Sunday 1:30 p.m. October 10, 1943
Hi Honey:
Yes, I know it’s late but its Sunday and such a lovely day that I hate to go to bed. It’s nice and warm and sunny, I almost don’t want to go to work tonight, then I wouldn’t have to go to bed, in fact I don’t want to. But don’t worry I am.
Your Special hasn’t arrived yet, so don’t have much to write about, just thought I could prolong my going to bed. It’s 11:30 out there, I wish I hadn’t called you last week, then I would call you now, only I don’t think I would reverse the charges. That was kind of a dirty trick, wasn’t it?
Well, I wonder if it’s nice on Jackson Street today, maybe you’re out in front working on Junior, huh? Have you finished painting him yet, don’t forget to take a picture the first nice day. Please. I sure wish we were together today, we could take Herman with the top down and a couple comic magazines out in the country and park. The leaves are changing color now and they are beautiful. Say, I have an idea, why don’t you, if you aren’t taken in the Army, come home and go to work at Herman M Brown and we can get married and you and I can live here with Momie until next year sometime, then we could get a little place of our own and be very happy, I know. What do you think, and oh yes, you could sell Herman because we would have my car, but we could keep Junior. O.K?
Well Honey, it’s almost 2:00, sooo, I must get to bed, I miss you very awful much, terribly. Your Special will be here when I get up and I will answer it tomorrow morning. Did you see the moon last night? It was very much like that night we sought on the ocean. Last night, rather this morning at work, the tracer ring was the only department in our building that worked, so we had to go over to building number 4 to eat and Marion and I walked over about 4:30 a.m. The stars were very bright and beautiful and I thought about 4 weeks ago that time it was 2:30 out there and we were just about getting out of the mid-night show “So Proudly We Hail”, remember?
We went to the beach that night before sunset, then to the Cliff House, then bowled. I remember it and I can see it all so clear. Then we went home and smooch, we tried to buy malts on the way home but that little place was closed, see I remember everything and you’ll never know how many times I go over at all, those glorious two weeks, in my mind, sometimes every day.
Well it is 2:00, must come back from Frisco and go to bed. Goodbye for now Honey.
“Your” Darlin & F.W. Janie
11 PM Sunday, October 10, 1943
Hello Darling:
Well here it is another day closer to the next time we are together. I slept until about 10. I got up and fixed breakfast. About 12:00 I went out and started doing some more work on Junior. I cleaned the bottom guard and painted it. I put another coat on the exhaust pipe and another coat of paint on the trimming. I have two new headlights and an electric horn. I put the horn on and I had to fix a piece of pipe to hold the lights. I cut it, drilled it, and painted it.
After I finished, I walked down to the store and got some spaghetti. I came back and fixed supper. I finished eating and started to iron my clothes. I really had a bunch of them. I’m all through now though. Kay was upstairs baking, Shane was taking care of her mother’s sister’s baby. Miss England was ironing and I was mangling. I had my radio on. There were some good programs on. Music and stories. Mr. Dearr and Shane were trying to dance in the kitchen and the Spanish gals were jabbering back and forth. It is like 3 ring circus around here. I sure wish you were here now.
I have two letters from you to answer. Your Special came about noon. You remember the trouble we had some time before you got here, getting my Specials to you on time? Well, when I did finally get them to you on time it was because I wrote them Thursday night and Friday morning and mailed them after work Friday night. They got there early Sunday morning. So you see, I didn’t forget. If you keep having those back aches and arm aches from your work, I’m going to up and tell you to quit and get your little self out here and there won’t be any argument about it. There is no sense to it and no need for it and that is final.
I thought we had more than $950 in bonds. I was under the impression that we had over $1000 with that $100 bond that you bought. Yes, I got the seat for Junior on Friday.
I sure would like to see you in your new coat and hat. I’ll bet you look like a little doll.
Well Sweets, it is getting late and I must get some sleep. I love you very, very much. Good night Sweetheart. The reason I didn’t mail the first part of this letter is that I wasn’t even downtown today. I love you very, very much.
Good morning Darling: It is a beautiful day today. The weather sure is odd, yesterday it was cloudy and late last night I went out to put the car in the garage, it was raining out. (Harry James “I Heard You Cry Last Night” ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiLMR_OIfGM ) I got up at 9 and fixed breakfast. I then went out and I did some more work on Junior. I’m almost finished. Just a couple more days.
