August 17, 1942 1:45 PM
Hi Honey:
Well, how are you? I wouldn’t know. Darn you, where was my special Sunday. If I don’t get a letter all week, I want one Sunday, please try and write so I will get one on Sunday, please.
There isn’t much news. I received a telegram from Don, clear from Great Britain, saying he had just received my first letter that I wrote June 6, and saying he was well and safe.
Honey, you will have to excuse the short letter as I have to leave for work in a half an hour. I’m going to ride out with Don Linger today and tonight. I’m so tired when I get home from work at night I can’t write and seeing how I am to be taking the bus, I don’t have much time in the morning, but so far, I have written every day. Have you???
Did you get my Special for Sunday and did you get my present? I hope you had a nice birthday. My day off this week is Friday, then next week it’s Saturday and Sunday because when you have Saturday off you automatically get Sunday too. Therefor you get a weekend off every seven weeks. Then the next week I’ll have Monday off, which will be Labor Day. Pretty swell, huh. You’ll have to Labor Day off too.
Russ Film has enlisted in the regular Army now, but won’t go until he finishes his school, which will be six months.
I just received your letter that you wrote Friday night but there wasn’t much news in it. I’m glad you liked the letter Honey. If you enjoy it just half as much as I like yours, I’m happy. I’m only sorry I couldn’t do more.
Well Sweets, I hate to but I’m afraid I must close. Now write darn you. Please Honey, it’s the only recreation I have now, your letters.
Love and XXXXXXXX’s all I have “Your” Darlin’, Janie
PS I miss you and I want you so much sometimes I think I will go insane.
Tuesday morning 2:00 AM August 18, 42
Hi Honey:
Well Sweets, you should just be getting off of work. I just arrived home about 20 minutes ago, so am all ready for bed. I am now laying on my bed writing you on the table next to it. I haven’t much news but as I wasn’t so tired, I might decide to drop you a line.
My work is swell, and I love it. I have a job, I have money (or will have in a week) and I have the hours off I want and also the hours on. Everything is very complete except for one thing I don’t have, you. If you were here, I would be very happy and content but then I guess you can’t have everything.
I don’t know what I to think about that dream of yours. But if I dreamed of God, I would think that it was very significant. And Honey, it will come true if we can just be patient. At my work, although you have to keep your eyes open all the time, I have quite a bit of time to think. And I was thinking of the future, tonight that two years from this very day, if our plans work out as well as we hope, we will be married and living in our own little house, with me waiting for you to come home every night, with dinner all ready, then a nice quiet evening at home listening to the radio or maybe to a show.
Oh Honey, do you think we can hold out? But we must. It seems so long since we were last in each other’s arms. I was thinking tonight how marvelous it would be for you to meet me outside the gate and kissed me Hello, then we would drive home in Herman, have a maid rite and smooch a while. It’s plain torture to think about it, but I can’t help it. What is it they say about people who are sad, liking key to torture themselves with memories? I guess that’s true. I’m sorry darling.
Remember how I used to bawl you out because you of your hands? I never would believe that if you tried you couldn’t get them clean. Well Honey, you ought to see mine, they’re a mess and even at that I wear gloves.
I hope you’ll forgive this scribbling but I’m finding it hard to write laying down.
I saw Katie today, boy is she ever getting large, and Gabby still doesn’t show. All Gabby does is talk about it and complain and her and Russ fight worse than ever.
Well Sweets, this is all for now. I will try and write again when I get up.
All the Love & XXXXX’s I have “Your” Darlin’ Janie
PS did you get Momie’s letter?
PSS WRITE!
August 19, 42 Wednesday 2:00 PM
Hi Honey:
Well, well, well, how nice, two letters this morning. They were both swell, especially the last one. I’m glad you’re having a nice time on your day off. It’s sure nice you know someone like Syd to run around with.
I was awfully tired last night so didn’t write. I hope you don’t mind. I ate something that the plant last night that didn’t agree with me and lost about three hours sleep last night so I’m tired before I even start today. When my day off comes, I’m going to sleep all day. I can’t seem to get used to these hours, even though we used to stay out until 12 and after and we used to get up early. I guess I can’t take it anymore. All the girls in my department are swell. They are all older than I am and there is only two of us who were single, but there isn’t a riffraff among them.
