Wallace's wartime letters

November 19, 1944 Sunday

2011-07-11T13:46:00.002-07:00

Somewhere in France

Dearest Sherlock,

Your letter of the 31st of October has just reached me – the letter in which you wrote about the country around Salisbury. Since I am now longer in that country, even, I can tell you that you were “right in every particular” (as old Grandsir John used to say). The places and towns you wrote about are quite familiar to me, and I am very glad that you, too, know about them now. I think from your letter that you can see how thrilling it was for me to be actually in that country. In your list of towns you not mention the little village of Tidworth.

I did not get to visit the cathedral at Winchester, tho I did come near it, and the skipper on “my” LST said that he had been there and was quite impressed.

Your sketch of the Salisbury cathedral is perfect. I can show you on it just how I went through the place. It was really very striking and awe-inspiring. I do hope Miss Ackerman can use the Stonehenge pamphlet – actually Stonehenge wasn’t 25 miles away, I cheated on that because I couldn’t imagine describing it without naming it!

And now, here I am or here we are with another whole country to assimilate just as we get together on the other. And I have so much to tell you, Honey. I have so much to tell and perhaps you can “Sherlock” the rest as you did in England.

Our trip over was very comfortable – at least for my crew. We came with the vehicles. The rest of the outfit came in other boats for personnel – fast and crowded and uncomfortable. We took quite a few days, set some time at anchor outside the harbor, lived in excellent quarters, ate well, and were not crowded. Moreover we came to a camp all set up by the time we arrived after a long convoy from the port.

I have told you in a V-mail letter how we lived in pup-tents, except for the officers, and how I lived with Mme. Legrand for a few days. I don’t believe I mentioned that at long last we have caught up with Gino Forchielli. It was good to see him again. Now, with Olevine’s replacement, 1st Lt. John Trusley of Tennessee, our officers’ staff is complete for once.

Now the picture has changed completely again. The company has moved about 15 kilometers to a small town. We have the whole town in which to billet our company. Our mess hall is in the rear end of the local café, the 1st and 2nd platoons are billeted out here at the largest farm in town – about a kilometer from the church. The other platoons and sections are separate in other farms. This wide dispersion makes a unique situation that I like. It makes Lt. Fairbairn a small dictator in town – there are about equal number of civilians and C Company men. It makes we platoon leaders quite responsible. We make our own platoon schedules and devise our own training. We look after our own billets and guards. For the first time my platoon is a unit by itself, unfettered by a larger unit right nearby. We have to take our half-tracks to get to chow!

Lt. Forchielli and I live together in a big room of the excellent main house of the estate on which both our platoons are billeted. It is by far the best quarters we have had this side of the Atlantic. The men are in lofts and barns nearby.

In England, historical places and big events caught your attention. Here it seems to be a country of small people and everyday life. Peasants working as they have done for years, following customs and living very much to themselves. They are not conscious of their antiquity as are the English, but their life is full of tradition, and much more “human” than I found life in England. I have become the company “interpreter” and so have had a lot of chances to get acquainted with the French people. The mayor and his “assistant” are great friends of mine, and many others. They are extremely warm and friendly and expressive. I have no trouble understanding them and am getting more fluent every day. I shake hands, wave them when I talk, exclaim “en effet” or “oui, oui, oui” with the best of them. They like to talk to me and get a kick out of my French, which is understandable but a bit weird in spots.

Today I looked after such things as these. I told a man with a machine for making cognac, not to sell or give any to “C” company men during the day. I arranged for a detail to attend a funeral for a French soldier tomorrow. I began diplomatic relations with the café owner, and tested his Calvados. Same for the owner of this estate. He is an only son, and rich. He treated me politely, and we had a fine talk – but I think he will require a little handling before I get him in line. It’s understandable why he isn’t enthusiastic for 200 men to take over his farm, but the other people realize the necessity and willingly give all they can. He is a little too rich for that. That is the trouble with being rich. “Where your treasure is, there your heart is also.” This rich man is the first person I have met in France that I didn’t like at once. He is too busy staying rich to be friendly.

Well, I cannot tell you everything in one letter, I can see that. It’s late already. I have much more to tell you, tho, Honey, so I’ll write again just as soon as I can. I cannot tell you how much I love you and how much I appreciate your wonderful letters. They mean everything to me. Be strong, Bunny, I love you very much.

Your Wallace

November 17, 1944 Friday

2011-07-11T13:46:00.001-07:00

Dearest Honey,

Am I having fun speaking French, and getting acquainted with the French people. I am with my platoon all day, but each night I go to the local café to talk with the owner, M. André Boust and drink his excellent cider. I come back early and talk with Mme. Le Grand Legrand, and then O’Brien and I sit by her fire and write to “nos femmes.” Her husband is a prisoner of the Germans and she can write only 25 words a month to him. I think I will continue to go to the same café and gain their friendship. Then I may learn more of real French village life.

I got a letter today! Dated November 1 – wonderful to hear from you again. V-mail is all we are getting now. It is ever so much faster than regular mail.

I live in a typical French home – thatched roof in part, but mostly “en adois” – like slate, and made of a sort of stucco (argil). It is over 100 years old and the family has lived in it for many generations. Lamps are the only light. There are apple trees in the yard, and several hens that run all over, including my room! Generally it is very much as we studied in school – Miss Thomson was right! They even have a “market day” and Mme. Legrand walked 5 kilometers in the rain to buy some meat. They all have stories of the occupation to tell. It’s a big experience for me – wish only that we could share it better.

All my love,
Wallace

November 16, 1944 Thursday

2011-07-11T08:50:00.000-07:00

Somewhere in France

Dearest Honey,

Again I cannot tell you the thousands of details of things that I have seen and done. I have left England, and am now in France. I commanded an LST [Landing Ship, Tank] with around 130 men on the way over. I am now billeted with Lt. O’Brien in a French home, having a great time working out my French on the land lady and local cafe owner. It works surprisingly well. French cognac and cider are all they promised it to be. No wine, however! The country is interesting beyond words, with signs of the German occupation and evacuation all around. The French people are much more enthusiastic over us than the English.

And Bunny, I think of you and love you every minute. You cannot imagine how fine it makes me feel to know you are there. I promise to write all I possibly can, for I don’t want you to worry – I love you more than anything.

Always all yours,
Wallace

November 8, 1944 Wednesday

2011-07-11T08:49:00.001-07:00

Dearest Honey,

The dope here tonight is that Frankie is still in good standing for another four years. That should give him time to patch up the world. What will the Republicans do now that their fair-haired boy has come and gone?

The situation here is normal – our first snow came today. The slushy, muddy kind that doesn’t please anybody. I had my moustache trimmed up a little yesterday – it is now just about the way I want it; not too big, not too small.

Another gap has come in your letters, so I am waiting for an armful someday to make up for it.

