Tuesday 2130
07-18-1944
Hello Darling:
I am a very lucky, and a very happy kid tonight. I finally got a letter from my lovely wife. I was the only guy in the tent that got one. The other boys haven’t had any yet. I hope this is only the beginning.
I hope by now you are out of the rut you say you were in. Feeling restless and all. Just take it easy honey. This will all be over eventually. I hope soon, but it can’t go on forever. Then we can settle down to our own life together.
Seems as if you are having quite a time with people moving in and out. I imagine having Freddy there will be better than having Patsy though. She will be company for both you and Mom. Also a little less worry for Mom than Patsy was I hope. Can’t picture it being otherwise.
It started to rain rather early last night, and has been raining steadily nearly all day. It finally stopped around 5 this evening. That was a break, because they had a movie tonight. It was a Laurel and Hardy job. Not too good, but it helps kill a little time.
They made an announcement that Jack Benny arrived in New Guinea with a troupe to entertain the boys. He was greeted, they said, by Lanny Ross. I wonder if they will get up here where we are??? There are quite a number of places they could go though, so we won’t be very surprised if they don’t.
I think I will say goodnight now darling. I love you lots and lots. Don’t get too impatient till this is over, and take good care of you for me won’t you? I love you –
Love George
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Letter Home 07-17-1944
Monday 1500
07-17-1944
Hello Darling:
At last we have hopes of getting some mail soon. I finally got one Vmail letter from my sister Mary. Now we at least think they know where we are, so maybe we will be getting some. I sure hope I hear from you soon. I can’t tell you how much I enjoy your letters, nor how much I miss them when I don’t get any.
I saw the mail clerk of the Squadron a little while ago, and aked him if there was any mail, but he said no. Then he asked me if you still used green ink. He remembered it from back in Providence. I don’t know if I told you how Morrison asked about you when I first saw him or not. Anyway he asked how Miss Green was. Do you remember me telling you that is what he called you when we were at Westover living together. Just before we were married. Happy day that was! I sure am a lucky guy.
Stangel and I just got back from having a swim. We lie on the beach more than we swim I think. We just go in and get wet, then lie on the beach taking it easy.
One of the enlisted men just came in the tent with something for Wurtz. He is an operations clerk, and knows all the pilots. He asked me what I hear from Flint, and I said nothing lately. Doggone it! He is from Saginaw.
Well I can’t think of much to say today. It gets kind of hard to write when they mess up our mail so much. This one way traffic gets monotonous to us after an extended period like this.
I hope we have a movie tonight. Even if we have seen if before it is still something to do.
I love you darling very much. Take good care of you for me won’t you? I love you –
Love George
07-17-1944
Hello Darling:
At last we have hopes of getting some mail soon. I finally got one Vmail letter from my sister Mary. Now we at least think they know where we are, so maybe we will be getting some. I sure hope I hear from you soon. I can’t tell you how much I enjoy your letters, nor how much I miss them when I don’t get any.
I saw the mail clerk of the Squadron a little while ago, and aked him if there was any mail, but he said no. Then he asked me if you still used green ink. He remembered it from back in Providence. I don’t know if I told you how Morrison asked about you when I first saw him or not. Anyway he asked how Miss Green was. Do you remember me telling you that is what he called you when we were at Westover living together. Just before we were married. Happy day that was! I sure am a lucky guy.
Stangel and I just got back from having a swim. We lie on the beach more than we swim I think. We just go in and get wet, then lie on the beach taking it easy.
One of the enlisted men just came in the tent with something for Wurtz. He is an operations clerk, and knows all the pilots. He asked me what I hear from Flint, and I said nothing lately. Doggone it! He is from Saginaw.
Well I can’t think of much to say today. It gets kind of hard to write when they mess up our mail so much. This one way traffic gets monotonous to us after an extended period like this.
I hope we have a movie tonight. Even if we have seen if before it is still something to do.
I love you darling very much. Take good care of you for me won’t you? I love you –
Love George
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Letter Home 07-16-1944
Sunday 1630
07-16-1944
Hello Darling:
One of the boys in the other Squadrons got some mail the other day. Yesterday I think it was. That is the first any of us have received, so we are hoping that maybe we can look for some soon. We all have our fingers crossed.
I stopped in the Dentist’s office to get a drink this afternoon, and an enlisted man was reading a letter. He looked up and remarked that it was always the same old stuff. He wrote the same things home every day, and the letters he got were all alike. He seemed griped in a way.
That was his opinion. I don’t know how you feel about getting the same stuff from me all the time, but I certainly enjoy hearing all the little ordinary things that happen to you at home, and your troubles, thoughts, happiness, or what have you. I feel as if I am closer to you then, and sharing everything with you somehow.
