Thursday 2:45 October 1, 1942
Hi Honey:
Well this is my day off and darn it I didn’t get a letter and I thought it would be so nice to read my letter the minute it arrives instead of having to wait until night. But I’m sure there will be one tomorrow.
How are you? I hope well and happy. There isn’t any news. I dreamt about you last night, about you coming home. Always, I see you coming home.
I feel down-right strange being home all day instead of at work. In a way I’m glad however, because I have a terrible cold and feel rotten. A cigarette doesn’t even taste good, so I’ve been laying around drinking ginger ale.
Tomorrow is payday and I intend to put about $15 in the bank. Last week I didn’t put any in because of buying Chuck’s and Daddy’s birthday presents. Which set me back about $10. I bought Dad a real swell gabardine jacket with a zipper lining and I bought Chuck a pair of hunting gloves, you know those special kinds. I haven’t talk to your Mom for a couple of days, so I’ll call her tomorrow.
Tonight, because we didn’t go out last night, we girls are going bowling. I’m going to buy a pair of bowling shoes next week.
Momie says hello and to be a good boy. You are, aren’t you? Sure!
Well this isn’t much of a letter but it’s better than nothing and as there is nothing more to write about, I will close. Did you get the ring?
All my love and xxxxxxxxxx’s “Your” Darlin’ Janie
1:30 Thursday, October something 1942
Hello Darlin’
Well, can’t even keep track of the days. Anyhow I just got two swell letters, in fact two perfect letters. I will answer all the questions one letter at a time.
No. 1. Yes, you guessed right about the lonesome part. No I haven’t heard, talk to or seen any girl that interest me. There’s only one girl for me and you should know her very well. You’ve spent all of your life with her. I am awfully sorry about your hand. You take good care of it now. I’m very proud of you for coming so close breaking the record at the plant. I’m glad to get all of the pictures of you I can so please send all you get. I was kind of worried about the pin I sent. It wasn’t a very good way to send it. We will make up for lost kisses at Christmas.
No. 2, You are going to have to write a long time because a love like I have for you is the kind that lasts forever. I am glad your hand is better. I will skip something now and come back to it later.
About Opal, I’m not sure as of yet. I still think they’re making a mistake by not telling the folks. But I’ll l know more about it after Sunday. Yes, I’m sure about Opal being pregnant because she told me so herself after I guessed it. I received a letter from her saying she was sorry I had to find out the way I did.
Now back to what I skipped – I don’t want disillusion you about coming home Christmas. I may take the train instead of a plane. I don’t know for sure yet. You see it will cost me a little more and I may not be able to really afford it. The more money I spend, the longer it’ll take me to save up enough so we can get married. I know you will understand. We may have two or three days less together but may be able to get married a month earlier. But we will decide about it when Christmas gets here. Every time I read the part in your letter about meeting me at the station, it just about drives me nuts. It’s really going to be wonderful. Just think it will be almost 5 months. I hope we never have to stay apart again not long. It is getting rather late so I better close. I love you more and more every day.
Love and xxxxxxxxxx’s Harlan
PS I will call you Sunday night about 6:00 our time from Sacramento
PS Good Night Sweetheart.
Sunday 8:45 October 4, 1942
Hi Honey:
Gee, that was sure short and snappy and I was so sure of hearing about Opal, but I heard your voice and know you are well and safe and heard you say you loved me, so I’m satisfied. I only wish it could have been person to person with me in your arms. Oh Honey, after these phone calls, I just about go crazy because I miss you so. But fall is here, then the snow, then Christmas is next. Every time I think of Christmas, I have shivers going up and down my back, just the thought of seeing you again. I’ll probably go into convulsions when I do see you. Just think, every phone call brings us two weeks closer together.
While there isn’t much news except my promotion. You see the men are being inducted into the Army rapidly from the plant and they can’t get any more so today three of us girls were called into the big shots office and he told us that we three girls had been called for the first trial girl tool – setters. Well was I surprised, he said he had been watching all three of us and he noticed we all took unusual interest in our machines, so he chose us to try out. Pat started to train today but the other one and I won’t start until we get someone to take our machines. We train for about two months at $31 a week, our regular salary and then when we are full-pledged tool setters we get $.80 an hour or $43.60 a week and then in a month we jumped to $.90 an hour or $48 a week. Gosh, if everything goes okay and I can take it, I’ll have so much money. I figure I’ll buy 20% in bonds which will be about $9.66 a week and then put $15 or 20 a week in the bank.
