1:35 AM Sunday, April 11, 1943
Hello Sweetheart:
Well here it is another week closer to ? and you. Oh happy ? There isn’t any news so I don’t know what I’m going to write about.
Tomorrow or rather in the morning, I’m going out to the club and watch some golf professionals and world champions put on an exhibition for the Army and Navy Relief. I think it cost $.50. It will sure be a good experience to watch them. My own game is around in the 90s now it used to be over 100. There is really a science to the game.
My face is sure sore out. I think it is caused by the wind the other night when I worked on the mast. I’m going to shave and wash my face with warm water and then I’ll have some cream for it. It should be all right in the morning. (I hope.)
It is a beautiful night, the stars are bright and the sky is clear. At 8 I was working on a gun foundation in the back of the boat. It wasn’t dark here yet. The sun sets out here are a lot different than they are back home. In the east where you are, the sky looks inky black. In the West, out over the ocean is still light. The sun has gone down and the stars are beginning to come out. It is the most beautiful sight I have ever seen (except for the first time I saw you at Christmas time).
Well Sweets, I guess this is about all I have to say except that I love you and miss you very very much. Love and xxxxxxxxxs Harlan
11:30 PM Sunday, April 11
Hello Darlin’:
Here it is another date closer to ? and you. Holy mackerel, what a Special I got when I got home tonight. Do you really mean it about coming in June or July? That sure will be swell, I can hardly wait.
Wouldn’t it be swell if that dream of yours comes true though? You bet! I guess I kind of got mixed up about Jack. There are two of them. I play golf with both of them. The one that is going into the Army is the older one. He is about 37 and is staying with his mother. The other is married and is the one who played in the city tournament. His wife played in the ladies and won a watch. She hasn’t got as much as you have. You will really show these women how to play. I was out with Jack and his wife today to watch Babe Didrikson, The Champ, play in an exhibition match. I have never in my life seen such beautiful golf. I talked to her and the fellows she was playing with quite a bit. She smoked about three of my cigarettes.
(Fun Fact: Mildred Ella “Babe” Didrikson Zaharias was an American athlete who excelled in golf, basketball, baseball and track and field. She won two gold medals in track and field at the 1932 Summer Olympics, before turning to professional golf and winning 10 LPGA major championships)
Sid called me this morning and wanted me to go to a show with him and his mother, so I did.
I know I’ll like married life. I hope I can handle the responsibility.
Yes, I hope my plates pass the test too.
The reason I don’t send my laundry out is that it takes almost 2 weeks to get them back and then they are not to clean and sometimes some of them are missing.
That $250 sure does sound good.
Yes Darling, if I can get in the Navy, I will go into it. Probably the Seabees, if I can get in as a welder. If I did, I would get rating as soon as I went in. The training is something like that of a Marine.
(United States Naval Construction Battalions were better known as the Navy C.B.s and/or Seabees)
Well Sweets, I seem to be running out of words so I guess I had better close until the morning.
Darling, when the show “Flight For Freedom” comes, go see it. When Roseland Russell and Fred McMurray are on the beach watching the waves come in. I think of you and I in that same spot. That is just the way it looks out here. I love you very much. Good night Sweetheart.
Good morning my little sweetheart. Boy what a nice surprise I had this morning. I couldn’t imagine who was calling me. Thanks a lot Darling. I don’t know if I will be able to call you or not next week. I’d like to but I’m going to have quite a phone bill about the end of the month and don’t you think we should wait and use the money later? If you would rather have me call you, I will.
I’m not going to send this Special because I will save that stamp until tomorrow and send the bond Special. Okay? Okay!
Well Sweets, I guess I had better close now. I have some things to do on Herman. I love you very very much. Love and xxxxxxxxxxxxxs Harlan
Monday 9:15 AM April 12, 1943
Hi Honey: Harlan it’s Monday morning and I don’t have any Special from you yet. Jeepers Harlan, did you forget? I went right to bed yesterday morning when I arrived home from work, then got up at about 5:30 PM and Udie and I went down to see “Lucky Jordan”,
very good, then we picked up Eleanor and Joyce and went out to the Tally Ho and had a steak sandwich and Tom Collins. It’s been so long since I’ve had a drink, it went right to my head. I got home just in time to go to work, and you know how me and 2 Tom Collins get along, well I really had fun at work but what I wouldn’t have given to have you in the car on the way to work last night. Well get back, at 5:30, when I got up, I was sure my Special would be here but then when I got home at 10:45 and no Special, I thought all night at work, ‘well it will surely be home in the morning’ and then I came home and still No Special. Are you sick Honey, are you mad, were you too tired, or what? Gosh sakes, if I don’t get any kind of a letter today, I’m going to call you tomorrow morning because I didn’t get a letter Saturday and that means the last letter was written way last Wednesday night. Jeepers, what can the matter be???
