Our WWII Soldier Is Liberated From The Germans!

37234941                                 Cpl. John F. Jambrosic

Hopital de la Pitie

Boulevard de hospital

Paris, France

August 26, 1944

My Darling Mark

         Hello Sweetheart!

How is everything in K.C.? I’m still in a Gay Paree hospital – but no more a prisoner of the Jerries. The Yanks are in now. There’s some pretty cute French nurses around here & I can’t speak French! We’ve been having champagne since the Jerries left. They couldn’t evacuate all of us and I was lucky enough to be left behind.

I can get around now with crutches or a chair!

The French people are really treating us royally. They can’t seem to do enough for us. They’re really grateful.

I wrote the folks a letter – I got to write two letters this time. I guess it won’t be long before we’ll be able to write regularly!

How is your Mother & Sisters & Dee Dee? Tell them all I said hello!

How are you honey?  Well I hope.

I miss you like hell honey & still love you more every day!! Maybe it won’t be too long before we’re together again honey! Then we can make up for what we’ve missed. Looks as if I’ll have to close for now. Write Soon.

All my Love Always,   Johnny

Hope you can read this!!

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In a way, Johnny was very lucky. First, that he wasn't killed and that he was taken to Paris for medical treatment after he was injured; and second, that he was there only 4-5 weeks before Paris was liberated; and third, that his injuries were just severe enough that the Germans couldn't take him with them when they fled Paris to escape the Allies.  If things had been any different, I would not be here today!

Sometimes at family get-togethers (and after a few drinks), Johnny would tell the story of when he was liberated from the Germans at the hospital in Paris. 

While he was a prisoner of the Germans, the cute French nurse he referred to in the letter would make a bee-line straight to his bunk, walking right past all the other soldiers till she got to him.   

He claimed he never noticed until one of the other soldiers said “Just look!  She’s gonna go right back to Jambrosic!”  And she sure did!  She apparently had a crush on the handsome American soldier. 

When the Allies were liberating Paris, the French nurse was going to take Johnny home with her, if he could walk.  He said if he could have walked and gone home with her, he probably would have stayed in France (despite his declarations of undying love for Mark in the letters). When his tank was hit, his left thigh was split wide open, and even with crutches there was no way he could walk across the hospital, let alone walk to the nurse’s home.  So, she had to leave him there.  In the end, it turned out to be a good thing, because the Germans didn’t take him either.  He was rescued by the Allies and shipped back to England.  

Otherwise, I’d be writing this in French! Non?

I found this article on the internet.  The liberation of Paris took place on August 25, the day before Johnny wrote this jubilant letter!

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25 August 1944

On Aug. 25, 1944, Allied and French Resistance forces entered Paris and drove out the last significant Nazi opposition, liberating the city after four years of Nazi occupation. “On all sides the liberating French and Americans were greeted by hungry Parisians, mad with joy, who had fought alone against the German oppressors since they were called to arms last Saturday,” reported The Associated Press in an article printed in The New York Times.

Read the full article here:

http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/25/aug-25-1944-paris-is-liberated-after-4-year-nazi-occupation/

Our WWII Soldier Can't Write About What He's Doing

BLUE ENVELOPE MAIL

ARMY OF THE UNITED STATES

April 13, 1944

Thurs. Eve. 9:00 P.M.

Barracks “33”

Somewhere in England!

Hell of a place to be!

My Darling Mark

Hello Sweetheart!!

I got your letter of the 3^rd today. It was post-marked the 5^th. Pretty fast!

I just came back from the show here at camp. Seen “Destroyer” – I’d never seen it in the states. We’re restricted now – so there wasn’t’ anything else to do. There never is around here anyway.

The towns are here just make a guy more disgusted if he never went.

I got a letter from Mom today too – at the time she wrote it she had just heard from me since a 3 week lapse. Honey when you don’t hear from me – don’t think I don’t want to write – I can’t even tell you why I didn’t have time to write or what I was doing that I couldn’t write. It makes it kinda hard for me to explain don’t it? I hope you’ll understand Darling – cause I really like to write to you – at times it’s just like talking to you when I write – only I don’t get any answers. And too – I know you’ll answer them & the more I write, the more I’ll get from you – which makes this place a little more bearable. Honey mail is the chief thing any soldier looks forward to everyday. A letter from you honey – just makes me happy no end and I don’t care if school keeps or not.

I got an Easter card from Lu. & Cec. a couple of days ago. I guess I’ll write them tonite too.

