August 26, 1943: Speak to Madge

Amarillo Texas

Hi my Darlings:

Well sweets I'm still bumming around an waiting for the shipping order.  Conkel is going to leave us tomorrow, I don't know where he is going but I sure hate to see him go.

Hey I go on a detail tomorrow I'm going over and work in the Quarter Master Warehouse #15.  I go to work at 7:30 and work till 5 PM so I don't think I scrwe off, cause that a lot better than K.P.  Simons goes on K.P. tonight at 9:30 and works till 1:30 tomorrow.  So I got the best of the deal.

Toots, I've over at the Service Club they have some girls playing the piano and singing, the guys are making so much noise I hardly know what I'm writing.  I don't think they're listening to the music tho, they are just getting an eye full of girls in formals.

I have just came back from the boxing bouts, boy there's a kid here from Utah that sure bowls em over.  He's the champ of this camp.  I don't know who he is I've never seen him before. 

Hey honey do you remember Leon Frazier, the kid who used to work with Scotty down at Ike Paeys station?  Well I saw him last night, he's here for his basic training as an A.C.Cadet.

He lives down by the frils, I've known him all my life, I used to go swimming and fishing, with him over to the river.  Boy it sure seemed good to see someone I knew.  We had a nice long talk about old time, I'm going to see him again tomorrow night.  I would meet him just as I'm getting ready to leave this place.

Remember when I was in St. Pete I met Ray Heal, we he and Leon are the only guys I've met I knew since I go in the army.

I'm sure getting tired of laying around doing nothing I'll sure be glad to get shipped out of here.  I'll even welcome a little work tomorrow.

How is our angel Joyce ann getting along?  She hasn't a cold has she, be real careful who you let get close to her.  And don't let no kids kiss her, or hold her.  Cause we don't want her getting sick ever.  Hon I don't blame you for not going down to see Wanda, at least while she is sick.  Cause honest honey, we can't ever take cahnces with Joyce Ann's health.

Madge excuse me, I don't mean to be telling you how to take care of your own baby.  But please darling don't ever take any chances, even if it hurts someone.

Gee toots I'm glad Frank, Florence and the rest of them came to see you, now I'll bet you feel a lot better, don't you?  Hey all our friends have sure been swell to us haven't they? 

Gee you must have a lof of clothes for Joyce Ann.  Hey I think Don Giff, was screwy for joining the Marines, especially the paratroops, but he's got what it takes, and I'll bet he makes a damn good soldier.  Tell them I wish him a lot of luck and a safe return.  I'd sure like to hear from him.

I sure hope Chuck is still OK.  Boy he's about done his share.  I don't see why they don't send him home on a long furlough.  I'll bet Florence would be the happiest Mom in the world if they would, don't you?

Hey I wrote to each of the girls and Ed and Lela, and Scotty today.  Now if I can just find something to write to you side of the family I'll be nearly caught up.  But I may wait till I get to my new base.  So I'll have something to write about.

Honey, I love you more each day, and I sure hope you don't ever get tired of these old dry letters.  Hey are you still my Princess now and forever?  Gee your tops Mommy.

Draling each day I'm away from you and Joyce ann I feel I'm being cheated out of a lot of fun and pleasure  I used to say I'd like a kid about 1 or 2 years old, but honest I was only fooling.  Gee I'd give my right arm to be there with you so we could bother watch her grow up together.

Darling I don't think this war will last much longer and then I will be home.  so maybe I won't miss too much of it, do you think she will forgive me, when she gets older?  Tell her I'll try to make it up to her.

Honey I dream of you both each night and I still pray for you.  I can hardly wait to find out where I'm going to be.  I sure hope we can arrange something.

Well sweetheart I imagine youa re getting tired of this so I better close for now.

But remember, Madge how much I love you, and Joyce Ann.  So take good care of yourselves for me.

Keep your chin up soldier.  I love you more each hour.

Yours Forever,

Daddy Speak

XOXOXOXOXOXOXO to both of you.

July 28, 1943: Speak to Madge

Dearest Madge:

No! My angels, I haven't forgotten you.  These terds have just kept us too busy to write.  We had gas drills all day Monday, and yesterday we were taken prisoner, by the boys out in field test.  We marched and drilled both days until adfter 5 p.m. and after going to school all night, boy was I a sleepy guy, just 4 hours sleep each day. 

They are trying to show us what it will be like in the combat area, cause I guess it won't be long until some of us are in it.  But I'll be fairly safe cause the air field for these big bombers, are always way back of the front.

I just have 12 more days to go including my field test, boy this is one time I'll be glad to get off this shift.  It's nice in school at night but sure hell trying to sleep in the daytime.  I slept from 12 till 4, but it was too hot so here I am wide awake.

Honey, so far my average for the whole school is 84 7/10%.  I have got all 85s but over in test blocks I go an 80, but then that was the eay phase of the bunch, we just screwed up too much.  I got that 80 about the time you were out to the hospital so I waited till you were better before I told you.  But even at that I still have nearly the highest grades in our class, there's just one kid with higher ones that mine, but he don't know a damn thing about these planes, he's just a suck ass.

I guess I'll leave my stuff I won't need in Gonzers car, while I'm out to the field.  He's going to put it in storage down town.  Boy we sure can't have much stuff laying around, cause they took our foot lockers away from us and gave them to the rookies.

