1:00 a.m. Friday, October 1, 1943
Hello Darlin’:
Well, here it is time for another Special and also another month gone by. Is one month I will never forget.
I rode Junior to work tonight and I got for him. I also got some sandpaper so I can fix him up good for the paint job. I wish there was some way I could spray him but I guess not. I will get a good brush and do a good job. I made a little bonus tonight, so I am kind of tired. I got my slip for last Saturday night. It was short about 36 feet of 3/16 last. That would make my check short about $5 or $6. I had to turn it back in for correction. I hope it comes in on my next check. I won’t get much of a check tomorrow. I will get about $32. I only made $7 bonus last week.
There isn’t any news, so I don’t know what to write about. I have a letter to answer. The weather is foggy and damp again – you can hear the fog horns in the Bay and channel. The weather would probably be nice over in the mountains. Yes, it would be nice to take a ride over on Junior (Harry James and Frank Sinatra “All or Nothing At All). I will try to get up to get that belt for you Saturday. (The store isn’t spelled Imporium, it is Emporium). Yes, I got that laundry finished – finally. I did write Mom. I also wrote one last night.
Sure feel romantic tonight. I could go for some smooching in a big way. I would like nothing better than to take you in my arms and squeeze you against me. I can feel your nice warm soft lips against mine. I love you so very very much and miss you more than I ever thought could be possible. Life without you isn’t anything.
I guess I had better get some sleep. I will finish this in the morning. Good night, Darling.
Good morning, Darling: I got up about 9:30. I had to go to the store and get some eggs and pancakes flour. I fixed breakfast and then washed the dishes. I then took Junior to the hardware store and got two paintbrushes and a scraper to scrape the paint off.
There still isn’t any news. The weather is very cloudy and damp this morning. It is probably a beautiful day in the mountains. It would be a beautiful day here if you were here with me.
Well sweets, I had better close before this gets to bore some. I love you very very much.
Love & xxxxxxxxxx’s YFH Johnny
9:00 P.M. Fri. Night, Oct 1, 1943
Dear Johnnie,
Time for a another Special, and nothing to write about. Received two letters today, nice ones, it’s too bad you didn’t go out in the ocean. If you want repair work, I hope you can get it.
Johnnie, I am very sorry but this is going to be a short Special. I’m very tired and my brain isn’t clear at all. I don’t know whether I’m going to work or not, my cold has gone all through my body and I ache all over, terribly, every time I move, it hurts and all I want to do is sleep and I can’t. We worked in the tracer wing last night and jeepers, I never realized how easy I had it in the primer wing. You really earn your money in the tracer wing. But I like it regardless. As soon as we are trained, Mariam and I will be put on the same machine.
Darling, Mississippi not Missippi & dinner not diner, you should know better than that, please try and remember.
I’m sorry but I can’t write anymore, sure wish you were here to rub my back and arms. I’ll do better tomorrow, honest I will.
Love & xxxxxs
“Your” Darlin & F.W. Janie
PS I got the negatives, thanks. Be careful and don’t work too hard. Momie and little Pete send their love. I miss you very much tonight.
2:00 a.m. Saturday, October 2, 1943
Hello Sweetheart:
Well, here it is another day farther away and yet closer to you. I got home from work about 12:45. I took a shower, shaved, and read the paper. Now I’m ready for bed. I’m really pooed. I made out again tonight. I got my check today. It was for $102. After everything was taken out, I got $63. I got paid for last Sunday. I didn’t think it would come until next week’s check.
I can hardly keep my eyes open. The black smoke makes my eyes sort of burn. Darling, do you mind if I go to bed now? I’m really sleepy. I will finish this in the morning. I love you very, very much. Good night, good night my Little Darlin’.
Good morning, Sweetheart: Connie Apland called me while I was fixing breakfast. She is in town and is coming over. Thanks a lot for the recipe for the hot cakes. I will try them out Sunday.(Excuse me)
Connie came and we have been talking for quite a while. It is time to go to work. She is going to do some shopping downtown, so I will ride part way downtown with her. I will write a longer one tonight. I love you and miss you more and more every day.
