New Guinea
Wed eve
July 12, 1944
Hello Sweet and lovable;
Gee, honey, I'm as thrilled as you were to hear that you had gotten my first letters. Rather that Mom and Jean had them and were sending them to you. I had been waiting to hear that news. While I was practically sure you would hear by the first, it is a relief to know for sure. Of course they are only the ones written on the boat, but the others should follow closely and now we can talk again. You report all six of the first ones to be V-mail. There should be two or three regular air mail coming along with them.
I interrupted this to go to the show. Rather good. "Ladies Courageous". They had too damn many girls in it. Couldn't get them all straight. It was good and I enjoyed it. I'm like you say, Hurts when I see men with their girls or wives. I sometimes wonder if I want to go, for that reason. Makes me realize how much I'm missing being with you. I know it all the time only the feeling is kind of dormant until stirred up by something like that. I am very easily ignited these days. I'd burst plumb into flame at first sight of you.
Now I guess I can get back to the starting theme of this letter. The way mail comes over here it's hard to tell which is faster. Today I got yours of the 25th. I had the V-mail of the 25th three days ago but on the other hand, I also got an air mail from the 27th and a V-mail from the 30th today. There are still several back ones missing. You can make your own guess from that. For my part, the possible few days difference is more than made up by the air mail letter. It takes so long anyhow that a few more days makes little difference. Whenever there is anything really important I'll use V-mail. Otherwise I think I shall stick to this kind. Neither is private in my case, while in yours, airmail is.
Have I told you that I love you? Well, I do love you so much. I hurt good all over. You're the best wife ever built. I won't retract that statement either.
You also mention the letter from New Iberia. It was kind of funny. I didn't get my mail as soon as her
husband did and he had just finished telling me that his wife had received a very nice letter from Mrs. Effinger, thanking her for the pictures and asking her to write. Then I opened yours and you mention hers. It must have been her reply to your request. Here's more proof that you are a very special kind of person. Mrs. Clarius said she thought you must be a very nice person. You can even impress people by your letters. Is it any wonder I love you? I'm damn lucky some other guy didn't get you first. You're sweet.
Now, here is something else interesting. Remember the fellow I told you about? He had gotten caught using Army gasoline and was restricted because of it at the time he was supposed to get married to the girl he had gotten in trouble. This John Clarius is the fellow, and Mrs. Bonnie Clarius is the girl. They were married three weeks before we left Polk and then they found that no baby was coming. They have no regrets and seem to be very happy about the whole thing. I never met her but I saw her close several times. Tiny thing. Weighs less than 100 I imagine. No shape like I like 'em, but she has a very pretty face. Part French. Mass of pretty black hair, black eyes, and light complexion. That's the girl you are corresponding with. Maybe that will make you a bit more acquainted with her.
You keep on planning on our own special day only you can stop planning on what kind of day it will be. It's beyond plans. Dreaming and anticipating is all that I think necessary. I know what, and you better know the same thing. I just had a bad thought. What if you are - well, you know. That would be bad but only a very temporary disappointment. I'm loving you.
So all the boys seem to be going over. Fred Hazen and Tony. You have a lot of war widows now.
You can keep on telling yourself that I'm alright and will be. Still take more than this little business to keep me away from you a minute longer than necessary. I'll be home one of these days none the worse for wear. I'll need an awful lot of loving and tenderness to chase away all the accumulated loneliness and quite a bit of your cooking to replace the old padding on my carcass. Those little things you know how to handle and will do an efficient and very satisfactory job of it in no time. I'm going to love that transformation. I might even play hard to cure in order to make it take longer than is really necessary. I'm thrilling in anticipation already. Night, sweetheart. I love you and love you.
Your hubby.
Norm.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Letter # 417 July 11, 1944
New Guinea
Tues. eve.
July 11, 1944
My Sweetheart;
Now that I'm working every day all day I don't have so much to write about. I've caught up on all your letters. None again today. I had been very lucky so far and got mail nearly every day. I'm not complaining, honey. I know you are writing all the time. It's only that they either don't hit a plane or they can't get them all sorted all the time. I'll get a pile of them all at once one of these days. I imagine that when they start coming with the new A.P.O. they will come faster. Gosh, I like your letters. They are all I can have of you, sweetheart. I want as much as I can get. You have done such a swell job all this time. You haven't missed writing every day but very few times. That's what I call a record to be proud of. You're sweet. I love you. You even write after being out all evening and should be getting your sleep. Keep it up, honey. I love 'em.
