Spitball Army

Alone, he pantomimed “Dominique” full-bore, mimicking French words he didn’t know. Song over, he turned: his parents stood agape.

She pronounced the phrase as “swav and de-boner,” as if the intent garbling of the words lent her hipster sophistication.

Today’s theme-less virtual playlist has an approximate playing time of 80 minutes:

1. Elvis Presley “I’ll Be There”
2. Dave Mason “We Just Disagree”
3. Andrew Bird “Yawny at the Apocalypse”
4. Sufjan Stevens “The Little Drummer Boy”
5. Beck “Soldier Jane”
6. L7 “Shitlist”
7. Josh Rouse “Little Know It All”
8. Los Lobos “How Much Can I Do?”
9. Lou Reed “Romeo Had Juliette”
10. The Stone Roses “Made of Stone”
11. Laura Nyro “Be Aware”
12. Lewis Taylor “Hide Your Heart Away”
13. The Soundtrack of Our Lives “Firmament Vacation”
14. Earth Wind + Fire “Devotion (live)”
15. Warren Zevon “Bad Karma”
16. Blondie “Heart of Glass”
17. The Impressions “I’m Loving Nothing”
18. Magnolia Electric Co. “Hammer Down”
19. Talking Heads “Dream Operator”
20. Candy & the Kisses “Soldier Baby of Mine”
21. David Bowie “You’ve Been Around”

See you next Sunday, when the theme will be ‘People Over 50.’

[Written to Alice in Frankfort, Indiana. Return addressed: Richard, Plt. 622, R.D.M.C.B., San Diego 41, Calif. Postmarked in San Diego, Calif., on 11 June 1944 at 11 AM.]

June 10, 1944

Hi Sweetheart,

     Now, look here, one of us sick is enough. We got our second typhoid shot today and am I sick! My arm is so sore I can hardly move it and I’ve got a nice healthy cold on top of it. I’m supposed to be watching some boxing matches now but I didn’t feel like going over so here I am. This letter will be very short and sweet and then I’ve got to go to bed. Oh I feel terrible.

     We had plattoon pictures taken today and send you one as soon as I get my hands on one. I feel so darn worn out I can hardly prop myself up enough to write.

     I suppose you have my last letter by now. I told you what they told us out here about living conditions. What do you think about it? It’s up to you. You know I won’t be out of there for another 7 weeks and I won’t be able to see you. Then after that I get 10 days and then I’ll be transferred some place else. Nobody knows where.

     I’m sending back a few in this letter. I have no place to keep anything.

     I’m sorry, Darling, but I’ll just have to quit now. Oh yes, you don’t need to waste money on air mail. Your regular letters got here before the air mail.

     Well, good night Sweetheart. You get well and I’ll do the same. O.K.?

     I love you, Sweetheart. And don’t think that I don’t get a big kick out of talking to the fellows about my wife, because I sure do.

     Good night Sweetheart.
          I love you with all my heart.
               x x ‘Nite Mrs.
                                x x

 

 

 

 

I love you.

Cost of four sodas at movie snack bar: $27. Collapsible water bottles filled at bubbler: free. Anarchic satisfaction: priceless.

[Written to Alice in Frankfort, Indiana. Return addressed: Richard, Plt. 622, R.D.M.C.B., San Diego 41, Calif. Postmarked in San Diego, Calif., on 8 June 1944 at 11 AM. 6 June 1944 was D-Day in Europe.]

Wednesday 7:30 P.M.

Hello Sweetheart,

     I just have 15 minutes so this will be very short. We are now in tents. There are 8 to a tent. In this one, there are 4 Southerners & 4 Northerners. More fun!!

     There are 62 in the plattoon and 6 have been h made squad leaders. Mac and I are both squad leaders. Of the 6, 4 of us started from Ind’p’l’s.

     I’m sorry, Sweetheart, but I’ll be very lucky if I can write once a week. They really keep us running. This is the first time I’ve had off since I last wrote you.

     Oh yes, by all means, don’t come out here! They have told us (in fact they wasted a whole hour doing it) to be sure and not bring your families out here. There is no place out here for you. Just stay home and wait for me PLEASE. Write me as often as you can and I’ll do the same. As yet I haven’t got a single letter. What happened? Is or are some on the way? I hope so. Some of these guys have already got 10 letters. Write to me. I’ll have to go now.

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

You know, we have already celebrated our 30th anniversary? (30 days)

“It has a certain…,” he said, finishing with some French phrase. “Huh?” “You know, a certain quiddity.” It still was Greek to me.

[Written to Alice in Frankfort, Indiana. Return addressed to Richard, U.S.M.C., En Transit. Postmarked in Los Angeles, Calif., on 30 May 1944 at 11 PM.]

May 30, 1944

Hi Sweetheart,

     Well, here we are in Los Angeles. We finally got this far anyway. By your time, it is now 8 P.M. We have an hour lay over here and then we are off for Dago. Talk about food!! We sure are getting plenty. We just finished, had ham, noodles, potatoes, peas, tomato juice, milk, coffee, donuts, ice cream, lettice, and hot rolls. Mac and I are leting some of that settle down now. We are at the USO. At the pressent, Poinncianna¹ is playing on the victrola², a sailor is playing boogie on the piano, a ping pong game is going in front of me, and just about everybody is talking. All the desks are full so I’m writting this on Life Magazine. I hope you can read it. Stardust³ just started on the vic. I love you, Sweetheart. Well, now I can’t get my mind on writting.

     I think I’d better quit trying. All I do is think, I just can’t get it on this paper. If I can find time, I think I’ll be able to send you my address tomorrow.

This is all for now.
     Good night, Sweetheart
          I love you with all my heart.
               x x ‘Nite
                    x x

¹  “Poinciana” is a song written in 1936 by Buddy Bernier and Nat Simon.  A recording by Bing Crosby achieved chart status in 1944.

²  The Victor-Victrola phonograph record player was the original record player to gain widespread popularity. For many years after the market had accepted other brands, phonograph players were referred to as “Victrolas.”

³  “Stardust,” the classic song penned by Hoagy Carmichael in 1927, and covered by countless singers since.  Below is a recording of the song by Frank Sinatra, circa 1940.

Though his pusillanimous nature realistically prevented it, he still dreamed of, one day, becoming King of the Forest.

Assessment: Carries pad and pen everywhere. Cuffs buttoned at wrists, always. Smirks instead of smiling. Crosses legs like a girl.