Spitball Army

[V-mail addressed to Mrs. Richard N., Berwyn, Illinois. Return addressed to Richard N., c/o Fleet Post Off. Envelope postmarked 27 June 1944 at 11 a.m.]

June 19, 1944

My Darling,

How are you, sweet – good I am, too. I am not such a happy lad today because the mail man, him didn’t bring me any happy tickets from you and I have no letter to answer. Let’s see now what I can tell you. Oh yes, the girl that brings the ward flowers brought us some fresh lettuce and Spanish onions along with her flowers. And does it go good because you see we can’t get anything like that way over here, the space is needed for more important munitions of war. Now we are all having lots of fun going around blowing our stinking breaths in each others’ faces, knocking each other out. The nice part of it is we are all equally armed, you know. I wish you could smell this ward, it smells like Maxwell Street, if you know what I mean. And so another day goes by, bringing me closer to the much awaited time when I can hold you in my arms and kiss you till you are breathless.

All my love forever
Dick

Elvis. Now that’s a real American story. Came up from nothin’. Makin’ dance moves like nobody’d seen before.

Card is titled: “FF-50 – Tropical Beauty in Florida.”

Publishing information:

45157 – Published by Asheville Post Card Co., Asheville, N.C.”

Approximate playing time: 47 minutes.

1. The Beatles  “Baby It’s You”  (1963)
2. Gigi Parker & the Lonelies  “Beatles, Please Come Back”  (1964)
3. The Beatles  “Boys”  (1963)
4. Bret & Terry  “Beatle Fever”  (1964)
5. Bobby Comstock & the Counts  “The Beatle Bounce”  (1964)
6. The Beatles  “Bad Boy”  (1965)
7. The Fondettes  “The Beatles Are in Town”  (1964)
8. Sonny Curtis  “A Beatle I Want to Be”  (1964)
9. The Beatles  “Baby You’re a Rich Man”  (1967)
10. The Mystery Tour  “The Ballad of Paul”  (1969)
11. Lord Sitar  “Blue Jay Way”  (1968)
12. The Beatles  “Because (a cappella)”  (1969)
13. The Persuasions  “The Ballad of John and Yoko”  (2001)
14. Donnie Rae & the Defiants  “Beatlemania”  (1964)
15. The Beatles  “Birthday”  (1968)
16. Bill Clifton  “Beatle Crazy”  (1963)
17. The Beatles  “Blackbird”  (1968)

[V-mail addressed to Mrs. Richard N., Berwyn, Illinois. Return addressed to Richard N., c/o U.S. Fleet Post Off. Envelope postmarked 6 June 1944 at 10 p.m.]

June 4, 1944

My Darling,

Hello sweet, how are you, good I am, too. As I expected, there was no mail delivery to-day, so no sugar report from my honey. Soo I will have to strike out on my own. Hon, I am going to ask you to help me out a little in this letter; I am going to try and locate one of our old friends in England. I know he is over there because I read an article about him in the June 4 British Edition of the Army “Yank” Magazine. I would like you to call his wife, the former Dorothy Gross. If you remember, we went to her open house, that one New Year’s Eve we went to Gracie’s, Mack’s, Dot’s, and Ruth Tetslaff’s for breakfast – recall? Well, she married Lt. Ed Spretsma; he is now a captain in the 9th fighter squadron. The article tells of how he very cleverly shot down an MI110 twin-engine – I never thought he had it in him; and I want to congratulate him. His wife Dorothy lives with her folks on Long Common Road, almost opposite our house – recall? If you can’t find her phone number in the phone book under the Gross name, tell her I will bring the article home for her to read, hon; be sure you get his right A.P.O. etc. Soo good-night now, sweet, remember I love you and miss you.

Always yours
Dick

I live in the Crestwood neighborhood of Birmingham. There is a movie theatre down the street from me called The Edge 12. I can walk there from my home, if I so desire. This theatre has twelve screens. They frequently show films of great merit. They also show films for everyone else. We all get to choose.

(photo: spitballarmy.com)

Two new films open at The Edge 12 today:

Horrible Bosses (2011)
Directed by Seth Gordon.
Starring Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, Jason Sudeikis, Colin Farrell, Kevin Spacey, Jennifer Anniston and Jamie Foxx.
Rated R.

A workplace comedy about three frustrated employees who hatch a plan to kill their micromanaging bosses, only to find their murderous plot snowballing into disaster. Sounds to me like a non-feminist updating of 9 to 5, and that it should appeal to anyone who has ever had an intolerable boss, or anyone – like me – who has been that person. (Ha! Ha! It’s only a movie! You can’t kill me!!)

Zookeeper (2011)
Directed by Frank Coraci.
Starring Kevin James, Rosario Dawson and a bunch of talking animals.
Rated PG.

A group of zoo animals decide to break their code of silence in order to help their lovable zookeeper (Kevin James) find love – without opting to leave his current job for an illustrious gig as a car salesman (Wuht!??). Full disclosure: Even though I laughed out loud at least three times while watching the trailer below, I still am going to see Super 8 first, then go see The Tree of Life again, while I wait for the reviews. The initial scores on IMDb are averaging 3.4 out of 10. Bummer.

