New Guinea
Tues. eve.
Oct. 3, 1944
Hello Lovely;
How's my big beautiful lady tonight? Pretty ornery I bet. So am I. Too bad we can't get together. Be fireworks, huh?
No letters again today and I don't have a thing to talk about so I'm going to work on these letters I have.
Too bad Louise hasn't been hearing from Mickey but that's the way it goes at times like that. She'll probably be hearing one of these days again soon. That is one lesson you may be called upon to remember some day when you don't hear a word for long periods. Over here it is apt to be much longer than there. Most of this area is a long way from civilized as you well know.
Steve has been the supply officer for units of his type. While in Frisco he assembled all the equipment and supplies and sent them off. Over here he is doing the same thing. Seeing that all the equipment for his unit gets to them. Not at all a bad job, huh?
Gosh, honey, you're sure sending a lot of boxes. Ten request ones and some Christmas ones as well. That's a lot of them. I'm not sure but I think I've gotten five of them so far and then the little special boxes beside. You sure are doing your part toward the upkeep of the postal department. Ought to get a wholesale rate soon. I love 'em, sweetheart.
You can return Ida's "Hello" and tell her if the popcorn isn't good she's no friend of mine anymore. I expect she is still the same old Ida [Cannon]. Hasn't changed a bit as long as I can remember her. I bet her sale of cigarettes and hot peppers has gone down since all the boys are gone from the Hardware and Berrys. Have you ever heard any more of Thurston since he went to England? Is he over in France or not? Is Boyd still in La.?
Don't you worry about me getting so much stuff I won't know what to do with it. It doesn't last long here. Live good for a day or so after the boxes come and then a dry spell until the next ones.
I'd better be popular with you. That's where I really want to be popular. It's very nice to have so many friends and they're worth a lot but you come before any or all of them. I love you. That's why. You're the biggest part of my life.
I'm working on a cup of tea from one of the tea balls you sent. I'm getting to be a regular Englishman. I like my tea. It tastes so good down in this climate and in the absence of any other kind of drinks. I make it in cold water and it works good.
While I'm thinking about it, here is the temperature for today. 4 A.M.-72; 6:30-90; 11:00-98; and now, 7:30 P.M.- 85. That's all in the shade, so you see, I wasn't so far wrong on the guesses I made. I seem to be used to it 'cause I can sit down at 98 or more and never sweat a drop. Start moving though, and darn slow at that, and I'm dripping in no time. I surely don't mind it like I did in La. last summer. I feel cold when it gets in the 70's anymore. Maybe when I get back home you won't have so much trouble getting me to keep the fire up to 75 or better as you like it. Might even be easy to talk me into extra covers and a closed bedroom window. Think it possible?
You hadn't told me about changing gas stations. Do as you please, honey. You're running that end and doing a damn good job of it. One is as good as the other these days anyhow. That Shell station is very handy to you so why not? Certainly it's OK by me. Anything you do is OK by me. honey.
No, honey, you can't help my losing weight. You can sure put it back on again though. It's not hurting me a bit. I feel swell and there are no ribs showing or anything like that. It's only the belly that is taking much beating. My waist is the smallest now it has ever been since I've grown up. I just measured 30 1/2 bare. I have never found a scale but I judge I weigh around 165. See, you're bigger than I am these days. I like 'em big and soft like you so don't try to loose too much. Remember that padding. You'll need it 'cause I won't stand for any cushion between us.
Yes, Mummy, I guess we can stand a three or four month period of "no nothing" after all this training but I know darn well I won't like it. I don''t like that kind of vacations, but if we are lucky the results will be worth it, I hope. Don't you dare be one of these girls that put up a "hands off" sign right away 'cause they feel bad. I know all about the medical viewpoint of the subject.
You devil. Sure I like your picture. It's a beautiful picture of the most beautiful girl I know. I'm proud of it and keep you right here where I can see you and love you. Very passively though.
I'm inclined to ask like Melvin does. What have you got that makes people be so nice to you? I know it can't all be because of things I've done or even to be helpful to a war widow. It must be just you. I guess you could be shipwrecked on a savage island and in a few days be queen and have all the natives working for you. Don't forget though, I love you most. It really is swell that people do so many things for us. I say us 'cause when they help you they are helping me as much or more. Be sure and tell them all how much I appreciate their helping hand. Carl, inspects and checks the furnace and you can get along all right, I'm sure. Kindling, from little John to start fires so you are all set there. Art takes care of the car and repairs appliances. Some set up huh? Who's taking care of you personally now?