No honey – Cec. never told me Lu. was going to have a baby – but I haven’t heard from him for quite some time now. I sure wouldn’t want to keep it a secret.

When this guy is man enough to be a daddy – I’ll let the world know! I’ll be the proudest papa at the maternity ward – Boy or girl!!

Of course – honey – I’ll be proud of my wife too – naturally! They help out a little!  Hold your fire- honey!

I’ve got your letter here now honey – so I’ll just start down it & answer all questions.

I hope you can have a darling baby of your own honey – on one condition – that I’m the father. Fair enough?

In this letter from Mom – she said Dode went to Leavenworth for his physical Sat. April 1.

He has to leave again the 22^nd. I sure hate to see him leave those kids. Frank is a Sargeant now & Ralph is a gunner on a B-17. Too bad about Joe – but in a way he’s lucky!

Did you get tight at that party honey? I hope the hell you can take care of yourself when you do honey. From experience I think you can, but don’t let me worry!

I guess Cec. will tell me Lu. is going to have a baby in his next letter.

I just hope the day comes soon when I’ll be able to have a chance to be a father.

These English Babes aren’t half so good as an American gal. You don’t think I’d pass up a piece huh? Honey I have and will. The gals that can be made go out with the negro soldiers – mostly because they don’t know any better & they’re something new in England. The negros have told them that they were Am. Indians.

I’m not saying that I wouldn’t – if I thought it was pretty darn safe. It’s not worth the chance - & when I think of what I’ve got waiting for me – I think I can wait!

Honey – I love you so much I hope some day I can prove it to you. I miss you & long to be with you so damn much honey. I just wonder how much longer I have to sweat this war out to get back to you.

I almost forgot honey – I got your sweet picture in your letter too. Honey it was wonderful! I hope you send that big one soon. You can send small ones & snapshots every once in a while in your letters too – honey! The more the better. If we ever get out of camp again – I’ll try & have some taken if possible.

Well honey believe it or not its 10:30, I just have to write home tonite yet. Mom was really worried when she didn’t hear from me. Have you had a chance to go out there yet?

I’ll close for now Darling. I love you – I adore you & miss you – just everything about you.

Goodnite Darling – [Note 10 pages]

Write real soon.

All My Love always             Johnny

Our WWII Soldier Dreams of His Sweetheart, and Wants to Spend Quiet Evenings At Home

BLUE ENVELOPE MAIL

ARMY OF THE UNITED STATES

March 24, 1944

Friday 5:30 P.M.

My Darling Mark

Hello precious!

I got two sweet letters from you today & was very happy to get them - just coming off K.P.

         It was another nice day here again. I hope it stays this way.

         I’ve still got my laundry to do that I started to do two days ago.

         Honey I had a dream about you the other nite while on guard. I dreamed I stopped off in K.C. (I don’t know where I was going or doing there but) I stopped in a café for some coffee & you were sitting at another table. I was awfully happy for some reason – but all I done was said “hi” to you & let it go at that (whats the matter with me??) then they woke me up to go on duty. I wish I could have dreamed on – maybe I’d have got to kiss you & honey how I’d like to do that! Honey I can almost feel a kiss from you – but I’d like to have a real one. The more I think about you the more lonesome I get for you.  Honey – I miss you like hell!  Its an awful feeling to miss anyone & want to be with someone as much as I do you, darling. I have you on my mind every nite when I go to sleep – hoping I can dream of you!

         Having a hard time reading this – I’m laying on my bunk & its kinda uneasy to write. Just lazy or an excuse?

         Honey – after I do get home & we’re married & I do want you – we’ll spend a lot of nice quiet evenings home. I don’t think I’d want to do much reading tho when I could be doing a lot of loving.

         Were you kidding when you said if you could get me to go to bed.

         I’ll probably be wanting my “dinner” in bed, & I don’t mean potatoes!

         Ralph & Dora got married at Olathe & Dora isn’t Catholic – that’s why Mom took it so hard.

         Honey – I’ll try & get a picture taken – but I haven’t seen any quick photo shops yet & the photo shops I have seen are only open about 3 days a week & are closed when I see them. Honey you can send me a picture of you every week if you can. I got a letter from Ralph Mitchell’s mother today - you know her? him? I guess Cec. gave it to her.

         Well – honey – I guess I’ll write Mom & do a little washing & go to bed & hope I dream of you. Darling I miss you & love you more every day. Honey I love you. I love you.

Goodnite Darling!!