Love & xxxxxxxxxx’s YFH Johnny
Saturday 3:30 p.m. October 2, 1943
Hello Honey:
First of all I want to apologize for that Special yesterday, it really was a lousy one and I’m sorry but was so tired last night when writing it I couldn’t even think. Guess my cold is kind of getting me down the last couple days but I’ll be O.K. soon. Well Honey, it’s 1:30 there and I imagine you are getting ready for work. Excuse me while I wipe the dishes for Momie.
Thank you, we are through. In fact, I’ll bet you are just about ready to go get on Junior and away, right? How is he and Herman? I was out your Mom’s this afternoon for a few minutes. I like their apartment, it’s really nice and she gave me our quilt. It’s really beautiful Johnny. It’s a very pretty yellow and white, I’m really crazy about it, the work and everything about it is beautiful. It was very nice of your Mom. Honey, she has some clothes of yours there that are too small for you and doesn’t know what to do with them. She said she has asked you several times what she is to do with them and you have never answered. They really take up a lot of space, and she could use the room and if they are too small, why don’t you tell her that those that are too small she can give away, unless you want them. There is only one thing I think you can wear and that’s those tweed pants to your jacket, I believe those would fit you now, but why don’t you let her know?
It sure is a beautiful day here, nice, and sunshiny, warm but not hot. Johnny, are you sure you want to send for your papers? I know we talked it over but I don’t know, maybe if you talk to your boss, he would know why you haven’t heard. I don’t want to tell you not to send for them and I don’t want to tell you to send for them. Just be sure that it’s what you want to do.
Speaking of the girls across the street, I remember one day they were drumming too. They aren’t bad, are they. I sure miss all those things, by the way how is Joe? Tell him Hello, will you please, now don’t forget. If you would tell me Kay’s last name, I will try and drop her a line or has her husband left and her too. How’s Shane, and Mr. & Mrs. Dreary?
By the way, you never said a word about that $100 bond, I thought you would be pleased.
Well, guess I better close now. Will write again tomorrow. Bye now.
Your Little Angle & F.W. Janie
I Love you
2:00 a.m. Sunday, October 3, 1943
Hello Darling:
Again I’m tired. I worked in the double bottom in a hole a little smaller than 3 feet. You can imagine how small it was. I perspired so much, I was just soaking wet. The smoke was very thick. It just stuck to my face and then I would sweat and the dirt would run down my face and into my clothes.
There is a letter from you that came this afternoon sometime. The mail doesn’t get here now until almost 4 o’clock. Part of the letter was written at work. It is a very inspiring letter. If you stay in that wing called the tracer wing or decide to, remember one thing. No matter how much money you can make or have there is one thing you can’t buy and that is your health. It is an easy thing you lose and a hard thing to get back. Please remember that T & T must have a healthy Mama. I decided that I’m not going to do any more welding on the galvanized ships that are coming in. Black iron is bad enough but galvanized is worse. I’m so full of smoke right now that it hurts to breathe. I can throw this smoke off easy but not the galvanized. There’s not so much of a chance of suffocating when I got caught because I had fairly good air once I stopped welding, but it was just the idea of not being able to get any help because of the noise and it was very uncomfortable.
As soon as you and our Mom decide to come out to Frisco, just let me know, I will start looking for an apartment tomorrow. Okay? Aw please! Well Okay, I will wait a week or so anyway.
Well Sweets, it is getting late and I’m tired so I had better get some sleep. I will finish this in the morning. I love you very very much. Good night Sweetheart.
Good morning Darling: A fellow from the yard called me and wants me to go out to the beach with him this afternoon. It is a beautiful day. Your Special hasn’t come yet.
I got up at 8 and fixed breakfast. I then went out to the garage and started to sand Junior. I finished painting him. He looks good. He will look at better when I’m finished. I think I will put two coats on him.
There isn’t any news, so I haven’t much to write about. I sure wish you were here. We could spend the day at the beach or in the mountains together. Well I have to shave and take a shower. I got pretty dirty working on Junior. I will see you at 8 as always.
