August 24, 1942 Monday 1:30

Hi Honey:

Well how are you, I hope this finds you well, happy (if not a little lonesome) and safe. I’m feeling swell, I seem to be getting used to these hours. It’s about time, don’t you think?   No letter from you today but I’m sure there will be one tomorrow. I hope so anyway.

Well Sweets, I finally got a ride yesterday.  I was just leaving for work when a car drove up in front of the house and honked for a fellow up Witmer.  I thought; Gee, he looks like he works out at the plant so I takes my little self out to the car and asked him and sure enough he does, and he said he was looking for a rider, so I say I will join him, and he says O.K.  I pay him a $1.50 a week, thus saving $.90 a week on car fare, which I intend to put in the bank. I wasn’t able to put any in the bank this time because I gave Momie $5 I owed her.

I don’t know whether I told you were not that the CIO Union got in at the plant and according to rumors, as soon as I join, I will be making from $30-$40 a week but I’m not going to count on it. But I’m sure of my top wage of been $.70 instead of $.60. If I ever get up there, I’ll be O.K.  However next week $6 goes into the bank. It isn’t much compared to you but it’s a start.

Honey, I’m sorry I didn’t write you last night when I got home from work, but I was too tired to do anything but fall in bed. The safety committee came through our wing last night and really raise cane, because we girls didn’t have our hair up and because some of the girls had dresses on instant of slacks. They told us if we didn’t have our hair tied up today, we would be sent home and lose our pay.  They also said when the cold weather rallies around we will be compelled to wear safety uniforms and safety shoes.  They sure play safe but it sure costs us money, but then I guess it’s worth it.

Well Sweets, this is just a note to hold over until the phone call. Which I try to wait patiently for.   Where are those pictures I was supposed to get? Come on honey, come across and I will send you some of me but not unless you send yours first O. K.? O. K.! “Please”

All my Love & xxxxxxxxxx’s  “Your” Darlin’ Janie.

August 26, 42 12:00 PM

Hi Honey:

Well, well, well three letters today, all at once now.  I’m happy again, very happy in fact because I’m going to talk to my Honey tonight. I’ll tell just what I’ll do when I get home at 12:30. First I’ll sit down, take off my shoes and read the evening paper.  Then get up and make myself a sandwich, go upstairs take a nice hot bath and put the top of my hair up, as that is the only part that shows now. By that time it will be about 2:00,  then I will sit and wait until you call. Wondering what you will say and if the news is bad or good. You see, I’m expecting to hear about whether you got your deferment or not.

Yesterday when I didn’t receive a letter, which was the second day without one, I was mad and hurt and wrote a nasty letter but just before I left for work I got to thinking and picked up the letter and tore it up and now I’m glad. 

Frank Webb received his notice to report for his physical and so he is going to try and enlist in the Army Air Corps. Donna is quite upset.  You see, he can’t join unless his mother signs for him (and you know his mother) and if she won’t he will have to be drafted. Regardless of what he does however, he won’t be home.  If everything had gone as planned, he would have come home a week from next Friday for two weeks but now if he comes at all it will only be for a few days. Donna went out yesterday and put her application in at the plant. So the plans for marriage this year are definitely out. I feel sorry for Donna but remember when Frank missed the draft by about four days and how smart they thought they were, well I guess they weren’t after all, were they?

I received a letter from Nana yesterday and she said to send you her best wishes and to say hi So…Hi!

Honey, when you were at the Mark Hopkins Hotel did, they announce on the radio? Last night between 12:00 and 12:30 Henery King’s orchestra played from the Mark Hopkins in San Francisco California.  From 12:00 to 12:15, Momie heard it and was all excited when I arrived home.

Harlan, I know you love me, and don’t you ever fear that I get tired of hearing it because I don’t. If you should stop telling me, I don’t know what would happen but I’m sure it would be something awful.

About what I said on the telephone two weeks ago. Yes you are putting me on the spot but I’m not worried. When I said that I loved you, I was excited and would have given 10 years of my life if you could have been here and thought you were a little sad to so I thought I would tell you something that would make you happy, so I did. Harlan, I loved you more that night then life itself, so you see, I did mean it and I’m not sorry I said it.

If you really want to get into that repair work, well I hope you make it.  But Honey, if you do that, remember you won’t have any time for pleasure and that’s no fun. I know.

Bob and Barbie are getting to be pretty good drinkers. Bob told me if you were home we would be too. But I don’t think so, do you?

Momie sends her love (so does Dickie Jr., he just said so) and Harlan, would you like to have some of those delicious chocolate chip cookies Momie makes? If so, reply immediately and I will send you some.

Where are those pictures? 

Well Sweets, I miss you very much and oh what I wouldn’t give to feel your arms around me and your lips on mine, I miss them so.  Will see you tonight Honey

All my Love & xxxxxxxxxxxxxx’s 

“Your” Darlin’ Janie

August 27, 42 Thursday 1:30 PM

Hi Honey:

Well it’s all over, the phone call I mean, I think we talked quite a bit.  Although I was so sure you were going to tell me about your deferment. Please be sure and let me know as soon as you hear.

This letter isn’t going to be much Harlan because I don’t seem to have anything to say. I think you know what I mean. I’m awfully tired this morning but it’s worth it. Ever since we hung up last night, I have a great big lump in my stomach. I wish I could scream.  (Please excuse the shaky writing but I can’t help it) I didn’t get to sleep until about 5:00 o’clock, just laying thinking about all of the things we used to do together and wishing we were together again.  Thinking about Christmas and what we are going to do and what will happen if you don’t get your deferment. What will happen Honey?

I’m so glad you had your picture taken. I hope it’s good and I hope you smiled but if you didn’t, I’ll like it anyway.

Harlan, I’m sorry you were so disappointed last night because I couldn’t tell you what you wanted to know. Honest, I do feel bad about it. I’m trying so hard to decide because I know sometimes you wonder if it’s worth working and waiting for and when I think maybe someday you may get tired waiting and start looking for someone else, it just kills me. But I promised you I would let you know in two weeks and I haven’t broken any of my promises yet, so I won’t that one. Honey I miss you so, you probably don’t think I do but I don’t even have much fun with the girls anymore for thinking of you!

Well Sweets, I’m afraid I’ve been very selfish in this letter talking about myself when you probably went through the same thing. I’m sorry Harlan. Please forgive me. I will write a happier letter tomorrow.

All my Love and XXX’s

“Your” Darlin’ Janie

1:30 AM August 27, 1942

Hello Darlin’:

Well it’s my turn now. How are you; I’m sure I don’t know. It has been 3 days now since I have heard from you outside of the telephone call last night. I feel the same way you do when you don’t receive any letters from me. I was sure I would get a letter tonight when I got home from work but – no letter.  I hope I get one or better get one in the morning. If not – well, I better get one in the afternoon.

I finally got a card from Opal. It sure is something.  Syd and I had planned to go to Sacramento to see them, but she says they won’t be home. Max is there and they’re going to go on a picnic, and I guess Syd and I would only be in the way. The best part of it is that she mailed the card from San Francisco. She says that they tried to find me but couldn’t find the street. That’s a lot of baloney and I’m writing her tonight and telling her so. Height Street is a very main street in San Francisco. It runs right into Market Street. Market Street is the main street in San Francisco, so anyone would be able to tell them where Height Street was. It makes me mad. I have some clothes of theirs in the car that they left, so if they want them, they can come and get them. I’m not going to go out of my way to see them or take their clothes to them if they are too busy to have us come on the day we planned, and then not stop in to see me when they were here, twice. I don’t want to waste the rubber on my tires. WHEW!! 

Where were we Darlin’, Oh yes.  Oh yes, I do hope you are not mad at me or anything and that everything is going fine at home and at work. If not don’t stop writing. You and the folks are the only ones I get letters from anymore.

All the love I have and possess I give to you, Love xxxxxxxxs & oooooos.  Harlan

Tell your folks hello for me. Also T. & T., You haven’t forgotten have you!

I will write again tomorrow as usual.  Will you to? Harlan

August 28, 42 Friday 1:30 PM

Hi Honey:

Well how are you today? I hope this finds you well and happy. I’m feeling a lot better myself. There isn’t much news.  But tomorrow and Sunday are my days off so that’s why I’m feeling so well.

Last night we had a terrible storm here; lightning, thunder, rain and all and all were wings closed down when it’s lightning because of all the electricity and powder and stuff to draw the lightning to us so – we all left and went to the cafeteria and waited about two hours then went back. The wings are the only ones to shut down, however. We just sat in there and drank Cokes and smoked and gossiped.

Honey, the man I ride with is just like your Dad. He talks acts and even looks a little like him and he says Janie just like Johnnie does. There’s only one thing he doesn’t do like your Dad, he doesn’t ask me to sit on his knee. 

We girls are going out tonight to a show and dinner (or vice versa), Judy is paying the bill which will be all right with us. Barbie is going to stay all night with me then we are going horseback riding again Sunday morning. I’m going to try to get over to see your Mom Sunday sometime, I haven’t seen her since they moved.

Well Harlan, I received my first real paycheck today and so tomorrow I’m going downtown and open a savings account for Ms. Nancy J. Hare. And plank $6 in as a start.  Isn’t that swell?  I can hardly wait. Just think an account all of my own.  In a month I’ll have $25, 1/3 of $100.

I didn’t get a letter today, but I will get one tomorrow, won’t I Honey. Sure. Be sure and let me know about the cookies.

I’m afraid this will bore you Honey so better go. Hate to but must. I miss you Darling terribly more than ever. Please write often Honey.

All the Love & xxxxxxxxxx’s    “Your” Darlin’ Janie

Be sure and let me know when you find out about your deferment.

2:00 AM August 29

Hello Darlin’

First of all I will have to apologize for not writing on Friday or Friday night. I received both of your letters Friday night when I got off of work. I wrote you a letter Wednesday night after our telephone conversation and one Thursday night. Friday, I went bowling in a tournament down at the bowling alley. The shipyard swing shift had it. About 50 fellows. It cost $.50 to enter and then they had prizes. Get ready for a shock.  The first game I bowled 197, the second hundred and 168 and the last 210. I won second place. My prize was a pair of white bowling shoes with my name on the side in black.  I started out good and really had a streak of luck. I have been bowling 3 times here now. My other scores were 93,98, 116, 150, 103 or thereabouts. I couldn’t do it again in 1 million years.

That was Friday night, I didn’t write you a letter, so I was going to this morning, Saturday.  When I got up, I had a letter from my draft board in Des Moines, to report for my physical. I cleaned up and went downtown and was going to send you a telegram telling you I had enlisted in the Navy here at San Francisco. Then I thought I had better go to the company and see what they had found out first. I took my letter to show them. The fellow I talked to before said he hadn’t sent my recommendation for deferment to Des Moines yet. They are not allowed to until you get a letter like mine. I also found out that the letter I had is just a duplicate copy of the one that was sent to a San Francisco draft board. When my time comes the draft board here will mail me my order for my physical. I was surely relieved. He, the fellow I talked to, is sending my report of experience to Des Moines tonight. He said the reason he waited was because the more time I had with this company the better chance I would have of getting a deferment. When I first talked to him, I had had only about two weeks with the company. My chances for a deferment were very excellent he said. The fact that I was a Navy welder, combination welder with a year’s experience in Des Moines would be very helpful. So I am positive I will get it. As soon as I find out I will let you know.