Please write soon & often.

         All My Love,       Johnny

Camp Clipper, Desert Training Center Commemorative Plaque outside Needles, California

Click on the image to see a larger view; click Back button or arrow to return to this blog

(wording on plaque)

CLIPPER DIVISIONAL CAMP

CAMP CLIPPER

DESERT TRAINING CENTER

CALIFORNIA-ARIZONA MANEUVER AREA

Camp Clipper was established at a site that reached from Essex Road to this location in the spring of 1942. It was one of twelve such camps built in the southwestern deserts to harden and train United States Troops for service on the battlefields of World War II. The Desert Training Center was a simulated theater of operations that included portions of California, Arizona and Nevada. The other camps were Young, Coxcomb, Iron Mountain, Ibis, Granite, Pilot Knob, Laguna, Horn, Hyder, Bouse and Rice.

A total of 13 infantry divisions and 7 armored divisions plus numerous smaller units were trained in this harsh environment. The Training Center was in operation for almost two years and was closed early in 1944 when the last units were shipped overseas. During the brief period of operation over one million American solders were trained for combat.

The 33^rd and 93^rd Infantry divisions were trained here.

This monument is dedicated to all the solders that served here and especially for those who gave their lives in battle, ending the Holocaust and defeating the Armed Forces of Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy and Imperial Japan.

Plaque placed by the Billy Holcomb Chapter of the Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus, Cal-Trans, Essex Maintenance Station and in cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management, Needles Resource Area.

October 13^th, 1991

Blue Envelope Mail, WW2 - The History and Practice of Censoring Soldier's Letters

Blue Envelope Mail

Censoring:

What were the censors looking for?
The censors were looking out for two things in World War I and World War II. They didn't want the soldier to say anything that would be of value to the enemy, such as where they were. They always wanted to camouflage how strong the troops were. "Loose lips sink ships" was the phrase that was very prevalent in WW II and that was the theory in WW I as well.

Officers also were looking to see any weakening of desire among the troops. It's very important in wartime for officers to know about morale issues.

Did censoring influence the quality of the letters written?
In general, in the Revolutionary War and Civil War the letters have much more information. The writers would say, 'We're outside of Fredericksburg' or 'I'm in the 12th division,' and that's important information that was often cut out in World War I and World War II.

In WW II, it's common for a soldier to write, 'I can't say much or the censors will cut it out.' Early in World War II, the soldiers couldn't say where they were. People back home didn't know if they were in the Pacific or the Atlantic. You'll see letters where the soldier will say where he is -- it's cut out -- and how many people are in the building -- and that's cut out too. People would do very simple things to get around the censor like write on the inside of the flap but they were usually unsuccessful. So the World War letters often just include just Mom and Pop stuff.

Who did the censoring?
The enlisted soldier was censored by an officer in his unit. It was considered an unimportant job and often someone like the chaplain or the dentist would get saddled with the job. If the enlisted man did not want his officer to read his mail -- if he had been giving him a hard time, let's say -- the soldier could use what was called a 'blue envelope.' The writer would certify that there is nothing in here that shouldn't be and the letter would go up to the next level where it might be looked at a little more kindly.

The officers were self-censored. They didn't have anyone looking at their mail regularly, although the higher level staff or base censors would randomly check officers' letters to keep an eye on them. Officers seemed to say more in their letters. Whether it was because they knew better what was allowed or whether they were more brazen or whether their mail often was not censored is debatable.

What happened to letters that were censored?
If the section they wanted out was very big, they would confiscate the letter. If it was small, they cut out the words or obliterate it with ink. If they had to use special chemicals to check for invisible writing -- something they did when they suspected a spy -- they would confiscate the letter because they didn't want people to know they were doing it.

The censors returned very few soldiers' letters. They confiscated them; they didn't send them back. They didn't necessarily give the word back to the soldier that his or her letter was withheld. It depended where it was stopped and how fast the troops were moving.

From the soldier's perspective, you often didn't know if it was going to get through. The soldiers were all given guidance on what they could say, so you would think they would know how to avoid getting their mail intercepted, but not all did.

What happened to you if your letter was censored?
You might be talked to, because it's important. I don't know of any soldiers who were severely punished for what they wrote in a letter. It wasn't considered an overt act of sabotage; it was considered carelessness.

