July 25, 1943: Speak to Madge

Darling Madge:

Honey I'm sure sorry I haven't been able to write the last two days.  Yesterday on my day off, we had to go out to the firing range, then come in and do detail.  We went to school last night, it is sure nice in school at night, but it's sure hot as hell trying to sleep in the daytime.

I guess I won't be able to write very much from now on unless I do it at night in school.  we only have 7 more days of school before we go out to the field test.  and boy are they trying to break us, and make it tough for us.  They told us we didn't no what the army was like, but we would find out the next two weeks.

Honey, I believe we will be able to write, while we are out there, so I'll try to let you know what it's like.  I do know that we go on maneuvers and a 20 mile hike on our day off.  And that we work on planes, under actual battle conditions.

Princess, I tried to call you the last two days but I couldn't get a line thru, I'll try again when I get thru this letter.  I'm sure glad you are nearly as well as ever, but don't try to do too much for a long long time yet.

Gee darling, I'd give anything to be able to see Joyce Ann.  She sure must be an angel and I know I'll hate to leave you both, when I come home on furlough.  She must be the most perfect baby in the world, I'll sure be glad to get that snapshot of you two angels.

Honey, I fixed up that papers for the exta allotment but I gotta get a copy of Joyce Ann's birth certificate. so as soon as you can, why send it to me, will ya?

They sent the papers in, so you shoudl get it in your next check, but if you don't they will probably make it up in the next one.  I sure hope youare able to get along alright on it.  Gee toots, I'll work all the time when I get out of theis army, and try to make a lot of dough, so you can make up for the fun you've missed.

I got that card Mom sent, it was sure swell, tell her thanks a lot.  I guess I won't be able to write them, cause it's all I can do to find time to write to you.

I'm sure glad we got such a lovely daughter, she must be just like you.  It's sure good news to hear she is growing, and that you are able to feed her, I think that's a lot better than on a bottle.  You will soon be able to take her down town and show her off won't you?  That is sure swell of Murray and Bernice to let us use all their stuff.  I would have cost us a fortune to have  bought it.

So Geo Bills didn't know we had our family, I guess I'll write him if I ever get time.

Hey I'm glad Uncle Lee was able to get home, I'll bet they really had a swell time.  It's swell that Jessie is able to go back with him, although I don't think they are doing the smart thing.  She would get lots better care at home.

I'll bet the folks are really thrilled to get started on their home, I know we will when we build our dream home, won't we?  Honey I know you hate to leave our place, but it will be better for you and the baby, and also for Mom.  and Murray and Bernice will take good care of our place.  Princess this war can't last forever, I'll soon be home again, then we will have more happiness than ever before.  So keep your chin up, and try to always think of the bright side.  You have sure been swell thru this, you are a better soldier than any in this army.  I'll never forget it either.

See I love you so darn much, that if I soon don't get to see you I'll bust.  Just think toots, it will be nearly a year since I left (well it seems like it).  I guess I better sign off for now, and go see if I can get a call thru.

Remember darling how much I love you both, and how much I miss you.

Good night my angels, God Bless you both.

All my love,

Your devoted husband and Dad.

Pfc. Speak

July 18, 1943: Speak to Madge

Darling Madge:

Gee toots that's funny about Joyce Ann and Uncle Lee.  But its good for him to learn about them now before his gets here.  Honey, I can just imagine how he treats Jessie, and I'm happy for them.

I sure hope she gets along as well as you did.  Hey toots I've just been learning all about babys, there's a guy here that bunks by me, he has a girl too, she is just 10 months old and he has been telling me all about them.

He's a New Yorker, and it's sure funny to hear him tell about it, but I can understand him now.

Hansen and I just lay on our bunks and laugh ourselves silly when a bunch of them get quarling, gee they talk funny.

Hey Mrs. Carter, I love you now, and I always will, do you mind?

You're the most wonderful girl in all the world and everything I see that's beautiful still reminds me of you.  I'll bet Joyce Ann is just like you (I hope).  She's an angel just because of you.  And she really is a love child.

Madge remember and be real careful, cause you have two of us to look after now.  Well it seems I've run out of paper. 

Bye Sweets,

Speak

July 16, 1943: Speak to Madge

Hi Darling:

How's my two sweethearts this morning?  I'm sorry I didn't write last night but we went to a boxing show, it lasted until about 10 PM, then I had to hurry and shower and it was time for bed.  The matches were sure good, they are going to have them each week.  It's about the only thing we have to do, in our spare time.

Hon that was sure swell of Francis and Bill W.  If you pat it to the Dr. we'll give it back to her later on, we will start a bank account for her alone.  I'll bet she will have more dough than us, huh?

Toots remember when you get up why be sure and take it easy for a long time, won't you?  Gee toots, I'm so anxious to see Joyce Ann, and I'll always be her slave and yours.  I love you so much it's a wonder I don't bust.  Honey don't plan on that furlough too much, cause in case I don't get one in August, we won't either one be too disappointed.  But I'm sure going to try and get home as soon as possible.

Hey isn't Uncle Lee the lucky one, what does he think of Joyce Ann?  It won't be so awful long before their turkey gets here, I sure hope they are as lucky as we were.

Well my Princess and sweetheart it's nearly time for school, so I better sing off.  Tomorrow is my day off again, I'll write a book then.  I'm not going to town, I'll just stay here and do my laundry and go to a show.

Bye my two wonderful girls, I'll see you soon (I hope).

Yours Forever,

Daddy Speak

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.

June 25, 1943: Speak to Madge

Darling Mommy:

Honey you no what I mean, when I say I have had more advanced training, we have to take a lot of old shit.  And it makes us screw off a lot, but I'll be good from now on, so they won't break me, or stop me from getting my furlough.

Well toots today is our last day on this shift, and also the last day in the fuel system phase.  I'm not worrying much about my grade cause I believe I'll make the 85.

Gee I can hadly wait until next Tues, night to get here so I can talk to you and hear your dear voice again.  It seems like ages since we talked last.  HOney, when the baby gets here, you can call or telegraph but I believe it would be better if you sent the telegram, we have a western union, out here at the field and that way, I'd get it sooner.

Gee I wish I was going to get my furlough when Uncle Lee does.  but we'll have a lot more fun just we three all by ourselves.

I'll bet Ross is really growing, it's been a year since I saw him, lets see he's 13 years old now isn't he?  Gosh time flies by.

I'm sure glad your not scared, and that you are glad things are this way.  Cause down deep inside me, I'm glad were lucky enough to have a baby.  Remember when we were going together, (me too).  Gee your swell.

Well honey tomorrow is my day off, I'll write a real long one tomorrow, but now I gotta quit and get ready for school.  Bye for now my two sweethearts, I'll always be thinking of you.  Keep your chin up.

Forever yours,

Speak