Both of the letters I received were really swell. I am glad that you miss me so much. I think we are both going through the same things. Our feelings are so close that I can almost tell the way you feel by the way I feel. I miss you more every day. Working nights helps me a lot because I have a lot of time to think and something to do that keeps those dreadful lonely nights occupied. I wouldn’t trade the nights I have had in the past three years for anything in the world. I will give you anything you want except my heart because you are the only thing I have in it. I hope we don’t have to wait too long before we can be married. I love you so. I remember when you used to say that you wouldn’t marry me and tell I was making $35 a week. Darling, I am making about twice that much now. I would never ask you to marry me until you were sure and not until things are a little more settled in the world. But the way I feel now I think all you would have to say is the word and I would almost take you up on it. I had better close or a you might think this is a proposal, but I made you a promise to you about my proposal. I promised you that I would ask you on my knees when you were sitting, we didn’t say what on did we?

P.S. I love you.

P.S. Tell our folks hello for me.  Love & xxxxxxxxxx’s oooooooooooooo  Harlan

August 29, 42 5:30 PM

Hi Honey:

I received your Special early this morning and did it give me a scare. I thought sure it was going to say you didn’t get your deferment. I’m sorry but this letter probably won’t reach you by Sunday but Honey, I’ve been very busy since I got up this morning. I went downtown and bought some new clothes so I would look real sharp tonight and boy I really am going to. We are going to Babes, then to the show and I’m going to be late as it is.

There isn’t much news. My pay – check only amounted to $18 as I missed one day other than my day off but next week, I’ll get $23.  Honey, I put $6s in the bank, next week $7 goes in.

I’m sorry about the letter less days, I can’t see how it happened. Lucy Gel called me last night and wanted me to go out with them but as I was working I couldn’t.  I tried to get your Mother yesterday, the day before and today, but of no avail.  Now Honey, please don’t be mad but I must go as I must go downtown again and get her blouse I forgot. Please forgive me.  I’ll write a nice long one tomorrow.

All my Love & xxxxxxxxxx’s  “Your” Darlin’ Janie

now this is an hour later

Get ready – August 29, 40 to 6:00 PM Saturday.

Hi Honey,

Well Sweets – here I am again. I just took one letter down, but it wasn’t much I thought, so I pulled it. I can’t see why three days went by without a letter from me as I have gotten one off every day.  I’m sincerely sorry Darling. Please forgive me.  As long as I receive the Special today, I don’t suppose I will get one tomorrow, but that’s okay.

Harlan they are playing “Miss You“ on the radio. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2U-PCxsKSwhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGiTPimgQWg ) Why do they play such pieces? Again I say there is no news. I went downtown with Gabby today and we had lunch and went shopping and called about everyone. Here I am with two days off and no Harlan. I miss you more than ever. I’m not even very enthusiastic about going out with the girls because I wish it was you and said. Just think we would go to a show then for a Coke, then if you asked hard enough, we would smooch for a while. That is, if times were normal. Now you won’t even have to ask me, I’d smooch with you tonight even if I was mad at you.

As yet I haven’t gone out with anyone other than the girls. Of you been out with a girl? (I hope the answer is no! )

Donna hasn’t heard from Frank since he called last Sunday. So this morning she sent him a cable telling him she must talk with him and to call her anytime tonight so – she is sitting home just waiting for the phone to ring.  Harlan, how will it be if I continue this tomorrow? Then I can tell you what happens tonight O.K.? O.K! 

I’ll see you tonight at 10 o’clock and all keep my promise about the Tom Collins.

Bye-bye Honey, I’ll think of you every minute. 

Sunday 12:30 PM

Hi Honey, well I just took Barbie home and so thought I would finish my letter. Last night we went to the Corona Room for dinner and then to see ”The Talk of the Town” which was very good. I was sitting there, and something told me to look at my watch, so I did, and it was exactly 10 o’clock, so I was thinking of you. Then we went to Babe’s and had a Tom Collins.  (Just one) and came home in a cab. Judy paid all the bills.

Gee Honey, I wish you were home. I think Sunday is the hardest day and especially having it off doesn’t help. I talked to your Mom but there wasn’t much news from her.  They are both fine, I guess. Momie and Daddie both send their love and Oh yes Harlan, Nana wrote and says to say ‘Hi’ and she sends her best wishes. Honey, I miss you terribly.  Last night in the show I wanted someone to hold my hand so bad and when we were in Babes, they played all the pieces we used to listen to and remember when that week you were out of town for 5 days and we didn’t talk to each other or anything all that time? Then that Saturday night we went to Babes and you played the piece “Miss You” and sat right there in the booth and smooched. I thought about that last night, wishing that I could set the clock back to that night. Honey I have no desire to go out with anyone else and honestly believe I never will. I miss you too much and all I would do is compare whoever it was with you. Harlan, I’m ready to keep my promise.

I better close now Honey before I break down. I’m sorry. I hope you’re okay because Harlan your one – in – a– million and I consider myself the most fortunate girl in the world to have you as a boyfriend.

All my Love & xxxxxxxxxx’s   “Your” Darlin’ Janie

PS Chuck is going to join the Marines next week, but he won’t actually go until they call, which will be about three months.

August 31, 42 Monday 12:30 PM

Hi Honey:

Harlan, I’m just about going crazy not hearing about your deferment. Last night I dreamt about you first. I saw you in an office and heard someone say, “it is” impossible for us to give you a deferment. Then next I saw you in a white sailor uniform and then I could see a letter from you saying you wouldn’t be able to get permission to come home and that you were leaving for active duty immediately.

Well Honey, you can imagine what was on my mind when I went to sleep. I’m sorry but this waiting is driving me insane. By the way, I didn’t get a letter today, but I’ll get one tomorrow, won’t I Harlan?

Donna and I went to the show “Pied Piper” then out to Fiskars to eat. It’s the first time I’ve been over there since you left and all I could think of was you. Frank didn’t call Donna Saturday night, but he called yesterday at 2 PM saying he had joined the Army Air Corps but wouldn’t go for about a month. She wanted to know if he was coming home and he said he couldn’t afford it, then she wanted to know if he wanted her to come out and he said he couldn’t afford that either so she’s going to Chicago next Sunday with her aunt for two weeks then she’s coming back to work out at the plant.

Harlan, I don’t believe I ever missed you as much as I did this week. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I seem to always have the feeling something awful is going to happen and not knowing what it is, is terrible. Please find out about your deferment soon and let me know. And another thing, about two weeks ago, I wrote a letter asking a lot of questions, such as what you will do if you don’t get in and so on and you never answered them. Please do Harlan.

Well Harlan, I must get ready to go to work so must close.  Please don’t think I’m too anxious but I must know what it’s all about.   Have you been called for your physical?  I’ll write tomorrow again.

All my Love & xxxxxxxxxx’s    “Your” Darlin’ Janie

August 17, 1942 1:45 PM

Hi Honey:

Well, how are you? I wouldn’t know.  Darn you, where was my special Sunday.  If I don’t get a letter all week, I want one Sunday, please try and write so I will get one on Sunday, please. 

There isn’t much news.  I received a telegram from Don, clear from Great Britain, saying he had just received my first letter that I wrote June 6, and saying he was well and safe.

Honey, you will have to excuse the short letter as I have to leave for work in a half an hour.  I’m going to ride out with Don Linger today and tonight.  I’m so tired when I get home from work at night I can’t write and seeing how I am to be taking the bus, I don’t have much time in the morning, but so far, I have written every day.  Have you???

Did you get my Special for Sunday and did you get my present? I hope you had a nice birthday.  My day off this week is Friday, then next week it’s Saturday and Sunday because when you have Saturday off you automatically get Sunday too. Therefor you get a weekend off every seven weeks. Then the next week I’ll have Monday off, which will be Labor Day.  Pretty swell, huh. You’ll have to Labor Day off too.

Russ Film has enlisted in the regular Army now, but won’t go until he finishes his school, which will be six months.

I just received your letter that you wrote Friday night but there wasn’t much news in it.  I’m glad you liked the letter Honey.  If you enjoy it just half as much as I like yours, I’m happy.  I’m only sorry I couldn’t do more.

Well Sweets, I hate to but I’m afraid I must close.  Now write darn you.  Please Honey, it’s the only recreation I have now, your letters.

Love and XXXXXXXX’s all I have   “Your” Darlin’, Janie

PS I miss you and I want you so much sometimes I think I will go insane.

Tuesday morning 2:00 AM August 18, 42

Hi Honey:

Well Sweets, you should just be getting off of work. I just arrived home about 20 minutes ago, so am all ready for bed. I am now laying on my bed writing you on the table next to it.  I haven’t much news but as I wasn’t so tired, I might decide to drop you a line.

My work is swell, and I love it.  I have a job, I have money (or will have in a week) and I have the hours off I want and also the hours on. Everything is very complete except for one thing I don’t have, you.  If you were here, I would be very happy and content but then I guess you can’t have everything.

I don’t know what I to think about that dream of yours.  But if I dreamed of God, I would think that it was very significant.  And Honey, it will come true if we can just be patient. At my work, although you have to keep your eyes open all the time, I have quite a bit of time to think. And I was thinking of the future, tonight that two years from this very day, if our plans work out as well as we hope, we will be married and living in our own little house, with me waiting for you to come home every night, with dinner all ready, then a nice quiet evening at home listening to the radio or maybe to a show. 

Oh Honey, do you think we can hold out? But we must. It seems so long since we were last in each other’s arms. I was thinking tonight how marvelous it would be for you to meet me outside the gate and kissed me Hello, then we would drive home in Herman, have a maid rite and smooch a while. It’s plain torture to think about it, but I can’t help it. What is it they say about people who are sad, liking key to torture themselves with memories? I guess that’s true. I’m sorry darling.

Remember how I used to bawl you out because you of your hands? I never would believe that if you tried you couldn’t get them clean. Well Honey, you ought to see mine, they’re a mess and even at that I wear gloves.

I hope you’ll forgive this scribbling but I’m finding it hard to write laying down.

I saw Katie today, boy is she ever getting large, and Gabby still doesn’t show. All Gabby does is talk about it and complain and her and Russ fight worse than ever.

Well Sweets, this is all for now. I will try and write again when I get up.

All the Love & XXXXX’s I have  “Your” Darlin’ Janie

PS did you get Momie’s letter?

PSS WRITE!                  

August 19, 42 Wednesday 2:00 PM

Hi Honey:

Well, well, well, how nice,  two letters this morning.  They were both swell, especially the last one. I’m glad you’re having a nice time on your day off.  It’s sure nice you know someone like Syd to run around with. 

I was awfully tired last night so didn’t write.  I hope you don’t mind. I ate something that the plant last night that didn’t agree with me and lost about three hours sleep last night so I’m tired before I even start today. When my day off comes, I’m going to sleep all day. I can’t seem to get used to these hours, even though we used to stay out until 12 and after and we used to get up early. I guess I can’t take it anymore. All the girls in my department are swell. They are all older than I am and there is only two of us who were single, but there isn’t a riffraff among them.

As usual, I don’t have any news. I hope these are letters aren’t a bore. 

It’s about time you gave Herman a little attention. I have cut down on my smoking too, all I smoke is about five a day, never more and lots of days less. 

