December 15, 1942
Hello Darlin’:
Just 5 more days and I will be leaving. I received your note when I got home telling me how tired you were. Frankly, I feel the same way. I have to get up and go to the dentist in the morning. I am all ready to leave. The days are going awfully fast, so won’t be long now.
When I go to work today I will get my E Pin. Before I forget Darling, I was down to the ticket office before work and I found out that the train from Ames to Des Moines waits for the Challenger to get in, so if I go through to Ames I will be in to Des Moines about 1 AM. How’s that? I thought so.
Well Darling, it is getting late and I’m awfully tired. I will write again after work. I love you very much and miss you something terrific.
Love and XXXXXXXX Harlan
PS One week from tonight. 7 more days before I see you. 5 more before I leave.
December 15, 1942 – 7 more days.
Hi Honey:
Oh dear me, am I ever sleepy, I just got up. You know it’s 9 PM and oh my, I have so many things to do before you come home, it tires me out to think about it.
How are you? I hope this finds you well and happy and as anxious about coming home as I am about your coming home and you are? Swell! By the way I didn’t get a letter today, first time for three weeks. You’ve been doing so well, I suppose it’s the mail that’s at fault, certainly not you. Maybe you have noticed my writing is small, but I only have two sheets of paper left so I have to take it easy.
Harlan I forgot to tell you that last night we had a blackout, 20 minutes but the moon was very bright, and it wasn’t very dark. But kind of thrilling.
Oh gee, nothing to write about except you coming home and I’m afraid you too will become bored if I go on and on like I have been in my last couple of letters. Just think Honey, one week from tonight and I will be all ready, just sitting, listening and waiting for a wire, phone call, or what have you. Oh Harlan, then a week from that night, we will be laying on the floor, right down there by the radio, listening to the Red Skelton, it’s 9:30 now, now that’s enough. (Red Skelton Show Winter 1942 – YouTube ~ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCleht6ZCXo)
Work is going along swell at the plant. Everyone is really getting into the Christmas mood or spirit now. It took a little longer this year though. Don’t you think?
Well Sweets, have to go now and get ready for work, so it will be another day closer to you. Oh Happy Day. I will write again tomorrow as yet I have no word of how you are coming for sure.
All my love and xxxxxxxxxxxxxx’s belong to you, “Your” Darlin Janie
1:30 AM Wednesday. December 16, 1942
Hello Darlin’:
Well, how is my little Sweetheart today? I hope you miss me and love me as much as I miss you. Tonight I really feel lost. The moon looks so fresh and nice, just like it’s had a good rest. It is sure going to be a busy mood for a while. I wish it were forever. I can’t quite seem to realize that I will see you again so soon. The days and nights we are together are going to be go awfully fast, I wish they would last forever. The reason I miss you so tonight is that on the way home tonight I stopped in at Leos for a couple coffee. His wife was waiting up for him. The table was all set and the coffee already hot and waiting. They have a small apartment. The front room is all decorated with the Christmas tree and a lot of decorations. I pictured you and I in their place. I would come home from a hard day’s work and you would (excuse please they’re playing “I’m dreaming of a white Christmas) meet me at the door. You would have on a cute little pink quilted housecoat and white furry slippers. You would kiss me, no matter how dirty I was. You would look very beautiful. I would take a shower and put my robe and slippers on, and we would have a light and night lunch. Then we would go into the front room in front of the fireplace. I would smoke my pipe and read the paper (that is if I could get my eyes off my wonderful little wife) then we would get up and go to bed. I’d make you keep your feet in front of the fire to get them warm or I would warn them up in bed. We would cuddle up and sleep in each other’s arms all night. – Well I can dream can’t I? There isn’t any news, so I don’t know what I’m going to write about. I love you very much Darlin’. When we get married I’ll be the happiest luckiest and most contented man the world. I think I will go down and see Bob Hope and Bing in “The Road to Morocco” before work tomorrow. Sis and another girl was down to see it the other day, so I guess I’ll have to see it now.
Well my Dear, I guess I will close now as I am very tired, and my eyes are a little sore. I love you more than anything on earth.
Love and XXXXXXXX Harlan
9 PM December 16, 1942 – 6 more days
Hi Honey:
I just got up and have dressed and eaten, so I thought this would be the time to write, sat down at the living room table already to write. Kay Kaiser is on and they were advertising Lucky Strike Cigarettes, when just like that, Daddy said to me, “What kind of cigarettes do you smoke Janie?” Well you could have knocked me over from where you are. Well, I simply told him Lucky’s, that is after I got over the shock, and no more was said.
Gee, I sure did get a swell letter today. All newsy, mushy and nice and long. I’m sure glad you are happier. Yes that score of 159 was a coincidence, but don’t you think you could have raved a little bit more?
Harlan, I still don’t know whether you are going to call me or wire me when you get into Omaha, if you’re going to wire when you leave or what. Please don’t forget to let me know, after all Honey, it’s only 4 more days before you leave.
