer and cigarettes, I've spent a shilling [16 cents to you]. Cheap living isn't it?
I rather thought you would reconsider not playing bridge with the girls. I know you'd want to. How would you keep up on the dirt and gossip if you didn't? You know I'm not very good at playing newspaper. I don't remember that I ever made a special effort to stay awake until you came home and I'm making no promise to that effect now. I'm very apt to be a sleepy head after this army training. Anyhow I think you used to come home early before.
You devil you. You no more than quit teasing me about one surprise and you start in on another. This time a four ounce package that you are sending first class mail. You say I'd better like it but don't mention the penalty if I don't. I'm sure I will anyhow. I like anything you send. I like anything that has anything at all to do with you.
I can see that Jean is in a pickle and no mistake. I don't blame her for wanting to be by herself and yet it's a hard thing with the children. I guess it's another of the miseries of war and can't be helped.
Gosh, honey, do I still have a bottle there? Don't remember. The anniversary would be a good time for you to kill it. Did you? I surely couldn't drink a toast of anything stronger than tea or coffee to you on that day. I was way up in the mountains at that time. Some different than four years ago when we were in the mountains. Didn't need anything to drink then to make things rosy, did we?
Speaking of a bottle. If I had that bottle of liqueur here, I bet it would surprise you the price I could easily get for it. Fifteen pounds would be easy. That's $48.00. Think of it. Some of the boys will pay any price for anything alcoholic to drink. There is some bootleg stuff made here by some of the G.I.'s. Called "jungle juice" cause it's made in hidden stills in the jungle. It must be about 150 proof and probably rubbing alcohol or something similar. Anyhow the fools that get drunk on it, really get drunk and boy, do they have a hangover. Remember that raw corn that Gus gave Harry one night and he nearly exploded when he drank it? Well I had a taste of this stuff one night and that corn is soda pop in comparison. I only had one swallow and it took me five minutes of gasping and washing with water before I could get so I could talk. A couple hours later I could still feel a hot spot in my stomach. I'm cured until I get back to civilization. Even such stuff sells for six to ten dollars a quart. Guess I'll turn bootlegger and make me a future.
As far as I can see you are a long ways from loosing your grip, as you put it. I think you're doing a very splendid job. So good, in fact, that I don't see what good I ever was to you in any way except loving. Even there you could find a lot of very good substitutes. Don't ever get the idea that I'm not coming back though. I need you even if you don't really need me. I love you and I'm sticking to you plenty tight under any conditions. Anyhow I'm very proud of the way you are carrying on in a hard situation. So there too. I have never doubted for a long time that you can and will keep things going for us. Think I'll let you keep on after I come home. How about it, honey?
I'm very glad that you like your library job so much. Too bad you couldn't have had it last year and saved yourself a lot of dissatisfaction. You can remember some of the spicy books and pass them on to me, but not when I'm old and infirm, you devil. I'm not going to be that way for a long, long time and you darn well know it. If you don't I'll be plenty ready to prove it and maybe make you say, uncle, even. What do you think of that? Oh, well, honey, I don't care what you say I'm so in love with you I can't even tease you back.
Go to it, honey, if you can pull a deal like getting the weeds mowed that easily. That would be a simple fast way of doing it.
OK, honey, I won't say another word about your leg picture. I was only teasing you anyhow. I like any picture of yours and you know it.
I guess I must have written a "blue" letter or something to get this pep letter you you wrote. I didn't mean to and I usually am holding my morale in good shape and will. I'm only wanting to get back to you so much it hurts. Then, it can be taken more than one way too.
I'm sorry to hear about the "eyesore" across the road. I was hoping they would at least be presentable. Maybe they will be yet. I hope. Anyhow we can shut them off and only see it when we come and go. Leaving our wood in front was a good move I guess.
I've gotten to your letter of Aug 29 where you say you'd as soon I didn't get into the interior. Guess it's kind of too late for that now. I got back before I got your letter and anyhow I don't believe I'd have let your reluctance influence me much. I just had to do it. The old itchy foot you know. The opportunity and really no reason why I shouldn't. I'm very glad I did go and you probably will be too when you hear the whole story. Anyhow the army says you have a right to be proud of me for taking one of the stiffest imaginable physical and guts endurance tests the army has ever put out. I came out with a very excellent rating, in fact one of the few that got the highest rating given. I also had the honor, if you can call it that, of being one of the first Americans ever to cross a few of the trails and in fact, except for a few Aussies, the first white men. Almost an explorer now, aren't I ? Does that make you feel better or worse? It's all past history now anyhow. Your picture was with me.
