Sun. 10:00 PM Nov. 7, 1943
Hello Honey:
Yup, I’m writing again. I can’t get you off my mind, not that I want to. I tried to read a story but it was a no go. I keep thinking about things I wanted to ask you but didn’t. What do you do in school this week? I mean what are they teaching you that it only takes a week and Johnny when you get your uniform, or do you have one? I think maybe I’ll try and call you next week sometime when you know more about it, it’s so hard to discuss something like this on paper but I’ll let you know when I’m going to call. Are you a seaman when you go in, will you have an APO number? How much is the pay? You must tell me everything in detail.
Your Special; the second one, hasn’t come yet, sure wish it would. Gosh, have I ever got a lump in my throat. Until I received your wire telling whether you will be home or not will seem like years. Please don’t wait a minute to let me know.
I want to write when it comes right down to it there doesn’t seem to be much to say. Does Hook’s wife know? What does she think about it? Have you told your boss? What did he say, is there any doubt about you getting in? See, I’m just full of questions but I don’t want you to think I’m silly. I just can’t get over it.
It’s snowing here but it’s warm and melt the minute it hits the ground, so it’s slushing and bad out.
Well Darling, I wore myself out thinking about you and everything, so think I better get to bed.
Please Hon, answer all the questions. You have no idea how I feel but I’m all for you Dear.
I just happen to think, if you think you are coming home, I don’t think I’ll call you because I’ll waste the money when you are here, but if you find out you can’t come home, I will call you. O.K? O.K! As I will talk to you a couple times before you leave.
I love you very much Johnny. Remember, keep me posted.
Love Y.F.W Janie
Mon. 1:30 PM Nov. 8, 1943
Hello Honey:
Well your Special, the second one hasn’t come yet, so as there was no mail in the regular mail, there isn’t any letters to comment on. However, thought I would start this before I go to work. Then can finish it tonight, your Special should be here.
The snow is still coming down and the ground is all white and the wind is blowing and it is very cold. There was just a weather broadcast stating that it is to be colder tonight, so winter is definitely here.
I didn’t get much sleep last night even though I didn’t go to bed early. I just lay there thinking about you and maybe you’re coming home and the Merchant Marines and ships and the ocean and the future and oh, just everything.
Your Mom said something about calling you last night but that if she did, she would call me, as she hasn’t called, I take it she didn’t call you. I am sitting at the desk by the window and I can hear the wind blowing around the corner of the house, it sure sounds cold.
Well Honey as I said before this is only a start so I will close now and go get ready for work. O.K? O.K! I sure wish that lump in my throat would go away, I can’t eat. Hope I see you soon. Bye for now. I still can’t believe it.
1:15 AM
Hello again, I’m home from work and have had a sandwich and a glass milk. Your Special was here. It was postmarked S.F. November 6, 11:30 AM and D. M., November 8, 6:00 PM, so it wasn’t your fault. There wasn’t much in it I didn’t already know of course. What was the ? ? ? ? Why 3 blanks. Well as usual I thought of you all night tonight, wishing it wasn’t so expensive the phone because I sure would like to talk to you some more. As you say, it is so hard to write.
Well Honey, if you would like, I will have my picture taken for you to take with you when you go to sea. When you go to sea, it just doesn’t seem possible. You’ve just got to be able to come home before you leave.
Please Johnny, I have a request to make, will you please write as often as you can, even twice a day if possible, because after you are gone, I won’t have any mail for days at a time, probably weeks Please Johnny.
Well Honey, it’s getting late so better be closing now. Sure hope I received a letter tomorrow but kind of doubt it. Good night honey. I love you more than you’ll ever know, so very much.
“Your” Darlin & FW Janie PS Received bond also, $1075
1:15 AM Nov 9, 1943, Tuesday
Hello Darlin’:
Well, here it is another day closer to ? And the sweetest bundle of love there will ever be. I sure do love you a lot. Now don’t go jumping into conclusions, but I’m going to try to get home for Thanksgiving. That is, if I am able to come home at all before I leave. I should just about know for sure by the end of the week. (I hope).