Actually, honey, there is so little I can talk about now that it is hard for me to write. I am pretty well “saturated” by military things that aren’t letter topics, and I don’t have the outside activities to get my mind from them to more acceptable topics.

I have tried our remedy of thinking over things we have done, and succeeded a couple of times in getting downright homesick. Most of the time it makes me feel good, tho.

Tonite Buck and I went to an American movie up at the mess hall. Lionel Barrymore in “Three Men in White” – fairly good. Coming to our tent we wished like everything we were back in the states, and discussed our chances of getting back. Even if the fighting is over soon, we dismally figured it would be some time. We would have cried in our beer, if we could get any beer. Knowing this was not possible, we just came back and are getting ready to crawl into our sleeping bags.

The tallow you will probably see on this paper – if it photographs, that is – is from the candle I am writing by. Makes me feel like Abe Lincoln, somehow.

Well, goodnite, Honey. I love you always, don’t forget. And distance or time doesn’t effect it in the slightest, except to make it seem greater and more important.

Every bit of my love,
Wallace

November 7, 1944 Tuesday

2011-07-11T08:48:00.001-07:00

Dearest Bunny,

Well, whom are you voting for today? I can see why a person would not vote for Roosevelt, but not why they would vote for Dewey. However, if you wish to vote for the moustache instead of the cigarette, it’s O.K. with me. I don’t care how confused you are --- ! My money is still on F.D.R. for lack of a better man.

I am being real virtuous today, and writing to Laura and the folks. Also I sent out four Xmas cards and the “Specialist” to the folks. Pretty good, huh?

It gets colder every day, but we get tougher and tougher. Also now we have a soldier come in every day and clean our tent out. Looks pretty good now.

This quick letter is mainly to tell you I am thinking of you as always. I love you very much.

All yours,
Wallace

November 5, 1944 Sunday

2011-07-11T08:47:00.001-07:00

7 p.m.

Dear Bunny,

Say, wasn’t it a coincidence that you hit on the idea of a “Merry Widow” album, almost at the same time I was re-seeing it in London. It would make a wonderful start for our collection – those melodies mean so much to us. If it’s an Xmas present – thanks loads. Since Oley left I have taken over his company jobs – unit censor, voting officer, orientation officer – in addition to my other duties.

Today is Sunday and a day of duty, but not very strenuous duties. We censored mail almost all this afternoon, then at four I took off to my bunk to catch up on my resting. It was raining just enough to make things drowsy, and boy, I had fun. I suppose about now you are getting settled to listen to our Sunday programs – I’m right with you, anyway; that’s all I’m doing tonite, thinking of you and loving you the way I always do. Let’s be real close.

All my love,
Wallace

November 4, 1944 Saturday

2011-07-11T08:45:00.000-07:00

Dearest Honey,

This is one of those nights when I can’t seem to think of anything to write except G.I. things. And they bore both of us. I fired my carbine this morning. I am duty officer tonight (repaying Bukovinas for his goof turns to us this summer). My platoon is in fine shape. Changed two squad leaders recently, and it was for the best. I am getting so I know the platoon better all the time. I am pretty tired from being out in the cold all day.

Ah, yes, I still have my moustache – fuller and finer than ever. I have found a man in the company, a cook, who keeps my hair cut and whiskers trimmed for two packs of cigarettes a week. That’s six pence a week and a hole in my ration card. I’ll keep the moustache as Exhibit A against those who oppose it back home. It’s a lot better now than it was in the “Two Sisters” picture. I boast.

Now I will move on to another V-form and make a confession that I am sure will make you wonder what I must look like. Continued—
Wallace

November 4, 1944 Saturday
Hello again, Hon – Experience, you know, is a thing that should not be avoided. I shall now confess to a new experience. On my ration card is a spot to authorize most anything. Since I always buy all I can get, I found myself in possession of a large hunk of chewing tobacco last week. I resolutely set out to give the thing a fair trial. After all, many people chew tobacco and enjoy it. I have broadmindedly been chewing and spitting all week, to the amazement of thousands, including myself. With half a hunk still to go I conclude that the taste of chewing tobacco is quite good. But its use is restricted to the out-of-doors, since if you swallow rather than expectorate freely you get dizzy. Excess expectoration by its own nature further restricts it to society where such action is approved. Except for the taste, it’s a lousy habit! And even the taste isn’t so good.

I am getting tired again; I planned to write three sections tonight, but will have to quit at two. Please excuse me, honey. I’ll go right to bed and dream of you as usual, in my snug sleeping bag – I have one now that zips right over my head and keeps out the cold air. I love you always.

All my love,
Wallace

November 3, 1944 Friday

2011-01-15T14:55:00.002-08:00

Dear Honey,

I finally managed to get some V-mail forms, and promise to use them all I can. You V-mail has reached me in seven days or less—by far the best method. I hope this goes equally fast. I am glad you are finally getting some of my letters.

Tonite, after officers’ school, I went to a free movie at our semi-cylindrical mess hall, and saw “Flesh and Fantasy”; it was a very good show—almost the first movies I seen here. Did take in a couple at Liverpool.

You mentioned wearing my old leather jacket in today’s letter. Please make use of any of our things like that that you can. I like to think of you having them, too. I am very, very glad that you keep your letters coming even when mine don’t come. They do make us very close together, and next to seeing you, are the things I want most.

After censoring as much mail as I do, I can see that anything I say would be plagiarism—it’s been said every conceivable way, so let me add my own version of “I love you” to the mass now on its way. I do, Hon, awfully.

Your Wallace

November 1, 1944 Wednesday

2011-01-15T14:55:00.001-08:00

Dearest Honey,

Was really busy today. Had the company on a hike all a.m., was with Lt. Fairbairn all p.m. cleaning up the payroll, went to a 2-hour long officers’ school tonite, and then censored mail until 11:30, which is now. Lt. Fairbairn and I are the only officers in the Company right now. Tomorrow he goes on a detail, so I will have the company.

Got some more mail from you today, dating from the day you made your speech at Uncle Carl’s birthday party to Oct. 25—which is not long ago—gee, I hope you are getting my mail now, hon. I hate to think of it not coming thru. I am not able to write every day, but I try to make the best average I can.

I appreciate your letters very, very much and am glad they come so frequently, even tho they are scrambled up. I am a little out of the groove as far as writing of “homey” things is concerned. That old G.I. rut takes most of my time and thoughts. I do get in just a little reading every now and then. I have a little manual on psychology, and a popular book on logical thinking about social problems. I really don’t get anywhere in them, just read them to keep from forgetting that there are things that are not G.I. Those books and your letters are about the total of civilian contacts I have.

I love you, honey, and hope our “future” will not be long in coming.

