1:00 AM July 25th 1943, Sunday
Hello Darlin’:
Boy, am I tired. Lang put me down on that job I told you about. Under the 3rd platform, right in the bottom of the ship. I welded about 26 feet and about half of that had to be welded with the mirror.
After work I had a Tom Collins. It was pretty good but not as good as Pepsi-Cola.
I had my shower but I won’t shave until in the morning. I want to get a bite to eat and then I’m going to bed.
It is a very beautiful night out. The sky is clear and the moon is out. If everything had gone right, we would probably be out parking in Herman someplace. In the morning we did maybe go out and play a little golf and then on a picnic in the afternoon.
Wouldn’t it be swell if you were here now? I could hold you in my arms and tell you that I love you, I could kiss you and make love to you. I could rub your back and your knee. I miss you so much.
Well Darlin’, I guess I will have to close for now. I will write again when I get back from Russian River.
I love you so very very much. Good night Sweetheart.
Love & xxxxxxxxxs Harlan
Sunday 3:00 PM July 25, 1943
Hello Honey:
Long time no hear, right. Well I’ll try and tell you everything that has happened. Yesterday morning, Momie got me up at 9:00, we then all went to the hospital, on the way I mailed your letter. When we got there, Daddie was very bad, his temperature was 103 and he was very restless. At 12:00 noon, his temperature was 104 but he was resting. The nurse said one of us should be there all the time, so I went out and bought sandwiches for them and we sat down there and ate. At his 2:00 his temperature was 105 and he was restless again. Chuck or I were in the room all the time opening to hold him down. About 5:30 PM he began to quiet down. (All this time the nurse gave him a hypo every three hours) So the nurse told us we could go home for an hour. We did, ate a bite and cleaned up. Went back down there at 7:00 and his temperature was up to 106. All we could do was sit and wait. We stayed there all night and 6:00 this morning the nurse told us his temperature was 107 but he would be all right for a couple hours so we came home and went to bed. Chuck got up at 8:00 and went back down and just got home an hour ago.
Harlan is now 9:00 PM and I have just sent you a wire right after I finished that last sentence above. The nurse called and told us all to come right down. By the time you got this you will know it’s all over. Daddie will never have another pain or worry. I’m sorry but I can’t write anymore. Maybe I can do better tomorrow.
Love as Always “Your” Darlin’ Janie
I got the bond.
1:00 AM July 26, 1943
Darling, I can’t tell you how sorry I am about your father. It just doesn’t seem possible. When I got home this morning and the landlady told me you had called, I thought that maybe he was all right and you were on your way out here.
There were two letters from you today counting your Special. I will answer your letters after work in a nice long letter.
I don’t know what to say. I’m always at a loss for words. I love you so very very much. You can always count on me to help you and your Mom in every way I can. Just like always, I will be thinking of you every minute.
Love & xxxxxxxxxx’s YFH Harlan
July 26, 1943 (type written letter)
Dear Harlan:
Nana brought her typewriter with so I thought I would use it. O.K? O.K.
Well first, thanks for calling and Harlan I’m not mad at you. Should I be? Well, all right, gosh you didn’t know anything was going to happen, although I’ve written all about Daddie, it is hard for you to realize just how sick he was. I’m terribly sorry I couldn’t talk anymore but there wasn’t much to say and I haven’t been very talkative since yesterday anyway. I hope I do better tomorrow.
Personally Harlan, I would give my right arm to have you here but it’s a useless expense and you couldn’t make it by Wednesday anyway.
Honey, it’s kind of hard write now because I’m still kind of mixed up. It still doesn’t seem possible, I keep thinking Daddie was going to be alright. I didn’t give up hope until yesterday at 5:00. And poor Momie, she doesn’t know quite what to do but she is sure taking it on the chin. The Doctor got Chuck an extension on his leave and he doesn’t have to be back until the 31st of this month. So that helps a lot. Nana is here as you probably know and she is a lot of help too. Uncle Jack and Aunt Jenny are coming down, I think. Sooo, the house is full. Your Mom called this morning and I called her back after I talk to you, I told her you were going to call me tomorrow morning and she wants me to call her again. She is terribly broken up over it all.
Well Honey, this is all for now, I can’t talk, I can’t do anything, so please try to look overlook anything I say or do. Please try to understand. Keep those letters coming. I love you more than ever now. You are my one and only man.
