12 AM Monday, March 1, 1943
Hello my Sweet:
Well this is quite a mixed-up day behind me. After I finished talking and writing to you I went out to the golf course. There was a city championship tournament on, so I had to wait until this afternoon to get on the course. Then I went over to Johnny’s and helped him wash his car. Then I went back to the course at about 1:30 and played 13 holes and had to be back at Johnny’s for dinner at 5:00. We had dinner, smoked a cigar and then I came home to clean up. John picked me up about 8:00 and we went downtown to show. The shows were all packed want to wait in line for an hour or more, so we didn’t go. He asked me if I wanted to hear some really good music. I said yes, so we went to a nightclub club called “Back Stage”. They have a colored man there of six pieces that are really good! There are lounge chairs all around the bandstand that you just sit and listen to them. We ordered a drink and sat there for about two hours. Then we went down to the restaurant at the marina and had some spaghetti. Then we came home and here I am writing to my one and only.
Well Darling, I guess I had better close and get some sleep. If you were here I think I would stay up all night and just look at you. Why, Oh why must this war keep us apart so much. I love you so much it really hurts inside. All of the time, when I was talking to you, I had to fight to keep the begging you to come out. I will write tomorrow night.
Love & xxxxxxxxxxxxxx’s Harlan
Monday 5:15 March 1, 1943
Hi Honey: – How are you?
I just arrived home from work well, about a half an hour ago. Momie said your Mom had called so I called her, and she told me she had called the draft board, as you will probably know about when you get this letter, and your case comes before the board tomorrow. She’s going to call back Wednesday and let me know Wednesday night, then if she doesn’t mind I’m going to either wire or call you. That will be Wednesday night, or better yet send you a night letter and then call you Thursday night but I suppose it will all be all over by the time you get this and all I have is an airmail envelope so I can’t send a Special. I’m sorry.
Well how’s My Honey today? I hope this finds you well and quite happy. I have thought of you all day, nothing I do seems to drive you from my mind, oh not that I want to Honey, but jeepers it’s been this way for a week, and I don’t know but it isn’t the kind of feeling I like. I love to think of you but – Oh, I don’t know, maybe I’m crazy, you wonderful brute you.
There was no letter today, so no questions to answer but the reason there wasn’t any letter is because of the two Specials which were very sweet, so I don’t mind.
Has my package arrived yet? Work went along as usual today, but Marion wasn’t there, so it wasn’t quite the same. It’s very cold here again right now. It’s only 10 above and this morning it was about 8. Tonight it’s supposed to be 10 below, now isn’t that always the way, March and 10 below.
Oh I forgot, your Mom found some baby pictures of you and she is going to give them to me. I haven’t one of you and I wanted one so bad and now I’ll have one. And then when Timmy comes, we can compare you two. Besides, I want one of you for myself. O.K? O.K!
Excuse me Honey, I have to eat. Be back when I’m through. Hellow, it’s 7:00 o’clock, took me quite a while didn’t it? Well I did the dishes and then talk to Momie for a while, fed the dog and washed and here I am again.
Harlan, if you don’t get a deferment, don’t pay your income tax because in the first place you don’t have to until you get back and in the second place you may not have to pay any because in the last war after the boys came back they didn’t have to pay any and I don’t think you should pay it when we will need the money so bad. You may think I’m talking like you aren’t going to get one, but I’m not going to kid myself.
Well Sweets, I’m through. No more to write about. Please Harlan, I think you are working too hard. Please Honey, there is no sense in killing yourself. And please be careful and take it easy. Have some fun and don’t work too hard. Maybe you are making out too much. And one more thing Harlan, no matter where you are or what you’re doing, I’ll wait for you because I love you so much, and if you go, there is nothing we can do and it is because you are needed but I shall always love you and wait for you.
Love as Always
“Your” Darlin’ Janie
PS YOU HAVE TO FILE YOUR TAXES BUT NOT PAY IT.