All my love, Bunny,
Wallace

October 31, 1944 Tuesday

2011-01-12T11:49:00.001-08:00

Hello Hon,

Here we are all alone again tonite. I just got back from our now nightly officer’s school. Buk and Young are in London, Oley is in the hospital and here am I by myself in a messy tent. By the way, Oley is going to have a hernia operation that will take at least 10 weeks to recover from, so he is being dropped from the company with only dreams of ever getting back to it. That’s really bad, because he is a good worker, and my best pal in the 56th. I guess the fact that he is a college man, too, gave us something in common. We were the only “C” company officers who have been.

Lately I have been doing a lot of side jobs in addition to leading my platoon. These extra duties certainly make a liberal education of being an officer. Today I had the company payroll to get at the finance office—some 1700 pounds. Then I became the inventorying officer for our P.X. I had to oversee an inventory of the entire stock, make out a lot of forms, count all their money and swear that the place was financially sound and operating efficiently. They evidently thought I was from the inspector general or some such, because they gave me all the respect due him. I guess I made them think I knew what I was about. All I did was look reserved and businesslike and see that none of the papers I signed was incriminating. Tomorrow I may have to have to see that the engineers are building their bridges right! Of course, I am always advising our mechanics on how to run our motor pool. It’s wonderful, being expected to be an expert on everything—you have to learn fast to keep from getting into an embarrassing situation!

More on the side than anything, I have been reviewing the employment of my platoon. Officer’s school each night gives me a good chance to keep up on theory and most every day I get plenty of practical work in handling the platoon. Armored outfits have big platoons and there are a thousand things to keep in mind. Men, vehicles, weapons, tactics, security, etc., etc. Sometimes I wish I had certain parts of those notes you said you have been reviewing.

Tonite I finally got some paper to wrap your Xmas gift in. Please forgive the roughness of it all, it’s the best I could do. I only hope they reach you in good condition, and soon! I’ll get that little book off to the folks when I can, but I know you’ll look after the folks in case something goes wrong. Remember to get Bob a diary as a gift, as well as some other little thing. Make them all know that I am thinking of them for Xmas, but just can’t send much but my love. That goes particularly for Grammy, too. I’ve been several weeks trying to get yours in the mail.

My bedtime gets earlier and earlier as it gets colder and colder. Get very sleepy in the air all day. I love you, Honey, more than I can ever say.

Every bit of my love,
Wallace

October 29, 1944 Sunday

2011-01-12T11:30:00.000-08:00

Dearest Bunny,

Here I am again, and with more to say than I can ever cover in an orderly manner. So please let me wander along saying whatever pops into my mind. Eventually I may cover everything.

I have been in London for the last three days. All by myself, but not nearly as lonely as you would think. In fact, it seemed good to have a little privacy and solitude after the too-communal life of the army for so long. Gave me a chance to “catch up” with myself. Necessary to get re-oriented every now and then. I appreciated being alone, too, after traveling in convoy where you have to mentally pull so many men and vehicles along with you. Had only me to worry about, so I could fly about very easily most anyplace. At that, I managed to leave my field bag in the train with most of my toilet articles – you can see I wasn’t thinking at all about appendages.

Oh, I was homesick a couple of times and thought about you being there most all the time. We would have done the same things, and had much more fun. But I preferred not to go with another officer because so few of them like to do just the things we do. You seemed very close to me all thru it, Hon. You were the closest thing to a companion I had – and you did very well, for I wasn’t lonely.

I went to London aboard a special train Thursday morning. Narrow little foreign trains, like the one that Sydney Greenstreet slept in in “The Mask of Dimitrios.” Remember? With the compartments? They ride as easily as our trains. By the way, “Dimitrios” is in London now – that makes Louisville, Abilene, and London that I have seen it advertized in.

Nicely enough, we were in a “London Fog” all day, so I didn’t see much scenery on the way in. Censorship won’t let me describe how London’s buildings have changed since the war started. Too bad. Anyway, when I got in to Waterloo station I took a taxi to the Jules Hotel. The taxi had right hand drive and all to make it seem English. I felt like Dr. Watson riding all alone in the rear seat. Over the Thames, to Picadilly Circus, to the hotel, now run for officers by the Red Cross. I signed in, settled into the most luxurious place I’ve been in in England. Sheets! A mattress! A hot bath! A flush toilet! I reveled in my room until I felt civilized. When I first arrived the shoe shine man thought I was just in from France, from the mud on the high-cut boots.

It was pretty well into the afternoon when I got fit to appear in public. The fog and the hour made sightseeing impossible on Thursday. So I had the people at the Red Cross arrange for me to see the Sadler Wells Ballet that evening. I took a walk around Picadilly, and had another one of those suffocating “Teas” at the Marble Hall Café. I entered the damn thing thru a rear door that took me into the Hall – very, very ornate and all of marble, -- by way of the stage! I was in the center of the stage before I knew where I was, so I continued in a stately manner on down a wide flight of maroon carpeted stairs. I tried to look like King George, because he is the only person that could have entered in such a conspicuous way. You see, there was a line maybe a block long waiting for tables at the normal entrance! Once in, tho, they couldn’t think of a thing but to give me a table. A little cart with teeny sandwiches came by, -- I took three. Then a cart with pastries – the kind we thought New Orleans should have. I regally pointed out the two I wanted, and they put them on my plate with a pair of big tweezers. Then a pot of tea came, and a pot of hot water to mix with it for the second cup. Didn’t have to order, it just came. I was the only American there! It was very, very – rawther!

I have yet to get a real meal from the English. I did get a lot of those pastries, like big tarts, or buns, or layer cake while in London, but no meals. Result of the war, no doubt.

Returning for my tickets, I found that the Ballet was sold out and that they had substituted tickets for – guess what? – The Merry Widow! I was pleased at the idea and took off at once to a 15 shilling seat – one of the best! It started at 6:15 and was over at 9. Blackout makes all theatres start by 6:30 or 6:45 anyway. The production was a lot like the one we saw – about on a par with it. The main difference was that Danilo was chiefly a dancer not a singer like Wilbur Evans (or was it Maurice?). He looked like an English version of Fred Astaire. Very graceful all thru. They put in a long boring mess of English slapstick in the second act, that was well left out in Boston. I sat right next to the horn and appreciated the music very much. “Vilia” was not as beautiful as Kitty Carlisle did it. Madge Elliot didn’t have the clear voice for it. It had a thousand memories, so you can imagine whom I was missing like the very dickens when I groped my way home in the fog and dark and went straight to bed. As in Boston, the music carried the play.

I didn’t mention that the theatre was very high with several tiers of boxes. They sold song sheets instead of souvenir programs, and they used a revolving stage that allowed quick changes of scene.

Friday morning I set out to do London with our tested and approved system. First I took a taxi tour of the main points. Took two hours, and we rode with the top of the taxi down. Was in a group of 5 soldiers. We saw all the things you’ve heard of in London—Fleet Street, Dickens’s “Curiosity Shop,” St. Paul’s Cathedral (no more impressive than the one near our camp), Big Ben, Westminster Abbey where just about everybody is buried, and the other places named on the sheet I will send you. It would take a book to tell about each one. It was all intensely interesting.