You are doing a swell job of tying up the boxes, honey. The knots are all in place like you put them. I have to sharpen my knife to get into them. I'm sorry about the blister on your fingers. Send it along and I'll kiss it for you.
You can bet I'm always glad to hear you say you are getting along swell and keeping the old chin well up. I can always tell from your letters but I like reassuring where you are concerned. Like having a priceless jewel put away and looking every so often, just to be absolutely sure it's still there and unharmed. You're the most precious jewel I've got you know. I loves you.
You may write what you have to say to me on paper, when I'm home again, but you won't get away with it. Especially not some of the parts you write. That will take a lot beside pen and ink to be satisfactory. You'll talk to me and love me and like it so there too. Remember the sweet little notes you used to leave when you were running out on me for an evening or something? I do. I got a kick out of them. Usually signed like the bracelet, "Love Babe". Gosh, how I wish you were only out for the evening now. I bet I wouldn't be asleep when you came in either. If you're hurtin so bad, you know how I feel. I'm way past hurtin too. I'm numb from hurtin. It's a numbness that will pass very easily and quickly when I get the proper cure for it. I know where and what the cure is too. When the opportunity presents I'll be looking for a treatment. Night, sweetheart. I love you.
Your dough boy.
Norm.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Monday, November 5, 2012
Letter # 486 October 2, 1944
New Guinea
Monday eve
Oct 2, 1944
Hello Babe darling;
I got another package today. Date on it was Aug. 26. That's good time for that one. I haven't kept track but it seems to me there should be another one or so before that one. This one had a round tin Christmas box with candy, three P.A's, one flat fifty of Chesterfields, a roll of film, a thermometer, a box of peanuts and some more funnies. Bar of soap and those soap papers. They're something new to me, never even heard of them. They might be handy though. Everything was in good shape but the candy. It had all melted and run together. It was plenty good though when I got it separated from the paper. Ate it with a spoon. Only trouble it didn't last long enough. Oh yes, there were some more tea bags too so I can bloody well have my cup o' tea before I retire. Honey, you are doing a grand job of sending me things. So many little things I'd never even think of and yet they help out a lot. You're a very sweet girl and I love you a lot. Smart too.
I did my duty today and voted. So that is out of the way and you won't need to give me any more pep talks on the subject. I never have been one to talk politics and don't think I ever will. It's similar to arguing religion. No end and no proof of anything.
I also sent you a check for $110.00. It'll probably get to you by the end of the month. Now, don't forget, honey. I'd like you to buy yourself a Christmas present at least, if nothing more. At the rate I can save money over here, I'll have more on the way before the first of the year. We'll spend it some day when we can have some fun out of it. That means we'll be together. I can't seem to get nearly as much kick from things when you aren't with me. So help me, honey it's the truth. I'm a lost man without my special woman.
I got another note from Steve today. He talks as though he would be soon on the move north and doubts very much if he'll get in this area again. Oh well, we'll meet again somewhere, maybe the next time at home,
I hope.
He says his drunk wasn't on jungle juice. One taste cured him the same as it did me. He says he still has 20 qts. he brought over with him so I'd say he was well supplied. Would last me a long time. That's for sure. Since we've been married a couple of quarts seemed to last us nearly a year. Don't need alcoholic spirits when I have you. You can make me feel so good. Even float a little.
He was wondering about Claude, if he was still the same as always, and etc. I guess he kinda wanted to see him in the army. That would be wishing a lot on any one.
Leo tells me tonight that he received a cable today, informing him that he is the father of an eight pound son.
His wife and son are both doing nicely and he's pretty tickled about it. Guess I would be too, only I'm still glad we haven't and aren't going to have any until I'm home by you. We better hadn't anyhow or I'll be forced to believe you cheated on me. Don't think for a minute that I'm worried about that. I'm not and never would be under any circumstances. I know my Babe. Love her too. When we have our first offspring
I want to be right there and not 10,000 miles away. It took the cable four days to get here.
I was certain I wouldn't get any letters today and I didn't. Can't get them in fives and get them everyday. I've plenty of them to answer so I'm not hurtin. I'm not as good at writing a nice long letter without one to answer as you are. Still can't talk like you can. 'Course, you're smarter than I am too, and that makes a difference.