Love & xxxxxxxxxs “Your” Darlin’ & F.W. Janie
PS A year has taken a lot out of my typing, hasn’t it.
1:30 AM July 27, 1943 Tuesday
Hello Darlin’:
I said in my last letter that I would write you a long letter tonight. I have two letters of yours to answer, so I will do that first. It is good that Chuck got to stay with you a little longer. I don’t know if Opal has left yet or not. Yes, I imagine it would seem funny for someone to say that you can’t see your father.
I feel awfully sorry for Dick when he finds out. It will be an awful big shock to him. He will feel a lot like I do right now. I wish there was something I could do and yet there doesn’t seem to be anything I can do. If you would have even sounded like you wanted me to come home when you called me, I would probably be on my way right now.
I have been doing a lot of thinking tonight after work. That is one good thing about welding. You can work terribly hard and you still have time to do a lot of thinking. I have sort of a plan. You can let me know how you like it. In about three or four months you and your Mother to come out here and stay with me. We could find a nice apartment somewhere. Dick is out in the Pacific and Chuck probably will be too. When ever they come in, it will be into Frisco. When they come in, they don’t have very long leaves, so it would be nice that way. You can get a job out here and make a lot more than you do there.
Darling, I wish there was a little more I could say or do. I feel so helpless, I could this be with you and by your side like I should be. I love you so much and miss you so much that it hurts. There isn’t very much to life without you.
Well Darling, I guess I had better go to bed and get some sleep as I am going to call you in the morning and I don’t want to be late. I love you very much. Good night Sweetheart.
Good morning Darling:
Gee, it was sure swell to hear your voice again this morning. You are sure keeping your chin up swell. I’m very proud of you.
There isn’t any news so I don’t know what I’m going to write about. Lang wants me to go over to his new home with him the Sunday. He lives in Berkeley. That is across the Bay by Oakland. I will take my good clothes with me to work and then go right there. He said that Sunday morning we would get up about 9:00and mow the lawn.There is a big lake somewhere close to there, so we can go swimming before dinner. Maybe we can go to a show in the evening. I’m glad you were coming next month. I guess it is pretty certain now but just let me know when you are just about ready to leave.
After I talked to you, I fixed breakfast and then I went to the store. I then went up on the roof and lay in the sun for about an hour. Then I came down and fixed dinner and my lunch to take to work. It is almost time to leave now, so I guess I had better close.
I love you so very very much. I will see you at 8 in thoughts and in person soon.
Love & xxxxxxxxxs Harlan
July 27, 1943 (please forgive any errors etc.)
Dear Harlan:
I have started and torn up thee letters so far this morning so decided to try and type it and see if I could finish one. It is awfully hard to write, because I think you would like to know all about the funeral. I will try to tell you.
Daddie was instate from Monday night until this morning at 9:30 (meaning that one could go and see him at the home). Chuck, Mary Jane, Rosie, Uncle Jack and Aunt Jenny, Momie and I went down last night to see him. He really looks swell but kind of thin. While we were there, your folks came up and several other people.
At 9:30 this morning the service car came after us as they furnish transportation you know. The service started at 10:00 sharp and Harlan, you should have seen the flowers, they were beautiful and quite a few of them. You couldn’t see Daddie because Momie had the casket closed just before the service, you know Daddie, he wouldn’t want people walking around looking at him. The service was lovely, short but just the way Daddie would want it, with organ music. Your Mom can probably tell you more about it than I can because we were in the mourner’s private room, for just the immediate family, and we were to the side of Daddie. I think your folks were there anyway because when I talked to your Dad last night, he said he was going to lay off of work so they could go. We had no more than got home and kind of settled down when Mr. March, Vice President of Enterprise Paint Company called and he said he and four other of Daddie’s closest business friends would like to come over. They were his dealers, all the bigs you know.
Daddie had on his new suit, (he had never worn it before) a white shirt and a pretty tie that Dick sent him for Father’s Day. It had a little bit of red in it. I’m awfully sorry you couldn’t have been there as you would probably like to see Daddie again. But you can remember him as he was. I don’t know how many people were at the funeral but I don’t imagine there were many because Daddie had so many friends from out of town who couldn’t get here.
After the service we went and looked at him once more. I thought it’s the last time I’ll ever see Daddie, but I have a feeling he will always be near because I’ll never forget the things that he has taught and told me. He was a great guy. There will never be another to take his place. What do you think?