After the tour, I looked way ahead to evening, and decided to see another play. From such plays as “Uncle Harry,” “While the Sun Shines,” “Arsenic and Old Lace,” “Blithe Spirit,” “Peer Gynt,” I decided to try to get into the “sold out” production of Hamlet. Nothing low down about me. They said it was impossible, so I went directly to the theatre and squeezed out a single seat in the centre of the first balcony for 5 shillings, 6 pence. It was still morning so I went to the National Gallery of Art at Trafalgar Sq. They have only war pictures there now. After an hour or so there I left and looked all thru the many book stores on Charing Cross Road. Found a small copy of Hamlet and bought it. Felt very, oh so very, cultured when I returned to the National Gallery at one p.m. to hear a piano-violin recital and read away on Hamlet. But we know how hard Shakespeare is if you are not brushed up on it before hand. The concert was fine, too. Seemed wonderful after living in the mud so long. Quite a contrast!

After the recital, I took the “tube,” or subway, to the Tower of London. I saw it in the morning tour and had decided it was the place I’d most like to see in detail. Still following our system, you see. I saw it from top to toe, all the time looking for Anne Boleyn with ‘er ‘ead tooked underneath ‘er arm. Saw where she was beheaded, and all, but I guess she was out. Saw where Raleigh was imprisoned so long – (Read of that in Benet’s “Western Star”) and many other sights. The tower was built in the time of William the Conqueror!

Had a chance to breeze thru the whole of Hamlet before the play started at 6:30. It was wonderful. The scenery was simple, as it should be, but the acting and costumes were excellent. I caught every word, and am still remembering whole speeches from it. It was better than our “Falstaff” in “King Henry IV, Part II.” The play is full of life, seems natural, and gives meaning to a lot of lines that read only as so many words. Polonius was quite a humorous character, and they made several incidents really funny. Of course, Hamlet was a very complex character and you could speculate on him all night. It was a revelation of how Shakespeare still makes fine entertainment if you get him away from the “scholars.” Hamlet’s soliloquies were so engrossing that the whole house, tho packed, was as silent as a church, during them. [John Gielgud as Hamlet, Theatre Royal, Haymarket]

I slept late Saturday morning, I was so comfortable in a real bed. I had to hurry to get out to Buckingham Palace in time to see the changing of the guard. I just made it. It is very pompous, precise, and impressive. The British click their heels on the pavement as they march, so you can hear them tramp out each command. “About Face,” and you hear stamp, stamp, stamp, as they bang their feet on the stones. The band was of the best.

An American outfit was holding a review nearby, and we didn’t lose a thing in comparison to the Royal Guard. I think we are better in precision and snap, but lack the heavy dignity the British seemed to have.

Then I checked out and set out regretfully for camp. It was a great experience, and had given me a chance to rest up and get “on the beam” again. Seemed too short, tho.

I have already told you that the British are very politically conscious, and the social & political tracts find a good market on the streets. I bought a couple of small manuals on psychology—one on “Personality,” one on the “Inferiority Complex” to read on the way to camp. Soon after a man came up to me and said that he was interested in psychology, too. He talked with me for some time about British clinics and educational ways. He thought they should have more, but it seemed to me that the British were more conscious of the need for both clinics and adult education than we are.

On the train I have a long talk with a British aristocrat about the war and postwar problems. He told me how the British “socialized medical system” works. He was against it, as you might expect, and against the whole trend of social planning. And he justified himself well. I didn’t disagree with him because it is so hard to get the British to talk freely that I didn’t want to risk shutting him off. He was a conservative. In the U.S. he would be a devout republican. He commanded a battalion in the last war, so we talked over military things, too. Differences in British and American organization, etc.

Then I got back to camp and into the routine of camp once more. Today I am O.D., spending my time by the fire in the guardhouse. Just got my weekly P.X. ration, and that is giving me the bad habit of buying everything they will let me have. May lead to catastrophe if I ever get free in a 5&10 when I get back!

I meant to say earlier that your letters are coming thru swell now, seven to 10 days. And that they are appreciated just as much as you can imagine them to be. I love you so much, Bunny, and it makes me feel very confident and happy when you write and say that you love me and know I love you. You can always have that faith, honey, and I will always be equally sure that you love me. It makes everything all right when I know that we always have each other, even tho we aren’t together. It makes living alone very bearable. “I’ll Walk Alone” is a true theme song for these days; fits us perfectly. I’ll always walk alone, and love you until we can walk forever together. So long again, my Bunny. You are the best wife in the world. I am glad and thankful I was the lucky person to be your husband.’

Always all yours,
Wallace

October 25, 1944 Wednesday

2010-08-19T11:04:00.000-07:00

Somewhere in England

Dear folks,

Please let me use the same excuse you do for not writing. I write Marjorie all the news, and in addition, it is hard to write letters here. Most of them are done in candlelight under conditions not exactly ideal for clerical work. Also I am roaming around considerably within the limits of this island.

I am receiving your letters well now, and naturally am very glad to get every one. I will tell you whatever I need – tho there is really nothing urgent yet. It’s going to be a cold winter, and my own body heat is about all I’ll get. Gloves, a scarf, V-mail forms are good. Soap and stationery are also scarce, but I have plenty now.

V-mail really goes very fast if you have any news to send. Good idea to sprinkle them in with “real” letters.

Ma, I hear you spanked Carlton for a glass of milk that you spilled. If you want to practice flicking a towel, you don’t have to take it out on your son!

The only member of the family I don’t hear from or about is Pa. Now, I am just as interested in him as anybody else and would appreciate an account of his activities. There must be some recent news, or as the army has it, “hot poop” concerning him.

Altho I am exposed to the elements 24 hours a day, I haven’t had as much as a sniffle this fall. I guess only civilized people get sick. I’ll write when I can.

With love,
Wallace

October 25, 1944 Wednesday

2010-08-19T11:01:00.000-07:00

Dearest Honey,

I just received five more of the very nicest letters I have ever received. I got the V-mail letters you wrote on the 17th as well as some earlier mail. That is very good time, I think. And shows that V-mail is very fast. I shall use it when I can get the forms.

I was relieved to see you had finally begun to receive my letters. They should come in pretty regularly now. I hope so, because if you value the letters as much as I do yours, they mean a great deal. They are the best presents you can send.

Today I think I will tell you some of the bad things about this place just to show you that I do not intend to paint things different from what they are, and to let you realize that there are not really many bad things over here.

About the worst thing is the weather. How it can be so cold and still rain all the time constantly amazes me. The only heat we have is the little stove in our tent and that is seldom going – fuel shortage. Things are always foggy and damp, and with long underwear, a wool sweater, a shirt and my field jacket, I am still cold most of the time.

The next thing is the goddam mud. Uncle Sam gave us some good overshoes, but it is very depressing to try to keep clean with 8 inches of mud over everything.