1:30 AM Tuesday, March 2, 1943
Hello Darlin’:
Well, here it is another month closer to August and you. Boy oh boy, do I rate. 2 letters, one special and your package came today. I will exchange the things tomorrow. Your letters were all perfect. They couldn’t be any better. Whenever I get blue or disgusted I will take these three letters out and read them over and over. I only have two sheets of paper left, so I will have to write on both sides like you did in yours. I heard that song ‘Black Magic’ last night well eating supper. I was going to ask you if you had heard it or not. I don’t know why those letters should take so long to get there.
My spine is all right now, I think. It is a little sore when I sit on it for a long time but otherwise okay. Yes we work hard, and it is fun in a different sort of way. I’m terribly sorry about writing that phrase ‘I hate you’ because I really didn’t mean it. I’m not much good at putting in words what I mean or what to say so I guess I put anything down comes into my mind. The only thing I’m really sure of is this, I love you more than anything on this earth. There isn’t a thing in the world that I want more than you to be happy. You were very much mistaken about me not going to say anything about loving you during your telephone conversation. I had something all made up to say and didn’t get a chance to say it. I was going to say, “Well Darling, as much as I love you etc. etc.” I don’t quite remember the last part.
You know Darling, I’ll never forget that night I asked you to marry me. It happened all too fast. Darn you, you wanted to go right up and go to bed too soon after I asked you. You didn’t even say yes until the next day. When you come out in August can we do it again just for fun? I’m so sleepy and tired I can hardly keep my eyes open. Would you mind if I finished in the morning? Okay? Okay!
All the love I have I give to you and you alone.
Love & xxxxxxxxxxxxxx’s Harlan
PS Goodnight Sweetheart
Good morning Little Darlin’:
Well here it is another morning without you. I wish I could get up in the morning and say “Hello Darlin’, how do you feel this morning, still love me? You do? That’s swell. I love you too. By the way what are we going to have for breakfast?” Or something on that order. It sure is torture just thinking about things like that. Wondering, waiting, and hoping is all we can do.
There isn’t any news, so I don’t know what else to write about. I have to go to see my tire board this morning and exchange your things so I can guess I had better close and get downtown. In closing I want to tell you that I think you are the swellest girl I have ever known I love you more than anything on the earth. I’m waiting for you.
Love & xxxxxxxxxxxxxx’s Harlan
Tuesday 5:15 PM March 2, 1943
Hi Honey:
I have been home from work for about a half an hour, your Special was here waiting for me. It had come about 15 min. before I arrived. Boy I sure am rating lately, especially this weekend. I’ve forgotten all about last week. This one sure was a swell letter all nice and newsy and enough of you know what. Thanks a lot, it was swell.
I won’t ever be mad at you for not writing. I’m sorry I was kind of sore last week if I had of received your letters regularly I would’ve thought anything of it, but it won’t happen again unless the occasion comes to often. Yes indeed – the 9 minutes did go fast. Too fast. But when one is enjoying oneself, time always goes fast.
Jeepers, I don’t know. I think I would rather have you write both Saturday and Sunday nights because then I would get one on Tuesday. You see Friday night, you write my Special, which comes Sunday and then if you don’t mail your Saturday night letter, I don’t get one until Wednesday and between Sunday and Wednesday I’m going crazy without of any letters from you. You can never know what your letters mean to me. A day without a letter is lost, even if I get 2 the next day, so that’s the way it is.
I’m very glad you have found a new friend and especially one at your age. Is he married? If not, that makes it especially nice. Has he a deferment too? Oh boy what a car. I’ll bet you like that like what.
Well tomorrow night at this time I will know whether or not you are granted another deferment. I don’t know whether I’ll be glad or not if you get it, because you never came right out and said whether you wanted one or not and I wanted what you want and as I don’t know what you want, how can I tell. But that all that will be discussed by the time you get this.
I just happened to think, do you mean that you would start writing Saturday night and finish on Sunday night and then send it Special? If that’s it, why sure that’s O.K. I would like to get a Special on Tuesday. Anything Honey, just so I get a letter.
Well I have to go eat now, Mary Jane just came in and I will finish this later. I think I’ll wash my hair and then back to you Honey while it’s drying. O.K? O.K!
Hi, it’s 6:15 and Harry James orchestra is on for 15 minutes and if he plays “You Made Me Love You”, I’ll let you know. Be back.
