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 18 Feb 1946 at 1:30 P.M.]

Feb. 18, 1946

Hello Sweetheart,

     I can’t think of a thing to write this morning after talking to you last night.  I love you with all my heart Sweetheart.

     It was certainly a surprise to hear that Joe was a civilian.  What was their hurry?  Why didn’t they spend a little time in Indianapolis?  I haven’t heard from him yet.

     You said you had a valentine from the Frakers.  Is H—– out of the Army yet?  Where is Pete spending her time – in Frankfort or Dayton?

     How are Uncle Clarence and Grace getting along?  Have you been out to see them?  Have you seen Mickey and Sandy?  After Hank punched that job and said he would have to be matched – that he wasn’t responsible, does he still think he should get more money in his pay envelope?  What did Herb do?  Do they still think he is going to be just the thing to take over from Jack?  I suppose Dad told you that I was now in the Printing business.  Big Deal!!  I had to go over to Occupational Therapy Friday morning.  They are going to exercize my arm so I am now the motor in a small hand-fed press.  I operated it for 7 minutes Friday and I have to go back this morning.  I am afraid it is just a waste of time but there isn’t anything I can do about it.

     How’s come Inez took the clock out of the room?  That is my clock.  Don’t you think that one of these days we might have use for more than one clock?

     Sweetheart, you told in one of your letters that my letters (free mail) takes 2 days to get there.  Your letters (air mail) usually take 2 days also.  So what’s the difference?  I know there are a lot of air mail stamps there that’s why I haven’t said anything before.  But as soon as they are gone, send your letters regular mail.  It won’t take any longer.  Your mother sent me some .3¢ stamps.  I’m afraid I don’t have much use for them.  So here they are.

     It’s time for sick call so I’ll close until tomorrow.  I love you Sweetheart.

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

I. The old men sit on the porch, smoking, joking, drinking. A jar of peppers sits beside them. They dangle a jalapeno toward us, menacingly.

II. My jalapeno memory is stoked by the sweet smell of its flesh. I refuse, unfooled. Not Carlos: he doesn’t feel pain, and takes the challenge.

[Transcribed from “Werewolf” by Coyle & Sharpe, which was included in yesterday’s Fred FM playlist.]

Sharpe: This is another in our series, Meet the Celebrity. Every day I bring a famous celebrity onto the streets of San Francisco and introduce him to a passerby. Now, today I’ve stopped a young man. Your name, please?

Man on Street: Michael Huffman.

Sharpe: Michael, uh, I’d like you to meet James P. Coyle. Mr. Coyle is a werewolf.

Coyle: Glad to meet you. Can I ask you this question? Have you yourself ever had any transformational experiences?

Huffman: Uh, you’ll have to explain that just a little bit better, uh…

Coyle: Well, insofar as I know, I, of course, can’t view this objectively. I apparently get, uh, a certain actual physical change. The physical change is pretty much limited to my face and arms, where I get, oh, an increased burliness and I, I snarl, and, uh, I become unmanageable at times.

Sharpe: Now, uh, you sir, would you be willing to take this gentleman, Mr. Coyle, into your home and contend with this sort of a beast in the evening?

Huffman: If I were a citizen here, and if I were a civilian, I believe I wouldn’t do it because I’ve had the experience with these type of people before.

Coyle: I have animal capacities. I am actually part wolf.

Sharpe: I have seen him go through this transformation. I have seen his face become wolflike. I have seen hair grow out on the front of his face, and I have seen large fangs appear, and I will swear to this in court.

Coyle: I am part wolflike and I’m not ashamed of it. I’m not totally a human being. Maybe you’re totally human, but I’m part animal.

Huffman: No one is totally human, they’ve all got animal instincts in them.

Sharpe: Could we go through a transformation right now and, uh, have Mr. Coyle become a werewolf for you on the street, just to prove to you that he is a werewolf. And we can do it now. Can we do this?

Huffman: I don’t particularly care to see something like that, but, uh…

Sharpe: Can we go ahead?

Huffman: I don’t know, it’s, uh, I certainly don’t have any particular desire to see this. I don’t know if it’s going to prove anything by becoming a werewolf on the streets or anything…

Coyle: I’ve showed it to the people at the radio station. I’ll show it to you.

Huffman: I guess it’s all right with me.

Sharpe: Okay.

Coyle: Then he and I’ll go through a pre-wolf intensity…

Huffman: All right, go ahead.

Sharpe: Now I make a wolf sound, which brings this out in him, and Mr. Coyle will start turning into a werewolf. Are you ready? [Sharpe begins growling repeatedly.] Now there are some sounds coming from Mr. Coyle. The transformation is beginning. [Coyle begins making a guttural, almost choking sound; he’s having trouble breathing.]

Huffman: That good, that’s enough.

Sharpe: Now, he is becoming a werewolf, isn’t he?

Huffman: Yeah.

Sharpe: Would you describe his face? Describe his face.

Huffman: He’s got a very animalistic look, he certainly does… [Coyle is panting rapidly.]

Sharpe: And what else?

Huffman: He looks like a wolf.

Coyle: And what would you say about his eyes and his teeth?

Huffman: Very animalistic, at that.

Sharpe: Do you believe now he is becoming a werewolf? [Coyle panting, growling.]

Huffman: Certainly.

Sharpe: You do.

Huffman: Yeah.

Sharpe: Mr. Coyle, do you have anything final to say in your wolf state?

