August 29, 1943: Jess to Madge (Tennesee)

Dear Madge,

I decided to take the day and answer all the letters I owe - It's been so damned hot here the last while I haven't done anything except try to cool off and that's almost impossible.  It's the hottest it's been here since 1930.  all the gardens and lawns are burned right up.  everything except the cotton and Tabasco and they look pretty withered.  When we go to bed we lay and sweat and stick to the sheet.  That's what I can't get used to, but I suppose it will cool off sooner or later.

How have you and the baby been Madge?  Fine I hope.  I also hope by now that Speak is home or soon will be.

We had a letter from Alf and Helen yesterday and we're very sorry to hear about her bad luck, but like she says now, she know she can get that way she can build herself up and try it again.

I'll bet they did feel plenty bad I know we would if anything would happen to ours.  Helen's letter saying she had been in the hospital made me feel kinda funny cause about three weeks ago I dreamed she was in the hospital.  She said they had seen you a few times and that your baby was just darling.  Said it made her feel kinda bad.  I hope she can get that way soon again.

I went to a Dr. down in M'boro Thursday he is Mrs. Randolph's family Dr. (she is the lady we stay with).  She went with me - he said everything was fine and Madge I've gained nearly 5 lbs and it's all on my front, boy I've sure filled out in the last 5 weeks.

He gave me another blood test it's just his routine - I guess.  One of the girls I met is also pregnant.  Her husband is a S/Sgt in his squad, they live in Smyrna.

I was sure glad to find some one else that way too.  She is only about two months along.  When we get a place in Smyrna we can have a lot of fun sewing and what not.  Madge I've learned to crochet.  I have finished a petticoat and a pair of flannel slippers.  I also worked  a little Kimono - it had baby Ric rack braid one so I didn't crochet on that.  I have some pillow cases to do but haven't started them yet.

I got me a seersucker brown and white material nity dress.  It's quite cute.  It has elastic gathers on each side of the waist and is real big.  I think I'm going to use Dot's dress from later on.  She said I could before I left.

Lee was in Salt Lake two weeks ago Tuesday they didn't get in SL til around 7 pm and had to wait till 9 pm for a gas truck to come and drain the gas out of the plane so by the time he left the base to go into town it was 11 pm, he went to see Alf and Helen but I guess they were in Provo.  He said their paper and milk were in the hall.  He wrote them a not on the top of the paper but I guess they didn't ever get it cause they didn't mention it in their letter.  He didn't have time to go down home cause they left Salt Lake at 6 a.m. the next morning to come back here.

How is Wanda Madge?  I am going to write her on of these days.  Does Scotty have any idea that he is coming home?  It would be swell if he and Speak could make it home together. 

Madge I sure hope Joyce Ann hasn't had the colic anymore.  I don't blame you and wouldn't let her cry anymore either.  I bet it about scared your pants off didn't it?  Boy! It sure would me.  That sounds like what Mina's baby had.  Grace was saying she cried and couldn't get her breath on nite and that Mina was very worried about her. 

I haven't heard from Harold and Iney yet but I suppose they will write when they get the time.  Have you been up for their place?

Oh! Madge did Helen give you the things she had for you?  Aren't they just darling?

Madge well you do me a big favor?  When you are downtown sometime will you go in Gloria's shop and see if you can find me a dress on the order of the green house dress you got there with the draw string around the waist?  I have looked I can't find one here.  I still wear the blue one I got at home but could sure use another one on the same oaten if you can find one let me know and I'll send you the money for it.

The Dr. changed the date to around the 17 of Dec. I don't know how he figures but guess it doesn't matter as long as I have it in Dec. same time dates it?  I've been feeling swell ever since we've been here.  I only hope I continue to feel as good and I'll feel very lucky.

I know you are busy Madge but write us when you can and take good care of you and the baby.  I'll try to do better in the future and answer sooner than I did this time.

Love,

Jessie and Lee
 

Agust 27, 1943: Speak to Madge

Darling Mommy:

Well honey I've done a days work for the 1st time in a week.  I worked down in the shoe repair shop.  I don't want to over due it so I think I'll screw off tomorrow.  And I want to see Conk off.  He leaves at 11 AM.

Hey toots I'd sure like to be home, and do a little rooting, not the same kind as Joyce Ann either.

Hey in case you don't know, I'm still in Texas, but by the time you get this I may be on my way to my new base.

I'll bet Alf feels silly being the only one left.  But he don't know how lucky he is.  I'll trade places with him any old day.

That was sure swell of Dot, but she can afford it, so don't hesitate about taking it, as I've gave her plenty.

Hey is Helen still sick, how long does it take to get over a miss?  Gee I'm glad your healthy and buxom, I sure do love you all.  And I'll always love you as I do now, my sweet.