It was safe to tell me about the intriguing aspects of the native dances, cause, like the other, I had already seen one by the time I got your letter. This one wasn't quite as bad as the picture you paint of it. It was held at one of the Missions and I was only there in the day. At night is when they get wild and unrestrained and this one was plenty so, as I found out from a native police boy the next day. He was still a bit tipsy and so worn out, not from dancing either, that he could hardly stay on his feet. Consequently the tracking class he was to teach was a loss. He couldn't even follow a trail in the mud. A preview of my condition the first week or so after I get home.
The dances are very colorful and similar to Indian war dances. They paint themselves all up and wear feather headdresses and colored grasses and all the leg and arm bands they own. The music is all drums which are made in the shape of an hourglass from one piece of wood, hollowed out in the center, of course, and over one end is stretched snakeskin. They beat therm with their hand and the sound, similar to the sound of a cork being quickly pulled from an empty jug, only louder. Can hear it a long way and yet, when close, it doesn't sound loud. There is a definite simple dance step and movements similar to a square dance only the men and women don't dance together. The women stay on the outside and follow the movements back and forth. The men sing a chant all the time. I took a whole roll of pictures of it.
There were hundreds of natives participating. Quite a sight. Quite a smell too. I've found out though, that it's possible to get used to the odor to the extent that I don't notice it. My smeller never was very good anyhow.
Gosh, honey, I've used my quota for today and only scratched the things I have to say. Didn't answer many letters either. Oh well, tomorrow is another day and you'll get another installment of something. When I can talk to you I can really elaborate on all this so you have more than loving coming. Loving comes first though you can bet on that. During breaks I might be able to talk a bit if I can get my mind on the subject. We'll make out somehow over a period of time.
Night, sweetheart. I'm loving and dreaming of you even if I haven't said so very much.
Your hubby.
Norm.
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Letter # 474 September 20, 1944
New Guinea
Wednesday eve.
Sept. 20, 1944
My delectable, desirable, darling;
I'll have to do a little work on that kind of salutation. It takes more than one word to even come close to what I'd like to say. Oh, hell, I don't even want to have to say it. I want to show you in person what I mean. Anyhow, it all amounts to one thing. I love you. If I can believe the look on your face in this surprise picture, you love me too. I'll say you put your heart in it. Wish I were in reach and you looked at me like that. You'd soon be back in practice again, or else. You're sweet and I love you so much.
At last I'm doing it, honey. Writing two letters in one day. Never thought I'd come to that, but then I never thought I'd love anyone as much as I love you. Great stuff, this love. Makes a man do a lot of things he doesn't expect to.
Seeing as how I won't be able to get all your letters answered for several days I'm going to make this one largely a lesson on N. Guinea. First I want to tell you I'm glad you liked the ring and the card I sent. I really didn't expect you to wear the ring. It's only intended as a keepsake or token but I won't argue if you want to wear it. I'm still mad at some bloody bastard for stealing the first one. It was nicer. It is made from a 32 cent Australian coin no matter how it looks. Hammer, file and polishing cloth are the only tools needed for the job. Hazel hinted for one in a letter I got today. I don't know the size of her fingers as well as I did yours.
I can see you are encouraging me to keep drawing cards. It's a lot of work for a fellow of my ability but I will try another sometime. I rather like to when I can manage the time. Anyhow I'd keep on trying because you seem to like them so much.
I got three more letters today. Sept 8, 9, & 10. I'm glad to hear your revised report on "Jackie". Mom seems to think she is a bit of all right too, only she says if you heard her talking and couldn't see her you'd swear she was black. True southern drawl.
Honey, I'm beginning to believe that your snap judgements on men are a lot more accurate than on women. Anyhow I surely hope your last opinion is the right one. If it's the right girl a man is set for life. Very beautiful life too. I know. I've got the best wife a man could ever have. I love her an awful lot. Always will and I'm happy about it.
Gosh, here I've used up one page gabbing and haven't even started on the lesson. I'll get at it now. While I think of it and just in case you want to do more reading and research on New Guinea here are a few reference books you might be able to get hold of.
"Life of a New Guinea Magistrate" and "Further Adventures of a New Guinea Magistrate". Both by Lionel Monikton. "Papuan Gold" by Louis Lett, and "Mountains, Gold, and Cannibals" by Doris Booth.
Honey, my conception of N. G. has surely undergone a great change. Even after living on the island for three months I had no idea of what it really was like. The more I see of it the more I like it. If it wasn't for the climate I'd really be tempted to try my luck here after the war. That is, of course, if you could also be persuaded to try it. Don't worry. I'm not serious about it. The climate is against my principles.