Love & xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx to the sweetest little angel this side of heaven. YFH Johnny
Monday 9:30 p.m. October 4, 1943
Hello Honey:
Well to start with, your Special came Saturday, 2:30 P.M. because you wrote it after work Thursday and Friday morning instead of Friday night and Saturday morning, but I guess you forgot or something. There was no letter today, so no mail for two days. Your Special was nice, thank you.
There isn’t a lot of news. Yesterday Momie and I got up about 10:00 and cleaned up the house and then I cleaned up the car. Chuck called yesterday afternoon, rather called Mary J, and said he was leaving by Thursday of this week for Tacoma and he will be home the last of this month and wants Mary Jane to be ready to go back with him. Isn’t that swell?
I went over to your Mom’s yesterday for a minute, she is fine.
My new job – in case you’re interested – is coming pretty good but every night I have awful arm and shoulder aches, hope I get used to it pretty soon.
Well John, how are you? Hope you’re not working too hard.
Sorry but I have to go to work now. I miss you so much, you will never know.
Love as always, “Your” Darlin & F.W. Janie
11:45 AM October 4, 1943, Monday
Hello Darling:
The friend of mine came over and we took the streetcar out to the beach. We rode the roller coaster a couple of times and went all through the midway. We had a picture taken. I’m sending it. We left the beach about 6 or 6:30. We took the streetcar back downtown and had dinner. Then we went bowling. Hook’s wife, Leo’s and Zigler’s wives were there. The fellows were playing over at Hook’s. I bowled three games. 129, 172, 169. We had to wait quite a while for an alley so we got out about 11. He (George) and says,” let’s go to a midnight show”. I said all right. We saw “Dixie” and a detective picture. Dixie was well but the mystery was corny. I got home around 4 this morning. I got up about 10:30 and fixed breakfast. Gus came in to wash the floor, so I had to leave the dishes and do them pretty soon.
Darling, I miss you so much yesterday and last night. Everywhere George and I went, we saw couples together, laughing, talking or just being together. It doesn’t seem right we should be apart so long. It was a beautiful day yesterday and it is also beautiful day. The beach was just packed yesterday. (Frank Sinatra is singing “The World is in My Arms” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTEYl7FgsOA) He is an awful liar. I wish that song could come through tonight.
George is a redhaired boy from Oklahoma. He has been here almost a month now. We worked together in the double bottom.
Well Sweets, I have to fix my lunch for work and wash my breakfast dishes. I will see you at 8 as always. I love you very, very much.
Love & xxxxxxxxxx’s YFH Johnny
1:45 AM, October 5, 1943, Tuesday
Hello Darling:
Well, here it is another day closer to you and whenever the time will come. It is foggy out tonight but kind of nice.
There isn’t any news and no letter today so consequently not much to write about.
I wish you were here now. I feel like going on a smooching spree. I just finished taking a shower and really feel swell. I had an easy job last night.
We could drive up to the top of the hill and park somewhere or take Junior and a blanket and go someplace or even stay here in my room. Just anyplace would be all right as long as you were here with me. I could take you in my arms and love you up. I could squeeze you and kiss you.
I have to go to bed and get some sleep. I will finish this in the morning. I love you very very much. Good night Darling.
Good afternoon Darling: It is almost time for me to go to work. I got up at 10:30 and took the seat on Junior down to have it covered and re-padded. I spent the rest of the time trying to get some masking tape. It’s very hard to get, I didn’t get any. I got home around 12. Johnny was here and we went down to the drugstore and had a Coke. I came on back and fixed dinner. I have to get my lunch to take to work and then to work. It is really a beautiful day out again. You can never tell anything about the weather around here.
Well Sweets, I guess I had better sign off for now. I will see you at 8 as always. I love you very, very much.
Love & xxxxxxxxxx’s Johnny
Thursday 9:00 AM October 5, 1943
Hello Honey:
Johnny, I haven’t had a letter since Saturday and that was my Special written Thursday night and Friday morning and yes you have me worried. I keep thinking about that hole you get stuck in. If you wrote Friday night, I’m sure it would’ve been here now and even Saturday night. Is anything wrong? Did you get hurt or are you ill? If I don’t get one tomorrow, I’ll be frantic.