Gosh, honey, it's three months all ready since I last saw you. Time is rolling by but I haven't by any means forgotten that wonderful nine days or that last night when you were so sweet and beautiful. You were too, beautiful. Most beautiful girl I ever looked at. I loved you so much I could hardly talk. I think I spent most of my time looking at you. Acting like a kid with his first case of puppy love. It is my first case of love but it's way out grown the puppy part.
I must be slipping, honey. I've been trying to remember the date when I gave you the rings and I can't be sure. I think it was the 14th of July. Oh I know the year and month. I'm not that bad yet. I think I surprised you with them too. At least I got all the reaction I expected from them. You practically hugged me to death and weren't a bit stingy with the kisses either. Then you had to run up and wake your folks and show them.
Couldn't wait until morning could you? I really didn't expect you to think that much of them. After all, we had been engaged, verbally, for three years. If I had known they meant so much to you I might have given them to you sooner. You made me feel like I had done something real big.
I don't think I ever told you before. I think it was the Christmas before that. I couldn't think of a thing to get for you. We were over at Ed & Betty's and I asked her for a suggestion. The rings were her suggestion, only, of course she said it in a round about way. When I said, "No, not yet." she wouldn't say another word. I guess I was awful slow in a lot of ways, wasn't I? That was before you had thoroughly cracked my hard shell. I hope I have changed a little now. Not so indendant maybe. I know I'm very much dependant on you. Can't even imagine what life would be like without you. Everything I do, think or plan seems to center around you. Gosh it's swell honey. Wonderful feeling to love and be loved. I'm sure glad I gotcha, honey, even if I don't always act like it. I'll act like it for some time when I come home. I'll hang around you so much you'll get sick of seeing me and wish I was back in the army again.
Night again, sweetheart. I don't think I mentioned it but I love you so much.
Your hubby.
Norm.
Tues. eve.
July 11, 1944
My Sweetheart;
Now that I'm working every day all day I don't have so much to write about. I've caught up on all your letters. None again today. I had been very lucky so far and got mail nearly every day. I'm not complaining, honey. I know you are writing all the time. It's only that they either don't hit a plane or they can't get them all sorted all the time. I'll get a pile of them all at once one of these days. I imagine that when they start coming with the new A.P.O. they will come faster. Gosh, I like your letters. They are all I can have of you, sweetheart. I want as much as I can get. You have done such a swell job all this time. You haven't missed writing every day but very few times. That's what I call a record to be proud of. You're sweet. I love you. You even write after being out all evening and should be getting your sleep. Keep it up, honey. I love 'em.
Gosh, honey, it's three months all ready since I last saw you. Time is rolling by but I haven't by any means forgotten that wonderful nine days or that last night when you were so sweet and beautiful. You were too, beautiful. Most beautiful girl I ever looked at. I loved you so much I could hardly talk. I think I spent most of my time looking at you. Acting like a kid with his first case of puppy love. It is my first case of love but it's way out grown the puppy part.
I must be slipping, honey. I've been trying to remember the date when I gave you the rings and I can't be sure. I think it was the 14th of July. Oh I know the year and month. I'm not that bad yet. I think I surprised you with them too. At least I got all the reaction I expected from them. You practically hugged me to death and weren't a bit stingy with the kisses either. Then you had to run up and wake your folks and show them.
Couldn't wait until morning could you? I really didn't expect you to think that much of them. After all, we had been engaged, verbally, for three years. If I had known they meant so much to you I might have given them to you sooner. You made me feel like I had done something real big.
I don't think I ever told you before. I think it was the Christmas before that. I couldn't think of a thing to get for you. We were over at Ed & Betty's and I asked her for a suggestion. The rings were her suggestion, only, of course she said it in a round about way. When I said, "No, not yet." she wouldn't say another word. I guess I was awful slow in a lot of ways, wasn't I? That was before you had thoroughly cracked my hard shell. I hope I have changed a little now. Not so indendant maybe. I know I'm very much dependant on you. Can't even imagine what life would be like without you. Everything I do, think or plan seems to center around you. Gosh it's swell honey. Wonderful feeling to love and be loved. I'm sure glad I gotcha, honey, even if I don't always act like it. I'll act like it for some time when I come home. I'll hang around you so much you'll get sick of seeing me and wish I was back in the army again.