It’s very nice out this morning, the first clear day since Friday. Haven’t talked to your Mom for some time now.
Dick wrote Rosie a nice letter the other day, excuse me he called her yesterday, saying he played golf with you Friday and was going to play again Tuesday, that’s swell. Bet you were glad. There isn’t much news, in fact there isn’t any. I want to go to bed right away as I’m going downtown tonight and by those new clothes, so think I will close. O.K? O.K! I will write again tomorrow morning. I love you Honey and it’s been so long since I’ve had heard from you and it’s the first Sunday you have missed. Jeepers, when I don’t hear from you for such a long time it seems like I’m writing to someone who isn’t there. By now.
Love & xxxxxs “Your” Darlin Janie
I reopen this letter. Jeepers do I feel good. Do you know what I just did? I just talked to my Honey. Yup I did. I got him right out of bed, woke him up and it takes him just as long to dress as it always did. Jeepers Honey, it sure was it sure was swell hearing you talk and laugh again and you laugh so nice. Oh Honey, I was going to wish you a happy anniversary – 3 years 8 months today, isn’t that something, and I forgot. Well, I’m happy now so I guess I can go to sleep. I’m sorry if I got you up too early but wasn’t worth it? Why sure! And stay away from those cute girls, O.K? O.K!
Love Janie
1:30 AM Tuesday, April 13, 1943
Hello Darlin’:
Well here it is another day closer to ? and you. No letter today, so no questions to answer. You know I’m just about going out of my mind thinking about you coming out here. You are on my mind constantly. If I’m still here by July, I think it will be best to come out then because I will have a weeks vacation with pay coming.
Lately I come home from work and I expect to see you sitting in my room and I don’t know why. I get off of work and hurry home. I think to myself ‘I wonder if Jane has surprised me and come to Frisco’. Excuse the writing, I’m sitting in my armchair. I got kind of tired sitting at my desk. I can’t seem to think of anything to say or write. The night is beautiful but a little chilly. I went back with Lang tonight. I didn’t make out though.
I’m sending a picture that I took out of the paper. Do you know him? Darling, I can’t think of anything to say and I’m very tired so if you don’t mind too much, I will close and finish in the morning, Okay? Okay! Some girl, they have here at the house, cleaned my room up today. Boy did she messed it up. She got my bedspread on backwards and piled a bunch of things on my radio. After this I’ll make my own bed and clean my room up myself. I usually do it anyway. Someday you can do it. Only it won’t be my room, it will be our room.
I love you very very much. I wish you were here with me. Goodnight Darling.
Good morning Sweetheart, I have just gotten back from playing golf. It is cloudy but nice. I only played 9 holes. There were several couples playing and I thought to myself that it won’t be long before Janie and I are out playing like that and. After I finished, I went into the clubhouse and got a cup of coffee and sat at the window and watched about 3 couples tee off. Did I tell you that I got a monthly ticket? If not, I did. It cost me $4. Already I have more than paid for it. There are 4 golf courses in S. F. that I can play on with the ticket. They are all owned by the city. Dick sure likes the place.
Dick called me this morning and said he got his orders to leave. So I guess he is leaving tonight. I sure wish I was going with him or you were coming back with him . We sure could have a lot of fun then.
Well Darling, I guess I had better close now as I have to fix myself a dinner before I leave for work. I played by myself today. I love you and miss you very very much.
Love & xxxxxxxx Harlan
It seems a shame to waste so much paper so I thought I would write another note.
I love you very much. Harlan
Tuesday 9:15 AM April 13, 1943
Hi Honey:
Well here I am again. First of all I want to explain about this letter situation. The letter I wrote yesterday I forgot to mail, so I’m going to send it out Special this morning and I’ll send this ordinary. O.K? O.K! Then you shouldn’t have to go a day without a letter.