Next is the lack of lights, hot water, and flush toilets. If I ever get to take a nice warm shower in a nice warm room, I shall be a new man.

Now add trying to live on a dirt floor – no flooring at all – and eating without cups or silverware – and you have about all the gripes I can think of. Oh, yes, one more – you can’t get anything cleaned or pressed or washed in this country. About the only thing they can do is put a cake of laundry soap on our ration card once a month. This makes it very hard to be presentable in a Class A uniform.

Olewine is in the hospital for a week or 10 days to have the cartilage in his knee cut up a little. Still a result of his football collision with a 120 lb. Pfc.! That leaves me without companionship in my trip to London. Be able to see what I want to anyway, and I’ll pretend you’re around. I saw New York alone once, too.

Now if that’s all I have to complain about, I still have plenty to be thankful for. I am getting more of an education every day just by keeping my eyes open, and the army is giving me the kind of work that develops my leadership abilities and gives me responsibilities I am glad to take.

Most of all I am thankful for my very wonderful and understanding wife. I don’t know what I’d do without you, Hon. You make everything seem good and easy. And in just knowing you are there, I don’t get lonely or downcast. I don’t have to. There is plenty here to learn and much to profit from, and having you gives me reason for taking advantage of it all.

I love you always,
Wallace

October 24, 1944 Tuesday

2009-05-30T06:11:00.001-07:00

Dearest Marjorie,

I hope my letters aren’t too badly mixed in sequence when you get them. Yours are pretty jumbled but they are all nicely dated and I can fit them in. I got another batch today, and I appreciate every one more than you can believe. They do wonders for my own personal morale, and not many people over here worry about that too much. It’s all interesting here, but so strange. You get so that something familiar is clung to very hard. Your letters are the nearest things to home I have. I love you for them, Honey. They say just what I feel. I am interested in everything you do.

Well, that new experience that cut off my last letter almost before I could say I love you was really something. I was made convoy commander of a large convoy from division to Liverpool and back. About the most responsible job I have had. I had 35 vehicles in my column and got them all in safely. It’s a long trip, and I got a chance to see England at close range. I headed the column in an open peep. We passed thru some very famous English towns – Newcastle for one, and the English Marlborough. Was in Liverpool for a day and a half and got around in it a lot. Stayed at a very famous former race track.

It’s almost ridiculous how every English child runs to an American with the inevitable V-sign with his fingers and the question “Have you got any gum?” They usually pronounce gum to rhyme with “broom.” The children and girls are very enthusiastic about G.I.’s and practically mobbed us whenever we halted. British soldiers and some old people are much cooler in their attitude.

The towns are beautiful and quaint. Look surprisingly like an old print in a book by Dickens. And they still have the old names for their pubs – “The King’s Head,” “Legs of Man,” “Bell and Crown,” “Hare and Hound,” “Royal Arms.”

Liverpool is big, but pretty dismal with its “dim-out” that is blacker than our black-outs and the still-censored bomb-damage of the early part of the war. I looked all around its municipal buildings, went thru its long, modern traffic tunnel, visited two if its theatres and roamed around the old part of town and the cathedrals. I saw a very good English movie “Mr. Emmanuel,” and an American film “It Happened Tomorrow.”

I was glad of the chance to see Liverpool again. The first time we went thru it at night and saw only dark silhouettes.

To be complete, I must tell you about the Women On The Street in Liverpool. It’s an important part of the present life of the town. You never saw so many frustrated women. In walking innocently down the street, they approach you singly or in pairs and strike up conversation “Have you got a match?” or gum, or a cigarette? They were particularly perturbed at an officer being unaccompanied and one whole “house” of seven insisted on introducing themselves to me! They are just matter-of-fact professionals and, of course, didn’t even interest me beyond surprising me that anyone could be so blunt and open about it. I would have been disgusted, only I thought that would be a puritanical and moralist attitude. It exists and is something to try to understand.

My driver was amazed also, at the vehicles we saw on the road – pony carts, gypsy wagons, 3-wheeled cars – until he said that he had reached the limit. Not even a nude woman could make him look over his shoulder any more, he said. And I guess it was the English that had Lady Godiva on the roads. They have everything on the king’s highway.

Glad you liked your trip to Rochester, Hon. You’ll have a time at Laura’s, too. She’s an excellent person. A good mother without sacrificing her cosmopolitan interests.

I love your letters very, very much, Bunny. I do think of you and feel you all the time. We are a wonderful pair and I’ll never do anything to break it up. Do not doubt that I will always tell you the truth sincerely. That is the basis of our understanding and as long as it is there we won’t go wrong. I always want to know how things really are with you, so don’t mind giving me the downs and blues with the good things. I’ll understand. I love you, Honey, and always will.

All yours, always,
Wallace

October 20, 1944 Friday

2009-05-27T18:16:00.001-07:00

Somewhere in England

Dear Marjorie,

The mailman broke down today and shot two letters at me. One had the first set of pictures you sent on Sept. 22. The other was dated Sept. 26. It is true that V-mail does come thru much faster than regular mail, so if you want, sprinkle in a few of those. I like regular mail better, but they come thru very slowly. Air mail helps, too. Please note that my address does not include the division. That is not necessary and on occasion could hold up mail a giving away locations of a large unit.

It is too bad that K.T.C. does not offer the courses you need now. I found out that from today’s letter. That leaves you in a dangerous position, honey. Too much leisure can be as bad as being too busy. A few days of doing nothing always makes even little jobs seem hard to me. I would rather have you raising the most violent kind of hell than being too much of a lady of leisure. That is, the late-sleeping, chocolate-eating kind that dabbles futilely at this and that and does nothing. That kind ultimately loses the will to do anything solid or difficult.

Before you hit me, let me explain that I do not think you would ever become like that. But not being in school, you won’t have any real binding job; and that will make it easy for you to lose some of your efficient habits. I hope your will-power is better than mine when it comes to working without any stimulus other than the reward of work itself. Self-education that is more than a pastime is hard as the dickens. If it is the McCoy, it is the best education, however. If you can carve a curriculum for yourself, swell. If not, better learn how to weld.

I can see your point about finding young people to be with and young things to do. It’s very important, too. Do not join the Grapevine. It is enough to be the subject of their talks, without becoming a member. If you have to be with older people all the time, your idea of moving around – to Tamey, etc. is best. Find new acquaintances where you can, and try not to be limited or narrowed by Keene and its conservative code. I’m just getting at the same old idea, hon, of not “bogging down” to conventionalism, or forgetting that “living” our way means the broadest use of all our capacities. Action, not sleep, brings the best things. The world is too big and wonderful to not be actively looked for and appreciated.

There, my sermon is over. Ignore it if you wish, and in any event do whatever you think is best.