While Sweets, I better go. Now listen, if you haven’t received the ring by the time you get this letter, let me know at once and I will go down and see about it because I had it insured. I have to go to bed now so good night Honey, thanks for calling.
All my love and xxxxxxxxxx’s “Your” Darlin’ Janie
I received your special Harlan. It was swell. Say, I think that idea about November 26, 43 is pretty swell but we will see.
Janie
Monday 10:00 PM October 6
Hi Honey,
Well here I am again. How are you? I hope fine and well.
There isn’t much news. I haven’t talk to your Mom for some time because she hasn’t been home.
Eleanor, Joyce, Udy and I went downtown tonight had dinner and shopped. Had lots of fun. Sunday we’re going to go to the stage show. Monday we’re going horseback riding and a week from Saturday night we are going to have a big party for Barbie and Joyce because of their past birthdays. After that everything will be very dull until Christmas. Oh Happy day!
Say about this school you’re going to attend. What is it and when do you go? What time I mean and how long are you going to go? It seems to me you won’t have much time to yourself. Now Honey, there is no sense in one’s working yourself. I know you are working very hard now.
I think I will start training for my tool setting job in about three weeks and then about a month later I should get my raise. But we will see.
Look Honey, there isn’t any news and this little girl is very tired, so will write again tomorrow. I received a letter today but not the one about the jam you got in.
Good night Honey
All my love and xxxxxxxxxx’s “Your” Darlin’ Janie
Tuesday 8:30 PM October 6, 42
Hi Honey:
Well here I am again. How are you? I hope well and happy. Tonight I feel terrible instead of my cold getting better it’s getting worse. But it has gone down into my back and it sure aches tonight. I wish you were here to squeeze me right in the right spot, remember how I used to ask you to hug me real tight?
Today at the plant there was an awful mess. There are Two girls who have been working in our wing ever since it was built and when they found out about us three girls been chosen for the tool-setting jobs they had a fit. They went to the big shots office and said if they weren’t put in before me, they would quit. Well the supervisor said he couldn’t afford to have two good operators leave, so they could start first. Well when I heard that I naturally thought my chance was gone but the foreman told me that they will still want me to try out for it in because they thought I would make a better than average grade on it. But later this afternoon some of the girls told me that one of these two girls even insinuated that the reason I got the chance was because I was young, pretty and flirted with the big shot. Personally I don’t blame them for being sore because I was chosen first as long as I only have been there seven weeks and they have been there about four months. So – – – it will be about a month before I start training. But the new tool-setters are all swell and my tool-setter is always teaching me things. He said he would show me anything I wanted to know. Then know it when I start to train, I will know almost all about it and wouldn’t be so far behind the other girls. In fact all, of the tool-setters are helping me learn on the fly.
I’m sure sorry about that accident and Honey you just get your dander up and say your little piece because you didn’t do it and you shouldn’t have to pay for it.
Darn you – you sure didn’t tell me much about Opal and I thought sure you would tell me all about it. I received two letters from you today, one was written Saturday and the other written Monday morning before you went to the adjusters. So you can see the mails all mixed up. Your letters are very sweet Honey. If it wasn’t for the letters, I won’t be able to live. I’m sitting at the big library table in the living room in front of the two windows listening to “Fibber McGee and Molly.” ( Otis Cadwallader ~ Tuesday, October 6, 1942 – 30:00 – NBC, sponsored by Johnson’s Wax https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tA3Atp_ROPc)
Excuse me Dear – back again. Your Mom just called, she said she just received a letter from Opal, and she said that Marilyn was going to be married next Saturday and her boyfriend will get his commission the 15th and Opal is going to call your Mom and tell her if she is coming home or going with the kids. So Honey, I wish this mess was settled. Every day I wonder what will come tomorrow.
Well Honey, I better go now cause I’m tired.
I Love you Harlan, remember no matter what I do or say it’s for your own sake and because I love you. I will write again tomorrow.
All my love and xxxxxxxxxx’s “Your” Darlin’ Janie
PS Always remember that please
PS When will Max be out of school? Graduate I mean? Answer!
Bob Hope is on now, he is broadcasting from Frisco. (Originated from Presidio, San Francisco, Guest: Pvt. Charles Heinrichs. http://martingrams.blogspot.com/2014/02/bob-hopes-radio-program-on-tour.html.)