I had told you before it was a beautiful and appealing country. Well I didn't know half of it then. I've seen a lot of pretty, rugged, and beautiful country in the states but never anything any more beautiful than the sights I saw on this trip. It's really grand.
I wish I really could be an artist and put some of it into picture. I never had any idea that rivers on South Pacific islands could be so beautiful. As we got into the hills we crossed innumerable streams and rivers each as clear, cold, and fast running as in our own mountains. In places I swam in pools that were eight to ten feet deep and so clear each piece of gravel on the bottom could be clearly seen. From the bank the water is a beautiful emerald green in color. Add to that the picture of white water where it rushes over rocky rapids and riffles and banks lined with giant trees, hanging with vines and plants of all sorts and seemingly so thick there is no break in the wall of foliage. Always in the background is the bulk of the forest covered mountains and peaks, part of them hidden by fleecy white clouds and other parts in deep shadow from another cloud, while still another part is in brilliant sunlight. Beautiful! I hope my pictures are good.
Went across small plains covered by kunai grass where the sun beats down mercilessly and not a breath of air moves and then into the jungle again where even the brightest sunlight never penetrates the solid, leafy roof a hundred or more feet overhead and is perpetual twilight. The ground is wet and moss covered and the air is steamy but, at the same time, gratefully cool in comparison to the open plains. On along such thick trails and without warning of any sort, break into a native village. Small clearing of bare ground, usually with coconut and betel nut trees growing for shade and food. Thatched pole huts built entirely without the aid of nails or other modern materials and set on four foot stilts to get away from dampness and reptiles. Little huts, perhaps ten by fifteen feet in size are the home of an impossible number of kids and grownups. Little pile of rocks on the bare pole floor acts as a fireplace for cooking and also for heat. The nights are unbelievably cool. Sometimes cold under two blankets and yet the thermometer wouldn't register less than 68 degrees or 70 degrees. Gourds are used for water pails and utensils. Clothing is practically nil.
The men wear a belt of snakeskin or bark and a loin cloth similar to our own Indians. Numerous arm and leg bands and some with bones piercing ears and nose. The women, in some villages, grass skirts, and in some, only a ribbon for a belt and another ribbon, not more than an inch wide, for a "G" string. That is all and it surely leaves very little to the imagination. In fact, nothing. No wonder they have large numbers of kids. With two or three wives as accessible as that, I'm afraid I'd have a family too.
The natives usually do a small amount of cultivating. Around each village will be a small area of trees and brush but with the stumps still standing and there, the women raise tarro, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, squash, sometimes corn and cucumbers, and watermelons. Then there is usually an area of banana and pawpaw trees, wild. Some of the bananas are like ones we know and others are large, red skinned ones. As large as a foot long and two inches in diameter. The red ones are really good. Best I've ever tasted.
The pawpaw is also a very tasty dish. It's a green colored fruit growing on the trunk of the tree in a cluster and much the size and shape of an eggplant. They turn yellow when ripe and taste like a very excellent muskmellon. The seeds are good for indigestion. Contain a high content of pepsin.
Learned a new way to eat bananas too. Take them green and boil them up in a stew or throw them in the coals, skin and all, and roast them. Not bad either. Fern tips make good spinach if you like spinach.
Two villages we went through are a bit on the wild side and aren't, even now, too safe for a single white man. I went to bed with my gun under my hand too. They looked plenty mean to me. A lot more to that story I'll be able to tell you when I get home.
The life expectancy of these blacks is short, 30 - 40 years at most. Rather small in size. Probably weigh about 150 on an average and about 5' 6" tall at most. They mature very young. At thirteen to fourteen they are mature and take their wives, sometimes one, but usually two or three or even more. [At least two are pregnant most of the time, with the other for a spare. Tough luck for the guy with only one wife.] The women do nearly all the work and you'll see them going up the trail with a big sack of food or something and a couple kids on top of that and the old man coming along behind empty handed. How does that sound to you? Some of the boys thought that would be a good thing. Personally, I'm afraid I'd have a hard time converting you and beside I wouldn't like it at all. I want a wife and partner, not a slave.
The dickering with the natives is rather fun if a man has a bit of Jew in him. They understand a few words of English and we know a few of theirs and the rest is sign language. Ask for bananas or anything to eat and the first answer is no, and then if you persist, out comes green and second rate stuff. Refuse that and then the better stuff comes out and soon you can do a land office business and get almost anything they've got. Razor blades, cigarettes, tobacco, and matches are the best money. One razor blade buys a dozen or more bananas.