Coyle: [Snarls. Pants. Pants turn to laughter.]

Sharpe: [laughing] This is a joke! Honestly, this is a joke. What did you think?

Huffman: Is it?

Sharpe: Honestly, it is. What did you think?

Huffman: That’s pretty weird, I’ll say that much. It is pretty weird.

Sharpe: What did you think of the look…

Huffman: Oh, I thought he was gonna attack me.

It’s Halloween!

Approximate playing time: 79 minutes. (Watch your tender ears around Mr. Lewis Black…)

1. Ryan Adams  “I See Monsters”  (2004)
2. Vibulator  “Pocket Monster”  (2002)
3. Cornershop  “Candyman”  (1997)
4. The Edgar Winter Group  “Frankenstein”  (1973)
5. Coyle & Sharpe  “Werewolf”  (1965)
6. Screamin’ Lord Sutch & The Savages  “She’s Fallen In Love with the Monster Man”  (1963)
7. Broken Bells  “The Ghost Inside”  (2010)
8. The Magnetic Fields  “Zombie Boy”  (2008)
9. XTC  “Poor Skeleton Steps Out”  (1989)
10. Screamin’ Jay Hawkins  “Little Demon”  (1956)
11. The Andantes  “Like a Nightmare”  (1964)
12. Superdrag  “Do the Vampire”  (1998)
13. Kevin Tihista  “Dracula”  (2005)
14. Sufjan Stevens  “They Are Night Zombies!! They Are Neighbors!! They Have Come Back From the Dead!! Ahhhh!”  (2005)
15. Marty Willson-Piper  “Luscious Ghost”  (1992)
16. Duran Duran  “Dirty Great Monster”  (2007)
17. Tom Waits  “The Ghosts of Saturday Night”  (1974)
18. Charles Brown  “Black Night”  (1994)
19. Mississippi John Hurt  “Spider, Spider”  (1966)
20. John Mayall  “Black Cat Moan”  (1990)
21. Robert Cray  “Trick or Treat”  (1997)
22. Lewis Black  “Candy Corn”  (2006)

[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 15 Feb 1946 at 1:30 P.M.]

Feb. 15, 1946

Hello Sweetheart,

     What a morning this has been so far.  Half an hour ago it was snowing as hard as it could.  That lasted 15 or 20 minutes and now the sun is shining bright.  There’s quite a wind blowing around the corners though.

     Yesterday’s entertainment was quite different than the last few days.  We had a piano and a baritone, and later in the afternoon we had a movie in the ward.  The movie was “Brigham Young” — Salt Lake City and the Morman’s.  You know the story.  It was only the second time that I had seen it.  I was planning on going down to the auditorium and seeing “Leave Her to Heaven” but I lost track of the time and I was too late getting down there.  Soooo, we played Hearts.

     I did a little washing last night after “lights out.”  I washed a pair of shorts and 3 pair of sox.  I had to – I was wearing my last clean pair.  I wore my undershirt and jacket yesterday and I have it on now.  Nobody has said anything about it yet.  I have to go to the laundry this afternoon – take a shirt down and I should be able to get my others back.

     I received 2 very nice Valentines yesterday.  I’m afraid mine just doesn’t compare with yours though, Sweetheart.  It was all I could get through.

     Sweetheart, in the last letter I got from you, you told me that you got the statement and that we had so much money in the bank.  You didn’t say whether it checked with the stubs though.  Did it?  Did you put the $2,000 in checking?

     About where you stay Sweetheart — I can write to Wingate just as easily as I can Indianapolis and vice versa.  I know you’ll be safe in either place so it doesn’t make any difference.  I just want you to be where you will be the happiest Sweetheart.  Whereever you decide on, Sweetheart, just tell the folks I thought it would be better that way.  That’s the way I want it.

     How did the permanent come out?  O.K. I hope.  I would sure like to see it – or should I say “You.”  I know your hair would be in very good shape for at least 2 minutes after I saw you.  That’s all though.  Would you mind?  I love you Sweetheart and I miss you very much.  Someday – – — !

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

The train scene from Leave Her to Heaven (1945):

Sculpture in Kelly Ingram Park, Birmingham, Alabama
(BlackBerry photograph: spitballarmy.com).

I am fully aware that this is an inanimate piece of art, but, if given a choice, I’ll walk the opposite path every time.

Cali kid visits Texas family. At the lunch feast, boiled okra squirms in the serving bowl. He doesn’t know what to do with it.

[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

She doesn’t ask for stories, we just tell them. We think she hears, but can’t know for sure. Her countenance stares, unblinking.

Card is titled: “Sherbondy’s Landing, Yellow Creek Lake.  Busy Persons Correspondence Card.  Check Items Desired.”

From the available list, the following selections are checked:

MY VERY DEAR – girl o’ mine
I LANDED – on time
HAD A – bad night
THIS RESORT IS – peppy
LOTS OF – love, cute boys
BUT – I think of you
PLEASE SEND ME – a line
WILL SEE YOU – next week
YOURS

The only publication information printed on the back of the card is: “1016  12 DESIGNS.  Made in USA.”

The postage stamp corner reads: “Place the stamp here.  ONE CENT for United States and Island Possessions, Cuba, Canada and Mexico.  TWO CENTS for foreign.”

[pic of stamp area]

Yellow Creek State Park is a state park in Indiana County, Pennsylvania.  Its Wikipedia page can be accessed here.

There is also a Yellow Creek Lake in Elkhart County, Indiana.  Link.