October 18, 42 Sunday 3 PM
Hi Honey: Well here I am again. How are you? I hope this finds you well happy and not as lonesome as I am because today, I’m terribly lonesome. It’s a beautiful day one of those days that we could take Herman and the blanket and two comic magazines and go out to the country and sit in the sun and read until dark and then go over to Fisher’s Maid-Rite for a coke and a Maid-rite, then last but not least over to Union Park for a smooch. Darlin’, I love you and miss you more than I ever thought was possible and would give 10 years of my life to see you and Herman drive into the driveway this very minute. You know what? I wouldn’t even care what you had on. Can you imagine that? There isn’t any news. I just talk to your Mother, but she didn’t have much to say. Everyone around here is raking up leaves and burning them and it smells so nice around here, you know that fall smell. Look Honey, I don’t have any more paper of any kind to write on so I think as long as I’m going to talk to you tonight, I will go now and take a little nap then tomorrow. I will write a nice one tomorrow. So I’ll see you tonight.
All my love and xxxxxxxxxx’s “Your” Darlin’ Janie
Look Honey, you’re Special just came and gosh was I ever scared when I saw the handwriting of Opal – Darling, how did you do it? I’m awful sorry but if you can’t write, I can wait rather than have Opal write for you anything other than a note.
Goodbye Now My Sweet, Janie
October 19, 42 Monday 10 PM
Hi Honey:
Well here it is Monday night and Dick he has gone to train to help fight this war. To keep our freedom and although we’re quite sad, we are very proud of him and Rosie because although Rosie didn’t have to go, they have a battle to win here at home; loneliness; and I know she and Little Dickie Jr. would get along O.K. Poor little Dickie Jr., he didn’t quite know what was going on and although he knew something was going to happen, he wouldn’t let Dick out of his sight without crying and this evening he kept saying please don’t go away Daddy – “No”. If it just hadn’t been for Dickie Jr., it wouldn’t have been so bad but the thought of Dick going away and leaving little Dickie Jr and Rosie all alone – I don’t know, it just doesn’t seem right. Just think Honey, how much we miss each other now what if we had been married three years, had T & T and then had separated, how awful that would be.? Well that’s how it is for the kids and dozens of other couples like that. We shouldn’t feel too bad. Dick will make a good sailor though; I just know he will. I didn’t ask for my leave today because of the accident in our wing, which upset the big shot very much, so I will see how he feels tomorrow.
Honey, I can’t get over our conversation last night. It was perfect and so swell to hear you laugh. I think that boosted my spirits up more than anything else. It hasn’t changed a bit, your laugh I mean. Right after we hung up, I called the charge department and found out the charge of the call but Honey I’m not going to tell you, because whatever it was it was worth every penny of it.
While sitting at my machine today the foreman walked up and said that the big shots Wilkes hinted proudly that I was the next one start training on tool-setting and he said that tomorrow I could start setting the tools on my own machine with his permission. So, Honey here I go!
Look, I forgot to tell you last night that I talk to your Mom about 5:00 PM yesterday and she wanted me to tell you that that letter she wrote Saturday night was rather blue and disregard it, but Honey I forgot all about everything but you, so I’m telling you now.
Well Sweets, I better go now as I am very tired. I will write tomorrow all about the Saturday night deal. Take care of your wrists and be careful.
All my love and xxxxxxxxxx’s “Your” Darlin’ Janie
Good Night Sweetheart
I’ll bet I’ve told everyone about you coming home at Christmas Darling, the one and only thing this year I’m living for. Janie
PS Say hello to Opal. Does she know that I know about her? (answer)
October 20, 42 Tuesday 8 PM
Hi Honey:
Well, here I am again. How are you? I feel fine but I’m awfully tired tonight as I was on my feet all day and you know my back; well it’s keeping up to its aching. How is everything with you? I hope just fine and Opal too.