Well, honey, there is a very small part of some of the things I saw and learned. I'll give you some more of it from time to time. Saw a big dance and all that goes with it. Plantations, rubber, coffee, and etc. Talks with the Aussies and lots of interesting things. Want to hear about them? Next installment sometime in the future.
Night my sweetheart wife. I'm loving you so much. More and more all the time.
Your lover.
Norm.
Wednesday eve.
Sept. 20, 1944
My delectable, desirable, darling;
I'll have to do a little work on that kind of salutation. It takes more than one word to even come close to what I'd like to say. Oh, hell, I don't even want to have to say it. I want to show you in person what I mean. Anyhow, it all amounts to one thing. I love you. If I can believe the look on your face in this surprise picture, you love me too. I'll say you put your heart in it. Wish I were in reach and you looked at me like that. You'd soon be back in practice again, or else. You're sweet and I love you so much.
At last I'm doing it, honey. Writing two letters in one day. Never thought I'd come to that, but then I never thought I'd love anyone as much as I love you. Great stuff, this love. Makes a man do a lot of things he doesn't expect to.
Seeing as how I won't be able to get all your letters answered for several days I'm going to make this one largely a lesson on N. Guinea. First I want to tell you I'm glad you liked the ring and the card I sent. I really didn't expect you to wear the ring. It's only intended as a keepsake or token but I won't argue if you want to wear it. I'm still mad at some bloody bastard for stealing the first one. It was nicer. It is made from a 32 cent Australian coin no matter how it looks. Hammer, file and polishing cloth are the only tools needed for the job. Hazel hinted for one in a letter I got today. I don't know the size of her fingers as well as I did yours.
I can see you are encouraging me to keep drawing cards. It's a lot of work for a fellow of my ability but I will try another sometime. I rather like to when I can manage the time. Anyhow I'd keep on trying because you seem to like them so much.
I got three more letters today. Sept 8, 9, & 10. I'm glad to hear your revised report on "Jackie". Mom seems to think she is a bit of all right too, only she says if you heard her talking and couldn't see her you'd swear she was black. True southern drawl.
Honey, I'm beginning to believe that your snap judgements on men are a lot more accurate than on women. Anyhow I surely hope your last opinion is the right one. If it's the right girl a man is set for life. Very beautiful life too. I know. I've got the best wife a man could ever have. I love her an awful lot. Always will and I'm happy about it.
Gosh, here I've used up one page gabbing and haven't even started on the lesson. I'll get at it now. While I think of it and just in case you want to do more reading and research on New Guinea here are a few reference books you might be able to get hold of.
"Life of a New Guinea Magistrate" and "Further Adventures of a New Guinea Magistrate". Both by Lionel Monikton. "Papuan Gold" by Louis Lett, and "Mountains, Gold, and Cannibals" by Doris Booth.
Honey, my conception of N. G. has surely undergone a great change. Even after living on the island for three months I had no idea of what it really was like. The more I see of it the more I like it. If it wasn't for the climate I'd really be tempted to try my luck here after the war. That is, of course, if you could also be persuaded to try it. Don't worry. I'm not serious about it. The climate is against my principles.
I had told you before it was a beautiful and appealing country. Well I didn't know half of it then. I've seen a lot of pretty, rugged, and beautiful country in the states but never anything any more beautiful than the sights I saw on this trip. It's really grand.
I wish I really could be an artist and put some of it into picture. I never had any idea that rivers on South Pacific islands could be so beautiful. As we got into the hills we crossed innumerable streams and rivers each as clear, cold, and fast running as in our own mountains. In places I swam in pools that were eight to ten feet deep and so clear each piece of gravel on the bottom could be clearly seen. From the bank the water is a beautiful emerald green in color. Add to that the picture of white water where it rushes over rocky rapids and riffles and banks lined with giant trees, hanging with vines and plants of all sorts and seemingly so thick there is no break in the wall of foliage. Always in the background is the bulk of the forest covered mountains and peaks, part of them hidden by fleecy white clouds and other parts in deep shadow from another cloud, while still another part is in brilliant sunlight. Beautiful! I hope my pictures are good.
