1:00 AM Sunday, April 18, 1943
Hello Darlin’:
Well here it is another day closer to ? and you. Boy in am I tired. I worked in the tank again tonight. Personally, I don’t think there’s any sense to making a tank that small. It is very dangerous for anyone to go into it alone. It would be easy for someone to get caught or stuck in it. If it would be very hard or almost impossible for anyone to hear you if you needed help.
I have a letter to answer that came today so I’ll answer it before I tell you that I love you and then go to bed. I’m not even going to shave before I go to bed.
I saw ‘Random Harvest’ some time ago. It sure was a grand picture. No, there isn’t anything I need except you. I guess that is just about all there is to answer.
The weather out here sure has been swell lately. I hope it lasts. I have a date to play golf tomorrow with Jack. He plans on going into the Army soon and it may be his last time he can play. I hope I can get up in time.
Well Darling, if you will forgive me, I think it will hit the bunk. I’m really dragging. I love you very very much. Good night Sweetheart.
Good morning Darling: I sure had a good night sleep. I felt pretty good. I’ve shaved and had breakfast. I got a call from Jack and he is on his way over. After he called, I tried to call you and there will be a one or two hour delay in the call, so I don’t have quite the time. I’ll call you tonight. Okay? Okay!
I sure wish you were here today. The weather is perfect. We could go out and play golf and go out to the beach and lay in the sun and then we could go to a dance tonight, or if we were to tired we could go to a show. Then we could come home and I could give you a backrub because your back would probably ache.
I forgot to tell you, I was down to see if your size in the lingerie was in yet. It isn’t. As soon as it does, I will send it to you.
Oh Oh, I think Jack is here. I will finish when I get back. Okay? Okay! I love you very, very much.
Hello Darlin’: Well I’m back and I really had a swell time. We had to wait quite a while to get on as there was a tournament going on. If you had been here, we would have gotten into it. It is for men and women both. It is called a Scotch Tournament. A man and his wife play together and they use the same ball. One of them will drive and the next shot will be made by the other one, and they play the whole game that way. It sounds like a lot of fun, huh? One couple plays another couple.
When I got home, I place the call for you and the operator said there would be a half an hour delay in the call. I had to fix my dinner. I had buttered carrots, baked beans, steak, salad, toast and milk. I ate and the call hadn’t come in through yet, so I got a magazine and went in by the phone and sat reading. I finished the story and then went downstairs to my room to wash up a little bit. I just got down and the phone rang and I had to run like the devil to get up there. It sure was a swell conversation but the time goes so fast. I just about go crazy after those conversations. I want you out here so badly.
Your Special came right after I got home. No, I don’t have two stripes on my car. I did have just one. Now I have three.
Yes, I told him (Dick) that I would have you write me a letter that he could read. But I forgot about it. No, the steel petitions aren’t from the shipyard. You see, there is the Bethlehem Steel Company, I’m in the Ship Building Division. Your steel will come from some other place. Bethlehem is the largest company in any kind of any kind in the world.
Well Sweets, it is getting to the point again where I need had better close. I love you and miss you very, very much and wish all of my heart that you were here with me.
Love & xxxxxs Harlan
Monday 9:15 AM April 19, 1943
Hello Honey:
Monday morning and no news to write about. I just had my breakfast. Nana, Dick, and Dickey Jr. and Momie are in the kitchen telling jokes and talking. Boy am I tired? You bet! I haven’t had but two hours sleep since yesterday morning at 9 o’clock.
Gosh Honey, I sure was glad when I heard your voice on the phone last night, jeepers I had given up hope of you calling. I hope it didn’t cost too much and if it did, I hope it was worth it. I’m sorry if you couldn’t understand me very well, but you know how I sound when I get up, but thanks again for calling. Honey, it made my weekend off very complete. I love you.
It’s cold again this morning, about 25 above and cloudy, a rotten day, if that isn’t being too forward.
Dick is in here now and says to tell you he will call you the first chance he gets when he gets back. He leaves tomorrow (Tuesday) about 1 o’clock. Jeepers, he sure didn’t have much time but he and Rosie and little Dickie had had lots of fun.
