Correspondence, World War, 1939-1945., World War, 1939-1945--Women.
119 Friday 26 Jan. 6:45 pm My dearest darling, I've been feeling lower and missing you more yesterday and today than in some time - The feeling low will pass, but it's certainly an empty feeling while it lasts. A tour of the camp by several dozen nurses this afternoon didn't help any (there was a mild beer party, lasting about an hour, for them afterwards) In common with two or three others who were too curious to stay away, I sort of wished I hadn't seen them - our reaction was not to want to date any of the girls, particularly, but just too strong a reminder of home. They were an average group to look at - a handful of reasonably attractive ones, double that number of plain ones and the rest in between. I'll write more about good reactions to them in my next typed letter. At any rate - I did get an avalanche of mail from you today - four letters and 3 long envelopes! I didn't know I was due for a windfall and was very pleasantly surprised (all clear thru 134) Thanks for telling me about the change of classification - I suppose mine too is just plain (S) now - I’d heard [pg 2] something about the change but no individual confirmation. Glad to hear about Will's visit - if he is still there when this letter reaches you be sure to give him my cordial regards and ask him to relay my greetings to Ruth and her growing family. Hope you can look up Barbara Corrigan - and let's get her book, just for fun, whatever it's about or whatever kind of story it is (I've forgotten). Still glad to get whatever gossip you can dig up - theres not so much scuttlebutt flying around here as to interfere with working morale as sometimes happens and a little helps to make life interesting. I repeat, honey, that I don't want you to relay anything you know to be secret information, or even hint at it (I shouldn't have urged you so strongly the other day to tell me things, but it just seemed to me that in that case you could say a lot more than you did, as you have since) One example of a thing to avoid saying is that so and so (by name) is going to some specific place; but it's all right to say that he's at such and such a place if it's known to be occupied. Sorry about the flower seeds. Half the packet of California poppies I planted, together with one [pg 3] of the Japanese teachers (who built an enclosure around the area) behind the administration building of the new school. They are in a circle about 4 feet in diameter with a few in the center. Have arranged to have them watered every day. Guess I had better not send you one when they come up (I regretfully refrained from putting a stick of gum in the envelope of this morning's your letter last night - had 2 whole packs, one from your Christmas box and one from the PX which just got some in after a long scarcity of practically everything. What's a “15 mile hike at 120 clip?” It amuses me how men are trained for an operation and then get all soft again (bicepsically speaking) when they’re out on it. Most of the officers here - or at least half - prefer not to play even baseball occasionally. I'll be glad to get “Volcanic Isle” and “Still Time to Die” - you not finishing the latter reminds me that I haven't finished Ehrenburg either yet. It does, as you say, get repetitious. Nevertheless there's some magnificent bits of writing in it. Yes, honey, I'm going to send back the books I received in Hawaii. They just arrived in my seabag the other day and I want to look thru again them first. [pg 4] It was good to hear about Wendy's visit to Dr. Lusiguan, her beginning to grab at everything, her new foods, her weight and length, her forthcoming 2 upper teeth…yes, darling, it fills me with a fresh delight each time I look at her pictures. Darling, that annoying cough you have (which you say is similar to the one you had when we were engaged) may be due to smoking - you were smoking a fair amount then, weren't you? - but with me it goes pretty closely with morale. In that connection I'm glad to say, even tho I smoke somewhat more then at home (everybody does) and tho colds have gone around twice since I've been here, I haven't had either yet. - The sleeping medicine doesn't matter; I don't really need it. Most of the time I go to sleep right away when I hit the sack. If I’d only thought I would have told you to keep the $2 and buy something for Wendy. But I'll do that myself. Did you get Bill Bull's phone call before my letter arrived telling you to expect it? [Yes - you answer it 2 or 3 letters later] I am glad he called - yes, of course you did, because your letter of Wednesday says he saw me Friday night. Gosh, how jealous that makes me! Did he reverse the charges? I asked him to. He's orders back to the States were due to the fact that he became [pg 5] a warrant - as a general rule men are transferred when they are commissioned from the ranks. I'm glad Doug phoned M and F. As to Muz's letter and her concern about Doug's maybe considering France, is that why he went to New York? I never tho't of that possibility. Thank you for the violet, sweetie. The clipping in one of your letters about a certain propaganda newspaper was interesting. I've seen a number of copies of the same paper and know where it's put out. That's not Henry's, however - same place but a different sort of job. Awfully glad Mrs. Hurtzburg brought over those pictures. The boys who've been here from the beginning know men in units are over the island because they came in originally on the same ships; hence it's easier for them than for me to get pictures and things like that (souvenir swords and that sort of stuff I don't so much care about). With as much information as I now have on Dr. Hurtzburger I ought to be able to locate him without much difficulty; just haven't had time to date. Gosh - another fruitcake! Your suggestion is a good one - maybe I will sprinkle it with brandy or bourbon occasionally. On the other hand, [pg 6] it's harder to get food for the Officers’ Club now and members have been asked to donate what food they don't need - Maybe I'll just take it over and make an evening of it sometime. Funny thing happened to some Bourbon I brought from Hawaii in a canteen. The canteen was metal lined in and out with a dark blue enamel. The bourbon turned out a spinach-juice green! I was furious when I poured out the first glass for somebody here - I had been counting on getting mildly tight when it arrived, just to break the monotony. Fortunately, however, I didn't throw it out on the spot; Dr. Koser thinks it's all right and is going to have it tested. Tom Hershey (the other doctor, from Pennsylvania and distantly related to the chocolate tribe - knows Chambersburg and Wilson) said he’d seen a similar case before and it was all right. But I'll wait till it's been tested. I'm glad you steered clear of making any judgments to Muz about Doug and Frances. You have more sense than I do in that respect, honey - I’d strain and struggle over what advice to offer and never consider that it wasn't my place to offer any. At least I used to - I'm learning. [pg 7] Wendy certainly got a batch of shots all at once! And I'm worried about getting the Korean kids rounded up for just one of them (diphtheria), plus a cursory test for tb. Give my best to Bev - is she as lively as ever? She certainly arrived in characteristic style! Got the embroidered handkerchief back and will see what I can make of it - don't be disappointed if I change back altogether and substitute another kind of design - if I do I'll return this hanky too, of course. - Thank you for the snapshot corners. Golly, darling, I wonder sometimes myself how I can possibly wait another 14 months. But I know that in the end it will seem as though there never was a separation and that that time is worth the waiting for - meanwhile I continue to dislike it but am determined to keep busy and fight off any signs of frustration (another word for feeling low) Good night darling - a big and little bear hug to my dearly beloved ones Warren