Now look Sweets, you are making it awfully hard for me about this meeting you and not telling your folks. I told you in the letter about two weeks ago what I wanted to do. Those people are going to be at your folks this week and they can’t be getting wires or phone calls in the middle of the night or go traipsing around. But Harlan, they are your folks not mine, and I’m going to leave it entirely up to you. I’ve got a nice room for you to stay at. I’ll not tell you where though until you arrive. I’m sending cards for the both of us. I’m doing my darndest to arrange my work so I can be off seven days and Wednesday too so I could meet you. Now it’s up to you to take care of your folks. But please let me know as soon as you get this letter. Now don’t be mad Honey, but I can’t see that I have any right to tell you whether to surprise them or not, so please decide and let me know in my Sunday special.
Yes Harlan you are on my mind constantly too. Out at the plant now instead of saying hi or good morning, at the first of the day they all say – 7 more days Nancy or 6 more days Nancy. You see, they all know you are coming home, and boy do I ever get pumped up with questions. Are you going to get married? Are you going back with him? Etc. etc. Some of the girls are thoroughly convinced that I’m already married because they can’t see why a fellow would come clear from San Francisco to see anything less than his wife.
Well Sweets, one week from today you’ll have been here about 18 hours as near as I can figure, that makes it less than a week and I’ll see you again. Harlan, if you don’t mind I think I’ll wear sport clothes down the to the depot, O.K? If not let me know. But, I figured that would be best at that time of the morning. Harlan I have a feeling that never leaves me, a scary feeling, I think it’s the fact that you are coming home but I can’t be sure so please Darling be very careful, watch your money, your ticket and look twice before you cross the street. O.K? O.K!
Gee, I can hardly wait but I have no choice, so I guess I just better settle down a little and take it easy. But every time I even think of seeing you again, I’m thrilled. I get all happy and Momie says I have a perpetual grin on my face. I can’t think about any of the things I should be thinking about or anything. I should sure am in a rut but oh my, what a beautiful rut and what a wonderful ending it will have.
Well Sweets, I must go now and finish getting ready for work. I forgot to tell you “I love you” last night. I’m sorry because I do and although you know it, you, like me, like to be reminded. I love you very much Harlan and we’ll see you in 6 days. Oh, happy, happy, Day! You will take me in your arms once again and I will know that you love me too.
All my love and xxxxxxxxxx’s “Your” Darlin’ Janie
PS Oh please Honey, answer this with a Special and do let me know what you intend to do, I still love you. Janie Please keep this clipping.
December 17, 1942 – 5 more days
Hi Honey:
Well here I am again. Where are you? No letter again today. Gee Honey this is one H – – – of a time to keep me guessing. Oh excuse me I didn’t think it might, be the mail.
I just got up when the phone rang, I proceeded to answer it and was I ever surprised to hear Frank Webb’s was voice on the phone. He got in last night and will be here until at least the 5th January. He is waiting to be called to the Army air Corps. We talked for about a half an hour. I told him you were coming home, and he said for you to be sure and call him as soon as possible.
I think I will make this my last letter Honey, because even if I do write one tomorrow and send it Special, it may not get there until after you leave. I’m sending this Special so you will be sure and get it. I want to make this clear – if anything should happen that I am not at the depot when you come in, remember all you have to do is call our house and find out why.
I forgot to tell you that you are not to make any other plans for a room. I have reserved a lovely room for you, sun exposure, twin bed, good mattress, nice furniture, everything just the way I hope you’ll like it. All yours for as long as you are here, so you don’t have to worry one bit about that. By the way, the room is quite near to me.
Well Sweets, as far as I could tell, I have said all that there is to tell, say or ask. I will see you Wednesday morning sometime. Just wire or phone in plenty of time for me to get down there by the time you arrive. I love you very much and will see you next week. Please be very careful. Darling and keep your hand on your billfold all the time. See you very soon.
All my love and xxxxxxxxxx’s
“Your” Darlin’ Janie
You are making me very happy Darling! Just one last favor, could you please send me a Special, if only a few lines, telling me when you left? You could mail it on the way to the train Sunday night, in fact that would be just the time to send it, just so I know for sure that you are on the way. Please. Your Janie
Thursday 11 AM December 17, 1942
Hello Darlin’:
I’m terribly sorry I didn’t write when I got home last night, I was so tired and full of galvanized I could hardly keep my eyes open and could hardly breathe. I feel swell now and wish I could leave now instead of having to wait until Sunday. I have two more working days after today and then very next day I leave. “Oh happy day!” I really had a busy night last night. I made out pretty good, I think. Something kind of funny happened to me last night at work. I was welding down in what’s called ‘The center line tanks”. I was standing on my head to get most of it. I kept very busy burning one right after another. I happened to look around and there was a fellow sitting behind me. He asked me if I always worked that hard. I said no, it is good welding and I had a chance to make out so that was why I was so busy. I, if I was on pickup, I wouldn’t work quite that hard because it would be impossible. He came over and looked at all my welding that I had done, and he said it was damn good work and keep it up. I thought he must be a new inspector on the boat, so after work I asked my boss who the fellow was, and he said he was the night foreman over all the welders in the San Francisco Yard and the Risden Yard. I had never seen him before, so I didn’t know him. I thought he must be a new inspector who didn’t know welding very well. So much for that.
