December 13, 1943

Armored Force

Camp Polk, Louisiana

Dec. 13, 1943

Mon. 11:30 A.M.

(inside envelope flap)

Hello

Darling!

I Miss You !! Write soon honey

All My Love X Johnny                Yo te amo

Darling Mark –

Hello Sweetheart!!

I’m a bad boy! I got your letter yesterday – rather last night.

I went to De Ridder – a little town about 30 miles from camp. I went to a show & horseback riding. Boy! Am I sore today!

I didn’t get a bus back until 11:30 last night & it was 1:00 before I got to bed.

Today I’m sore – tired & sleepy. I’m not used to staying up later than 10:00.

I got 2 letters from Cec yesterday too.

I’m writing this now honey – there’s going to be mail this afternoon for the clothes we have to send home & I’ll try & mail this too.

I’ll write again tonite honey! It’s almost time for chow – so I’ll close now & get this ready to mail.

Bye for now – honey

All My Love        x o x

X o x                  Johnny

X               X               X               X               X      

         O               O               O               O

X               X               X               X               X

December 11, 1943

Armored Force

Camp Polk, Louisiana

Dec. 11, 1943

(inside envelope flap)

Hello

Darling!!

I Miss You !

All My Love  Johnny        Eye amo te

X O X

My Darling Mark –

Hello Sweetheart!!

I got two letters from you today – that makes up for the one I didn’t get yesterday. I can’t understand why you don’t get a letter every day honey – I haven’t missed writing except once in the last two weeks.

Did you forget to mail one of these letters honey – they both had the same postmark.

We’ve been having equipment & clothing inspection all day. I’ve been laying around all morning & afternoon.

Honey the picture I liked so well was the small picture. Why did you want to know which one?

I got the picture in this last letter too honey!

Sweetheart my future is planned around you. I hope some day we can be married – honey – that’s the way I want it. So that’s the way we’ll plan it – huh?

There goes chow honey – I finish this when I get back. X

Hello again honey –

Honey – I can’t understand why Cec hasn’t written yet – is he mad about something?

I’m sure going to give him a lot of hell if he doesn’t write soon.

Well honey – I’ve got to shower & shave yet & got some things that have to be done.

I guess we’ll work tomorrow again. Honey I miss you too – so much I’m always thinking of you, constantly.

Goodnite now – Write Soon.

         X       X       X       X       X       X       X       X       X       X      

X O X                 All My Love             Johnny             X O X

         X       X       X       X       X       X       X       X       X       X

December 10, 1943

Armored Force

Camp Polk, Louisiana

Dec. 10, 1943

Fri. 5:00 P.M.

(inside envelope flap)

Hello

Darling!

I Miss You !!

All My Love  X O XXXXXXXX

My Darling Mark –

Hello Sweetheart!!

No letter today – but I guess I owe you a couple anyway. Right now honey I’m not in a very good mood! We were to have a retreat parade tonight & wear our blouses. We fell out & it starts to rain – we got good & wet & then they call it off. I just got my blouse out of the cleaners today too!

I’ll never understand this Army!

We got off that problem last nite at 10:30 & got to sleep this morning till 10:00!!

We cleaned rifles for about 2 hrs. this afternoon & then was off. Pretty soft day. Tomorrow we have an inspection of all equipment & clothing. I’ve got to hide a lot of stuff tonite.

Well honey there goes chow – I finish this when I get back.   X

7:00 P.M.

Back again honey – After chow we had to sign the payroll for next months pay & I finally got paid tonite for last month.

Its still raining out – I suppose it will be all night. Gosh honey I wish I was with you now I miss you so much!!! I’d like to be kissing you to my hearts content. I’d probably never stop tho!

Honey – I guess I’ll take in a show now & break this monotony around here.

I’ll write again tomorrow nite honey.

Goodnite now – darling!

Write soon.                X               O               X

         All My Love        Johnny

                 I miss you honey                X       X       yo tea mo X         O   X

December 9, 1943

Armored Force

Camp Polk, Louisiana

Dec. 9, 1943

Thurs. 11:20 A.M.

(inside envelope flap)

Hello

Darling!