Several people have been here, but I don’t think there will be anymore. Chuck just left to take Uncle Jack and Aunt Jenny to the station, Nana isn’t leaving until Friday and Chuck isn’t leaving until next week. So I’m going back to work tomorrow. The girls from my department sent two beautiful bouquets and Marion has called me twice a day. I really don’t know what I would’ve done without her. I’ll be kind of glad to get back to work, as it will take my mind off of things.
There were two letters today, one written Saturday night and the other after I talk to you on Monday morning. Thanks Honey.
This isn’t much of a letter, but it is the best I can do at present, I had almost decided not to write at all today but decided that wouldn’t be fair to you. I still can’t realize that I’ll never see Daddie drive into the driveway again.
Must Go.
Love & xxxxxxxxxxxs “Your” Darlin Janie
1:00 AM July 28, 1943
Hello Darlin’:
Well here it is another day closer to the sweetest little girl in the whole world. I just got home from work and again I’m pretty tired. The ship is still some behind but we’re still going to launch it Sunday.
I received a letter from you today so I will answer the questions in it now, if there are any. This letter was written at 3:00 PM on Sunday. Nope, there were no questions.
Darling, I’ll be so glad when you get here and we are together again. Things won’t go exactly as planned but we will make the best of it. As long as I have two hands and as long as there is a job somewhere, you and our Mom won’t have to worry. I love you so much and nothing can change it.
Jane, I forgot to ask you on the phone Monday, have you heard from Dick? If you haven’t, I think I can get in touch with him someplace here in San Francisco. These let me know if you would like me to try.
Well Darlin’, I have to take a shower and shave and then go to bed. I have to go to the Union in the morning. I love you very very much. Good night Sweetheart.
Good morning Darling: I got up about 7:30 and my washing is all done. Now I have to go down to the Union, so I haven’t had much time.
There isn’t any news so I don’t know what else to write about. The radio is playing “Melancholy Lullaby”.
I haven’t received my new gas ration tickets yet. I sure (Harry James is playing “I Saw You Last Night” I did at 8) wish you were here now. I don’t know why, but I feel pretty low. The radio is playing “I’ve got My Eyes On You” (Fred Astaire https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5oYQ-xSmYE) and now they are playing “When You Wish Upon A Star” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5oYQ-xSmYE Glen Miller).
Well Darling, I can’t seem to think of anything more to write about so I had better close for now. I love you very very much and I will see you at 8.
Love & xxxxxxxxxs Harlan
12:00 Noon July 28, 1943 Wednesday
Hello Darlin’:
Well here it is another day closer to ? and you. I didn’t write last night because I was just dead and my eyes were very sore. I had a job last night where I had to use a leather hood. It was very hot and the perspiration would run down my forehead and against the leather. It ran in my eyes and it made them burn. I would have to take it off and rub my eyes with my handkerchief.
I didn’t get up until about 11:00. I fixed breakfast and then went to the store. Now I’m writing to my one and only, and I don’t know what to write about.
I will sure be glad when you get here. I can use a vacation myself. I’m tired and full of smoke and galvanized. I really need the kind of rest you can give me. There isn’t anything else I can write about.
I miss you so much and I love you more than I ever thought possible. I will try to write a longer letter tonight. I will see you at 8.
Love & xxxxxxxs YFH Harlan
Thursday 9 PM July 29, 1943
Hello Honey:
Well I went back to work today and I’ll have to admit it wasn’t very easy with every one expressing there sympathy and asking questions. But I got through it, everyone was pretty swell in the long run.
When I arrived home, there were 3 letters here, one from one of my girlfriends, one from Frank Webb and the most important that promise long letter from you, it was swell. I read it to Momie, I didn’t think you would mind, did you?
Momie is pretty low tonight, she is all right until all of a sudden, she thinks of Daddie and kind of strikes her that he won’t be home tonight. It’s the same way with me, I’m okay until night time, then I start looking for him in the big chair or out in the kitchen or in the yard. And when I go to bed, I can’t get him out of my mind. I keep seeing him as he was when he was well, then all of a sudden, I see him laying in the hospital so white and thin and breathing so heavy, and then I see him laying so still atthe funeral home. I imagine it will wear off sooner or later. I hope it has by the time I get out there.
By the way, I think I will be it will either be the last of August or the first of September when I come. O.K? BUT WE WON’T PLAN ON IT, will we Honey? As far as clothes are concerned, I really don’t need any for that time of the year. I paid another $16 on my fur coat yesterday and I only owe $58, how’s that?