There isn’t much going on. Nana is here. She got a ride as far as Adele and Momie and I went up and got her. It sure nice to have someone around for a while. My clothes came today, thank you very much for sending them. I felt kind of sad when I opened them knowing where they were not long ago. Nana wants to know all about my trip, sooo I can rattle on about it some more, to my pleasure. I love to talk about it.
Gosh, it’s awful getting no word from you for three days. I just got to hear tomorrow. How’s work and the boys and Junior and Herman and all the kids at the house? Tell them hi and I sure wish I was back, ever so much, as you know, every day gets worse.
My cold is a little better but I still can’t sleep very well days but will be off this shift in a week and a half. Momie says she is going to put her application in at the plant soon, so we will both be doing nothing but work, eat and sleep but then the time goes fast.
Well Honey, it’s getting to the time where I must start to dress for work, so better close. Sure hope nothing is wrong out there. Be careful and write me all about your weekend. Maybe you took a trip, huh, and didn’t write. I love you very much and I miss you terribly, especially when I don’t hear.
Love & xxxxxxxxxx’s “Your” Darlin & F.W Janie
PS Nana says Hello
1:00 p.m. October 6, 1943, Wednesday
Hello Darlin’:
Well, here it is another day closer to ? and you. Thanks for calling me this morning. I don’t know why you haven’t received any mail from me and I can’t figure why I haven’t gotten any from you. I didn’t get any from you today either. This makes 3 days.
After I talked to you, I finished eating breakfast. I then went down to the garage and sanded Junior down. I will put the second coat on tomorrow. Betty came down and wanted to know if I would take her down to the depot, as she is going to Camp Roberts to be with her husband. She is a little redhead I borrowed the egg from while you were here. Penny rode down and back with me – Penny’s husband is in now. His ship got in Sunday night. She is pretty happy.
It is raining now and has been all day so far. It is kind of a nice after the heat yesterday. It should be rather nice working night.
I don’t know for sure whether I will go to Patterson Sunday or not. If I don’t get Junior finished by Saturday, I won’t go until next week. Junior sure is going to looks swell. If I go to the Navy, I will ship it home for sure. He runs too good and looks too good to sell. I think I can get more money from him than I can out of Herman.
Well Sweets, it is getting time for me to work. I have to get my lunch so I will have to close for now. I love you very very much. I will see you at 8 as always.
Love & xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx YFH Johnny
1:30 a.m. October 7, 1943, Thursday
Hello Darlin’:
Well, I hope you have your mail in the morning. If you don’t get any, I don’t know what the matter is.
The weather is damp and foggy. It was nice working. I made out tonight, I think. I made $21 last week in bonus money. I still have a headache. I don’t know what causes it unless it is the smoke. I have to put the second coat on Junior tomorrow so I had better get some sleep. I have a certain day to wash now. every Friday morning. That saves a lot of trouble with everyone else wanting to wash at the same time.
I love you very, very much. Good night Darling – Glenn Miller “Moonlight Becomes You”
Good afternoon Sweetheart: I took my radio down in the garage with me. While painting the scooter, I have been listening to the World Series. The time is 12:20. It is a good game. Excuse me for a minute, I think the mail is here. Yes, I got a letter from you. The first one since your Sunday Special. I will answer it as I read it. I don’t know what Special – Holy smokes, you wrote this letter the 2nd. It left Des Moines on the 3rd and got here today. I don’t remember whether I rode Junior to work last Saturday or not. He and Herman are both fine. I sure would like to see the quilt. Someday we will be under it. Soon I hope. If Mom asked me what I wanted done with my clothes, it would’ve been a long time ago. Yes, I want to send for my papers. If they will take me, then now and not a little later. I don’t want to weld much longer anyway. Right now I’m considered as an old timer in the yard. The welders just don’t last long there. I might go instructing or inspecting but not much more welding.
The girls at school across the street aren’t too good. They were drumming this morning too. Joe is fine. He always asks me about you. Kay’s last name is Royce.
That $100 is swell. I guess I did forget to tell you about it.
Well Sweets, it is getting close to time for work. I love you very, very much. I will see you at 8 as always.