Honey, I told you Sunday night that I would tell you what we did Saturday night. Please don’t be mad at me because we had lots of fun, the most fun in fact I’ve had since you left well here goes – Barbie. Yodie, Eleanor, Joyce and myself rented a hotel room at the Kirkwood Hotel. Jodie and I were the ones who’s, name it was under, Mrs. John H Berhow and Miss Jolene Garard. At 7 PM Saturday, Yodie and I, with two girls, went to the Kirkwood and got our room. About a half an hour later, the rest of the kids came up. Well we left there about 8:30 PM and went over to Barbie’s. We had dinner and a drink and then at 10 PM , well 8 PM your time when you said you were wondering what I was doing, I was at Babes listening to “Miss You” (MISS YOU ~ Eddy Howard & his Orchestra (1942) ~ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGiTPimgQWg). Just then, a young soldier came up and asked me to dance but I said sorry I didn’t dance. I felt sorry about it, but I just couldn’t dance with him to that particular piece at that particular time. Well anyway, about 11 PM we went over to the Franklin Tap Room and Honey that’s sure a swell place. Instead of tables, they had easy chairs sitting around with coffee table in front of them and it’s just like sitting in your or my living room or on the davenport, only Honey, we weren’t drinking Pepsi-Cola. Then about 12:00, we all went back to the room. Yodie and I went right up to the 11th floor, Frankie and Barbie got off the 10th floor and walked on up and Eleanor and Joyce got off the 9th floor and walked up. Then we ordered sandwiches and the girls had bought a pint of Gin and we all had cocktails and eats and then we talked for a while. Joyce, poor Joyce, got sick and lost all of her refreshments etc. etc. and about 4 AM we got to bed, four in a bed and two on the floor and we got up at 9 AM. Joyce had a terrible headache and so did I, but I think mine was too many cigarettes. We went downstairs and ate breakfast, and all left the hotel. Oh, I forgot to tell you, while we were back at the Franklin, 6 boys from Drake came over and sat down by us. Trinkie and Barbie danced but the rest of us didn’t. The whole party, plus the presents I told you we bought the girls costs us $30.00. That was $5.00 a piece not bad. I hope you don’t mind me using your name. Please don’t.
There isn’t any other news to speak of around here, especially Momie is feeling kind of low still because of Dick. Rose got a card from him this afternoon that he wrote last night just before he left on the train saying he was going to Chicago. So I suppose he is there, and most settled by now.
Look Sweets, I better go now because I want to be at bed by 9:00, so I will write again tomorrow night. Good night Harlan My Honey.
All my love and xxxxxxxxxx’s “Your” Darlin’ Janie
Please don’t think too bad of me. It is now 10:00 PM and I reopen this letter to tell you Harlan I miss you terribly Honey. I would give almost anything to see you walk into the living room. I don’t know but every day it seems to get worse. Oh Christmas; hurry hurry hurry. I love you Darling. please love me like I love and miss you. Janie
October 21, 42 Wednesday 8:00 PM
Hi Honey:
Well here I am again. One more day closer to Christmas and you. And absolutely no news whatsoever. So don’t know what I’m going to write about. How are you? I hope this letter finds you both well and happy.
I haven’t talk to your Mom for some time but will call her tomorrow. I also received a letter today but no question so there are no answers to writ So gosh, I really don’t have a darn thing to write about. We got a card from Dick today saying that he was about an hour outside of Chicago and he liked the bunch of fellows he was with very much. They were swell shipmates. Doesn’t that sound funny coming from Dick? I’ll say. I’m sure glad you like your new room. Do you go out and eat or do you look your own meals or does your land lady fix meals or what. And are your rooms connected or not and tell me everything there else there is to tell.
Excuse me but they are playing “At Last”, Have you heard it? If so, how do you like it? (Orchestra Wives (1942) – “At Last” – YouTube ~ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcEgvKb_V90)
Joyce is leaving a week from Friday to go back to San Diego. Earl, her boyfriend wants her to come back and like she says, she has nothing to hold her here, so she’s going. They’re going to be married in May. She wants me to go with her but – Oh how I wish I could. Katy is having a shower for Barbara Jiglem next Wednesday, so I’ll be going to that, I guess.
Well Sweets, I better close this now as, well I am tired, I guess. I will write again tomorrow.
All my love and xxxxxxxxxx’s
“Your” Darlin’ Janie
October 22, 42, Thursday 8:00 PM
Hi Honey:
Well here I am again, well but very tired as I have been on my feet all day again today and my old back is really going to town ,so I’m going to bed as soon as I finish this letter. I received two letters today from you, both of which were swell, especially the long one. Long letters from My Honey, oh how I love long letters from you.