Bob Bremen comes in to see me every night and now Don is, now that he knows I’m working out there. Everyone out there looks after me because I’m the youngest.  I’m sorry I bawled you out about not writing, I guess you’re pretty busy all the time. I didn’t realize, I’m sorry.

I’ve had several chances for rides home since I started, with young fellows but nothing doing, they’re too fast for me.  I’ve slowed up considerably since you left.

Well Sweets, this letter is sort of mixed up but I’m really not aware of what’s going on today. You’re so swell Harlan and I miss you so, but in four months we will be together and that is what I’m living for now. I can’t or don’t get any time off, but the Union is  moving in the plant then I will take at least five days off. I’m working Christmas but not New Year’s. They are voting August 21 to see if the see if the CIO or the AFL will get in, either one is ok with me.  Because no matter which comes in, we all get a raise of at least $.10 an hour.  Then my height will be $.72 an hour, when I reach it, I will be making $36.80 a week, maybe I’ll be there by Christmas.

Well Sweets, I must go to work in a half an hour so better go. I will write again tomorrow and see you tonight at 10 o’clock and every night. I never see the Big Dipper anymore until about 12:30. 

Be good Honey

Love and xxxxxxxxxx’s all I have   “Your” Darlin’ Janie

PS keep these coming

Friday, August 20, 42 1:30 PM

Hi Honey:

Well how are you today?  I’m pooed. I’m glad tomorrow is my day off.  Barbie, Udg, and myself are going out tomorrow night to dinner and a show. It’ll be the first time I’ve been anyplace except work since that fateful Saturday night, so I’ve in a very good girl.  I think I’ll get a ride today, and for always, I hope so.   I’m getting ready to go to work.  Yesterday I got sick again so couldn’t go so last night, I went to the war show with Donna and the show was marvelous. I sure wish you could have seen it. After I arrived home, Toots called me over and we talked until 12:30 so I didn’t gain any sleep.

I didn’t get a letter today so I suppose I will get two again tomorrow, that’s the way they have been coming in, two one day and none the next.

Your Mom hasn’t called recently. The last time she said she was going to bring over your skis and some other little personal things you had left but as, yet she hasn’t brought them over and I can’t find her new number in the book. I can’t call her.

As usual Honey, I don’t know any news. I like very much to write but when there’s nothing to write about it’s hard.

I wish you were here and that we could go out and smooch tonight, I’m sure in the mode. In fact I’ve been in the mood ever cense you left.

You know what I think, if I don’t or can’t get a ride, after I get my bills paid, I’ll by a little car. If I bought a little coupe, I could take to riders which would be $3 a week and that would buy most of my gas and I would only have the payment to take care of.

Well I’m afraid this is getting boring.  Momie and Daddy send their love and Momie said to tell you she enjoyed your letter very much and hope you will write her again sometime. Write often Honey, it’s a great help. 

Love & xxxxxxxxxx’s “Your” Darlin Janie

PS I wish you were here because….

Friday morning 2:15 a.m. August 21, 42

Hi Honey,

Well Sweets, you should be off work by now. I just arrived home and I am all ready for bed.  If you use your imagination you can see me.  I’m sitting on my bed writing, I have my pajamas on, cream on my face and my hair up in curlers.  Boy, I do look cute.

When 10 o’clock rolled around tonight I thought of us sorta as one, your welding and making the ships for the sailors to sail and I’m helping make the bullets for them to shoot. Night before last we didn’t do anything at all as we were short of shells, so last night and tonight we had to work doubly hard to make up for lost time.

Oh Honey, I forgot to tell you in my last letter, now keep this under your hat, but Momie said next July I could come out alone! Without her!   Just think Harlan, we can do as we please, when we please. Won’t that be swell? While I’m working, I often think of those glorious two weeks we’re going to have.  I have decided to fly both ways so not to waste any time on the way or back. I also think of the glorious week in December. Wondering how you will look, if you will have changed or not.

All the people in the department at the plans call me ‘Kid’.  One lady calls me chicken, because I’m so young and small, they all power over me.

Do you know what? Momie doesn’t wake me up in the morning until the mail comes, then the first thing I do is read your letters, (if there is any.)

Am I supposed to call you now next week?  If so, I’m afraid we will have to wait until the next week as I won’t be able to afford it.  I’m sorry Honey but you know how it goes. Please understand. I forgot to tell you to forget about the two dollars I sent. You can call it part of your birthday present. By the way, I’m glad you liked the lighter.  In a way it’s a love light O.K.? O.K!  (I hope it doesn’t burn out)

Bob Bremen (Barbie’s boyfriend) came in to see me last tonight and said he would take me home, so I said O.K.  He told me where to go to meet him and I started out but by some crook or nook I got lost…  (In the dark, that is an awful big and confusing place).  So I had to ride the bus after all. I think I’m going to start riding with him in two weeks. Do you mind? If I pay him a $1.75 a week, he will pick me up and let me off right at my door, thus the $1.75 a week. 

Well Sweets, I’m fast growing got groggy so better close. I will write tomorrow before I go out with the girls. Say Hi to Syd.

Love and kisses XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX’s Good Night Honey “You” Darlin’ Janie

PS You asked me not to string you along.  Well Honey, I said I never would, I never have and never will. So now I’m asking you the same. Love J.    (I hope this wasn’t too dull, please excuse my scribbling.)

August 21, 42 2:15 PM

Hi Honey:

Well Sweets, I just received your letter and I am both shocked and sorry. I’m sorry I gave you Hell, as you put it because I didn’t mean to at all. I don’t really think I ever really gave you hell. I hope I never will as I’m very sorry if I gave you that impression. Please try to understand this will you? When I don’t get a letter my imagination starts working overtime and I think (even though you have told me, time and time again that you love me) may be he doesn’t love me anymore and is letting me down easy or maybe he’s having too much fun to write or maybe he just forgot me and forgot to write. Yes Honey, it’s silly but that’s what happens. Then I think maybe he is sick or hurt and can’t write and no one knows his mom’s or my address. Now that’s what goes on in my mind when I don’t get a letter for two or more days. Again I say I’m sorry I gave you so-called “Hell”, understand? I hope so.

And I’m shocked to hear about the deferment or maybe you not getting it.  Honey, if you don’t get it will you enlist there or come home and enlist? And another thing, if you do get it for six months, what happens when the six months are up, do you go then and if so into the Navy or Army. And if the Navy rejects you again, will you have to wait to be drafted?  Please Harlan, answer these as quick as possible and if anything happens suddenly please cable or call.  I’m home every morning from 2 AM to 2 PM in the afternoon except Sundays (usually we girls go horseback riding for an hour) so please answer these letters and let me know how everything turns out.

I just received one of those V–mail letters from Don.  It’s about 6 inches long and about 3 inches wide and in very small print. I’ll tell you what Honey, if you would like to see it, I’ll send it to you, only if you promise to send it back to me. It’s very interesting and I would like to keep it.  So you let me know O.K? O.K!

I just talked to Barbie and the four of us are going but out to the Silhouette for dinner then either to a show or mess around.  Daddy told me I could use the car so I believe I will.  I haven’t used it for about three weeks.

I just talk to your Mom, what’s this about you being sick? Now see, you don’t tell me these things,  Why? She said Opal was in San Francisco last Sunday with Marilyn and her parents but were so busy sightseeing and had so little time to do it all, that they didn’t have time to stop in to see you.               

Honey, please excuse me for about a half an hour as I must put my hair up for tonight – Thank You.

Boy if that had been me Sunday,  I would have found you if it took all day and longer. 

Well Sweets, I have to close as I have to iron a blouse and pluck my eyebrows.

I miss you Darlin’, very much more than do you ever know. I’m about almost ready to say the words. Write as often as you can and answer my questions please.

Love & xxxxxxxxxx’s  “Your’  Darlin Janie 

PS Honey, I don’t think your ear is all right because I told you something on the phone that night just before you hung up and you didn’t hear me.    Love Janie

I’m more sure I love you every day.

Friday, August 21, 1942

Hello Darlin’:

I received two letters today. They were both perfect, especially the first one. I like to get letters like this one when you say you are planning on the future and our marriage. I haven’t found any more about my deferment as yet. I didn’t write last night for I was really tired. I welded in a fuel tank again all last night. Most of my welding was flat on my back, welding overhead. I was paid again yesterday and I’m going to the bank today. Next week I will tell you how much I have in it.

My bowling is improving considerably. Last night after work, Hank, Paul and I went. I bowled 130, 145, and the last game I bowled 166. I really have a hook on it. Have you been bowling with Mary Jane anymore , or with anyone else? How is your game going? Janie, this music on the radio is just about driving me nuts. 24 hours a day they play dance music, popular. If you were just here for a little while, we could drive up to the Twin Peaks and park all night and listen to the radio. As you say, it’s just plain torture to think about it but I can’t help it either. Please don’t stop writing letters like that unless you don’t mean it. I mean every word I say and will never stop. I love you so much, I don’t think words can explain how I feel about you. The other night when Paul, Hank and I were bowling I saw two girls (I think that’s what they were) with an officer in the Navy and they were all sort of plastered. One girl was shaped about like Katie, she couldn’t bowl worth a darn, but when she threw the ball, she would wiggle her rear and the sailors, and the other girls would laugh. The other girl can’t be explained because I wouldn’t waste a lot of paper. I remember you very clearly, when we would go.  You were never out of your way in anything. Your legs were so nice and even, and you really tried when you bowl. I didn’t compare these other girls to you because if I did, I would go and shoot myself. I just saw a vision of you then, you were like a precious gem that I was planning on owning someday. You stood out above everybody else. You are something that only myself could hold in my arms. I was the only one that could kiss you. Everyone else is just something that happens to be here in our heaven. I miss you so much, I think the world would fall out from beneath me if anything happened to you or you told me you were through with me. Out here, I don’t seem to have any interest in girls except you. When I left DM, I thought I would go out but now, I can’t see myself going out with anyone. I get a big kick out of going out with the fellows. We have a lot of fun. I couldn’t see how you had so much fun going out with the girls until now. Maybe I haven’t seen the right girl or something, however if I do, I will write and tell you. Paul, Hank, Syd and I are going ice skating Saturday morning.  It will be the first time out here for me.

I too am just living for Christmas. I love you more each day. PS Have you gone out with anyone yet? PS Who is Bob Bremen? 

Love & xxxxxxxxxx’s  & oooooo’s Harlan 

Saturday morning 10:20 AM August 22, 1942

Hello Darlin’:

Well this is my Special for this week and it will have to make up for last week.

Everything has been swell here, except that the sun never comes out until after I’m at work.  It is always cool here. At night the fog rolls in. It is very damp. What it is, is a heavy mist like we have at home.

We had a blackout last night. An unidentified plane was flying over the yard. All the lights and the power went off. We all went up on top deck and tried to see it, but the clouds were low, so it was impossible to see it. Did you hear about the Goodyear Dirigible here in S.F.?  It was out on patrol duty over the ocean. Something happened that is still a mystery. The dirigible came floating in from the ocean. It looked like a broken cigar. The hatch door was open and the whole crew is missing. The dirigible finally settled in a suburb of San Francisco. It landed on a house. No one was hurt.