Your Special came sometime today. There was another letter besides the Special. It sure does seem funny to hear you say that your Mom is going to start working. I didn’t go to work Monday because my stomach muscles were sore. They are all right now. No, we will never forget Herman. I put the money in the bank, that made my bank account $380 or something like that. Gosh Honey, if I come home on the train, I won’t have hardly any money left for Christmas presents. I have to pay $115 more for income tax, and I’m all through with that. How does Dick like it in the Guadalcanal? Maybe I can run into him, if I go there.
I would like to get that watch for you but I can’t right now. Maybe when we get back from my trip or cruise.
Yes Darling, I know you are small and can’t stand up under very much. I will need a lot of help from you as to how much that is. I’m glad my mail has been coming through so well. No, I’m not staying with Hook because I think his wife is coming back to you soon. (He hopes.)
Well Sweets, it is getting late and I must get some sleep. I will write some more in the morning. I love you very, very much. Good night Sweetheart.
Good morning Darling: It’s going to be another beautiful day out, sunshine and all. I just finished eating breakfast and am all ready for school. I may drive Jr today. I have some clothed to take to the cleaners.
There isn’t any other news, so I think I had better close for now. I will see you at 8 as always. I love you very, very much.
Love & xxxxxxxxxx’s YFH Johnny
Tues 1:00 PM Nov 9, 1943
Hello Honey:
Well, as you say another day closer to you. There wasn’t any mail today, there will be tomorrow. (I hope).
There isn’t anything to write about. I’m just working, eating, sleeping, and counting the minutes until I get a wire from you telling if you are coming home.
It’s about 26° out but the snow hasn’t melted and the driveway is all ice but I can’t drive without gas anyway. Marian said she would try and get me some coupons for the car, but it isn’t easy for sure. I think she is as excited as I am about you. She said to tell you she wishes you all the luck in the world and hopes for both of us that you can come home. She is really one swell girl.
Well Darling, I’m really rattling on about nothing, so think I will close. I’ll have a letter to answer tomorrow. O.K? O.K!
I love you with all my heart and yes Johnny, I know why you want to go.
Love & xxxxxs “Your” Darlin & FW Janie
PS How’s my little Merchant Marine?
12:30 AM Nov 10, 1943
Hello Darlin’:
Well, here it is another day gone by. Darling, you should see the moon and stars out here tonight. They are really and truly beautiful. The moon is so big and bright.
There was a Special from you when I got home tonight. It is a very nice one. Yes, you are very sweet. What do you mean you will wait for me when I come back, married or single? You aren’t going to go and marry someone else while I’m gone, are you? Yes Darling, I’m going to send you some gas coupons but not until I find out for sure when I am coming home (if I am coming home).
Darling, I haven’t had much sleep the last few days and I had to get up early again tomorrow. So I had better close for now. I got my Seaman’s papers today. I have two more papers to get and I will be all set. I love you very, very much. Good night Darling.
Good morning Darling: It is another beautiful warm day. I honestly don’t see how this weather keeps up like this. I have to leave early again so I haven’t much time. I have to go to the Coast Guard office again. I just finished breakfast. I feel pretty good.
I will see you at 8 as always. I love you very, very much.
Love & xxxxxxxxx YFH Johnny
Thurs 1:00 AM Nov. 11, 1943
Hello Honey:
How’s my Merchant Marine this morning? Fine, I hope. I’m home from work and have had some crackers and milk and am now writing to my seaman.
Jeepers Johnny, I’m going nuts with waiting to see if you are going to be able to come home or not. Tonight on the machine, I was thinking about you, staring off into space. (You see, the dies go down one tunnel and the funnels go down another.) Well anyway, Marian walked up and said, “What You Doing Nanc?”, And I came to suddenly and I was sending the dies down the funnel tunnel and the funnels down the dies tunnel. See what you do to me. Maria laughed until tears came. Oh dear.
It’s a beautiful night, the stars are very bright and the moon. If you come home there will be a new moon, but it is very cold about 20° above. A nice night for smooching.
You say you are still going to school, no word of what you are doing or learning in school. What has the Coast Guard got to do with you? Did I tell you that I or rather we won’t be going to Minneapolis for Thanksgiving? Well anyway, we aren’t. We decided it cost too much money and anyway you just might be coming home about that time.