Love & xxxxxxxxxx’s Johnny
Thursday 9:30 a.m. October 7, 1943
Hello Honey:
Gee, I wish this was yesterday morning because then I would be going to talk to you. Jeepers Honey, I can’t get over you, you. Well I must admit, I noticed it a little when I was out there but was having so much fun to pay any attention and then yesterday on the phone it really hit home. You are different, you’re not happy or satisfied one bit. I know Johnny that you are working very hard at work that is hard. I know you have no one out there for whom you really care. I mean that you can feel near and warm with and I’m sorry, sincerely I am. In fact, I feel kind of like a heel but I cannot come out however bad I would like to and you know how badly I want to come. Things just haven’t worked our way this time but we aren’t the only ones, there are many others like us only worse off. Another thing, when you told me you loved me, it sounded like you actually forced it out. It wasn’t warm and nice but kind of cold. It kind of made me wonder – – – I’m sorry because of all of it Johnny, you may not get what I mean, but if you give it a little thought, I believe you will.
Well there isn’t any news. I’m awfully glad you’re all right as I was worried and anxiously waiting for my letters today. Sure hope I get the pictures and the bond and news of everything you have been doing.
Well Nana and Momie are ready to leave and I have to take them down so better close. I love you very much and am thinking about you a great deal.
Love & xxxxxs Your’s Janie
2:00 a.m. Saturday, October 9, 1943
Hello Darlin’:
I hope you will forgive me for not writing yesterday. I got home and I was just dead tired. I took a shower and sat down in my chair and fell asleep. I woke up about 3:00 a.m. and crawled into bed. I got up at 9 and washed clothes. I fixed breakfast. After I washed the dishes, I went down, and got the seat for Junior and I found some masking tape. I got home about 1:30 and had to take right off for work.
I had a pretty tough night tonight. I made a bonus but I don’t think it was worth the work. I got a hot piece of slag in my eye and had to go over to the hospital and get it taken out. It burned the corner of my eye. After I finished welding, I was crawling down some staging, I got my arm caught and pulled something in my right shoulder. I’m afraid I will be a little sore in the morning.
I got a letter from you and one from Opal yesterday. You shouldn’t talk like this. You will make me start feeling sorry for myself. Maybe I do sound and feel a little colder. That isn’t because I love you any less. It is from being independent from everyone. Not being told what to do and what not to do. It is from not being with someone whenever I want to, but just when I can. I love you very much and I always will. I miss you too, more than I ever thought I could. You probably were wondering why I was thinking of changing to the day shift. I had planned on trying to find a private home to stay at. I could get my meals and laundry done and I could be with someone most of the time. It would be much nicer than this because I could have a little time to myself.
Well Sweets, it is getting rather late and I am rather tired. I love you very, very much. Good night Sweetheart.
Good morning Darling: The weather is rather foggy and damp. I just got up. I haven’t had breakfast yet. I’m not even dressed. My shoulder is quite sore, my eye is all right.
Jeepers, I wish you were here. It would be a perfect day to go over to the mountains for a hike or even stay here in Frisco and smooch all day. I could go for either one.
I think I had better close for now and get this in the mail.
I still have my chin up. You keep yours up. Don’t ever get the idea that I don’t love you or want to break our engagement. I wish I could take you across my knee. Wouldn’t that be fun?
I do love you very much and I will never stop loving you. You are everything I want and everything I ever hope to have. Try to understand the way I feel. I really can’t help it in any way. I will see you at 8 as always.
Love & xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Johnny
PS. I haven’t been downtown yet about the belt. The first time I’m down by there I will get it. I just wanted you to know I haven’t gotten it.
Saturday 9:00 a.m. October 9, 1943
Hi Johnnie: Well Honey, how are you? Just fine and dandy, I hope. Let me see, I received three letters yesterday written the 4th, 5th, and 6th and mailed the same and oh yes, I received the bond and the pictures. About the bond, we now have $950 (just $50 more and we will have our $1000 – our down payment on our home, because we’ll probably have to cash everything over that in). About the pictures, all I can say is “tisk tisk”.
