May 24, 1943

Fort Riley, Kansas
May 24, 1943
Mon. 1:00 P.M.

(inside envelope flap)
Hello
Sweetheart!!
I MISS YOU LOVE
X X X X X




Darling Mark,

Hello Sweetheart! I got your letter this morning when I woke up. I went to sleep as soon as I got on the train. I wish I had of stayed an hour longer with you last nite. I missed that 11:00 train by 5 min. So I was there early enough to get a seat on the 11:55. I got 1-1/2 hours sleep this morning. All morning – a few of us were loading vehicles on flat-cars. The rest of the co. is out on the pistol range & some are at the motor-pool. I’m going to stay right here on my bunk until they find me. If they want me – they know where to find me – (and they probably will)

I feel like just laying down & sleep for about a week.

Honey – I’m going to close for while & try to get in a nap. I’m going to Riley tonite to see the proofs of my pictures! Bye for now honey!


5:00 P.M.
Here I am again honey. I did get to stay in all afternoon. I was called out once but turned around & came back. I’ve just finished shaving & now I guess I’ll go get a haircut before they tell me to, & get K.P. besides.

It rained like Betty Hell here this afternoon – but it looks like it will clear up.

I hope I get my 3 day pass this week or next.

I haven’t much more to say – I don’t do very much around here anymore – but try & keep out of sight. The less I do the less I want to do. I think I’m getting lazy honey. But I have a feeling some day I’ll have plenty to do. Oh unhappy day!

I’d better close now honey & get movin to Riley.

The radio is playing “I’m Goin Back to Where I Come From” remember?

Well Bye again honey. I miss you too much!

Please Answer Soon!

All My Love
Johnny
X X OOO X X
O XXXOO

May 20, 1943

Fort Riley, Kansas
May 20, 1943
Thurs. Eve.
4:45 P.M.

(inside envelope flap)
Hello
Sweetheart!!
I MISS YOU!
LOVE XXXX WRITE SOON! X




Darling Mark:

Hello Sweetheart. I got your letter today. How happy they make me.

I’m waiting for chow – it goes at 5:00 & at 5:30 I have to report to the guard house. I’m on guard tonite from 6-8 & 12-2 & all day tomorrow.

This morning we had maintenance of vehicles & I gold-bricked most of the morning. This afternoon I spent getting ready for guard mount. I was supposed to get my proofs today – but I guess I’ll have to wait till Sat. I’ve got to go to chow now – honey – so I’ll finish this sometime later. Bye now.

8:05 – Oh! Am I weary & tired. I can get a little rest now till midnite. I’m going to have a tough time getting any sleep till 10:00. There’s too much noise & activity going on around here.

Honey I’d better close & get some rest. I’ll write again tomorrow. Goodnite now. I miss ya like everything! Please answer soon.

All My Love,
Johnny
XXXXXOXX

May 19, 1943

Fort Riley, Kansas
May 19, 1943
8:30 P.M.

(inside envelope flap)
Hello
Sweetheart!!
LOVE X X X X I MISS YOU EXTRA




Darling Mark:

I hope you don’t mind if I write to you everyday – but I think about you so much I have to.

We’ve just finished having an inspection of our equipment. Friday we have another one.

I sure missed your letter today honey!

Another rough day & I’m already in bed ready to sleep as soon as I finish this letter.

It’s raining again tonite!! Damn - wish it would stop.

I’m on guard tomorrow & Friday & I don’t feel like I’d want to walk in the rain.

Honey – we might get a 3-day pass next week before we leave. I’m not sure but, I’m sure praying.

Didn’t do much today. This morning we had lectures & this afternoon had a class on the pistol, sub-tommy & carbine rifle. Very boring – I could take them apart blindfolded – but I guess they didn’t have anything else for us to do.

Well – honey close to the bottom so – I’d better close.

Goodnite now. Please answer soon.

Love
Johnny

XXOXXXXXXXXXX

May 18, 1943

Fort Riley, Kansas
May 18, 1943

(inside flap:
Hello
Sweetheart!!
I MISS YOU EVER SOMUCH!
LOVE x xxx ooo)




Darling Mark:

I’m dreaming of you again – I mean yet!

I got your letter this evening – I hoped for it – but didn’t expect it till tomorrow.

I’ve just finished taking a shower & am now ready for bed as soon as I finish this letter. These 12 hr. days don’t agree with me. Today we had a problem on dead-reckoning with compasses. We walked over more hills & muddy roads than I want to see again. This evening we cleaned all of our guns & vehicles ready to be shipped. The cars are all dead-lined so I guess we’ll be doing a lot of foot-work till we leave.

It’s raining again tonite – I wish the hell it would stop.

I fooled you sweetheart – I did have my pictures taken. HUH? You won’t have to blow your top!

Honey – I don’t know what I’m going to do – not to be able to see you every week. I miss you so terribly much!

I’m still sorry about last nite honey – but I didn’t drink much – it just made me sick. I guess I can’t take it. I’m sure it won’t happen again.

Honey I’m closing for tonite – I’ve just got to get some sleep.

Goodnite darling!
Please answer soon.