Tuesday 5:15 PM March 2, 1943
Hi Honey:
I have been home from work for about a half an hour, your Special was here waiting for me. It had come about 15 min. before I arrived. Boy I sure am rating lately, especially this weekend. I’ve forgotten all about last week. This one sure was a swell letter all nice and newsy and enough of you know what. Thanks a lot, it was swell.
I won’t ever be mad at you for not writing. I’m sorry I was kind of sore last week if I had of received your letters regularly I would’ve thought anything of it, but it won’t happen again unless the occasion comes to often. Yes indeed – the 9 minutes did go fast. Too fast. But when one is enjoying oneself, time always goes fast.
Jeepers, I don’t know. I think I would rather have you write both Saturday and Sunday nights because then I would get one on Tuesday. You see Friday night, you write my Special, which comes Sunday and then if you don’t mail your Saturday night letter, I don’t get one until Wednesday and between Sunday and Wednesday I’m going crazy without of any letters from you. You can never know what your letters mean to me. A day without a letter is lost, even if I get 2 the next day, so that’s the way it is.
I’m very glad you have found a new friend and especially one at your age. Is he married? If not, that makes it especially nice. Has he a deferment too? Oh boy what a car. I’ll bet you like that like what.
Well tomorrow night at this time I will know whether or not you are granted another deferment. I don’t know whether I’ll be glad or not if you get it, because you never came right out and said whether you wanted one or not and I wanted what you want and as I don’t know what you want, how can I tell. But that all that will be discussed by the time you get this.
I just happened to think, do you mean that you would start writing Saturday night and finish on Sunday night and then send it Special? If that’s it, why sure that’s O.K. I would like to get a Special on Tuesday. Anything Honey, just so I get a letter.
Well I have to go eat now, Mary Jane just came in and I will finish this later. I think I’ll wash my hair and then back to you Honey while it’s drying. O.K? O.K!
Hi, it’s 6:15 and Harry James orchestra is on for 15 minutes and if he plays “You Made Me Love You”, I’ll let you know. Be back.
They are playing ‘Old Black Magic”, ever heard of it? I like it. Be back.
PS I’m eating banana cream pie. Momie is teaching me how to cook Honey and I made this one, honest! Now they’re playing “There are Such Things”. Isn’t this fun? I like that one very much. Be back, I got to fix the fire.
Well here I am again in the didn’t play my song. Darn, oh well, maybe they will tomorrow. By the way I fixed the fire I made, I’m in training Honey, for the future.
Must go now and dry the dishes. See I do a little bit of everything. Be back.
Guess what’s on now? “Lights Out”. Remember? We used to listen to it almost every week or did we? I guess I was it was Bill O’Brien and I. Now how did that get in a letter to you? Oh well, it’s there and to cross it out would make it messy.
FUN FACT: Lights Out’ was an American old-time radio program devoted mostly to horror and the supernatural. It was aired on many different radio stations from 1934 through the summer of 1947. It was one of the earliest radio horror programs.
I’ve simply got washed my hair Honey. I will finish when I get through. Be back. I love you and only you.
Well here I am, of course it is only a matter of seconds but since I wrote that last paragraph I have pressed my clothes for work and washed my hair. I looked like the wild woman of Borneo. It’s 9:15 and Bob Hope is on, but he isn’t very good, he never is any more. Kind of corny you know.
Well Sweets, I guess I have written all there is to write. I will feel either a lot better or a lot worse tomorrow night. I don’t know which, but we’ll see. I miss you like hell ooops, like heck and like the very devil and love you very much. Better go to bed now.
Love & xxxxxxxxxx’s “Your” Darlin’ Janie
Goodnight Honey
PS I still like Herman best Honey. be careful and don’t work too hard.
PSS Aren’t my letters nice and long? You bet!
1:30 AM March 3, 1943
Hello Little Darlin’:
Well, here it is another day closer to August and the most wonderful girl in the world. How is my little girl today? Fine, I hope.
There isn’t any news and I didn’t get a letter today, so I don’t know what I’m going to write about.
I took your things downtown on the way to work to exchange them. They are all out of things that small but have a shipment coming in pretty soon. They will call me when they do come in.
I sure feel tired and lonesome now. I sure wish you were here with me, where as you put it, “You belong”.