(On the morning of Sunday, August 16, 1942, Flight 101 patrolled the California coast, as World War II raged on. According to Military historian and author, Carroll V. Glines, Japanese submarines, at the time, were known to be operating in the area, putting local civilians and military on guard.  https://www.historynet.com/mystery-of-the-ghost-blimp.htm) or (https://seanmunger.com/2015/08/16/the-ghost-blimp-of-daly-city-the-mystery-of-the-l-8/)

I guess that is all the news except that I miss you like the devil. I get so lonesome for you that sometimes if someone would say boo to me, I would leave for home. But then I get a nice letter like the one you told me what you hope will happen in two years and I feel like I could whip the world for what will happen after that. I have been doing pretty good so far, I have $65 in the bank. After next week it will climb to $100 or more. That’s pretty good because I put only $5 in my first paycheck.

Syd and I were going ice skating this morning, but I didn’t get up in time. I don’t think he is upset because he isn’t here yet. I like my hours because no matter how tired I am when I get home I just sleep until I want to get up. We’re going to drive up to the Russian River tomorrow. I guess I had better close before I get too boring.   I love you!!! 

PS Mom’s telephone number is 7 – 3531               

 PS I will call you Wednesday night after I get off of work… 

Love & xxxxxxxxxx’s oooooooooo’s  Harlan

8:00 Sunday, August 9, 42

Hi Honey,

Do you mind if I drop you another line?  I’m so low and lonesome today and when I am writing you, I feel closer, as if I was talking to you. I haven’t been doing much today except wistful wishing. Dickey Jr., Dick and Rose are here, and we are just sitting around talking. They all send their love and best wishes.

I hate to be talking about it all the time and Honey it seems like I miss you more today than ever before.  Momie said all anyone had to do was to look at me and I cried. I’m sorry Honey, but I’m going crazy to have you so long, then snap your gone. This doesn’t help you any, but I won’t write anymore letters like this after today as it is really being selfish on my part. Forgive me please.

You’ll never know how thrilled I was when you said you were going to call me Wednesday; I honestly was happy for a while for the first time since you left. There I go again. Well I guess I better go before I start again. I am waiting for the call and for you to return to me.

Love and xxxxx’s.  “Your” Darlin’ Janie

5:30 PM Sunday, August 9, 42

Hi Honey

Well Sweets,

How are you? I’m terrible. Do you want to know what we did last night O.K.? O.K! Well about 8:15, I went over to Trinkies, then we walked down to Barbies. Pegs was there and soon Ulyne came and then we had to wait for Eleanor.  So finally we walked over after her. After finally getting her dressed, we called a cab and went straight to Babes, where we had a table reserved. 

It was approximately 9:15 when we arrived there. Well, we ate and was merry for about three hours.  Then six fellows came over to our table, each one picking out a girl and pulling up a chair beside her. Well, about that time I thought we better go, so after refusing all of their offers for dances (by the way I had four chances other than these to dance but Honey I didn’t and don’t ask me why, I just didn’t want to dance with anyone else last night) and more food, we went out to the lobby and called a cab. When we went downstairs, they followed and tried to talk us into going to the Main Liner with them. Then Trinkie up and says, “You pay the taxi fare and we will meet you out there in 15 minutes.”  So, they said okay and gave us a dollar for the fare.

Well — we told the driver to take us to Trinkie’s house and to ditch the fellows and he could have the whole dollar, so he did. Well, we all got nicely in the house and some of us to bed when the phone rings and it was those fellows.  Somehow, they had found out Trinkie’s last name. Anyway, they said they didn’t like what we did and were coming up.  So, we shut off all the lights and locked the doors and waited and sure enough out in front stops a big car and up they came pounding on the door and ringing the bell. 

Well Honey, by that time it was about 2:30 AM, so you can well imagine what the neighbors thought.  So, to go on, well, I said to them if we give the dollar back will they go away and they said yes.  So Trinkie and I sneaked out the back door (afraid if we opened the front they would come in) and ran down the alley thinking to come up in front and give it back to them. We got around in back of the Boyer’s and there was Bob Waldron and Jack Cata.  We stopped a minute and talked to them when up walked 2 of the fellows, they looked mad, so we (Trinkie & I) were skeared and I said to Bob stick with me, will you?  Then Jack rushed Trinkie into his car and Bob and I got in the back and we left quick. We were driving down University Avenue and up pops a fellow in a car.  The cops.  We were doing 42 miles in the 30-mile zone.  So, there was $12 right there.  Well, after that Bob and Jack wanted to treat us and we wanted to get to a phone to call the girls, so we went to a little place on the end of University and each had a Tom Collins, danced once and left (I didn’t dance, Trinkie did).  We went right back to the apartment and found the girls skeared to death.  It seems those boys had practically broken the door down, but the girls finally slid a dollar under the door, and they left, but they thought they had taken us with them. Well we finally got all settled again  (Jack and Bob left) when the alarm went off announcing that it was 5 AM. Time for Peg and Barb to get up because Peg had to get her clothes.  So, Eleanor and Noly walked them over to Barbies.  Pretty soon, just as we were dozing off for the first time here comes Eleanor and Noly, yelling that there was a dead man over on the Drake campus. God what next, we thought!  Well, they went back over and decided he was only drunk, so they came back and got a whole dishpan of water,  took it clean over there and poured it on him. At this time, it was about 6:15 AM.  Well, he was just too drunk to do anything but lay there, so they left him alone.  Someone in the neighborhood called the cops and they picked him up.

Well by that time, it was time we got up, so we could be to the depot by 6:45.  Well, strange enough, we made it, had breakfast, the whole bunch of us and saw Peg off. I’ll bet we were a queer site.  None of us had any sleep and we were all crying.  So, we came back over to the apartment and slept until 11 AM and up and home. What night or morning!  I hope I didn’t bore you.

I received your Special this morning when I came home. Oh Honey, I can just wait until Wednesday and what’s all this about December?  I don’t know about it because that would cost you a lot of money. Oh, it isn’t that I don’t want to come. Honey, I wish you were home so bad last night so you could come after me and keep me out of trouble. I have had nothing but worry and trouble since you left.

Well Honey, I will write again tonight, my arms are just about broken.  So, until Wednesday Honey.

All of my love & xxxxxxxxxx’s I possess  “Your” Darlin’ Janie

P.S. Do you think I’m a bad girl. Please answer if you’re mad about last night

Love Janie

1:00 PM Monday, August 10, 42

Hi Honey. 

Well, how are you? I hope this finds you well and happy. I am well.

I want to apologize again for that letter I wrote last night.  If I had any sense, I never would have mailed it.  Please forgive me, I’m really sorry. 

Well how is everything going?  Fine, I hope. Last night about 12 o’clock here, I wondered if you were at your place of entertainment and if you were having lots of fun.  I didn’t do much yesterday and last night after I mailed that letter and bought a magazine and went to bed and read it until about 12:30, said good night and finally went to sleep.

Toots and the kids are here for a moment and send their love and say Hi.  Mary just asked. “Is Harlan your boyfriend?” And I said yes, then she said do you love him like I love Tommy my boyfriend? And I told her I thought so.

I tried again to get your Mom this morning, but she wasn’t home again.

Just think, day after tomorrow I will hear your voice and you will hear mine. As yet I’m not working but Wednesday, I’m going to Dick’s to clean the house for $2 and then Friday and Saturday out at Amend’s at the cash register and the next week I may get on steady but that is indefinite. If it comes through, I will work only until I’m called for at the plant.  Well that’s all for now, I will write tonight.                               

Love and xxxxx’s Honey   “Your” Darlin’ Janie                                                                    

Monday 6:00 PM August 10, 42

Hi Honey:

Well here I am again, and I received your letter which I’m not too open until Wednesday, August 12. You tease, that’s plain torture. But I will try and wait.

I just talk to your Mom; she didn’t have much to say. Said you told her about the boys calling you Johnnie.  Then she told me about Andreanna’s wedding. I guess it was lovely.  You would have been an usher.

She also told me that you had were going to send her some money to pay your bills. Honey, I don’t want to be nosy or interfere in your affairs, but I thought you were going to take care of those bills yourself. It would be just as simple to send money orders, then you would be sure of you having your receipts and everything. Please forgive me if I’m butting into something that isn’t any of my business, but it’s for your sake.

I haven’t done much today.  I was up at 9:00 and cleaned my room and then washed my hair, did it up and helped Momie out in the backyard, which took most of the day (Oh yes, in the meantime I wrote you a letter.)  Then I took a bath and cleaned up. Momie said I had lost interest in my appearance since you left, so from now on I’m going to clean up every night just like I had a date with you.

Donna was just over, and she is all excited.  She just received a letter from Frank saying he was coming home the first of September to try and settle the thing (that Donna started) so now she’s just counting the hours until then.

I don’t know whether I told you or not, but Eleanor went to work out at the plant today. They called her Saturday, so she is all thrilled.

Do you remember Bob Conley, that fellow we saw at Babe’s the last time we were there? I saw him Saturday night and he said he had heard you were in Frisco and wanted to know if I would go out with him next week. I told him I couldn’t say then and would he please call me next week and I would let him know. As yet I haven’t decided whether I will go or not. Probably not.

Starting next Sunday, that big army show is going to be here. Daddy bought reserved tickets for Sunday night. Chuck, Mary Jane, Dick, and Rosie, Daddy and Momie and I are going. Sure, wish you could go too.

I have that letter you wrote me in front of me and it sure is a temptation… I moved it…

Your idea about the skiing trip is wonderful as I said before, but as I said before it is out, I’m afraid. In the first place, to make any time I would have to fly, which would cost at least $100 and if Momie came to it would be $200 and she wouldn’t have any fun at the ski lodge. Oh Darlin’, it’s a dream, but an impossible one. It would be a lot cheaper for you to come home for a few days. I have a plan, want to hear it? O.K? O.K!  Christmas is on Saturday, if you get your week, off you could fly home Saturday, or I should say Friday night arriving here at 5 AM Saturday morning.  Then you could stay until the next Saturday, leave that night and be back to Frisco at 5 AM Sunday, sleep all day and back to work Monday morning. That way we could have New Year’s Eve together and have a good excuse for staying out all night. There Honey is my idea, it’s cheaper and we could be together longer.  If you think that is to impossible then say so and we will simply have to wait until July. If we have to wait until July I’m going to try and save enough money so that we can fly at least one way so I can spend more time and not so much on the way to and fro. Think my idea over Honey and please let me know what you think of it. Just think, six glorious nights together, dancing, skiing, petting – all you want to, honest!  Look let’s keep this little plan under our hats, yours and mine, I’m not even telling Momie because if we tell everyone and it don’t work out then we will feel sort of foolish and if it does pan out, we will surprise everyone O.K.? O.K! I think that’s the best way, don’t you?

Daddy left today, so another week begins but the week is something special as I am going to talk to my man. I’m going to set my alarm clock for 2:30 our time so I will be sure and be awake. Not that I really expect to go to sleep in the first place. By the time you get this letter, which should be Wednesday, it will only be a few hours.

Well Honey, I guess I told all I’ve changed my mind about that certain letter, I promised you I will write it next Monday.  Word of honor. As yet, you haven’t said anything about receiving my pin.  What about it?

Goodbye now

Love & xxxxxxxxxx’s  “Your” Darlin’ Janie

P.S. Answer the questions soon.

I miss you Honey too much, I won’t say anymore.