There isn’t much news today, it’s lousy out. In fact it’s snowing off and on and very cold, darn it. I sure wish it would warm up again.
We had to work awfully hard last night as two of the girls weren’t there and you know what that means, someone has to do twice as much work and it fell on Miriam and me last night, so I am unusually tired this morning. I washed my hair and am letting it dry while writing to you. Mary Jane called this morning and said Chuck has gotten an appointment for school after his last training. Isn’t that swell? Boy, I think so. He only goes for six weeks however, because his last training lasts for three month.
Harlan, have you ever heard of C. B.s in the Navy? It’s the construction Battalion. I hear it’s a pretty good deal.
(Funny note: in Dad’s letter of April 11th, which Mom hasn’t gotten yet, he mentions the Navy SeaBees)
Yes, I remember that wave. Harlan, the mailman just came and I didn’t get a letter. Now if I recollect, I didn’t get one last Thursday, or Saturday and now none today. Jeepers Honey, this is getting to be a bad habit, a very bad habit and I don’t like it a bit. I don’t care if you take a day off now and then, I don’t mind if you have your fun, jeepers but when it comes to not getting a letter this often, well I do mind. Which reminds me, your Special came last night and was postmarked at Des Moines at 7:30 PM, it got here at the house at 9:30 PM, so it must not have left Frisco until April 11 at 2:30 PM (which was Sunday) as it was postmarked that. Why?
Well I guess this is about all there is to tell, be good, be careful and have fun. I love you much too much. “Your” Darlin’ Janie
PS I got another bond today, we I mean, now it’s $250.
10:00 AM Wednesday, April 14, 1943
Hello Darlin’:
Well here it is another day closer to August and you. I didn’t write last night as I was just about dead.
It sure was foggy last night. You could hardly see across the street. There isn’t any news and I have no letters to answer yet so I don’t know what I’m going to write about.
There were four convicts trying to break out of Alcatraz and two of them were killed and two were captured. There was a ship torpedoed outside of the bay. It was loaded with dynamite.
I have to go to the store this morning and get some groceries and meat. It cost me about $4 or $5 a week for groceries. I sure wish you were here to manage the ration stamps and things for me. I’m not very good at it.
The mail came but no letter from you again. This is three days without. You are either sick or on your way out here or is it the mail? I hope with the middle one.
The weather is cloudy and cool out. I think I will go out and play golf morrow if it isn’t raining.
I haven’t heard from the folks since Sunday. I’m going to write them tonight when I get home. Have you seen Opal’s baby yet?
I am having an awful time writing since I can’t think of anything to write about. I’m just struggling along. Maybe I can do better tonight. I love you very very much. Love & xxxxxxxxs Harlan
1:15 AM April 15, 1943 Thursday
Hell Darlin’:
Well here it is another day closer to you, whatever day it is. There was a Special here for me when I got home. I’m kind of sorry it came. I was hoping you were on your way out here. But nevertheless I was glad to get a letter. You must’ve forgotten to mail it Monday as it didn’t leave Des Moines until Tuesday afternoon. I still don’t know why my Special did get there. I played golf Saturday morning and I mailed it at the post office on the way out. I got out to the golf course rather early.
I’ll answer your questions first. No I’m not sick. No, I’m not tired. No, I’m not mad. The matter I think is the mail delivery as it has been in the past. That’s all the questions.
Well Sweets, if you excuse me, I think I will close for the night. I have to take a shower and get a bite to eat so I can keep healthy and strong, so when we get married, we can have twins so we can live happily ever after. I love you very very much. Goodnight Sweetheart.
Good morning Darlin’: The time is about 12 noon. I got up and it was raining and misty out, so I didn’t go and play golf. I washed my head and had breakfast. I also cleaned up my room, and now I’m writing to my little girl.
Excuse me a minute, I will go see if the mail has come as yet.
I’m back and no letter. I got one from the folks. In 4 days now, all I have gotten is 1 Special that came last night. It was written Monday morning and left Des Moines Tuesday afternoon. Darling is something the matter? Are you sick? Are you mad at me or what is it? Have I done something? If I have, please tell me what it is. You know how you’ll feel when you don’t get any mail from me. Well I feel the same way. That is about all I have for company, is your letters.
