11:30 AM Sunday Nov 14, 1943
Hello Darling:
It is a beautiful morning out. I didn’t write last night when I got home because I was really pooed. I have had breakfast and am now writing to my Little Darlin’. Your Special isn’t here yet so I have nothing to answer at the present. It is really nice and warm out. Not much of a breeze. I’m sitting out on the front steps. Jr is just down below me. He sure looks nice sitting there in the sun.
There just isn’t any news at all to write about. I’m really stumped. I think I will go to a show this evening. I have to get up fairly early tomorrow, I’m out about my ship. The name of it and when I will leave and I hope everything.
Syd called me this morning. He had dumped his car and bought another one. I think he said the new one he thought is a 1934 Dodge. He buys some of the damnedest things. He can only get about 10 miles to a gallon. He is painting it today and wanted me to come over and see it. I told him I didn’t think I could make it.
Well Darling, I think I will close for a little while. I love you very, very much.
Hello Darlin’: I’m back. I came in my room and cleaned it up a little bit. Jane and Mona Belle came down and wanted me to go to the drugstore and get soda. I just got back. It is still nice out. If you were here, we would ride Jr. out to the beach. Shane said she was out there last night. It was all lit up. We could have a lot a fun.
Well Darling, I think I will close until I get back from the show. I love you very, very much. I will see you at 8 as always.
Love & xxxxxxxxxx’s YFH Johnny
10:45 PM Nov. 15, 1943, Monday
Hello Darlin’: Well, here it is time for another letter. Your Special isn’t here yet. I went to a show this evening. I saw “Claudia”. It was very good. If you get a chance you must see it.
You remember the theater we went to on Jr out on Geary Street? It is called the Alexandria. I got one of those seats that rocked back and forth. I sure wish you had been there beside me again. I had so very much fun while you were here.
The sky is very clear out and there is a full moon out. From where I was, the moon looked like it was right over your house. As I rode down Geary, 1000 or more things went through my mind. They seemed to go through so fast that I can hardly keep up with them. All of my thoughts seem to be about you and our lives together. If you were here, I believe I could tell you how much I love you and adore you. I could tell you how much I like your cute little smile, your eyes, your hair, your lips, and your warm neck. I would like to hold your warm little body next to mine and kiss your soft lips. I would like to talk to you, laugh with you, and cry with you.
Darling, I love you with all my heart and soul and I always will. I will finish this in the morning. Good night Sweetheart.
Good morning Darling: Again I can say, oh what a beautiful morning. The Sun is out as usual. I got up at 8 and had breakfast. Now I’m writing to my little angel. (“There Will Never Be Another You” Frank Sinatra https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxxV7rci-eA) How true.
I wish you could see this weather. It just couldn’t be any better except for one thing. That is if you were here.
I’m afraid I’m going to have to leave for now. I will write again tonight. I love you very, very much. For then I can say on paper.
Love & xxxxxxxxxx’s YFH Johnny
Tues. 1:45 PM Nov. 16, 1943
Hello Honey:
Well, another day and no word, mail, or wire. I haven’t had a letter since Sunday morning, which of course was your Special.
Thought sure there would be a wire last night, but maybe tonight. I sure wish I would hear. I’m sorry I didn’t write last night but was so tired, it was all I could do to get myself to bed and I just got up about an hour ago. It was terribly cold last night and as I wasn’t dressed for it, I have a sore throat this morning.
I already have nothing to write about. All I can think about is you coming home.
Frank Webb’s home on leave as yet I haven’t talk to them. He had lunch with Gabby today.
Frankie just called and her, Barbie, Bix, Joyce, and I are going out after work Saturday night, our last fling before she is married. Do you mind, of course not.
Well, I have to go get ready for work. Johnny, please wire as soon as you find out. I love you very much.
Love & xxxxxxxxxx’s “Your” Darlin & FW Janie
11:15 PM Nov. 16, 1943, Tuesday
Hello Darlin’:
Well, here it is another day gone by and still no news. Gee, that was a swell conversation I just had with you. I wish we could talk all night.