About you wondering about what I said about me being upset about something that I couldn’t tell you until after the war. Well Honey, it is something that happened out at the plant and it’s a military secret so I can’t tell you see, understand? I hope so.How are you by the way? I’m listening to ”Henry Aldrich”, he’s good tonight. (https://www.oldtimeradiodownloads.com/comedy/aldrich-family/aldrich-family-42-06-18-150-selling-christmas-cards)
And Harlan, I’m sorry I jumped into conclusions about Opal but Honey, I just thought maybe you and Opal might be busy some night and you might not have time to write. But I’m sure glad you said you would write me no matter what you did.
Look Darling, I haven’t a darn thing to write about, not a darn thing. So maybe I better close, so I can go to bed. I’m awfully tired. Please forgive me for this letter because I know it isn’t much, but I don’t really feel good.
So I’m sending you my love and xxxxxxxxxx’s looking forward to weeks from Sunday and am living for Christmas time and Harlan, make that excuse good!
Love “Your” Darlin’ Janie
Oh just think, six heavenly days you for me, me for you. Honey, I can be happy, content and go on just as long as I know you are coming home at Christmas, 9 weeks from today, only 9 weeks. 63 days. 1515 hours. Oh Darling, when I think of it, I get all funny feeling inside, all happy and oh I don’t know but it sure is a swell feeling. But I must go now.
Good night Honey xxxxx’s Janie
Friday October 23, 1942
Hello Darlin’
I received your letter this morning telling me what you and the girls said Saturday night. Did you get tight? Who bought the pint of Gin for you? Answer please! Remember the promise about how many drinks each one of us would have. I haven’t broken mine.
I’m not mad Darling, but your idea of fun seems to be changing and my way of thinking, they are not any better. Maybe if I would try it, I might get a kick out of it. Would you want me to try it? I don’t want to sound like a preacher, so I won’t say any more about it.
I went bowling last night. My bowling score was in wasn’t any too good. I have a good excuse this time though. I don’t like excuses, so I won’t make this one. Score was 95, 111, 156, and 148. I went with a friend of mine at the yard. We got off work at 11:30 I washed my face and hands at the washroom and drove home and got a clean pair of socks and then went straight to the alley. I had a Coke. That was about the 3rd Coke I’ve had since I’ve been here. I’ve had two or three, Tom Collins since I’ve been here.
You know, today is the 23rd. In two months I plan on being home at this time. I hope. I have a lot of things to say and it is getting rather late, so I had better close and continue when I get home tonight. That is if you don’t mind. Okay? Okay! I will mail this out in the morning thus making it your Sunday Special. I still love you
Love and xxxxxxxxxx’s Harlan
Hello Darlin, well another night’s work is over. I have just had a shower and I am now writing to my favorite brunette. I hope this finds you both well as and as lonesome as I am. I’ve had a lot of time to think since this morning. I’m glad you had a lot of fun but please for our sakes be careful. I don’t want you getting yourself into any trouble without me there to try to help you. I know I really could use your you right now and from now on. I have been mixed up all day today I don’t quite know what it is all about. I can’t understand it. I seem to feel that something is going to happen. I don’t know what it is, or whether it is good or bad. All I know is that Christmas is mighty close. I can hardly wait. I was going to ask you to marry me when I got there, whether it would do any good or not, but now I don’t know. When I think of Dick and Rosie and how they are split now. But on the other hand, I’ll bet they would do it all over again if they could or rather had to do it all over again. If they hadn’t, they wouldn’t have little Dickie Jr.
I think I’m going to a lot of trouble with you when we do get married. You won’t want to give up that job and all that money. I don’t think you are going to want to give it up before we get married and come out here and work. There aren’t any good jobs out here for girls, so when you come out, we had better be husband-and-wife. Doesn’t that sound swell! I know we should wait until a year from November 26. But I sure hate all this waiting. It wouldn’t be so bad if you were here with me or vice versa, I guess we are lucky though. It’s getting rather late, so I had better close. I love you and everything about you, just the way you were when I left. Please don’t change a bit. I know it’s fun to do things a little different but please be careful, for I love you and miss you so much and I’m just living for you. I have had chances to go out with Syd on dates, but I told him I just don’t want to. He can’t quite understand it. I know you do though. Every day that goes by brings me a step closer to you and every penny I save is going to mean a little more security for you, T & T and Herman.
I wish I was a poet or song writer so I could write something as to the effect of how I feel about you.
All the love I have I give to you. Good night Sweetheart
Love and xxxxxxxxxx’s Harlan
Johnny & Jane 