1:45 AM Saturday, January 9, 1943
Hello Darlin’:
Well here it is another day closer to August to you.
I have just had my bath and have brushed my teeth and writing a Special for a special person.
Tonight I had my busiest night. I welded hundred 113 feet of welding. A good night’s work is about 75. So you can see, I was pretty busy. I wish you could see me when I got home from work tonight. You’d think I was a coal miner instead welder.
There is going to be a ship launched Sunday afternoon. It is the ship I worked on while my boss was on vacation some time ago.
(USS McCord (DD-534) was a World War II-era Fletcher-class destroyer in the service of the United States Navy, named after Commander Frank C. McCord. McCord was laid down on 17 March 1942 by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, San Francisco, California and launched on 10 January 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Frank C. McCord, widow of Commander McCord. The ship was commissioned on 19 August 1943, Comdr. W. T. Kenny, in command.)
I’m going to send Dick a Special in the morning and see if there’s some way we can get together Sunday morning. Then he could maybe see it launched. I don’t know if I can get a hold of him in time or not. I imagine he would like to see it though.
I couldn’t get in downstairs, so I don’t know if there is a letter there for me or not. (excuse me) (I just yawned) I can hardly keep my eyes open.
My boss rode home with me tonight. He said he sure liked married life. He has been married about a month now.
I forgot to mention the weather in my last letter. It is just like spring. The sun is nice and warm. The nights are beautiful. We sure could have fun if you were here. I sure love you a lot.
Darling, if you don’t mind I think I will close to continue in the morning. I am very tired.
I love you and miss you very much.
Good night sweetheart. Love and XXXXXXXXXXX’s Harlan
Good Morning Darlin’:
I hope this finds you both well and as lonesome as I am this morning. The sun is just coming up and it is very beautiful. I guess it is going to be another California day. I can’t find another thing to write about.
I love you and miss you more than I could ever dream I would.
Well I guess I had better give up. I haven’t been doing anything so there isn’t anything to write about. I love you very much
Love and XXXXXXX’s Harlan
11:30 AM Saturday, January 9, 1943
Hello Darlin’:
I’m writing this so you will have a letter on Monday. Let me know when you get it. I just got back from downtown, I mailed your special and one for Dick. I have to get a new pair of welding gloves on the way to work today. My other ones are all burned up and so are my hands. They have small spots or burns on.
Darling, I’m in an awful mess. I don’t know what to write about. There isn’t any news and I haven’t been doing anything except working.
I guess all I can tell you is how much I love you and want you out here with me. I will sure be glad when August comes.
I got a letter from sis last night. It was an awfully nice letter.
I guess I had better close and try again when I get home from work tonight. I love you very much.
Love and XXXXXXXXX’s Harlan
Sunday Morning 1:20 AM January 10, 1943
Hi Honey:
Well here I am again and it Saturday night or rather early Sunday morning. A week ago right now we were lying on the floor in front of the library fireplace. I’ll never forget that night as long as I live. It was a whole week ago, yet it seems like last night, Honey really it does. I can see is so clear. There were moments when I was very happy that night.
I received your letter of Thursday today and was very happy to hear from you although it was quite short. But then I know you are busy. If I receive a Special tomorrow, I’ll know what you’re well back into your old routine.
There isn’t any news, so as yet, I don’t know what I’m going to write about. I’m awfully sorry you had to disappoint the boys at the yard about our not being married. I hope it wasn’t too hard on you.
Chuck took his physical today but won’t know if he passed it until they send him word and he doesn’t know how long that will be. Have you heard from our or seen Dick?
Jeepers, Honey I don’t have any more news so I guess I may be better close. I still miss you terribly but it’s getting a little easier to take. Please don’t be too low and be very careful at work not to get hurt.
I love you very much and I’m doing everything for you. Goodbye for now,
All of my love and xxxxxxxxxx’s
Always “Your” Darlin Janie
PS I’m anxiously waiting for that promised nice long letter, Love Janie
1:30 AM Sunday, January 10, 1943
Hello Darlin’:
Well, another week closer to August and you. Frankly, I feel terrible. I breathed in an awfully lot galvanized tonight. I found a new place to stay for a while. That is until I can get a smaller room here where I’m at. My new address is 3070 Jackson Street. I have been cooking my own meals lately. I wish you were here so you could cook them for me. But August is coming…
I am going to wash Herman tomorrow and have him greased. I hope Dick gets my Special O.K. I would like to have him see the ship launched. All the workers and their wives can get into the yard to see it. If we were married – well – we could do a lot of things. I’m sorry darling, I know how you feel too. When the time comes, I will be the happiest man in the world, and also the luckiest.