I’m enclosing Frank’s letter because it is you, he wants to hear from. If you can find time you should write him. I think I sent you one of his letters about four months ago, so you could write him but evidently you did.
It’s it was nice of Lang to invite you to his house next Sunday. I wish I could go too as I’m sure you will have a swell time. By the way how old is Lang Honey and his wife too???
Harlan, in my letter last night to you I believe I forgot to tell you that I love you, I was pretty mixed up kind of low. No matter how many times I don’t tell you that I love you that doesn’t mean I’m not. Right now I love you and miss you more than I ever have before.
Well Hon, they are waiting for me to finish this so we can take a ride to the post office I had better close. Thanks for the nice letters, keep them coming. Good night Honey. See you in thoughts at 10:00 as always.
Love & xxxxxxxxs and oooooooooox “Your” Darlin and F.W. Janie
They are playing “You’ll Never Know How Much I Love You’. Oh Harlan, I wish I could say more but maybe I can do better when I come out. I hope so. I hate close, but must, Little Dickie he is getting tired. Bye for now.
Jane
PS Honey, I was sitting on the davenport reading this over when Nana said did you tell him I love him? So I will tell you. Nana says she loves you.
1:00 AM July 30, 1943 Friday
Hello Darlin’:
Well here it is another day closer to ? and you. I just got home from work and have had been my shower and am now ready for bed. And the moon for a little smooching tonight. I wish you were here with me right now. I’d take you in my arms and try this squeeze you right through me. I would kiss your sweet mouth and your neck. I would blow in your ear and try to tell you how much I have missed you and how much I love you and adore you.
I’m pretty tired tonight again I made out pretty good. Do you remember last week I told you I made out very good? I made $13.02. Well tonight I made out more than that, I think. I hope.
This will be your Special as I will mail it tomorrow on the way to work, it should be there Saturday morning.
Well Darling, I think I had better close for now and get some sleep. I love you very very much. Good night sweetheart.
Good morning Darling:
Boy did I sleep last night. I woke up about 7:00. I was still tired so I rolled over and went back to sleep. I woke up at 9:00 and was still dead to the world. I went to back sleep and woke up at 11:30. I then got up and washed. I fixed breakfast and my lunch to take to work.
There were two letters from you. Both type written. There were no questions so I haven’t very much more to write about.
This is being your Special, I should write a lot more.
I think I will go to the launching Sunday. Carl said his wife wanted to see it too. If it is very hot, we may not go, instead we may go swimming. I won’t be able to write Saturday night. I’m going to take my good close down to the yard with me.
Well Sweets, I can’t seem to find anything more to write about so I had better close. I love you very very very much. I will see you at 8.
Love & xxxxxxxxs YFH Harlan I love you
Friday 6:00 PM July 30, 1943
Hello Honey:
Well here I am again and this time no typewriter, Nana left at 3:00 this afternoon. No letter today, must be in the mail.
Marian just called and was she excited, you bet! She had just arrived home from work and there was a letter from Wess and he is either coming home or is going to send for her, my but she is happy. She said now if you can only go to Frisco, we will both be happy again. The only plan I have so far is in about two or three weeks I’m going down and make my reservation for just as soon as I can. OI.K? O.K!
I’m terribly tired tonight as last night was the same as it others and some where the how I have caught a terrible cold the middle of the summer, can you imagine that. I can hardly breathe. I guess my resistance must be low.
It’s 6:10 and I have eaten and now I am going to take a hot bath and a couple of aspirin and be in bed by 8:00 or die trying.
It’s been terribly hot here all week, between 90 & 100 all the time. How is it out there?
Well Honey, I’m going to wipe up the dishes for now so better close now. I love you and miss you so much. Keep those letters coming and as long as possible. Write about any thing and every thing.
Bye for now.
Love & xxxxxxxxxs “Your” Darlin’ Janie
PS You didn’t tell me about your trip to The Russian River.
Jeepers Honey, I don’t know what is the matter with me. Here it is time for your Special and I haven’t a thing to write.
I hope you have a nice time Sunday. I’ll be thinking about you every other minute and wondering if you are thinking of me. Will Lang’s wife’s sister be there too?
I’m sorry there just isn’t any more & Momie is waiting.
By for now.
Love Again Jane
Johnny & Jane 