Hey, we got ,100 new men in our squadron they are waiting to start school, the poor terds.

They start 100 men each day, but they have a waiting list about 6000 before they start.

Honey, I hope this hot weather isn't too hard on you or the baby, don't go out in it too much will you?  It's sure a bitch down here.  I'd give anything to be able to get a good days sleep in our cool home.  Maybe I will soon, huh?

Hey another reason they have been so tough on us old men, is to keep the new one's in line, and boy are they scared of Lt. Shaffer, but he's a good officer, but tough as hell.

I think the field test will be a cinch for me, but I don't think much of the  hike on our day off as I have damn sore feet.  I got blisters on my left one, and athletes foot on both.  But I just started to doctor them so maybe they will be better by next Monday, that's when we go to the field, about 9 a.m.

I still go around with Simons, Conkel, and Hansen, we have sure been good buddies, I'll sure miss them, I guess we will all be split up, when we ship out of here. 

Hey, how are the folks going to have the house over at the farm, you haven't told me much about it.  Or don't they know yet?  I'll bet Mom will be glad when it's finished, she has sure wanted it for a long time hasn't she?  I wish I could help them build it, maybe we can help out some other way later on.

Gee princess, I love you a lot any my darling daughter too, even if I haven't seen her yet.  Hey ain't that the shits, here I have a child and everyone gets to see her before I do.

She must really be an angel, and I'll sure be glad to get home to you both.  I'm glad she has brought you so much happiness, but I'll sure bet it's a full time job to take care of her.

Well my darling, I'll sign off for now, and go try to get that call thru again, bye my sweets, be talking to you soon. (I hope)

All my Love,

Your Speak

XOXOXOXOXO






















 

May 2, 1943: Speak to Madge

Hi Darling:

     Gee toots I'm glad you got a letter when you did, I'll die if you ever got a divorce.  I had a pretty rough weekend, that is the reason I haven't wrote since Thur. night.

     I got my pay only $12.00 bucks, but now I'm all even with them, so from now on I'll get my full $19.85.  We all went to town Fri. and got portdy stinks, there were 7 of us got a room together and stayed till Sat. Conkel and I lasted long than the rest, we got back at 9 pm but we had to shave, clean up the barracks and stuff.  We sure had a lot of fun we had some more of those little pictures taken, how do you like them?  That kid with Conkel and I, is Norman Hansen, he's from Utah, Syracuse I believe.  It's 10 miles out of Ogden.  Boy he's the best kid in this camp.  I've just started going with him, about the last 2 weeks.

     I've never drank so much beer, or shot so much pool in my life.  We were down to the U.S.O.  We also burrowed a camera from the U.S.O. and took some pictures, I'll send them later.

     We bowled about 4 games in the afternoon, then went to a show and slept.

     Darling by this time you should have received 4 or 5 letters I wrote last week.  So am I safe from that divorce for a while?  Of Madge, I miss you.  I beginning to get so damn lonesome and homesick for you, I hope I can stand it till I get a furlough.  If not, I'll be tempted to go over the hill.

     Honey, how come you work so much in the lot?  I though I told you to take it easy, do you want me to come home and kick your bum?  I'd sure have liked to been with you when you took the trip up the canyon, I sure miss those days.  I'll bet it was fun.  time for school.

Monday, May 3rd.

     Hello again, here it is another blue Monday.  Honey, I'm having 6 photos made, I don't know the size.  Hey toots I made another 85 average for the 3rd phase.  If I can make three more I'll have a chance to go to a specialist school, after I finish here.

     Madge don't worry about me liking it too much here, I'd crawl to you on my knees if there would let me.

     The girls, Lela, Wanda, Bernice, Bessie and your mother have all told me what nice things you have made for the baby.  I"m sure dying to see them.

     Princess I"ll always think your the best soldier in the whole world.  So don't let me catch you thinking different.  I know Jr. will think the same too.  the cute little cuss.  Does he still keep you awake at nights?

     I don't know if I'm going to like this shift or not, it's too damn hot to sleep in our barracks.  It's nearly 3 pm so I think I'll try it again.

     Darling I sure wish I had a lot of money to buy you something nice for Mothers Day, but I'm sending you both tons and tons of love.  Maybe next year it will be different. (I hope)

     Please believe me Sweetheart when I say I'll always love no matter where I go, or how long we are apart.

     Honey, I just got your letter telling me about Ed and Lela.  Gee isn't that well.  I'll bet I"m as thrilled as they are.  I got some cards over at the PX.  I'll send them today.  But you tell them how happy I am for them.  I'll write them real soon.

     As for our child, I still don't care if it's a boy or girl.  I'll love it.  But I'll always love you the most. (I bet a buck it would be a boy, I kinda hope I lose it)

     I sure hope the army don't get Ed or Murray, they really got enough of us.  We waste a lot of gout, money and equipment here, and I guess it's the same all over.  So I don't see what they need more men for.

     Well my darling, I better sign off and get some sleep.  So until tomorrow I'll be thinking of you every minute.  I remain your homesick husband and little boy.

     All my love,

     Speak

Madge, I'll call you between 8 pm and 10 pm Fri.  If I can't get a line I'll try again Sat. So remember either the 7 or 8th.

     Bye Darling.