I can’t seem to keep my eyes open. Would you mind too much if I would finish this in the morning. Okay? Okay!
All the love I have, or ever hope to have, I’m saving for you.
Love & xxxxxxxxxxxxxx’s Harlan
PS Goodnight Sweetheart
Good morning Darling:
How are you this fine morning? It is a little foggy out now. I hope it clears up or rains like the devil.
I miss you even more now than I did last night. If that could be more.
There sure is a lot of excitement around here all the time. There are several murder trials going on now and there are girls who have been attacked almost every night. Some of them sure are kind of silly. One claimed she was attacked three times in one night by the same man. Another case was a large woman, I believe the paper said she was 6-foot-tall and weighed about 180 pounds, claimed she was attacked by a real small man while she was standing up. The judge said he didn’t see how that could happen and didn’t believe that it could. She said she could stoop a little couldn’t she? We had a big fire in Oakland the other night. Some flour mill on the waterfront caught on fire. There was a brand-new ship in the docks right by the warehouse. The fire made the ship red hot. The firemen put their hoses right to the ship and a lot of the rivets just popped out. The radio is playing “Falling Leaves”. That song brings back a lot of wonderful memories to me.
Yesterday, Lang, our boss, talked to all of us welders. He said we were to be congratulated. The Navy Department has put out a statement that the U.S.S. Miller is the best ship yet to go down at the yard here. There has been $100,000 saved in time and materials. The welding department has a lot to do with that, so we feel pretty good about it. I don’t know when we will go on our new boat. I have been working on three different ships so far. There isn’t any more welding on our ship. I hope our next one goes as well.
I sure wish you were here now. I sure love you a lot. I sure miss you a lot. If I should get a deferment, will you tell me then what you plan on doing in the way of coming out or getting married?
I have to write a letter to the folks, so I guess I had better close for now.
I love you very, very much.
love and kisses Harlan
Have you heard the song “I’m So, So, So in love with you?
Wednesday 6:15 PM March 3, 1943
Hello Honey:
I waited a little longer than usual to start writing because I have been trying to get your Mother, but of no avail, d – – – it. I told her I would call her the minute I arrived home from work but maybe she is working.
I received your letter on Monday night today. Now isn’t that the way you mailed it, yesterday morning and it came this morning, where for heaven sakes did you mail it? It is postmarked 12:30 PM March 2 and last week it for days for one of your letters to get here.
I’m sure glad to hear my letters were so nice and I’m also very glad you’re back is O.K. Yes, if you want to, you may ask me to marry you all over again when I come (or when you come home?) Your baby picture came today. Jeepers, you were cute and sweet, and do you know what? You haven’t changed a bit.
There is something I want you to do for me. Will you please let me know when this letter is postmarked? Please. Thanks.
I just tried to call your Mom again, but she isn’t home yet tired. Darn.
Well it’s 9:00 o’clock. Now don’t get excited since the last line. Barbie called and after I talk to her then I ate and have been trying to get your Mom about every 15 minutes ever since. I can’t imagine why she hasn’t called, I’m just about going crazy.
Kay Kaiser is on and I’m going to press my slacks and take a bath and then I will finish this letter. Maybe I can get a hold of your mom in the meantime. Be back Honey, very soon.
It’s 10:15 and I’m burnt up! I put I just got a hold of your Mom and she hadn’t called the board at all today. So Momie is going to call tomorrow morning. I’m sending you a night letter just as soon as I finish this.
Harlan, I was sitting here putting up my hair and pulled out 15 white hairs out. Jeepers, I must be getting old.
Must go now. I love you Honey but will talk to you soon again.
Love & xxxxxxxxxx’s “Your” Darlin’ Janie
1:30 AM Thursday, March 4, 1943
Hello Little Darlin’:
Well, how are things going along on this next day closer to August (I hope) and the sweetest girl the world? I hope just fine. I received an awfully nice letter today from you. Here we go again about our plans. We won’t even think about getting me getting galvanized after we are married. It is no fun. Yes, Darling, that checking account is really the thing. I believe I have your Father to thank for that. I’m going to write him a nice long letter after I find out about my deferment. That will sort of decide what I’m going to write about. I think we have a lot in common, let alone the checking account. Just think we’re both engaged. That is something decidedly in common. I get what you mean about the ‘No’, but we will see!