Well Sweets, I guess they will close now and fix dinner before I leave work. I love you and miss your letters very much.
Love& xxxxxxxxxxxxxx Harlan
9:30 AM Thursday, April 16, 1943
Hi Honey:
Well here I am again, glad? I hope so. Well I received two letters yesterday, which was more like it Honey. My special should come today.
Don’t be too sure about me showing those girls off in open golf because Jeepers, I haven’t played since last August and I wasn’t very good then, remember, you should. But I beat you a couple times remember? The show “Flight For Freedom” hasn’t come out yet but I’ll see it when it does come. Momie and Rosie and I went down to see “Random Harvest” with Greer Garson and Ronald Coleman. Honey, it’s a very good, in fact that the must for you, so please try and see if it comes out there.
You can do as you please about calling me Sunday, but if you decide to, please call me about noon, but it’s entirely up to you.
Dickie Jr. doesn’t know Dick is coming home. I sure would like to be there when Dick walks in. Dickie will be very happy. I wish you were coming too, but as you said that’s out. Nana is coming down Saturday night and going to stay until Monday night so everyone will be here except Chuck and you. Me getting the weekend off sure worked swell.
Harlan, I’m worried about your meals. Why don’t you eat at least one good meal out a day? You should, even if it costs a couple dollars. You simply mustn’t let yourself get rundown. Is there anything I can send you?
It’s a beautiful day morning, the sun is out and it’s warmer, thank goodness.
Harlan, if you have any clothes you need mending, don’t hesitate to send them and I’ll fix them up, O.K. Gladly. Of course it won’t be an experts job but I’ll do my very best, so please!
There isn’t any news to speak of, everything is just the same except for everyone, especially Momie, getting ready for Dick. Jeepers, Momie sure was thrilled when he called. She has had a perpetual grin on her face ever sense.
Did you hear about the man that when anything went wrong, he always said “it could be worse”? Well one night he was talking to one of his coworkers and the other fellow said “when I went home last night I caught my while wife in bed with another man and I shot him”. The fellow said “Well it could be worse”, and the other said “How could it be worse my good man, I shot him”. Well the man said “It still could’ve been worse, because I was there night before last”. Ha, not so funny how. I heard a humdinger but I’ll tell you after we get married.
Well Hon, I guess it’s getting a little late and vulgar so maybe I better close now before you start thinking I’m a bad girl. I love you Honey and miss you terrible. Will write again tonight.
Love & xxxxxxs “Your” Darlin’ Janie
1:00 AM April 16, 1943 Friday
Hello Darlin’:
Well here it is another day closer to ? and you. How are you? Fine, I hope. I also hope I get a letter tomorrow. There isn’t any news and I have no questions to answer so I don’t know just what I’m going to write about.
The weather is still cloudy and cool. We sure could have a swell time if you were here now. This is the kind of nights I like. They make you want to cuddle up to someone, too bad were so far apart. Out here you can wear a fur coat all year around, and still not be out of place. There aren’t any girls wearing shorts though.
I’m very tired tonight, so I think I will close until the morning. Okay? Okay! I love you very, very much. Good night sweetheart.
Hello Darlin’: I just got back from playing golf. There was a letter here for me when I got back. Don’t ask me why the Special was postmarked April 11, 2:30 PM. I mailed it Saturday morning before I played golf. The letter I got today was written Tuesday morning at 9:30. It wasn’t postmarked until Wednesday at 2:30 PM. Why??? I’m not getting in a bad habit of not writing. This is Friday and the only letters I have gotten so far this week are one Special Sunday night, no letter Monday, no letter Tuesday, one Special Wednesday, no letter Thursday, one letter today. Are you getting in the habit of not writing??? Or is it the mail!
Yes, I’ve heard of the C.B.s in the Navy. That is what I plan on going into but the reason I didn’t tell you was that you said you didn’t want me to go into the paratroopers, and the C.B.s is just as dangerous. Your training is the same as the commandos and the paratroopers. You fight with the Marines. After you take a town or an island, the C.B.s set up a base.