Wednesday 1:30 PM October 7, 42
Hi Honey:
Well here I am again. I suppose you’re wondering at this time stated above but I had such a backache I couldn’t go to work this morning. I’m out in the backyard laying in the grass writing this letter and Honey it’s beautiful out here. The trees are just beginning to turn, the leaves are red and orange and yellow and green, and the sun is shining. Harlan, our simple little backyard is beautiful right now, it looks just like a picture. I wish I had the talents of an artist so I could paint it and send it to you. The sun is too hot so I’m on the swing now.
Gee, I wish you were here. Tonight’s our date night, remember? I used to let you come over every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Gee, am I sorry now. Honey, wouldn’t it be swell if we the both of us could stay at either my house or your house. And you come home in December you know what I mean either you move here for a week or I move to your folk’s house for a week? Boy that would be perfect, don’t you think? Answer! Well Honey, as near as I can figure half of the time is up, only two months and about two weeks and you will be here. You’ll be here with me for about 4 to 6 precious days. I’m just living for the day when I get the word.
“Janie, am leaving on the __?__ train December. __?__ will arrive at __?__ o’clock December __?__ Meet me. Love Harlan”
It took Joyce a little less than three days, so for three days I’ll be in heaven waiting and knowing you are coming closer every minute, the days you are here I all be someplace better than have been – I’ll be in your arms. While Sweets, I’m getting kind of mushy so I better close now and go get cleaned up. So bye for now
All my love and xxxxxxxxxx’s “Your” Darlin’ Janie
PS I’m afraid there wasn’t much in this letter, but I want to write you and didn’t have any news so just wrote what came into my mind. Hope you don’t mind.
Wed. Eve, 9:00pm Oct 6
Hi Honey:
I just arrived home from Dick’s house and as it was only 9:00 pm I decided to write a note to “My Honey”. Tonight we had some fun. After dinner, Toots and I started a fire with the fallen leaves. Pretty soon all the little kids in the neighborhood were here and gee it was nice.
Tomorrow night however, we are really going to do it up right. Toots is going to rake up her yard and Momie (excuse me but Harlan, they are playing “Be Careful It’s My Heart”) (BING CROSBY – Be Careful It’s My Heart (1942) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByQTKnlxl2o) and I’ll rake ours then we are going to burn them all together, so we ought to have a nice fire. Honey, its beautiful out tonight. The stars are very bright, but just a minute ago they looked a little blurred to me. The Big Dipper was outstanding. I said to myself “I wish Harlan was here beside me (excuse me but now they are playing “One Dozen Races”) (1942 HITS ARCHIVE: One Dozen Roses – Harry James (Jimmy Saunders, vocal) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPTH4TmBh2Y) and I could turn and have him kiss me and hold me in a precious embrace. Then pick me up and carry me up to the door and kiss me again. But not good night, cause then we could go out to Herman and smooch a while. It would be a lot different from the old times because I wouldn’t run when you tried to pick me up and I wouldn’t refuse to go our and smooch. So you see, things have changed with me and (excuse me but they are now playing “Wonder When My Baby’s Coming Home?”) (Wonder When My Baby’s Coming Home (1942) – Dale Evans ~ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gv-Y_Dp5tqk my ideas and I think you will like the change.
I didn’t receive a letter today, but one will be here waiting for me when I come home from work tomorrow. How are my letters coming through? I hope better.
Well Sweetheart, I better go now as I must press my slacks and take a bath so’s I can go to bed so’s I can get up tomorrow so’s I can earn more money so’s I can put it in the bank, See! So good night Honey. I love you and miss you very much.
All my love and xxxxxxxxxx’s “Your” Darlin’ Janie
PS How did you come out with the adjusters? And be good and careful and stay out of trouble (excuse please but they are now playing “Miss You”) (1942 HITS ARCHIVE: Miss You – Dinah Shorehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q55Am5RTtkg). I’m just about going crazy with these pieces all the time playing.
Love Janie
PSS Harlan have you heard the piece “At Last”? It says my love has come along but mine came after he left. (At Last (1942) – Frances Langford ~ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48f35apCxP4)
Thursday 6 PM October 8, 1942
Hi Honey:
Here I am again. How are you? I hope you feel just fine.
There isn’t any news. I received two letters today which made me feel pretty good. I hope you come out O.K. with the adjusters and I’m also glad you think you are learning to stand on your own. Harlan there are a few questions I would like to ask you and I want to please answer them.
