Spitball Army

[Letter postmarked on 22 October 1942 at Hartford, Illinois. Addressed to Miss Crystal K., Berwyn, Illinois. Return addressed to Richard N., Portage Des Sioux, Mo.]

Oct 21, 42
Wood River 11:30 am
CGR 2331

Hello Darling,

I just wrote you yesterday not even 24 hours ago, but when I returned from St. Louis there were two letters waiting for me. Such attention demands retaliation if it is at all possible. I’m on watch now, so here goes.

Honey, when you write to me please tell me what letters you received from me by the date I put on them and when you receive them. I don’t know if you are getting all of them. I may be writing my head off and you may not be getting them and you might feel neglected and getting mad and yet I am still writing. Our mailing facilities on patrol are not the best – we have to give our letters to who ever happens by and hope that they reach their destination. Do that, will you, Honey? (Tell me if I talk about any you didn’t get.)

I just sat down to start this letter and before I put my pen to the paper, I took a last look around to see if the coast was clear. Up stream there were 4 great big yachts that were taken over by the CG. Gee, they were beautiful things. They were painted the CG color & numbers already and boy were they going. They were from 60-80 feet long. They were coming down from Chicago and they were really going, so I had to get up and log them. They were not Reserve boats either, they were regular CG boats going out on the big drink for Coastal duty.

Darling, you would really be surprised at the part the small boats like ours is playing in this war. The English are also using them. I never heard or saw anything about it before until I saw “Mrs. Miniver.” In the picture, there were some very interesting scenes. In the evacuation of Dunkirk, the English yachtsmen took smaller boats than this and crossed the channel and picked up the men that were stranded there. The husband of “Mrs. Miniver” had a 25-foot Cris-Craft Sport Cruiser with a flying bridge, like the one we were looking at in slip 64 at Belmount harbor that night. It was the one with the canvas and the open aft cockpit and the helm was out side in the aft cockpit – remember? See the picture if you can, honey, it’s very good.

Well, enough of that, honey, now for your letter of the 18th October, which has a post mark “Old P.O. Annex, Chicago, Ill., Oct. 19, 9:30 A.M.” Both letters got here at the same time, honey. You know I have been behaving myself, darling. I knew you would be expecting me Sunday, honey, that’s why I called you at the end of the day – only to no avail. I thought I might comfort you in that manner.

You will have to excuse my writing in yesterday’s letter. After I started, I found out I didn’t have as much time as I thought I did and besides that I didn’t have a fountain pen.

Darling, you missed an excellent opportunity to practice some good housewife preoccuptations. You know, hon, you won’t be able to just jump into that thing. The more practice you get now, the better off you will be. Besides that, it would have passed the time away. Well, you made one step forward, now you know you can buy a dress by yourself – don’t you, honey. You surprise me, honey. I’ll bet it’s a beautiful thing, honey – I would depend on your taste any day. I think that’s one of the reasons I love you so much, because you have such fine taste. I have been told many a time I have good taste too, hon, especially when it comes to a woman. That’s probably another reason we match so well, darling – what do you think?

At least I know you can press your own dresses, hon. How did you answer Wanda’s question? Tell them I remember both of them very well, hon.

I knew H.A. Maurer very well, honey. That is an awful shame, honey, his wife just had a baby boy about 3 months ago. He was an excellent flyer. Honey, I never know when I am coming in until I am on the train. A Change in Commanding Officers screwed me up this time.

Now for your letter of the 19th October. Darling, I really appreciate your writing me before work, but hon, please don’t get caught – it may get you in trouble. I guess Cassy has a lot of trouble, hon. Darling, where did you pick up that last line of yours, “I lovum muchum heap big Coast Guardum.” I laughed so much I thought I would burst a panty button.

Honey, I thought that Mac Pheat special was about the cleverest thing I have ever seen. Between your last line and that special, my sides were sore. Well, honey, this is about all I have to say except good-by and I love you honey – very much.

Love,
Dick xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Noisetrade is offering a free 25-track career-spanning sampler of Josh Rouse’s music. Did I say that it’s free? It is free. Indeed.