Darling, I don’t feel so good, you mind if I get some sleep and finish this in the morning. O.K? O.K!
Good night sweetheart. I love you very much. Love and XXXXXXX’s Harlan
Good Morning Darling.:
Well I feel pretty good this morning. The sun is out as usual, and we have a beautiful warm day.
I just finished washing Herman and took him down to get greased. I have also had breakfast. It is the Berhow special. Two fried eggs, bacon, toast, cereal, milk, and rolls.
I haven’t heard from Dick yet, so I don’t suppose he got the Special. I got your Special and another letter, they both came yesterday evening. They are sure swell. No, I’m not getting tired of so many letters. I think the jokes are kind of cute too. I never get tired of hearing you say how much” I miss you” or vice versa.
The pipe you gave me is sure getting swell. It is better every time I smoke it. I tried to press my pair of pants and a shirt. I did it all right, but you could’ve done a lot better. Oops, there I go again.
After the ship is launched I’m going to a show. I sure wish I didn’t have to go by myself. Oh! Oh!
The weather is perfect. It is a perfect day for a little drive in Herman, out to the beach to lay in the sun and then dinner and a show or dance afterwards. It would be nice to have a picnic lunch and drive up to Golden Gate Park to the lake. It would be nice to see the wild ducks flying all around and also swimming in the lake. Just sitting there in the sun watching the swans float lazily around would be the next thing to heaven. Heaven is what it would be if you were there too.
I guess I better close now. I love you very much and praying for August to hurry and roll around.
I will write again tonight.
Love and XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX’s Harlan
My new address – again John Harlan Berhow 3070 Jackson St., San Francisco, CA.
Sunday 1:45 PM January 10, 43
Hi Honey or rather Hellow:
I just received your Special, thank you. Jeepers Harlan, you didn’t say you’ve been getting my letters or not or how your trip home was, if you went to California in the daytime or anything. And oh yes, what did the fellows said about your mustache?
Momie missed you this noon, she made an apple pie and has one half of it left. The folks are both glad to hear you arrived home O.K.
It’s Sunday 11:00 AM there and I imagine you are loafing around getting ready to see the ship launched. I envy you. Sure hope you get in touch with Dick. I know he would like very much to see it launched.
As always there’s little news because after all, I just wrote you last night. I think I’ll re-opened that letter and stick this one in. O.K? O.K! Swell.
I was just looking through the paper want ads and one sure wouldn’t have trouble finding a job here. There is a whole column of “women wanted” but I guess that doesn’t interest you, so I better close. Will write again tomorrow.
Love and xxxxxxxxxx’s
“Your” Darlin’ Janie
12:50 AM Monday Morning January 11, 1943
Hi Honey: Well here I am again, home from work and guess what I saw, the Big Dipper tonight for the first time since last November. It’s in the North East and standing just like this isn’t that funny?
Look for it will you? O.K? O.K!
If you don’t mind and I think I’ll cut this short because I have to get up and be at the dentist tomorrow morning at 11:00 or rather this morning so I want to get to bed O.K? O.K! Thanks a million.
There was a lot of excitement at the plant tonight. We found out one of my best friends out there is going out with one of the tool setters and he’s married and has two little boys. That’s the third case of that in our wing. Oh well, I don’t suppose that’s any interest to you.
I’m dog tired tonight as we ran straight through all night. I can’t get over seeing the Big Dipper. It was like finding something that was very dear to you but lost it.
While Sweets, I better close now and scramble up to bed. Good night and goodbye for now. I love you and miss you very much.
Love and xxxxxxxxxx’s
“Your” Darlin’ Janie
Monday 1:15 AM January 12, 1943
Hi Honey:
Well here I am again, glad? I hope so.
I received a nice letter today, but Harlan there not long enough. How are you? I hope this finds you O.K.