Honey, do you know the definition for passion? No, it’s a feeling you feel when you feel you’re going to feel a feeling you never felt before – cute?
Nana sends her love and says we must get married here because she doesn’t see how she could get enough money together to come out there. She’s swell Honey and she likes you, what she knows of you. She said you must be very ambitious to be doing what you are. That I know.
Gosh Honey, I don’t have anything more to write about and I’m tired us so I think I’ll close. I love you., I love you, I love you very, very much, and Darling I miss you too. I’ll try to make up for this short letter tomorrow morning.
Love & xxxxxxxxxs “Your” Darlin’ Janie
1:00 A.M. April 20, 1943
Hello Darlin’:
Well here it is another day closer to ? and you. How is my little girl this beautiful night? Fine, I hope.
First of all I will answer your questions in the letter I received today. I’m sure I don’t know what the matter is with the mail. The Special I wrote last week at this time, was mailed the next day. I wrote the letter Monday night when I got home from work. I got my bond on Tuesday and put it in the letter and I mailed it in a box by the yard. I get the letter in the box by 3 P.M. and the mail is supposed to be picked up at 3:50 PM. If the letters are late, you’ll have to blame it on the post office, I’m sorry.
I don’t know whether I would rather have you surprise me in coming out or not. It would be nice both ways. If you would surprise me, you could see how I live, the way I have my room. You could see how I look when I get home from work. If you let me know you were coming, I could drive Herman down to the Ferry Building. Then take the ferry across the bay to the Oakland Pier, where the trains comes in. I could be there all cleaned up. We would smooch a little bit when you got off the train. And then we could ride the ferry across the bay together. We could stand out in front and let the wind and the salt air hit our faces. We would go right under the Bay Bridge and finally end up at the Ferry Building. Then we could drive Herman up to my place and you could take a bath or shower and put on some clean clothes. You’ll want to do that, I’m sure. That is one thing about you I really know and only one. That is that you like to be clean.
What is this talk about buying a car? How about me selling Herman and buying a better car? Please answer that and I’ll answer yours. Of course you are since still my little Darlin’ and my little girl. You always will be. Well Sweets, that’s just about covers it. It isn’t getting a little late I guess I had better close for now. I will finish in the morning. Okay? Okay! I love you more and more every day.
Good night Sweetheart.
Good morning Darling:
Boy it sure is beautiful day out. I’m going out and play a little golf. I believe it is too nice to pass up. There isn’t any news so I think I had better close.
There should be a bond in this letter. I’ll get it before I go to work and mail it before I go into the yard. Please let me know when it is post marked.
I will write again tonight. Okay? Okay!
I love you very much and wish all with all of my heart that you were here in Frisco.
Love & xxxxxs Harlan
Tuesday 9:15 AM April 20, 1943
Hi Honey:
Well I’ve just eaten breakfast and Dick and Rosie are still on the Davenport smooching behind me, they don’t know it but I can hear them. Oh gosh how I envy them, but then someday very soon, we’ll be together smooching Honey. I think I’ll come out the first week in July, how’s that. Honey, oh how I wish I was crazy enough to come with Dick. It’s too bad I’m so practical minded, that’s all I’ve got to say.
How are you Hon? You’re still in bed now, sound asleep. I thought about you all night last night. Oh dear, no later than July. It’s better that way I guess, more money and all.
Momie and Nana bought my wedding present yesterday. They finished my solid silver set and bought the carving steak set to go with it. We’ll get it when we get married. Isn’t that swell.?
It’s nice out this morning blue skies and all.
Harlan, I’m sorry about bawling you out last week, really, honestly sorry. Gosh, I don’t know what gets into me sometimes, please Honey, forgive me. I’m sorry too that I didn’t get any mail last week because I only missed one morning. It must have been the mail. Please forgive me.
