Letter # 420 July 14, 1944

New Guinea
Fri. eve.
July 14, 1944
My darling wife;
I rated at mail call today.  Three from you, one from Marg, and one from Jim.  Yours were: One from back June 19th and one V-mail and one air mail from June 30.  So there we have the two kinds coming together.  You sure must have been all stirred up that day you first heard.  This makes three letters from the same day.  I bet it was good to hear again.  I know I was sure glad to get your letters.  Even though I don't think much of letters as a means of talking to you, they sure do make you seem a lot closer to me.  Your letters are so much like you most of the time that it seems you can't be far away.  You're sweet darling and gosh, do I love you!  You're my wife.  Remember?  
I'm going to interrupt this now and go see some sort of show they have for us.  Bye, for a while honey.  I'll be missing not having you to hang on to. 
I'm back again.  Saw a negro band that call themselves the "Quarter Master Caravan" .  They were good too.  Most of the members were from orchestras and bands before they came to the army.  Having a picture after the performance but I didn't stay for it.  I wanted to write to Mummy and then go to bed and dream.  The hell of it is:  I never seem to be able to dream of you.  I don't dream of other girls either.  When I do have a dream it's always some very crazy thing I can't even remember in the morning.  I can and do day dream.  Good too. 
Started on a new project today.  We mechanics have our work pretty well in order so today we gathered up a bunch of junk and discarded parts and are building a sawmill.  Going into production in a few days to saw out enough lumber to put wood floors in all our tents.  I'm perfectly satisfied with the dirt floors but I guess they want to keep us busy.  Anyhow, it's a change of work and I always did like that kind. 
I see your letter of the 19th needs some comments, some of which I have already answered.  This is the letter in which you tell of receiving the pictures from Mrs. Clarius.  I had already talked about that last night I believe.  You were probably right about seeing the knife on my belt although it could have been my canteen.  They were both there.  I only saw the pictures for a moment and don't remember much about them.  No, I don't care for any bigger knife.  I never intend to use it for anything but a hunting knife and it's plenty good.  If I ever need a lethal instrument I don't intend to be close enough to use a knife. 
Make up your mind about Brown, will you?  He's a regular man in most ways.  The tall blond fellow you ask about is Pfc. Earl Hanson from Sioux City.  He is the driver of our maintenance half track and helps us in the shop.  I told him you said he looked like Mickey's friend and he says he had been told that some fellow in Nebraska was his double.  I know this friend of Mickey's was from someplace out there.  Would be kind of funny if it was the same fellow.  Hanson isn't as big though, as you say this fellow is.  About the same weight and an inch shorter than I am.  That picture of all the maintenance men was taken the morning we left Polk.  One of them is Gebhardt.  Clarius is more or less attached to us.  Part time as peep or truck driver and helps with the mechanic work.  Are you acquainted now? 
June 26th letter.  You did start that letter rather abruptly and surprisingly.  "J.C. I've been out with a man."  It did surprise me and I wondered who the lucky devil was and then you explained.  I wouldn't care if it had been some other man.  I know it would be innocent and I'd trust you anytime.  Wouldn't even blame you if I couldn't trust you.  If I had all the opportunities you must have, I don't know if I would be so worthy of trust or not.  It isn't hard to resist temptation if it isn't there. 
Don't strain yourself trying to keep up with Steve's estimation of me.  I may be a better looking man physically than I was when I left but as far as really being a better man, I doubt it.  I though I was a pretty good man then.  How about it? 
You say you need a lot of taking care of.  What do you think I need?  We'll have out hands full of taking care of each other.  I need you so much.  Everything I do seems to have the inspiration in you.  That keeps me going and looking forward to the wonderful days coming.  May they be soon.  Bye, sweetheart.  I love you.
your hubby.
Norm.

Letter # 405 June 29, 1944

New Guinea
Thurs. aft.
June 29, 1944
Hello Beautiful;
I mean that too.  Every time I look at your picture, and I do that frequently, I can't help but think you are a damn good looking girl.  I wish I had a picture of you the way you looked that last night in April.  As you have phrased it, you just glowed.  I never thought about it before, but maybe you were glad to get rid of me.  I'm only kidding, honey.  I know you weren't.  You were only being a very brave girl and giving me a good send off.  You did.  I'll remember that as long as I will some of the times I came home.  You were so sweet I had to get away from you fast so I wouldn't be tempted to tell Uncle Sam to go to hell.  I guess I told you how close I came to taking you along at the last minute.  If I had known we would be there as long as we were I would have too.  It's nice to think about but rather useless now that it is all past.  Just another mistake I made. 
There is no mistake about my loving you and that's for sure.  Gee, I'm glad I gothcha.  I wancha all the time.  If you knew how much I miss you, you would have a fair idea of how much I love you.
This letter writing business is going to get tough down here.  There is so little I can tell you.  About all I can do is answer your letters and tell you I love you.  Write a lot of things I can comment on or I'll have to resort to some naughty letters and that might embarrass someone. 
You mentioned seeing Lt. Slack's name on the censor stamp.  I don't think I told you before.  He is from Cleveland.  Rocky River Drive.  He is quite well acquainted with the Medina area and occasionally we have a talk about places and things.  When I worked for Stevens I used to peddle eggs past their place. 
We are on a schedule now that gives us quite a lot of time off so a-swimming we will go.  We have an outdoor picture show three nights a week and that comprises most of the things we do.  Last night was the first I had gone to the show.  It was slightly reminiscent of the old days when we went either to Creston or North Randall to the shows.  If it rained then it didn't make much difference but it rained us out last night in the middle of the show.  It was "It Happened Tomorrow".  I don't know if it was old or new.  Never heard of it before. 
Sweetheart, I don't care how "stale or cobwebby" my hoard of sugar gets.  It will always be good.  Beside, it won't stay stale long.  I bring home some stale stuff too. 
If. as you say, I'm sadly disillusioned about you being beautiful, I'm going to stay that way.  To me you are the "best looker" in all ways and all over, I have ever seen.  I've done a lot of looking as you well know, so my opinion should have some value. 
Anyhow, and regardless, I'm in love with you and getting deeper and deeper all the time.  You're a peach and no fooling.  Bye now darling.  I'm loving your picture, for want and lack of the real thing.  I love you.
your hubby.
Norm.