Dearest DeLores,

Please don’t be angry at me because I haven’t written for a couple of days. I have been working quite hard and I usually am all worn out by bed time. I had the weekend off and went to Spokane. I thought I could find a place to write you from there but the boys and I were so glad to get to town that we were on the go most of the time. I’ll explain what we did a little later. I know you understand, dearest. I always understand you and I know you do also.

I received your letters of the 8-9 and 10 today when I came to work. They are the first ones since I wrote the rotten news of my transfer. I was waiting to see how you took it. I know how hard it was for both of us. After planning and you making so many fine things in your room for me, it really was tough. I hope and pray and wish so much that I could be home with you to enjoy our bedroom set and have you. Darling, please don’t let your chin down. We are bound to get our chance and then I’m positive that we’ll have loads of happiness. Keep everything going back home and I’ll do my best to do good here at the hospital.

It is one of the toughest things we’ll ever meet in our life. But I know with all my heart that I love you with my whole body and soul and want you for my wife very much. I know that you feel the same and I don’t worry at all about our love. It’s the swellest feeling when you’re away so many miles, to know that you have the swellest girl in the world waiting for you. I’m going to try every which way to see if I can get a leave. If I do the only time you’ll know about it is when I’m on the train steaming home. I don’t want to disappoint you and make you cry. I love you so much that I don’t like to have you crying. We’ll see what I can do about it.

I hope your Mother is feeling better by the time this letter reaches you. I’m very sorry that she has been so bum. Try and do your best like you have in taking care of her. Rest and quiet is what she needs. Say hello to her.

About my insurance, dear. All of the $10,000 is in your name. It was that way from the start. I didn’t tell you because it really doesn’t matter because I’m coming home anyway. The reason you haven’t received any notice is because the insurance department is so short-handed they are 10 to 12 months behind. I don’t know when you’ll get the notice. The insurance is in operation anyway. It went into effect the minute I signed it. Believe me, dearest, I’m trying to run my end of the partnership just as if we were married right now. I know I carry the same responsibility as if I were your husband right now. I’ll do all in my power to straighten out your Mother’s silly ideas about the way I am handling our money out here. Enclosed is a money order for $50. I would have gotten it off sooner but I couldn’t find a place to buy it. I know you’ll manage it well. If you can save a little, it would be nice in case of an emergency. Do your best and I’ll be happy.

Here is what I did over the weekend. I got off the ward at 1 o clock and had to help clean the barracks so we could get our liberty passes. I left the station at 4:30 and went to Cour De Jean. There I had to transfer buses and I had to wait 1 hour. I didn’t get to Spokane until 8. Three other fellows and I went together. They are real nice guys. Don’t ever drink at all so I didn’t even touch any beer and I didn’t miss it. We ate a little dinner and started to look for a room. Every decent hotel was packed. We didn’t know what to do so we stopped at the U.S.O. and the Navy Mother found a private room for us. Really the people treat servicemen swell. After we had that off our minds we went back to the U.S.O. where they were having a Velentine’s Day dance. It was nice but I got blue as I wanted to be with my Valentine. I hope next Valentine’s Day I can be with mine.

We certainly had a nice place to stay. The lady fixed breakfast for us and she was very swell to us. It really feels good to have someone take an interest in you when you’re so many miles from home. We left her house about noon and went downtown and saw “Arabian Nights.” It was really pretty good. After we got through with the show we ate and bummed around town for a little while. It was nice to get away from the job for a while. I started home about 8 and got in the barracks about 11:30.

Well dear I guess I’ll have to close for now. I hope you don’t get tired reading this long letter. Take good care of yourself, darling. I love you very, very much and I’ll always be the finest guy to you. Keep your chin up.

Loads of all the love and have xxxxxxx to my swell wife.

Your loving sailor husband,
Joe