Well Sweets, I have to finish my dinner and my lunch for work. I will see you at 8 as always. I love you very, very much.
Love & xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx YFH Johnny
Frank Sinatra is singing “Oh, What A Beautiful Mornin’” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwOfSGQKdn4)
11 Oct 1943
Dear Janie,
Honest, I haven’t forgotten you, it’s just that I haven’t had the time to sit down and write you a nice long letter.
Today I started classes in the Junior group and they get a study hour, so now you know what I’m doing.
I wrote you a letter at Hunter and didn’t receive no answer. How come? I realize you are busy too but be glad you’re not in my shoes.
Gee, I guess I’ll never get out of going to school because that’s just what I’m doing here. You see Hunter was just a basic school where I learned the background of Navy and all the fundamentals. Also got my shots. I took in stride, and all and all didn’t do bad.
Sorry I had to end up going to Seaman school. But they didn’t seem to think me qualified for anything else. So I had a very nice train ride here. Really saw the country. Our train was a trans-movement so we took the long way around. Believe it or not but I did go into Canada.
I’ve been here one month and the time is really flying. I get worried at times, wondering if I’ll make the grade but I’ll do my best and that’s all I can do. If I successfully complete this course, I’ll be a Petty Officer 3rd class Seaman. Besides $70 a month. But it’s the usual old grind, school. My classes now consist of Naval correspondence, English, I think, Naval terminology, shorthand, naval personnel. It may not seem like much but believe me it’s quite a bit to digest.
Stillwater is a typical college town and its name fully describes itself. Very still and besides Oklahoma is a dry state.
We have weekends off so three of us girls went to Tulsa, the oil capital. It’s really okay. There was a swell football game. Tulsa played Texas Tech Saturday night. We went dancing, party, etc. And really did the town in general. I saw Carlton Browning and lots of oil derricks and naturally a little small-town gal like me was dazzled.
Service people really keep things something though. There is no shortage of men and dates are plentiful. The Air Corps has eight days here. Naval Radarmen, R.O.T.C, Stars. So all in all about 5000 or more men.
We have very nice living quarters. Maple furniture and venetian blinds. We live in regular dormitories on the campus and the food is wonderful. Chicken every Sunday and pastries that melt in your mouth.
Most women that leave here go to Washington. I hope I don’t. I want to be stationed in Florida or the Great Lakes. But I’ll just have to wait and see.
I’ve never once been sorry I enlisted. I got bored and mad at times and that’s human nature. I really didn’t realize it wasn’t all fun but hard work. Up at 6:00 every morning and taps are played at 10:00 but believe me at 10:00 I really dead tired.
I expect to be true here sometime the last of November. Then if I can make connections, will get a seven-day leave. So maybe we can throw a party.
You know the kind of mess plant but also realize how lucky I am to be in and really miss all the gang.
My uniform looks pretty good on me and as soon as I can, I will send you a picture. There’s just one for target first here and he is so busy, then closed down for a week.
Well I’ve been wondering how your trip came out? How your mom is? And all the news. Please write me whenever you can. Please remember I think of you and won’t forget you.
Tell me all about Harlan and you. Got close at as it almost time for lunch.
Until later. Love from a little ripple. Yodie
Monday 8:00 p.m. October 11, 1943
Hello Honey:
Johnny, you have made me very happy. Yesterday I received a Special that was more like my old Harlan, the one I used to have so much fun with, the idea of a private home is a very nice one. I’m terribly sorry about your eye and shoulder and hope that by now they are both a lot better. And as far as my chin, it is higher now than it has been since I arrived in Frisco and then tonight when Momie called me, there was a package here for me. Roses. Darling, one dozen roses, red ones, I’m afraid I cried a little, it has been so long since I last had some. They are beautiful and thank you very much, as I said before you have made me very happy.
Today has been full of nice surprises. Chuck called just a minute ago, he is home for 15 days. He called from Mary J’s and will be over in the morning. Of course Momie is very elated over it and I feel pretty fine too. Especially after my nice surprise. The roses are right in front of me and the fragrance of them is all through the room.
