Spitball Army

[Written to Alice in Acton, Indiana.  Return addressed: Richard, Ward 11, U.S.N.H., St. Albans, L.I., N.Y.  Postmarked at Jamaica, N.Y., on 14 Feb 1946 at 1 P.M.]

Feb. 14, 1946

Hello Sweetheart,

     How did you like my super-duper Red Cross special?  I’m afraid that was absolutely all I could get a hold of.  I had no choice.  You’re my sweetheart and I love you very, very much.  Your husband is very much all yours, Sweetheart.

     I had my muscles test or chronaxi or whatever it was.  I’m pretty happy about the whole thing.  It was practically the same that they gave me when I went over to the Medical Center in the city last October.  Dr. Anthony on G-16 made the examination.  Do you remember how large the patch was on my arm where I couldn’t feel the point of a pin?  Well, it isn’t quite 1/3 as big now.  After the doctor was all through, I asked him if he thought an operation was necessary.  He wouldn’t say – that was up to my doctor.  Then I asked him what his tests showed, + How much would naturally come back to normal.  He thought that there was only one nerve effected and that took care of the large muscle in my upper arm.  From the elbow on down should come out of it all right but the only chance of getting the main muscle back is by an operation.

     Now Anderson has put the operation off until next week.  The last time he looked at it was Monday and he said it was still too firm.

     We had the usual entertainment yesterday.  In the afternoon Pete, Turner, Jeri, and Malcomb played hearts for a cent a point and I played pinochle.  After chow we had a couple of short subjects on the ward that most everybody had seen a couple of times then at 7 we went down to the auditorium and saw “Strangler of the Swamp.”  They had a good cartoon but after the picture we all decided we would rather have seen a Wild West “shoot’em up.”  When we came back to the ward, here was some old gal singing with an auto-harp accompaniment.  She was a LULU – phew!!  A cute little Red Cross girl brought her in.  She (the Red Cross girl) must have been at least 5 inches taller than she was wide.  She reminded me of you Sweetheart.  There was so much contrast.  Did I ever tell you that I thought you were very pretty?  I’ll bet your tummy is sticking out a little right now, isn’t it?  I’d love to kiss that little tummy right now.  I love you so much Sweetheart.  I’m stewing to see you, to hold you and kiss and love you Sweetheart.  I’d like to start kissing you on the tip of your ear and not stop until I got to your little toe.  I’m all yours Sweetheart and I miss you very much.  You are going to have quite a time controlling me the next time I see you.

     Better change the subject.  Thinking about it just makes it worse.  Oh, here’s a little something I think you might be interested in.  Tell Dad that if he would like to tell the Senator about it, that will be fine.  One of America’s principles is that all men are created free and equal.  There shall be no caste system of any kind, etc.  There has already been quite a lot published about the caste system between officers and enlisted men.  Now the brass hats in Brooklyn are trying to split up the enlisted men.  Only sergeants and above are permitted to wear dress hats like I got for Christmas.  Privates, Pfc’s, and corporals can only wear the little fore and aft caps.  I can’t even get out the gate unless I borrow a cap from someone else.  There isn’t anything out there for me though.  I haven’t been out since I got back.

     The mail is going out shortly so this is it for now.

     Good-night Sweetheart
          I love you with all my heart
               Pleasant dreams
                    Goodnight Sweetheart
                         x x
                              ‘Nite