First of all, just what do you mean when you say you do not want to hurt Opal any more than she had already been hurt? And second, if Opal comes to San Francisco to live, what are you going to do with her when you come home Christmas time? And third, who is going to take care of her when the time comes for her to go to the hospital? Which will be about 1 January. Now Harlan, please answer these questions.
Tomorrow is my day off but I’m going to get up and go out to the plant with Don and get my check. Because if I don’t, I’ll have to wait until Saturday at 5:00 after work and if I wait until Saturday, I won’t have any money tomorrow or Saturday.
We aren’t feeling in very high spirits around here as Dickie is leaving a week from Monday (next Monday the 12th). You see, he gets up in the morning, reports at the recruiting station, at 8:00 and won’t be back for two months. It just doesn’t seem possible that my big brother is going to war. Dickie Junior seems to sense his Daddy is going away and cries every time Dick goes to work or even leaves him for a second. Harlan, the war is really beginning to head home now. You didn’t answer one of my questions about school. Why?????? Pretty soon I’m going to quit asking questions! Would you like that?
Well I better go now Sweets as I have to dry dishes. I will write again tomorrow. Now please answer these questions immediately.
All my love and xxxxxxxxxx’s “Your” Darlin’ Janie
Friday 4:15 PM October 9, 42
Hi Honey:
Well Honey, here is my Special and I’m afraid there isn’t going to be much in it. Now listen carefully, I’m not going to call you this Sunday but next Sunday, October 18. I will call you at your boarding house at approximately 10 PM our time, O.K? And another thing, as I mail this letter, I’m also sending you a package which I spent my whole afternoon off wrapping. I’m going to send it Special Delivery so it shouldn’t take so long for it to arrive. I hope you like what is inside of it. Don’t get all excited however, because it isn’t much. But I would appreciate it very much if you would let me know when you get it.
Harlan, I miss you more every day, every day I say how can I miss him more and somehow the next day I miss you more. Say Honey, I have heard that song “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas” ( Bing Crosby – White Christmas (1942) Original Version ~ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9QLn7gM-hY) and I’m crazy about it. But every time I think that you might not be able to come home Christmas I could break down and cry without very much encouragement. I hate to get my hopes too high, but it seems to help a lot when I think that in about two months, I will see him again.
About Donna and Frank, I guess they are about or rather are all through. Donna hasn’t heard from him since the week before she left for Chicago. I have had only two letters from her since she left, and I guess it’s because I haven’t written her. Momie and Daddy both send their love and best wishes and Honey I put $8.00 in the bank today. So slowly but surely, I’m getting there. By Christmas I should have over $125. I hope so. I also paid some more on your present. Oh boy, just wait until you see it at Christmas. I know what I want from you, but I won’t tell.
While Sweets I better close now as I must get this in. Remember dear Harlan, I love you very much.
All my love and xxxxxxxxxx’s “Your” Darlin’ Janie
I think I have lost your phone number so please send it again. Now don’t forget.
Love Janie
Hi Honey:
Well I just arrived home from work and what a day. We had a terrible explosion in our wing but don’t worry it wasn’t my time to go. I guess I’m pretty safe because that fortuneteller told me I would live until I was a grand 70 years old.
How are you? I hope just fine. I talked with your Mom last night and she said Marilyn’s boyfriend was to get his wings Saturday and his orders telling him where to go. So I guess the kids will have to get married on the train to wherever they are to go.
I received your Special this morning, but I would still get one tomorrow one night, wont I Honey? It was the one you wrote Thursday 1:30 AM October 8. Honey, I am sincerely sorry about these letters of my not coming through. I swear I’m writing you every day, even if only in note. Excuse me Dear, up the phone is ringing.
Back again. It was Frankie stating that she wanted to go with us tomorrow night to meet Barbie when she comes in from Chicago, so that’s that.
As I was saying, I’m sorry about my letters because I know it’s no fun coming home and no letter. But Honey, what can I do. I know I will just go right down to the post office and give them the devil and see that ‘that will do’. Look Honey, your letters haven’t been mushy lately is there a reason? Are you mad??
I love you and you are in my heart and mind every minute of the day and I wish with all of my will that you were here but the best I can do is send – All my love and xxxxxxxxxxxxxx’s and oooooooooo’s
One more O.K. X One More Oh O.K.
Darling, I wish you will never find out when no how much I miss you and how much I would get to see you all just for a minute and have you hold me in your arms I hate to be mushy but this time I can’t help it but I’m sorry. Please love me and always do.
PS I have to close as I must eat. Bye Bye.
Johnny & Jane 