Letter # 420 July 15, 1944

New Guinea
Sat. Eve.
July 15, 1944
Hello Beautiful;
Another letter from my sweetheart again today.  It was an old one June 23.  That leaves only the June 20 letter to complete the series up to and including the 25th.  I also have three dated June 30.  They get here by fits and starts but it isn't so bad.  Only two weeks getting here.  Of course that means a month for a round trip.  A long time to wait for an answer but it could be much worse.  One thing I found out today.  We don't want to use any regular 3 cent mail.  There were sacks of it come in today and all of it was from the last of May and first week of June.  That comes on a boat and takes a lot longer.  None of that stuff for me.  I guess we can stand the expense of air mail stamps.  I have an idea there may be a bunch of papers and magazines in this same bunch of mail.  They haven't been sorted yet.  I haven't had a Gazette for almost two months now.  It'll probably look pretty good. 
I was reading the July 14 issue of Yank.  The "Down Under" publication.  I imagine it is the same as yours.  Billy Batchelder is mentioned in it.  He is still producing plays in Australia.  Gosh he has been over here a long time.  Hope I don't have to stay as long as that.  I'd sure be hurtin.  I want and need my wife too much.  I loves you, sweetheart. 
I got a letter from Jim yesterday.  It was on V-mail and just the way he wrote it.  I'd sure like to know how far he is from here.  He has no A.P.O. so there is nothing to go on to find out.  The letter was six days old by his date.  No postmark. 
We got our sawmill in production today.  It's kind of a crude affair and the lumber isn't very even but it is lumber.  Isn't all the fault of the mill either.  This timber down here isn't much good.  Mostly soft and spongy.  Guess it grows too fast.  Most of it is so full of sap it will hardly float on water.  I've seen the sap run from the stump of a freshly cut tree, actually by the quart.  Run a steady stream.  If maple trees would only do that! 
Now I guess I'll answer the missing letter of the 23rd.  I'm sorry honey, I can't seem to feel you loving me, damn it.  I can dream though and have a very good imagination.  I know how nice and sweet you can be.  Put all those things together and I can get the best possible results.  I'm not very much sold on the results.  I'll be plenty glad when I don't have to use my imagination any more.  I like to have to pinch myself to be sure I'm still in this world.  That's the effect you have on me.  I'm sure it's as near heaven on earth as anything can be. 
You're silly.  Hauling all those old letters of mine along with you.  You don't have to guard them so carefully.  You'll never need them for blackmail or broken promise suit.  If you should loose them it wouldn't be any great loss because I'll be telling you the same things so often you'll get tired of hearing them.  Remember?  I promised to try and keep telling you what I'm thinking and how I feel rather than let you guess from actions.  However, I'm flattered that you think that much of my letters.  What must you think of me!  I think the same of you and more. 
Gosh, honey, you do a lot of worrying about sending me things.  There isn't enough that you can send me that you will ever need to send more than your quota of boxes.  I've told you the things I can use but I'll list them here again.  Smoking tobacco, pipes, cigarette lighters, extra flints and wicks, writing paper, waterproof tobacco pouches, or something similar that I can keep billfold and etc dry.  Ungummed cigarette papers, pocket sharpening stone, and of course, I can always stand to eat some of your candy and cookies.  The soap situation seems to have cleared up so that isn't necessary anymore.  Any film you can get will not go to waste either.  There, now you have something to go on again.
Talking of letters, so you can check.  I missed writing a few days on the boat, maybe five or six.  I don't remember, but since the 20th of June, I have written every day.  If any time I don't write, I'll mention it in the next letter.
Now, I guess it's time to go to bed and do a little daydreaming before I go to sleep.  Isn't much I can do but dream.  As one piece of dough said to the other.  I need a little oven.
Night, sweetheart.  I'm loving you. 
Your doughboy.
Norm.