63) Busy Betty-Studying and Service Work--Dec. 18th, 1944

From Betty (Louisville, KY)

Dec. 18, 1944
Monday afternoon
My darling,

Please forgive me for not writing lately. I have been studying like mad. Unbelievable but true! We had our mid-term exams last week and I really had to study for them.

I got two letters from you last week. The first one was dated Dec. 1st and the second one Nov. 26th. This is the first chance I’ve had to write in over a week.

I’m going out to Nichols Hospital tonight from 7 to 9. I really feel like I’m doing some good when I go out there. Those boys really appreciate it. The funniest thing is you see a boy all bandaged up and in casts from his head to his feet and you feel so sorry for him. You think he must have been in every major campaign and have the Purple Heart, etc. Then you find he’s gotten drunk and driven his jeep over a cliff. You never can tell.

Wednesday night we’re having a Christmas party and a slumber party out at the house. It should be a lot of fun. I’m going to have to sleep on the floor I know, so I’m going to take plenty of covers.

It has been snowing off and on all day. I hope it’ll save some for Christmas. I like a white Christmas.

We went up to see your family the other night. They’ll be so surprised when they get the presents from you that I bought. I hope they’ll like them. It’s awfully hard to shop for someone else.

I have finally done all of my Christmas shopping. When I had finished yours I felt like I was through, but I hadn’t done any of mine.

Next Friday night I’m going to the hospital at Fort Knox from 2:00 to 4:00. On Christmas Eve I’m going to Nichols again from 2:30 to 4:30. Seems like there’s always something to do. All the girls are coming home from school and it’s really swell to see them all again.

Guess I had better start getting ready to go out to the hospital.

Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. I think, in fact I’m pretty sure, I’m going to make my grades for the mid-term. Our grades come out Wednesday. We have to have a C average. I shouldn’t get any grade below a C, so I’ll make it easily.

I love you very much and always will. Be careful and remember I’m waiting for you.

All my love always,
Betty

NOTES:

Nichols Hospital was a U.S. Army General Hospital. It was located in the south end of Louisville off Manslick Rd just east of the intersection of 7th Street Road and Berry Blvd. and was the biggest hospital in Louisville during WWII.    Click here for photos

62) Wearing the Pi Phi pledge pin--Dec. 4th, 1944

From Betty (Louisville, KY)

Dec. 4, 1944
Monday

My darling,

Just got home from school. I spend all my time out there now. I just love it and I have more fun. There’s always something going on.

Saturday night we played Georgetown. It was really a close basketball game. We only won 99 – 27. I wish they could have gotten one more point.

I had to sell cokes and candy at the game. It wasn’t so bad. We sold everything we had.

Saturday afternoon I went in town and saw Alan Ladd and Loretta Young in “And Now Tomorrow.” 
 It was really good.

I left home about 8:30 Sat. morning and didn’t get back home ‘til 10:30 that night. Anne went out to school with me cause she wanted to see the house. I only had one class. There were several hockey games and we watched those awhile. We ate lunch and she went in town. I waited ‘til about 1:30 for a friend of mine who was playing hockey. Then we went in to the show. She had to go home, so I went out to the Service Club for awhile. Those boys out there just like to have somebody to talk to. A group from school goes down every Sat. afternoon from 3 to 6. I went from there out to the game.

I’ve got a terrible cold. I think it’s from tearing around from building to building in the rain and snow. It has been awfully cold here lately.

I studied yesterday. Believe it our not! I do study once in a while. Not often, though. I have too much fun. All I care about is to get a C average so I can be initiated next term. Who knows, maybe the next time I see you, I might be wearing a golden arrow with pearls. I hope so. Now, I’m wearing a pledge pin which is the head of an arrow. Pi Phi is the most wonderful sorority in the country. I really love it.

Can’t think of anymore news. You write the sweetest letters honey. Wish I could express in words the way I feel, but I guess you already know. I love you very much.

All my love,

Betty

R. I. L. Y.

NOTES:

1. And Now Tomorrow---1944 film based on a novel by Rachel Field.  Wiki Link to article about the film
2. Pi Phi Pledge Pin---
3. "The House"--- When Betty talks of her sister wanting to see "the house" she is referring to the Pi Phi House on the U of L campus.  Betty didn't live there, but it was a great place for her to hang out on campus, since she was a commuter student.
4. Louisville Service Club/USO--Located in the former Columbia Auditorium at 824 Fourth Street.  The building was purchased by the city of Louisville in 1940 to be used as a soldier's recreation center.  The city leased the auditorium to the recreation committee to operate.  At the time it opened in March 1941 it was the only one of its kind in the country and became a model for other clubs that began to open after the start of WWII.  This was a place for entertainment and provided a place for soldiers to stay on weekend leave.  Young local women volunteered to be hostesses at the regular Friday night dances and the girls were  carefully screened.  Each week 1000 girls would travel by bus to Ft. Knox dances, setting out from the service club and delivered back there in the evening.  The building is now the Spalding University Center.