I am so excited about this next letter! With Grandma now in Seattle/Bremerton with Grandpa, I now get my very first letters from my OTHER great grandma — Laura Kloppenburg Albright. It never gets old to see their handwriting, and the way they sign off with so much love, and the way they write “Mother.” My heart feels bigger reading it. And I feel connected to this line of mothers in a deeply intimate way.

What. A. Gift.

---

My dear children,

I got both of your letters today. I had expected one yesterday but didn’t get it until today. It is raining here and it is nasty going downtown to buy Easter things for the grandchildren.

Addie and Mr. and Mrs. Fuss were here Tuesday evening and Addie got me a beautiful plant.

Did you get your little suitcase back? Let us know and dad will go after the Red Cap.

I am very tired and nervous tonight. I can’t hardly write. 10 bundles for 4 days and it got me down.

Did you get Emaline’s telegram? She called me Thursday evening and wanted your married name. She was going to write you to tell you when she would meet you. You must get in touch with her. She was so happy that you were coming to Seattle. I am very glad that Joe is looking better. Give him a big hug for me.

Mr. and Mrs. Bickworth are staying with us for a week and then they are going on the road with him.

Darleen is moving into her new home the 27th. Sold their car to Dick and she misses it she said.

Did you find a place to live? I mean something decent? Are you going to work or are you coming home? Again if you are coming back you had better tell your boss so he will keep your job.

I hope Joe isn’t going on on the ocean. That would worry me to death.

Well my dear. I must get something to eat, so with love and kisses to you both.

God bless you as ever,
Mother

Dearest Joe,

Your letters were received and I was glad to hear from you that you are feeling fine. Bernice had a letter from Ralph Monday. Dear Joe try and write him letters. He wants to hear from you.

I just wonder if you know that we have Passover. It started after 19, it is kind of a lonesome Passover for me, but I am making the best of everything hoping it will all come out in the wash.

I am feeling just fair, don’t worry over me with best regards to DeLores and loads of love and kisses to you.

From your loving,
Mother

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April 22, 1943

Dear Joe,

Well seeing you won’t answer my letters, I guess I’ll have to write anyhow.

How are you feeling, and how does it feel to have your wife with you? I sure wish I could be near Ralph. He is in Australia and not nearby. I got two letters the other day from Ralph and he wants to know why you don’t write. He says he knows you are not that busy that you can’t spend a few minutes to drop him a line. Consider yourself bawled out.

Sam Ziegler is home now but has to be quiet for awhile.

Say, I sure am proud of you for writing so many letters to your mother. If you were here I think I’d give you a nice big hug. She sure feels better now that she hears from you. Ralph sent your mother a nice letter about three weeks ago. It was a birthday reminder, better late than never, I’d say.

The Ziegler family are all right so far.

Say, I’ll have you know I’m always a good girl but when I sleep I am even better.

Sis Ackert has been here since Sunday night so we have been on the go almost all the time. Milton is still around, they deferred him til July. George Ackert left last night for Alaska. He couldn’t find a job here.

By the time you get this letter you should have your box of cakes. Well so much for now. Write soon. Say hello to DeLores.

Please write to Ralph.

Love Bernice,

P.S. Please write to Ralph.

Dearest Mom,

Well, here I am out in Bremerton. Joe didn’t meet me at Seattle, but I got a long distance phone call through to him and he got to meet me in about 2 hours. He didn’t receive my wire somehow so he really wasn’t expecting me.

We got a hotel room in Seattle Saturday night that I really didn’t care for. We are in Bremerton in a darling Inn. It is Sunday and the weather is beautiful. I really don’t like Seattle very much. Of course I’ve only seen a very small part of it.

My trip out was very pleasant. Please forgive me for not writing on the train, but my small bag was lost so I didn’t have any equipment. Everything is ok. I’ve got all my baggage and I’m with Joe.

Joe received your wire today. I hope you were not too worried about me. I’m quite ok. I met a very nice solider on the train who paid for almost everything for me. I was a nice gal all the time.