They passed a new rule today that we have to keep our tents tidier. The beds have to be made unless you are in them during the day ect. I can’t see where there is much to making up a bed here. All I do is straighten out the blanket a bit.
On the tidiness of the rest of the tent there was room for improvement though. I had an old torn cot that I was in the habit of throwing all my stuff on, so instead of that I built a couple of racks to use today. Helped quite a bit too.
It is almost time to eat, so I think I will say so long for now. I love you very much sweetheart – always and all ways. I love you.
Love George
07-16-1944
Hello Darling:
One of the boys in the other Squadrons got some mail the other day. Yesterday I think it was. That is the first any of us have received, so we are hoping that maybe we can look for some soon. We all have our fingers crossed.
I stopped in the Dentist’s office to get a drink this afternoon, and an enlisted man was reading a letter. He looked up and remarked that it was always the same old stuff. He wrote the same things home every day, and the letters he got were all alike. He seemed griped in a way.
That was his opinion. I don’t know how you feel about getting the same stuff from me all the time, but I certainly enjoy hearing all the little ordinary things that happen to you at home, and your troubles, thoughts, happiness, or what have you. I feel as if I am closer to you then, and sharing everything with you somehow.
They passed a new rule today that we have to keep our tents tidier. The beds have to be made unless you are in them during the day ect. I can’t see where there is much to making up a bed here. All I do is straighten out the blanket a bit.
On the tidiness of the rest of the tent there was room for improvement though. I had an old torn cot that I was in the habit of throwing all my stuff on, so instead of that I built a couple of racks to use today. Helped quite a bit too.
It is almost time to eat, so I think I will say so long for now. I love you very much sweetheart – always and all ways. I love you.
Love George
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Letter Home 07-14-1944
Friday 1800
07-14-1944
Hello Darling:
One of the boys in the tent took a trip over to the mainland today to see about getting some souvenirs. He sure is crazy about that. If he takes home all the stuff he hopes to get he will need two trunks to carry it all.
Anyway he did get a few booklets in Japanese. Evidently they are field manuals. He also got some of the Jap invasion money. There two I am sending you are part of it. They aren’t worth anything. The Japs were going to use them to pay the natives for helping them. I suppose they did use some of it. Maybe that is one of the reasons the natives hate the Japs so much. They certainly don’t have any use for them. They take everything from the natives, but never give them anything in return.
Besides this money I guess I better send you some real stuff that can be used in the good old USA. I don’t know if I will get a chance to go to the finance office tomorrow or not, but if I don’t I will do it as soon as I can. I think I will be able to send you $200.
I got interrupted to go to the show. It was Bob Hope in “They Got Me Covered.” It was old, but I’d never seen it before, so I enjoyed it quite a bit.
Other than to complain of a lack of mail I don’t think there is much more I have to say. I hope we start getting something soon.
I thought of something just now that I would like. A finger nail clipper. Not for my finger nails – for my toe nails. I used to have a nice sharp pair of scissors, but I guess I put them in my foot locker. I got a pair over here and they are big dull things. I used one of the boy’s clippers and it worked OK. So since it is small I though you might be able to send me one.
One of the boys in the mess hall the other day said he had a letter from his mother, and she said that it was no longer necessary to have a request to send packages to officers overseas. I don’t know if it is true, or if it includes enlisted men or not. I meant to tell you before, and let you check up on it, but I forgot it till just now.
I said I could not think of anything, and then wrote another whole page. I certainly ramble along at times don’t I? Now I see I have one more sheet of paper in this pad, so I may as well wrack my brain a bit and ramble some more to use it. I thought the other night I only had one pad left, but I found this one with a few sheets in it, so I still have a pad left.
It doesn’t take any effort to think of how much I love you. I do that all the time every day. I think of you a lot also all the time.
Stangel asked me to something about my drinking at home, and if you drank. It reminded me of the one time I got tight with you. Remember what’s his names party? I know – How could you forget it!
I played a little poker last night. That is the first in quite a while. Not bad though. That’s why I can send you some money. If I am lucky maybe the boys will help build us a hut yet eh? Don’t worry darling I am still careful, and don’t just gamble everything I own whenever I do play.
I love you very much sweetheart. Always and all ways. Deed I do!
Love George?
07-14-1944
Hello Darling:
One of the boys in the tent took a trip over to the mainland today to see about getting some souvenirs. He sure is crazy about that. If he takes home all the stuff he hopes to get he will need two trunks to carry it all.
Anyway he did get a few booklets in Japanese. Evidently they are field manuals. He also got some of the Jap invasion money. There two I am sending you are part of it. They aren’t worth anything. The Japs were going to use them to pay the natives for helping them. I suppose they did use some of it. Maybe that is one of the reasons the natives hate the Japs so much. They certainly don’t have any use for them. They take everything from the natives, but never give them anything in return.
