Spitball Army

[Written to Alice in Frankfort, Indiana.  “Frankfort” crossed out in pencil and replaced with “Attica.”  Return addressed: Richard, Co. G, 2nd Bn., 1st Mar., c/o F.P.O., San Francisco, Calif.  Postmarked at U.S. Navy, on 7 Feb 1945, and at Frankfort, Ind. on 15 Feb 1945, 11 A.M.  Envelope stamped on front, “Passed by Naval Censor,” and initialed by the Censor.]

Feb. 6, 1945

Hello Sweetheart,

     Yesterday’s mail was very good to me.  I received 3 very nice letters, all from you.  I hope today’s mail is half as good.  I love you, Sweetheart.  Those were very nice letters.  I could stand more of them.  You feel the same way, don’t you?  I’m trying, if that helps any.  I love you with all my heart and I want to make you as happy as I possibly can.  The only way I can do that at the present is by writting.  I’ll do my best in that way, Sweetheart.  Don’t expect too much though.  I’ll write every chance I get.

     You’d better get some more yarn.  You’re going to have trouble mending 3 sox I’m afraid.  It has been quite a while since I last saw you, but you’d better not have changed that much.  Two sox are enough to wear at one time.  It sounds like you have some other troubles to help you along.  The buttoned affair is what I’m referring to.  You’d better not let me hear of you going without just cause you don’t trust a button.  Even trusting a button is better than nothing.  Also – you’d better not let me catch you without.  Who knows – what might happen!  Sweetheart, if I could only see you and be with you.  I love you so much.  It will be hard for both of us, but I’ll take care of this end of the line.  I’ll be waiting for you.  You’ll have to take care of that end.  i though I would never go to sleep last night.  I lay awake for at least 2 hours after taps just thinking and dreaming of you.  I hated to go to sleep.  We’ll be very happy when we can actually be together.  We won’t have to dream or imagine.  We’ll be together.  I hope it will be soon, but nobody knows.  Those that do know wh won’t tell so they might as well not know for all the good it is doing us.

     I had slight interruption, but he’s gone now.  Give “Pete” and Harold my congratulations and best wishes.  I’m afraid they are going to have a little trouble unless something is done about their working hours.  I know I sh wouldn’t stand for that.  I don’t think it will work with them very long either.  It’s impossible.

     About this fellow, Mundell, I may be able to see him Monday.  I’m supposed to go get some new glasses; and unless I’m mistaken, that’s where I’ll have to go.  It’s close anyway.  I’ll try to find him if I have a chance.

     I haven’t been to a show for a couple of weeks.  I’m going to go tonight, if I can.  As far as I know now, I’ll be able to.  Something may come up though.  My job as a clerk is different from the rest in the company.  The majority of the company has certain hours in the day to work and the evening is all their own.  There are a lot of times when I’m on the same schedule, but there are other times too.  I’m not over-worried by any means.  I can cite the two extremes.  These are unusual days, of course, not everyday occurance.  One day maybe I’ll actually work 15 minutes.  The rest of the day I just sit around the office and answer the telephone and maybe talk to the Top and Gunnery Sgt.  I can think of one other day when I started work at 7 in the morning and quit at mid-night.  All the time I had off was for eating.  That’s just one day however.  Last night I quit about 5:20.  Chow goes at 5:00 but I made it.  It’s all very unpredictable.  Back to the original subject – I don’t know what the name of the show is to-night.  I’ve heard that it’s pretty good – about the Marines in Australia.  Maybe I can tell you more about it in my next letter.

     You mentioned 2 songs on the Hit Parade.  I’m afraid I’m completely in the dark.  I’ve never heard either one of the songs.  We now have a phonograph in the company.  Right at the present it is playing that NEW song “The Music goes Round and Round.”  Oh well – that’s what happens when you push the middle valve down.  I can recall 2 other records that we have.  I think all I need to do is tell you the name.  You know the rest.  They are “Deep Purple” and “Stardust.”  They are beautiful Sweetheart.  When I hear them, I can’t think of anything but you.  I love you, Sweetheart.

     I have your answer to the letter I wrote telling my state of undress when I read your letter.  I still get a big kick out of that.  Maybe I left it out of my other letter, but I had just returned from a shower when I got your letter.  Don’t wory worry, I don’t run around all over the island in that state.  It wouldn’t make a whole lot of difference though as long as I stayed out of 1 certain area.  The only females of the human race on this island are the 4 Red Cross women.  I’m not interested in them.  I saw them once.  That was too much.

     Sweetheart, you asked me for my advice about a job.  I can give my advice but after all, you are the one that will be doing the work.  I want you to enjoy what you are doing, not just do it because you think you have to.  Try to find a job you will like.  I can think of 2 possibilities.  You may and you may not like them, but here they are.  If you remember some of the things you learned in business school, you could probably get a decent job at Purdue.  I dont’ mean at the Union.  There are plenty of office jobs there.  As to whether there are any open, I don’t know.  You ca might try though.  The offices are all over the place.  Just about every building some.  The Administration building is full of them.  Each Engineering School has their own offices and each department has its own offices.  I’m afraid I would object if you worked in a couple of them though.  Do I have to mention names?  Such as – Vallely, Sidwell, and that Bio teacher.  I don’t like the idea of you clerking in any store.  I don’t think you would like the work either.  Why don’t you ask Dr. Morrison.  Maybe some of his friends and associates would have a decent opening.  His office girl seems to have an ideal set-up.  I think that type of work would be just about the doctor’s orders.  So to speak, of course.  Well, there are my two ideas.  Now it’s up to you.

     Sorry to hear about your Dad.  Tell him to take it easy.  I have a few cigars that I want to repay him when I get back and he had better be there to receive them.  You also might tell him just to try just doing the work he has and not making work to do.

     Talking about all the marriages around there.  Here’s another one.

You probably read about it in the paper, but here is the official announcement.  This is all there was, not another word.  I sent my congratulations.  That should just about end it.  Don’t you think?  Or do you?  The folks tell me they are in California.  H’s 30 day furlough should be over by now.  I don’t know what happens with them next.  Queer, I’m not particularly interested.  That’s the least of my worries.  All I worry about is you.  I love you Sweetheart.  I’m all yours.  Wouldn’t it be nice to have a 30 day furlough?  It would be better than nothing anyway.  Even for that short time.

     Well, Sweetheart, that just about does it for now.

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

[audio:Tommy_Dorsey___The_Music_Goes_Round_and_Round.mp3]
“The Music Goes ‘Round and ‘Round” (1935) by Tommy Dorsey

[audio:Larry_Clinton___Deep_Purple.mp3]
“Deep Purple” (1938) by Larry Clinton, with Bea Wain (vocals)

[audio:Artie_Shaw___Star_Dust_1940.mp3]
“Star Dust” (1940) by Artie Shaw