I will try to explain the predicament I’m in. I was down to the Seaman’s Union of the Pacific today. They can’t give me a ship until I’ve quit Bethlehem, so I went out to Bethlehem at 9 and was there until about 5:30 trying to quit. They kept giving me a big line of B.S. and told me I couldn’t quit and they couldn’t give me a release or clearance. I didn’t like it very well, so I quit, but I didn’t get my clearance. I even took a letter that the doctor gave me telling me to stop welding. They still said I had to weld. It seems that they got another 6 months department in our time to use that to force me to stay. I wrote a letter to my draft board asking them to send me my papers or a release so I could ship out. I hope I get an answer very soon. You see Darling, what a valuable man your F.H. is.
Well Sweets, I have some more running around to do tomorrow, so I had better shower and get some sleep. I love you very, very much. Good night Sweetheart.
Good morning Darling: The time is 7:15 AM. I have to be down at 8 so I had better leave for now. I will write again later. I love you so very, very much.
Love & xxxxxxxxxx’s YFH Johnny
Thursday Nov. 18, 1943, 3:00 PM
Hello Darlin’: Well, here it is another day closer to you. I was out to the yard yesterday and finally got a clearance through the Manpower Commission. I got my check and clearance paper. Got home yesterday afternoon or evening about 5:30 and had dinner with the Drears. Then they wanted me to go to a show with them. We saw “This Is The Army”. It was very good.
I didn’t write when I got home as it was late. I got up about 10 and had breakfast. I called the union and asked them about my draft board. They want me to come down in the morning and get me a ship. Personally, I had better wait until I hear from the board. That way, I will be clear.
Darling, do you mind I close for now. I have quite a big laundry and I think I do better get it done before I find myself either shipping out for home and you or Australia. I will see you in a little while. I love you very much.
Hello Sweetheart. The time is 5:30 p.m. I finished washing and hung them up on the line on the roof. Right now it is raining outside. I sure wish you were here. It would be nice to hold you in my arms again. Darling, your Special came while I was hanging clothes out. It is a very sweet one. It is the first letter I had from you since Monday, so was quite happy. The mail delivery has been terrible these last couple of weeks. The mailman seldom comes the same time two days in a row.
I know would be nice to get married before I leave but have you thought it all over. Darling, but to be frank with you. There is such a thing that something might happen. It is hard for fellow to explain just what I think. I love you more than anything else in the world. I wish I knew what is right and what would be wrong. The least of my worries is money. The thought of leaving you behind is what bothers me. Another thing is that if I should happen to really like this work, it will take years to work up. Oh darn it. I wish I had my ship and about three weeks before I left and was home now. We would get married then. You see, I don’t even know what I’m talking about myself.
I’m afraid I must close for now. I want to go to the store and get some groceries for my supper. I have a few extra red points, so I’m going to get a steak. I love you very, very much.
9:30 PM Hello Darlin’: it is still raining out. I had supper. I wish you could have been here to fix it for me. I had steak, French fried onions, French fried potatoes, fruit salad, milk, toast, etc. etc. There just isn’t any news so I’m having a devil of a time trying to find something to write about. I love you so very, very much. I will write again tomorrow.
Love & xxxxxxxxxx’s YFH Johnny
I am sending this Special because I didn’t get downtown today because of rain.
9:00 PM Nov 19, 1943, Friday
Hello Darlin’:
Well, here it is time for another Special. There isn’t any news and I did it any letters today. I got my Sunday Special and a letter on Monday and also an ordinary letter. Yesterday, I got another Special. That is all so far this week.
I spent most of the day looking for a trunk – without success. Would you see if the folks still have their old one? I can send my close home in a wooden box or a cardboard box and then have you pack them away. I also bought some new clothes to take with me. 3 pair of shorts, 2 new T-shirts, 1 wool sweater. I still have a few more things to get.
Darling, I’m not counting on coming home to strongly because I don’t want to be too disappointed in case I can’t make it. It won’t be long before I find out whether I will be home or not.
Well Sweets, I want to get up early tomorrow and since there isn’t any news, I think I will close now. I love you very, very much. Good night Sweetheart.
Good morning Darling. Boy, have I been busy this morning. I got up about 8, fixed breakfast. The weather is real windy and rainy. I went up on the roof and got my clothes. The wind had blown soot and dirt all over them, so I had to wash them again and hang them inside. I finally finished. I have to go downtown and do some Christmas shopping, and also look again for a trunk.
I will write again when I get back. I love you very, very much.
Love & xxxxxs YFH Johnny
Johnny & Jane 