I Miss You

X O X            All My Love

Write Soon             Eye amo te             X O X

My Darling Mark –

Hello Honey,

I thought I’d start this letter now – I don’t think I’ll have time tonight.

We didn’t do much this morning. Seen a training film on Russia & cleaned the coronoline off some new Tommy guns.

It’s been raining off & on this morning & now its sultry & hot. I guess we’ll be out in the rain tonite.

I don’t mind anything anymore tho – I always got you to think of & I can take anything & usually do. I guess you’re feeding your face about this time – huh honey?

Its about time for chow for me so I’ll stop awhile. I’ll finish this after chow honey!

4:30 P.M.

I fell asleep at noon honey & didn’t get to finish this letter.

We go out at 7:00 tonite on a dismounted compass problem. Its been raining this afternoon & I suppose we’ll get caught tonite in the rain.

I’ll be thinking of you honey – so it won’t matter.

We haven’t mail call tonite yet – so I’ll wait & see if I have a letter from you before I finish this.

I miss you so much honey & I always look forward to your letter. I just live from letter to letter! !

Well honey we just had mail call & I got a very nice card from you. That’s the same way I feel about you honey. I hope someday we can be together again! I got a letter from a buddy in my old outfit today. They seem to be having it pretty rugged on maneuvers – but I’d still like to be with them.

Ralph is in Tampa, Fla. now. My brother you know – I don’t know where Frank is now.

Well honey I’d better end this now & get ready for chow, & after chow I have to get ready for tonite’s problem. We’re coming back about midnite – if half of us don’t get lost.

Honey – I miss you & love you more every day!

As I said I’d better close & mail this while I have a chance.

Write soon sweetheart! I’ll never miss writing every day unless it’s wholely impossible.

Bye now – darling!    X       X       X       X

X O X         All My Love        Johnny     X O X

X       O      X       O      X       yo te amo          X       O      X

December 8, 1943, evening

Armored Force

Camp Polk, Louisiana

Dec. 8, 1943

Wed. Eve.

(inside envelope flap)

Hello

Darling!

I Miss You

X O X            All My Love

Write Soon             Eye amo te             X O X

My Darling Mark –

Hello Sweetheart ! !

How’s my honey?

I got another letter from you today. I’m waiting to go to Mass & thought I’d start this letter now.

Today we were neutralizing activated land mines. Our C.O. had one blow up in his face. He’s in the hospital now – he’s not hurt bad – except for his eyes & I think they’ll be alright.

We go out on a compass problem tomorrow night again – I hope I can get out of it but I doubt it.

Well honey I think I’ll go to Mass now & finish this when I get back.

I’m back again honey – did you miss me?

You asked me if I wanted anything honey – I only want you you & you!

Honey – I had a dream about you night before last – but it was good – if you know what I mean. I must have been nuts in that dream not to let you kiss me or not kissing you. I hope I never get that bad.

Honey that’s the first stick of Dentyne I’ve had since I came back to camp!

I know what disgusting weather is honey – it rains about 4 days of the week down here. Monday nite I got caught sleeping in the rain. I wouldn’t get up till I got wet tho.

You know I haven’t heard from Cec yet & I’ve written him a letter – you tell him to write right away!

We’re having an inspection Sat. & we have to send all excess clothes home. Nothing but G.I. no more – no less. I guess something is up.

I got another picture in one of your latest letters. I don’t know which one – but just keep them coming honey. Maybe I’ll have some taken in a short time too!

Honey I’m just running out of words. I could finish this page telling you how much I miss you – honey. I do miss you honey & think of you always.

I may not have time to write tomorrow nite if we leave early – but I’ll try & write during our noon chow.

I’d better stop now honey & write a letter home before lights go out.

I hope I dream of you tonite honey. Goodnite now.

Write Soon – honey.

X O X O X           All My Love        X       X       X       O      X

X       X       X       X       X       X       Johnny                      x       o         x

I miss you!                         Yo te amo

December 8, 1943

Armored Force

Camp Polk, Louisiana

Dec. 8, 1943

Wed. 7:00 A.M.

(inside envelope flap)

Hello

Sweetheart!!

I Miss You - X O X

All My Love X O X Johnny

X X X X XX O X X X X X X

My Darling Mark –

Hello Sweetheart ! !

How’s my honey?

I got 2 letters last nite when I got in. One that you wrote Nov. 24. The one you missed me so much – remember?

Honey – this is going to be a short one – I haven’t got time this morning & I want to write a little to get it in this morning’s mail. Last nite I had such a splitting headache I could hardly see let alone write. I wanted to honey – but I just couldn’t do it. I’ll write a long one tonight & make up for it tho.

I’m going to read those letters again – I don’t remember what I read last nite.

I was not drinking honey to cause that headache. Honey I miss you so much it hurts! I’ve always got you on my mind.

Well honey I’d better close & mail this before we fall out!  Bye for now – I’ll write again tonight honey.

I miss you – I miss – you!

Please write soon honey.

1000000 ->       X       X       X       X       X       X       X       X       X         X       X

         X O X                 All My Love        OX    Johnny     XOX

         X       X       X       X       X       X       X       Yo te amo 

December 5, 1943, 11:00 P.M.

Armored Force

Camp Polk, Louisiana

Dec. 5, 1943

Sun. 11:00 P.M.

(inside envelope flap)

Hello

Darling!!

I Miss You – Write Soon

All My Love XX X X X XX O X X X X X X

My Darling Mark –

Hello Honey – how ya was? I just got thru digging a fox hole. We have to dig them every time we stop for an hour or so. Its too much work to suit me. Its disgusting too – when we leave we have to fill them back up.

I just looked at your picture & honey when I do it leaves me weak.

I was just wondering what you’re doing about this time – eating?  Sleeping – playing records or over to Lu & Cec’s?  Honey I often try to imagine what you’re doing certain times of the day, & wish I was there doing the same thing with you – but if I was there we’d probably be doing something different – huh?

Right now honey – I’m sitting on a jeep writing to you & wishing I was at 1606 W. 39^th. It’s pretty quiet around here now – most of the guys are laying around sleeping & all the tanks are out taking a dry run over tomorrows course.

Honey – theres thousands of tall pine trees around here & young ones about the size of Kansas trees. If I wasn’t in the Army & was out here just for the fun of it – I guess I’d think it was beautiful & picturesque.

I’ll still take K.C. anytime.

Well, honey I guess I’ll close for now & stretch out & catch a few winks while I can. It looks as if it might rain tonite – I’m afraid!

I hope you can read this writing – I tried writing small to get more on see honey!  I miss you honey – more than I can say. Bye now sweetheart! Please write soon honey.    X       O      X

X       O      X       All My Love        XOX          Johnny     XOX

Tell Lu & Cec hello!            X       X       X       X       X       X       X         X

December 5, 1943

Armored Force

Camp Polk, Louisiana

Dec. 5, 1943

10:00 P.M.

Darling Mark –

Hello Sweetheart ! !

I’ll have to hurry this one – we’re getting ready to fall out now. Well I got up at 7:00 this morning & ate breakfast & made the 7:30 Mass in time.

Honey – I addressed a couple of letters to you just now that I’m going to try & write to you in the field.

Honey – I’m going to miss not hearing from you for 3 days – but – I guess I’ll have them on my bunk when I get in.

We got our bayonets issued to us this morning. Its sure a mean looking blade.

Well honey I’ve got to put my gear on now & finish packing. I’m sorry I haven’t more time to write but I’ll make up for it.

I miss you terribly, honey. Please answer soon.

I’m always thinking about you honey.

Bye now.   XOX

         All My Love        Johnny     XOX

O      O      O      O      O      O      O     

X       X       X       X       X       X       X       X       X       X       X       X         X

December 4, 1943 - Poem

December 4, 1943

Armored Force

Camp Polk, Louisiana

Dec. 4, 1943

10:00 P.M.

(inside envelope flap)

All My Love  X O X

These jokes misled me for a while

Write soon honey!

X O X

Darling Mark –

Hello Sweetheart ! !

How’s my honey – huh?  I came in this morning & there on my bunk was your sweet letter & card. Honey the card is beautiful & I’m wearing the medal now. I’ve got the picture in front of me now. You look mighty smug honey! I’d like to be coming thru that door now. Just think what would happen if I did – I’m thinking hard now. Heavenly – huh honey?

