Saturday, September 24, 2016
Friday, October 8, 2010
Letter Home 07-21-1944
Friday 2030
07-21-1944
Hello Darling:
You know I got thinking about that letter I wrote you last night, and I kind of wish I hadn’t written it now. I am afraid it might make you think I am unhappy over here.
Such is not the case however. I will admit that I was (and still am not) not happy about George. I think he is going to be OK though, and he is getting sent home, so it does have a wee bit of good in it.
I also am afraid you might worry about something similar happening to me. I hope I can put your mind at rest as to that. Things like that happen rarely, and he had a lot of tough breaks. His trip in the jungle, and operation ect. Besides he is a bit more excitable than I am. Practically always I can manage to enjoy what little there is to enjoy here. And not brood on what there isn’t! Sometimes the lack of mail really gets under my skin, but I tell myself it isn’t anyone’s fault but the mailman’s, and I will eventually get some. So I get by alright.
Our morale got a big boost in the last two days. They got some fresh meat, butter, and real eggs! That is the first we have had here in nearly 2 months. We had steaks last night, and again tonight. They were tough, but after all the bull beef we have seen they were still good.
I though of something you might send me darling. I am going to run out of foot powder one of these days, and I would like another can of that Geminol. In this hot climate our feet catch the devil, and we have to just try using plenty of powder on them every day.
I don’t know if I told you that we are getting plenty of cigarettes now free, so you need not waste money on sending them to me. I’d still like an occasional cigar though.
We went out on a strafing mission the other day. Four of us were on alert all afternoon, and a transport pilot came in to tell us about seeing some Japs crossing a river not far from here. So we hopped over to see if we could find them. We did not see anything. You can’t see an inch into that thick jungle from the air. Just on general principal we strafed the area around where they had been seen though. Probably didn’t do any good, but it was fun shooting.
I can’t think of much to say other than this little bit honey. Except to remind you that I am very much in love with my little Edie. Always and all ways1
Love George?
07-21-1944
Hello Darling:
You know I got thinking about that letter I wrote you last night, and I kind of wish I hadn’t written it now. I am afraid it might make you think I am unhappy over here.
Such is not the case however. I will admit that I was (and still am not) not happy about George. I think he is going to be OK though, and he is getting sent home, so it does have a wee bit of good in it.
I also am afraid you might worry about something similar happening to me. I hope I can put your mind at rest as to that. Things like that happen rarely, and he had a lot of tough breaks. His trip in the jungle, and operation ect. Besides he is a bit more excitable than I am. Practically always I can manage to enjoy what little there is to enjoy here. And not brood on what there isn’t! Sometimes the lack of mail really gets under my skin, but I tell myself it isn’t anyone’s fault but the mailman’s, and I will eventually get some. So I get by alright.
Our morale got a big boost in the last two days. They got some fresh meat, butter, and real eggs! That is the first we have had here in nearly 2 months. We had steaks last night, and again tonight. They were tough, but after all the bull beef we have seen they were still good.
I though of something you might send me darling. I am going to run out of foot powder one of these days, and I would like another can of that Geminol. In this hot climate our feet catch the devil, and we have to just try using plenty of powder on them every day.
I don’t know if I told you that we are getting plenty of cigarettes now free, so you need not waste money on sending them to me. I’d still like an occasional cigar though.
We went out on a strafing mission the other day. Four of us were on alert all afternoon, and a transport pilot came in to tell us about seeing some Japs crossing a river not far from here. So we hopped over to see if we could find them. We did not see anything. You can’t see an inch into that thick jungle from the air. Just on general principal we strafed the area around where they had been seen though. Probably didn’t do any good, but it was fun shooting.
I can’t think of much to say other than this little bit honey. Except to remind you that I am very much in love with my little Edie. Always and all ways1
Love George?
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Letter Home 07-20-1944
Thursday 2100
07-20-1944
Hello Darling:
I was just not in any mood to write last night, and I still am not tonight. However I guess I will at least say hello anyway.
The reason I fell bad is about George Burgess. He had a nervous breakdown, and I just heard about it yesterday. I guess it happened the day before.
There is one good point about it. He is being sent home. They say he should be OK when he gets out of here. I sure hope so. He was supposed to be evacuated today, but the plane he was going on had a bit of trouble, so I don’t know if he got out today or not. I suppose they will take him to one of the hospitals in the rear area for a while first.
I hope they don’t keep him there long. The best thing for him I think would be to get him out of here entirely as soon as possible. Or sooner! I sure hope he comes out OK on it. He is one good guy.
I don’t know if they notify his folks in a case like that or not, and I don’t know if it would be a good idea either. Just something that would worry them some more. Perhaps it is best to simply let him get home and then tell them he is there. I don’t think I would tell them. By the time he gets home he will no doubt be OK, and they would have worried for nothing.
We still haven’t had any more mail since I got that one letter from you. Sure wish they would bring some in.
Think I will say good night darling. I love you very much – always!
Love George
07-20-1944
Hello Darling:
I was just not in any mood to write last night, and I still am not tonight. However I guess I will at least say hello anyway.
The reason I fell bad is about George Burgess. He had a nervous breakdown, and I just heard about it yesterday. I guess it happened the day before.
There is one good point about it. He is being sent home. They say he should be OK when he gets out of here. I sure hope so. He was supposed to be evacuated today, but the plane he was going on had a bit of trouble, so I don’t know if he got out today or not. I suppose they will take him to one of the hospitals in the rear area for a while first.
I hope they don’t keep him there long. The best thing for him I think would be to get him out of here entirely as soon as possible. Or sooner! I sure hope he comes out OK on it. He is one good guy.
I don’t know if they notify his folks in a case like that or not, and I don’t know if it would be a good idea either. Just something that would worry them some more. Perhaps it is best to simply let him get home and then tell them he is there. I don’t think I would tell them. By the time he gets home he will no doubt be OK, and they would have worried for nothing.
We still haven’t had any more mail since I got that one letter from you. Sure wish they would bring some in.
Think I will say good night darling. I love you very much – always!
Love George
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Letter Home 07-18-1944
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
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
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?
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