The following ten films have been extended for another week:
• Bad Teacher
• Cars 2
• The Green Lantern (3D)
• The Hangover, Part II
• Jumping the Broom
• Larry Crowne
• Midnight in Paris
• Monte Carlo
• Super 8
• Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2D and 3D)

The following two films ended their current run this week:
• Kung Fu Panda 2
• Mr. Popper’s Penguins

The Edge 12 has some ongoing promotions. Tuesdays are no longer just a recurring day of the week there, but have been dubbed “$5.00 Tuesdays”: most films can be seen for just a $5.00 admission ticket. And, on Fridays, The Edge 12 offers free popcorn at all shows.

The Edge 12 Theatre is located at 7001 Crestwood Boulevard. A recording detailing all movie times can be accessed by telephoning (205) 795-3500; a real live human answers the phone at (205) 795-3595. Showtimes can also be found on the MovieTickets website. The theatre has a Facebook page under the name The Edge 12 Birmingham and tweets under the handle @Edge12Bhm.

Information in the capsule summaries above might have been provided, in varying degrees, by IMDb, Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes and Wikipedia.

Dunno why they didn’t use a six-person jury. A six-person jury definitely would have found her guilty.

[Letter postmarked on 7 November 1942 at 5:30 p.m. at Alton, Illinois. Addressed to Miss Crystal K., Berwyn, Illinois. Return addressed to Richard N., Portage Des Sioux, Mo.]

Portage – Nov. 6
6:00 P.M.

Darling,

Well, let’s see, the last time I wrote was at Alton. Well, we got back to portage and I went to St. Louis to get some underwear shirts and was successful finally. Got 6 which makes me a total of ten. Went back to Alton and saw a show (for nothing) and then went out for a few beers. I got back to the boat at 1:00. Nobody came around waking us up at 6:30 to-day, so we rolled out of bed at 8:30 – boy, was that wonderful. We worked on the boat all day cleaning it up. I installed the stove permanently.

Boy, are there ever some big boats in here now. There is a beautiful 56-foot, flying bridge Elcolemis from Chicago and a 70-foot boat from St. L – I wish you could see them. The 70-foot has a shower & 2 bath tubs & 4 Johnnys. The Elco has 3 Johnnys and 1 shower. We also have 3 regular CG Picket boats that are really something.

Well, they came. I got my orders to go to the rifle range next Sunday. These are orders everybody dreads because rain or shine or snow or mud you drill and drill and you shoot and shoot. If it rains, it’s tough. You have to lay in the mud and sit in the mud, sit in the mud and finally sleep in the mud in your bed because there are no showers. We are told we are lucky we have 1 stove in the barn where 500 men sleep. I’m getting used to the mud already at Portage – it’s about 3 inches deep after 4 days rain.

8:00 – 12:00 sentry watch

They are getting civilized out here now, honey. We have a shack with a light in which we stand sentry duty now.

Now, to get on the personal side, darling. I received your letter of the 4th postmarked (Nov. 5 – 11:30 A.M. – Chicago) – that is fast service, honey. I was wondering why I didn’t hear from you sooner, honey, but I am glad to hear you are keeping your self busy. You can have that dentist stuff, what is he doing to you, hon? I am glad you enjoyed “Kings Row.” My mother went to see it also and raved about it, too.

That’s right, hon, I didn’t get the pictures in the mail but I am dying to see them and the cartoon. Gee, I am glad to hear you are doing well with your bowling game, honey. Well, honey, that “Flying Tiger” must be some killer with the women, also. Hey, I’ll bet she isn’t as beautiful as you are, honey. Boy! he sure is going to town with his promotions.

Honey, my mother wrote me and told me about the beautiful flowers you sent her. I thought it was a very kind thought, honey, but what is the occasion? She said they were simply beautiful – tell me all about it, darling.

(Boy, is the wind ever howling now.) Honey, my being home seems like a dream to me, also. I am only living for my next liberty at home with you, my love. I live precious moments I spend with you over and over again, honey, and think about all the things we talk about – that alone is courage, honey.

Darling, I don’t know whether I will have tome (or a place) to write to you or not at the rifle range. I will try, though. If I can’t, please forgive me, darling, and please don’t let that stop those wonderful letters from you, dear. Remember, darling, I love you with every ounce of strength in me.

Love
Dick xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

7/4/11: Rain and hail storms roar through the South, squelching mid-day festivities with a natural assertion of Malickian primacy.

Card is titled: “Greetings from ARIZONA The Grand Canyon State. A-3.”

Printed on back of postcard:

A – Boulder Dam
R – San Francisco Peaks
I – Sahuaro Cactus
Z – Queen Creek Gorge
O – Petrified Forest
N – Hopi Snake Dance
A – San Xavier Mission

Publishing information:

Genuine Curteich-Chicago “C.T. Art-Colortine” Post Card (Reg. U.S. Pat. Off.).  Distributed by Lollesgard Specialty Co., Tucson and Phoenix, Arizona.