Introductions by Debra
This is a true, first-hand account of the innermost thoughts of Art to his beloved Lois, written while serving our country as a United States Marine during World War II. My name is Debra and I am sharing the gifts of Art’s Love Letters. Art was my grandfather and Lois was my grandmother. It was 1944 and they were 21 years old when the letters began.
We are now on Letter #3. In our last letter, we left off knowing they were expecting to meet for a first date on Friday, April 14, 1944. We know that Art has promised to stay away from the “stuff” (alcohol) in order to have this first date with her and that he finds it no big deal because he wants to see her very much.
I have also learned from my mother, that Art joined the Marines when he was 18 years old. So at this point, he has seen and experienced the first-hand horrors of World War II for 3 years. No wonder he was drinking with his buddies when he and Lois bumped into each other for the first time. He tells her in his last letter that he expects he will only be home for a month or a month and a half at the longest.
The Letter Transcript
Monday, April 17, 1944
My Darling Lois, {Narrator’s Note: Awwww… she has gone from “shorty” to “my darling”. How sweet!}
It seems like the world has suddenly collapsed for me. Nobody can realize the way I feel this morning after receiving my orders. Checked in here at seven-thirty this morning and was immediately given orders to report to California. Am leaving this afternoon by myself for a five week course. Nothing could have ruined my plans for next weekend anymore. {Narrator’s Note: Oh no! Poor Art}
Was going to call you up this morning Honey, but am afraid I just wouldn’t be able to talk. {Narrator’s Note: I know what that feels like… when you are so scared and upset that your throat constricts and closes up and you cannot speak any words. Poor Art… my heart breaks for him}
If you only knew how deeply in love I am with you, I know you would understand. Last night coming back on the bus I was the happiest man in the world. I didn’t mind waiting in a line a mile long, didn’t mind standing up on the way back. My insides are just being torn in two.
If only I knew what your true feelings for me were Lois, it wouldn’t be so bad going out there. And if I only knew when I do come back you’ll still be there, I could leave here with a reasonable amount of happiness but being in doubt has me hanging on the ropes. You mean everything in the world to me, Lois darling, and it hurts something terrible. If there were only some way for you to answer me. Please try, Lois, send a letter to the old address and they will forward it to me. What with leaving this afternoon, my pay will not catch up with me for another two weeks and me owing you that money.
Maybe you think I’m being silly telling you all this but regardless of the way you feel towards me, I’m still crazy over you Lois and always will be looking at your picture now, Honey, sends my blood pressure up just like it did when I had you in my arms. If only last night could have lasted forever, thank God I never caught the six o’clock bus.
Everything I write here seems so damn in adequate as to my true feelings but maybe you can get some idea as to my love for you. Time is growing so short now Dear, have so much to do but couldn’t begin to do anything until I wrote you this letter. Please Dear, write soon as you can and I’ll be going crazy until I hear from you. My mind is just one big jumble now and it’s going to be up to you to restore some order. Nobody around me knows why I look so forlorn, leaving you is the main reason and God how it hurts.
Frankie and the rest of the boys are going to Oklahoma tomorrow. Going where I am and by myself is supposed to be really good but I’d gladly toss it all overboard just to be able to see you once again. Couldn’t eat this morning again so you can see I have it really bad.
Hate to stop writing Darling but my name is being called over the P.A. system so am forced to stop. Will be reliving those three days of heaven all the way to California and I know I’ll remember them always. Good-bye for now Honey.
All My Love,
Art
Questions, Conclusions and Commentary
Well… this letter is just a tear-jerker for me. So I guess they didn’t just meet for a Friday night date. They liked each other so much, they spent 3 days with each other from Friday April 14th through Sunday April 16th. The very next morning on Monday the 17th, Art receives the crushing news that this Love Story of his is going to have to wait since he needs to leave for California that very same afternoon. He plans to use her picture to comfort him. My mother coincidentally mailed me a picture of her mother this week and it arrived in the mail today. It appears to be THE picture he used to comfort him.
I can also surmise that my grandfather was a deep feeling person much like myself. As an INJF personality type, I completely understand and feel inside myself all of the emotions he must have been feeling at this news. This poor guy finally gets a breathe of fresh southern belle hospitality and feelings of love after 3 years of war torn horror only to have it stripped away the very next day. How sad. I get why he could not eat his breakfast. It breaks my heart to picture him writing this letter all stressed out inside with his name being called over a P.A. system. The emotions inside him must have been extremely intense.
To conclude, I have much more commentary that cannot be properly be conveyed in words in this blog about my findings in this week’s research to understand these times. I encourage you to listen to the video recording of this week’s Love Letter on my YouTube channel for the expanded commentary. Don’t forget to Subscribe when you get there!
>>>> Love Letter 3 YouTube Video
The Calling 