What did you mean, you hope it lasts, you Mothers milk, till I get home?  Honey don't worry about saving any for me, there will be others. (I hope) do you?

We have sure had screwy weather here too, it's starting to get cold here at nights, gee just think this year is almost gone already.  And I've only seen you 5 days of it.

Hey some of the guys are leaving her as Pfc. till they finish there next school then they'll be buck sergeants.  So maybe I'll do the same.  I don't care much which they decide.

I sure hope you and Joyce haven't caught a cold, please be awful careful, won't you?  I'm glad you are not going to have her clessed till I can be there with you.  Have you decided who to have bless her.  I'd kindo like Bishop J. Earl Lewis.  He's an old friend of our family and a darn swell guy.  But it's all up to you.  Whoever you want be swell with me.

Well Princess I can't think off anymore news so I'll sign off.  Bye Mommy Bye Joyce Ann.

With all my Love,

Speak

P.S. Simons is stinko and laying on his crack, passed out cold.  I'll laugh at him tomorrow.

S.C.

July 14, 1943: Scotty to Speak

Wednesday

Hello Rip -

I thought I had better get your letter answered while I have time.  We are pulling out of this place Sun. night or Monday night and I guess we will be sorta busy.

It's at a place called "Indianola" and its 110 miles farther down the coast line.  It's supposed to be a regular firing range and prabably another hell hole like this one.

Honest to God Rip I would sooner be in a prison farm.  Some place than this.  They really are bearing down on us now.  We went all morning with only 1 ten minute break to get a drink of water they call it water but it's just like drinking Piss.  At boyanet practice the staff sgt. thinks his shit don't stink and he run us until we were running wet and then the Leuit said no break so we went dry until noon.  They had fuir over the hill last Monday and by God I don't blame them.  They drive a fellow to it.

We took a 25 mile hike last Friday and was it hot bastard.  At noontime we didn't have any water and they gave us two dried up sandwiches (hamburger) and a half a canteen of water, not even any catsup for flavoring.  It would have taken two canteend full to have washed them down.  I chucked mine over the fence and went hungry.  We almost chuckled at that.  the life saver was that about 4 miles from camp it started to rain and did we get a good soaking, but it really felt good.

To make matters worse I have athletics foot, on my left foot and it ever and still is about all raw on my toes but piss on them.  I wouldn't give them the satisfaction of me dropping out if you drop our you do extra detail at night from 6 to 9 PM for a week or two.

Where my pack fit on my back has all broken out with prickly heat and dow it itch and burn when you sweat.  I never in my life saw such a county as this place is.  I sure will be glad to get out of it and thats no shit.

We wear our tin hats now all the time and they have to sit just so on your head and the chin strap in a certain place.  To top it off they came out today and told us that there would be no more cussing or sweating on or around the battery area.  Even if your joking with one of your buddies and start cussing you catch more detail.  Detail that all you have in this dam outfit.

Say by dam I thought your ouce told me you guaranteed boys for 20 bucks or your money back.  I guess you r foot must have slipped.

Anyway rip I think it's swell and I don't blame you for being a proud papa.  You and Madge are really lucky and two of the swellest friends I ever have had.  I don't blame you for bragging about it.  I would too if I had one of my own.

They say it looks like you and I sure would like to see it, but I guess you are just a anxious to see you daughter if not more so.

You done some very nice timing to have it born on the 4th of July.  That was surely nice.  She can make two celebrations for her birthday in one.

So they are getting tough at your place too.  I don't blame you for not screwing off when it means you rating.  Take all you can get Rip as it is for your benefit.  I have given up trying.  The more a fellow does here the less he is appreciated.  I guess I will stay back as a private.  I can't get busted anyway.

You can't screw off here.  They call roll at every formation we have, about 5 or 6 times a day and then we are split up in gun sections and each chief of sections knows just who is on it and so we are struck.  When we get together sometime I will really give you a earful of all the shit that goes on in this place and then they call it an advanced training camp.  Boy thats really shit for the birds.

I wish we could both get our furloughs for Xmas but, where I will be by then is dam had to say.  Probably across the pond.

As for Jerry I think also that he is chicken shit.  he was supposed to go on the 10th of July but I guess his company fixed it up.  I guess you and I should have went to work up there.

From what Uncle Lee said he expects to make Staff Sgt next month.  He sure has went flying along.  I wish I was in your and his outfit.

Did you know you were 278 miles from Ken?  He is at Abelene, Texas.  I didn't know it until the other day.

It's about 400 to 450 from here and then we are another 110 miles farther away.  He wanted me to meet him half way someplace, but I guess it's out now.  I couldn't make it on a weekend pass as they are only good for Sat night and Sunday here.  Rip we even have to get permission from our 1 chief of our gun section, 2 Platoon Sgt and 1st Sgt to get a dam pass.  So as I say it's really a Prison Farm, Texas.