Went across small plains covered by kunai grass where the sun beats down mercilessly and not a breath of air moves and then into the jungle again where even the brightest sunlight never penetrates the solid, leafy roof a hundred or more feet overhead and is perpetual twilight. The ground is wet and moss covered and the air is steamy but, at the same time, gratefully cool in comparison to the open plains. On along such thick trails and without warning of any sort, break into a native village. Small clearing of bare ground, usually with coconut and betel nut trees growing for shade and food. Thatched pole huts built entirely without the aid of nails or other modern materials and set on four foot stilts to get away from dampness and reptiles. Little huts, perhaps ten by fifteen feet in size are the home of an impossible number of kids and grownups. Little pile of rocks on the bare pole floor acts as a fireplace for cooking and also for heat. The nights are unbelievably cool. Sometimes cold under two blankets and yet the thermometer wouldn't register less than 68 degrees or 70 degrees. Gourds are used for water pails and utensils. Clothing is practically nil.
The men wear a belt of snakeskin or bark and a loin cloth similar to our own Indians. Numerous arm and leg bands and some with bones piercing ears and nose. The women, in some villages, grass skirts, and in some, only a ribbon for a belt and another ribbon, not more than an inch wide, for a "G" string. That is all and it surely leaves very little to the imagination. In fact, nothing. No wonder they have large numbers of kids. With two or three wives as accessible as that, I'm afraid I'd have a family too.
The natives usually do a small amount of cultivating. Around each village will be a small area of trees and brush but with the stumps still standing and there, the women raise tarro, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, squash, sometimes corn and cucumbers, and watermelons. Then there is usually an area of banana and pawpaw trees, wild. Some of the bananas are like ones we know and others are large, red skinned ones. As large as a foot long and two inches in diameter. The red ones are really good. Best I've ever tasted.
The pawpaw is also a very tasty dish. It's a green colored fruit growing on the trunk of the tree in a cluster and much the size and shape of an eggplant. They turn yellow when ripe and taste like a very excellent muskmellon. The seeds are good for indigestion. Contain a high content of pepsin.
Learned a new way to eat bananas too. Take them green and boil them up in a stew or throw them in the coals, skin and all, and roast them. Not bad either. Fern tips make good spinach if you like spinach.
Two villages we went through are a bit on the wild side and aren't, even now, too safe for a single white man. I went to bed with my gun under my hand too. They looked plenty mean to me. A lot more to that story I'll be able to tell you when I get home.
The life expectancy of these blacks is short, 30 - 40 years at most. Rather small in size. Probably weigh about 150 on an average and about 5' 6" tall at most. They mature very young. At thirteen to fourteen they are mature and take their wives, sometimes one, but usually two or three or even more. [At least two are pregnant most of the time, with the other for a spare. Tough luck for the guy with only one wife.] The women do nearly all the work and you'll see them going up the trail with a big sack of food or something and a couple kids on top of that and the old man coming along behind empty handed. How does that sound to you? Some of the boys thought that would be a good thing. Personally, I'm afraid I'd have a hard time converting you and beside I wouldn't like it at all. I want a wife and partner, not a slave.
The dickering with the natives is rather fun if a man has a bit of Jew in him. They understand a few words of English and we know a few of theirs and the rest is sign language. Ask for bananas or anything to eat and the first answer is no, and then if you persist, out comes green and second rate stuff. Refuse that and then the better stuff comes out and soon you can do a land office business and get almost anything they've got. Razor blades, cigarettes, tobacco, and matches are the best money. One razor blade buys a dozen or more bananas.
Well, honey, there is a very small part of some of the things I saw and learned. I'll give you some more of it from time to time. Saw a big dance and all that goes with it. Plantations, rubber, coffee, and etc. Talks with the Aussies and lots of interesting things. Want to hear about them? Next installment sometime in the future.
Night my sweetheart wife. I'm loving you so much. More and more all the time.
Your lover.
Norm.
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Letter #473 September 20, 1944
New Guinea
Wednesday
Sept. 20, 1944
Hello beautiful and bewitching;
How's my three "B" girl today? I hope now, that the letters are coming again, I am all forgiven for not writing for a while. Even though it was for only fifteen days I know it seemed a long time not to hear from you and I know you felt the same. It's really bad when we can't at least write to each other.
I have just reread and arranged all your letters that were waiting here for me. Nice pile of them and all complete up to the one of Sept 7. That's doing pretty good. I sure enjoyed them a heap. I'm still looking at the picture and loving it a lot. You're beautiful. Really, you are. I love you. I can stand teasing any time for such a nice surprise. You're sweet.
