Spitball Army

[Written to Alice in Frankfort, Indiana. Return addressed: Richard, Co. G, 2nd Bn., 1st Mar., c/o F.P.O., San Francisco, Calif. Postmarked at U.S. Navy, on 15 Dec 1944, A.M. Envelope stamped on front, “Passed by Naval Censor,” and initialed by the Censor.  The letter appears to have been partially eaten by bugs on the right side of each page.]

Dec. 13, 1944

Hello Sweetheart,

     I received two very nice letters from my wife today.  You should read them.  On second thought, maybe you wouldn’t enjoy them as much as I did.  I guess I’ll have to write one for you to enjoy now.  You do like to hear from me, don’t you?  You better say, “Yes.”

     Let’s see, do I remember who the G———‘s are?  It Isn’t that the family we tried to find in Lafayette and you didn’t know their address?  The son was heavy set, light hair, and wore glasses?  Wasn’t he an electrician?  Or am I thinking of somebody else?  Anyway, it’s too bad about the fire.  Was Dad there?  I imagine he was just as soon as he knew about it and could get there.

     What happened to the football team?  Didn’t they get off to a good start?  I was under the impression that they did.  It doesn’t seem like they are ending up very well though.  Didn’t you get to see the I.U. game?

     Just hold those pickles, I’ll be home as soon as I possibly can, believe me.  I sure would like to have some of them right now.  According to my imagination, they sure do taste good.  My mouth is watering for more.  Or should I say “some?”  That reminds me, Sweetheart.  I love you.  Also, I thought of a few things you could send me.  A couple of flash light batteries would come in [obscured] handy now that I have acquired a flash light.  When the 1st Sgt. went home, he gave his flash light to “Pop” G—–.  And since “Pop” already had one and since we have been paling around quite a bit, he gave me his.  You can’t get hold of regular batteries on the island.  The only thing you can get here is a battery that is used in the field telephone.  They serve the purpose very well; but unless you have very good connections, you can’t get any.  At the [obscured] have the connections.  Another thing, if you want to send me tobacco, send it in the form of cigars in stead of cigarettes.  You can get plenty of cigarettes here, but no cigars.  Maybe that’s why I want them, I don’t know.  They do taste good ever now and then and I’m getting tired of buming them.  Can you take care of that or are cigars as hard for you to get as cigarettes?  The cigars usually get through all right, but the cigarettes [obscured] would.  I’ll have to see how your first package comes through and what’s in it.  Then maybe I can help you out some more on the package situation.  That is if you want to send any (and you had better not take that last statement seriously, I’m only kidding).  As yet, I haven’t received any 2nd Class Mail.  I’m getting the 1st Class pretty good though, I think.  Just about every 4th day I get 2 letters from you and 1 from the folks.  It’s rather amusing as to how they come in three’s.  Guess who’s I read first?  I always read my Sweetheart’s two, of course.  I love you Sweetheart.  Or have I told you that before?  Oh well, it doesn’t matter.  I’ll tell you again.  I love you.

     Oh yes, talking about buddies.  I rather drifted away from they those other two that I had.  I told you about them, didn’t I?  C—– and T—– are their names.  Now one is in another platoon in G Co. and the other is in F Co.  I don’t see much of them any more.  I now have 2 more.  It seems like they come in pairs, doesn’t it?  One is D— [obscured] from Philadelphia.  For a while before he got in the Corps, he worked for Senator Willis and his brother in their Print shop in [obscured] Angola, Ind.  He is the company clerk mail clerk.  I [obscured] him my job, didn’t I?  The other one is Pfc. W—— F—— G—– Sr., better known as “Pop” G—–.  He is company demolitions man, company police sergeant, and platoon sergeant of Hdqs. Plt.  Also, in case you didn’t know, I am in Hdqs. Plt.

     I gather from the way you talked in your letter of Nov. [obscured] that you received the check all right.  You didn’t say so in so many words.  As for the apartment, I’ll leave that up to you, Sweetheart.  You use your judgement about it.  I like the location of the Varsity but I’ve never been inside.  That’s about all the help I can give you.

     It’s practically time for taps, so I’d better say good night.

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