Hello my sweetheart,

I guess I better not start out the same way again tonight. It will only be a few lines again. I am more tired than ever tonight. That party we had at work was really work. More trouble. The milk man gave us the wrong ice cream order. We got the Navel Reserve order instead of ours. We called the milk company and they said we should use what we had. We ordered Bricks of Christmas design and we got Bricks Assorted instead. Then we called the Navy and they were going to send a station wagon over to us and exchange the ice cream. It was 12:00 and they hadn’t come. Well I was in the middle of an argument about where we were going to eat — in Dope or Fabric. Fabric won. It was supposed to be our party.

Oh, well back to the ice cream. Bernice went over to the Guard Room and on the way she met the milk man. As luck would have it he had 8 bricks with him so we exchanged the stuff with him. I still don’t know if the Navy got their ice cream. Who cares?

Well the party after all turned out very well. Mr. LaMont gave a very brief talk and also passed a 1/2# box of candy. Or I should say gave it to us and I passed it.

12/25/1942

Well it’s Christmas again. A very different kind of Christmas than I’ve been used to. From all outward appearances it was just another day. I got up about 10:00 o’clock. Mom and I made dinner and cleaned up the house. It was dinner for just the three of us. No company for a change. We had turkey and it was very good, but some how it didn’t go over so well. We (mom, dad and I) went over to Darleen’s last night. Spent the evening with them. I went to sleep on the floor. Somehow I haven’t any pep. I guess I haven’t you to get me started.

I got a few things or Christmas. Mostly from Mother as usual. She gave me my 2 pair of pillow cases that I ordered and 4 beautiful print hankies. Dar gave me a bath and guest towel and wash cloth. I gave her a slip and Jerry 50 cig and the baby a pair of slippers. I received two cheap guest towels from Helen. Addie got nice ones and hankies from the kid. I guess I just don’t rate. I gave them a slip to Helen, carton of cig to Ed. Donald overalls and Eileen a sweater. Well I tried to do my part anyway.

I sent your 3 kids each a nice hankie. Just a small remembrance. I went to church the afternoon to see the kids say the pieces. very tiresome but duty demands. Demands what? I’m just a praise sucker. Joe, I sincerely hope you’re with me next year to keep me from spending so much unappreciated money. Please don’t think I’ve forgotten you completely. I’ve just been too busy to get your cookies in the oven. I have almost everything together to make up your box. I know that doesn’t hit the spot but try to be patient with me. I received your try sweet letter yesterday and it made me very happy and sad. Darling I miss you more every hour. Sweetheart, I know it must be hundred times harder for you to be way out there all alone, but I’m lonesome for you too. Darling, we must be married when you come home. At least we will be sure of one another. Then you won’t have any question in your mind as to how true is my DeLores.

I know you trust me but I still want you to be all mine. Sweetheart, I love you so dearly. I just can’t put it in words anymore. It just won’t express my true feelings. You know how I felt when you left, well just double it and add a million and a bit more and you may have it.

Have you heard if boot camp will be 12 weeks or not? Please let me know as soon as you do hear. I hope you are feeling better than you were when you did when you wrote me last. Those darn shots are truly bad stuff aren’t they? The only comfort both of us have is that when I get you back you’ll be more perfect than before. Poor excuse but we must have some encouragement.

I love you my darling but I must sign off for this time. I will do my best to write every day from now on. I have been so busy Christmas shopping and all. God Bless you my sweetheart. Keep your chin up and I will too. Loads of love and kisses from your future wife.

Love,

DeLores

P.S. I mean all the love in the world to the man of my dreams. Take care of yourself for me.

I thought I’d take a little detour from the love letters to share a letter from my Great Uncle Hi to my grandpa.  Hi is the brother that my grandma mentioned in her first letter. He and Alice brought my grandma to Minneapolis to see my grandpa off when he left for basic training in Idaho. They believed in my grandparent’s love, even when grandpa’s mom disapproved.

Family is a crazy thing. Great Uncle Hi is no longer with us. He was about 25 years older than my grandpa, so he passed away quite a while ago. But I grew up with his great grandchildren! We still do family Christmas together. This one I share for my cousins.

Dear Brother Joe,

Received your letter, we were very glad to hear from you, and also that you arrived safe and sound. We hope that everything will be O.K. Bernice got a letter from Ralph. By this time our dear brother is many miles out to sea.

Mother is quite lonesome, having to take care of the fort [??] is quite a job. The kids are all O.K. Hope everything will be O.K. with you. Keep your chin up and everything will be all right. Just two more lessons to go to finish my course.

It’s been trying awfully hard to snow. The streets are awfully slippery. Had a black out here Monday night.

Love,

Hi, Alice and Kids

 

UPDATE: So after I posted this, my mom read it and commented below. She made the connection that the beautiful bright red velvet robe that my grandma talks about below was actually given to me by my grandma when I was little. She gave it to me for playing dress up, and I loved that robe. It made the perfect royal cloak, red riding hood cape, blanket… you know, the normal stuff. I’m sure my grandma probably told me about the robe when she gave it to me, but it clearly didn’t stick with me. It’s too bad… because who keeps their dress up clothes? I’m sure that red robe was sent to Goodwill a long time ago.

Hello My Sweetheart,

Just a line tonight as I’m rather tired. Went downtown right from work and it’s about 8:45 o’clock now. I received your two letters and was very happy to hear from you. Boy, that Navy is sure giving you a work out, isn’t it?