Now for the letters: Honey, you would make a swell publicity agent for someone from the sounds of things. You seem to be doing a swell job of spreading my letters around to acquaintances and friends. That's swell, honey. I can't write to all of them and yet, I don't want to be forgotten. Who knows? I might want to go into politics or something like that and need all the old friends I had in and around Medina.
You're developing so many of your latent talents that I'm beginning to believe you'd be a better bacon getter than I could ever be. You're some girl. honey. I'm loving you and very proud of you.
So you have another mouse to trap for now. Being in the basement, I'll bet he came in with the coal or while the coal was being put in. I don't think you ever said if they troubled you upstairs anymore. Do they? Anyhow, I know you can take care of catching them so why am I speculating on it? I'm glad to hear we have a crop of acorns and the squirrels are already coming for them. They're such cute little buggers. Too bad we can't have a crop of acorns every year. Maybe we can figure out a way of feeding them and attracting them on the lean years. If we have better luck than we had with the birds. That's another thing, along with the plans for cribs, bunks, and names, for you to file away for reference. Plans for bird and squirrel feeders. You probably see a lot of such things in your everyday work now. My librarian. I like that. Better than my teacher, I think. My wife, is still the only real title. I love you, sweetheart.
Sept 19. I haven't heard from Jim either. I wrote last. It must have been over six weeks. He has probably moved or been busy or something.
It surely does seem that you or I or both of us do have a lot of really swell friends around home. It takes something like this to really sort them out. I'm going to have a lot of favors to return one of these days.
Gosh, two new first line tires and one other. I guess that should put the old car on her wheels for some time as far as footwear is concerned. I'm glad to hear that Art thinks the old girl will run you through the winter. I had rather doubted it. She is behaving like all our friends. Coming through in swell shape. Everybody and everything seems to want to do things for you I know why too. It's cause you're so sweet and nice to do things for.
Uh Huh, I guess I was nearly correct in my summing up of your picture. I thought you had purposely gone to a lot of trouble to be all fixed up like I like you. No lack of the old personality in that picture. I could sure maul you good if you'd only get within reach. I've seen that look before and it usually netted you a mauling and more and you wanted it too. I do like that picture an awful lot. I love you more than that. Mom mentioned the one you gave her and liked it a lot. You're beautiful. Did you know it?
I have the other package so you can tell me about it now. I like it too. No kidding, honey. I do. Our motor officer complimented me on such a nice identification bracelet today. See, I'm wearing it and others like it too.
I guess I'll call this a letter whether it is or not, and get me some shut eye. I'm a sleepy head these days. Can you believe it? Maybe you'll have to wake me up to get any action from me. Night, sweetheart, I'm loving you so much and missing you like hell.
I forgot to say your thermometer registered 110 in the sun and 102 in the shade. Rather cool day too. Bye, lovely and luscious.
Your hubby.
Norm.
Monday eve
Oct 2, 1944
Hello Babe darling;
I got another package today. Date on it was Aug. 26. That's good time for that one. I haven't kept track but it seems to me there should be another one or so before that one. This one had a round tin Christmas box with candy, three P.A's, one flat fifty of Chesterfields, a roll of film, a thermometer, a box of peanuts and some more funnies. Bar of soap and those soap papers. They're something new to me, never even heard of them. They might be handy though. Everything was in good shape but the candy. It had all melted and run together. It was plenty good though when I got it separated from the paper. Ate it with a spoon. Only trouble it didn't last long enough. Oh yes, there were some more tea bags too so I can bloody well have my cup o' tea before I retire. Honey, you are doing a grand job of sending me things. So many little things I'd never even think of and yet they help out a lot. You're a very sweet girl and I love you a lot. Smart too.
I did my duty today and voted. So that is out of the way and you won't need to give me any more pep talks on the subject. I never have been one to talk politics and don't think I ever will. It's similar to arguing religion. No end and no proof of anything.
I also sent you a check for $110.00. It'll probably get to you by the end of the month. Now, don't forget, honey. I'd like you to buy yourself a Christmas present at least, if nothing more. At the rate I can save money over here, I'll have more on the way before the first of the year. We'll spend it some day when we can have some fun out of it. That means we'll be together. I can't seem to get nearly as much kick from things when you aren't with me. So help me, honey it's the truth. I'm a lost man without my special woman.
