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

Mar. 23, 1945

Hello Sweetheart,

     I love you.  Right at the present, that’s all I can think of to say.  We are still doing the same thing day in and day out.  With the exception of 3 beer issues in the last month, there hasn’t been much to break the monotony.  These 3 issues of beer were free for some reason (somebody surely slipped up) so I just gave them away and watched the others make fools of themselves.  That’s their business though, not mine.

     Well, we got some mail.  It was very welcome don’t think it wasn’t.  Your letters mean everything to me at the present.  Let’s hope they keep coming.  I’m not worried about you writing but the letters don’t come through very regular at times.  I don’t get the letters in the order that you mail them.

     I didn’t get very far yesterday when I started this, did I?  I was very rudely interrupted.  I’ll see if I can’t finish it this morning.  You know something, I love you more today than I did yesterday.  If this keeps up, God only knows what will happen when I do finally get back to you.  I’ll bet that doesn’t worry you though, does it?  It doesn’t worry me.  I’m just wondering when I will get back.

     Got some more mail last night from my Sweetheart.  Three very nice letters.  One of them (the latest I have received) was dated Mar. 10.  I got a couple others written in Feb.  Right at the present I have about 10 of yours that I haven’t answered yet.  I’m afraid there isn’t much answering to do, but I’ll see.  By the way, how about numbering your letters so I know if I’m getting them in order.  All I can do now is look at the dates.  That doesn’t do me much good though.  I don’t know exactly how often you write.

     Have you done anything about Dad?  Did you go see him or anything?  According to the letters I’ve been getting from Mother, he still a long way from being ready to get out of bed.  The last I heard was a letter written on Mar. 12.  It seems that with all the time that Dad has with nothing he can do, he has been doing a lot of thinking.  One thing that had him wondering was on which day you celebrated you birthday this year.  In his condition, I guess it rather worried him.  He seems to have a good day then a bad one.  I don’t know of anything I can do.  I’m just waiting for the letter to come telling me that it’s all over.  I don’t know whether it’s coming or on the way or whether it won’t come.  I’m expecting it anyway and I’m hoping I’ll be disappointed.  There’s nothing I can do about what happens so far away as Indiana.  If he does go though, I hope a pleasant understanding is obtained between you beforehand.

     I just started to read through your letters to see what I could write about.  The second sentence was as far as I had to go.  You said your watch had stopped and you didn’t know what time it was.  That reminded me of my watch.  What happened to it?  I suppose you got home with it, didn’t you?  Did you take it to a jeweler to get it cleaned up?  It was a very good watch.  If it’s still worth fixing (and I think it is), I’d like to have it fixed up so I could use it when I get back.  Believe it or not, I expect to be there one of these days.  Don’t asked me how long.  I’m just being very optimistic and hoping for all I’m worth.  I wonder just how much I am worth.  Maybe this will determine it for me.  Anyway – I love you Sweetheart.  You are worth more than anything in the world to me.  You are everything.  You aren’t any more anxious to see me than I am to be back with you.  If I could just look at you, touch you, and hold you in my arms.  I don’t want to talk.  I just want to hold you close and kiss you over and over.  I want to express my love by my actions not by a pen.

     I just happened to notice your letters again Sweetheart.  It doesn’t look like I’ll get them answered this time.  I almost got started though.  The mail will be taken up very shortly and this letter is going to be in the group, I hope.  This has turned out to be a pretty long letter, hasn’t it?  Where did I find all those words?  I’m sure I don’t know.  I haven’t written the same thing over and over, have I?  There is only one thing I would intentionally repeat though.  I might as well written write it over and over.  I keep thinking it.  What – – I love you.  I love you with all my heart – – – – with every part of me.  I’m all yours Sweetheart.  I always will be.

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