Night again, sweetheart. I don't think I mentioned it but I love you so much.
Your hubby.
Norm.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Letter # 416 July 10, 1944
New Guinea
Monday Eve.
July 10, 1944
My Darling;
This is going to be one of my short notes again. I'm working all day now and then this evening I went to the show. It was "Duberry was a Lady". Good music and darn nice looking girls and that's about all. I never did care much about Red Skelton. Even over here I can't appreciate him.
We have gotten a small generator in action and have a place in the recreation section where we can use a radio. Hanson, one of the boys in our tent, has one he brought with him, so we are now able to get some rebroadcasts from Australia and also some news. Heard Jack Benny last night. The news also sounds encouraging, especially in Europe. I'm hoping and praying it will break soon and I can get back home to you again. I love you, sweetheart.
No letters for a couple days now and I'm all caught up on your letters, finally. I have them all up to the 18th and one as recent as the 25th. I hope you are getting mine in good shape.
Honey, I now have another accomplishment. I've turned artist??? At least I'm trying. Last night I didn't have anything to do so I got out a sheet of V-Mail and tried to design a greeting card. Remember we saw some that fellows had done. Well, I got something, even if not very artistic. I'm going to send it to you anyhow. Remember it's only a first try. I may improve. If I'm going to send you any cards they'll have to be "homemade."
Well honey, this is all for tonight. I'll sty at home tomorrow and try to write a better letter. Night, my darling wife, I love you and miss you like hell.
your hubby.
Norm.
Monday Eve.
July 10, 1944
My Darling;
This is going to be one of my short notes again. I'm working all day now and then this evening I went to the show. It was "Duberry was a Lady". Good music and darn nice looking girls and that's about all. I never did care much about Red Skelton. Even over here I can't appreciate him.
We have gotten a small generator in action and have a place in the recreation section where we can use a radio. Hanson, one of the boys in our tent, has one he brought with him, so we are now able to get some rebroadcasts from Australia and also some news. Heard Jack Benny last night. The news also sounds encouraging, especially in Europe. I'm hoping and praying it will break soon and I can get back home to you again. I love you, sweetheart.
No letters for a couple days now and I'm all caught up on your letters, finally. I have them all up to the 18th and one as recent as the 25th. I hope you are getting mine in good shape.
Honey, I now have another accomplishment. I've turned artist??? At least I'm trying. Last night I didn't have anything to do so I got out a sheet of V-Mail and tried to design a greeting card. Remember we saw some that fellows had done. Well, I got something, even if not very artistic. I'm going to send it to you anyhow. Remember it's only a first try. I may improve. If I'm going to send you any cards they'll have to be "homemade."
Well honey, this is all for tonight. I'll sty at home tomorrow and try to write a better letter. Night, my darling wife, I love you and miss you like hell.
your hubby.
Norm.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Letter # 415 July 9, 1944
New Guinea
Sun. afternoon
July 9, 1944
Hello Sweetness;
How's my lovely today? Sweet and lovable as ever I bet. Wish I could find out by being with you for a while. I love you and miss you so much honey. I'm very well. Just finished all my chores and can spend the rest of the afternoon writing to you and maybe doing a little reading. I had a few books that I hauled off the boat with me. This is the last. It's "Kings Row" by Henry Bellamann. Have you ever read it? If not you might enjoy it. A bit racy in spots. You always liked that kind of book.
This paper is damn poor. It has feathers that catch on the pen point and smear. I stole it so I can't kick.