I had been looking forward a lot to those pictures. Now I’m waiting for the batch you sent the next day. I thought they were all very good and showed them all around. Pictures are the best souvenirs you can get. The one of the cathedral interested me a lot. In comparing the one near here (pure English Gothic) with it, New Orleans doesn’t match the older one at all for grace and beauty. Our picture has a solid look – “how firm a foundation” stuff – but the cathedral here, tho larger and made entirely of stone gives an impression of lightness and delicacy that is completely different. Has a much greater emotional effect.

Well, here comes a new experience. More later. Must run.

All my love,
Wallace

October 18, 1944 Wednesday

2009-03-11T09:15:00.000-07:00

Dearest Marjorie,

Tonite I am writing you from the cool but well equipped battalion HQ. Reason: I am the battalion duty officer. Of course, my old typing technique has not left me in the months that I have been away from a typewriter. I am still as good as ever. Any questions?

Last night I started a letter to you and never did get it finished. So I will start all over again tonite. First, the news of the day. Oley got his first lieutenancy, at long last. He has rated it for some time as the anti-tank platoon leader. That pleased everyone except a few who felt that they should have come first. You know how they are. Now I am hoping that Lt. Fairbairn gets his captaincy, and we will have the rank we need in C co.

Today the officers got their monthly ration of liquor. There was only a little gin and some eight quarts of Scotch. We had an officers’ meeting and decided to raffle it off. We all drew a tag from a can. Some drew blank sheets and others drew “Scotch” and some drew “Gin” sheets. I hit is for a Scotch, so I am now one of the eight richest men in the battalion! Scotch is very rare over here and the average man goes mad over it. I haven’t done that, but in this cold weather it is well appreciated now and then. Much more so than in the hot old Texas weather.

The last couple of days Oley and I have been handling the company all alone. I had the pleasure of signing the morning report as the C.O. yesterday. There haven’t been many important decisions to make, I admit, but it has been good experience. Makes my platoon seem like a smaller job to handle. Lt. Fairbairn will be back from London tomorrow.

Well, I have to finish now. I love you honey.

All yours,

Wallace

Oct. 19, 1944
Hello, again,
I’ll add a few words to this now wrinkled letter. Hiked and played football today. Our new general spoke to us today. He is O.K. Gee, I love you Honey. Always. Please don’t forget it. How I wish I would get a letter from you!
All my love,
Wallace

October 16, 1944 Monday

2009-03-11T09:13:00.001-07:00

Somewhere in England

Dearest Honey,

Makes me feel a little like a school boy to use this paper, but it is all I have at present. It is a gift of the Red Cross—in that packet I told you of—given to us on the boat.

By the way, let me orient you on the Red Cross activity here. It is extremely good. Remember, in the last war, they said that the Salvation Army did most of the real work with the soldiers while the Red Cross took the credit. That is not true now. The Red Cross is very active with us. They have met us with refreshments and clubs at every station and town we have been in. Today they had a big club-mobile down at the rifle range. They served coffee and donuts to men who were waiting to go on the firing line. That was better than in the States, even. I shall support the Red Cross when we are living a normal life.

Tonite I have a rather interesting method of lighting. I told you that they took our electric lights away. To meet the emergency, we got some candles. By standing one up on the upper left hand corner of my clip board, I can sit on my foot locker and write on my clip board and have the finest light you can imagine on my paper. Just the right angle, and the candle serves as a perfect pipe lighter, always handy. My feet are to the fire and warm. Maybe you don’t know how our tent is arranged. That [drawing] is the general idea.

Buk and Young are in London on pass. Lt. Fairbairn goes tomorrow. Oley and I will have the company. Oley is O.D. tomorrow, so that leaves me company commander for the day! Such a life—responsibilities do come, however, even to the un-ambitious. And as far as the army goes, I am unambitious. I have enough rank to avoid odious things like K.P., and not enough generally to be too damned responsible.

Nite, honey, the candle is burning low. I love you as always.

All yours,
Wallace

October 15, 1944 Sunday

2009-03-08T13:00:00.000-07:00

Somewhere in England

Dearest Honey,

After deliberately wiping my pen off with my handkerchief (I’ll probably wash it myself, and I don’t mind) I am ready to write to you again. This thin paper is a gift of battalion Hq. Hope you can read it.

Before I get into telling what has happened, let me say I have missed you a helluva a lot the last few days. My lonely walks across the countryside made me think of you, and wish we could be together. I’m a solitary old soul I guess. You’re the only person I feel that “togetherness” with. Makes all the difference to know there’s one person that takes that lonely feeling away. It makes being alone enjoyable and profitable, where it could be almost frightening and anyway, sad.

Well, I have had two days almost completely off now. Oley and I returned to that cathedral I told you of before and went thru it more slowly. We met an old fellow who knew all about it and showed us the little side chapels and the cloisters and chapter house. The cloisters are something like the “patio” affair in the Boston library. The priests do their meditating there, and it is a beautiful spot for it. The whole thing dates from 1215, I found, and contains one of the three originals of the Magna Carta. Do you remember we saw one of them in the British Pavilion at the World’s Fair? I thought the man who showed us around was a professional, and wanted to tip him. But Oley thought not, so we didn’t. I still believe he was, but was forced by the sanctity of the church to appear as a gentleman and not to solicit money.

We did our Christmas shopping, too. A few cards, a little book for the folks, and something for you. It was fun browsing thru the many silver shops for yours. We couldn’t get a lot of things for want of ration coupons. I didn’t see any books or music that seemed right. So we decided to get something from the fine silver shops. Oley got some (two) sterling silver napkin rings. What I got for you is not sterling, but is good ware. Hope you like it, Hon.

Oh, and we got in early enough to see the market place in full swing. Like booths at a fair, only selling staples and jewelry and sundries. For two pence I bought a small plate of raw [shell] crustacea (!) called a whelk. Looked like a spiral [shell] snail. It does have a shell, as you may have deduced from the cross-outs. It tasted about like clams or oysters.

Today I accomplished my mission of getting to see one on the most enigmatic structures in history. Stonehenge. I had to walk two miles to get to it. It sits out on top of a hill that dominates the country around. I think I enclose a copy of the story of it. The diagram you see won’t mean anything to you, but I located every stone indicated on it and covered the entire area in the two hours I was there. I was all alone, so I could see it the way I wanted to. At first the (the rocks) appear pretty well scrambled up, but after following it thru you can see just how it was before some of the largest rocks toppled over and spoiled the design. The rocks are large, and weather beaten to such an extent that it is hard to tell their exact original shape. Bit the large design in clear, and the joints that hold the cross pieces onto the vertical stones are ingenious. The structure is very imposing even now. Built before the age of arches, it shows how old civilization is. Not a great deal is known of the people who made the place, but it has been there over 3000 years and looks solid enough for 3000 more. Gives you a very mysterious feeling.