Card is titled: “View of Alabama University, Tuscaloosa, Ala. – D-11.”

Year of publication unknown.

Publishing information: “Colorcraft – Made by the Dexter Press, Pearl River, N.Y.  Published by Rosenfeld Paper Co., Tuscaloosa, Ala.”

Yep, “pep.” Here are some songs to hep put some zep in your step, but not necessarily the cheerleader type of pep you may be thinking about. Unless, of course, that is how you express “pep.” If it is, please send pictures.

Approximate playing time: 74 minutes.

1. New Radicals  “You Get What You Give”  (1998)
2. World Party  “Way Down Now”  (1990)
3. Electric Light Orchestra  “Do Ya”  (1976)
4. The Silver Seas  “What’s the Drawback”  (2010)
5. The White Stripes  “My Doorbell”  (2005)
6. Dodgy  “You’ve Gotta Look Up”  (1996)
7. Little Jerry Williams  “I’m the Lover Man”  (1964)
8. Tammi Terrell  “Baby Don’tcha Worry”  (1966)
9. Paul McCartney  “Really Love You”  (1997)
10. Ben Vaughn  “Magdalena”  (1993)
11. Robyn Hitchcock  “So You Think You’re In Love”  (1991)
12. Ron Sexsmith  “The Reason Why”  (2011)
13. Nervous Eaters  “Loretta”  (1980)
14. Cheap Trick  “Clock Strikes Ten”  (1977)
15. The Rolling Stones  “Neighbours”  (1981)
16. The 5, 6, 7, 8s  “Woo Hoo”  (1995)
17. Carl Perkins  “Honey, Don’t!”  (1955)
18. Blondie  “Will Anything Happen?”  (1978)
19. Liz Phair  “Rocket Boy”  (1996)
20. Ernie K-Doe  “A Certain Girl”  (1962)
21. Mark Ronson with Robbie Williams  “The Only One I Know”  (2007)

Those of you who are sharp of ear will likely notice that one or more of these songs have appeared in a Fred FM playlist in the past. That’s okay. You needed to hear those songs again.

[Letter postmarked on 20 October 1942 at 8:30 p.m. at Alton, Illinois. Addressed to Miss Crystal K., Berwyn, Illinois. Return addressed to Richard N., Portage Des Sioux, Mo. Letter enclosed in an envelope with the USO emblem stamped on the flap, and IDLE GOSSIP SINKS SHIPS printed in red on the front.]

Oct 20, 42
6:15 PM
St Louis, MO

Hello Darling,

I am in the U.S.O. passing some time. I came in for some clothes again but didn’t get them. I wanted under-shirts, but no soap. I got a free ticket for a Rodeo and thrill show, so I thought I would write to you while waiting.

I received your letter telling me all about Mack’s baby. His wife must have had an awful time. I feel sorry for her.

We came off of patrol Sunday afternoon. I went into Alton and saw “Mrs. Miniver.” It was a wonderful picture. See it if you can, Hon. Then I went and had a few beers and on the way home I called you but you were at the show with your dad, your grandma said. Sorry I missed you, Hon.

Yesterday I cleaned the bilge of the boat. It was full of mud and stuff. Boy, was that a job. I received another shot yesterday. It made my arm look like a golf ball under my skin.

Boy, we had a lot of excitement Saturday evening above the dam. A car went through a fish market building down there by the river and went right on into the river. There were 2 people in the car, but neither was injured. Bibbs Hesly also came by (in the afternoon) in the “Bobby K.” Remember, he was the kid I went to see a couple of times when he was working in his boat back of that apartment building in No. Riverside. We had a good talk.

Well darling, I am still mad because I didn’t get that leave but I’ll get there soon, honey. I guess we have to be patient. Until I come home again, remember I love you very much, Honey. Good-by darling, see you soon – I hope.

Love
Dick xxxxxxxxxxx

We watch the garden vigilantly, waiting for red on tomatoes and yellow on banana peppers. The bugs wait, too: pacing on leaves.

Tweeted while watching Mighty Joe Young (1949) on the Turner Classic Movies channel:

On @tcm: Mighty Joe Young. Giant African gorilla nearly hog-tied by American cowboys, subdued by woman whistling “Beautiful Dreamer.” #wtf

“Attention all cars! Escaped gorilla in large white van headed north.” @tcm #mightyjoeyoung

[Letter postmarked on 16 October 1942 at 7 p.m. at Alton, Illinois. Addressed to Miss Crystal K., Berwyn, Illinois. Return addressed to Richard N., Portage Des Sioux, Mo.]

Below Dam
1:00 P.M.
October 16, 42

Darling,

Well, let’s see the last time I was on my way to Alton, I got there and took a badly needed shower. After 3 days of sweating at hard labor, it went good. I had the boy from Philly with me. We then had a few beers and then home at 1:00.

At 6, we’re up and ready to go, but it was so foggy, we couldn’t. We made an attempt but had to come back. At 8, they kicked us out and we were on our way but we still couldn’t see. I went up front and stood fog watch and directed us as well as I could. I am happy to say we didn’t hit or even come close to a thing. We could see the water, but that was all. I went down by my memory. On the way down, we saw the “Helena” tied up to the bank so Whitey had to stop. We had a good cup of coffee and razzed them about stopping. We would have been stopped too, but we didn’t have any choice. It remained foggy and dull all day.

I must tell you about our lunch yesterday. We are getting organized now. We had steak, fried potatoes, string beans, tomatoes, milk, and chocolate pudding. We had the same today, but boiled potatoes with their jackets & butter.

Mark and I stood watch from 2 in the afternoon till ten at night. At 6 in the morning (Wood River), I woke up tied up to the “Huck Finn.” After a while, Whitey took me to the dining room and for breakfast I had 2 eggs, 2 pancakes (about 6 inches in diameter and ½ an inch thick), syrope [sic], 2 pork sausages, milk & coffee. Then we went to the “Standolind ‘A’” and took a shower in a really beautiful shower room. That tug belonged to Red Crown, but it was spotless and beautiful. Everything white on the inside. You could eat off the floor.

Darling, I received your letter of the 14th from the relief boat this morning. It is pretty fast, it was in portage at 10:30 yesterday the 15th. Honey, do you get postage free in those envelopes? I had a real laff when I saw that poast Mark. If that is so you ought to take a bunch home, you are a big shot now.

I am sorry to hear about your uncle Gabe, dear. I know he suffered because I heard your aunt telling your mother about it when I was there.

I am glad you got a lift when you were so tired, Honey, but I am going to keep my ear to the ground for that Delt – as I know them well. Tell Cassy that I am glad for her, too, Honey. I would like to see everybody as happy as we are. Good for those workmen, Hon.

Darling, that last paragraph of yours is turning the insides out of me. I want to come home so bad. If we were still at Portage, I could give you an answer, but on patrol – I don’t know. We won’t get in till Sunday afternoon. The best I could do is 9:30 Sunday evening and your folks would be home by then, Honey.

The fact that you would be home alone wouldn’t make much difference, Hon. I would like to get home anyway, but??

Honey, I can’t think of any thing else that I want to say except that I love you more than you could possibly imagine. I even thought of going over the hill (desertion), but I soon got that out of my head, hon – it doesn’t pay – but it’s the only way.

With all my love,
Dick xxxxxxx

Here is the set list from last Saturday’s John David Souther concert at Birmingham, Alabama’s Workplay Theatre. JD (on guitar) was accompanied by Chris Watson on piano. Caitlin Rose was the opening act. The concert began at about 8:30. The crowd numbered between 85 and 100 people.

• “Go Ahead and Rain”
• “New Kid in Town”
• “Silver Blue”
• “Bye Bye Blackbird” (with “Silver Blue” coda)
• “The Sad Café”
• “Banging My Head Against the Moon”
• “I’ll Take Care of You”
• “Prisoner in Disguise”
• “Ain’t Misbehavin'”
• “Little Victories”
• “Best of My Love”
• “You’re Only Lonely”
• “Heartache Tonight”
• Encore: “Faithless Love” (with Caitlin Rose)
• Encore: “I’ll Be Here at Closing Time”

(BlackBerry photo: spitballarmy.com)