Why did censorship end after World War II?
It took a lot of time and effort to censor mail and the military probably just figured that it just wasn't worth it. Some censored letters are known from the early part of the Korean War. We believe this was an error with World War II veterans implementing WW II policy until things settled down. Communications changed too. Things were supposed to be faster and that included the mail to and from soldiers. In the latter part of the Vietnam War, the military didn't even bother to cancel letters.

From an interview with Myron Fox, on PBS.org on War Letters

Our WWII Soldier Had A Pretty Nice Voyage to England

Jan. 31, 1943 (sic)

Mon. 7:00 P.M.

(1:00 P.M. K.C. Time)

My Darling Mark –

         Hello Sweetheart !

I got your V mail letter of the 13^th today – I got an air mail from Cec. too.

         I was sure glad to hear from you honey – I hope you write very often honey.

         We had a pretty nice trip over – it got pretty rough at times & at the first couple of days a lot of the guys got pretty seasick. I never got sick – but felt like I was on a cheap drunk a couple of times.

         As you hoped I’m well & happy – I could be happier tho.

         If you’re wondering – I’m somewhere in England – honey. It’s a pretty nice country & pretty. The people are really friendly. The kids go nuts over candy & gum, thats the first thing they asked us for when we seen them. We got coffee & donuts & cigs & candy & gum from the Red Cross. We gave a lot of our cigarettes to the British Tommies. They really appreciated them. We’re rationed to 7 packs a week which is plenty & 1 pack of gum – 1 bar of soap – 3 candy bars – 2 razor blades & 1 roll of mints.

         This British monetary system is kinda screwy – but I guess we can get used to it.

         Our quarters here aren’t really bad – I had expected worse. Its cold over here now & rains quite a bit.

         I got a letter from you before we embarked. I got one from Ralph on the ship.

         There isn’t much more that I can write about or can think about at present. I’ll write every chance I get honey & hope you do too.

         I miss you honey & love you more every day. Don’t worry about anyone beating you to me honey – even if it is leap year.

         Goodnite now honey – Write Soon.

I love you Darling!

         All My Love                 Johnny

Hows that “Dentist” deal?

Our WWII Soldier Wants to Know If The Pla-Mor Is Still Open In Kansas City

Jan. 12, 1944

Thursday Eve.

My Darling Mark –

Hello Sweetheart !

No letter today – but I guess I owe you a couple of letters anyway.

Did you go to the matches Thurs. nite?

There isn’t much to write about now. Its still cold as blazes here. There’s a big lake frozen over here & I expect to do a lot of ice-skating sometime. Is the Playmor rink still open?

Honey this letter will have to be short – I’ve got to shave yet & then wash out a lot of clothes.

Honey I’ve sure been thinking a lot about you lately – well I always do anyway. I miss you more every day.

I’ll close now honey. Bye for now Darling!

                                                            Write Soon

All My Love

                          Johnny

I love you Darling

Our WWII Soldier Has To Take the Jeep Back To The Motorpool

Camp Polk, Louisiana

Jan. 1, 1943

Sat. Eve. 7:00

My Darling Mark –

Hello Sweetheart ! !

No letter today – but I know why, so I’ll write anyway.

It’s been raining all day again. I’ve been driving all day again too. I’ve got to take the jeep back to the motor pool yet tonite.

We have to wait till 8:00 before we’re off tonite & then we can get a pass till 6:00 tomorrow morning. Our last one! I don’t think I’ll go anyplace tho – not enough time & raining pretty hard.

I’m sending the wedding picture home – I wish I could keep it with me.

Honey I sure miss you a lot. All day I had you on my mind – just thinking how nice it would be to be with you.

We have to work tomorrow too. I’m on K.P. tho so it won’t be so bad.

We have to be ready on a 6 hour notice now – so if you don’t get any letters for awhile you’ll know why honey.  Honey – I do hope you’ll write as often as you can – I will.

We’ve got a kid nailed up in a packing crate here now. You ought to hear (him) holler. They’re taking him in the shower room now & get him wet. Crazy!

Well honey I’d better close for tonite now.

Goodnite Darling      I love you

All My Love        Johnny

I love you Darling


[Author's Note:  The year is now 1944, but Johnny wrote 1943 on the letter, so I transcribed it exactly as it was.  You know how it is when you have to learn to write a new year on everything!]

December 2, 1943

Armored Force

Camp Polk, Louisiana

Dec. 2, 1943

November 28, 1943

Camp Polk, Louisiana

Sunday 8. P.M.

Nov. 28, 1943

Darling Mark,

         Hello Honey !

         I’m really happy today! I got 2 cards from you & the letter you wrote Thanksgiving day! The cards are nice honey – but I like the letters best.