I saw the Big Dipper again tonight (excuse me that the radio is playing” My Devotion”, which reminds me you haven’t said one thing about your trip home. I mean here. Why? )
Last night at work Mac had a Los Angeles paper and jeepers was I ever wild (I mean tonight!). There were several pictures of welders and there was one picture of a welder hanging by his knees, welding upside down and on his helmet was printed the name Johnny. Jeepers, I really had a fit. I thought sure it was you, but maybe it wasn’t because it was taken in a yard in LA. There were pictures of a lot of the plants out there and yard pictures with the big derricks in the yard. They could hardly get me to work because of the paper. There were lots of pictures of the beaches and buildings and then he had the want ads sections about all the jobs and Jeepers!, there sure were a lot of them aren’t there? We were shut down for about two hours tonight and we all sat around and talked of Frisco and LA the coast and everything about it. It sure it sure was fun getting my eyes and ears full, but It sure makes me wish all the more I was out there, but it won’t be too long, will it Honey. I’m living for the day I get on the train bound for Frisco. I get a great big thrill just thinking about it, I’ll be the happiest girl in the world. You aren’t too discontented are you? (answer) Darling, I’m very happy now because I’m engaged to the swellest, most wonderful guy in the world but get a little sad because we are so far apart.
Your letters have been sort of funny lately. I don’t know just how to say it but there seems to be something lacking. The usual warmth or something. Is anything wrong? If so please let me know. Maybe it’s just me but I just seemed to sense something. For instance, you’re not saying anything about being home, or your trip back. It is it me or is something wrong as I think? Please answer. Or is it because of what happened while you were home? Please say, because it bothers me.
I went to the dentist this morning and learned I have two have a gold inlay, then I think I’m all through. Thank goodness.
What is it Syd doing at Treasure Island? Is he taking some special training or what? And did you see Dick?
I can’t get over those pictures in that LA paper. It sure is God’s country isn’t it? Lenora, one of the other primer girls is going out in July to get married but she’s 35 years old and has a girl and her future husband is 40 and has a boy. She was out there for three months and was crazy about it.
Well Sweets, I’m only telling you what you already know so I guess I better close. Please answer all my questions, especially about your letters. I love you very much and miss you terribly.
Goodbye for now,
Love and xxxxxxxxxxxxxx’s “Your” Darlin’ Janie
Good Night
Tuesday 1:30 AM January 12, 1943
Hello Darlin’:
Boy, what a mess I’m in with you. I’m sorry about the Special being so late but it is a long story, so I had better explain. I started to write it when I got off work Saturday night and finished up Sunday morning. I put it in my jacket when I was going out to the ship launching. ( I didn’t hear from Dick, I guess he didn’t get my Special time). I was in an awfully big hurry because I had to eat dinner out before I went to the yard. I took my jacket and started out. When I got down to the post office I couldn’t find the letter. I looked in the car – no letter. I went out to the yard and saw the launching and then had dinner with some fellows from the yard and then they wanted to go to a show. We saw “Stand By For Action”.
After the show we bowled three games (136 – 136 – 135 – terrible isn’t it). I went home and there was a letter in my jacket that I wear to work. I have an old leather jacket that I wear to work. Both jackets were in the closet hanging up, so I put it in the wrong jacket. Well, I started to pack my things getting ready to move to my new place. I moved my stuff over Monday morning and packed Opals, then I left for work. I had about 20 minutes to get to the yard from my place, so I really had to step on it. I had about 3 minutes to spare so I had to wait until I got off work to mail it. If I had stopped to mail it, I would have lost half a day’s work, so you see you really saved me about $8. – Harry James “You Made Me Love You,”
(You Made Me Love You – Harry James ~ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMaCoxOGXPM) just came on.
I’m sorry, so sorry Darlin’, so I hope you will forgive me, please.
I sure wish you were here because I feel like an old-fashioned necking spree.
Life is sure going to be swell with you. Why won’t August hurry just a little bit anyway.
I had a very busy night tonight. I ran 79 feet of welding. I think I made a bonus. There were four welders in the refrigeration room . It was so smoky you couldn’t even see the welders on the other side of the room unless he was welding. I used a respirator, so I didn’t breathe hardly any galvanized. Well, I guess I had better close. I love you more than any words I know can express.
Love and XXXXXXXX’s Harlan
1:30 AM Wednesday, January 13, 1943
Hello Darling:
Well here it is another day closer to August to you. Just a week ago tonight I got back. Two weeks ago tonight I was with you. It seems like years instead of days. I had another busy night tonight; I ran 91 feet of welding. This makes 2 nights in a row that I have made a bonus. It is the first time I have made out more than once a week. Sooo, I feel pretty good. I worked on black iron so there was no galvanize.