I made out about $16 last week. That will just about take care of my bond.
Boy am I tired, I run around about 98 feet tonight and I think I got a little galvanized. I hope not though. I just got home and haven’t eaten or had my shower, so I guess I had better close for now. You sure will be nice to come home to. We can have a midnight snack, read the paper, do little necking and then go to bed. All the love I have for you I will give to you in August.
Love & xxxxxxxxxxxxxx’s Harlan
PS Goodnight Sweetheart
Good morning Little Darlin’:
I woke up this morning to find a telegram waiting for me. I feel just like getting up and sitting by the telephone until the call comes in. I’m sure excited. Here I not only find out about my deferment but unexpectedly I get to talk to my fiancée. The radio is playing my old theme song “Why Don’t You Fall In Love With Me?”
There isn’t any news, so I don’t know just what I’m going to write about. I have a batch of laundry to do before I go to work. I guess I’ll have to go to the store and get some soap. I wish you were here to help me or rather I to help you. When I wash my clothes they come out looking just like they did when I put them in, but they smell nice and clean.
I love you and you alone. Love & xxxxxxxxxxxxxx’s Harlan
Thursday 7 PM March 4, 1943
Hello Honey:
Well here it is Thursday night. Now what A hack of a way to start a letter. Oh well. In about two hours I will place a call for you. O.K? O.K!
Well, there isn’t any news to speak of. I received a letter from Von but even she didn’t have much to say. The weather was warm today but it’s getting colder again right now.
I’m awfully sorry if I caused you any trouble or worry over the night letter but your Mom just knew she could find out and I thought I could let you know to but I’m going to call you anyway because I want to hear your voice again and I don’t think you will mind.
I’m very tired today as Eva wasn’t at work and I was on the floor all day and my feet hurt my legs ache and my back aches, but as soon as I finish this I’m going up and take a bath and place your call and go to bed and dream of you and until you call. I hope I’m not too sound asleep when you call.
In Dick’s letter yesterday he said he just might get a 10-day furlough after he graduates, so we are hoping and praying that he will because we don’t know when we will see him again if he doesn’t.
I didn’t get a letter today so I’ve no questions to answer, all I can say is I miss you like – oh – I can’t even think of words to express it. I miss you so very much, even when I’m at work, I miss you when I’m downtown, when I’m with the girls, when I’m home, no matter what I’m doing or where I’m at, I miss you and love you more than life itself. I best go now.
Good night Honey
Love & xxxxxxxxxx’s “Your” Darlin’ Janie
1:35 AM Friday, March 5, 1936 1943
Hello Darlin’:
Well here it is another day closer to August in the sweetest little girl in the world, whom I have just finished talking to. It sure was good to hear your voice. I would have liked to talk all night but then I guess we don’t own the telephone company, yet. If I did, I’d put a phone by your bed and one by mine. Then with a private wire and we could talk all night.
I have never in all of my life seen my face as dirty as it was tonight. I really had a tough job. I ran about 8 feet all night and I was very busy all of the time. I feel pretty good now. All I have to do now is brush my teeth and go to bed, that is after I write a little. I sure wish you could be here to see my ship launched. It may be my last you know.
Well Darling, I’m getting kind of sleepy and my shoulders are very tired. I think it’s from being on them upside down all night. I will finish in the morning and I love you very much. Good night Sweetheart.
Good morning Darling:
Well, well, I sure must have been tired last night. I didn’t get up until 11 AM. Dick called this morning and said he’s coming in Sunday morning early. I sure hope we have nice weather. This may be our last Sunday together. He is through his schooling in a couple of weeks so he will be pretty busy from now on. He will have this Sunday off though.
There is also a letter here for me from you that is sure swell. No my new friend isn’t married. He hasn’t a deferment. He is 1-A. He expects to get his papers soon. I didn’t like his car when I first saw it, but I sure do now. I guess you have to get used to a large car. Yes, I’ve heard “Black Magic”. It sure is a good song. Who is Bill O’Brien? Just kidding, I didn’t even think you’d remember him. Well Darling, I guess that’s just about all. I will write you a nice long Special tonight. I love you very, very much.