I guess I didn't quite finish about the boxes last night. I'm still working on the cookies but they won't last much longer. You probably think I'm a pig and you may be right, but I excuse myself another way. The ants are so bad it's very hard to keep anything like that around so I eat it before the ants get to it. Is that any excuse? Anyhow it's better than no excuse. They are all very swell. Taste like home. Thanks so much, honey. I seem to remember you saying that Tib had something to do with it. Thank her too.
The map is a good one and will do what I want very nicely. More stationery. I guess I'll never have the excuse that I'm out of paper again. Hell, I don't want an excuse anyhow. I like to write to you. The little waterproof bag is dandy. More cigarettes and funnies too. You sure are taking good care of me, aren't you? You're sweet and I love you so much. Beautiful too.
I also had a package from Mom & Hazel. Candy, tobacco, soap and film. I'm being taken care of, seems like.
I've got six rolls of film I took on the trip ready to send in. Hope they are good. Should be some dandies. It takes about six weeks for them to come back, so maybe by Christmas you'll get them. Long time isn't it? Several of me and my beard and a lot of scenery pictures too. I haven't yet taken the color roll. I took it on the trip but most of the time when I wanted to use it, it was slightly hazy and I was afraid to try without plenty of sun. I'll see about getting some special ones on it yet.
I want to tell you all about the trip but think I'd better catch up on some of your letters. Lots of nice ones to answer. I've got the day off to rest up and clean up equipment. Most of it is going to be spent in writing letters.
I'm relieved to hear that you were able to get a new tire. Seems like you have plenty of pull, getting a grade one tire. I think you're being very well taken care of. What you got, honey? As if I didn't know. Now, if you can manage a couple more of some sort, you should be able to get along.
While I;m thinking about the car: It wouldn't surprise me if it would need a general overhauling to make it run this winter. I guess you can take care of anything that comes up. You have been doing swell and no kidding there at all. That's a score we'll have to settle with Jean.
So you're feeling like a wolf, are you? Well, just keep it up cause I feel worse than that. I guess you
are right, if we carry out all our threats and promises, we'll probably both have to stay in bed or else use each other for support to keep us on our feet. I don't care. It's going to be fun no matter what the result. Ain't it?
Yes, honey, the war news from Europe is very encouraging. Hope it continues and ends as quickly as rumor says it will. Of course that won't mean very much over here immediately, but it sure will speed things up an awful lot. Let her go. The quicker it's over, the quicker I'll be seeing my wife again. That's what I want more than anything in the world.
Gosh, honey, from all the things you've already done, I don't doubt a bit that you would be able to do carpenter work or most anything else on that proposed house of Arts & Margs. I know you can drive the tractor to dig out the basement. You did that once before. Remember? You could get some practice finishing our upstairs first and then go at theirs. There, see, it's all fixed up already. Sound good? Don't worry. We'll get a chance to partly even up some day.
That's the stuff, honey. Keep that "home front" in good shape. I'm itching to get back to it and see for myself.
Sweetheart, you're too much worried about my so called "bad leg." It had nothing at all to do with my not going on the detail with the other boys. They wanted me here to finish some of my carpenter work. I guess you have realized all that since I told you about going to this school. Surely no one with a crippled leg would ever volunteer for anything like that. Not even me. You seem to be under the impression that I'm belittling the truth. I'm not. Remember? We had that all out last fall and I promised to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help me God. I have been too. My bad knee hasn't bothered a bit for a long, long time and didn't on all this march I've just been over. Took it like a veteran all the way. Was one of the first to reach the end of the trail and still under full steam. It was no Sunday afternoon walk either. Your old man may be bald headed but he's still a long way from infirm. You'll find out one of these days. Another promise.
I did see plenty of black women and some not too badly built or very well covered either. They still look black as night though and smell worse. In fact, I think if, as Mom suggested, you did send me a pig, I'd sooner keep the pig for a bed mate than the black or blacks it would buy.
You can tell Mom I appreciate her interest in my welfare but that she can't marry me off to anyone else as easily as that. You're stuck, honey. I won't accept any bait that would give you a chance to get away from me. Not by a little bit. I love you too much.
The dreams you are working so hard to finance sure do sound good to me. However, most of the dreams that I'm dreaming at present don't require much financing. It only takes you and I to fulfill them. I mean you and I together. How about it? No kidding though. I am proud of the bank account you are building up. It's swell and will be plenty handy. I'll try to add another small contribution from time to time.
I'm glad to hear you have your coal now. That's another thing taken care of. I didn't know that Harry had a truck. Where did he get it? Southern Ohio? The price was reasonable enough for these times. Paid nearly that much the last winter I was home.
