Dearest future wife,

Hello dear. I hope you are fine and everything is going along O.K.

I’m writing this letter on the patient’s rest hour. They are sleeping so it gives me time to get off a letter to my darling sweetheart.

I received the swell letter you write Sunday. It was swell and it made me feel very good to read it. There were some things in there that I’ll answer.

Don’t think for one second that I have changed my love or want to marry you. I love you very, very much with all my heart and soul and want you for my wife more than anything. Maybe at times my letters don’t sound exactly that way but don’t ever thing that. Our love is true. I have all the faith in the world in you and I know you have it in me. I’m sure we’ll get our chance to have happiness.

Keep your chin up dear. I know it was a hard thing to find out that I wasn’t coming home right away but I didn’t have any power over those orders. I wanted to go home and become your husband very much. So much that when this order came through I just didn’t know what to say or thing. They’ll have to give me a leave shortly and then we’ll fulfill our happiness twice as much. You keep the home fire burning and I’ll do my best out where I am.

I’m glad your room is all fixed up fine. You enjoy it for now and when I get a leave we’ll both enjoy it. If enough of the set is paid for you take it out. I want you to have all the fun and pleasures that are possible. Just because I’m under orders is no sign that my dearest sweetheart shouldn’t have enjoyment out of freedom. When I get home we’ll both share everything together.

I was very unhappy to hear that your Mother has been feeling bum. I hope she takes care of herself a little better than she used to. I kind of thought that she had a bum heart. I hope she is much better by the time this letter gets home. Say hello to her for me and tell her that I want her to take better care of herself and not move like a cyclone all the time. Give her my very best regards.

I’m glad you liked that ribbon and insignia. They weren’t much but I had a chance to get them so you see I’m always thinking of my future wife. I know you wished you had some of my clothes but when it came time to send them back it had to be done in such a hurry that I couldn’t do much about where they went. Please understand sweetheart.

No, dear I shall never be really tough. I didn’t mean it that way. It’s just when you have to see and take orders and other things at times you just sort of don’t care much. In other words you get down in the mouth and there isn’t anything you can do about it. I know after I get out of the hospital work I’ll be different as far as pain goes. When you have to sit and watch a patient dying before your very eyes and can’t do anything for him you feel how small you are. I can’t put it into words but I know I’ll have to harden as far as seeing persons die before me. I’ll never be hard toward you or anyone else. You know that way in my heart I try to be a friend to everyone.

Well I finally got my pay that was coming. It was for 2 months. After they deducted from the $132.00, $20 I drew, $12 for insurance, I got $95 today. I get into town this weekend and for some am going to send you a nice money order. Use your own judgement on how to use it. I hope in time you can start a bank account so we can have something saved to start out on. Do the best you know how with it and I’ll never say anything. Twice a month I’ll send you an amount to take care of the bills and such. Things ought to be running smoother as far as money is from now on.

I guess I’ll have to close for today. I have written all the news I know at the present, except don’t ever think that I don’t want to marry you. I do love you with all my heart and soul and pary all the time that we may become man and wife soon.

Say hello to everyone for me, please. Loads of kisses and hugs from your loving sailor husband.

Joe

P.S. God Bless you, lover.