Besides this money I guess I better send you some real stuff that can be used in the good old USA. I don’t know if I will get a chance to go to the finance office tomorrow or not, but if I don’t I will do it as soon as I can. I think I will be able to send you $200.
I got interrupted to go to the show. It was Bob Hope in “They Got Me Covered.” It was old, but I’d never seen it before, so I enjoyed it quite a bit.
Other than to complain of a lack of mail I don’t think there is much more I have to say. I hope we start getting something soon.
I thought of something just now that I would like. A finger nail clipper. Not for my finger nails – for my toe nails. I used to have a nice sharp pair of scissors, but I guess I put them in my foot locker. I got a pair over here and they are big dull things. I used one of the boy’s clippers and it worked OK. So since it is small I though you might be able to send me one.
One of the boys in the mess hall the other day said he had a letter from his mother, and she said that it was no longer necessary to have a request to send packages to officers overseas. I don’t know if it is true, or if it includes enlisted men or not. I meant to tell you before, and let you check up on it, but I forgot it till just now.
I said I could not think of anything, and then wrote another whole page. I certainly ramble along at times don’t I? Now I see I have one more sheet of paper in this pad, so I may as well wrack my brain a bit and ramble some more to use it. I thought the other night I only had one pad left, but I found this one with a few sheets in it, so I still have a pad left.
It doesn’t take any effort to think of how much I love you. I do that all the time every day. I think of you a lot also all the time.
Stangel asked me to something about my drinking at home, and if you drank. It reminded me of the one time I got tight with you. Remember what’s his names party? I know – How could you forget it!
I played a little poker last night. That is the first in quite a while. Not bad though. That’s why I can send you some money. If I am lucky maybe the boys will help build us a hut yet eh? Don’t worry darling I am still careful, and don’t just gamble everything I own whenever I do play.
I love you very much sweetheart. Always and all ways. Deed I do!
Love George?
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Letter Home 07-13-1944
Thursday 1700
07-13-1944
Hello Darling:
I’ve got a few minutes before chow, so I will use it to the best advantage. And what could be better than talking to you. Being with you and talking to you personally instead of in a letter of course would be better I guess. Or rather I know it would.
I got up at 4:30 this morning for a mission, and then did not go. We all went out to the planes, and I couldn’t get mine started.
The boys in the tent here are arguing about how much damage either of them have done to planes since they have been flying. They are really radical about it. I can hardly hear myself think they are hollering accusations at each other so much.
It just changed, and now the argument is about poetry and Shakespeare. What a crew! Never can tell what will come next. Anyway it is a bit of variety.
We went swimming this afternoon. While you are in the water it is nice, but when you get out and start to dry off a bit you feel too sticky. That is the salt water. I prefer some of our lakes back home.
I am at a loss of things to talk about tonight for some reason. However I am never at a loss for one thing to tell you always. That is I love you. Which I do very much indeed.
Love George?
07-13-1944
Hello Darling:
I’ve got a few minutes before chow, so I will use it to the best advantage. And what could be better than talking to you. Being with you and talking to you personally instead of in a letter of course would be better I guess. Or rather I know it would.
I got up at 4:30 this morning for a mission, and then did not go. We all went out to the planes, and I couldn’t get mine started.
The boys in the tent here are arguing about how much damage either of them have done to planes since they have been flying. They are really radical about it. I can hardly hear myself think they are hollering accusations at each other so much.
It just changed, and now the argument is about poetry and Shakespeare. What a crew! Never can tell what will come next. Anyway it is a bit of variety.
We went swimming this afternoon. While you are in the water it is nice, but when you get out and start to dry off a bit you feel too sticky. That is the salt water. I prefer some of our lakes back home.
I am at a loss of things to talk about tonight for some reason. However I am never at a loss for one thing to tell you always. That is I love you. Which I do very much indeed.
Love George?
Monday, July 12, 2010
Letter Home 07-12-1944
Wednesday 1600
07-12-1944
Hello Darling:
Here is a sample of our new money. We just got paid yesterday. I meant to send you this last night, but I forgot it. It is one Guilder, and is worth 53 cents. Since they are only worth half as much as American bills it seems as if we are getting an extra amount when they pay off.
However it should help remind us more of the value of money. When we had Aussie stuff we did not really pay attention to its value. The boys would throw Pound notes and 5 Pound notes around like our dollar bills and five spots.
Actually they would be spending $3 on the Pound, and $15 on the 5 Pounders. With these we can throw a whole handful around, and not spend very much.
Money doesn’t mean much over here though. For example two buck privates from some infantry battalion were around here today that had a Jap rifle and a mortar gun. They wanted to trade them for some whiskey. They would not sell them either. Money was of no use to them. They could not spend it if they had any. They only want something they can use right now.