As usual, I don’t have any news. I hope these are letters aren’t a bore.
It’s about time you gave Herman a little attention. I have cut down on my smoking too, all I smoke is about five a day, never more and lots of days less.
Bob Bremen comes in to see me every night and now Don is, now that he knows I’m working out there. Everyone out there looks after me because I’m the youngest. I’m sorry I bawled you out about not writing, I guess you’re pretty busy all the time. I didn’t realize, I’m sorry.
I’ve had several chances for rides home since I started, with young fellows but nothing doing, they’re too fast for me. I’ve slowed up considerably since you left.
Well Sweets, this letter is sort of mixed up but I’m really not aware of what’s going on today. You’re so swell Harlan and I miss you so, but in four months we will be together and that is what I’m living for now. I can’t or don’t get any time off, but the Union is moving in the plant then I will take at least five days off. I’m working Christmas but not New Year’s. They are voting August 21 to see if the see if the CIO or the AFL will get in, either one is ok with me. Because no matter which comes in, we all get a raise of at least $.10 an hour. Then my height will be $.72 an hour, when I reach it, I will be making $36.80 a week, maybe I’ll be there by Christmas.
Well Sweets, I must go to work in a half an hour so better go. I will write again tomorrow and see you tonight at 10 o’clock and every night. I never see the Big Dipper anymore until about 12:30.
Be good Honey
Love and xxxxxxxxxx’s all I have “Your” Darlin’ Janie
PS keep these coming
Friday, August 20, 42 1:30 PM
Hi Honey:
Well how are you today? I’m pooed. I’m glad tomorrow is my day off. Barbie, Udg, and myself are going out tomorrow night to dinner and a show. It’ll be the first time I’ve been anyplace except work since that fateful Saturday night, so I’ve in a very good girl. I think I’ll get a ride today, and for always, I hope so. I’m getting ready to go to work. Yesterday I got sick again so couldn’t go so last night, I went to the war show with Donna and the show was marvelous. I sure wish you could have seen it. After I arrived home, Toots called me over and we talked until 12:30 so I didn’t gain any sleep.
I didn’t get a letter today so I suppose I will get two again tomorrow, that’s the way they have been coming in, two one day and none the next.
Your Mom hasn’t called recently. The last time she said she was going to bring over your skis and some other little personal things you had left but as, yet she hasn’t brought them over and I can’t find her new number in the book. I can’t call her.
As usual Honey, I don’t know any news. I like very much to write but when there’s nothing to write about it’s hard.
I wish you were here and that we could go out and smooch tonight, I’m sure in the mode. In fact I’ve been in the mood ever cense you left.
You know what I think, if I don’t or can’t get a ride, after I get my bills paid, I’ll by a little car. If I bought a little coupe, I could take to riders which would be $3 a week and that would buy most of my gas and I would only have the payment to take care of.
Well I’m afraid this is getting boring. Momie and Daddy send their love and Momie said to tell you she enjoyed your letter very much and hope you will write her again sometime. Write often Honey, it’s a great help.
Love & xxxxxxxxxx’s “Your” Darlin Janie
PS I wish you were here because….
Friday morning 2:15 a.m. August 21, 42
Hi Honey,
Well Sweets, you should be off work by now. I just arrived home and I am all ready for bed. If you use your imagination you can see me. I’m sitting on my bed writing, I have my pajamas on, cream on my face and my hair up in curlers. Boy, I do look cute.
When 10 o’clock rolled around tonight I thought of us sorta as one, your welding and making the ships for the sailors to sail and I’m helping make the bullets for them to shoot. Night before last we didn’t do anything at all as we were short of shells, so last night and tonight we had to work doubly hard to make up for lost time.
Oh Honey, I forgot to tell you in my last letter, now keep this under your hat, but Momie said next July I could come out alone! Without her! Just think Harlan, we can do as we please, when we please. Won’t that be swell? While I’m working, I often think of those glorious two weeks we’re going to have. I have decided to fly both ways so not to waste any time on the way or back. I also think of the glorious week in December. Wondering how you will look, if you will have changed or not.
All the people in the department at the plans call me ‘Kid’. One lady calls me chicken, because I’m so young and small, they all power over me.
Do you know what? Momie doesn’t wake me up in the morning until the mail comes, then the first thing I do is read your letters, (if there is any.)