I was so tired this morning that I went right to bed when I got home, that’s why I’m up now. There was no letter today, so no comments and not any news. I have from Saturday morning at 8:00 until 4:00 Monday afternoon off, because we don’t have to work Sunday and we change shifts next weekend, sooo I’m going to put on the storm windows, wash the car and wax it again and work around the house a little. There are so many things to be done and with Chuck’s help I think we can get it done. I wish you were here to help me but someday we will do these things together.
Well Honey, I better close now and start getting my things ready for work. Thank you again for the lovely roses. I love you very much, more than I have for some time because you are a little more like my Harlan. I guess I better tell you what to do and what not to do more often from now on – huh?
Love as Always
“Your” Darlin & F.W. Janie
1:00 a.m. October 12, 1943
Hello Darling:
Happy anniversary, 4 years, and 2 months. It has been a beautiful day and a beautiful clear night. The moon was out and the stars were big and bright.
Well, I have some news what is news. I think the Navy has canceled a lot of orders they have for ships. We won’t be building any more destroyers. (As far as I know). The Navy is going to take the Bethlehem Yard over and make it a repair yard. If they do, we will be the largest repair yard on the West Coast. They are going to put large machines in front of the ways so they can pulley the ships right up out of the water on skids. If they do this, it will really be something. I don’t know how the hours will be though. I think they will do this pretty soon.
I guess that is all news, so I had better close and get some sleep. I love you very, very much. Good night Darling.
Good morning Sweetheart: It is 11:45. I got up at 8:30 and fixed breakfast. I then went out and finished painting Junior. It will be dry tomorrow. I will put my new headlights on and rewire the taillight and then it will really be beautiful. It looks good now. It will even have that shield on down to the bottom. It looks better than new. I think.
I didn’t get a letter today so I have nothing to answer.
The weather is beautiful. I don’t see how it can last. It will probably be cold tomorrow. Gosh Honey, I sure wish you were here now. I miss you so much. Life just isn’t anything without you.
I love you very, very much. I will see you at 8 as always.
Love & xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx YFH Johnny
Oct. 13, 1943
Hello Honey:
It’s 11:15 and I just got home and have about 15 minutes in which to drop you a line before the mailman comes.
I haven’t had any mail since Sunday but this week I know it’s the mail. (I hope)
Your Mom called last night, said she hadn’t heard from you in some time but as I was asleep I didn’t talk to her, Momie did. Your roses are still beautiful, they were buds when they came and now they have all opened.
Today is the first fall day so far, it is cloudy and cold but not too cold, in fact it is very much like a cool foggy day in Frisco, only clouds melted fog. You know the air is clear and fresh. I hate to go to bed, it’s so refreshing.
Well Darling, here comes the mailman so must go. I will make up for this tomorrow. O.K? Thanks Hon.
I love you very much, Janie
1:00 a.m. October 13, 1943, Wednesday
Hello Darlin’:
Well, here it is another day closer to ? and you. It has been a beautiful day all day and is clear with a few scattered clouds tonight. It is really beautiful out though the moon is big and bright. The stars are glittering in the sky like reflections of the moon on the bay. I sure wish you were here.
I had a very busy night. I ran 154 feet of 3/16. I made a little over $10 bonus. I feel much better than I did last week though. I’m going downtown, maybe Saturday and have an x-ray taken of my lungs. If they are real bad, I will have to quit welding I’m afraid.
Well Sweets, it is getting late and I must get some sleep so I think I had better close for now. I love you very, very much. Good night Sweetheart.
Good morning Darling: It is a beautiful day. I am also through with Junior now. All I have left to do is to rub the paint down and then wax it. It really looks beautiful. I will have it all finished by Sunday so I can take a picture of it for you.
The mail is here and there is a letter from you, a very nice, sweet letter. No it wasn’t that dirty trick to call me and reverse the charges. Sunday was rather cloudy and damp. I have a chance to sell Herman for $150. I think I will take it. That is a good idea of yours about me coming back to Des Moines. Do you really want me to? I have a better idea. Why don’t you and your mother come out here and we can do more things here then we can back there.
There isn’t any news that I haven’t told you, so I don’t know what else to write about. The radio is on and Bing Crosby is singing “I Heard You Cried Last Night” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tm-7k6G90y0).
Well Darling, I think I had better close for now. I love you very very much. I will see you at 8 as always.