Ha! I rather got the laugh on you for not getting any mail for some time. When I did get it all your teasing about your surprise was lost, cause the surprise was here too. It was a dandy surprise and no mistake. You devil! I love you.
You were very correct in your estimation of Fairhaven. Happy go lucky and devilish as can be. The sad part is he was killed in a peep accident the day I left for school. Tough break.
Earl Hanson and Oke Hanson are no relation whatever. Never knew the other existed until they met in the army.
Your speaking of our place as being an ideal spot for raising a family reminds me of a story I heard from an Aussie. An English soldier with a large family of about fourteen got on a train and after much trouble succeeded in finding seats for all but himself. An American soldier had been watching the
performance and seeing the Englishman had no place to sit began to laugh. The exasperated Englishman asked what the hell he saw so funny. American replied it tickled him to think how the Englishman had f_____ himself out of a seat.
Me, for a sensible size family by means of birth control not abstinence. Right? You may be having the feeling that it won't be long now but, as for me and the trouble I have with it, it surely must be longer.
So, my wife has come to smiling at strange men, hoping they will be attracted enough to do things like mowing our weeds for her. That's really getting good, honey. It seems to work too. Afraid I made a mistake, telling you so much how irresistible you are. You have gotten to believe it and are putting it into practice so you now have proof of it. I better hurry up and win this war or I'll be loosing me a very perfect wife. When you can get that much for only a smile ---- gosh, you could be a rich girl. I'm wondering who the guy with the mower is. If I find my wife gone I want to know who to haunt.
Well, honey, I haven't gotten very far on your letters yet and this is all I can put in this letter. Maybe I'll pull one of your stunts and write another one yet today. That's no promise cause I've some duty ones to get off. I'll see.
Bye, my darling. I'm loving you even if you do seduce other men to do things for you. You're tops in my book no matter what you do, as long as you call me sweetheart. I love you beautiful.
Your hubby.
Norm.
Wednesday
Sept. 20, 1944
Hello beautiful and bewitching;
How's my three "B" girl today? I hope now, that the letters are coming again, I am all forgiven for not writing for a while. Even though it was for only fifteen days I know it seemed a long time not to hear from you and I know you felt the same. It's really bad when we can't at least write to each other.
I have just reread and arranged all your letters that were waiting here for me. Nice pile of them and all complete up to the one of Sept 7. That's doing pretty good. I sure enjoyed them a heap. I'm still looking at the picture and loving it a lot. You're beautiful. Really, you are. I love you. I can stand teasing any time for such a nice surprise. You're sweet.
I guess I didn't quite finish about the boxes last night. I'm still working on the cookies but they won't last much longer. You probably think I'm a pig and you may be right, but I excuse myself another way. The ants are so bad it's very hard to keep anything like that around so I eat it before the ants get to it. Is that any excuse? Anyhow it's better than no excuse. They are all very swell. Taste like home. Thanks so much, honey. I seem to remember you saying that Tib had something to do with it. Thank her too.
The map is a good one and will do what I want very nicely. More stationery. I guess I'll never have the excuse that I'm out of paper again. Hell, I don't want an excuse anyhow. I like to write to you. The little waterproof bag is dandy. More cigarettes and funnies too. You sure are taking good care of me, aren't you? You're sweet and I love you so much. Beautiful too.
I also had a package from Mom & Hazel. Candy, tobacco, soap and film. I'm being taken care of, seems like.
I've got six rolls of film I took on the trip ready to send in. Hope they are good. Should be some dandies. It takes about six weeks for them to come back, so maybe by Christmas you'll get them. Long time isn't it? Several of me and my beard and a lot of scenery pictures too. I haven't yet taken the color roll. I took it on the trip but most of the time when I wanted to use it, it was slightly hazy and I was afraid to try without plenty of sun. I'll see about getting some special ones on it yet.
I want to tell you all about the trip but think I'd better catch up on some of your letters. Lots of nice ones to answer. I've got the day off to rest up and clean up equipment. Most of it is going to be spent in writing letters.
I'm relieved to hear that you were able to get a new tire. Seems like you have plenty of pull, getting a grade one tire. I think you're being very well taken care of. What you got, honey? As if I didn't know. Now, if you can manage a couple more of some sort, you should be able to get along.
While I;m thinking about the car: It wouldn't surprise me if it would need a general overhauling to make it run this winter. I guess you can take care of anything that comes up. You have been doing swell and no kidding there at all. That's a score we'll have to settle with Jean.