I pulled out 14 gray hairs the other day. Jeepers, I guess I’m getting old, could be. Oh Jeepers Honey, I’m at a loss to know what to do. I want to come with Dick so bad, so very bad, it’s such a temptation. I have the money. I think I could get the time off, but oh jeepers, my heart says yes and my head says no. It would take all my money and some of yours. I probably would just get back and you would be called, but then again Dick doesn’t think you will go. If I wait until July you can get time off, but if I come now you would be so happy, I don’t suppose I should be writing this, but like you, I have to write just what I’m thinking at the time. I’m sorry Darling, I hope it doesn’t make you blue, please it shouldn’t. I’ll be out the first week in July or right around there. Since I wrote that last sentence about writing this to you, I went up to my room and thought it out and I guess I had better wait until then. But it sure is a temptation. If I just had someone to talk to who know both sides of the story, but it was up to me and me alone, so I’ll be out in July.
I better go now Honey, as I want the mailman to get this. I love you Harlan, so very much, but not too much. Understand. And miss you terribly. See you in July.
Bye until tonight. Love & xxxxxs “Your’ Darlin Janie
Wednesday 9:30 A.M. April 21, 1943
Good morning Honey:
How are you this fine warm sunny morning? I hope this finds you both well and happy and I am not as tired as I am again. Jeepers I’m dead. I only got four hours of sleep yesterday as I didn’t want to miss seeing Dick one minute and he left about 3:40. Nana left at 3:00 and when we arrived home it was 4:30 and I was in bed at 5:00 and got up at 9:00, so last night I was really dead.
But enough of that, when I got home yesterday afternoon there was a letter waiting for me, one written Sunday. I’ll go get it and see if there are any questions, be right back, it’s up in my room.
Gee, it was a nice long one. Talking of back rubs Honey, I sure wish you were here now to give me one because I sure have a backache and how you could fix it up, you bet! Oh Darling, I love you so much, so very much and will be so very, very happy when we are together forever. When we can laugh and work and play together once more, when I can feel your arms around me and your face close to mine, hear you talking and see you at the same time. Having you make fun of my big words wrongly pronounced, being able to tell you what to wear, but I think I’ll probably let you wear anything you want after being apart so long. Remember how we used to argue about where to go? You used to say it was up to me and I used to say is entirely up to you, you’re spending the money. We have had so much fun and we’re going to have twice as much again.
Say I just happen to think, next month will be I’ll be 19. Just think, I’m growing up, one more year and I’ll be out of my teens and then I really will be grown up in two years. I’ll be able to vote and to think you’ll soon be 23 is shocking, it doesn’t seem to me we should be more than 20, if that. Why in two years will be 25 and gosh that’s old.
That’s Scotch Tournament Golf sounds like a lot of fun. I would like to play a game when I come in July. July – that sounds a lot better than August doesn’t that?
That was quite a dinner you had Sunday. Jeepers, steak! I haven’t had any steak for over a month.
What does three strips stand for? On your car I mean.
Well I guess I had better close now because the mailman is soon due. As I said before I love you much but not too much, enough but not too much and will see you in 10 weeks. Only 10 weeks honey. Two months and one-half.
Love & xxxxxs “Your” Darlin’ Janie
11:30 A.M. Wednesday, April 21, 1943
Hello Darlin’:
Well here it is another day closer to a ? and you. I didn’t write last night because I was really sick. I don’t feel any too good now. I was galvanized last night. Coming home on the streetcar my head was going round and round. I got home and took a hot shower and drank a glass of warm milk butter and went right to bed. It took me quite a while to get to sleep. I woke up about 10:00. My head is still spinning a little bit, but I’m going to work. I don’t feel much like it though. I have two letters from you to answer and will do that now.
That definition of passion is cute. That is all for the first letter. It’s funny to be called Harlan. Everyone out here calls me Johnny. That is all for the second.
There isn’t any news so I don’t know what else I’m going to write about. Maybe I can do better tonight after work. I love you very, very much and I have had have a terrible headache. Darling I think I had better close. I’m sorry.
Love & xxxxxs Johnny
6:30 P.M. April 21, 1943 Wednesday.
