July 28, 1943: Speak to Madge

Darling Princess:

Surprise two letters in one day, how am I doing?  Gee Honey, you're the best wife, mother, and sweetheart in the whole world.  I love ya tons did ya know?

I got a letter from Geo B. he told me how nice you looked, and what a swell baby we have.  Gee everyone thinks it's the nicest in the world, I think it's even better than that.

Hey the more I hear about Joyce Ann, the better I like her name, do you still like it?

Gee toots, I'm glad you are able to go out now, even if it is over to the farm.  You have sure got along swell and am I ever glad.

I hope your daughter takes after you, cause thats what I always wanted if it was a girl, remember?

Hey toots, that's ok about Uncle Bert and Aunt Em, we may go visit them when I come home.

Hey I hope Dad gets his 5.00 out of the pears, it will build the house for them won't it?  But I'm like you I'd hate to pay that for 'em.

Honey I'm glad you took Joyce Ann's belly bond off, hey what is it, and what was it on her for?  Toots I better sign off and try to get a little more sleep.  Tell Joyce Ann I love her tons and kiss he, for her old man.  I'll bust if I don't get to see you soon.

Bye my darling, remember how much I love you, and I'll always be true blue to both of you.

Your devoted husband and Dad.

Speak

P.S.  Did I tell you I'm crew cheif again?

P.S.  Did you know you mean the world to me?  I'll always love you as I do now.  Even when we're old and gray.

July 12, 1943: Speak to Madge

Darling Madge:

Gee Honey I'm sure happy you and Joyce Ann are still getting along so well.  But toots don't try to get out of bed for two or three weeks yet.  And when you do you get up and around, don't you dare do any kind of work for a long time. 

Everything is going along nice for us, and we don't want to take any chances.  Honey there's another rumor about us getting a 15 day furlough when we finish this school.  I sure hope its tru (don't we).  I'll let you know more about it later on.

Darling, I think Joyce Ann is a perfect name for the baby, so you just as well have her named that.  Cause that's what I call her too.

Gee the way you describe her to me, she's nearly as near an angel as posible, and I can hardly wait to see her, I sure hope she's as nice as you, then she'll be perfect, cause you are, and always will be.

Honey I wish I could be there to help walk the floor with her at night, or do you do that?  Wouldn't I look funny walking the floor at night, and washing diapers in the day time?  But I'll sure do it if I get the chance.

I got three letters from you today, boy did I enjoy them, but toots don't try to write too much, I can wait a day or so, and I don't want you to get too tired.  Yes toots I've wrote several letters to you in bed, in fact that where I wrote the one yesterday.  Could you read it?

Honey I'd sure like to be Joyce ann, just think?  I could lay in your arms and go to sleep, she's sure lucky.  I hope you don't mind too much cause she's naughty, she's just got her days and nights mixed up a little.

Remember Princess, I think Joyce Ann is a perfect name for her, so don't wait until I get home to make sure, cause it may be a long time and, we can't let the most wonderful baby in the world run around without a name.

I'm sure glad she is so strong, I'll bet she will really be beautiful when she grows up.

You are, inside and out, and I love you more each day did you know?

Gee Princess, the kids have all been swell to you, I sure think we have a bunch of grand friends do you?  You must have a lot of flowers around the house, but I know you love them, and it's swell of everyone to bring them to you.

I guess Geo B. will be up there by the time you receive this letter, tell him hello for me, he's sure been more like a brother to me that last few years hasn't he?  What does he think of our darling?  I sure think she's plenty swell.

Hey toots if you got so much milk, it would sure be a swell time for me to be home wouldn't it?  I tried to get some a lot of times but no soap, and now you got plenty, here I am way down here, (just my luck).

Honey are you glad we got the phone in, or does it bother you?  Boy I sure like it even if it doesn't cost you a lot.  I hope you don't mind me charging my calls, but when I have got money, I can't get enough small change and the next time I'm nearly broke.

Toots I wrote Scotty last Saturday, also Carl Wilde, and Merlin Benson.

Honey I'm feeling a lot better now that you and Joyce Ann are getting along so well.  I've never been so happy in a long time and I even like the army now.  Even if they were strict for a week or so.  They have lit up now, and it's like it used to be here, only I'm still going to be awful good, so I can be a corpal.

Toots nevermind about that clipping, but I would like one to put in the baby book or our scrap book.  I love to hear all about her and you, and if you ever change your letters, I'll come home and kick your bum.  So you better keep on as they are.

