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 20 Feb 1945.  Envelope stamped on front, “Passed by Naval Censor,” and initialed by the Censor.]

Feb. 15, 1945

Hello Sweetheart,

     Well, here we go.  I’m off on another letter.  I have a big sheet of paper, I’m writting fairly small, and I have nothing in particular to say.  What will be the outcome?  We’ll see, in another few hours.

     Here it is Thursday morning and I only have one thing to do.  One piece of work, I mean.  I worked last night till after nine getting my work done.  Boy, am I glad I did.  I had five different reports and things to write up and hand in this morning.  I did four of them last night and handed them in this morning.  I got them in just in time.  I wasn’t back in the tent very long until it starts pouring down rain.  It’s still doing a pretty good job of raining.  The fifth report isn’t written up yet.  I have to wait until I get the company commander’s O.K. on it before I do any more work on it.  As yet, he hasn’t ventured out into the rain yet this morning.  All the other officers just came down so maybe he’ll be here soon.  When I get the O.K., I’ll have to leave you for a while and get it fixed up.

     Well, Sweetheart, I didn’t get very far, did I?  He came down, I fixed up the report, and here I am.  Time has passed, I’m afraid.  The next chance I had to write was yesterday afternoon, but I didn’t feel like it.  You’ll get this letter just as soon Sweetheart.  In either case it wouldn’t be censored until tomorrow.  Confusing, isn’t it?  Well, I get guess I could be a little more clear.  You see, this is Sunday.  No mail goes out today.  Mail is picked up at 8:00 in the morning 6 days a week.

     This letter writting business isn’t doing so good.  I don’t get it.  The time just seems to fly by too fast for me.  I write to 2 people. – you and the folks.  I write them every Sunday and you know what you get.  I try to write to you every other day, Sweetheart.  Sometimes it does not work.  But there are at least 2 a week.

     You know how much money we have in the bank, Sweetheart and you know how much it costs you to live.  So you decide about the silverware.  We are going to have it one of the days.  You decide whether it will be now or later.

     I love you Sweetheart.  Didn’t you recommend that I see “Marriage is a Private Affair.”  Well, I say [sic] it the first of last week.  That was quite a picture.  They had their troubles but everything turned out all right in the end.  That’s the way it is with us Sweetheart.  I just hope that most of our troubles along that line are over with.  I’ve had enough of these family troubles.  I‘ll know we’ll be happy in the end just as they were.  We’ll probably have a lot of fights and trouble between now and the end, but everything will turn out all right.  I love you Sweetheart.  You are the only one for me.  I’m waiting over here and I know you’ll be waiting back there.  Don’t ever break that trust I have in you Sweetheart.  I love you with all my heart.  Everything will turn out for the best.  The biggest job is for me to get back to you.  Sweetheart, if it is humanly possible, I’ll be there.  I’ll be there as soon as I possibly can.  Then we can live our lives together.  Just you and me Sweetheart, as we should.  You are what I’m living for, Sweetheart.  You be there waiting and I’ll get back to you, Sweetheart.  I have to.  I love you Sweetheart.

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

                         I love you

A series of short clips from Marriage is a Private Affair (1944), starring Lana Turner: