August 3, 1943

Desert Training Center, California

Aug 3, 1943

Darling Mark,

Hello Sweetheart!!

No letter today – but I said I would write anyway. It’ll have to be short cause we’re falling out in about 10 min to go on the range. I didn’t think we’d go out till tomorrow nite. We’ll stay out till Thurs. so I won’t get a chance to write before then.

I was thinking about you today while we were marching – when all of a sudden we got a right flank – and I keep on marching – a buddy asked – what’s the matter – Kansas City? He’s from K.C. too & was thinking of K.C.

You’ll have to excuse this scratch honey – I’m trying to rush & get thru before we fall out.

A buddy just brought me a beer. It sure tastes good out here.

Well honey I’d better close. I’ll write when I come in again.

Bye now. Write soon. I miss you an awful lot, honey.

All My Love                 Johnny

X                                         X                                X

                 X                                         X

                 HAD          TO             FILL                   IN

X               THIS                  X               SPACE                X

                 X                                         X      

X                                         X                                         X

July 21, 1943

Desert Training Center, California

July 21, 1943

Wed.    8:00 P.M.

Darling Mark,

         Hello Sweetheart!!!

No letter today – but I’d better write a short one.

         I’ve just finished shaving & a shower & washing my fatigues. The co. went on an overnite hike – 6 miles. I got out of it. We’re trading our Scout cars for half-tracks. This desert is too rough for the Scout cars. We have to get up at 4:30 tomorrow morning & be ready to leave at 5:30. We have to drive 150 miles to another camp – I forgot the name of it. They figure on 14 hours of driving & we haven’t any assistant relief driver. We’ll probably start back Fri. morning & get back in camp late Fri. nite, so you see honey – I probably won’t have a chance to write again till Sat.

         This morning we had gas-drill & vehicle decontamination & map-reading & navigation. This afternoon we had maintenance & got the Scout cars ready to roll for tomorrow morning.

         I was planning on going to L.A. this week-end but got restricted – over just some trivial thing. This Army is driving me bats.

         Well honey I’d better close & get some rest. It’s getting dark anyway.

         Bye now.   Write soon.

    X      X      X      X

                 All My Love                 Johnny     XOX

    X  X  X  X  X  X  X      X      X

July 19, 1943

Desert Training Center, California

July 19, 1943

Mon. Eve.

Darling Mark,

         Hello Sweetheart!!!

Got your card today. It helped me out a little. Boy – was I disgusted today. Blue Monday I guess. This morning we were out for driving instruction. This afternoon we had maintenance. Most of the time I sat inside a Scout car reading Liberty. Time out honey a guy just brought me a cake.

         I’m going to have to finish this – but fast. We had to stand Retreat tonite & by the time that was over & ate chow & finished shaving & taking my “Lux” shower it is now getting quite dark. I guess by now you’re trying to figure the pictures out. One is of the desert as you can see, That mountain is about 15 miles from where I took the picture. Nice country?

         The other two are me – which you can’t so plainly see. I guess you can figure out which is the Scout car & which the tank. The tank is the M8 assault gun which I used to be in. Glad I’m out of it now. It gets pretty hot inside there out here.

         Well, honey I’d better close now. I’m going to the show tonite. I’ve probably already seen it – but!

         Goodnite Honey

         Write Soon                                  X X X X

XOX  All My Love        Johnny     XOX

June 28, 1943

Desert Training Center, California
June 28, 1943

Darling Mark,

Hello Sweetheart!!! What do you know – got a letter from you today! Sounds kinda catty doesn’t it? I’m sorry – I really was glad to get it – as you’ve learned by now. Yes, I know you haven’t written – this is the first one since last Wed. That’s a long time honey. But then it was 6 pages. Surprised to get 10 pages from me – honey? Why – I write “almost” that much every time - !

All kidding aside I would like that picture of you in a bathing suit. I’ll be waiting for it honey – for a special “pin-up” girl. Oh!

Honey, if you don’t get my picture soon, I’ll write to Riley & give a little “hell” & see what happens. I think this is only the third letter I’ve gotten from you so far – maybe its four.

Today I started navigation training. You really got to be on the beam to find your bearing – twisting thru these mountains. We’ll probably be lost half the time out here.

We’re restricted this coming week-end again – I guess I’ll never get out of this hole. You’d better watch out honey – I’ll have a lot of “lovin’” stored up when I get back to K.C. Well sweetheart it’s getting kinda dark so I’d better close – near the end of the page too. Goodnite now. Answer soon

All My Love Johnny XOX

“Honey how I wish I was with you! XXXOOXXX X

May 10, 1943

Written on a radio operator's "MESSAGE" pad

Fort Riley, Kansas

____________________________________________________

Time Field: 9:15 Msg Cen No. How Sent

____________________________________________________
URGENT MESSAGE

Classification (SUBMIT TO MESSAGE CENTER IN DUPLICATE)

No.:_____________________________________ Date: May 10, 1943



To: Darling Mark:

Did you and Lu get home okay Sun. nite or Monday morning? I wish I could have shown you a better time while you were here. Just seeing you was good enough for me.

You’re probably “wondering” why I’m writing on this message sheet huh? We’re out on a problem this morning & I’m operating a radio. It’s raining like hell here yet. We finally got sense enough to put the top on – after we got wet. I’ve got it pretty soft – just sitting here by the radio. Kinda cozy – wish you were here. We’re on the defense against “A” co. I might get this written between calls on the radio.

It’ll probably be too late when I get in tonight to write on stationery – but if I have a letter from you I’ll stay up & write.
Nothing has happened as yet to me – but I’ll probably hear something tonite. I don’t care what happens – it was worth it.

Honey – I better close for now. This radio is keeping me pretty busy all of a sudden.
Write soon – Honey – I miss you. Pretty tired today? I’ll bet! Do you still “wonder” Sweetheart?

All My Love
Johnny

XXXOXXXXX
XXXXXXO

May 4, 1943

Fort Riley, Kansas
May 4, 1943
9:30 A.M.
Tuesday

(inside flap)

Hello
Sweetheart!!
I MISS YOU!!
LOVE X O X X O X)



Darling Mark:

Here it is Tues. morning & I’m just laying around. We don’t start work till 11:00. We usually take a walk about an hour & then come back & eat. I suppose we’ll fire again today.

There’s a big blackjack game going on in the middle of the floor – I wonder if I’m lucky today? I don’t know whether I could concentrate on cards or not – I think of you so much.

It sure is a swell day. They tell us we’re going to start wearing our khaki uniform the 15th, but I wish they would start sooner – it’s so hot. Honey – I’m going to stop for awhile now, but I’ll write after chow & tonight I’ll finish this letter. I just got thru mailing one. I don’t want to mail them the same day – bye for now – honey XOXXX.

2:20 Hello honey – I’m on guard tonight so I didn’t have to go with the co. today.

I’ve just finished showering shining my shoes & cleaning my pistol. In about ½ hr. we go out for practice guard mount & at 4 we relieve the old guard. I’m guarding the motor pool tonite & I hope I catch a Louie down there – I’ll blow daylight thru him. I sure feel mean today – you ought to be here.

I told the orderlie room clerk to put me on guard today – so I wouldn’t have to take any chances of getting it on the week-end.

I got 9 1/2 hrs. sleep last nite – it sure felt good. I won’t get much tonite tho. They’re calling me it now – honey. Bye again.

7:20. Here I am again – I go on guard at 8:00 tho. I just finished chasing a prisoner around.
It’s nice up here this evening – I wish you were here with me. Oh-oh – I got to go again honey –

10:00 I’ve just come off guard. I don’t go back now till
2:00 next morning. I’d better finish this letter now honey – or I’ll be writing a week from now. I expect a letter from you tomorrow – then I’ll write again.

Goodnite honey – I’ll be seein’ ya! I love you.

All My Love
Johnny
XXXOXOOX
X O X