Hello Sweetheart:
Well here it is another day closer to August you. I went out to the yard today but they say no work for me. They cut the blisters open on my hand. I have a letter from you to answer so I had better do that before I forget. I was only kidding you a little bit about calling you an. Your Mother’s name is Ann, and your aunt’s name is Nana so I thought it I would see what you would say if I called you Nan. Sorry if you didn’t like it Jane. No, I’m not trying to change you. I wouldn’t do that for the world. See? Yes Darling, I know exactly how you feel about writing to someone that you get letters from, hearing his voice once in a while. Memories are what I live on too. They are wonderful memories to live on too. I’m glad we met when we did. Just think how much we would have missed if we had just met before I left. It would probably have been just another date. The love we have for each other is said different than the majority of people, yet to us it is the only way. I don’t believe that two people can fall in love by just looking at each other, or hearing someone’s voice or even by going out on a date. To me love is something that a person dreams of and then when he finds the girl, he thinks he might be the one, just lets it grow, day by day. I have known and met quite a few girls in my life who I thought might be the one. Not a lot of them, but a few. There was always something wrong with them. You are the only girl I have ever loved or even told that I love her. I waited until I was sure before I told you and I know you did too, And how I know it.
Well, getting back to the question in the letters. You had better care take care of yourself because if you have a cold when you get out here, I’m going to give you a good rub down.
Well Sweets, I guess I had better close for now. I will finish this letter in the morning. Some of my clothes are dry and I’m going to iron some of them. I’m not going to be very fast with them though with my arm.
I love you very, very much. Good night Sweetheart.
1:00 P.M. Good afternoon Darling: Well how is my little girl this find beautiful sunny day? I got up at 8:00 and have been ironing all morning. If you don’t mind my saying so, I did it darn good job on them. The reason I’m writing on both sides of the paper is that it’s getting hard to get and I’m just about out. Well my love, I guess I had better close for now. I will write again tonight. I love you very, very much.
Love & xxxxxs Johnny
1:15 AM April 22, 1943 Thursday
Hello Nan:
Well here it is another day closer to ? and you. I feel a lot better tonight although I have a funny feeling in the pit of my stomach. It isn’t caused by galvanized though, it is because I love you so much and miss you like I would my right arm.
I didn’t get a letter today so I have no questions to answer. There isn’t any news so I don’t know exactly what I’m going to write about.
I haven’t heard from my draft board as of yet.
The night is really beautiful out tonight. There is a full moon and the Big Dipper is still there still up there and it looks almost as lonely as I am. It sure will be nice to have you to come home to when we are married. I’ll have you and a nice warm meal waiting for me. That’s my idea of heaven. You can even leave the meal out of it. Why is there always something in our way? I guess we can consider ourselves lucky though when you think of the people in our other countries.
Tomorrow will probably be a beautiful day. I wish you were here so we could play golf together.
Well Sweets, I guess I had better close for now I will finish this letter in the morning. Okay? Okay! I love you very much Nan. Good night Sweetheart.
Hello Nan: Well, believe it or not it is time to go to work. I have really been busy this morning. When you get this you will already know why. I got some California Easter Lillys to send to you, your mother and my mother, and I will write you a nice long letter tonight.
I love you very very much. Love & XXXXXXXXXXs Johnny
Thursday 9:15 AM April 22, 1943
Hi Harlan vs. Johnny vs. J.B.
Well how are you this gloomy morning? Fine I hope. It’s another cloudy day. It seems every other day it gets like this.
Well Honey, there isn’t any news, what I will write about? I don’t know, do you. There was no letter yesterday, so there are no questions. Your Mom called yesterday they don’t know where Max has gone yet because they haven’t heard from him. But I guess just as soon as they do, Opal is going. That’s swell.
Oh I know. Yesterday I received a letter from Frank Webb, what do you know. I’ll send the letter with this, maybe you will write him.
Gosh Honey, I’d don’t have a thing to write about. The show “Flight for Freedom” is coming next Thursday so I’m going and “Hello Frisco Hello” is here starting today. I think I’ll go down Saturday night.
Did you hear about the little moron who stayed up all night to see what made the sunrise when finally it dawned on him.
Kathleen just called me. Russ is on his way to San Diego California and Sally is quite low and it’s hard but as I said before it’s happening to everyone. I just take it for granted anymore.
Harlan, have you been classified or not? Dick didn’t seem to think you had.
I have to take these the bus to work tonight because it’s Don’s night off, I sure hate that. Donnie can’t make up his mind whether to join or not.