How is this for a nice long letter? Honey, maybe you better destroy this letter because if ever your Mom should read it, she might take what I said about you sending money to her wrong.  Love Janie. 

August 12, 42  (The promised letter)

Three years ago tonight, three girls and a boy drove up in front of the public library. The boy got out of the car and when he came out there was another boy with him. He had on green pinstriped pants which had their cuffs rolled up about 3 inches above his ankles, loud socks, a loud sport shirt with the shirttail out and his blonde hair was ruffled down on his nice high forehead. The girl under the wheel of the car looked at him and said to herself “Not bad, not bad at all”.  Little did she know that moment that she was going to spend the three happiest years of her life to come with that boy. The boy’s name was Harlan and the girl’s was Janie. 

It seemed that this boy Harlan wanted to take the odd girl out not Janie, but the other boy persuaded him differently. The next day which was Sunday the two couples of us went to Premier Park and spent the day together.  That night Harlan did not try to kiss Janie good night. This made a big hit with her because it was the first time this had happened. Three nights later, Harlan called Janie and asked her for a date. She accepted. That night he kissed her. She remembers that night so plainly because she was so scared, he would not like her kiss.  (He did and she liked his, although it was very green and boyish)  The next night he asked her to go steady with him and she said yes.

The first year flew and they had two bad fights, thus breaking up but always going back together again. They were just two young kids out for a lot of fun, who had a lot in common. Liking to do the same things. Going to shows, out to dinner, hunting, skiing, swimming, taking walks, dancing and going to the train yards, taking long rides and then petting a while… all the things they did, most of them, they did together for the first time.  Always with another couple, very seldom alone.

Then the second year rolled around and during that year the boy fell in love with the girl.  She remembers the first time he told her. She was all thrilled and felt kind of funny inside because like other girls she had dreamed of the time when a man would fall in love with her. She never told the boy this, she doesn’t know why.  As the second year came to an end, he naturally wanted to know what she thought of him, but she was too young and having too much fun with this boy to think or know about love.

As the third year rolled around, they began to grow up. He was 21 and she was close to 18 they began to look at things a little more seriously and he began to think about planning for the future and a better career and he was naturally more persistent about her returning his love. The girl liked this boy very much, more than any fellow she had ever met but she still didn’t know if it was love. She told him this because she thought enough of him not to want to string him along.  Still he went with her and was very happy. Suddenly she began to change, she noticed every little move, watching and admiring him. Then she to begin to look at the future. What was there about this boy that she kept wanting to go with him? It wasn’t his money because he had very little, it wasn’t his clothes because he didn’t know how to dress and it wasn’t his looks because although he was a nice clean cut looking fellow, he wasn’t handsome. Then she decided it was just the boy himself that she liked, his way of doing things and the way he looked at her and the nice laugh he had. The way he wasn’t always shooting off his mouth and when he did say something, he said something worthwhile. The clean-cut way of thinking he had and respect he paid to her. Because for all of the three years they had gone together this boy had never tried anything out of the way. She liked the way he made friends and had so many who were really friends and the way when he had a job to do, he did it to the best of his ability. All of these things and many more made a grand perfect fellow.  And she was the luckiest and most fortunate girl in the world to be able to go with the grand fellow. Still she didn’t know how she felt about him. Then Wednesday night July 1, 42, Harlan told her he made up his mind to go to California, to be a shipbuilder so that he could save some money so that we (Janie and Harlan) could sometime get married. And when he told her that, she felt like her whole heart had fallen out, but like she had always done, she didn’t tell him how she felt. For two weeks they got ready for him to leave, then all of sudden, quick like the night and he was gone. Although she was very sad, in a way she was very happy because now she would find out if she loved him or not. While three weeks, almost 4 has passed since he has left, and she is almost sure, but she thinks she has a few more things she must do before she tells this wonderful boy if she loves him and for sure.  One of these things is getting herself a job and having the satisfaction of knowing she can do things of importance without anyone. So this girl, Janie is asking this fellow Harlan, if he will please allow her until Christmas to tell him what he wants to know. She will be true to him in the meantime and keep the flame burning for she misses him very much, more than she ever thought she would. And the feeling that she has for him is very big, so big she can’t explain it and is sort of frightened by it.  She hopes this boy will understand and if he loves her like he says, he will wait until that time for her answer.  For she will agree that if she can’t answer by then that she won’t ask him to wait any longer. However, if he thinks it is too long to wait for her answer, will he please let her know. What she has in her heart she thinks his love for Harlan, love for a perfect boy who would be a perfect husband and father.

Happy Anniversary Harlan,

Love Janie

Thursday, August 13, 1942     8:10 PM

Hi Honey,

Well, it’s all over.  For two weeks I looked forward to last night, then all of a sudden, quick like, it was here.  The phone rang, we talked, the minutes were up, and it was all over. Harlan, I’ll never be able to put into words how I felt after you hung up. It seemed like it went so darn fast. Oh Honey, it was so swell hearing your voice, yet it seems like it never happened. It doesn’t seem possible that I talk to you. But I’ll never forget it as long as I live. The roses were beautiful and still are. I put them on the coffee table in front of the davenport, they are just opening today. And the letter, a more beautiful letter I never read, Honey I’m sorry, but I cried when I read it and I cried after he you hung up. I’m sorry but I just couldn’t help it. One minute, you’re right there here in the room and the next you were 2000 miles away. It was the happiest yet the saddest day of my life.

Honey, we are so proud of you for passing your test. Harlan your one-in-a-million.  There will never be another like you.

Well I’m working Thursday. About 2 PM they called and told me I was to report for interviews between 8:15 and 2:00 PM.  So I went to out yesterday morning and waited for two and hours before I was called (by name), then I was interviewed, rushed into another room, interviewed again, rushed into another room, waited a 1/2 hour, given my physical, had to wait another 1/2 hour to see if I passed it (I did), then into another room, fingerprinted and sign my life away, practically.  Then my picture was taken, signed some more papers, got my pictures and was told to report there at 8:00 AM this morning (by that time it was 5:00 PM).  This morning they told me I was a “primer feeder”; in other words I insert the bullet case into the machine.  This department is rather dangerous, as no matter what they do there is at least one explosion every day.  So I have to have safety glasses with special lenses, and I have to wait for a week for them because as I am wearer of glasses.  Anyhow, the lenses have to be ground according to my eyesight. So while I’m waiting, I will have to be up “packer” but as soon as I’m equipped with the right safety glasses I start on my machine. I pledge 10% of my earnings for bonds and took out accident insurance. So I’m all set. I make $.45 and I work 48 hours a week. I get time and a half for the last eight hours.  Then, 2 weeks after my first paycheck, I receive seven cents an hour increase. (My first paycheck will be Friday on the 28^th).  Which will make 40 hours at $.52 and eight hours at $.78 in other words $29.80 a week.  (Now I am making $23.80 per week, not bad huh!)  I’m going to save 1/3 of each paycheck, which will be about $30 a month. Christmas is four months away which will be $120 and by July I will have about $250, which will enable me to fly one-way O.K.? O.K.! Now I told you my plans, why don’t you tell me yours?

Well Hon, that’s about all.  I miss you more than ever since last night.

All of the love & xxxxxxxxxx’s I have   “Your” Darlin’ Janie

PS Thanks again Honey

(Fun Facts: DMOP Des Moines Ordnance Plant ~ Six to eight sites surrounding Des Moines were originally considered for the small arms cartridge plant, but a signed United States court order on Monday, July 7th, gave the War Department immediate possession of 2,445 acres southwest of Ankeny for the proposed $30,000,000 small arms ammunition plant. A second area of over 2,000 acres for a rifle range would be added to this site at a later date. The entire site was approximately three miles long and two miles wide with thirty-nine parcels of land owned by seventy-five persons and firms. Although the War Department could take immediate action due to an emergency wartime statute, the land would be appraised and purchased with possible appeals.  This site was just ten miles north of Des Moines on the outskirts of the small town of Ankeny. .-“206 ~ ^^Des Moines Tribune, 7 July 1941, 1.Almost 45% of the workforce were women. A noisy, dangerous and complicated effort continued 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for 4 1/2 years. Most of the hourly production works earned .45-50 cents an hour which in 2016 money would be equal to $7.00 to $8.00 an hour. The ordnance plant also had its own fire department and hospital. (© 2018 by Ankeny Area Historical Society)

Friday, August 14, 1942

Hello Harlan,

Well tomorrow is your birthday and you will be 22. This is just a line to wish you a happy one and many more of them. I know it can’t be too good so far away from home and friends, but you are always wanted to make the best of things. Here you been gone for four weeks; the time goes very fast. How does it feel to be strictly on your own? I bet you like it.

We’ve been having some nice weather, lots of sun and cool, in fact too cool for August. They are having a big Army show here Sunday.  Got tickets last week but of course Janie won’t be able to go, she says that will be her first sacrifice.  I think there are lots of them when one takes the defense job because one has to be their best all of the time on the job. 

Do you think your job will last?  We read so much about shortage of materials. Jane is quite thrilled over her work and I think right down deep I am just a little proud of her am sure she will do her best. We were glad to hear you past your Naval test.  Just what does that mean?  Can they send you any place they want to?

Well this is getting quite long and boring so will wish you another happy birthday and get busy.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Hare

August 15, 42 10:25

Say Harlan, what is the matter with you, seven days have passed, and I have had two letters and your Mother has called the last three days wanting to know if I have heard saying it has been over a week since she has. Now listen here, you just have a to write as Honey, because when I don’t get a letter for about three days, I begin to wonder whether something is wrong.  Are you hurt, are you mad or what? At least drop me a line if only to say you’re O.K.  As I said once before, it is no fun looking for letters that never come. If you don’t write, I’ll stop too.

Well I went to work yesterday at 4:00 PM and much to my surprise was put on my machine. Now when you think of me at 8:00 PM, you think of me sitting on a very high chair in front of a large machine into which I feed bullet cases and have to watch four things all at once. The room is so noisy, that even when you shout right in a person’s ear you could hardly hear. There is a tool setter or for every three machines and when the machine jams you call or go get Keith (my tool setter) and then you can rest until he fixes your machine, then you take over. Oh Honey, I sure like it when I was thinking of you last night. I thought, if only Harlan could see me now. I saw Don Tanger at the plant.

There isn’t much news. I suppose your Mom has told you about them moving into the Woodland house. I’m having her bring your skis and other personal things here then when you want them you can have them. 

Everyone here is just fine and sends their love and I hope you had a nice birthday.  About my gifts, Honey, I looked and looked and looked for something for you. I didn’t want to buy you clothes because I didn’t think you either needed them or wanted them, so I bought it and hope you like it.  I got you something really nice for Christmas Ha! Ha!

Well Sweets, as I said before there isn’t much news as I’m a factory worker and that’s all I can talk about. I expect a letter from you tomorrow and if I don’t get one, I’m going to feel very bad and a little mad. So please if only a line, write or I’m going to be really mad.

I guess that’s about all Honey.  I’m still thinking about our conversation and trying to hang on to every bit of it. But in two weeks maybe we can talk again. Must go now.