I just came from Mass. I went to communion too. We had to work till noon & then had an inspection of vehicles & had the rest of the day off. So I slept. They’re having Mass on Sunday nites too for the outfits that work on Sunday.

We might get Sunday off hereafter. I hope. I got a letter from home today too! Everything okay – Dad has a job now. I’m sending $25 a month home to save. It comes out of my pay – that’s about the only way I’d get to send it. If I sent it myself, I’d never save it.

Tomorrow we go out on the grenade range & throw live grenades. It should be fun.

Honey – I just couldn’t turn around after I left you – if I had I’d probably still be there. Honey it’s so hard to leave like that – I just had to.

Next time I come home I probably won’t have to leave.

Honey – you’re doing alright at writing a morale boosting letter. I’ve read this one 4 times & have got it in my lap now. I’m sitting on my bunk.

I think I’ll go to a show tonite & see “Thousands Cheer”. We get up at 5:00 here now.

The “kid” won’t read your letters anymore & he won’t bother me now. He went to the Air Corps.

The first chance I get I’m going to put in for Air Cadet here. If I get a chance.

Well honey I’d better write Mom a letter & get to that show – a couple of guys are saving a place in line for me.

Tell Lu & Cec hello & to write.

Goodnite now honey.  Miss you an awful lot.  Write soon – huh?

I’m not so blue since I’ve got this letter from you honey.

X       O      X               X       O      X

All My Love                         Johnny     X       O      X

         X       x       x       x       x       x       x       x       x       x  

November 26, 1943

Camp Polk, Louisiana

Nov. 26, 1943

Darling Mark,

         Hello Honey !

I hardly know what to write about. I haven’t had any mail for a week. I should be getting some in a couple of days – I hope.

Yesterday – we had an enormous turkey dinner & stuff. I mean to say I was really stuffed. We had the afternoon off & I slept all afternoon till chow again. More turkey.

How’s everything & everybody in KC?

There’s nothing happening around here yet.

I went to Mass last nite. First time I had a chance since I’ve been back off furlough.

Well – honey – it’s about time for lights out so I’d better close & get some shut-eye. I wish I had one of your kisses to put me to sleep now. Just wishing!

Good nite now honey.

Please answer Soon. I miss you like all hell.

All My Love        Johnny

November 22, 1943

Camp Polk, Louisiana

Nov. 22, 1943

Darling Mark,

Hello Honey !

I felt like writing to you – so I am. I probably won’t get any of your mail until the end of the week anyway. I’ll probably be out in the field this Thanksgiving. We’ll probably be on a 2 day problem Wed. & Thurs.

How is Cec & Lu by now: is Cec working? I’d write to him if I knew his address.

I miss you an awful lot honey. I think about you more every day.

How I could go for one of those special kisses right now. I can only dream about that now.

Well honey it’s about time for me to turn in. Probably have to get up early in the morning.

Goodnite Now.  Write real Soon.

I miss you! !

All My Love        Johnny

X       O      X       O      X       X       X       X       X       X       X       X         

November 19, 1943

Camp Polk, Louisiana

Nov. 19, 1943

Darling Mark,

Hello Sweetheart ! !

         Well – honey I’ve had a very busy nite. I don’t know quite how to write this either.

I was called tonite to take my “overseas” physical – I passed it. I guess I leave in the morning! Pretty fast isn’t it?

One reason I was called is on account of my record firing. I’m going as a machine gunner. I think another reason is because I put in for a transfer to the Air Corps. I kinda hate to go because I’ll be leaving all the fellows I’ve been training with for a year & on the other hand I’m anxious. I was getting kinda tired of this fooling around over here anyway I’m going & there’s nothing I can do about it.

I’m going to miss you an awful hell of a lot honey – I know that.

Boy – they keep interrupting me here – turning in equipment & getting other equipment. I’m going to write Mom tonite – I hate like hell to tell her – I know she’ll damn die & I can just see the effect it’ll have on her. She always was asking me if I thought I was going across.

Honey you can keep sending mail to this address until you hear from me again to change it.

Tell Cec & Lu not to write until you hear from me again.

Well Honey this is 2 hours later. I’ve been over to personnel filling out forms.

I’ve been transferred to the 113^th Cav. (Mech) which is alerted for overseas duty. We’ll probably be in a P.O. for 2 or 3 months. A lot of things can happen in that time.

