July 14, 1943: Speak to Madge

Hi Mommy:

Gee your sure having a lot of visitors, and I'm sure glad for you.  Gee toots you look beautiful tonight, and the baby is a perfect angel (like you).  I'll bet that ring is tiny and awful cute.

I'm sure glad Geo and Follis came to see you, how's Ross, still as screwy as ever?  Honey has Bessie got Gary down with her?  What does he think of the baby?

Gee toots I was sure thrilled to get that lock of Joyce Ann's hair, isn't it pretty, and it's just as fine as silk too.  At least I've got to kiss her hair, thanks to you.  I'll bet you really looked swell when the folks were up last Sunday, cause you always do.

Hey our baby is better than Mina and Kev's so no wonder she's on schedule so soon, I'll bet Bessie and Mom are glad to have her sleep all night, aren't they?

Hey remember when you used to take castor oil before?  that what I thought of when you told me about your taking it last Sunday.  Hon don't be in too big of a hurry to get to the bathroom, you will soon be able to go as often as you want.  I too hope I never have to use a bed pan, I've never tried it, and I don't imagine I'd like it.

It's sure swell of Bessie to come down and take sure good care of you.  Do you ever get to drink a little of that alcohol?

Honey what do you mean, am I feeling better, gee sweet I've never felt better in my life, and I'm the happiest and proudest soldier in the army.  I don't care what they make us do from now on I can take it with a smile.  And I'll sure be happy to get back to you and Joyce Ann, when I get my furlough.  Gee it will be swell to hold my own daughter.  And have you show me how.

I'm sure glad our baby has brought you a lot of happiness, boy she has made me happy too.  Maybe someday we'll have 9 or 10 more, how about it?

Toots all I do now is get up at 6:00 PM eat chow and go to school at 8:00 come back to 4:00, have military training from 4 to 5, phyical training from 5 to 6:10, eat again at 6:30 then bum around till 9 or 10 then go to bed.  We had a lecture from a one star General, last night boy it was sure interesting, he had been all over the world, in all of the combat zones.

Last night we seen a marching contest between the WAACS and some of the non cows, course the soldiers won,  but the WAAC's do pretty good.

Tomorrow we start on a new phase it's prelight and daily inspection, then we just have one more before the field test, and boy am I glad it's all about over with.

Princess I don't know what I got in these last two phases, we won't find out our marks now until we finish school, I don't know why, but I don't care either, just so I finish ok.  I don't imagine we will get very high tho, as we just bum around, with out much to do.

Well my Princess and little princess I better sign off for now, as the guys want the lights out.  Thanks again for the lock of hair.  Bye sweetheart, till tomorrow.  I love you both more than ever, and will sure be glad to see you in Aug.  Keep smiling.

All my love,

Speak

PS - Did you get the card Simonss sent you?  He's sure a good kid.  I'll miss him plenty whenwe get split up.

Bye Darlings,

XOXOXOXO

July 8, 1943: Madge to Speak

Carters Park

Dear Daddy:

How do you feel today?  better I hope.

You sure have a naughty daughter she cried all night last night with Mom and Bessie both doing all they knew.  so at 3:30 I said, Mom call the Dr. and see what to do.  So she did and I said to Bess, Give her time, she just laid her in my arms and she went sound asleep.

He told Mom to give her an ounce and a half of canned milk. then she slept until 6 this morning.  she was so wide awake and cute.

Loris came up today and wanted to see the baby food, and by heck we couldn't wake her up.  She's sure a sleepy head (hope she does tonight!).

Ed and Lela came up today, they were sure thrilled with her and my their baby is sure growing.  they brought the cutest toys and Geo B sent a dozen red roses today.

Did I ever tell you how much ahir she has?  Just tons and so far it's kinda brown with a reddish tinge.

Gosh hon, I'll be glad to get out of bed.  'Cause I miss you so darn much more when I don't have anything to do.

Hey lover, I'd better close for now, so the mail man can take it.

so my Sweet, until tomorrow.  I'll always be-

You New Mommy and Sweetheart,

Madge and baby-

P.S. I won't start calling her Joyce Ann until you get here - so we will both be sure, o.k.?  Excuse the writing, I'm in a rush, he's waiting.

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.  

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.