I just came back from the show. Seen “In Old Oklahoma”.

I got another letter you sent to my old outfit too.

You asked me if I knew how long I’d be in Camp Polk? I don’t know – honey exactly how long – but I think it will be a month or two yet. We’re going thru intensive training now – as you’ve probably guessed by my latest letters.

Honey – we’re leaving tomorrow noon for a three day problem. We won’t get any mail & won’t have a way to send any so if you don’t get any letters for a couple of days after this one – you’ll know why.

I’m taking a little stationery just in case tho. I might be able to send a letter in when a kid goes back to camp after gas in his truck. If he goes back in I know he’ll mail it for me.

We don’t’ have reveille at any certain time in the morning & we can eat breakfast any time from 8 to 9.

I want to go to Mass in the morning so I’ll have to get up early – if I can.

I guess I’ll have to hide this picture – I write a line & then look at it for an hour – almost anyway.

Honey – I miss you so much – I guess I’ve got “Pins & Needles” in my heart – that’s what it feels like anyway.

Honey I haven’t played poker or craps since I’ve left the desert. Out there there just wasn’t anything else to do & no place to go.

I liked playing poker the time passed quick & I never did come out in the hole in the long run.

I haven’t got time now to gamble & there’s other things to do here in garrison. Besides I’m sending most of my pay home to salt it away.

Honey – no one reads your letters or mine now & are not going to – how’s that?

The air cadets is out until this alert is lifted – if it is. If I get in there – I’d be sure of another year here.

Well, honey its time for lights out, so I’ll close. I’ll write tomorrow morning before we leave.

I miss you – darling! Write soon honey.

Goodnite honey -       X       X       X       X       X

X X X X X   All My Love        Johnny     X O X

X       X       X       X       X       X       X       X       X       X       X       X         X

Dec. 3, 1943 - Jokes

This is the 3rd clipping with the letter he wrote December 3.
Click on the image of the clipping to see it larger.

Is Zat So?

Another newspaper clipping that Johnny included in his letter to Mark.

Click on the newspaper clipping

to open it in a bigger size

Dec. 3, 1943 - Male Call

Click on the cartoon to see a larger image

(one you can read!)

December 3, 1943

Armored Force

Camp Polk, Louisiana

Dec. 3, 1943

10:00 P.M.

Darling Mark –

Hello Sweetheart ! !

I certainly have gotten a lot of mail from you the past 2 days. Yesterday, just as we were getting ready to leave the motor pool for our problem they gave out the mail & I got 2 cards and 2 letters from you, that you had mailed to my old outfit. Tonite when we came in was another letter & card on my bunk.

We didn’t get in till 9 P.M. – I’ve just finished eating chow.

Honey – now I didn’t break my arm! I can only remember the 2 days we were in the field last week that I didn’t write. Honey – I write every day I can & I’ll try & write every day without fail – letter or no letter from you. Honey – I miss not getting a letter from you every day too. I always look forward for your letter on my bunk at the end of the day. It makes it a lot happier. Honey – I miss you a lot more too; if I don’t get a letter from you every day.

From now on honey – I’ll try my darndest to write you every day & maybe twice.

You said you were going to a dinner tomorrow nite & probably wouldn’t get to write. I’ll write anyway to make up for what I’m behind.

It rained all last nite – so the Sarge & I put the top on the jeep and slept inside. It was cramped & not very restful, but we kept dry. Today it was sure muddy – that jeep looked like a big gob of mud. I guess I’ll be all day cleaning it tomorrow.

Honey – every time I look at your picture – I miss you worse & love you more! It’s sure a darling. Got any more?

I haven’t heard from Lu. & Cec yet – but I guess I will in time.

I didn’t do any work on this problem but drive, but we sure put in the hours - & we don’t get double-time unless it’s double-time-work!

Well – honey I guess I’ll close for tonite & get a little sleep.

Honey – I love you & miss you more every day! I’ll write tomorrow again.

Goodnite now, honey!        X       O      X

XOXOX      All My Love        xox   Johnny    

Hear about the first-nighter who looked at a particularly hefty chorus girl in one of the musicals & mused, “Hmmm, all that meat and only two ‘points’!”  Get it?