Well Honey, I’m very tired, so better get to bed. I love you very much and hope and pray to see you soon. Good night Honey.
Love & xxxxxxxxxx’s Your FW Janie
1:30 AM Nov 11, 1943, Thursday
Hello Darlin’:
Well, here it is another day closer to ? and you. I sure wish I knew what that ? could mean. There isn’t any more news yet. I have all my Seaman’s papers now.
There were two letters here when I got home and I noticed that there was a Special here for me. I guess no one was here to take it so the postman took it back to the post office. It will be delivered tomorrow. One of your letters sure have a lot of questions in it. I will try to answer all of them. I didn’t do anything in school except get my papers everything ready. I did work on an auxiliary motor and a lifeboat on the ship. I cut a gasket and a piece of copper tubing and put two fittings on the tubing and then put them on the motor, but anybody could do that.
I’m not sure about the uniform. I know that you don’t have to wear one. I don’t know how much the pay is. It is pretty good though. If I go out to sea for 6 months, I should have about $2000 coming to me clear when I get in. I get my board and room while at sea. Hook backed out. I didn’t think he would go. I told Carl that I was going in. There is no doubt of me going in – I’m in.
No, Mom didn’t call me Sunday night. Darling, about writing you every day or twice a day while at sea, I’m not so sure of. You see I’m going to be doing a lot of studying every minute I can. That is more important to you than letters. When I come back, I’m going to take an examination for Marine Engineer 3rd class. It is a big jump but I think I might make it. (I hope).
Well Darling, it is getting late and I want to get some sleep. I love you very, very much. Good night Sweetheart.
Good morning Darling: It is another beautiful day out. Nice sunny warm California weather. Gosh Honey I wish you were here. I don’t know just what we would do but we would do something. Maybe go out to the beach or to the Marina. Bing Crosby is singing “Sometimes I Wonder Why I Spend These Lonely Nights” (Star Dust by Bing Crosby https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWHZ2CNsziE). That is the first line.
Well Sweets, I think I had better close for now. I will see you at 8 as always. I love you very, very much. More and I can show.
Love & xxxxxxxxxx’s YFH Johnny
Friday 1:15 AM Nov. 12, 1943
Hello Honey:
Well, how’s my Merchant Marine tonight? Fine and dandy I hope. I’m feeling pretty good myself, in fact I have and for the last two days. I guess it’s because I think maybe, I’ll be seeing my Honey soon. I know Johnny, I shouldn’t get my hopes up but it’s too late. I’ve already jumped into conclusions. You see, I can’t help it, every time I think you’re coming home, I just get all happy and ride around on that little pink cloud. I might as well be happy while I can, don’t you think?
There was a letter today, yup there was a letter from my Fiancée. I love you Honey, and about Thanksgiving, it’s a date Darling. I hope we don’t have to break it. Everyone out at the plant knows, of course, about you and I told some of the girls about you may be coming home and everyone is trying to get as coupons for me. Cliff, one of the powder chargers, said he would get me a couple. Aren’t people nice? Jeepers, Oh Honey, I’ll be in Omaha unless there is a bad storm or something. Oh jeepers, I love you, you’ve just got to come home, (Calm down Jane, I know, take it easy, but I can’t).
Have you bought a trunk yet?
Don’t you worry about Christmas presents for the watch, I waited this long, I guess I can wait until you get back. (I’m Getting tired So’s I Can Sleep).
Momie and I are in kitchen and she is putting up her hair while I write this.
Well my Sweet, this little girl better get to sleep. O.K? O.K! Gee Honey, it’s a beautiful night, another clear one and the moon, do you see it? I heard the breakers the other day, so surely you can see the moon. Good night Honey. “Your” Darlin & FW Janie
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY Darling: 4 Years 3 Months
2:00 AM Nov 12. 1943 Friday
Hello Darlin’:
I can’t tell you how much I wish you were here tonight. The moon is so bright, I think you could play baseball without any lights. The air is cool. Just exactly the right night for some smooching with you.
There still isn’t any news. Today was a holiday, so I didn’t get any mail.