Darling it is late so I’ll close for tonight. I haven’t any definite address as yet, but will write tomorrow. I hope to get a room tomorrow. I’ll let you know what it is at once. I miss you already. I hope you aren’t worrying too much. Don’t work too hard. Please. I’ll see you soon.

Your loving daughter,
DeLores

P.S. Hello from Joe also. I’m not used to writing for both of us yet.

Dear Joe:

Just a line to let you know that we are all fine and hope to hear from you the same.

Now will you just tell me why you haven’t answered my last letter? I’m sure that I haven’t said anything out of the way and here I’m waiting to send you that package. Easter is here and I want to send you something but I want to know whether or not you are still there.

I know that you work hard but we all do. Look at me, I get up at 4:30, work as a welder in the shipyard, and don’t get home until 4:30 and still find a little time for something to do that I like. Building ships is great and I like it very much and the group of people I work with are grand and a pleasure to work with so that helps.

The biggest thrill of my life was to be at the launching of the first ship I worked on. Last Sunday the second one I worked on went down the Bay and believe me on that one, I worked from the start to the finish and today my third one left. Joey, it’s a great feeling if you have any idea.

Have you heard from Mother? How is she I haven’t had time to write to anyone but I will do so as soon as I get a little organized. Have you heard from Ralph? Tell me all about it. Please answer me real soon for I want to send you that package and please let me know if you smoke. That is all until I hear from you and hope that this will find you in the best of health. I’m closing with loads of love from all to you.

I’m as ever your cousin,

Rose

My dearest wife,

As I start this letter, I don’t know if you are on your way or not. I haven’t gotten a telegram like you said you would send at the time you left St. Paul. If you are on your way, you won’t get to read this letter, that is what I hope. I do want to have you out here with me very much. But if you couldn’t get away just now I’ll have to understand. But I sure hope you can come a little later on.

I haven’t written you since last Friday because I thought that you wouldn’t get my letters before you left. That was when I still thought that you were coming out with that lady. When I got your letter that you wrote last Monday I nearly got sick. I mean that I felt kind of bad that the ride had fallen through. I also was made happy by the thought that you would still come even though you had to take the train. But right now I don’t know what to think. I have called the telegraph office a couple of times but I don’t get the word that I want. Well! That’s the way things go. I just hope that everything is alright at home.

The weather certainly has been swell out here. Everything has started to bloom and it really looks nice. Everything blooms a lot earlier than back home. They usually don’t have much of a winter out here. This year was a different story. They had 2 feet of snow. But it is really quite a nice place. I’m sure you would enjoy the place. Of course I would be here too. That would make both of us happy.

How is Mother Albright? I hope that she hasn’t had any of those spells like she had. I have been looking forward to receiving a letter from her. I now that she is pretty tired out when she gets done with work. I will write her as soon as I get a letter from her. Give her my love. Not very much of it as it belongs to my own wife.

Dear, I love you so very much. I really am happy in the thought that I could get home to marry you. I hope and pray for the day when this thing is over with and we can be together all the time. I certainly will work very hard to try and make my sweet wife happy. I know that we’ll make a go of it. I’m sure that we’ll have much happiness in our lives. I know that you will do all in your power to make that come true. If we always pull in the same direction, we can’t help but succeed. I love you with all my heart and a lot more if that is possible.

How are all of our relations coming along? You know what I mean. Say hello to the Protextors and every one else for me. I sure bet that baby Jerry is some cute little fellow now. Say hello to everybody for me.

Well! I guess I’ll have to close off for tonight. I sure hope tha tyou are on your way out here. But if you aren’t, take good care of yourself and remember that I love you very, very much. Bye by and be a good little wife. I know that you are.

Your LOVING Sailor Husband,
Joe

P.S. This is going to be a long P.S. I just got some wind that didn’t sound very good. It seems that a blank order came through for a H.A. to report to the station at Bremerton for duty some place. All I can say is that you better stay where you are until I get some information on it. You know I’m in the Navy and I guess you can never tell what is going to happen. I guess that luck doesn’t want to come our way. It isn’t too bad as yet because someone else might get it. It isn’t decided on who is going. Don’t worry too much and I’ll write more tomorrow.

