45) I miss you terribly.---- Sept. 11, 1944

From Betty (Louisville, KY)

Sept. 11, 1944
Monday night

Darling,

Today is the first day I haven’t worked. It’s fun just loafing around, but I’ll probably get tired of it before I start to school. I’m getting a nice rest anyway. I’ll have more time to write now.

Tomorrow night I’m having six girls in for dinner. We used to go around together all the time at Anchorage and I wanted to have us all together once before they went away to school. Get up on all the latest gossip and such.

Your mother has decided that in that picture you sent me of the Jap barge the word that was censored was Guam. You had written on the back- A jap barge somewhere around (censored). Is she right? Are you there now? If you don’t answer these questions I’ll understand that you can’t. We would like to know, though, if you can tell us.

Honey, try to write your parents as often as you can. They kinda like you, you know, and worry when they don’t hear. They realize you’re busy, but still it’s hard to keep from worrying. Even if you just write a couple of lines it helps.

We played records all day or rather this afternoon. They sure bring back memories. Hurry home so we can listen to them together. Look at me telling you to hurry home, as if you wouldn’t have been home long ago if you could have come. Anyway, I miss you terribly.

Horace thinks now that he may get a leave at Christmas. Wouldn’t it be grand if you could come home then?

What’ll we do first when you come home? I know one thing we won’t do—talk about the war. We’ll never talk about it if you don’t want to. Maybe about fifteen years from now you’ll be able to tell your little boy about it – some of it anyway. I can just picture that. He’ll look just like you did when you were a little boy. I know what you looked like too, ‘cause I’ve seen loads of pictures of you when you were little—blonde curls and all.

Don’t mind all this chatter. Just writing what I’m thinking about. What do you think about – I mean about when you come home? What do you want to do? I want you to be very happy. What will make you happy? I’ll do all I can to help. Tell me every thing, Jack, anything I can do.

This is an unusually serious letter for me. I’m just in a serious mood tonight. Excuse it, please.

Will write more soon,

Yours always,
Betty

Notes:

1. Betty worked at her grandfather's jewelry store in downtown Louisville while waiting to begin her first year at the University of Louisville.
2. Horace---Betty's step-father, Horace Allen

44) Writing by candlelight & planning for the future---Sept. 30, 1944

APO 920 = Base H, Biak, Dutch New Guinea- Schouten Islands
Mokmer Airstrip

About 8:30 PM Sept. 30th, 44 

Dearest,

It is a very windy night and I am just stretched out on the floor on a blanket. Figure if I get down low the wind won’t blow out the candles. I will be writing by candle light from now on. I really like to write by candle light anyway. You can write a while then look at the flame flickering & dancing and somehow it makes it seem easier to imagine that you aren’t so far away. Darling I really did sweat out the mail delivery today. Sure like to get letters from you. I was rewarded for my patience with four wonderful letters. (They are still playing records & they are playing “Why Don’t You Do Right”) They were dated Sept 12, 13, 14, 16. I really knew that one of these days I’d get a bunch. Sorry to say you are wrong about the boat. Couldn’t possibly be in a good place like that.

Honey the thing that will make me really happy when I get home is to have you waiting to try out some of that cooking on me. Sure better learn to make French Fried Potatoes & Fried Chicken & Hush puppies. We could begin by throwing a big party and inviting all of the old Anchorage gang we can find.

Then I want to spend hours & hours alone with you just planning the future. “The Future” wonder how many people are thinking about it at this moment. Seems to be the most used phrase of all these days.

Sure hope your Mom is feeling O.K. now. I’m sure she couldn’t stay sick long with a good nurse like you around. If I had a nurse like you I’d be sick all the time. Not too sick but sick enough to have a nurse. Glad your dinner party went off so well. I didn’t like “Christmas Holiday” very much myself. She had better stick to singing or get some other leading man.

That time Bob Hope was here it was very hot and instead of having the show at a sensible time (at night when it is cool) they had it in the after noon. I wouldn’t sit out in that sun for four hours to see all of Hollywood at once. Every hour you spend in this sun just knocks down your health that much more. Get what I mean?

That clipping you sent sure was cute. Clever idea, “Rily”

Sure would like to take you to a football game this fall. Are the leaves on the Maple trees turning yellow and red yet? Swell time of the year, Fall. Sure do like to walk through the woods and kick the leaves out of my way. I would be going squirrel and dove hunting about this time. Ever been hunting and fishing or camping. I really love all three.

What is that book you’re reading about? Is it a new one? Who wrote it? Hope the nuts you sent get here o.k. Sure was swell of you to think of them. I wish I could arrange to have a letter there every morning for you to read when you wake up.

Well darling, I guess I had better close now and write a few lines to the family. Got three letters from them today. (They just played “Star Dust”)

“Remember I Love You” Sweet Dreams

I will be thinking of you constantly till we can be together. I really look forward to that cookin you are going to do for me.

Yours,
Jack

NOTES:
Links to Movie & Songs Jack mentions in this letter----Christmas Holiday 1944 American Film Noir ----- Why Don't You Do Right----- Stardust-----A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening