June 26, 1943

Desert Training Center, California
June 26, 1943
Sat. 11:00 P.M.

(inside flap:

HELLO

SWEETHEART!!!

I MISS YOU.

LOVE X O X X O X P.A.S. )

Darling Mark:

Hello Sweetheart!!!!

We got off at 10:00 today – I haven’t got a letter from you since Wed., but I’m not giving up hopes.

I sent you a letter Thurs. but it came back. I forgot to put your address on it. Must be the heat getting me. Yesterday a kid went nuts from the heat. He dressed up in an overcoat & overshoes & a winter cap & got a loaded carbine & said he was going duck-hunting. He almost shot a Sargent & made him get in a tank. He got in plenty fast. Another kid he made stand at attention – he told him he was a general. They’ve got him in a hospital now. He was a kid from K.C. & had just got out of the guard-house a couple days before.

Tomorrow, the co. is going out to the lake again & probably stay all day.

Monday, I start to navigation school out here. I guess I’ll have to start getting up at 5:00 in the morning.

I’m going into Needles now with the ball players so I’d better shave & get dressed. I’ll write again tomorrow honey. Bye for now.

Answer soon.

All My Love

Johnny X O X

I miss you like anything honey. I’m thinking of you always.

X X X X X X X

O O O O O O O

June 23, 1943

HELLO

SWEETHEART!!!

X O X

I MISS YOU! LOVE P.A.S.

Desert Training Center, California

June 23, 1943

Wed. Eve.

Somewhere in the Desert!

Darling Mark!

Hello Sweetheart! First of all this pen skips a little so try & make out best you can honey! I got your letter of the 18^th today - Honey I really needed it – even if it was kinda short. I didn’t do a thing till 2:00 this afternoon & I chased prisoners till 4:30. It was really hot today. Guard duty last night was miserable – I had a damn headache most of the night. Heat I guess. I thought of you every minute I was on duty last nite honey – it made the time go faster – I just finished a pint of ice cream – it sure hits the spot out here. I’d like to have a case of ice-cold beer tho.

Honey – I’ll never turn down another drink – as long as I live – if I live long enough to get out of this damn desert! Honey it sure is dull around here – wish I was in K.C.

We can have week-end & 3 day passes if we want them this week but everybody is broke. It costs $15 to go to L.A. one week-end & I’d be broke for another month. Honey – what’s the idea of telling me to be “good”? You know I’m always good ----. I could say more – but I hadn’t better.

Honey I’d better start closing. We start having blackout about this time. Bulb must be burned out. Good-nite honey – I’m thinking of you & miss ever so much. Please answer soon.

All My Love Johnny xox

XXXXXXOXXXX

X O X O X O X

P.S. If I can’t be careful – I’ll name it after you!

June 22, 1943

(inside envelope flap)

HELLO

SWEETHEART!!!

I MISS YOU!

LOVE XOX I MISS YOU! P.A.S. XOX

Desert Training Center, California

June 22, 1943

Tues. 1:30 P.M.

Darling Mark,

Hello Sweetheart!!!

I just got your letter at noon today. Honey, it’s so good to get letters from you out here – I hope you don’t get tired of writing. It’s 135° again today – I feel like I’m half-baked already.

This morning a couple of other guys & a Lt. & I took 3 jeeps out in the desert & was shooting jackrabbits with our carbines. More fun – but it’s really rough riding out here.

No – honey – I didn’t miss any meals on the trip down here. I was always hungry so I was always awake when they served chow.

We have some beautiful nights here too honey – when that moon comes over the mountains – I can just picture myself with you. Did you get my picture yet? Well honey it’s about time to fall out so I’ll finish this letter later. Bye now.

3:00 PM – Hello again sweetheart! Well, I got this afternoon off. I’m on guard tonite tho. It’s a pretty good go out here. Yesterday we were issued our “Mary Curres” (comforters) for as I said before it gets pretty cool at night.

Well – honey I’ve got to go take a shower & shave & get ready for guard mount. So I’ll close & write again tomorrow. Bye now. Please answer soon.

All My Love xox Johnny

XXOXXOXXOX

XOXOXOXXOX