I may stay here at the new place if I can get a little larger room. I like it very much. They furnish my breakfast and my lunch to take to work.
As yet I haven’t heard from Dick. There may be a letter over at the other place. I’m going over in the morning to send Opal’s things to her.
If I get it deferment again I’m going to buy a set of golf clubs. There is a golf course not very far from here. Maybe I can beat you in golf if I can’t do it in bowling.
Well Darling, I’m getting a little sleepy, so I think I had better close.
I love you very much and I’m just living for August and you.
Love and XXXXXXXXXXXXX0XOXOXOXO Harlan
Good Morning Darlin’: Well how is my little girl this morning? Fine I hope.
I am sending you a clipping from the San Francisco Call Bulletin. The ship was built at our yard. This boat is what they call 20,000-ton class. The one I’m working on is in the 28,000-ton class. It is quite a good story.
There isn’t any news, so I don’t know what else to write about.
I miss you like the devil. I’ll be glad when Dick and I can get together. I can’t find anyone I know or can go out with.
Well I seem to be running short of words again. It is a bad habit, isn’t it.
I love you and miss you very much.
Love and XXXXXXXX’s Harlan
1:30 AM Wednesday Morning, January 13, 1943
Hi Honey:
How are you? I hope O.K. It’s 11:30 out there and you are probably just getting off of work.
Harlan, before I forget would you please do me a favor? Would you please send me a San Francisco paper, a Sunday paper. I would like very much to see one. Maybe if you get this in time and you should, you could send next Sunday’s. I sure would appreciate it if you would.
Work went along as usual tonight. I’ve still got Mac and Lorna telling me about Frisco and LA it gives me a thrill just to hear about it.
We’re all going bowling Saturday night after work, the gang from our wing at work I mean. I’ll tell you my score and be wishing it was yours instead.
Honey, I been thinking about that leather jacket deal. I would rather you didn’t get one for me, because you spent so much on me when you were home and it was quite expensive with the cost of the trip and all. So let’s just forget it, O.K? O.K!
There isn’t any news. I haven’t talk to your Mom since last Saturday, so don’t know how Opal is, but will try and call her tomorrow.
The radio is on and it’s playing “I Wonder When My Baby’s Coming Home”, (Wonder When My Baby’s Coming Home, by Dorothy Dunn (1942) ~ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQZYfGTuev8) How true.
Well Sweets, getting later and later and I’m very tired so I better say good bye for now. I love you very much and think of you constantly.
Love and xxxxxxxxxx’s
“Your” Darlin Janie They are playing” Taking A Chance on Love” (Taking A Chance on Love Benny Goodman and Helen Forrest ~ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E65N6d_vBVw).
Good Night Honey
The letter you wrote 11:00 AM Saturday, January 9, 1943 came today. You wanted me to tell you and I just remembered. I’m awfully sorry about your hands. Please Harlan, be as careful as possible. And Honey, if all you have to write about is to tell me how much you love me, it sounds pretty swell on this end, so don’t feel bad about it.
Good Night Again, Janie
Please keep writing every day, even when you don’t have anything to say.
Thursday 1:15 AM January 14, 1943
Hello Honey:
Well here I am again, how are you? I hope just fine.
Well I had quite an eventful day. The first thing that happened was I was awakened by a man at the door with a Special from my Honey. Jeepers, I was scared to death something had happened but after reading it was very happy because it was more like your old self. Thanks a lot for the Special, my special. I enjoyed it immensely. I then proceeded to arise from bed, get dressed and eat and then the mailman brought me a bond which makes it three that I now have.
After getting my clothes ready for work, I decided to call Katherine to see how she was and was given the good news that she had a 7-pound baby boy at 6 AM this morning. My but Don is a thrilled little man. They went to the hospital last night after work. She’s getting along just swell.
You bet! August is coming Harlan. Jeepers, you have been gone almost 2 weeks already, but I too wish I could be there to cook your meals for you but then next year at this time maybe I will be. Which reminds me, I’ve made up my mind when I would like for us to be married. I’m not going to tell you however until August when I come out. I mean I have even decided the very date. But I would like your idea to O.K? O.K!
The reason you haven’t heard from Dick is because he lost your address but I’m going to write him tomorrow and tell him your new one.
