Dearest DeLores,

I hope you understand the reasons why I don’t get as many letters off as I would like to. I really put in some long hours and I usually am so exhausted that all I can do is go to bed. I like my work, but it isn’t the easiest thing. If letters come a little slow please try and understand dear. I think of you always and I do want to write to you every day, but my energy just gives out.

Darling, your Valentine to me was beautiful. It made me cry. I know you think of me always because the box was so swell. The candy tasted swell and everybody certainly thinks I have a swell girlfriend to send me such a swell box. I love you very, very much and I shall always love you. I know you think the same towards me.

I received your card that you mailed from the Prom. Makes me feel good that you even think of me when you are out. I’m glad you enjoyed the flowers. I shall always try to give you nice things as it makes me feel good to know that you are happy. I hope you and Addie had a good time. Say hello to her and please apologize for me, for not writing. I have all I can do to write to you and mom.

I’ll try and explain a little bit of what I do. We take the patients temperatures and pulses, respiratory every four hours. That’s quite a job when you have 35 patients. We change bedding and give bed baths. At certain times we give the patients their medicines. If patients are restricted from going to the toilet we jockey bed pans. Those are the main duties outside of seeing the ward is clean and any other things that may come up. I have been working with a spinal meningitis case. Wen you work with something like that, that’s contagious, you have to wear sterile gowns and be very careful. I can’t worry about it because it is all in the duties of a medical coreman. Don’t worry about me. Just pray that I don’t get anything. So much for my job just know.

I received a letter from Lucy today. She said Dale is in Texas. At least he is where it is warm. She wondered how come I didn’t get a leave after Booth’s. Well, I guess Farragut just doesn’t give Booth leaves. The only fellow from the company that got leaves were the fellows that went to sea. There only were about 12 of those. Keep your chin up and let’s hope and pray that I can get one soon. If I do happen to get a leave I won’t telegraph until I get on the train so you won’t be disappointed again. They’ll have to give me one some time and then we’ll get married and I’m sure have lots of happiness.

I was glad to hear that your mother took a week off. I’m sure she needed it very bad. I hope she is feeling much better now. Say hello to her for me.

I hope Jerry and Dar and the baby are okay. I suppose they are sore that I haven’t written to them but I just haven’t any time. If I get any time I’ll sure have a lot of letters to write.

Well dearest sweetheart, I guess I’ll have to close for now. I love you so very much that I wish this war would end so we could be together and have our own home and happiness. I know you want the same dearest. We’ll just have to keep up hope and maybe things will break for us soon.

If I do get a leave I hope you have everything ready dear. I’m very happy that you have the set home. I’m sure we’ll get much enjoyment out of it. Until we use it together you certainly should have the comfort of it.

Bye bye for now, darling. God bless you and giving xxxxxxx in return until I can give ou a ooooo.

Your loving sailor husband,

Joe