All the love and xxxxx’s I have   “Your” Darlin’ Janie

P.S. Write Please

1:30 August 15, 1942

Hello Darlin’ :

Well today I add another year to my age. Right now I feel like I was about 60. I have been welding all day in a small airtight fuel tank. The tank has one hole, it’s just big enough to crawl through. I had to wear a respirator, but I still got a lot of galvanized smoke down my lungs. It was very hard to breathe. It is a funny feeling because you think you’re going to pass out any minute but instead you get a little stuffy and kind of sick to your stomach. I think I will be all right in the morning though. I received your birthday card this morning, it was very sweet of you to remember. The card was very beautiful. I know which line you meant without even reading the card. I think I had better get to bed and get some sleep. I will finish this letter in the morning. Good night sweetheart. I love you so very very much and miss you more than anyone can express even in words.  Good night xxxxx’s oooooo’s.  I now go but that wasn’t enough kisses, may have just one more X O, good night X O. 

Good morning Darlin’,  how are you this morning?  I feel a little better. I didn’t get a letter this morning, but I will look for one this afternoon. Syd and I are going to drive down to Santa Cruz tomorrow morning. I’m going downtown this morning to get a new swimsuit. I don’t know what kind I will get though.

Let me know all about your new job and what kind of work it is and if you like. Please be careful of the kind of people you mix with at the plant. I put $5 in the bank my first paycheck and $30 in my second one.

I don’t have any new news except that Syd, and I saw Gary Cooper in “The Pride of the Yankees” yesterday before we went to work. I haven’t been bowling lately. I will write you a letter from Santa Cruz and tell you all about it. We only have one day off a week, so we have them all planned ahead about a month. The company canceled the system of days off, so everybody still has a Sunday off. Next week were going to drive up to Russian River and the following Sunday, we’re going to drive to Sacramento and see Opal.

I found out I can take time off in December, so I’m coming home if it is all at all possible. Don’t tell anyone because I don’t know for certain.  I also found out I think I get a six-month deferment from the Army. That is all you can get at one time. I had better close now, so until tonight at 8:00. I love you with all of my heart.

P.S. Write soon

P.S. Tell your folks hello for me

Love and xxxxx’s and oooooo’s  Harlan

July 31, 1942 1:30 PM

Hi Honey:

Well, how are you? I’m sure I wouldn’t know. Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. And no letter from you. What is the matter? Is something wrong or are you mad or what? It is no fun Harlan waiting for letters that never come. Maybe you haven’t received seen mine. This will be my fourth this week and the last one I received was last Saturday the 25th. I’m mad and hurt.  It isn’t like you Harlan, if the big city is going to make you like this then I won’t plan to come out because I liked you the way you were. 

I went out with the girls last night. We went to the Sun Set Swimming and had lots of fun. Then Peg and I got up this morning and went horseback riding at 9:00. We had fun, but we had a guide as it was our first try, so we will have more fun the next time.  This afternoon Mary-Jane Hare, Daddy and I are going to play golf. So, I will be really pooped by tonight.

There isn’t much news. They (the plant) have checked out more of my references.  So Peg says I will probably be called by the 10th of August. I hope so.

I called your Mom yesterday, but she wasn’t home, so tried today without access. I haven’t talked to her since you went away.

I guess that’s about all. I hope I get a letter by tomorrow because if I don’t, I will stop writing too. You can at least drop me a line telling it anything is wrong. 

Love Your Janie

August 1, 42 11:45 am

Hi Honey:

I just received your letters, both of them. And now I’m happy again. I thought I’d better sit right down and write you because you may be mad about the letter I wrote yesterday, but I couldn’t help but Honey, I was worried.

Your Mom called this morning saying she had received your letter and she read it to me. Adrianna is getting married Sunday. Surprise.

Honey, that personal letter makes me very happy. It means a lot to me to know you love me.  It helps on these nice summer nights when I’m all alone.  I think of you constantly Harlan.  Every time I look at the clock, I wonder what you are doing.  I was wondering if some day you can call me, I looked it up and it would only cost $4.50 for 6 minutes for a station-to-station call. You could write me and tell me exactly when you will call, then I would answer the phone I would pay for half of it.  If you would, maybe we could talk to each other once a month. Wouldn’t that be swell?  Think it over, will you? “Please”

I am afraid my letters aren’t very interesting with all the things that are happening to you. My news is rather dull.

In your next letter, please tell me now if you are getting my letters. I am going to a show with the girls tonight, but I will be home early, and I never forget 10 o’clock and

If you think you miss me, I would like to have you by me for just one day and night.  I am slowly going crazy for the want of seeing you just once more.  Honey, I am convinced one thing, if I did not love you, I wouldn’t miss you like I do. Harlan, I never thought it would be like this. You’re the last thing I think of before I go to sleep and you were there in my dreams and I wake up in the morning and wonder what you’re doing.  I can turn around but what I say to myself “Would Harlan want me to do this?” You’re there constantly, even when I go to a show, I can’t get you out of my mind.  So “Please” write as often as you can. I’m glad you’re getting along O.K. and hope you can find a decent place to live.  Say, where do you keep Herman and how does he like Frisco?

Listen Honey, I don’t care if you are Johnny to them. You’re Harlan to me and it’s too late to change. Johnny is someone I don’t know, and I don’t care to because I like Harlan and I will address you like wise. So there.

Well I guess that is all. Will write you Monday night. How long does it take a letter to arrive?

Love and Good Luck

Your Darlin’ Janie

August 2, 42 7:45 PM

Hi Honey:

Well I just guess I will write you another letter O.K.? I thought you would like it. How are you and Herman? Do you know what I’m listening to? “Crime Doctor”  Remember when to listen to it together?

FUN FACT: Crime Doctor is a radio crime drama in the United States. Sponsored by Philip Morris cigarettes, it was broadcast on CBS August 4, 1940 – October 19, 1947.[1] ~ Reference Dunning, John (1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio (Revised ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. pp. 185-186. ISBN 978-0-19-507678-3. Retrieved 2019-09-17. Crime Doctor, crime drama. (Credit Wikipedia)

There isn’t much news, so I’ll just talk shop. I’m taking care of the Werdell kids and miss your company. Remember how we used to end up in an argument when I took care of the kids, because I never thought we should neck, and you used to want to. As I look back, that was usually the base of all our arguments. Now I’m a little sorry because I would like nothing better than a good switching-in right now. And you’re only going to fit me. Remember that last night, when I said we just fit in each other’s arms?  I meant it Honey. 

Excuse me a minute, Donna just came in.

Hi! Donna is getting more friendly every day. She was over to the house practically all day today and treated me to two cakes. All she can talk about is Frank. You see, when she was in Cheyenne, she had a fight with the Webbs and now they refuse to accept her into the family. So, it is one mell of a hess.

And have you thought it over about of calling me on the phone? I was thinking instead of talking once a month for 6 min. I would rather talk every two weeks for only 3 min.  I could pay for one call and you could pay for the next O.K. “Please” say yes.

I haven’t had any further word from the plant, but I am waiting patiently. Tomorrow I’m going to put my application in at the telephone company for that comptometer course, just in case I don’t get call. Then if that don’t pan out, I will have to go to school. And I am writing this letter I have not yet had your reply to my request for advice.

FUN FACT: (“Comptometer ~ The comptometer was the first commercially successful key-driven mechanical calculator, patented in the United States by Dorr E. … It was primarily an adding machine, it could also do subtractions, multiplication and division. Its keyboard consisted of eight or more columns of nine keys each.   Operators were specially trained to enter each complete number by pressing multiple keys in different columns in one go using separate fingers. In other words the digits were entered in parallel, the mechanism being able to cope with this.  (Wikipedia))

Say, you why didn’t you tell me that you were sick in Salt Lake City? Please try and tell me everything that happens to you. It helps a lot.

Have you made any new friends outside of your work??? Are the people out there friendly?

When I last talk to your Mom, she said she didn’t think Opal was coming back, but Max said he was going to make sure by going after her while on his vacation.

Oh Honey, I forgot to tell you. About those two chances I had to go out while in Minneapolis… I didn’t go out. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t, if you want to.

Honey, when I didn’t get your letters for six days, I didn’t send my pin, but I will send it tomorrow, I promise. Aunt Jenny gave me a china ring-box for your ring.  I don’t wear it all the time for fear of losing it.

Remember Mr. Anthony, the man who gives advice on the radio from 9:00 until 10:00 PM on Sunday. He is on now.

FUN FACT: Mr. Anthony’s program is probably best remembered for its opening line, “Mr. Anthony, I have a problem.”  He was a marriage counselor who offered advice to couples over the air. enthralled 20 million radio listeners each week with his speedy solutions to marital problems, on the “Good Will Hour”.  His advice program was on the air from the early 1930’s— it went nationwide in 193.  In 1939, more than 700 stations carried the program. In 2020 US dollars, he was making about $3 million a year. The program went off the air in 1953.

Well, I am afraid my letter is getting boring, so guess I will close.

I miss you terribly but know you miss me too, so it’s not so bad. But I still haven’t gotten used to the idea of not having you near me.

Remember write as often as you can, and I will write oftener

Love and Good Luck

Your Darlin’ Janie

3:30 PM  Monday, August 3, 1942

Hi Honey:

Well I received two letters today, one in the morning and your Special this afternoon.  Darn you!  You haven’t answered any of my questions. I want to know what you want to do about going steady.  Do you want to stop or not?

Honey, about your test you took Sunday. I know that you do your very best but if you don’t pass it, it isn’t because you didn’t try with all of your ability, but if anything should happen, don’t feel too bad. You have been lucky. After all, you went clear to Frisco without any means or car trouble. Then you were able to pass all of your tests and go to work at once. So, please, if you don’t pass don’t be too discouraged because you can try again.

In your last letter you said you were going out and buy some Special Delivery  stamps and such. Well don’t, I don’t care if you don’t send all of your letters Special.  In fact, it isn’t necessary at all. The only time I would like to get a Special is on Sunday. O.K.? O.K.!  And I’ll try to send you one on Sunday too.  O.K.? O.K.! 

I think the skiing deal is wonderful. Do you want yours skies?

I see you have a new address. Is this place nicer? If so, do you intend to stay there permanently? Are you rooming alone? Now you answer all of these questions “Please.”

Russ Jiglem joined the Army Reserve Signal Corp.’s on Friday.  He received his notice from the draft board Thursday to report for his physical today. So, he was pretty clever and getting out of that. Gabby says he gets $85 a month while in the West High School for his training.  But I wouldn’t know. He has already quit his job, so it better be good.

Harlan, when your mustache grows full growth, will you please send me a close-up picture of your face so I might see it.

Honey, we share all our secrets with each other, don’t we? Well I’ll tell you one. I am crying right now, Honey, crying for you. Please don’t think me “silly”. This is the first time I have cried while writing a letter to you and I promise it won’t happen again. If you feel too tired when you get home from work nights, you can wait until the next day to write if you want. But please to ever wait too long. I will write every night.

Now remember no more Specials, except on Sundays and answer my questions I will see you tonight.

Love and Good Luck

Your Darlin’ Janie & T&T

P.S. You are my “Honey”, Harlan.

I am waiting for Chapter II on what you feel for me.  When you finish, I write you the same.

P.S.S. I sent you a Special Saturday morning with a couple of dollars, thinking it might help. But I sent it to the old address. So, write and let me know if you get it. Honey, we want to know all about the place you’re staying at so don’t leave anything out. Daddy went back to work today and won’t be home until Friday or maybe Saturday, so we are more lonesome than ever.