Well Sweets, this isn’t much of a letter but it’s all I know except I love you, Yup I do. Very much in fact, and miss you more than you’ll ever know but it won’t be long now.
Jeepers here comes the mailman, By for now Honey.
Love & xxxxxs “Your” Darlin Janie
Instead of sending his letter, here’s his address.
% Frank Webb
C. Q. Flight E. SGD. 109SAACC
San Antonio, Texas
1:30 AM April 23, 1943
Hello Nan:
Well here it is another day closer to ? and you. The night is beautiful out. It’s too bad you are not here now. We sure could have some fun.
I’m afraid I’m not going to be able to keep my promise to you that I made in my letter last night. I said I would write a long letter tonight. Well, I burned my right hand as you can probably tell by the writing. Just after work when the whistle blew, I was pulling myself out of a hole and (Harry James is playing “You Made Me Love You” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMaCoxOGXPM) I put my hand on a piece of hot metal, now I have a cross on my hand. I stopped in at the hospital and you know how they bandaged things up, so I guess I’ll have to keep that promise about long letter tomorrow night in your Special. I hope you don’t mind.
I have a letter to answer from you so I guess I had better do that before I go to sleep. You are wrong about me being in bed asleep at 9:15. I’m usually through with breakfast by that time. Once in a while I sleep until 10:00.
That sure is swell about our wedding present. I wish we were getting it tomorrow. It’ll be best if you wait until July to come out. I think I will have enough hours by then to get a vacation with pay. If you come out now, it would be all over too soon. You coming out in July will give me some time to get everything arranged, about Herman and getting all my clothes cleaned and washed. I guess that’s all in in that letter. I will try to write a long letter after work tomorrow.
I love you very very much good night. Good night Nan.
Love & xxxxxxxxxxxs Harlan Johnny
Friday 9:20 AM August 23, 1943
Hi Honey:
Well gee whiz, here I am again and it’s a lovely day too, and nice and sunny again. I’m going to wash my hair this morning and then go outdoors and dry it in the sun. Well, I didn’t get a letter again yesterday, it must be the mail, ahem… But I’ll surely get one today as this is the day for the bond. If I don’t hear, then I’m going to think you are sick. O.K? O.K! I won’t say any more about it.
How are you? I hope just fine.
Today was payday and tomorrow another $10 buckaroos in the bank which will make it $105.00
Gosh Honey, when I don’t get any letters, there aren’t any questions to answer or nothing to comment on so I don’t have much to write about. It’s such a beautiful morning, if it was like this out there and I was there (like I shall be soon) we could get up, dress, have a good breakfast and then play a game of golf. O.K? O.K! Then you could take me down to the ocean and let me stare in awe, oooh jeepers, we sure are going to have fun, aren’t we Honey.
Sunday is Easter and Harlan, I forgot all about it until yesterday so I didn’t send you anything. I’m sorry Hon, so I’m going to call you Sunday morning. You won’t get this until Monday so you won’t know anything about it until Sunday morning. I’ll call about 10:00 before I go to church. Yes, I’m going to church. I haven’t been for such a long time, it will be good I’m sure.
Well Sweets, I guess that’s just about covers it. There isn’t any news. Dick’s in Frisco now. Anyway I better close. I love you very much and you’ll never know how much I miss you.
Love & xxxxxx’s “Your” Darlin’ Janie
PS I’ll try to make my Special a nice long one, besides I’ll have a letter to answer, love Janie
1:45 AM April 24, 1943 Saturday.
Hello Sweetheart:
Well here it is another week closer to ? and you. The night is beautiful out. Rather cool but clear. I sure wish you were here.
I just called the folks long distance and wished Dad happy birthday. Mom told me she had received the flowers and that your Mother had gotten her. I’m sorry about not sending you anything but my love. Anyway you have a birthday coming up soon.
My hand is better tonight. (I peeled an orange and a couple of drops fell on the paper, that is what those spot I run into are) You probably won’t get last night’s letter until Monday or late to later the way the males in coming in. I guess they are awful short on help. Well anyway, getting back to the story. I burned my hand again last night. Not bad but it put a cross on my palm, something like this only + much larger. Now I may not be able to play golf until next week.
