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
 

July 20, 1943: Speak to Madge

Hi my Darlings:

Well how's the family today, fine I hope.  I'm still getting along, but will sure be glad when we leave this camp.  I just have 20 more days including the field test, and rifle range.

Boy it is sure how down here, and they are still tough as hell with us, but I'd still rather be here than where Scotty is.  I got another letter from him, and boy does he bitch about this army.  I have also received letters from Merlin B and Carl Wilde.  I don't write much anymore except to you, we don't have much time and besides I'll too lazy.

We are going to start eating out of our mess kits tomorrow, I guess they want us to get used to it.  I've dont it plenty before, so it won't be new to me.


We got a bunch of new guys in our squadron they are waiting to start school.  (the poor terds).  Gee I'm glad I'm not in their shoes.  That's one reason they try to keep us on the beam, so as not to learn them our bad habits. 

I sure like working on these new planes, we have a lot of them here, none of them have over 50 hours on them.

Princess are you still planning on living over at the farm with the folks?  How are they coming with their new home?  I'm glad they are thru the cherries, I hope they get the pears done as well.

Gee darling I can hardly wait to get a picture of you and Joyce Ann, I got on of Ed and Larry, I hope our baby is cuter than Larry looked.  but of course he was only 1 month old.  Mayve I expect too much from wee babys, huh?!

Well my Princess, I'll close for now, by telling you again I love you, and Joyce Ann, more than I could ever write in a whole book. 

so I'll show you how much you mean to me, when were together again for good.

Bye Sweets, sure hope you are still getting along ok.  Time for bed, and the dream of my two sweethears.

All my love,

Your Speak

P.S.  Are yo u still my Princess?

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.

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

January 19, 1943: Madge to Speak

Thursday night, 8:30, 1/19/43

Dearest Speak:
   
     I received your wonderful letter from Denver and was I glad to get it.  Don't you wish we could have seen each other just once more? 'Cause that was sure a little, tiny, hurried, goodby kiss that we squeezed into that last minute.  But I guess it'll have to last us for a quite awhile, huh?

     This is the first night that I have slept home since last Fri night we stayed in Salt Lake, Saturday night and I stayed with Jessie Sun & Mon nights!

     Mon night we collected all that war widows (except Grace) and sat around and tore everyone apart had babys operations and were just cats in general.  I think we were all bored stiff. - I am all the time.  Nothing seem to matter to me except our baby and when you get home again.

     Daddy went down to Kings today and told them about the stove door.  He told him he'd better fix it 'cause it was sure a gyp.  So he sent a man up to fix it.

     I think I'll get a permanent Thurs. night.  My hair is so darn long it too darn hard to do.  so it gets cut off.

     Honey, this sure is a screwy letter, but if I asked you all the questions I want to, I know you'll have already told me the answers in the first letter I get so it's all me and I.

     I am awfully glad you were sent our with some of the fellows you know.  I imagine it makes it a lot better for you all.

     I saw Polly, Ella and Ed uptown today.  They all wanted to know if I had heard from you yet and then when I got home there was a letter from you, for me.

     I sent Scotty a birthday card from us today.  Did you know that Wanda is going down to see him? (wish I was goin to see you.)

     Mother and Dad sure think I'm good and when I am I don't seem to have anything to say. I don't want anyone to even talk to me but I suppose I'll get over being so lonesome in awhile and then I'll be nicer.

     It's now 9:00, and nothing to do.  So I guess I'll go to bed too.

     Oh yes, your letter was postmarked at just the time Jessie and I were up to the Fort, having the M.P. phone all over for you at 6:00 on the dot.

     Well my darling, I'll close for now and hope that we soon find out where to send these.

     With all my Love,

     "your Princess"