I received your letter last night, so I have no questions to answer. Opal is glad that I can go home. She’d like to go too, but she knows that it’s impossible. I am going through Ames, so I will call you from there if I get a chance. The train from Ames to Des Moines waits for the Challenger to get in, so if they hurry me on to the other train I won’t have a chance to call. I will wire you when I get to Omaha, just in case I’m not able to call you from Ames.
I’ll say the, “I’ll see you next week” – sounds good, almost too good to be true. But it is true, and it sure sounds good. I’m so happy, I keep humming and whistling at work, all I think about is you and the times we are going to have together and the things we’re going to do. I guess I had better close now as it is getting towards dinnertime and another day work. Darling I told you I was going to wear the tie you gave me when I get off the train. Do you mind if I just wear some sport clothes and then wear your tie Wednesday night when we go to the Tromar? Okay? Okay!
Love and XXXXXXXX Harlan
1:50 December 18, 1942
Hello Darlin’:
This is just going to be another note, so you won’t be a day without a letter. I didn’t write last night because I wanted to go to bed so I could get up early and I had to go downtown and had a lot of things to do. I have all of my travelers checks and clothes. I have quite a bit to do in the morning to. It won’t be long now sweetheart. I’m bringing some extra clothes to mess around in the snow with, and some extra money with just in case.
I don’t mind about you having to work those nights because we will make up for it the following week and I don’t mean maybe! It will also give me a little time to be with the folks.
Well as I said before this is going to be a note so I will close. I love you, miss you and want you something terrific.
Love and XXXXXXXXXX Harlan
Tomorrow I will leave.
Saturday 1:30 AM December 19, 1942
Hello Darlin’:
Well the time is almost here, and I am all ready to leave except for a few minor details which I will take care of in the morning. I received your letter when I got home. You wrote it the 15th. You are very much mistaken about how long it will be now. It is only four days till I will be holding you in my arms again. I’m never going to let go until I leave. That is if “Y —- D – – – C – – – B – – – W – – – ME”. I’ll bet you don’t know what that means. You do? Oh! There is another thing you are mistaken about. I never get bored when you tell me how thrilled you are at my coming home.
Sis and I received a Christmas package today from the folks. I opened mine and am sure glad I did. They sent me a very beautiful robe. I was going downtown in the morning to get one to bring with me. I’d have had two robes and would’ve hurt the folks feelings if I had waited until I got back to open it or if I had brought the package with me to open Christmas Eve. So, I am glad I opened it.
I guess I forgot to tell you when to stop writing. The letters I get Sunday should be my last. If one gets here Monday, it will still be here when I get back. I wish we could read it together if there is one on Monday when I get back. There isn’t any news, so I don’t know what I’m going to write about. You already know how much I love you. If you don’t you will soon find out.
Well Darling, I have more things to do in the morning so I had better close so I can get up early. I love you more than you will probably ever know unless I find it in me to tell you when I get home. I miss you very much but not for long.
All the love I have I give to you Love and XXXXXXXX Harlan
(Goodnight Sweetheart)
PS How about a date next week, if you’re not going to be busy.
1:45 AM Sunday, December 20, 1942
Hello Darlin’:
Well this is it. I go to sleep and then get up, pack get everything and leave at 7:40. I had a busy night tonight and also Saturday morning before work, so I’m kind of tired. I went to get my hat at the cleaners today and come to find out they had damaged it. They burned it up trying to clean. So I went downtown on the way to work and bought a new Stetson $8.50. I sent them the bill for it.
Darling, I’m so thrilled about coming that’s all I can think about. Just think, by the time you get this letter I will be there to or very close to their. I love you so very very much. Very soon I will be able to show you and tell you how big that love is.
We have had a lot of things happen out at the yard last week. They have been firing a lot of welders. I think it is because they won’t work when they get some hard things to weld.
There isn’t any news, so I don’t know quite what I’m going to write about. If you don’t mind I think I’ll close get some sleep as I have quite a lot left to do in the morning.
Love and XXXXXXXXXX’s
Johnny (excuse) (No!) (Please) (Okay?) (Yes, I promise) (Okay!)
PS I love you more than I think I’ll ever be able to tell you.
December 20, 1942
Hello Darlin’
I just received your swell Special. The time is 5:45, so I haven’t much time in which to catch the ferry. The ferry leaves the docks at 7:40. I’m leaving at 7:00 so as to have enough time to get everything arranged. I love you very much and am patiently waiting to see you.
About the folks, – – –. I had better send him a telegram when I get into Omaha. That will be best I suppose. Well I had better close. I will write while on the train. I love you very much
Love and XXXXXX Harlan
(This is the end of the 1942 letters. Here are a few pictures of (Johnny) Harlan and Janie and both with Hannah ~ Harlan’s Mom. Wonder what else they did while he was home.
Johnny & Jane 
Fun seeing the. Pictures.
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