My stationary supply is running very low. I don’t think they have any in the PX either, so perhaps you could send me some? I don’t know what pads like this would be best. I have plenty of air mail envelopes now. I laid in a supply just in case we hit a spot where we can’t get them.
I’ve been trying to get some laundry for about 4 or 5 days now. They washed it the first day, but ever since it had been wet. Just when it begins to get dry it starts to rain again. Today has been a pretty nice day though, so perhaps I will finally get some clean clothes. I sure need them!
This is the last sheet in this pad. I’ve got one more to last a while longer though. I guess I will quit for now too.
I love you sweetheart lots and lots –
Love George?
07-12-1944
Hello Darling:
Here is a sample of our new money. We just got paid yesterday. I meant to send you this last night, but I forgot it. It is one Guilder, and is worth 53 cents. Since they are only worth half as much as American bills it seems as if we are getting an extra amount when they pay off.
However it should help remind us more of the value of money. When we had Aussie stuff we did not really pay attention to its value. The boys would throw Pound notes and 5 Pound notes around like our dollar bills and five spots.
Actually they would be spending $3 on the Pound, and $15 on the 5 Pounders. With these we can throw a whole handful around, and not spend very much.
Money doesn’t mean much over here though. For example two buck privates from some infantry battalion were around here today that had a Jap rifle and a mortar gun. They wanted to trade them for some whiskey. They would not sell them either. Money was of no use to them. They could not spend it if they had any. They only want something they can use right now.
My stationary supply is running very low. I don’t think they have any in the PX either, so perhaps you could send me some? I don’t know what pads like this would be best. I have plenty of air mail envelopes now. I laid in a supply just in case we hit a spot where we can’t get them.
I’ve been trying to get some laundry for about 4 or 5 days now. They washed it the first day, but ever since it had been wet. Just when it begins to get dry it starts to rain again. Today has been a pretty nice day though, so perhaps I will finally get some clean clothes. I sure need them!
This is the last sheet in this pad. I’ve got one more to last a while longer though. I guess I will quit for now too.
I love you sweetheart lots and lots –
Love George?
Letter Home 07-11-1944
Tuesday 2130
7-11-1944
Hello Darling:
I am soaking wet tonight, so I think I had best get to bed early. We went to the show to see “Johnny Eager”, and it started to rain when it was nearly over. Naturally we had to see how it cam out.
That wasn’t the worst of it though. We were using my sack to sit on at the show, so it is wet too. The bottom half of the air mattress is fairly dry, so I guess I will get by. I put two blankets on it to help absorb what water is on it.
We had a quart of whiskey a few nights ago. George Burgess came over the second night we had it, and the two of us each had one drink apiece out of it. The rest of the boys hadn’t even touched it. Last night George came over again, and we were going to have a drink, only to find the bottle gone. Isn’t that a heck of a note? Someone swiped practically a whole quart on us. Next time we get a hold of a bottle we will sure hide it.
The whiskey is combat whiskey. After each mission all the pilots are supposed to get a shot if they want it. They don’t issue it that way here. Every tent gets a bottle occasionally instead. I guess it is every couple of weeks. So we have to wait a while to get another one.
Someone has a Victrola around here and they are playing a lot of old numbers that remind me of you. I sure hope the day comes soon when we can listen to a few records in the front room together. Maybe if I am not too lazy I might even ask you to dance with me to a couple of them. Would you?
Think I will crawl in my sack now darling. I love you very very much – always!
Love George
7-11-1944
Hello Darling:
I am soaking wet tonight, so I think I had best get to bed early. We went to the show to see “Johnny Eager”, and it started to rain when it was nearly over. Naturally we had to see how it cam out.
That wasn’t the worst of it though. We were using my sack to sit on at the show, so it is wet too. The bottom half of the air mattress is fairly dry, so I guess I will get by. I put two blankets on it to help absorb what water is on it.
We had a quart of whiskey a few nights ago. George Burgess came over the second night we had it, and the two of us each had one drink apiece out of it. The rest of the boys hadn’t even touched it. Last night George came over again, and we were going to have a drink, only to find the bottle gone. Isn’t that a heck of a note? Someone swiped practically a whole quart on us. Next time we get a hold of a bottle we will sure hide it.
The whiskey is combat whiskey. After each mission all the pilots are supposed to get a shot if they want it. They don’t issue it that way here. Every tent gets a bottle occasionally instead. I guess it is every couple of weeks. So we have to wait a while to get another one.
Someone has a Victrola around here and they are playing a lot of old numbers that remind me of you. I sure hope the day comes soon when we can listen to a few records in the front room together. Maybe if I am not too lazy I might even ask you to dance with me to a couple of them. Would you?
Think I will crawl in my sack now darling. I love you very very much – always!
Love George
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