Spitball Army

[Written to Alice in Frankfort, Indiana. Return addressed: Richard, Plt. 622, R.D.M.C.B., San Diego 41, Calif. Postmarked in San Diego, Calif., on 28 June 1944 at 12:30 PM.]

June 27, 1944

Hi Sweetheart,

     Well, here we go again.  I’ll see if I can answer your questions first.  Then, I’ll write a letter.  O.K.?  I love you.  There’s no question about that.

     You said you couldn’t understand why we had to go to the show.  Well, they don’t want us to get homesick.  So they try to keep us busy all the time.  If they don’t have some wok work for us to do, they make us go to the show.  It’s an open-air theater.  Sometimes they have stage shows, boxing, and movies.  The movies, as far as I’m concerned, are the best.  They are a little old at times, but I haven’t seen any of them before.

     About that literature you mentioned, I have no idea as to what happened to it.  If you had seen me those first two days, you would understand it all.  You know as much about this branch of the service as I do.  Maybe you know more.  I’m just here doing what I’m told.  They even tell us when we have to “go.”

     Don’t ever be afraid that I’ll get tired of you telling me that you love me.  I won’t get tired of it ever.  I love you too, you know.

     Well, that just about takes care of the questions with one exception.  I hate to keep harping about it, but I want to make you understand and I don’t know how to go about it.  I want you to stay in Indiana and wait for me.  DON’T come out here!  Please!  We will need that money later.  Please save it.  I want to spend those few days in Indiana with you.  Please save that money so we can enjoy those few days as much as possible.  I love you, Sweetheart.

     Darn it, I wanted to tell you something about the Range.  That’s where we are now.  (The address is the same.)  I’ve got to move now.  My time is up.  I’ll write you again as soon as I can.

     Goodnight Sweetheart.
          I love you with all my heart.
                    x x
               ‘Nite Sweetheart.
                    Pleasant Dreams.

[Arrow drawn from here back up to the “x x”]  You don’t know how bad I would like to collect those right now.

               Goodnight
                    Sweetheart.

                         I love you
                                   x x