Every dog his is day tho and yours and mine are coming up soon I hope. 

I suppose you know Shorty Balton from "Suttans" is home for a visit.  He states.  It should have been Chuck instead of him as it was Africa when they came from.  I'll really bet old Chuck is homesick.

How about Alf?  Is he deffered too?

Wanda or it was Madge said Paul was going into the navy or something.  He sure stayed out a long time.

The whisky finally got old Don Alger.  They called it heart failure as he dropped over dead the other day.

So Papa Carter, we have a dam meeting at 7:15 tonight. (Just som more bull shit). So I hd better close.  Everyday we go on the gun range here we spend from 12 to 15 hours on our feet so I really do get tired of this shit.  I even believe at times I could go and feed them burned beans, thats all we get here.

Rip plugging for the cpl rating, Rip you have earned it and you have it in you.  Your a real buddy.

Your Uncle Devan (?),

Scotty

P.S. Write and let me hear your bitch.  I'm pretty good at it now.

January 17, 1943: Madge to Speak

My Dearest:

     We (Jessie and I) went up to see you Saturday, but you had been shipped for parts unknown, anyway that's what everyone told us.  We left here about 3:30.  so if by some chance you were still ther we wouldn't miss a minute with you.  I thought maybe you couldn't phone until after 5.  So we just decided to take off. I was awful disappointed, altho, I tried not to plan on seeing you for sure.  But I guess you were too, weren't you?

     I had already told the folks that I was going to stay with Jessie, So we stayed all night at Alf & Helens.  Alf worked until 1:30, so Jess, Helen and Leah B sat around and talked all night - Helen went to the liqour store.  She had to stand in line for a half hour.  Boy if I had to do that there'd be no whiskey drank.  I only had one short one.  So you see, I'm being a good gal.

     Honey, Do you remember putting some wood in the oven to dry the morning you left?  Well, Tues night when I got home and got my tears shut off a minute Mom asked me if I could smell wood burning, she had looked all over for it.  I started to giggle and told her to look in the oven.  Oh lordy, talk about smoke whew.  Daddy grabbed it and threw it out in the yard, did it blaze - if I hadn't of felt so bad it would have been funny.

     Murray quit his job out there Monday.  They came up home Tues night to tell us he was going to Tooelea to work.  He was up there one day and came home.  I don't think he has taken another job yet.

     When I got home thurs nite, someone turned on the light and said booh.  It was Bessie, Dick and Gary.  She brought down 6 of Gary's baby dresses.  They are just like new so that solves that.

     Honey, How is your cold?  Better I hope.  If not be sure and take good care of it and of you.  Cause you're all the papa us two has got or will have.

     Gosh Hone, I'd sure like to see you in your uniform.  I'll bet you really make a good looking soldier.  As long as you're there, I hope you'll like it a little bit and I do hope you are in some thing you like.  By the time I mail this I'll probably know.

     I am going to stay with Aunt Jessie tonight.  Eleanor has gone to the city again.  I am going to work at 8:30 and nothing to do.

     I is sure swell with the folks there.  The other night Jessie and Grace came up when I went to go Dad said, "Now hurry home" and Mom said, "You don't have to stay as long as you want."  There's only one thing wrong.  She won't wake me up in the mornings. (am I kicking, no) - Daddy has a 'hellava' cold, he has been off work for 2 days.  Mother and I went to the show today, it was "the Black Swan" it was a pirate picture you'd sure like it.

     Gosh sweetheart, you'll never know how thrilled I was when you called that morning, I shook for an hour. - Honey, I miss you so dam much and I'll probably miss you more - but all in all we'll make out, won't we?

     I have an appointment with the Dr. on the 20th.  I suppose I still feel well and still can hardly believe it's true.

     Loris says that she is going to marry that guy we met down there that night.  Of all the changable people, she's the worst.

     Bessie brought that picture down so as soon as I find out where "parts unknown" is I'll sent the ring and this to you.  Do you still want your lighter?  How is your underwear and things holding out?  And Honey, if you need any money, please write and tell me.

     Alf got his deferrement, it is only good until June 28th, this morning his sister, Leah said, "Everyone is in the Army, but Alf."  Gosh, he went red, I almost felt sorry for him.

     Honey, did you say a prayer for me that night?  I'm sure you must have, nothing could have made me stop crying and feel so at peace as I did.  After working and having to keep a straight face all day, I got practically histerical and all of a sudden between 9:30 or 10 o'clock, I just stopped and didn't cry anymore.  Went right to sleep and I told Mom that you had prayed for me.  Hope you did.

     Well Honey, I'll sign off for today, I'll probably have to ship this first letter express if I don't stop and go to bed.

     Goodnight Sweet and dream of me - Toots.