By the way Jane, has your Mother received the cookie jar yet? I don’t remember you saying anything about it, if she liked it or not.
Darling, I’m very tired and I have to wash clothes in the morning, so if you don’t mind too much, I will go to bed and dream of you. Good night Sweetheart.
Good morning Darling: I didn’t get up until 10:30 so it was too late to wash clothes. I set the alarm for 7:30. I guess I just woke up when the alarm went off and shut it off and went back to sleep. The alarm was clear on the other side of my room. I’m sitting out on the side porch above the garage. The sun is bright and warm and there is a little cool breeze blowing, I went down to the drugstore after breakfast and bought this new package of paper. The mail isn’t here yet so I still have nothing to answer.
I think the schools are having a paper drive. The girls across the street and carrying carloads of paper to school.
I called this fellow after you this morning and he wants me to come down and see him tomorrow morning. I think he has a ship for me.
The Special that I sent last week at time got to you on Sunday morning, so I will send this one Special. I hope that he gets to you on Sunday too. I don’t know just what I will do this Sunday as yet. If I get some good news tomorrow, I may start packing. I hope it is to come home. I don’t feel like welding much anymore. I worked on some stainless-steel armor plates last night and the smoke made my nose sore inside. It feels kind of raw.
It is a beautiful day to go out to the beach and lay in the sun or take a ride on Jr over to Muir Woods or to Mount Tamalpais. I love you so very, very much. You keep your chin up. I got mine up. I will see you at 8 as always. Again I say I love you more than you will ever know.
Love & xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx YFH Johnny
1:15 AM Nov 13, 1943, Saturday
Hello Darlin’:
Well, here it is another beautiful night. It is a little foggy now and then but you can still see the moon. It is big and bright. The stars are out once in a while and I wish you were here once more. I would like nothing better than to take you in my arms and hold you, kiss you and squeeze you. I love you so very, very much.
Tomorrow morning I should find out about the ship. I want to get up early so I had better close for now and get some sleep. I got a check today for $3.63, they took another $50 bond out that they shouldn’t have. I will stop it next week, I should get a full check. That would be used to go home on in case I get home.
I love you very much. Good night Darling.
Good afternoon Darling: It is time to leave for work. I got my ship this morning but I won’t know until Monday what time it will leave.
I will write you a longer letter tonight when I get home. I love you very, very much. I will see you at 8 as always.
Love & xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx YFH Johnny
This is one of my pictures that this on my papers. Terrible isn’t it?
Saturday 1:30 AM Nov 13, 1943
Hello Honey:
My gosh, here it is time for another Special, even at that, this week has been very long. I wonder what next week will be bringing.
I worked in the packing tonight so I’m rather tired but feel good just the same. (Momie says to tell you that it will be nice to have a man in our house again). I think that she is looking forward to you coming home, as much as I am.
Oh Honey, you are a dummy for asking me what I mean when I said I would be meeting for you, married or single. I might, oh you make me so mad, sometimes, I meant, by married or single, whether we were married or not, oh jeepers, don’t you see what I mean?
It’s another beautiful night, the moon is beautiful and it is nice and crisp, a beautiful night for a drive with you from Omaha. I saw the big dipper for the first time in a long time.
Your mom called this morning and of course, they are elated over the prospect of you coming home.
There really isn’t much to write about. I still don’t know what you are doing at school. I hope you answered all of the questions I asked you Monday or I am patiently waiting for that reply letter.
I drove the car to work tonight and Momie and I stopped at the Hi Ho on the way home to have a Hi Ho, and Elmer’s wife Lucy walked in. Elmer is in Hawaii, she thinks, and is on his way home, she hopes. He said he was terribly homesick and was very tired of it all. I told her you had signed up with Merchant Marines and maybe home before you leave for sea. He wants us to drop over if you come home. Johnny, there isn’t anything I want worse than for you to come home before you leave. It means so much to both of us, surely we deserve it.
Well my Seamen, I better get to bed as I’m going down and get my fur coat in the morning. O.K? O.K! I love you with all my heart Johnnie. Please, oh please, come home.
Love & xxxxxxxxxx’s “Your” Darlin & FW Janie
Johnny & Jane 