Worked this morning and up until now this afternoon. I have been doing my laundry. Had quite a lot of it too. I sweat so much I don't like to wear them more than a couple days even if they still look clean. I had five complete sets of suntans and fatigues and lots of socks dirty. I don't wear underclothes anymore [or should I say again] so I save that much washing. I'm not lazy. I don't want any more clothes on than necessary. If it was allowed I think I'd go native and only wear a towel or old feed sack wrapped around the waist. Sure looks comfortable. We are supposed to wear full uniform at all times, even leggings. Only a lot of the time I discard the shirt and that helps a lot. I'm brown as an Indian too. All the excess I put on at home and at Stoneman is gone and I'm like I used to be 10 years ago. You can believe it or not but I now have a 31 inch waist. Aren't I smart? Streamlined again. Don't let that scare you. I'm perfectly all right. Never felt any better, physically in my life. It's impossible for anyone to be active and carry any excess in the tropics. Like I was when you first saw me, almost a year ago in Louisville. Remember? You complained a very little bit about me being bony. I don't think you'll forget and I don't think you minded very much either. Didn't act like it as I remember.
I see in reading over your letter of the 21st that you haven't forgotten much of that grand three weeks. That was only a sample of what is coming for us after this. By sample I only mean it will last so much longer. I'm not braggart enough to mean anything else, although I'm not so sure we won't have a better score this time. The way I feel it could be possible. Then the new Babe and what she seems to have in mind. Well make your own guess and set your own quota. I remember the chair episode, also the bath tub one which wasn't so successful. You're funny but gosh how I love you that way.
You can bet your life I like to remember back to some of those times. The past is all I have to remember and the future to dream about. The present? Well it's kind of a dead period. Only waiting for the day when we can take up that future and make it all as good as the short periods of living we've had in the past year. We will too. I'm confident of that. If I ever kinda forget you can quickly put me straight with a small reference to the army period.
I've been loving you in this letter. Did you feel it? Anyhow, I was and am all the time. Bye, sweetheart. I love you.
Your lover
Norm.
Sun. afternoon
July 9, 1944
Hello Sweetness;
How's my lovely today? Sweet and lovable as ever I bet. Wish I could find out by being with you for a while. I love you and miss you so much honey. I'm very well. Just finished all my chores and can spend the rest of the afternoon writing to you and maybe doing a little reading. I had a few books that I hauled off the boat with me. This is the last. It's "Kings Row" by Henry Bellamann. Have you ever read it? If not you might enjoy it. A bit racy in spots. You always liked that kind of book.
This paper is damn poor. It has feathers that catch on the pen point and smear. I stole it so I can't kick.
Worked this morning and up until now this afternoon. I have been doing my laundry. Had quite a lot of it too. I sweat so much I don't like to wear them more than a couple days even if they still look clean. I had five complete sets of suntans and fatigues and lots of socks dirty. I don't wear underclothes anymore [or should I say again] so I save that much washing. I'm not lazy. I don't want any more clothes on than necessary. If it was allowed I think I'd go native and only wear a towel or old feed sack wrapped around the waist. Sure looks comfortable. We are supposed to wear full uniform at all times, even leggings. Only a lot of the time I discard the shirt and that helps a lot. I'm brown as an Indian too. All the excess I put on at home and at Stoneman is gone and I'm like I used to be 10 years ago. You can believe it or not but I now have a 31 inch waist. Aren't I smart? Streamlined again. Don't let that scare you. I'm perfectly all right. Never felt any better, physically in my life. It's impossible for anyone to be active and carry any excess in the tropics. Like I was when you first saw me, almost a year ago in Louisville. Remember? You complained a very little bit about me being bony. I don't think you'll forget and I don't think you minded very much either. Didn't act like it as I remember.
I see in reading over your letter of the 21st that you haven't forgotten much of that grand three weeks. That was only a sample of what is coming for us after this. By sample I only mean it will last so much longer. I'm not braggart enough to mean anything else, although I'm not so sure we won't have a better score this time. The way I feel it could be possible. Then the new Babe and what she seems to have in mind. Well make your own guess and set your own quota. I remember the chair episode, also the bath tub one which wasn't so successful. You're funny but gosh how I love you that way.
You can bet your life I like to remember back to some of those times. The past is all I have to remember and the future to dream about. The present? Well it's kind of a dead period. Only waiting for the day when we can take up that future and make it all as good as the short periods of living we've had in the past year. We will too. I'm confident of that. If I ever kinda forget you can quickly put me straight with a small reference to the army period.
I've been loving you in this letter. Did you feel it? Anyhow, I was and am all the time. Bye, sweetheart. I love you.
Your lover
Norm.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Letter # 414 July 8, 1944
New Guinea.
Sat. Eve.
July 8, 1944
My Beautiful Wife;
You are so. Don't just grin and think I'm hopelessly disillusioned. I'm not. We have several very nice pin ups in the tent and none of them look any where near as good as you do. You see, your picture is nailed up right alongside of my cot where I can say good night to you every night and good morning every morning and hello sweetheart, in between. Of course the pictures I have of you don't show as much as the pin ups but they could. Even better. Remember the one I sent from Polk that I said reminded me of you? Almost you, only you're better. Well, I have another of the same girl in a slightly different pose that I can look at whenever my mental pictures fade a bit. As if they ever would. I could live to be a hundred and never forget the smallest thing about you. I got it bad, honey. I'm in love with you, for good and always. You'd have the toughest job you ever tackled if you tried to ditch me now. You're mine. Gee, I'm glad I gotcha. I love you.
Got two more letters yesterday, after I had written your letter. The 21st regular mail and the 25 V-mail. That only made one day different on the two letters you wrote on the 21st. For that small difference I'd much rather have the regular mail. It may not be very patriotic but I doubt if my moral would stay as high on V-mail. I like your nice long sweet letters so much. They seem to have a lot more of you about them. You probably know what I mean since you've had all those V-mail I had to write for lack of other paper. Don't be surprised if some of these days you get letters written on the reverse side of yours. If I run out of any other paper I'm going to use them. It would have some good points also. You could see what you had written. If there is a shortage of stamps and envelopes - well then, V-mail I will have to answer. I bought a Pound's worth the other day. 52 of them so I can write a while at least. A pound is $3.20 in American money.
This money gets me and also driving on the left side of the road. If I'm not thinking about it all the time I drift over to the right and then wonder what the hell the guy coming toward me is doing on my side of the road. Hard to teach an old dog new tricks.
Now for your June 15th letter. I guess I commented on it. That's the day Louise first heard from Mick. He was a piker, only writing one letter on the boat. Sounds like he landed in a pretty good spot. He'll probably like it rather well. Sure is a contrast to here but I'm still satisfied to be over here. I believe it is more interesting to me than England would be. Funny aren't I ? The only thing I envy him is the climate. Whenever you do send me a box, Don't forget to fill any extra space with funny papers. That may be a hell of a request but I'll enjoy them almost as much as anything you can send. The candles could be used but don't send them. They would probably be melted and we build our own lights from a tin can, a piece of rope for a wick, and kerosene or gasoline for fuel. We'll always have those items in profusion.
I would appreciate a picture of you once in a while. They are my most prized possessions. That's no shit either. I look at them all the time. I'm proud of those pictures. You're lovely and you're being loved plenty. [by long distance, damn it.]
. June 16 I'm quite surprised by the reduction in real estate tax and also auto insurance. That kind of surprises can keep up all the time. Maybe they make a reduction for pretty war widows.
Sweetheart, if you want to buy bonds with any of our money, go ahead. It's up to you. I kinda like it in the bank also but don't let yourself get called unpatriotic or anything.
I have the bluebird feather and the rosebud tucked in with your "nice looking lady" picture. Hard to believe that they have traveled over 10,000 miles. Good to have a piece of home. Sentimental. Yes, I guess I am. The army will either make a man that way or hard and bitter. I'm getting soft. It isn't all the army's fault. You are doing most of that. No one could be hard and stay that way around you. You're so sweet and soft and beautiful. Gosh, I love you.
Babe, you old devil. You really seem to be set on this Mom & Pop business. It's agreeable to me so I won't be careful any more. You have something coming. That long vacation is really going to be fun. I wish it was starting right now.
Your letters don't sound a bit screwy to me. I like to have you talk as though I were right there. That makes them so much more like you. You're sweet and so are your letters.
All ten of our little spruce were there this spring. I imagine they are covered by weeds. They'll show up. Don't worry about the weeds and briers. I'll take care of them someday.
I don't know if I'm as satisfactory a lover as you, but I do know I'll try my best and with my new Babe, that best may not be too good. We are going to have some very perfect times for years and years. I'm ready and raring to start in where we left off at any time. May it be very soon. Night, Chubbins. I loves you.