That was a beautiful picture you described of an evening out and next year it will all be real instead of merely a dream. Oh happy, happy, happy next year!
Well sweets, I guess it’s about come get to it, I better get up to bed now so I can dream of my Honey. I love you so much. Tonight the girls were kidding me at work about my cold hands and they said if my feet were the same way, why that poor fellow Harlan didn’t know what he was getting in for and that he better have twin beds, or I would freeze him out. What do you think?
Well I must go for now. Goodbye for now fiancé. I love you.
Love and xxxxxxxxxx’s “Your” Darlin’ Janie
PS ‘D Y L M A M A Y S Y D?’ (do you love me as much as you say you do?) On the back of your letter. I figured it out right away and Harlan, you silly boy, I love you more than I say. In fact I’m afraid to say how much I love you.
I told you once that when I told a fellow I loved him; I would really mean it. Why do you think I put off telling you for so long? It was because I wanted to be sure and I was sure and have no doubt in my mind whatsoever that I love you, Harlan. If I wasn’t sure, I would never have accepted your ring.
That ‘A A L O L’ meant “ And A Lot of Love” didn’t it?
Good night Honey Janie
1:30 AM (Dearly Beloved) January 14, 1943 (Dearly Beloved (1943) – Don Ameche and The Sportsmen Quartet ~ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2Dj5bCWag8)
Hello Darlin’:
Well here it is another day closer to August you. No letter today, so nothing to write about.
I may have a letter over at the other place, if so I will answer them or it tomorrow night after work.
I had a very busy night last night so I’m pretty tired. I have been very busy in the morning. I’ve had to get Sis’s things all packed and shipped out, so I’ve had to go over to the other place to work on them. There is a lot of work tying them up when you don’t have much to start with. I had to hunt all over to get some twine to tie them up. Next week is going to seem like heaven. I should be all straightened out by then. Then, you will get that real long letter that I promised. I’ve had to get my laundry and put it all away. That is more of a job than I thought it would be. That is all done now. The express company is picking up Opal’s things tomorrow. I will send her radio and Max’s robe later.
Right now I have my door open and cool air is just floating in. It opens into the backyard. The sun is out, and it is another beautiful day. There is always something lacking. – You! – I’m so mixed up with things to do that I have a hard time telling you how much I love and miss you. I wish I didn’t miss you quite so much so.
Dick called last night while I was at work and I didn’t get a chance to talk to him. I don’t know whether he is coming in this weekend or not. I hope he does.
I’m still looking forward to the day when I can find words tell you how much I love you.
Well, Darling I guess I had better close for now as I could hardly keep my eyes open. I love you very much
Love and xxxxxxxxxxxxxx’s Harlan
1:15 AM Friday Morning, January 15, 1943
Hi Honey:
To start with, please excuse the paper. I’m completely out of writing paper and this is the result of a thorough search for some. How are you? I hope just fine. I got the biggest kick out of Don this afternoon when he came after me. Momie yelled out “Congratulations” and he got out of the car and brought up a box of candy, some for Momie and me and a cigar for Dad. He reminded me of you so much. He was so tickled and happy, he acted just like you would, jeepers – well I won’t say it, but you can guess what I’m thinking.
I’m overly tired tonight as there were only five girls in the primer room tonight thus leaving two of us on one side, keeping us going constantly. Gosh, I miss you Honey. tonight coming home, I saw the Big Dipper and then the moon and I looked out West and thought – “way out there my Honey is welding on his big ship and I wonder if maybe he may be thinking of me”. Were you a little?
We learned tonight that we girls can’t wear any more jewelry to work which means I must take off my ring. I haven’t had it off since you put it on and thought I wouldn’t take it off until you put the other one on. I sure hate to take it off, but I guess it’s a necessity.
While Sweets, there isn’t any news tonight and I should get to bed as I have to be at the dentist office at 11:00 AM this morning. I miss you more with every day but as every day comes it brings August that much closer.
Keep the letters coming, they are grand. I like them so much. I should say I love them because they are a part of you. Well, I must go now, good night for now.
Love and xxxxxxxxxx’s
“Your” Darlin’ Janie
I love you so much!
PS Honey, I don’t get it about the Special letter deal. What do you mean you didn’t get it off in time. Please explain yourself more thoroughly. I received one Sunday, and Wednesday I thought it was very sweet of you to send me one through the week, but I don’t get it about not getting it off in time.