Honey here it is 10:00 & now I have to go back to the supply & turn in some more equipment. It looks like I’ll be up all nite.

I’d better close for now & get these things straightened out.

I hope you’ll write often honey – gotta keep up my morale you know. And if anything would it would be a letter from you.

Goodnite now honey.

I’ll write as soon as possible & let you know more dope.

Write real soon

All My Love        Johnny

         X       X       X       X       X       X       X       X       X

O      O      O      O      O      O      O      O      O      O     

Some more of those kisses we like

November 17, 1943

Camp Polk, Louisiana

Nov. 17, 1943

Darling Mark,

Hello honey !

I’m disappointed in you gal! I was sure I’d have a letter when I got back to camp today – but nope!

I haven’t had a chance to see about the Air Corps yet, but hope to tomorrow. If I don’t get to take the test before next week – I’ll just have to wait till after maneuvers. We start on maneuvers next Monday, & how I hate that!

The nights are so damp & cold I wish I had you here honey along with some of those “kisses”. I could take the coldest weather out!  All I can do now is dream.

Damn! I think I’m catching another cold. The dew falls as heavy as a light rain during the night. I knew I forgot something when I left home – my shaving kit!

Guess what – my ‘pest’ is sitting quietly on his bunk – writing a letter. He makes me so mad, sometimes. I feel like I could “way lay” him – but he’s such a good guy most of the time, I can’t do it.

Honey – have you got a small picture I could carry in my billfold? I’d like to have one – how about it?

I’d better close now – time for lights out. Write Soon honey. Bye now.

All My Love        Johnny     X

Yo tea mo.  
X       X       X       X       X       X       X       X       X       X

O      O      O      O      O      O      O      O      O      O

 X       X       X       X       X       X       X       X

New Address

Pfc. John F. Jambrosic 37234941

Troop “C” A.P.O. 259

89^th Cav. Ren. Sqd. (Mecy)

% P. M.      Shreveport La.

I talked too soon he’s here.

November 14, 1943

Camp Polk, Louisiana

Nov. 14, 1943

Darling Mark,

Hello honey !

Well, I’m back at the same old grind again. Oh- how I’d like to be back in K.C. with you!  It’ll take me a month to get used to Army routine again.

I wished I had caught that train Sat. morning. We had to work till noon today getting vehicles checked.

         We go on a 3 day problem starting tomorrow. How I hate that. It’s so damp & wet in the mornings (the poor boy).

I’m going to try & get out of it, so I can take the Air Corps test Tues.

I’ve got complications now. We have a new C.O. now & I’ll have to get his permission & I hear he’s plenty rough. (Not too bad though - )

A week from tomorrow we go on maneuvers. We go to Texas & then work up towards Kent. & Tenn. I sure hope I get to take the test before maneuvers.

Right now honey I’m laying on my bunk (alone & it’s unusual for him to lie down alone.) & writing letters. I’ve got a lot of packing of field equipment tonite sometime.

OH! Honey how I miss you!!  (Ever so much)  I’ve just been informed that I’m on guard tonite. (But that will give me loads of time thinking of you.)  I don’t mind, I won’t have to go out till Tues now & I’ll have a chance to see about the Air Cadet test tomorrow.

Well honey I’ll have to close now & shower & shave. I have to stand guard mount at 5:00. No rest for the wicked!

I’ll have to finish this quick – that “kids” here again & writing in between the lines.

I don’t think I’ve ever written a letter that he hasn’t been around to pester me.

He’s got the first page now writing on it, so honey what you see in pencil is his writing – I have to humor him. Sometimes he makes me “so mad”!

Bye now – honey

Please Answer Soon.

All My Love

         Johnny

“Ego amo te”

October 11, 1943

Oct. 11, 1943

Darling Mark,

         Hello Sweetheart ! ! !

I received your letter yesterday. I was packing & that’s a whole days job itself. I’m leaving for Texas tomorrow. I probably won’t have a chance to write for a week or two so if you don’t get any letters from me, you’ll know why. We’re supposed to arrive at Barkley the 14^th & leave the 16^th.  I don’t reckon it’ll be a picnic. I seem to be getting a lot of letters these last few days – just because I haven’t much time to write.

         I don’t know what to write now – nothing is going on around here.

         We have another formal retreat tonite - how I hate it.

         Well honey, I’d better scratch off a couple more letters – this is the last time I’ll get to write before I leave.

         I expect to get a furlough after we hit Polk.

         Bye now & Write Soon.

         All My Love                 Johnny

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