Love & xxxxxxxxxxxxxx’s Harlan
Friday 7:30 PM March 5, 1943
Hello Honey:
Well here I am again, but I’ll bet you are probably with Dick when this comes.
I got home from work about 5:00 o’clock, read your letter and lay down on the Davenport and I just woke up, and now I have to go eat. Goodbye.
Back again. I’m so sleepy I can hardly hold my eyes open.
About your letter while, why Harlan I’m shocked tisk, tisk, tisk, such goings. Oh my—
That’s really swell about your welders. You are the best one there, so they probably meant the message for you alone, but didn’t want to show any partiality. Don’t you think? Why of course. Well I think you’re the best anyway and that’s all that counts.
It sure was swell the hearing your husky big voice this morning. We talked for 7 minutes, person-to-person. Oh well! There’s always Momie to fall back on but besides Honey, you’re worth twice as much. I’m awfully sorry you couldn’t understand me but then now you know how I’ll sound when we get up in the morning. Oh happy morning!
I haven’t heard “I’m so, so in love with you”, but I will listen real careful and sharp and stuff.
I haven’t heard from your Mom since the last time.
Gosh I’ll bet this letter sounds screwy but I’m only half here, the other half is in bed sleeping.
Oh I almost forgot – Gosh and I was thrilled. Today while Marianne and I were back in the primer room shaking we were laughing and working and looked up and there stood Mr. Evans the building supervisor and another man in uniform. And Honey, it was a commanding officer of the Royal Air Force from England. Jeepers, he stood there and watched us fill four trays a piece and then we went on the floor and he came out and watch both of us fill for machines. Were we ever thrilled! You couldn’t touch us with a 10-foot pole because we were the only ones he spoke to in the whole wing. Just think Honey, a commanding officer clear from England. Isn’t that thrilling!
Well Sweets, Daddy just told me I could have the car to take this to town, so I think I’ll take advantage of that fact.
I hope you have a nice time Sunday and be sure and let me know about your deferment.
I love you, I love you, I love you, and oh yes I miss you too. How well you know.
Good night my Honey
Love & xxxxxxxxxx’s All I Have “Your” Darlin’ Janie
PS I just read this over. Oh well maybe tomorrow night I’ll be all here. Love Janie
PSS Your letters are coming through okey-dokey. Thank you, you wonderful thing.
1:30 AM Saturday, March 6, 1943
Well here it is another day closer to August and you (I hope). As yet I haven’t heard anything about my deferment. I’m looking for it any day now. There sure is a lot depending on it. I guess our whole future. I’m not worried but I sure will be relieved when it does get here whether I get deferred or not. It really it really has me guessing.
I had a good job tonight!! I feel swell. I was working under the stern, right over the bay. It is too bad you’re not here, we could maybe go down and pull or something. Maybe for drive over to the park. I wouldn’t that be fun? I’ll bet you’d like it. I know I would.
I have to go to the bank in the morning. My bank account will be $361.00. Pretty good, huh? I made $90.00 last week. My check was for $66.00 and after everything was taken out. You think we could live all right on $90 a week? That is if I could make that much each week.
I hope it clears up on Sunday so Dick and I can have one day without rain. It rained like the very devil at the yard tonight, and it will probably be cloudy in the morning.
Hook and Zeigler want me to go bowling with them in the morning before work. It’s been quite a while since I’ve been bowling, I may have forgotten how.
There are so many things I wish I could say to make this a special Special, but I still don’t have it in me. I love you very much and miss you something terrific. I guess when I find out about my deferment we can maybe make some definite plans for the future. I wish this damm darn war would end. Everything is so uncertain. Maybe we had better wait for the duration. Even if I do get another deferment it won’t last for more than six months. After that it will probably be almost impossible to get one – that I’m sure of.
Johnny, the new friend I was telling you about, received his induction papers yesterday. He happens to be the first kid I really liked to go out with and now they’re going to draft him. He has to report the 15th. Hook and his wife then and little girl and Zeigler’s wife are going home for a vacation about the 1st April. Zeigler’s deferment is up about then, if he gets another one his wife will come back out. If not, she will stay at home.
