Spitball Army

Having a cat is like living near the beach, she said. The kitty litter gets into everything.

– Written by @Ralphley.

[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 15 Jun 1945.  Envelope stamped on front, “Passed by Naval Censor,” and initialed by the Censor.]

June 14, 1945

Hello Sweetheart,

     Watch the bank account.  I hope you’ll be using it pretty soon.  As you probably know by now, I was standing in the wrong place at the wrong time.  One of those little yellow _______s shot where he was looking.  It’s nothing to worry about though.  I got a clean wound through the shoulder.  It only hit one bone – the shoulder blade.  They have me in a cast from the waist up including my left arm.  That’s what makes it hard to write – I can’t hold the paper still.

     I am now in the Marianas at a hospital.  I don’t expect to stay here long.  I have high hopes and with a little luck, I should be seeing you before too many more weeks.

     This is about it for now Sweetheart.  I love you, don’t ever forget it.  Don’t worry about me Sweetheart.  I’m doing O.K. – I get up and walk all over the place whenever I get ready.

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

The band in heaven: upright parlor piano + scratchy violin + glass beer jug octet + accordion + angel chorus of Glenn Gould-style humming.

Card is titled:  “FISHING IS GOOD IN MAINE.”

The divided post card was postmarked in Solon, Maine, on 3 August 19?? at 1 P.M.  It is addressed to Mr. S.L. McCarty at Apopka, Fla., R.F.D.  A one cent U.S. postage stamp is affixed.  This is the message:

Dear Dr. McCarty,

As the card says there is good fishing up here in Maine.  I wish you could be here to go with us.  I saw the Northern Lights last night and they say thats a sign of cold weather.  I hope it is a false alarm, it’s cold enough now!  Give my love to Mrs Mc & Eliz.

Love “Sister”

Fred FM is playing hooky today.  Please read a book, mow the lawn, barbecue a small animal, or visit baseballmusings.

[V-Mail 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. Postal Service No. 3 on 16 Jun 1945 at 12:30 P.M.  V-Mail copy stamped, “Passed by Naval Censor,” and initialed by the Censor.]

June 3, 1945

Hello Sweetheart,

     Sorry, no stamps.  This is about the best I can do for the time being.  The paper will determine the shortness; you will have to pass judgment on the sweetness.  I just wanted to let you know that I’m O.K.  I miss you a lot Sweetheart and, in case you didn’t know it, I’m very much in love with you.  Keep waiting for me Sweetheart.  I’m coming back as soon as I can find the way.  Hope it isn’t too long.

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

We waited and waited for Tamra to wriggle free from her desk, but the phone kept ringing and people kept asking her questions and bringing her paperwork.  So, we escaped for a quick lunch without her.  When we returned, this little post-it note was affixed to my computer screen.

Tamra died of starvation.

Here are her bones.

It read like a Victorian gravestone.  And Tamra was nowhere to be found.

The twelve books I’ve abandoned stand in a row, marked by ticket stubs between pages 50 & 127. They have endings; I can’t finish them.

– Written by @Ralphley.

[This small newspaper clipping was inserted in the bundle of letters.]

Mrs. Richard -. ——–, who is visiting her uncle, [Art.] -. ——, received a telephone call from her husband from a U.S. naval hospital, Oakland, Calif.  Pfc. [Richard] ——– was wounded on Okinawa May 29, in the left shoulder.  He was with the 1st Marine Div. which was the first to land on Okinawa.

Newsprint from the back of this clipping:

His head whips up: chin drool, eyes refocusing, brain buzz. He resists; the somnifying waves persist. Olbermann rails from the TV.

– Written by @Ralphley.