All in all you had a nice (“As Time Goes By” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d22CiKMPpaY is on the radio) time last Sunday I think, even though you did miss me (and I’m afraid I would be hurt if you didn’t). Have you got the seat on Junior back yet? I’ll bet it really looks swell. I don’t think you should sell Junior either and that you should ship him home to me. O.K? O.K! Well that’s settled.
Well tomorrow is Sunday but we have to work anyway so I’ll get another check for $45 next week, which I’ll need. I have some good news, I went back to the dentist yesterday to see my x-ray pictures and you know what, I don’t have one cavity. Isn’t that just simply swell and here I thought I would have about a $50 bill. Boy, I sure was tickled. After I went to the dentist, we went down to Yonkers and I had my fur coat brought down and showed it to Nana and had it shortened. It was the first time I had seen it since last February. While I was trying it on, one of the ladies in the hat department came and showed me a hat to match my coat with the same kind of fur on it, but it was $25 so I told her no, but it was so cute that I couldn’t forget it and Momie and Nana like it, sooo yes, I went back and put it in will-call. I only owe $60 on my coat and as soon as I get it and my hat I will have Momie take my picture in it and send it to you. O.K? I’m really quite thrilled with the whole thing and I know you will like my outfit, don’t you think?
It is another beautiful day here but I must go to bed as soon as we go to the store. I only had five hours of sleep yesterday, so I’m kind of tired. I’m getting used to my work now and my fingers are getting better, although I still have the small bandages on them. In another week they will be O.K. again.
Well Honey, Momie is ready to go so I better get this off. I will be dreaming of you tomorrow, wondering what you are doing. Keep that chin up and those spirits high and please try and be patient because I love you very much and miss you as much as you miss me.
Love & xxxxxs To you, Forever Mine
“Your” Darlin & F.W. Janie
10:30 p.m. Saturday October 9, 1943
Hello Darling:
Well, I have a lot to tell you and I don’t quite know where to begin. First of all I didn’t go to work tonight. I haven’t been feeling any too well. I have been in the garage working on Junior most of the day. It sure looks better and a lot different. You wouldn’t know him. I have definitely decided not to sell him now. I have really had some good offers, but they don’t even tempt me.
Now for a shock. Someone got into my room and took $30 out of my dresser drawer. I was going to send $20 home to Mom to pay two payments on my insurance and the rest she could keep. I haven’t any idea who might have taken it. I think it might be one of two. Do you remember Taylor French, the fellow who had his leg in a cast? I don’t remember whether you met him or not. Well, he went home to Oklahoma and just got back Friday. He came in my room early in the morning to wake me up so I would know he was back, (as if I give a damn). He might have taken it or Gus might have, I don’t know for sure. I wish I did.
Now another shock. I got a letter from my draft board. I have been reclassified as 2B until December 22. I am still going to send for my papers when I hear from Sacramento about Herman. I really want to stop welding pretty soon. It doesn’t bother me so much except for the fact that my lungs are sore when I breathe.
Fun Fact: World War II classification II-B – Deferred in war production.
I finished taking Junior and put the first coat on him. If I haven’t told you about the colors I am painting him, I won’t tell you until I take a picture of him when he is finished. Maybe by next Wednesday. (I hope).
After I finished working on Junior, I came up and fix dinner. I thought I would go down and see a show. I wanted to see “For Whom the Bell Tolls”. I asked Shane if she would like to go down. Her mother said it would be all right. Do you mind? We went down and the place was jammed clear out to the street. We then went up to the Orpheum and saw “My Kingdom For A Cook” and “Dangerous Blonds”. The Orpheum is a beautiful theater. I don’t remember if we went there or not. I think we did. Remember the day you went into the phone booth to fix your stockings with your fingernail polish? It is the theater right next door. I was spending too much time looking at you I guess, I don’t even remember the show.
Well Sweets, it is getting late and I want to get up early and do some more painting, I still have quite a lot to do. I forgot to tell you, this afternoon I got a haircut – not too short but short. I also sent you a dozen roses. I hope you got them all right and that they are real nice ones and that you like them. Somehow a rose seems to remind me of you. It is a beautiful flower that smell sweet and looks warm and soft. I love you very much Jane and will never stop loving you. Good night Sweetheart.
Johnny & Jane 