Honey, I got the telegram telling about the baby about 4:30 PM on the 4th.  And was I ever glad to get it.

Hey toots how come you can't kiss the baby yet?  I bet I would if I was home, but mostly you.

Well I'll sign off for now, so bye my sweethearts, I'll see you soon (I hope).

I'll always love you both tons and tons.

Forever Yours,

Daddy Speak

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.

July 5, 1943: Speak to Madge

Darling Madge and Baby:

How's my darlings today, gee I hope you are starting to feel better by now.  Honey I hope you had the baby easy, and did not have to suffer too long.

I can't stand to think of you, being sick or in pain.  I sure hope that is the only kind of sickness you ever have.  Princess I love you did you know it?  I always will too.  Have you had a chance to kiss my daughter for me?  Thanks a million, I can hardly wait to be there, and do it myself (and mostly you).

Honey I'm dying to get more news about it all, but don't you write until you feel well enough.  But maybe you could get Mom or Jessie to huh?

Gee princess I've about wore that telegram out, reading it so much.  I got three letters from you today, was I ever glad to get them too.

that one you wrote on the 3rd was the most wonderful letter I ever received, especially how you ended it, just before going thru it all.  I'll always love you and worship you, for being such a wonderful wife and sweethear.

Honey, Geo B called me last night, and he was sure glad to hear that good news.  He is coming up there about the 12th, so I too would think Follis silly, if she goes back for just a few days.  It's the first time he has ever called me, and I was sure glad to hear from him.

Hey if you can, will you send me the clipping out of the Herald telling about the birth of our Darling baby?  Gee we'll save it and put it in our scrap book.

I'm glad Ed got the cherries, and was able to get them put up, that was nice of Freda to do it for them.

Well Mommy I'm out of phase now, and tomorrow we start on engine change, so I'll only have about 3 more phases to go thru to be exact I have 32 more days of this school, and then?

Boy they are sure getting tough around here now, we have to fall out in different formations 8 times a day, and there's no chance of screwing off any more, or it means out stripe if were caught.  and I don't want to lose mine, cause I'd sure like to be a corperol when I come home.  I will be too, if they keep giving us that rating when we graduate, cause I'm gonna stay on the beam from now on.  but it will just be my luck to have them stop, about the time I finish here.  But I'm hopin'.

Honey do you nurse the baby?  what color hair has it got, what color eyes?  does it look like you?  How much did it weigh?  Does she seem to be as healthy as can be expected? 

Darling, I don't know why I'm asking all these questions, I'll probably know all about it before you even get this.  Then watch our cause I'll sure pour the letters that way, and I hope you don't get tired of them.

Darling, I sure hope you got the candy and gum I sent, in time to have it out there with you, and I hope the telegram and flowers got there this morning.  I tried to send them last night, but every place was closed for the fourth.  Hey I sure spoled your fourth didn't I?  Please forgive me, we'll have to time the next one a little different huh?

Well sweethearts I better close for now, and get my lessons.  Remember to give my love to the baby and I'll always keep on loving you more each day.  Hope you are recovering ok, Bye for now my princesses.

All my love,

Daddy Speak

June 30, 1943: Speak to Madge

Dearest Madge:

Well mommy it sure was nice to hear your dear voice last night, It took me nearly two hours to get the call thru but it was more than worth it.

Honey you really sounded as if you were getting along ok, and gee I'm sure glad.  I'm sure glad you haven't been sitting around worrying about it, and getting scared about it.  Golly but I love you more each day, you really one in a million.  I'll bet your the best mother a kid ever had, and I'll alwas remind it of how lucky it is.

Princess, I sure hope they have phones, in the rooms out at the hospital, cause I want to be with you all I can this next little while.

At least until after your sickness, and you are well and home again.  Madge I love you more than life itself, nothing will ever change it.

Honey I'm sure glad we have nearly decided on the name for the baby.  I'll like anyone you finally decided on.  Cause if you choose it, it has got to be good, cause your the best girl, and wife thta ever was.

Hey, I got a short letter from Geo B, the other day, he said to give you his best and he may be up there soon to see everyone.

Lucky ain't he?  I wish I could just get to be with you for even a minute, it would seem like heaven for me.

Well my darling, I better close and get my lessons, remember how much I love you and keep your chin up.  My God bless you always.  Bye for now, I remain as ever you devoted husband.

All my Love,

Daddy Speak.