June 14, 1943 (later that same day)

Fort Riley, Kansas
June 14, 1943
3:00 P.M.

(inside envelope flap)
HELLO
SWEETHEART!!! X O X
I MISS YOU SO MUCH!
LOVE XXX WRITE SOON XXXX
X O X X O X



Darling Mark,
Hello Sweetheart!!!

I’M WRITING AGAIN – I JUST GOT A LETTER FROM YOU THIS NOON. The one you wrote at work. I t was a pretty long letter honey – that’s what I like.

There were about 20 of us that came in late this morning. We’re catching all the last minute details around here now. I don’t care what they do to me – it was worth being with you that much longer.

They had us loading the kitchen cars this morning. I gold-bricked most of the time tho. I took off at 2:00 & now I’m just laying on my bunk, writing to you. There’s a crap game going on at the foot of my bed – but I swore off.

We get our meals served to us in our seats on the way down. If you’re asleep – no eat. Today is our last day to get mail here – so if you wrote a letter today to me here I probably won’t get it till I get to Cal. -

Let me know when you get my picture – I ‘m going to call tonite & see if they mailed them yet – if they haven’t – I’ll go up & mail myself.

This waiting & doing nothing around here gets on my nerves. I won’t mind the details so much – they make the time go faster.

You told me not to be blue honey – so I won’t tell you I am.

Honey – I hated to say good-bye to you last nite. I knew then how much you mean to me honey. Oh – I miss you so much. I wish I could have taken you with me. You’d be nice to have around out on that desolate desert! Thanks again honey – for that prayer-book. I’ll always carry it with me & you’ll always be with me in my prayers.

Honey, I’d better start closing now. I guess I’ll probably see you in a couple of months – I hope.

Bye now – Darling. ANSWER SOON
XXXOX All My Love XOX
XXXXXXXOXXXXXX Johnny