Sweetheart Joe,

I received your long waited for Special Delivery letters. I received the one written Thursday about 8:30 Sunday morning. Boy, you don’t know how happy I was to hear from you. I really couldn’t say I was leaving until I heard from you and got your approval. Anyway, I got the Friday letter about 2:30 Sunday afternoon. You sound so happy, I just wanted to reach out and kiss you.

Anyway, my ride fell through. This woman’s husband got transferred so I didn’t know what to do. That’s why I haven’t written for the past few days. When I got your letters I just didn’t have the heart to tell you I wasn’t coming, so I’m I’m taking the train Thursday morning and will arrive Saturday morning. I think it will be the Olympian. I will wire you before I leave the St. Paul station.

I got only a 2 week leave, but I can get a conditional release if I want to stay longer. Maybe you don’t think I will. This release deal gives me a chance to get back into the company anytime after I return at the same rate of pay I leave at. If we can possibly make a go of it, I’ll be staying. I do so much want to be with you.

Hope you don’t have too much trouble finding me a room. If you just have to take anything, it will be ok. If I intend to stay, I can always change if I don’t like it. I can change rooms. I am trying to get a small vanity case to carry on the train, but it looks hopeless. I thought I would check my suitcases right through. Then I won’t have anything to take care of.

I have some good news. I will just be getting over the curse, so you know what that means. I sure know how to pick the times.

I talked to your mother yesterday and told her I got the specials and said hello for you. Darling you must write to her more often. She misses you so darn much.

Darling, I have to do dishes and then go out to Wards, so I must close for a little whiile.

Your Loving Wife,
DeLores

XXXXXXXXXX to be collected very soon

Dearest Wife,

I received your most wonderful letter postmarked the 7th. It was swell to get more information on your trip. All your plans are very agreeable with me. I’m just very, very happy.

It certainly is a swell break that you found such a party to ride out here with. It certainly is a lot cheaper than riding out on a train or bus. And you also will have the traveling companionship. That does mean a lot on a long trip like that. I guess I’m pretty darn lucky to have a swell wife like I have. I know we’ll have much fun being together out here.

I get 3 out of every 5 nights off and that is quite a bit. We can be together all that time. I also get a day off every 15 and when you get out here I believe it can be arranged so we can have the same day off. I’m sure things will work out ok.

Seventy dollars ought to be enough to get you going until you start drawing money. I sure hope your allowance goes through in a hurry. It certainly will come in handy. You shouldn’t have any trouble at all getting a job out here. We’ll see which you prefer, office or production work, when you get here.

You mentioned something about where I would meet you. I believe the best place would be the Northern Pacific Depot. I think it is on King St. Be sure to telegraph me the time you figure you’ll arrive. I’m pretty sure I can be there to meet you. I’ll try very hard to get a room for you and I think I ought to succeed.

I hope you have a nice trip. The scenery out to be very beautiful this time of the year. Enjoy yourself, darling. I’ll be waiting with open arms to greet you when you get here.

Give both Mothers my love and say hello to everyone for me, if you can, before you leave.

I’m glad that you are trying to arrange it, as a leave of absence from work. That’s the best idea. I hope you get it.

Well! I guess I better close and get this off. Take good care of yourself darling. I love you very much and I can hardly wait until I get to see you again.

Bye bye for just a little while until we meet in each other’s arms.

Your loving sailor husband,
Joe

P.S. XXXXXXXXXX to be collected real soon.

Hello Darling,

I just received your Special Delivery Air Mail a short time ago and I certainly was very pleasantly surprised. When I saw it was Special Delivery I knew something was up and sat down automatically.

I’m really very, very. happy to get the word that you’ll be here with me in a week and a half. It’s just wonderful. I don’t know how to put my feelings into words. I’ll show you when you get here.