My dear, tonight marks an occasion. Someone told me a joke on the ship tonight. That is something that doesn’t very often happen. You want to hear it? Alright, alright, don’t get in such a rush. Do you know what a Mistress is? No! Well then, I’ll tell you. Later.
Work was just about (what do you mean now, can’t you wait?) Well alright then, a mistress is something between a Mr. and a mattress. Cute huh! As I was saying, work was just about the same tonight. I didn’t make out but I was sure busy. I’m glad it’s almost Saturday again. I sure like my day off. The only thing wrong with that is you aren’t here.
I didn’t get a letter today so I have nothing to answer. Now I’m at a loss as to what else to write about.
Dick hasn’t called me yet. He is probably in though. Jack was out to the yard today. He leaves for the Navy the 29th. He is just as happy as a little Meadowlark.
I have to go downtown in the morning this try to get my boots half soled. I burned the rubber on one and the other is just about shot. I’ll have ripcord and rubber safety souls put on them. My souls are about an inch thick. They won’t slip on the steel. I may have to lay off a day in order to have it done because the shoe shops are so busy.
Well Sweets, that seems to be all I can think to write about.
I love you very, very much. Until July all I can do is tell you that I love you. In July I’ll show you how much that is.
Love & xxxxxxxs Harlan
Saturday 9:15 AM April 24, 1943
Hi Honey:
Well first of all, please excuse the writing because I’m out in the backyard writing on my knee, but Honey it’s so nice and I get so little sunshine that I couldn’t resist it. So you will excuse it, won’t you? Thanks.
Well yesterday, I received two letters, so I feel a lot better. Just a minute and I’ll see if I can find any questions to answer. I know everyone out there calls you Johnny, would you like to have me call you that? I think I could get into the habit of it if I tried. I’m sorry too that you were sad and hope you are feeling better. I think I like the idea of you meeting me at the train better rather than surprising you. I like your plan about what we will do.
Your Mom just called and told me of you phoning them, gee that was nice Honey. I’ll bet Johnnie was tickled. By the way, both your Mom and Momie got flowers yesterday, which was pretty swell too. Momie’s is beautiful and I reckon your Mom’s are too. Momie was sure tickled. I’m awfully sorry about me not sending you anything but then when Sunday morning rolls around, I’m sure you’ll forgive me.
Yes Honey, you’re probably right about me wanting to clean up the first thing I get there. I should say the second thing though for the first is to have you take me in your arms and squeeze as tight as you can, like you used to say squeeze me right through you.
Jeepers, it sure was swell out here. I only have on my blouse and slacks, no sweater or anything. I am just as warm as toast. I’m getting a few freckles already right under my nose.
Harlan, I meant if you go to the Army, how about you giving me the money you get from Herman and all buy a better car. Of course, if you don’t go, I won’t buy one because it would take me most of my savings. I figure if you went, I could finish paying for a better one, then we would have a car when you the war is over. If you don’t go, and then want to sell Herman and buy a better one, that’s O.K too, if you want to.
I got the bond, $325 now and by the way you never said anything about how you feel about our $850. How about that?
Eleanor, Joyce, and I are going to see “Hello Frisco Hello” tonight about 6:00. We have to go early because I have to be home by 10:30 to get ready for work. Tomorrow night is my night off.
How are you? I’m fine. You’re still in bed, aren’t you? Sound asleep. I’m going over to your Mom’s tomorrow after afternoon for a little while. I hope Opal and Donna Neil are there so I can see them, Momie is going with me. The reason I’m writing on both sides is because I am out of paper.
Well Sweets, I guess this is just about covers it until tomorrow. There isn’t any more news and I don’t know any jokes this morning. I miss you very very much and love you even more. Happy Easter Honey. Be good and be careful.
Love “Your” Darlin’ Janie
PS Your Mom said you burnt your hand again, how about that? and I forgot to tell you that Nana thought our ring was beautiful, which made me very very proud. It sure sparkles right now with the sun on it. Must go now and get my beauty rest. Love and by for now – Jane
Johnny & Jane 