Honey, be careful of the kind of people you make friends of.

Love & XXXXXXXXXXXX’s Janie

I miss you & I Think I Love You Darling

P.S.S.S. Do you drive Herman to work or what?

8:45 PM Thursday August 4, 42

Hi Honey,

Well Sweets, that last letter was a humdinger.   I think I was being just plain “told off”, Right!

I don’t want to stop going steady either and I definitely am not mad at you. I love you for it. You big :_ _ : _ _ :

Well, Joyce left for California Sunday night and will pass through Frisco Wednesday if everything goes well.   Eleanor is going to move to Omaha in two weeks and Pegs is leaving Sunday for Oregon to live with her folks. Joyce will be back in two weeks so that will only leave Barbie, Joyce, and myself.  Pegs, Barbie and I went to the movie today. We saw that Henry Aldrich picture.  I felt funny with no one holding my hand or no one to snuggle up to.

I forgot to tell you; I bought your birthday present while I was in Minneapolis. I hope you like it, and I have already paid down on your Christmas present.  Your Christmas present is something I was going to buy you last year, but you wouldn’t let me. Remember how you used to tell me when you bought me something about a month before I got it?  Well you have 4 months in which to wonder and guess about it. So there!

Just think Honey, a week from tomorrow we will have been going together three years. The happiest years of my life. It will be the first anniversary we have not been together. But in a way, I’ll be with you as I will think of you every minute. As far as that goes, I’m with you always, regardless of the many miles between us.

Honey, Momie misses you almost as much as I do, and someone is always asking me about you. I went to I went to Plumbs today to get my wristwatch and Lesly waited on me. He asked about you and when I told him about you, he was very envious of you and sent all his best wishes. (There was an awful lot of you-s there wasn’t there). But you are all that matters to me.

Well that’s about all for now as I want to get this in by tomorrow.

Love and xxxxxxxxx’s

“Your” Darlin’ Janie

PS I miss you more instead of less every day.

11:30 AM Wednesday, August 5, 42

Hi Honey,

I just saw you last night, do you want to know what happened? O.K. You see, you came home by surprise.  It was on Saturday morning and I was getting my hair fixed at the beauty parlor. Well, you came to the house first and then when Momie told you where I was, you came up. You didn’t want to come in, so you waited outside. Well, by the time I came out you were asleep. I saw the car and I felt like I had been hit with lightning because I didn’t know you were home. Well, I looked, and I looked but you were asleep I couldn’t see your face. I finally got up the courage to look inside Herman and my picture was on the dashboard. Well, I opened the car door and jumped on you like I don’t know what and we sat out there in the plain daylight and necked for a solid hour. No kidding! I really felt your soft lips and your arms around me. Then we came home, and I went upstairs to change my clothes. When I came down you were telling the folks all about the ships and the ocean and just everything. Well, I sat down on your lap and gave you a great big kiss. And do you know what you said? You said, “I have the sweetest thing in the world right on my lap, A candy bar.” Then you got up and we left. Then I woke up. Damn. What I would like to know is how the candy bar got in there. I saw the Big Dipper last night; the stars were unusually bright. I was over to Dick’s, sitting on the front steps, smoking a cigarette, looking at the

and thinking of you especially at exactly 10 o’clock sharp.

Dickey Jr. is here today, and I asked him if he missed you. He said “Yup”. Then Momie asked him where you were and he said, “Harlan just is in the telephone, I thinks.”  Can you imagine that he remembered?

Honey, you may not be very good at talking but I never read such interesting letters is yours. You make everything so clear.  Do you have possession of a phone? Honey, if you think I talk too much about missing you and such, please say so.

Next Saturday night, Pegs, Barbie, Eleanor and I are going out to dinner at Babes, upstairs, then to the show. But I won’t have more than one Tom Collins.

FUN FACTS: Alphonse “Babe” Bisignano opened his infamous establishment “Babe’s Taproom” in the early 1940s after returning to Iowa from New York. It was located at 417 Sixth Ave., where Sixth Avenue and Grand Avenue meet. Babe started by selling booze illegally in coffee cups, and his business soared. “The biggest challenge was keeping the bar stocked. Babe smuggled in liquor from Minneapolis in trucks, hearses and any other conveyance he could think of,” The Des Moines Register published in 1989. It was a swanky place and became a hot spot for many of the service men who were stationed at Fort Des Moines during World War II. The Women’s Army Corp (WAC) made Babe’s its unofficial headquarters. This drove more of our boys into the bar as well. The place would be elbow to elbow. Years later, Babe would offer discounts to anyone who wore their service uniform in his place.

I haven’t and won’t break any of my promises. I’m not going to take the car as we will be later than usual. Starting two weeks from Saturday we are going to meet on Saturday night instead of Thursday. What night do you have off?

Say, may I make a suggestion about your insurance? Have you notified them about your change of address?  If not, why don’t you have your Mom send you the statement the minute it arrives and then you can send it back telling them about it.

I read in the paper this morning about the blackouts out there. Are you in that district where they blacked out every night? You better be careful; someone will vamp you. 

We have been having swell weather here ever since I arrived home. Say listen you Bum; I don’t like that name Johnny and never will.  It just doesn’t suit you. When will you stop putting Johnny on your envelopes? I hope soon. If you don’t stop pretty soon, I will start going under the name of Nancy or even Nanny and you know how you hate that.

I didn’t get a letter this morning but will look for one this afternoon. Momie worries about you all the time. She is afraid something will happen to your money. She says to tell you that your you better put your money right in the bank as soon as you pay your bills and not to carry a lot with you and above all do not leave any in your room. Do you have a key? Momie isn’t being bossy Honey, she’s just so worried something will happen to you. She thinks a lot of you, and it would break her heart if anything ever happened to you.

Well I better close. I’ll write tomorrow and tell you what Daddy said about you and me after you left.

Love and xxxxxxxxx’s

“Your” Darlin’ Janie

8:26 PM Wednesday, August 5, 42

Hi Honey,

Well here I am again. Love me?

I didn’t get a letter today, but I know there will be one tomorrow.

Oh yes, I was going to tell you about what Daddy said. Well, Sunday morning we were sitting on the porch talking when Daddy said “Well Honey, what did Harlan say to you when he left? That he loved you and would be back someday after you or did you make different plans?”  Well, I about fell over and I asked him if he would like to know our plans and he said yes. Well, I told him, and he said he was very glad that we were didn’t get married before you left. He said he liked and respected you very much and that if I loved you, he was glad because you were the kind of boy he wanted me to marry. He said he was a very glad we had plans because if we really love each other, it was worth waiting for and if we survive these next two years, we would be sure, not only of each other but of ourselves. So, Honey, we have both my folk’s blessings and good wishes. I sure was very happy when he said that. I heard a new piece the other day “I Wonder When My Baby’s Coming Home” and if you want to know how I feel just listen to it sometime. (Wonder When My Baby’s Coming Home (1942) – Helen O’Connell – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXtnYn2aeEg).

Rosie) are leaving and I want this to get in. I will write again tomorrow.

Love and xxxxxxxxxx’s

“Your” Darlin’ Janie

Thursday 8:45 PM August 6, 1942

Hi Honey,

Just a line for tonight. I’m over to Dick’s. I just finished the cleaning, tomorrow I’m going to clean Chuck’s house for $2.50. O.K. Huh?

Well, nothing much has happened since this morning. All I can think about is next Wednesday and talking to you Honey. I can hardly wait. Just think Honey, you have been gone three weeks? Are you lonesome Sweets?

I called your Mom but as she wasn’t home. I will call again tomorrow. Gee Honey, I miss you. It’s at night that it hurts. It’s different with you, you’re busy during the night hours but me, I’m just sitting around. About that certain letter. I will write it after I talk to you next week.

Well this isn’t much but I will write again tomorrow morning.

Love & XXXXXXXXs All I have

“Your” Darlin’ Janie

P.S. Be careful

1:00 PM Thursday, August 6, 42

Hi Honey,

I just received your letter saying you are going to call. Honey, I’m so thrilled I don’t know what to do. Just to think of talking to you is enough to knock me for a loop but to have it come true. I’ll be walking on a little pink cloud from now on just waiting to hear your voice. I looked up the rates and you can catch the night rate if you call me after you get home from work. If you call and ask the operator for number 7 – 2178 in Des Moines (that the station-to-station call) and don’t ask to speak to Nancy Hare, you can call for $2.25 for 3 min. But if you ask for Nancy Hare at Des Moines it will cost $3.25 for 3 minutes (that’s a person-to-person call). That will save you a dollar right there. You see, I will be waiting right at the phone thus you will get me at once not wasting any time or money. So, you will make a station-to-station call.

Please don’t apologize for that letter. You showed a lot of gumption and get in that and if you are sorry, I will think you didn’t mean it.

I’m sorry about the pin, but when I found out you had changed your address from your Mom, I thought I better wait. I’m sending it today with this letter. It is coming registered so you will have to sign for it. Therefore, if you were not there when it arrives and someone else should take it, they might forget to give it to you. You see, this way you are the only one who can sign for it. Thus, if you aren’t home when it comes, you will have to go get it at the post office. It’s kind of confusing but I think you’ll understand.

You asked about that certain letter I promised to write you. I will Honey, but up until now I had so many other things to ask you and write about, I thought I would wait. Besides, the longer I wait, the more sure I will be about what I write.

Don’t ever think you are being mushy. I love it—-. I’ve changed Honey.

I don’t quite understand about the skiing deal. Are you going to go on a trip some weekend or what? Please explain more clearly.

Look, maybe I’m jumping at conclusions, but the weeks’ vacation which you are going to try to get in December. That doesn’t possibly mean you may be able to come home does it? I won’t say anymore because I don’t want to get my hopes up and then be let down. Answer this at once!

Listen you, in one of your letters you said you had no right to give me advice or tell me what you thought I should do. Just what do you mean? After all, we are still going steady and you are still my boyfriend and I am your girlfriend. Then why should you not have the right to tell me what you think. I still intend to tell you, unless you say to stop, and I don’t want you to feel that way. You will make me think you don’t care what I do.

Have you written to the boys at Herman M Brown? There isn’t much news. Donna was over here last night, most of the evening. I get so darned sick and tired of hearing about Frank I could scream. She has a chance to go out to Cheyenne in September with a girl whose husband works with Frank. If she does, she will stay out there and get a job. If asked, she is just plain running after him. Who do you suppose called me? Mrs. Webb.  I wasn’t home. So, she said she would be home and for me to call her, but I forgot so I will wait for her to call again. I wonder what she wants. Momie talked to her a while and she said Frank is making $200 a month. I guess all she could talk about was Donna and Frank. She also wanted to know if Donna and I had patched up our quarrel. Momie told her we were on speaking terms but that was all, and that’s as far as it’s going to go as far as I’m concerned.

Say Honey, if you would rather call on Sunday that’s up to you. Anything that is convenient for you because I’m home all the time. Well almost.

I don’t know what the matter is with me I’m down at 99 pounds and can’t get back up where I belong. Can you guess what is wrong?

Say, you haven’t mentioned Herman. Did you hock him or something? Poor Herman, he takes you clear out there and with no complaints and you don’t even give him honorable mention.

Well Sweets, must leave. Will write again tomorrow.