I got another note from Steve today. He talks as though he would be soon on the move north and doubts very much if he'll get in this area again. Oh well, we'll meet again somewhere, maybe the next time at home,
I hope.
He says his drunk wasn't on jungle juice. One taste cured him the same as it did me. He says he still has 20 qts. he brought over with him so I'd say he was well supplied. Would last me a long time. That's for sure. Since we've been married a couple of quarts seemed to last us nearly a year. Don't need alcoholic spirits when I have you. You can make me feel so good. Even float a little.
He was wondering about Claude, if he was still the same as always, and etc. I guess he kinda wanted to see him in the army. That would be wishing a lot on any one.
Leo tells me tonight that he received a cable today, informing him that he is the father of an eight pound son.
His wife and son are both doing nicely and he's pretty tickled about it. Guess I would be too, only I'm still glad we haven't and aren't going to have any until I'm home by you. We better hadn't anyhow or I'll be forced to believe you cheated on me. Don't think for a minute that I'm worried about that. I'm not and never would be under any circumstances. I know my Babe. Love her too. When we have our first offspring
I want to be right there and not 10,000 miles away. It took the cable four days to get here.
I was certain I wouldn't get any letters today and I didn't. Can't get them in fives and get them everyday. I've plenty of them to answer so I'm not hurtin. I'm not as good at writing a nice long letter without one to answer as you are. Still can't talk like you can. 'Course, you're smarter than I am too, and that makes a difference.
Now for the letters: Honey, you would make a swell publicity agent for someone from the sounds of things. You seem to be doing a swell job of spreading my letters around to acquaintances and friends. That's swell, honey. I can't write to all of them and yet, I don't want to be forgotten. Who knows? I might want to go into politics or something like that and need all the old friends I had in and around Medina.
You're developing so many of your latent talents that I'm beginning to believe you'd be a better bacon getter than I could ever be. You're some girl. honey. I'm loving you and very proud of you.
So you have another mouse to trap for now. Being in the basement, I'll bet he came in with the coal or while the coal was being put in. I don't think you ever said if they troubled you upstairs anymore. Do they? Anyhow, I know you can take care of catching them so why am I speculating on it? I'm glad to hear we have a crop of acorns and the squirrels are already coming for them. They're such cute little buggers. Too bad we can't have a crop of acorns every year. Maybe we can figure out a way of feeding them and attracting them on the lean years. If we have better luck than we had with the birds. That's another thing, along with the plans for cribs, bunks, and names, for you to file away for reference. Plans for bird and squirrel feeders. You probably see a lot of such things in your everyday work now. My librarian. I like that. Better than my teacher, I think. My wife, is still the only real title. I love you, sweetheart.
Sept 19. I haven't heard from Jim either. I wrote last. It must have been over six weeks. He has probably moved or been busy or something.
It surely does seem that you or I or both of us do have a lot of really swell friends around home. It takes something like this to really sort them out. I'm going to have a lot of favors to return one of these days.
Gosh, two new first line tires and one other. I guess that should put the old car on her wheels for some time as far as footwear is concerned. I'm glad to hear that Art thinks the old girl will run you through the winter. I had rather doubted it. She is behaving like all our friends. Coming through in swell shape. Everybody and everything seems to want to do things for you I know why too. It's cause you're so sweet and nice to do things for.
Uh Huh, I guess I was nearly correct in my summing up of your picture. I thought you had purposely gone to a lot of trouble to be all fixed up like I like you. No lack of the old personality in that picture. I could sure maul you good if you'd only get within reach. I've seen that look before and it usually netted you a mauling and more and you wanted it too. I do like that picture an awful lot. I love you more than that. Mom mentioned the one you gave her and liked it a lot. You're beautiful. Did you know it?
I have the other package so you can tell me about it now. I like it too. No kidding, honey. I do. Our motor officer complimented me on such a nice identification bracelet today. See, I'm wearing it and others like it too.
I guess I'll call this a letter whether it is or not, and get me some shut eye. I'm a sleepy head these days. Can you believe it? Maybe you'll have to wake me up to get any action from me. Night, sweetheart, I'm loving you so much and missing you like hell.
I forgot to say your thermometer registered 110 in the sun and 102 in the shade. Rather cool day too. Bye, lovely and luscious.
Your hubby.
Norm.
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