I’d like to write more, but it is getting past my bedtime. That gets earlier and earlier. Fresh air makes you sleepy, so I get to bed by 9 almost every night. I live you more than ever, honey. Thought about you all across the hills to Stonehenge and back, and it’s 2 miles each way from the bus station closest to it!

Every bit of my love,
Wallace

P.S. Encyclopedia Britannica probably has more readable dope on Stonehenge. The flower is from the road to Stonehenge.

October 13, 1944 Friday

2009-03-08T12:31:00.000-07:00

Dearest Marjorie,

This looks as tho it should be quite an epistle. The other end of this sheet may be dangling in the dirt for all I know. I can’t see it from here.

The usual cold rain here continues with enthusiasm. Tonite it looks as tho the house “C” officers built by ingenuity and covetousness is crumbling before our eyes. The lights were removed by higher command, the stove is [fr] ashes and there is no fuel, our lanterns and axe have been stolen, and one side is caving in due to rain. Crime does not pay, no more doubt of that. We have evacuated it for Battalion headquarters for the evening. That has only about 2 inches of water on the floor.

Tho all this is true, we aren’t near as miserable as it would appear. Only an army man can be comfortable in such weather, but believe me I am now an army man. Olewine and I spent the afternoon playing cribbage in our orderly tent. He is currently suffering from a severe charley horse—received it when a pfc. tackled him in a football game! No respect for rank!

In case you remember Sergeant Sohl—I had him for a platoon sergeant when you first came to Abilene—he has now become our company first sergeant. I still have Sgt. Siverling, the boy wonder, as my current platoon sergeant. He’s a good man, too. Lts. Fairbairn and Bukovenic took a pass today, so Olewine and I had the company. They are very liberal with passes—they don’t let training interfere with them at all. I have only had the one I told you of. If I were a private I could have one every other day! I’m about due tomorrow or the next day, tho. Oley and I have some sight-seeing planned.

Mail seems to be coming thru every other day for some reason. This was the off day. Mail certainly does add a lot to the morale of the men. Wonder who looks after the morale of censors? We do cartloads of mail a day. The redeeming feature is that I do the same men’s mail each day, and so get in on some colorful continued stories.

Well, bye now hon. Remember I love you all the time.

Loads of love,
Wallace

October 13, 1944 Friday

2009-03-08T12:04:00.000-07:00

Dearest Marjorie,

Friday the thirteenth today. It looks bright enough, tho. One of the prettiest days we’ve had. Pretty is a good word for England. It’s small and neat and just, pretty. The leaves are turning now, so the landscape reminds me even more of New England. The everchanging weather makes me feel at home, too. Instead of maple and elm trees, there are many, many beech trees. But they look generally like maples from a distance.

Since noon yesterday I have been Officer of the Day (O.D.) for the battalion. Had a guard mount, live in the guardhouse with the Sergeant of the Guard, check the battalion area for anything that needs checking, and several other little things. It’s a good job, on the whole, unless something unexpected comes up.

For your satisfaction, Aunt Flossie was wrong in every particular concerning my departure from the States. Leave it to her to be “in the know” on such things. Was interested in the news of Wiggins, tho. Please find out what you can.

So you did get started on your book! Not everybody gets to starting a book, even! I await my copy, Hon.

Your latest letter (I got 2 more yesterday) was dated Sept. 26. I believe they’ll come faster when the routes get smoothed out.

Glad you have been able to adjust yourself fairly easily to Keene life again. I mist you very much, Hon, but as you say, it’s not the desperate kind I have known. I think with you that new environments help that a lot. I love you forever.

All yours always,
Wallace

October 12, 1944 Thursday

2008-10-29T09:24:00.000-07:00

Somewhere in England

Dear folks,

Once more the situation is well in hand. I have been in a state of flux for sometime, but now I seem settled, at least for a while.

I am in England, no doubt of that, and am getting in a lot of experience in English ways. I have had “tea” in some of the best cafes around and came out hungry but educated. I have an English made pipe that has a cherry bowl. My moustache is thicker and better than ever. Color; indeterminate. Black some days, and white others.

I spend most of my time with the company, but pass policy is liberal and I am seeing quite a bit of this part of England. I am due for a pass to London in a week or so. I can mention towns, etc. that are 25 miles away or more, by name. The area right around here has a lot to offer, tho, and I wish I could tell about it. One town is especially good, historically. It has a wonderful cathedral that dates from 1215, and is absolutely breathtaking in its beauty. As an old history major, it is of great interest to me. There is another place I can’t name that I plan to visit. It is known for its extremely old ruins and monoliths. I know it well from my “ancient civilizations” courses t U.N.H., and am looking forward a lot to seeing it. I’ll tell you about it if I do get there.

It does make me feel good to get my degree. I’m going to plan on getting a master’s, if possible, before I start teaching. That’s if the war lasts long enough for my finances to reach the right state. This “G.I. Bill of Rights” may finance some of it for me, too.

My mail is coming thru now. Got a letter dated Sept. 26 today, that’s 16 days. Expect they’ll come faster now.

Everything is rationed in England. I mean everything. There is very little you can buy in the towns, because the ration cards we soldiers get are for P.X.’s only. We get a ration for 1 cake of soap per week, I package of gum, 4 candy bars, and so on. It is plenty for me, but seems funny.

Give my love to Bob and all.

Your loving son,
Wallace

October 11, 1944 Wednesday

2008-10-29T09:23:00.000-07:00

Dearest Marjorie,

Today has been a typical day for me, so as to give you an idea how I spend my time, I might as well tell you how it went.

I woke up warm and snug in my blankets and had the usual struggle between will and desire before I could get up and straggle to breakfast and to the company tents by 8 a.m. The E.M. tents are about a quarter mile away. I was only a little late today. First I went to the supply tent to see how our latest requisitions were going. Found that good little Sgt. Fee was in a dither over some stuff that had been turned in, but was still serviceable. So we went together down to battalion supply to see if it could be exchanged. We found that it couldn’t and came back to re-issue it to the men.

Then I went to the orderly room and censored mail for a couple of hours. That made it nearly 11:30, so I came down to dinner. At one, Lt. Fairbairn and I got a big bag of English money and set about paying off the men. He counted out the pounds and I, the shillings and pence. That took nearly all the afternoon, because we had to get some info on soldier-voting from each man. At 4:30 we had an officers’ call down at Battalion Hq. We took notes on current business and coming events. That was over at 5:30. Then supper, then to the men’s mess hall to check their mess kits for cleanliness. Then here to build a fire (all by myself) and write to you. Depending on my energy, I may shave, shower, and pick up dirty clothes before going to bed. I am the only one in the tent now, but Buk will be in soon, and Oley later on. Tent life is very comfortable. You are in fresh air all the time. Consequently, I have an enormous appetite, and sleep very, extra comfortably in my nice tight drawn blankets.