Love & xxxxxxxxxx’s YFH Johnny
1:30 a.m. October 14, 1943, Thursday
Hello Darlin’:
Well, here it is another beautiful night going swiftly by without you. It sure is a shame. The moon is just as round and just as silver as can be. I’ll bet it is beautiful out on the beach right now. It would be fun to take Junior out for a ride.
I am a little tired tonight. I ran 140 feet so I made a little bonus again tonight. I’m very tired, so I think I will try to get a little sleep. I love you very, very much. Good night Darling.
Good afternoon Sweetheart: I got up kind of late this morning, about 10. I walked over to Johnny’s. (Harry James ”I Cried For You” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkIbt-qXOtw) I took the scooter over yesterday to have him drill two holes for my lights. I came home and puts the lights on it and I fixed breakfast. I had 5 pancakes, 2 strips of bacon and 1 egg and 3 glasses of milk. I washed dishes and now it is time to go to work. The mail is here, there is a letter from you letting me know you received the roses. I’m glad you liked them. I will answer that letter tonight. I will have more time then.
Well sweets, I’m afraid I must leave now. I love you very, very much and miss you ever so much. I will see you at 8 as always.
Love & xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx YFH Johnny
Thursday 9:30 a.m. October 14, 1943
Hello Honey:
Well, here it is Thursday and still no mail, as I didn’t hear yesterday either. Sunday was the last I got a letter, sure hope it’s the mail and nothing wrong with you. Your Mom just called and she is just fine and so is your Dad. He is getting along okay at work. She hasn’t heard from you for some time either and was kind of worried but I convinced her it was the mail.
There isn’t a bit of news. I’m beginning to worry a little about you. The weather is just the same, cold, and drizzly only raining instead clear. We have a fire now. Chuck evidently brought the California rain with him. Chuck and Mary J. are going to Chicago over the weekend.
Oh gosh, I haven’t a thing to write. Momie and I are both fine but kind of tired and Oh how I hope I received a letter today.
Only two more nights on this shift and I sure am glad, then I have 2 ½ days off. By the way, did you try my hot cake recipe and if so how were they??
Well Honey, I’m still at a loss as to what to write about, so I guess I’ll close. Will try again tomorrow. Love and be careful. “Your” Darlin & F.W. Janie
1:00 a.m. October 15, 1943, Friday
Hello Darlin’:
Well, here it is another day closer to you and everything I have been waiting for.
I rode Junior to work today and am really satisfied with him. Everyone who sees it says he looks like a brand-new one. I had about 100 offers for it but don’t worry, I’m not selling it. It looks really rich and classy not bright and cheap. The colors are black and white. If the sun is out tomorrow, I will take a picture of it for you. I have had offers for up to $200.
I have your letter to answer now. I’m sure glad you liked the roses so well. I guess I have been kind of abrupt for quite some time. I am going down to the Y Monday and join again and see if I can work some of the smoke out of me. Then I may feel much better and be a little more like my old self.
That is swell about Chuck getting to come home. I wish I could too. Maybe someday soon. I hope.
I was sure cold this morning on the way home tonight. It worked on the stern tubes. I welded about 18 feet. The stern tube is where the propeller shaft goes through. It is about 6 feet down in about 3 inches up from the bottom of the ship. I had to lay over the tube and weld while standing on my head. I got all soaking wet and the sweat would make my clothes just cling to me. That’s why I was cold coming home. That sure is a roundabout way of telling you why I was cold, isn’t it?
Well Sweets, it is getting late and I have to wash clothes again in the morning so I had better get some sleep. I love you very very much. Good night Sweetheart.
Good afternoon Darling: I got up at 9:30 and washed clothes. Then I went down to my room and put my swimming suit on and I came up here on the roof to lay in the sun. It is a beautiful day out. I wish you were here. I didn’t have a very large washing today. The mail is here but no letter from you so I have nothing to answer.
Well Sweets, I’m afraid I must get downstairs and start getting ready for work. I love you more than you will ever know. I will see you at 8 as always.
Love & xxxxxxxxxx’s Johnny
10:30 a.m. Friday, October 15, 1943
Hello Honey:
Well another day and one more night of work. Well there were two letters yesterday, one was really a honey, long as I could ask and full of news but definitely. Gee Honey, I’m awfully sorry about that $30, that really hurts. It really cost you $50 instead of $30, almost a week’s pay. Personally, I think you should try and find out who took it, after all $30 is a pretty large sum. If it was $5, it would be a little different.