So you're feeling like a wolf, are you? Well, just keep it up cause I feel worse than that. I guess you
are right, if we carry out all our threats and promises, we'll probably both have to stay in bed or else use each other for support to keep us on our feet. I don't care. It's going to be fun no matter what the result. Ain't it?
Yes, honey, the war news from Europe is very encouraging. Hope it continues and ends as quickly as rumor says it will. Of course that won't mean very much over here immediately, but it sure will speed things up an awful lot. Let her go. The quicker it's over, the quicker I'll be seeing my wife again. That's what I want more than anything in the world.
Gosh, honey, from all the things you've already done, I don't doubt a bit that you would be able to do carpenter work or most anything else on that proposed house of Arts & Margs. I know you can drive the tractor to dig out the basement. You did that once before. Remember? You could get some practice finishing our upstairs first and then go at theirs. There, see, it's all fixed up already. Sound good? Don't worry. We'll get a chance to partly even up some day.
That's the stuff, honey. Keep that "home front" in good shape. I'm itching to get back to it and see for myself.
Sweetheart, you're too much worried about my so called "bad leg." It had nothing at all to do with my not going on the detail with the other boys. They wanted me here to finish some of my carpenter work. I guess you have realized all that since I told you about going to this school. Surely no one with a crippled leg would ever volunteer for anything like that. Not even me. You seem to be under the impression that I'm belittling the truth. I'm not. Remember? We had that all out last fall and I promised to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help me God. I have been too. My bad knee hasn't bothered a bit for a long, long time and didn't on all this march I've just been over. Took it like a veteran all the way. Was one of the first to reach the end of the trail and still under full steam. It was no Sunday afternoon walk either. Your old man may be bald headed but he's still a long way from infirm. You'll find out one of these days. Another promise.
I did see plenty of black women and some not too badly built or very well covered either. They still look black as night though and smell worse. In fact, I think if, as Mom suggested, you did send me a pig, I'd sooner keep the pig for a bed mate than the black or blacks it would buy.
You can tell Mom I appreciate her interest in my welfare but that she can't marry me off to anyone else as easily as that. You're stuck, honey. I won't accept any bait that would give you a chance to get away from me. Not by a little bit. I love you too much.
The dreams you are working so hard to finance sure do sound good to me. However, most of the dreams that I'm dreaming at present don't require much financing. It only takes you and I to fulfill them. I mean you and I together. How about it? No kidding though. I am proud of the bank account you are building up. It's swell and will be plenty handy. I'll try to add another small contribution from time to time.
I'm glad to hear you have your coal now. That's another thing taken care of. I didn't know that Harry had a truck. Where did he get it? Southern Ohio? The price was reasonable enough for these times. Paid nearly that much the last winter I was home.
Ha! I rather got the laugh on you for not getting any mail for some time. When I did get it all your teasing about your surprise was lost, cause the surprise was here too. It was a dandy surprise and no mistake. You devil! I love you.
You were very correct in your estimation of Fairhaven. Happy go lucky and devilish as can be. The sad part is he was killed in a peep accident the day I left for school. Tough break.
Earl Hanson and Oke Hanson are no relation whatever. Never knew the other existed until they met in the army.
Your speaking of our place as being an ideal spot for raising a family reminds me of a story I heard from an Aussie. An English soldier with a large family of about fourteen got on a train and after much trouble succeeded in finding seats for all but himself. An American soldier had been watching the
performance and seeing the Englishman had no place to sit began to laugh. The exasperated Englishman asked what the hell he saw so funny. American replied it tickled him to think how the Englishman had f_____ himself out of a seat.
Me, for a sensible size family by means of birth control not abstinence. Right? You may be having the feeling that it won't be long now but, as for me and the trouble I have with it, it surely must be longer.
So, my wife has come to smiling at strange men, hoping they will be attracted enough to do things like mowing our weeds for her. That's really getting good, honey. It seems to work too. Afraid I made a mistake, telling you so much how irresistible you are. You have gotten to believe it and are putting it into practice so you now have proof of it. I better hurry up and win this war or I'll be loosing me a very perfect wife. When you can get that much for only a smile ---- gosh, you could be a rich girl. I'm wondering who the guy with the mower is. If I find my wife gone I want to know who to haunt.
Well, honey, I haven't gotten very far on your letters yet and this is all I can put in this letter. Maybe I'll pull one of your stunts and write another one yet today. That's no promise cause I've some duty ones to get off. I'll see.
Bye, my darling. I'm loving you even if you do seduce other men to do things for you. You're tops in my book no matter what you do, as long as you call me sweetheart. I love you beautiful.
Your hubby.
Norm.
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