That certainly is a break that you could find someone like that to ride out here with. The reason I didn’t want you to ride with some salesman or male was that I didn’t want people to talk. This deal with a lady and 2 children sounds ok. Gee! But it sure is grand.

There is some dope that I want you to follow before you leave home. Please put all your money into cashier checks so that if they get lost or stolen no one else can use them. It costs a few cents for the service but it is worth it. Have them made out in small amounts and cash them as you need them. It’s just a very good safety precaution. Please do it.

Telegram me before you arrive in Seattle. Give the telegram at least a day’s time to be with me so I can make arrangements to meet you. I’m sure I can get off and be there. My doctor and Chief are really very nice that way. Drop me airmail cards all along the way.

Dearest, remember you have never traveled a distance like this on your own. Keep your head and be careful. You’ll run into all kinds of people. I know you have plenty of brains in your head so let’s be careful, huh? Don’t get angry with me because I sound somewhat bossy, but I promised to take care of you when I married you and I’m trying to give you as much info now as I can. I know you’ll make out ok.

Darling! I love you so very much. It’s going to be wonderful having you out here with me. It will just be wonderful to have you here. We won’t be able to save but we’ll get along and we’ll be together. Right now that is what counts. I have butterflies all over inside of me. I love you with all my heart and soul, dear.

I hope you have heard from Buddy. I hope he is ok. Say hello to him from his brother-in-law next time you write.

I hope Mother Albright doesn’t take it too hard that you are coming out here. We’ll both be back soon. Say hello to them for me, please.

I’ll be counting the hours until I see you. Right now it’s about 380 hours. That isn’t very much. I’ll try very hard to get you a place to stay. I think I ought to be able to get one through the U.S.O. or some organization like that. I’ll get one some way.

I guess I won’t be able to get another letter to you before you leave, so I have to pack a lot into this one. Take good care of yourself, wifey. My prayers and wishes will be traveling with you.

I’m sure you have enough money to get along on. It is quite high to live out here but I know you can have a job right here with my anytime you come. That will be swell. I hope you will be happy here with me. I know we will be very happy so I shouldn’t have made the last statement.

Say hello to Mrs. Lehner and Joe and Tommy for me. I owe them a letter but I’m kind of afraid to write them about Dorothy. Say hello and I’ll try and get a letter off to them very soon.

Well! I guess I better close as I’m running on and on. Take good care of yourself and God bless you, lover.

All the love in the world to my sweet wife.

Your loving sailor husband (he’s all yours),
Joe

P.S. XXXXXXXXX

Please take my advice on the money and get travelers checks.

Dearest Wife,

Darling, you are probably wondering why my writing has been so inconsistent. I mean missing days here and there. The reason was that I have had a slight touch of stomach flu. I felt pretty bunk at times and just couldn’t get myself to write. Don’t be angry with me because I didn’t tell you, but I didn’t want you to worry. I’m feeling pretty good now. At least I don’t ache all over. I wanted to write to you so much at times, but I just couldn’t muster enough vitality to do it. I hope you’ll try and understand and forgive me. You know I love you with all my heart and there isn’t and never will be anyone else. I’ll try very, very hard to get a letter off every day.

I received those cute pictures you took out at Lico. They certainly are sweet. Only one thing wrong I wish that I was there on them. Thanks so much for sending them to me. I carry one of the small pictures that you sent with me all the time. I’m very proud of my sweet wife. I hope she thinks about me in the same way.

I’m glad that everything is going o.K. with Lucille and Dale. Say hello to Luc and tell her to be a good girl.

So you were over to Mother’s Sunday for dinner. That’s swell. I’m glad that she is being nice to you. I hope it didn’t bother you too much if she got a little sour. Some things people do can’t be explained at the time but I’m sure she didn’t mean to hurt you. Try and understand her please.