What is your new place like? Do you do your own cooking all of the time, is it one room or just what? Well I will close now. I always remember something else I have to say after I close, so gosh awful much. Love Janie
1:30 AM January 15, 1943
Hello Darlin’:
Well here it is another day closer to August and you, Oh Happy Day!
There was a letter over to the other place yesterday. My landlady brought it over for me. I’m sorry about the letters not being very long, next week I will see if I can’t do a lot better.
My trip wasn’t as nice coming back as it was going home because the train was awfully crowded and there were no club cars or lounge cars. There were a lot of people skiing at that place here in California that I told you about, it sure was a temptation to get off the train and stay right there. The train was right on time getting in, but the meals were awfully high. I guess that is all there is to the trip except to add that I wish sure felt funny in my stomach as the train started to pull out of the station. As old as I am I still felt like bawling.
I am going out Sunday to play some golf I think. My landlady’s sonis in the Navy and so she said I could use his
I haven’t heard from Dick yet. I imagine he is kept pretty busy. About that picture in the paper, there were some photographers on the boat here taking pictures and that same day. I think they took a picture of another fellow and I, we were on the deck of the boat. That was that was before I left for home.
I had a busy night tonight and I think I may have made another bonus, I’m not sure. I had a very tough place to weld. Let me know what paper that picture is in, I would like to see it.
As far as I’m concerned, it would be too long to wait if we had another week to wait, but I’m not discontented. I feel very free now that Sis has gone home. I have or will have a lot of time to myself. I’m sorry about my letters not having any warmth but I have had a tough time getting myself organized so I know just where I’m at. I don’t believe I’ve had so much to do at one time.
Darling, you know that you won’t be able to get a plane to go back from Frisco? Sis got one because she was pregnant. She had to get an order for statement from her doctor and even then she had a tough time. I thought I had better tell you. So whatever you do, don’t buy a round-trip ticket as I hope you won’t need one.
I love you very much Darling and will be the happiest man in the world when we get married. Life seems to be so empty without you. Yes Darling, it really is God’s country. And when you come out it will seem even more so.
Well I guess I had better get some sleep, so will close for now.
I will write tomorrow night. I love you more than life itself.
Love and xxxxxxxxxxxxxx’s Harlan
Good Night Sweetheart
Friday Morning 1:15 PM January 15, 1943
Hi Honey:
Well Sweets, how are you? I hope my fiancé is O.K. I just arrived home from town and the dentist. Jeepers, what a whole for that gold inlay! Oh well, one less expense for you. We girls are going out to dinner and a show tonight. It’s the first time I’ve been out since you left. We are going to see “White Cargo”.
Have you seen it?
We received a letter from Dick today and not this weekend but next weekend, he has 48-hour liberty and hopes he can get together with you.
I’m sure glad to hear that you are able to weld so much, my hand hard-working little man.
As usual I don’t have any exciting news. Thanks for the clipping, it was very interesting. I sure hope you are able to send me a San Francisco paper or hope you don’t forget it.
Yes, it does seem like ages since I last saw you. By August we will be strangers. I’m sorry Honey, we will never be strangers.
I’m sure glad you like your new place. It’s a swell deal about your breakfast and lunch. Is the food good.? Are you kidding? You always beat me in golf no matter how hard I tried. I haven’t talk to your Mom yet but will call her later today.
While downtown I bought a blanket for Kathy’s and Don’s baby and will sign both our names. It’s awfully sweet, blue with little ducks in the middle and the satin border. They named the little boy Daniel Raymond Tinger. Nice, don’t you think? Personally, I don’t think they go together but Danny is cute but not as cute as Timmy. What do you think? That’s what I thought.
I just talk to your Mom and she said Hank was in inducted yesterday and was out at Camp Dodge. That’s about all the news she had. Donna is getting married the 30th of this month to this fellow she brought home with her Thanksgiving. So I guess that’s the end of her and Frank. Mrs. Didier told me that Frank wrote Donna in Chicago just before Christmas asking her to come home and marry him, but she completely ignored it. I don’t know whether to believe it or not. What you think?
While Sweets, I guess that comes to it. I love you more and more and miss you more yet.
Goodbye for now.