Your hubby.
Norm.
Sat. Eve.
July 8, 1944
My Beautiful Wife;
You are so. Don't just grin and think I'm hopelessly disillusioned. I'm not. We have several very nice pin ups in the tent and none of them look any where near as good as you do. You see, your picture is nailed up right alongside of my cot where I can say good night to you every night and good morning every morning and hello sweetheart, in between. Of course the pictures I have of you don't show as much as the pin ups but they could. Even better. Remember the one I sent from Polk that I said reminded me of you? Almost you, only you're better. Well, I have another of the same girl in a slightly different pose that I can look at whenever my mental pictures fade a bit. As if they ever would. I could live to be a hundred and never forget the smallest thing about you. I got it bad, honey. I'm in love with you, for good and always. You'd have the toughest job you ever tackled if you tried to ditch me now. You're mine. Gee, I'm glad I gotcha. I love you.
Got two more letters yesterday, after I had written your letter. The 21st regular mail and the 25 V-mail. That only made one day different on the two letters you wrote on the 21st. For that small difference I'd much rather have the regular mail. It may not be very patriotic but I doubt if my moral would stay as high on V-mail. I like your nice long sweet letters so much. They seem to have a lot more of you about them. You probably know what I mean since you've had all those V-mail I had to write for lack of other paper. Don't be surprised if some of these days you get letters written on the reverse side of yours. If I run out of any other paper I'm going to use them. It would have some good points also. You could see what you had written. If there is a shortage of stamps and envelopes - well then, V-mail I will have to answer. I bought a Pound's worth the other day. 52 of them so I can write a while at least. A pound is $3.20 in American money.
This money gets me and also driving on the left side of the road. If I'm not thinking about it all the time I drift over to the right and then wonder what the hell the guy coming toward me is doing on my side of the road. Hard to teach an old dog new tricks.
Now for your June 15th letter. I guess I commented on it. That's the day Louise first heard from Mick. He was a piker, only writing one letter on the boat. Sounds like he landed in a pretty good spot. He'll probably like it rather well. Sure is a contrast to here but I'm still satisfied to be over here. I believe it is more interesting to me than England would be. Funny aren't I ? The only thing I envy him is the climate. Whenever you do send me a box, Don't forget to fill any extra space with funny papers. That may be a hell of a request but I'll enjoy them almost as much as anything you can send. The candles could be used but don't send them. They would probably be melted and we build our own lights from a tin can, a piece of rope for a wick, and kerosene or gasoline for fuel. We'll always have those items in profusion.
I would appreciate a picture of you once in a while. They are my most prized possessions. That's no shit either. I look at them all the time. I'm proud of those pictures. You're lovely and you're being loved plenty. [by long distance, damn it.]
. June 16 I'm quite surprised by the reduction in real estate tax and also auto insurance. That kind of surprises can keep up all the time. Maybe they make a reduction for pretty war widows.
Sweetheart, if you want to buy bonds with any of our money, go ahead. It's up to you. I kinda like it in the bank also but don't let yourself get called unpatriotic or anything.
I have the bluebird feather and the rosebud tucked in with your "nice looking lady" picture. Hard to believe that they have traveled over 10,000 miles. Good to have a piece of home. Sentimental. Yes, I guess I am. The army will either make a man that way or hard and bitter. I'm getting soft. It isn't all the army's fault. You are doing most of that. No one could be hard and stay that way around you. You're so sweet and soft and beautiful. Gosh, I love you.
Babe, you old devil. You really seem to be set on this Mom & Pop business. It's agreeable to me so I won't be careful any more. You have something coming. That long vacation is really going to be fun. I wish it was starting right now.
Your letters don't sound a bit screwy to me. I like to have you talk as though I were right there. That makes them so much more like you. You're sweet and so are your letters.
All ten of our little spruce were there this spring. I imagine they are covered by weeds. They'll show up. Don't worry about the weeds and briers. I'll take care of them someday.
I don't know if I'm as satisfactory a lover as you, but I do know I'll try my best and with my new Babe, that best may not be too good. We are going to have some very perfect times for years and years. I'm ready and raring to start in where we left off at any time. May it be very soon. Night, Chubbins. I loves you.
Your hubby.
Norm.
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