And then about your reclassification, well I can wait until 22 December. Johnny, do you know what, if you wait and are inducted the 22nd or 23rd of December and then had two weeks, why, er, ahem, maybe you could come home, well for New Year’s at least but then again, if you do send for your papers and pass you will be home on a leave soon and we can be married so maybe that’s best. It’s all so darn confusing.
You telling me about everything that was going on at the house when you were ironing really hit a soft spot in my heart. How I long to be there. I’m glad you took Shane to the show. I’d much rather have you take her then one of those older girls or some of those fellows I don’t think so much of. “For Whom The Bell Tolls” is here but so far I haven’t been to see it. I think Momie and I will go to a show Sunday. It will be my first day off in almost 3 weeks.
Darling, I hate to say anything it’s still ‘dinner’ instead of ‘diner’.
Yes, we went to the Imporium Theater. Just how do you think I’m going to tell the color of Junior in a black & white picture, tell me the colors. I’m awfully glad you got an electric horn. That other one wasn’t quite up to snuff. Don’t you worry about those back aches and arm aches anymore, they are almost all gone, is just leg aches now and sore hands, so I’m getting along pretty good.
That sure was a swell letter. Say Hon, do you have any sugar stamps to spare? If so, could you send maybe one to us. By the way Momie and I are sending you some oatmeal cookies tomorrow. I can’t send them today because I’m not going downtown. Oh yes, I’m including $2.00 for that belt, please try and get it this week and send it and the camera and the gloves. It’s getting colder every day here now. I went to see about getting some Preston for the car but no one has any. I don’t suppose they have any out there do they, I would be a bit surprised since that’s where they don’t need any. By golly, they might, do they? Because I don’t know what I will do if I can’t get any.
If they change the yard into a repair yard, will that make any difference in you to the Army? By the way, I thought that the Navy already had taken over the yard.
How is my mail coming through? I mailed a letter every day this week. Gee, what a nice long letter you get when you write me one.
Well Honey, it is time for the mailman again. I still say I would try and find out who took the money. I hardly think Gus would though. I would miss trust Taylor first, and yes I did meet him.
Must close now, I love you very much and miss you terribly. Keep your chin up Johnny. Mine is up, so don’t worry.
Love & xxxxxs “Your” Darlin & F.W. Janie
PS The roses are still very pretty. I love them and thank you for the compliment Dear.
1:30 a.m. October 16, 1943, Saturday
Hello Darling:
Well, here it is another day closer to ? and the sweetest little angel this side of heaven. It is also time for another Special of the week. There isn’t any news so I don’t know what I’m going to write about. I’m really tired again tonight. I welded 133 feet of 3/16 welds and made a pretty good bonus. Guess how much my check was for last week. $16 and some odd cents. They took out that extra bond. That is why it was so low. I missed one day but my bonus was high enough to take care of that.
I just about froze tonight coming home on Junior. My clothes were all wet again as usual and the air is quite chilly, even if it is clear out. I have another headache. It is from breathing so much smoke again.
I stopped and bought a paper from Joe tonight and there were about 25 or 30 people standing on the corner waiting for streetcars. I got off of Junior and walked over to Joe’s and when I went back I could barely get back to the scooter. All of the people had crowded around him. They were all asking questions and offering to buy it. Anywhere from $50-$200. I really get a big kick out of the envious looks that most people have when they see it.
Well Darling, it is getting late and I must get some sleep. I love you very very much. Good night Sweetheart.
Good morning Sweetheart: It is a beautiful day out. The sun is bright and warm. I hope it is nice tomorrow, like this.
Gosh Honey, I wish you were here now. We could go down and lay on the beach in the sun until I had to go to work. Then Sunday morning, we could get up and drive Junior to Muir Woods and go for a hike. If we were married, we could maybe get a little cabin at the mountain home and spend Sunday night there or we could come back to Frisco and go to a dance or to a club. We could have a lot a fun. I love you so very much.
Well Sweets, I think I had better close and get this in the mail. I love you, I miss you, I want you near me. I will see you at 8 as always.
Love & xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx YFH Johnny
Johnny & Jane 