Love and xxxxxxxxxxxxxx’s
“Your” Darling Janie
Dick’s new address is Richard Hare S 2/c, Commissary Dept. Barrack K, Treasure Island Calif
PS I love you so much
PS2 Please send me your telephone number. Now don’t forget. Love again, Janie
PS3 4 PM I just got the pictures well – they were taken on a dark day –
(May have been the pictures take while Harlan was back in Des Moines over Christmas)
12 AM Saturday Morning, January 16, 1943
Hi Honey:
I just arrived home from the show with the girls. I had fun but would have given almost anything if you had been there instead. The show was very good though.
I’m sitting at my dressing table, my hair up on pin curls, cream on my face and my red pajamas on, remember? I’ll bet you do.
Well to get back, I thought I’d better drop a line and apologize for my Special if it doesn’t get there on time because I don’t think I got it in the mail box on time. I sure hope I did but if not I’m very sorry. Please forgive me.
You know the big picture you sent me? Well since you came home with your mustache, it doesn’t look like you, so I painted on one but one on the glass O.K? O.K! I sure hope so, because it looks just like you did when you were home.
I don’t have a bit of news sorry. Trinkie and I are the only ones in our crowd who isn’t stepping out on our man, so I guess we are going out together again next week, I hope you don’t mind. It’s my weekend off next week. By the way did I ask you for your phone number. If not will you please send it?
Well Darling, I’m going to take your ring off now – until next week and – I sure hate it too because it means so much to me to be able to wear it but here goes – I don’t want to – I want – won’t – Jeepers, I want to wear it. I’m going to see if I can get by with it. I’ll let you know how I come out tomorrow when I write.
While Sweets, here goes again. I must close and get to bed. I love you so much and still have a great big lump in my throut.
Good night Honey, “Your” Darlin’ Janie
The radio is on and they are playing “There Are Such Things”, listen to it sometime, it hurts. (There Are Such Things ~ Frank Sinatra ~ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nVWMEq6ZYA)
2 AM Saturday, January 16, 1943
Hello My Little Darlin’:
Well here it is another day closer to August and you. Every day I hear a lot of things and see a lot of things that reminds me of our future married life. I can never begin to tell you how happy I’ll be when we both say,” I do.” That is all I can think about and it is what I’m living for. Today Leo Janich, another welder on the boat, said something about helping his wife with the laundry and he had some papers in his pocket went through the machine. As soon as he said my wife, it reminded me of you. You will meet Leo and his wife would come out. Another welder we call Hook keeps telling me about his little daughter. He wants me to come over in the morning and see her. He said she has learned to say a lot of new words. Hook at his wife are from Missouri and I think that is where Leo is from too.
I see a lot of fellows that I used to work with on the other ships and whenever I see them they all ask me where my wife is. I say you mean “fiancé”? (Excuse me if I’m wrong) they say Fiancé – hell. Then they ask me if I’m in my right mind to leave such a pretty girl way back there.
When I told Frank I didn’t get married at Christmas time, he said –then you will get married in Easter, No? (French) I said, ( excuse me but if this is getting boring just skip a few lines, I thought maybe you might like to hear about what goes on in my mind and what is going to drive me to insanity if we don’t get married in ? ) I said I don’t quite think so, Frank, but Janie is coming out in August. He said “You will be married then and if you don’t, I’ll never speak to you again.“
So much for that. I think I could write a book about it, but all that would probably have in it would be; I said, he said, so on and so forth.
I would like to have you answer me a question. Please. Do you think we might be able to get married in August? As far as I’m concerned, I’m ready now.
Darling, I’m awfully tired. You don’t mind if I continue in the morning to you? You don’t? That’s Swell!
Dick called this morning and told me he had last weekend off but didn’t get my Special until Monday. He has to work this weekend but has the next one off. I’m going out and play some golf this Sunday. I’ll let you know how I come out.
I made another bonus tonight so you can see how tired I am. That makes 4 this week so far. It is the first week I have ever made over one.
I love you very much Janie and want you to know that I will never betray the trust you have for me.
Love and XXXXXXXXXXX Harlan
Good Night Sweetheart
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Good Morning Darling:
Well, this will have to be short as I want to hurry and get this into the mail. I have to go downtown and see if I can get some golf balls. I wish I had the bunch I had while we were playing. I will write again tonight. I love you very much.
Love and xxxxxxxxxxxxxx’s Harlan
Johnny & Jane 