Well it is time to go to work, so I had better close. Now don’t write anymore things about not liking things one bit. I don’t think it’s very nice of you. I have been trying to write every day and I know I haven’t missed as many as you seem to think that I have.
I guess I love you much too much too. Love and xxxxxxxxx’s Harlan
9:30 AM April 16, 1943
Hi Honey: How are you & what you know?
When I arrived home from work this morning your Special was in the box, gee that was nice. Thank you Hon, it sure took a long time for it to get here though, it was postmarked the 15th and was written Wednesday morning the 13th, what goes on? For gosh sakes Harlan.
Dick just called and he is over at Rosie’s. He just got in about a half an hour ago. It sure sounded swell to hear him and just last week he was with you, just think. I’ve got lots of questions to ask him, about you I mean. He will be over in about an hour. I’m off now (as you know) until Sunday night, so I’m not going to bed now until tonight unless I have to. Oh yes, I got your bond. $300 now Honey. In seven weeks we will have $500. I have $95 in the bank only owe Yonkers $10. Now listen, you have $350 in the bank, we have $300 in bonds, I have $95 in the bank, $100 in savings bonds, that equals $845.00 together. Of course, the $300 in bonds isn’t spendable. I think that’s swell that you can save a bond a week, I wish I could.
And the picture Honey, you look thinner? Are you? But it looks just like you.
I’ve been thinking, where has this letter been? This is Friday Harlan and you wrote this Thursday morning, can you please explain it? If so, please do, it’s very confusing, yes?
Well Sweets, I wish like everything that you could have come with Dick. I have been thinking only slightly that just maybe, just maybe you might be with him, but I guess I knew all along that you wouldn’t be. You know it’s funny that you should think that maybe I’ll be sitting in your room some night when you come home, because if I come, or I’ll say when I come, I think that is the way I will do it. Wouldn’t that be nice. All I would have to do is take a taxi to 3070 Jackson St. and then wait and I probably won’t be able to keep it from you when I do come out. But we will see, but don’t get excited, it won’t be for a while yet.
Don Linger is going into the Navy in three weeks as an aviation mechanic, so there goes my ride. He seems quite excited about it, so is Tommy, the other fellow in our car and the little Katherine Landus (Harlan, she knows you and Opal and Syd too, she went to East High and graduated in 1941 with Opal) She’s married now to a Kenny Clark. He’s in the Army and is coming home on a 15 day leave.) To get back, she rides with us and she asked for a two-week leave but was refused so she is quitting. Gosh, everyone leaves at once. I don’t know where I’m going to get a ride. Maybe I’ll just buy a car. How’d you like that? Say, I just had an idea. If you go and sell Herman, why don’t you give me the money and I’ll pay it down on a car — No — well was a nice idea.
Oh my, now, let’s see what else. I can hardly wait until Dick gets here. Well Honey, I guess I better go now and wipe the dishes. Harlan, am I still your little Darlin’? Your little girl? I love you very much Harlan and it won’t be too long, I promise. Oh have you heard any news….. Harlan dear, you must remember this if you pass. Please don’t let anyone persuade you one way or another upon just which branch of the service you want to go into. You must decide that for yourself because it is your life not anyone else’s and it something you have to decide for yourself. Please do what you want and whatever you do, I will always be right behind you, helping you every way that I can because I love you and you alone.
Love & xxxxxxxxxs Always “Your” Darlin’ Janie
Saturday morning April 17, 1943 12:01 AM
God morning Honey:
Time for another Special, my how time flies. I just arrived home from having a coke with Eleanor, took quite a while didn’t it? Well, I took Dick & Rosy over to Rosy’s and then down to the Green Parrot and he bought Eleanor and me T.C. Then we took them down to Tally Ho and from there were going to the Tromar. Then we went down to the post office, bought my weeks supply of envelopes and on the way back we had another drink, (a plane coke ya! Ya!) then when I brought Eleanor home, we sat out in the front and talk.
Gee, Dick sure looks swell and how do you like that stripe. Which means reminds me, you have two stripes on your car – well how nice. I hope you benefit from them. Ahem… Well… Oh Yes, I’ve heard quite a bit about since this morning, quite a bit and very interesting too.