Monday we go on our new ship. I guess we are going to be put on another galvanized ship. There it is one that has just been started and so far it is way behind. I guess they just want to put a good crew on it so they can catch up a little bit, ahem!! The new destroyers that are going to be built are to combat the U-boats that sink so many merchant ships. They were first built by the English. They proved very satisfactory, so the government gave us an order for 300 ships. They are called ‘corvette’ type ships. They weigh 1100 tons. The ones we are building now weigh 2100 tons. So you can see that they will be quite small.
Fun Fact: ‘Covert’ or Corvette ships were Destroyer Escort ships, 20-knot (23mph) warships designed with endurance to escort id-ocean convoys and merchant marine ships. 500+ destroyer escorts (DE’s) were commissioned between Jan 1943 and May 1945. The DE was not nearly as expensive as the fleet destroyer (DD) and much better suited for convoy escort duties. They were slower than the DD’s, well-armed and most important, they could be built much faster. These vessels became the most common U-boat hunters from middle of 1943 throughout WWII.
Well Darling, so much for that. I had to make kind of a long letter, so I had to fill in with something. I love you very much. Everything about you is just about perfect. When we finally do get married I will be the happiest fellow in the world. All the love I have I give to you.
Love & xxxxxxxxxxxxxx’s Harlan
Saturday 5:00 PM March 6, 1943
Hello Honey:
The radio is on and ‘There Are Such Things” is being played.
Well, how are you? I came in the door and no letter, darn no letter, and I was so sure I would have one. There isn’t a bit of news I don’t know what I’m going to write about. It’s much colder again tonight and it’s supposed to drop down to 10 below later tonight. Oh well, I’ve plenty of warm close.
Chuck’s clothes came back today. Jeepers, gives one sort of a funny feeling, clothes, but no Chuck.
I would like to go out tonight but it’s so darned cold and most of the girls have dates. So I guess I’ll go to bed.
Jeepers, I can’t think of anything to write so I think I’ll stop for a while and try later, O.K? O.K!
I love you Harlan.
Well here I am, back again, and its 8:15. I ate, read the paper, and then took a nice hot bath, brushed my hair, put on my lounging PJs and the ‘Hit Parade’ is on and now I’m listening to all the best music pieces and writing to my Honey some more.
“There Are Such Things” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIjJnpUvyts) is number four. I was so tired I decided to stay home and besides I can afford it.
But darn it. there still isn’t any news. “Old Black Magic” is on now. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vjmSx3rbIA_
Jeepers Harlan, I miss you so much. I suppose you get awfully tired of reading that, but I can’t help it, I do. I long for your strong arms, your firm but gentle lips, oh it’s just you, sweet you. I’m hungry for the sight and feeling of you. You probably read this and think ‘If she misses me so much, why doesn’t she come out?’ But if you really stop and think you will know why, and I promise you it won’t be too long before we are out there in the same room, night and day.
Well Honey, I don’t have any more to say except I love you so much.
Love & xxxxxxxxxx’s “Your” Darlin’ Janie
PS How is everything at work, Lang and all the boys? The folks send their love.
Love Janie
“You’d Be So Nice to Come Home To” is No. 3. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2w5KNm1LQ78)
No. 2 is “I heard That Song Before, you know, ‘seems to be I’ve heard that song before, etc. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MA2hk_CIZeo)
No. 1 is “Brazil” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U–LHqNwnUU), very good. Good night Honey
8:30 AM Sunday, March 7, 43
Hello Darlin’:
Well here it is another week closer to the sweetest girl in the world.
Dick just came in and woke me up. The weather looks like it might be nice all day, there are a few clouds, but they are big white ones, so it might not rain. He is in shaving right now so I thought I would drop my usual line now. I didn’t write last night because I was just about dead. I had to stop at a grocery store and get some things, so I missed the last car and this out this way and had to walk about 6 1/2 really long blocks and when I got home I had two letters from you. One was your Special. They were both perfect. The Special was a little mixed up though. I had to shave, take a shower, fix something to eat and then go to bed. I got to bed about 3:00 AM. Well Darling, I guess Dick is about through, so I had better close. I will write again tonight I love you very much.