Love & XXXXXXX’s 

“Your” Darlin’ Janie

P.S.  Be sure and write when you are going to call Love.

I miss you Honey. I miss you terrible. Every night I look at your picture just before I go to bed and wish you were here or I was there then I throw you a kiss, say good night and jump into bed.

Love, All I have Janie

P.S.S.  I don’t see how you could possibly get in 1200 hours by December.  You work 48 hours a week not counting Sundays.              48 x 4 wks. in 1 month = 192 x 5 months to Christmas = 960 hrs. by Christmas. However, if you work 7 months, 48 x 4 wks. in months = 192 x 7 month to March = 1344 hours. See?

You would have to put in an awful lot of overtime to make it by Christmas.  Honey, I’m sorry I said anything about you coming home on your week’s vacation.  It was very selfish. You see, it was for the want of seeing you again that prompted it.  It would cost a lot of money and time and when you got back you would be all tired out. If you should get the week, you should just plan on taking it and see all the things you would like to and do all the things you want to do but can’t while working. 

Please forgive me for being so selfish.

Love Janie

6:30 PM Friday, August 7, 42

Hi Honey,

Well, by the time you get this, everything should be straightened out. O.K? O.K.!

Boy I am full. I just finished eating 1/3(honest) of a watermelon that Daddy brought home.

I haven’t much to write about. This is just a line saying good night and sending my love to you.

Gee, I can hardly wait until Wednesday night just to hear your voice. Tomorrow night (Saturday),  I’m going out with the girls. Trinkie, Eleanor, Pegs, Barbie, Philias, Bev and myself are going, as I said before to “Babes” for dinner and then I think to a show. I’m going to stay all night at Eleanor’s. I will be out late Honey, but I will be good. Not more than one Tom Collins. I can fool them if they have more, by acting.

Well Sweets, it wasn’t much but I say Hi. I will write a real one tomorrow.

Sending all of my love & xxxxxxxxxx’s

“Your” Darlin’ Janie

2:30 Fri. August 7, 1942

Hi Sweetheart:

I’m very sorry you are mad. I don’t want to think of you as being mad at me. Honey, it hurts. You evidently haven’t received my letter saying I definitely did not want to stop going steady, when you wrote this one. Harlan, please don’t ask me to marry you yet. I can’t answer it. When you left, I said I would wait for you and keep the fire going and that the next time I saw you I would answer that question without any “Ifs, buts, or I thinks”. I’m almost sure Honey now, but I just have to be sure before I give the word. Harlan, it is for your sake as well as mine. You wouldn’t want me to say yes when I wasn’t sure, would you?

Honey, you are the most wonderful thing that ever happened to me and when I think of not seeing you for a whole year, it hurts, way down in the pit of my stomach. It hurts bad. I miss you just as bad as you miss me, even though I have my friends and folks here with me. But they never take the place of your arms, lips and person. I miss seeing Herman coming down the street and I missed going to Fisher’s and then to Union Park.

I know it’s hard for you too, but this is the road we picked and now it must be taken, like to or not. Honey, we will soon be together again and when we are, just think of the fun we will have. Next July we will go to all of the parks and you can show me your favorite places and they will be my favorites too, because everything you like, I like too. It is awful hard to write what I would say in person but please Darling, try to understand. Just think, three weeks is already gone, almost a month, 1/12 of the time.  Next year at this time – right now – I’ll be with you and will have answered your question. It isn’t so long.

You said in your letters not to send the skis because you wouldn’t need them until December when you see me. Are you coming home or are you expecting me out there or what?

I’m very glad you like your room and are well fed. Try not to lose any weight, you were just right when you left.

I guess this is about all for now.  I will write tomorrow tonight and get it in by 8:00 so you will get it by Saturday afternoon, if they have an afternoon delivery.

Mrs. Webb called just now, and did she rip Donna up and down.  Boy, she sure did! She said she was the most hateful girl she had ever met and that she had ruined the Webb’s vacation, etc. etc. and on and on. She asked me for your address, saying she would send that to Frank and she would drop you a card soon.

Now I must go and get cleaned up. Daddy will be home tonight. I’m going out to the plant tomorrow morning and inquire about my references.

So, remember, you keep your chin up and remember I’m waiting and keeping that fire going.

Love & xxxxxxxxx’s

“Your” Darlin’ Janie

P.S.  Don’t bother to send back the suitcase or the thermos bottle. We don’t need it and you can have. I will talk to you pretty soon Honey.

1:30 Aug. 8, 1942

Hello Darlin’,

I am really having to go some to beat your letter writing. I received 3 today. Two this morning and one this afternoon. To begin with I will answer them one at a time.

Letter #1 – I tried as well as I could to explain about the ‘telling off business’, but I will have to do a lot better explaining than I know how, so from now on I will try to keep my mouth shut more. In your letter you said you loved me. At the end you said, “I think I love you”.  What’s the idea of changing your mind again? I’m glad you feel the way you do when you go to a show without me. It makes me feel good to know you really miss me that much. I love to read about how much you miss me no matter how mushy it gets. It looks like I’ll have to start doing some Christmas shopping.

Letter #2 – This dream of yours was some dream. I wish with all of my heart that it could come true (except the part about the candy bar). I’ll bet Dickie Jr. is getting cuter every day.

I’m glad my letters are interesting and I hope they are as interesting as yours (I hope you will excuse me for answering your letter this way but it’s it is easiest for me to answer all of your questions). The only phone we have here is a pay phone. The more you talk about missing me you the more I like it. Tell the girls hello for me, will you. I haven’t and won’t break any of my promises to you either. I haven’t had a drink since the last one you and I have I had at Babe’s. I have Monday night off starting the week beginning the 16th. They don’t have many blackouts here. Most of it is all talk. Everything is heavily guarded. Some stores have air raid shelters and sandbags in front of them. When they do have them, all the current is shut off and the lights go out in the yard. Everyone is supposed to get go to the bottom of the ships that they are working in or in special air raid shelters. Instead, we go up on the top deck and looked to see whether it’s real or practice. You never can tell. Not much chance of being vamped in the yard unless Syd would come over and we should start necking. I thought I stopped putting Johnny on the envelopes, if I didn’t, I’ll see that it doesn’t happen again. I’m glad your Mother is taking an interest in me.

Letter #3 – Yes, I love you. That day you didn’t get a letter was when I came home too tired to hardly walk. I’m very sorry. I have often wanted to talk to your father about us, but I was never quite positive I had the right to. Someday soon, (I hope) I will write him a long letter explaining everything, or don’t you think I had better. I’m very glad you told me about your talk. I think your Father is as perfect as anyone could be.

Love Harlan 

2:15 AM Aug. 8, 1942

Hello Darlin’,

I’m sorry about not explaining to you about the skiing deal. Here’s my plan. In December sometime, you could take leave from your job. I will pay your expenses here and back and over the weekend we could go to Yosemite National Park or Norden’s Ski Lodge. We would leave San Francisco about Friday night sometime, getting there Saturday morning and ski all day. Saturday night we could stay in a hotel – two rooms (next to each other with the door between) then we could pass notes back and forth under the door. You could bring your Mother with you for a chaperone. She would love the trip. Sunday we could sleep till noon and then drive back. If you think that would be a little too expensive you could come here and we could go all over San Francisco, see Chinatown, Fisherman’s Wharf, Alcatraz, Bay Bridge and everything there is to see.

Think it over and let me know what you think. I can’t wait until July to see you. I think I knew that when I left Des Moines.

Last night I bruised the back of my knees working and this morning I could hardly walk on. I went out to the beach and ran on it quite a bit. Tonight, I can’t feel it a bit. I think I will run again tomorrow morning. Excuse me for putting that in their but it leads up to something. After running, I drove up to our hill in San Francisco. The hill is a small mountain called Twin Peaks. There are two peaks on top. You can see all of San Francisco on a clear day. It was cloudy today and the peaks were right in the middle of the clouds. You couldn’t even see San Francisco. All I could see was you there with me in December. We could and would drive up about 8:00 and stay about all night, just by ourselves in each other’s arms. You would know for sure and I, well I, would know just what I know now, only more so. I sat up on the hill about a half an hour with nothing but memories, hopes, and clouds.

It’s getting pretty late and I had better get to bed. I will write again tomorrow night and I will see you again at 8:00 tomorrow night. So, I will say good night Sweetheart, sleep tight and dream of me. (And not a candy bar).

P.S. I will call Wednesday night after I get off work. It will be between 12:30 and 1:30 Pacific war time.

P.S.  I’m working on chapter 2. (I am sending my check stub for a souvenir, show it to Donna, I’m making four times that every 28 days. $68 x 4 =$272 a month).

Love Harlan

Write soon. Tell your folks hello for me, and tell Dick and Rosie, Chuck and Mary Jane that I will try to write soon.

Aug. 8, 1942 Sat. Night 6 PM

Hi Honey:

Good morning Dear. (I hope it is morning when you get this) My isn’t it a lovely day. (I hope it isn’t raining) I received your letter.  My but we make a lot of money. Having all that money, you better be careful of those insidious girls out there. 

(Insidious means something negative or treacherous that proceeds in a subtle and gradual way. Insidious describes something that might not be recognized as negative or treacherous until it is firmly entrenched or has done its damage.)

I’m sure glad to hear that you were going out tomorrow night and hope you have lots of fun.

Honey, will you please let me know when you receive this. You see I want and think you will get it tomorrow (Sunday) morning but I want to know for sure as I know when it to send them so you will get them before you go to work.

If you get this tomorrow morning, then I can make a suggestion? Please? O.k. Don’t you think you should wear your brown tweed coat with your light tan summer trousers tomorrow night. I’m not being bossy, it’s just a suggestion.

Oh Honey, guess what? I went bowling with Mary Jane and we bowled five games. My high was 144 then I proved it wasn’t just luck, I bowled 143 the next time. You see we get to bowl for $.15 a game as I told them I worked at the plant and Mary Jean really does, so we get a rate. Then we went to a show “In This Our Life”. It was a very good.

I talked to Donna last night and I guess she is going to Cheyenne in September to stay. She plans on finding work and living out there.  But when I talked to Mrs. Webb, she said she was going to hold Frank as long as she could so–.  I don’t think they will be married very soon.

Well Sweets, I’m going out with the girls tonight, but I would give 10 years of my life if it was you instead. At 2:00 tonight you will have been gone exactly 3 weeks and it seems like a year since I‘ve seen you. Yet, I can see so clearly the night you left. The ride over from your house and raining like heck, then when you kissed me goodbye and all I could think of to say was, ‘Don’t get into any trouble that you can’t get out of’ and I tried so hard not to cry. I had held out for a whole week without breaking down and then at the last minute it, it just snapped, and I couldn’t help it. I hope you didn’t think I was too big of a baby. I’ve only broken down three times since, so if you want to, Honey, go ahead. It helps a lot, I know. It seems to ease up the pain in your stomach for a while.

Well I guess I said all there is to say except I never expect to let you down Honey. That’s why I haven’t built you up too high. Oh God, if only I could see you for a few minutes.

I’m sorry Honey, I shouldn’t have said that. It’s bad enough without making wishes that can’t come true.

See you Wednesday or rather I will talk to you. I can hardly wait.

All the love & xxxxxxxxxx’s I have.

“Your Darlin’ Janie

P.S. I miss you