All My Love
Johnny
*XXXXXXXX*XXXXOOOOOOOX

May 17, 1943

Fort Riley, Kansas
May 17, 1943
Mon. Eve. 8:30

(inside envelope flap)
Hello
Sweetheart!!
I MISS YOU! XXX LOVE XX




Darling Mark:

Hello Sweetheart how ya doing? I got back to camp this morning at 12:00, and mercy me we had to get up at 4:30. We also had to work till 6:00 tonite.

When I got off the train it was raining like hell again – but I didn’t mind it as long as I had you on my mind.

This afternoon we took a hike in the rain with full field pack. My poor feet just can’t take it! I’m dead tired but I can still write to you.

As soon as we were off duty – I shaved & dressed & went to Riley & had – now relax – my pictures taken! No fooling honey – I even missed chow so I could. I’ve just come back from there. They won’t be ready for at least 2 weeks – so I guess I’ll have to have them mail it to you.

It’s still dark & cloudy out – I guess it’ll rain again tomorrow.

I was supposed to operate a radio today on a problem but the car that my radio was in, was dead lined & couldn’t go out. So I ended up on that damn hike. I guess I’ll have to tell them who I am around here.

I sure did miss not getting a letter from you today honey!

Honey – I’m still sorry about last Sat. nite. I wish you had of clubbed me with a chair or something! Maybe I would have woke up. I guess I can’t take it anymore.

I guess I oughtta get some long letters from you this week – being as how you’re on a vacation – wish I could be with you but I guess it will still be quite some time before I see you again.

Today we were issued mosquito? head nets & dust respirators.

Wednesday we start wearing our summer khaki’s.

If we don’t work this week-end & if I’m not on detail, & if we’re still here & if we’re not restricted to camp – I’m going to try & get a 3-day pass, if I can & if I do – I’m going to hold you every minute of the time.

Some G.I. got married over the weekend & just gave me a cigar – I’m debating whether or not to smoke it. I’ll probably end up like I was Sat. & I never want to feel like that again.

Sweetheart I guess I’ll close for tonite & start dreaming of you. Write & let me know what you do this week if it’s not too personal & if you want to. Honey – I’m going to miss you so much.

Goodnite honey – please write soon.

All My Love
Johnny
XXXXXXXXXXOXOOOOOXOX

More Than Ever lyrics

More Than Ever

Do I
Do I love you baby
Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah
More than ever
I remember all I wanted in a lover
Was just a pretty face but all I found were hearts of stone
Spent a lifetime
On the road to nowhere till I found my way back home
You gave me shelter from the cold and the rain - whoa and
Now I know pleasure where
There used to be pain

Do I
Do I love you baby
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
More than ever
Do I do I need you baby
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
More than ever
You saved me with warmth and understanding
You're everything that I could ever want
And after so long
We're standing here together
And forever we'll live on
In time most other loves just wither and fade
I tell ya
Ours just gets stronger each and every day
Do I
Do I love you baby, baby
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
More than ever
Do I do I need you baby
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
More than ever
Hey come over here for a second
I got something I wanna say
Even though I may not think to tell you every day
Oooh I'm so happy you're still mine
Oh, you came along with a love so sweet, took me by surprise
Knocked me off my feet
You still send shivers up and down my spine
Oh I gotta be the luckiest man alive

Do I
Do I love you baby
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
More than ever
Do I do I need you baby
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
More than ever
You saved me with warmth and understanding
You're everything that I could ever want
And after so long
We're standing here together
And forever we'll live on
In time most other loves just wither and fade
I tell ya
Ours just gets stronger each and every day
Do I
Do I love you baby, baby
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
More than ever
Do I do I need you baby
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
More than ever
Hey come over here for a second
I got something I wanna say
Even though I may not think to tell you every day
Oooh I'm so happy you're still mine
Oh, you came along with a love so sweet, took me by surprise
Knocked me off my feet
You still send shivers up and down my spine
Oh I gotta be the luckiest man alive

May 14, 1943

Fort Riley, Kansas
May 14, 1943
Fri. Eve.

(inside envelope flap)
Hello
Sweetheart!!
I MISS YOU I LOVE YOU
ANSWER SOON!




Darling Mark:

Just finished reading your letter again! I’m so tired I didn’t know whether to write tonite or not. But I don’t think I’m that tired. I also got a letter from Lu today. Boy we put in a 13 hr. day again today! All I did was sit in an amphib with a radio but I even got tired doing nothing. I got off the alert tonite & tomorrow I don’t know how I did & I’m not trying to find out. I’m not on guard this week-end so I guess I’ll come to K.C. & get tight as hell – because I think it’ll be my last!

It’s been cloudy all day & now its raining like hell – I hope it clears up over the week-end.

Frank Moon is singing “More Than Ever” now. I could just write that song to you & you’d know what I want to say. Do you know it?

Honey – I’m going to have some pictures taken as soon as I get time. Maybe this week-end!

Honey – I’m sorry I backed away from that kiss. I wish I had it now. But I just felt kinda mean.

Honey – I guess I’ll close for tonite – I get to thinking about you & can’t write.

Answer soon Sweetheart – I miss you.

Goodnite honey.
Love
Johnny
X O X X X O