You wonder why I put it off so long writing to you that I had seen Dorothy. Well! I didn’t mean to hide anything. To see her in the shape she is just about tore me to pieces. I kept dickering in my mind about writing you about her. I’m sorry that someone else had to give you the info. But it just was something that struck me awfully hard. Believe me, dear. She is a hell of a mess. I danced with her and had a few glasses of beer and then went to a show. I wanted to tell her what I thought of her but it’s all her life. it’s just a crime that she is doing such things. I haven’t seen her since and I hope I don’t. So you can understand partly how bad she has gone. Don’t be angry with me because I didn’t write it as I should have. It was just one of the things that sort of stuns your mind. I didn’t know how to put it into words.

I’m sorry that Hi still is shouting his mouth off. But please don’t let him get you down. You know that I understand and forgive. I’m really all that counts. But try to be friends.

I know it is quite hard but because some people have no brains is no sign that you can’t show them that you have some.

They’ll regret it yet. You watch and see. But please don’t carry any grudges against anyone. I know and believe in my heart that you’ll never do anything again that people will be able to make something out of. You know I love you so very much. I just wish this thing would get over with so we could build our own little home. I’m going to work very hard for us, dear. I’ll try very hard to make you happy.

I’m glad that you are getting the little bills paid up. Boy! You certainly must have put in hours to make over $50 in a week. I hope you didn’t wear yourself out. Dearest, your allowance has been in for a few weeks but the government is pretty slow on getting them out. I hope it gets out soon because I know you can use it. I’ll try and send you some money. I want you to have at least $15 in your pocket besides the ticket when you leave home for here. But please don’t try and ride out here with anyone. You won’t will you? I’ll pinch pennies too, but I want you to come out here on a train or bus.

You’ll have a job anytime you come. That’s one thing I’m sure of. It may be a little hard to get a place to live in, but if you give me a couple of weeks notice I think I can get you a room. I know we won’t be able to save but we’ll be together. I want to have you with me very much. The coast is in quite a mess now. I couldn’t even start to explain the conditions out here but I know you’ll be able to be careful. I have all the faith in the world in my wife.

How are Mother and Dad Albright? I hope they are both fine. Give them my love and I’m glad that Ed has come through. Things will be all ok.

Darling, I love you so much. I’m very happy that you are my wife. I always wanted you. We’ll have lots of happiness together as long as we can have each other. I know you love me too.

Well! Dear, I’m getting kind of shakey on the pen, so I’ll close for tonight. I’ll write you another letter tomorrow night. Take good care of yourself sweetheart. May God watch over us and guide us right into happiness.

Loads of xoxo from your loving sailor husband,
Joe

XXXXXXXXXX

( ) and a big planted one there for my one and only. I hope I collect some real ones from you soon.

Hello Sweetheart,

I suppose by now you have gotten the news of my pending trip. I hope it made you as happy as it did me.

I have met this woman and she seems very nice. She has a soldier husband in Seattle, and she is going there to live. We will be leaving Tuesday morning. We are going to stop in cabin overnight and carry food for breakfast and sandwiches. We figure on stopping for one good meal a day. She has two boys — 2 and 4 years. They will be something to take care of but it makes it quite a bit cheaper. Only $10.00 to ride and share on lodging and our meals. I don’t think I could get transportation any cheaper. I hope it meets with your approval and hope you can get me a room. I should be there Saturday or Sunday if we’re lucky. We are only going to drive days.

Darling, I received a letter from you yesterday and today. It sure made me blue to read your letter today. I’m sure you won’t be having any more days like that for a little while. I hope we can have at least one night a week together.

I’m not quitting my job, just taking a leave of absence. If the company says so, I’ll try and find work right away so we can keep going. I’ll have enough to keep going for a while anyway, a good $70 after my trip expenses are out.

I received a very nice letter of congratulations from Bud. He was surprised to hear we had gotten married, but sends loads of luck and best wishes. I’ll bring it with me when I come. Please send me an air mail to let me know you how this sits by you. I hope my coming isn’t too sudden. I’m so anxious to see you and hold you again. I haven’t any idea where I can meet you, but I suppose in a bus or train depot. That would be the easiest way perhaps.

Darling keep your chin up and unless I hear differently from you, I’ll see you soon.

Your loving wife,
DeLores

XXXXXXXXXX you can have these very soon.