Love & xxxxxxxxxxxxxx’s Harlan
PS Sorry this is so short.
Hi Janey – what you doin -we didn’t go to the dance – Love Dick
10 PM Sunday, March 7, 43
Well here I am again. (Alone as usual). Dick is gone back to the island as he has a lot of studying to do. He has had a lot of tests lately and I guess it’s very hard for him to write very often.
To begin with, I wrote you a letter right after I got up, while Dick with shaving. Then we took the streetcar down town and had breakfast. Then I found out I had forgotten my badge, so I had to go back after it. We then took our (yours and mine) good old Herman and drove out to the yard to see the best ship Bethlehem has ever built. (Bing Crosby is singing “Moonlight Becomes You”) Dick got almost as big a thrill out of it as I did. It sure what went in nice. There will were an awful lot of people there. There were some pictures taken. If I find them in the paper I will send you one. I tried to show him some of the yard, but it was pretty hard to because one no one was allowed to walk around the yard. The main thing was that we got to see the ship lunched.
After we left the yard, we stopped and picked up a camera to take some pictures. Then I it got really cloudy so we couldn’t take any. We came back to my place and I fixed a bite to eat. Then we went down to the YMCA and went swimming, took a steam bath, boxed, played basketball, and then went to a show. Now here I am. Darling, I never imagined it was possible to miss anyone is much as I have you lately. It keeps on getting worse. After Dick leaves, I don’t know what I will do. It’s very hard to figure out why we should stay apart for so long.
Well Darling, I think I will get to bed early tonight. I will finish this in the morning. Okay? Okay!
All the love I have I give to you. Good night Sweetheart.
Love & xxxxxxxxxxxxxx’s Harlan
Good morning Darling:
How is my little girl today? Fine I hope. I got up, had breakfast, and went and got my laundry now I’m writing to you. The mail has come, and I received a card from my draft board and a letter from you. I’ll answer your questions first.
Can you imagine that? No questions! Dick did tell me he thought he was going home when he graduated. He wanted me to go back with him if I don’t get another deferment.
What? Oh the card I received from my draft board?
Well they just said they had received my change of address. Yes, that is all they had to say so far.
Well Darling, again I seem to be running out of words site better close. I will write again tonight.
All the love I have I give to you.
Love & xxxxxxxxxxxxxx’s Harlan
Sunday 11:00 PM March 7, 1943
Hello Honey: Well, well, well, here I am again. I just arrived home from the show “Arabian Nights”
I went with Marian, it’s the first time we’ve gone out together. She was staying at Marg’s and called and wanted me to go to the show and as I had nothing better to do said yes. She lives in Boone.
Your Special was here waiting for me when I arrived home from work. It was very nice. Thanks a lot Honey. (Moonlight Mood is on the radio) Maybe I’ll get word about your deferment tomorrow. As soon as I do I will write you my little idea because we have got to decide on it definitely. You want to get married, I want to get married and yet we want to be right and fair to both ourselves and everyone else. And besides when people ask me when we are going to be married, I will want to be able to tell them. It would be so easy if we could talk it over while together but that’s out so Harlan you must write your opinion too – O.K? O.K!
It’s very cold again tonight, about zero. I didn’t wear my slacks tonight and just about froze my little old legs off. I sure hope it didn’t rain out there today, so’s you and Dick had a nice time. I often thought of you today. Wondering what you were doing, where you were at, and if it was raining, etc.
Mary Jane moved over to the apartment today so we can go back to normal living again. She is a nice girl, but I wouldn’t want to live with her because she is too complaintive, but then I guess we all have our faults.
Tomorrow is my day off, so I guess I’ll go downtown and pay some bills. I don’t even old only about $15 so I guess I’ll get it out of the way.
Your bank is coming along swell and yes I know we could live on $90 a week, if we couldn’t I don’t know who could.
Well Sweets – “Juke Box Saturday Night” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GK72A_eV8Lg ) is on the radio now, ever heard it? If not, listen to it sometime. As I was saying, I better close now as I’m getting sleepy. All I can say is I love you and I miss you terribly. Goodbye for now.
Love & xxxxxxxxxx’s “Your” Darlin’ Janie
PS Good night Honey
Johnny & Jane 