Darling you sound as though you aren’t in favor of my freedom. Could be, I’m really being the girl you want me to be. Even if I go out with the girls I’ll conduct myself in a way you would approve of. Remember sweetheart, I’m planning on marriage.

Mom and I bought almost all of our xmas gifts. I got Eileen an awfully cute red sweater and mom bought her a pair of satin P.Js. Not bad. I got Dad a couple of neck ties, Ed some cig. and some for Jerry. Donald got wine overalls and Baby Jerry a pair of slippers. Mother bought me a beautiful robe — bright red velvet. It’s just beautiful. I hope you’ll like it sweetheart. After all, it’s for our wedding outfit.

Have you heard anything about a leave as yet? Don’t mind me, after all there is a 1,500 mile lap between us. Say, I think I’m going to like this having a well trained husband. I’ll get my breakfast in bed yet. However, I would be satisfied if I could have you in my arms right now, trained or otherwise.

Don’t wait for a box. It may take a few weeks to get it all together. Are you running low on funds yet? Let me know if you want for anything other than me. I’ll send you anything you need. Tell me what you want for xmas as I don’t know what you can have.

Darling please forgive me for being impatient about your mail. I hear from you quite regularly. Two letters today. 17th and 18th. Well, I’m very tired so will retire soon. Will write more tomorrow. I love you so very much darling. Please keep up the old spirit. I’ll be everything you want me to be, Sweet. God bless you all.

Love,

DeLores

P.S. Guard these as you would have me guard yours. I missed your heart and I’ll take extra special care of our hearts. Please let me know if you hear anything about a leave. I love you more every hour. xxxxxxx

It’s easy to forget how young my grandparents were when they wrote these letters. Grandpa was 19 and grandma was 18. They’d graduated from high school only 6 months earlier. My grandpa enlisted in the Navy one year after the attack on Pearl Harbor. According to my dad, he was sworn in on December 7th, 1942 — my son, Peter’s birthday.

December 17, 1942

Hello My Sweetheart,

Just read your two most wonderful letters. They are really appreciated. More perhaps than you can imagine. By the sound of things they are keeping you very busy. I suppose you are well in the midst of K.P. Is it as bad as what I know? The job is just what you make it isn’t it? Are your duties different for every day?

Saturday night watch did you see anything interesting? Do you kids get your evenings to yourself or are they arranged for you also? Darling, give me all the dope. Darling are you sure that not feeling good is only a headache? Do you have your glasses with you and do you put them on? I don’t like this not feeling good. After all I must look into my interests. Please try and take care of yourself. If not for you, for me. I guess working at a defense plant doing labor is nothing compared with 5:00 in the morning until anytime at night.

Ah, kid. All jokes aside, it isn’t a snap getting up at 5:00 and I should know. I almost overslept this morning. I got up and turned off the alarm at 5:15 and went back to bed. Mom finally called me at 5:45. Did I even move? I made the streetcar by 6:00 though.

Your mother just found out that Hi and Alice took me over to Minneapolis to see you off, and I guess she was very put out about it. The only way we can figure out how she found out is from Mrs. Lehrner. Oh well, what’s to be expected? Your mother is going to be put out about a few other things in a short time too. I know that’s a snotty attitude to have about the whole thing, but we are going to live our own lives and I’m sure we can make it a happy and full life together.

In spite of the fact that you  know nothing about a leave, I’m still dreaming and making a few plans. Buying a few clothes that will keep even if for a couple of months. I hope it won’t be that long but if it’s God’s will we’ll stand it.

Your telegram did not surprise me. Dad got the call as I was at the show with mother. He told me as soon as I got home. Coming like that it wasn’t such a shock. By the way, do you kids get nick nacks in the Navy? Sweets, if there is anything in the world I can send you please just let me know.

By the way, the only bill I have to pay is the jewelers isn’t it? Just how much was it? Oh! You said they were going to check for you, didn’t you? I was tempted to stop there this evening. Bernice and I were downtown shopping. We had to buy a few things for the Christmas party at work. More people downtown. You have to fight your way through the crowd. I have lots of shopping yet to do. I just haven’t felt up to it. I had an awful cold ever since you left. I guess I miss your loving care.

Hi is trying to look after me, but who could except you? Won’t you be happy when you can take full charge of this little girl. I’m just dying for the hour for us to say, “we do,” and he says “I pronounce you man and wife.” Well, you can’t stop me from dreaming.

I went to our old hangout for a steak supper tonight. They are still getting smaller. But very delicious. Also, Margaret Liss, Addie’s sister-in-law from Chicago, lost her baby in birth last night. Too bad isn’t it? We haven’t heard from Bud for the last two weeks. I suppose he is on his way somewhere. Who knows where. He, too, is in God’s hands. I guess those are about the best hands to be in right now.

Darling, remember I love you very much and I will be yours always. If it is God’s will we will be soon wed, as we both want so much. I feel it in my body it isn’t too far off. It just can’t be.

Well everyone has gone to bed around here so I think I’ll sign off and do the same. Try to write as often as you can. If you’re too tired, your sleep in this case is more important. Remember, I’ll soon be your wife and she’ll understand. Just be brave and keep looking ahead.

May God be with you and guard over you always. Until tomorrow night.

Love,

DeLores

P.S. Keep your chin up. I am. Just for us. Sometimes it’s hard when I don’t find you there to lean on, but I’m learning fast. xxxxxxx