Gosh Honey, there isn’t any news. I wish the one I wrote this morning had been your Special, it was a nice long one. In the letter I wrote Thursday morning, I told you it was entirely up to you about your calling, but that if you did it would be better to call about 12:00 my time, then you can get right through and still have your evening, but I was thinking that you might not get that letter until Monday, so thought I’d better tell you again. I also told you in this morning’s letter that I had received your bond but I will tell you again so you won’t have to wait to hear. How much is your checking account now Hon?
Your Mom called this morning. She said Max was supposed to leave this late morning. Opal was out at Camp Dodge waiting for him to leave. He seemed to think he might go to Oklahoma. If he does, Opal is going out there. I don’t know if she is going to take the baby or not.
Dick said that you told him that if you would write me a letter while he was here, that he could read it, but I don’t believe him. Should I? From what I’ve heard so far, I don’t believe I should. All kidding aside, he sure likes you Honey. He thinks you’re one swell fellow.
Harlan, I discovered something at work this morning. The big steel petitions that surround us primer girls and keep everyone else out were made by Bethlehem Steel Company, could that be from your yard?
I have your picture sitting in front of me. I’m in my room because every one else is in bed except for Dick & Rosy, but they aren’t home yet.
Gee you’re handsome. Which reminds me, from what Dick says, I know I’m not waiting until August to come out. Do you know what a prostitute is? No? A busy body. Ha! Dick said today was a nicer day than he had ever seen in Frisco, but he said like you did that I’d love the ocean.
Jeepers Darling, it was good to see Dick but how I wish you were here too. Rosy is going around in circles, she is so happy. Just like I was at Christmas time. I’m going to really scrimp and save because the more I save, the sooner I’ll be out there. But I won’t be back with Dick so don’t even think about it.
Well Sweets, such as I hate to, I must close as I have put up my hair yet and wash and I haven’t been to bed since yesterday and I’m really feeling it. I can hardly hold my eyes open. It’s 10:30 out there. In half an hour, you’ll be off. Have a nice time Sunday and do as you please about calling Sunday I’ll be home until 11:00 PM Sunday night.
I love you so much and miss you terribly. Love & xxxxs ‘Your’ Darlin Janie
PS Be careful
PS What have I heard from Dick was all good things, so don’t worry. If you have done anything, he hasn’t told on you. Ya ya Good night Sweetheart.
1:00 A.M. Saturday, April 17, 1943
Hello Darlin’:
Well here it is another day closer to ? and you.
I’m so dead I can hardly keep my eyes open. I’m terribly sorry but I’m afraid I will have to finish this in the morning. My eyes are burning like someone poured gasoline in them or something.
Good morning Sweetheart:
Yes, it is morning. 9 A.M. to be exact. Last night I was writing the first part of your letter and I leaned over on my desk and put my head on my arm. I guess I fell asleep. I don’t know how long I must have slept. When I woke up, I just pulled the covers back on my bed and crawled in. The radio is playing “There will Never Be Another You” (Sammy Kaye, Nancy Norman https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdWa093Rwm0).
I worked in the lube oil tank last night. This tank is worse than the double bottom. It is 1 foot high on one end and 2 feet at the other end. I worked in the small and. Tonight, I work in the rest of it. I’m still sore from being all cramped up. There isn’t much news so I don’t know what else to write about.
The weather is just perfect now. I hope it lasts tomorrow. If I get as tired tonight as I did last night I probably won’t even feel like playing golf.
I imagine Dick is home by now and you and all of them you are all having a swell time. I hope he comes back to Treasure Island. If he doesn’t, it will be pretty lonesome. I didn’t tell you very much about the C.B.’s I guess. I have been thinking about going into it if I passed my physical. That is what I tried to get into before I came out here. It is a pretty good deal because you get a rating as soon as you go in. You get paid about the same as a paratrooper. You’re fighting is about the same and your training is about the same, except the jumping in parachutes.
The reason I’m waiting on both sides of the paper is this is my last sheet. I sure wish you were here now. We could go out and play a little golf before I left for work. I don’t know when I have been so tired from working.
Well Sweets, this is a heck of a Special, so I guess I had better close and get it in the mail. I will write a long one either tonight or tomorrow night. I think we’ll be just about dead tonight though.
I love you very, very much. And wish with all of my heart that you are here with me.
Love & xxxxxs Harlan
Johnny & Jane 