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.
The Letter Transcript
Monday, May 1, 1944
Dearest Lois,
Pardon the paper, borrowed stuff you know. Be able to get some stationary tomorrow as wonder of wonders was paid today. Check came in from Norfolk for $150. Sure was a welcome sight, almost ready to raise the distress signal.
Honey, last night was laying in the sack awhile thinking about you and me. A thought came to me about the engagement ring. Look Honey, I don’t know much about rings and was wondering whether or not you would care to pick it out. If you picked it out I’d know for sure you would be happy with it. That’s all that matters, Darling, whether you’d be happy with the ring. What made me think of that was remembering some of my sister’s experience. You’ll let me know in the next letter, huh?
Two letters from you today, sure am getting mail so often from you. Think your spoiling me, Honey, but I love it. Now if letters from you don’t come I will be terribly lost. See what a situation you’ve got me into now?
That was quite a night at the canteen sounded like a lot of fun. Wish I could have been there. You had better have some of that chicken, southern style, when I get back. Every time you write you tell me about those wonderful meals you cooked and here I am way out here.
Oh, Honey, I only wish you could know what’s going around me. Almost impossible to write. The boys are raising the roof around me. Trying to stop me from writing and almost succeeding. My belly is so sore from laughing can hardly move. Just finished a laughing jag, thought I’d never stop.
May 2, 1944
Sorry, Darling, that I couldn’t finish up the letter last night but the lights went out when the fellows finally calmed down. The enclosed paper is from my sister so you can really believe I wasn’t just kidding.
Think I’d better answer some of those questions in your typed letter. Even thought I prefer written letters, Lois, anything from you is so very welcome. In fact missed receiving a letter from you today. Maybe tomorrow I hope hope.
Yes, Darling, am positive that I’ll be back in Norfolk. And here is some pretty good news. I’ll be leaving here a week sooner that I thought. The fellows I’ll be with are two weeks ahead of me and they are leaving for Norfolk next Tuesday. In order that I catch up with them sooner they are doubling two weeks into one for me. That means I’ll be leaving a lot sooner.
As for as the course is concerned it is B-25 bombers. Will be more or less be an instructor about that plane when I finish this course. My exams for the first week came out on top which pleased me to no end. Anything to keep ahead of my swabby buddies.
Now that I’m leaving so much sooner beginning to think about Kelorama Rd. Hardly can wait until I walk down those stairs to your apartment. Better get that door open in a hurry too, Honey, or there just won’t be any door. And have a big kiss ready cause I’m really going to be coming in on the beam. Started to get excited already, better I should calm down for a while yet.
Anything new around the home Lois? Alice must be back with you girls. Hope she is okay by now. Say hello for me, Honey.
How are you these days, my “Little One”? Still glowing with that wonderful personality I bet.
Say, am I going to get some snapshots of you? Now I really regret not having taken some pics while in Washington. That will be one of the the things we do on the first Sunday, okay?
Had better save something for tomorrow night, Darling, so will close. Night for now.
All My Love,
Art
P.S. Want some more kisses, no more errors on the typewriter.
Transcript of Enclosed Page of Letter From Art’s Sister
Before I forget, I will send Pastor your address. Also he came for yours and Bob’s picture so I had a small one made of your big ones and he was very happy to get it. They wanted it for the church picture.
From the way you have written about that girlfriend of yours well I can say right now, she is tops. I got a very good description of her from the letter and feel as if I know her. You said it, you don’t find such nice girls these days. I’m so glad for you Art, because you really missed a good companion back home here. There never was a girl back here I could see you going with and I mean it. I guess it is because I think so much of you.
I suppose I need not ask how you enjoyed the cherry blossoms because you already mentioned it was very romantic.
Arthur I’m enclosing a letter from Paul Abrams who sent me a letter and wanted me to forward it to you. I’ve been holding it until I got your address. I also wrote him a letter explaining the situation, so when he should write he….
Questions, Conclusions and Commentary
Question: What does southern style fried chicken taste like? I shall add that to my bucket list to try to find that when I go visit Kelorama Rd in Washington DC.
Conclusion: Wow! Art must be really intelligent! Here I thought he was learning to help build the planes and he is actually going to be the instructor on how to build them. Too boot! He is being pushed to do twice the amount of workload as those ahead of him and they apparently believe he is made of what it takes to do so! Kudos Art!!!
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The Calling 