Am I supposed to call you now next week? If so, I’m afraid we will have to wait until the next week as I won’t be able to afford it. I’m sorry Honey but you know how it goes. Please understand. I forgot to tell you to forget about the two dollars I sent. You can call it part of your birthday present. By the way, I’m glad you liked the lighter. In a way it’s a love light O.K.? O.K! (I hope it doesn’t burn out)
Bob Bremen (Barbie’s boyfriend) came in to see me last tonight and said he would take me home, so I said O.K. He told me where to go to meet him and I started out but by some crook or nook I got lost… (In the dark, that is an awful big and confusing place). So I had to ride the bus after all. I think I’m going to start riding with him in two weeks. Do you mind? If I pay him a $1.75 a week, he will pick me up and let me off right at my door, thus the $1.75 a week.
Well Sweets, I’m fast growing got groggy so better close. I will write tomorrow before I go out with the girls. Say Hi to Syd.
Love and kisses XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX’s Good Night Honey “You” Darlin’ Janie
PS You asked me not to string you along. Well Honey, I said I never would, I never have and never will. So now I’m asking you the same. Love J. (I hope this wasn’t too dull, please excuse my scribbling.)
August 21, 42 2:15 PM
Hi Honey:
Well Sweets, I just received your letter and I am both shocked and sorry. I’m sorry I gave you Hell, as you put it because I didn’t mean to at all. I don’t really think I ever really gave you hell. I hope I never will as I’m very sorry if I gave you that impression. Please try to understand this will you? When I don’t get a letter my imagination starts working overtime and I think (even though you have told me, time and time again that you love me) may be he doesn’t love me anymore and is letting me down easy or maybe he’s having too much fun to write or maybe he just forgot me and forgot to write. Yes Honey, it’s silly but that’s what happens. Then I think maybe he is sick or hurt and can’t write and no one knows his mom’s or my address. Now that’s what goes on in my mind when I don’t get a letter for two or more days. Again I say I’m sorry I gave you so-called “Hell”, understand? I hope so.
And I’m shocked to hear about the deferment or maybe you not getting it. Honey, if you don’t get it will you enlist there or come home and enlist? And another thing, if you do get it for six months, what happens when the six months are up, do you go then and if so into the Navy or Army. And if the Navy rejects you again, will you have to wait to be drafted? Please Harlan, answer these as quick as possible and if anything happens suddenly please cable or call. I’m home every morning from 2 AM to 2 PM in the afternoon except Sundays (usually we girls go horseback riding for an hour) so please answer these letters and let me know how everything turns out.
I just received one of those V–mail letters from Don. It’s about 6 inches long and about 3 inches wide and in very small print. I’ll tell you what Honey, if you would like to see it, I’ll send it to you, only if you promise to send it back to me. It’s very interesting and I would like to keep it. So you let me know O.K? O.K!
I just talked to Barbie and the four of us are going but out to the Silhouette for dinner then either to a show or mess around. Daddy told me I could use the car so I believe I will. I haven’t used it for about three weeks.
I just talk to your Mom, what’s this about you being sick? Now see, you don’t tell me these things, Why? She said Opal was in San Francisco last Sunday with Marilyn and her parents but were so busy sightseeing and had so little time to do it all, that they didn’t have time to stop in to see you.
Honey, please excuse me for about a half an hour as I must put my hair up for tonight – Thank You.
Boy if that had been me Sunday, I would have found you if it took all day and longer.
Well Sweets, I have to close as I have to iron a blouse and pluck my eyebrows.
I miss you Darlin’, very much more than do you ever know. I’m about almost ready to say the words. Write as often as you can and answer my questions please.
Love & xxxxxxxxxx’s “Your’ Darlin Janie
PS Honey, I don’t think your ear is all right because I told you something on the phone that night just before you hung up and you didn’t hear me. Love Janie
I’m more sure I love you every day.
Friday, August 21, 1942
Hello Darlin’:
I received two letters today. They were both perfect, especially the first one. I like to get letters like this one when you say you are planning on the future and our marriage. I haven’t found any more about my deferment as yet. I didn’t write last night for I was really tired. I welded in a fuel tank again all last night. Most of my welding was flat on my back, welding overhead. I was paid again yesterday and I’m going to the bank today. Next week I will tell you how much I have in it.
My bowling is improving considerably. Last night after work, Hank, Paul and I went. I bowled 130, 145, and the last game I bowled 166. I really have a hook on it. Have you been bowling with Mary Jane anymore , or with anyone else? How is your game going? Janie, this music on the radio is just about driving me nuts. 24 hours a day they play dance music, popular. If you were just here for a little while, we could drive up to the Twin Peaks and park all night and listen to the radio. As you say, it’s just plain torture to think about it but I can’t help it either. Please don’t stop writing letters like that unless you don’t mean it. I mean every word I say and will never stop. I love you so much, I don’t think words can explain how I feel about you. The other night when Paul, Hank and I were bowling I saw two girls (I think that’s what they were) with an officer in the Navy and they were all sort of plastered. One girl was shaped about like Katie, she couldn’t bowl worth a darn, but when she threw the ball, she would wiggle her rear and the sailors, and the other girls would laugh. The other girl can’t be explained because I wouldn’t waste a lot of paper. I remember you very clearly, when we would go. You were never out of your way in anything. Your legs were so nice and even, and you really tried when you bowl. I didn’t compare these other girls to you because if I did, I would go and shoot myself. I just saw a vision of you then, you were like a precious gem that I was planning on owning someday. You stood out above everybody else. You are something that only myself could hold in my arms. I was the only one that could kiss you. Everyone else is just something that happens to be here in our heaven. I miss you so much, I think the world would fall out from beneath me if anything happened to you or you told me you were through with me. Out here, I don’t seem to have any interest in girls except you. When I left DM, I thought I would go out but now, I can’t see myself going out with anyone. I get a big kick out of going out with the fellows. We have a lot of fun. I couldn’t see how you had so much fun going out with the girls until now. Maybe I haven’t seen the right girl or something, however if I do, I will write and tell you. Paul, Hank, Syd and I are going ice skating Saturday morning. It will be the first time out here for me.
I too am just living for Christmas. I love you more each day. PS Have you gone out with anyone yet? PS Who is Bob Bremen?
Love & xxxxxxxxxx’s & oooooo’s Harlan
Saturday morning 10:20 AM August 22, 1942
Hello Darlin’:
Well this is my Special for this week and it will have to make up for last week.
Everything has been swell here, except that the sun never comes out until after I’m at work. It is always cool here. At night the fog rolls in. It is very damp. What it is, is a heavy mist like we have at home.
We had a blackout last night. An unidentified plane was flying over the yard. All the lights and the power went off. We all went up on top deck and tried to see it, but the clouds were low, so it was impossible to see it. Did you hear about the Goodyear Dirigible here in S.F.? It was out on patrol duty over the ocean. Something happened that is still a mystery. The dirigible came floating in from the ocean. It looked like a broken cigar. The hatch door was open and the whole crew is missing. The dirigible finally settled in a suburb of San Francisco. It landed on a house. No one was hurt.
(On the morning of Sunday, August 16, 1942, Flight 101 patrolled the California coast, as World War II raged on. According to Military historian and author, Carroll V. Glines, Japanese submarines, at the time, were known to be operating in the area, putting local civilians and military on guard. https://www.historynet.com/mystery-of-the-ghost-blimp.htm) or (https://seanmunger.com/2015/08/16/the-ghost-blimp-of-daly-city-the-mystery-of-the-l-8/)
I guess that is all the news except that I miss you like the devil. I get so lonesome for you that sometimes if someone would say boo to me, I would leave for home. But then I get a nice letter like the one you told me what you hope will happen in two years and I feel like I could whip the world for what will happen after that. I have been doing pretty good so far, I have $65 in the bank. After next week it will climb to $100 or more. That’s pretty good because I put only $5 in my first paycheck.
Syd and I were going ice skating this morning, but I didn’t get up in time. I don’t think he is upset because he isn’t here yet. I like my hours because no matter how tired I am when I get home I just sleep until I want to get up. We’re going to drive up to the Russian River tomorrow. I guess I had better close before I get too boring. I love you!!!
PS Mom’s telephone number is 7 – 3531
PS I will call you Wednesday night after I get off of work…
Love & xxxxxxxxxx’s oooooooooo’s Harlan
Johnny & Jane 