Christmas has been on my mind some today. In view of my own laziness, I am going to ask you to look after most of our gifts. To my family, your mother, and I guess that’s all. I could say that things were hard to buy here and harder to send. They are, but if I didn’t have you I could probably manage it. I will pick up some little stuff I can, but I wish you’d look after the real gifts. Oh, and let’s not forget Laura and Justin and their little children.

As for me, if you can send anything, make it stationary, soap, and shaving cream. Those things are hard to get here. Also a scarf (warm, O.D.) and a hood—one of those knit things that go over your head and tuck into the top of a sweater or something. Covers head and neck with just a little face opening. I expect a ha-a-a-rd winter, so anything warm would go. And little practical things.

Our P.X. opened today, also our barber shop. The battalion is making quite a home for itself. We have ration cards for everything we buy at the P.X. Soon we expect to have our battalion movie operating. We get the daily “Stars and Stripes” newspaper. It is a small 4-page job, but it has the news and comes regularly. I hadn’t seen a newspaper for a long time, until that began to come. Has “Little Abner” in it, too! Division special service is arranging for special trains to London, too; so if I get a pass for any length, I’ll be off to the big town. There are also some extremely famous historical places near here that I want to see very much. If they are over 25 miles away, I can tell you all about them; if not, I can only describe them generally. This is quite an education, all round.

Well, I must write to the folks sometime soon. I do appreciate Ma’s inimitable style – just as natural as if she were talking! She seems real worried about Bob and Lorna. “We’re not old fogies, she’s just not the one,” she says. I refuse to form any opinion. I respect old Bob’s judgment implicitly, and figure he knows what he’s after.

This sure is an interesting old world! I have been getting some tremendous thrills out of it lately, and can’t think of a single aspect of it that isn’t just as fascinating as it can be. People, places, things I do, folks back home, history, psychology, art, you. It’s all very wonderful. I wouldn’t miss it for anything!

The fire is going out and there’s no more fuel, so I better go to bed now. Nite, honey. I wish you were with me so we could share all the things that are going on. But knowing you love me and thinking how I love you make me feel very satisfied. I sleep very soundly and have no doubts that we will always be together and share everything. It’s so good to know, isn’t it? Bye for now,

All yours,
Wallace

October 10, 1944 Tuesday

2008-10-22T09:29:00.000-07:00

Somewhere in England

Dearest Honey,

Surprisingly enough, things seem to be settling down to a normal pace and routine here. I may even get a chance to write frequently. I sure hope so. I feel as tho I was getting way behind on things. Same way I used to feel when I didn’t write in my diary. It makes me feel guilty because so many things have happened now that I can only tell a few of them.

Fine as the British people are, don’t ever think they are the same as we are. This is really a foreign country. I hadn’t realized this until yesterday. Until then I had been in a U.S. camp and the country had seemed no more different than the sections of the U.S. are from one another. In fact, the weather and countryside seemed less foreign than Georgia or Texas did to me.

Before yesterday I saw enough of English ways to be interested, but not enough to appreciate how different they are. I played around a lot with British money when I was made exchange officer for the company and had to change over $850 from American to English currency and re-issue English money to the men. Got pretty fluent at talking pence, shillings and pounds.

I had a unique conversation with a little English girl. She was out by the ‘”ablution” place, and I had heard that she was there soliciting laundry, which we have been doing ourselves. Naturally, I ran out right away to see if she would take mine. “Are you the girl that wants to take in laundry?” She shook her head no. So I started back to my tent, baffled. I had gone about half way back when she called after me “But my mother does!” I went back to arrange it then. She said the house where she lived was one of two on the other side of the woods. I asked her which one, and she paused and said, “That all depends on which way you’re going. One way it’s the first, the other way it’s the second.” Well, we finally got by all theses obstacles and I found the place. Olewine fascinated them with our “funny” American money, and they said we could have laundry done for three-pence a piece. That’ll keep me from getting dish-pan hands, or whatever it is you get on wash day.

I went around with Olewine most of the time after we landed and were shuttling around. Once we almost got to ride in a glider towed by a C-47. We became acquainted with a lot of pilots at the officers’ club of one place. Arrangements were all made for us to go on a practice flight with a glider squadron, but our outfit moved out the morning we were supposed to go up. We were both disappointed, but anyway, we learned a lot from the pilots, all of whom had been on many missions—carrying invasion troops—and had “short-snorter” bills yards long. They are bills of foreign countries stuck together, you know. The man with the shortest string, buys the drinks.

That was the club where Olewine gave the English waiter a 50 dollar bill. He casually tossed it back, and explained that that was worth 50 cents,--or ‘alf a crown, and not enough to cover the bill.

After we moved into this tent camp things were just like any army camp getting settled—issuing blankets, lanterns, stoves, etc., as supply officer, took most of my time. We C Company officers live together in one tent; we have made it very livable by a series of nocturnal patrols that have yielded a stove, fuel, various items of furniture and, wonder of wonders, an electric light! We “acquired” everything from wire to plug to light and shade for same, and tapped in on a line going by our tent. My capitalistic respect for property is taking an awful beating, but we’re comfortable. We sleep on folding cots that are legitimate issue. That is, we didn’t steal everything.

We eat in a type of building known as a “Nissen Hut;” semi-circular, long, made of sheets of galvanized iron. Very warm and economical.

Just as I forgot that I was in a strange country, I drew a 12 hour pass. I cannot name the city Oley and I went to [Salisbury], because censorship does not permit us to mention any place within 25 miles of this camp. It is a fairly large place, tho, reached by a crowded bus like the one we took to Barkeley from Abilene, except for the English driver and ticket-taker.

As soon as we stepped down off the big two-story bus, Olewine and I walked in a foreign country from then on. We didn’t grasp a thing for the next three and a half hours, when we landed at an American officers club and caught our breath on coffee and donuts. We took off down a narrow crowded old street that didn’t look like New Orleans, but was closer to that than anything we have seen. We were hungry as wolves and looking for a place to eat. On the way we window shopped for Xmas presents for our wives. Saw some fine silverware, but not much in “our” style. Went into an antique shop and bought a bronze medal with a university coat of arms on it for 2 and 6. It is a silly thing—prize for a bicycle race at Cambridge in 1880. Don’t know why I bought it. We passed by typical “tobacconists” shops, and dropped into one. They had many kinds of tobacco, but none of the aromatic kinds. The result of war shortages. I have some English tobacco and it is no better than American. They have an excellent mild cigarette—“Player’s” Navy cut medium, they call it.

We didn’t find a restaurant that was open for a long time, and found out in the meanwhile that we just couldn’t get our uniforms pressed, and needed ration coupons that we didn’t have to buy a cheap pair of gloves. English waiters do not seem very aggressive. We entered a store and would have waited all day before anyone volunteered to wait on us. The waiters just ignored us until we went up and asked them for something. Then they were very polite, however.

Finally we found an open café. It was plainly the best in town—refined and crowded. We dashed in to order something extra big in the way of meals. We forgot that it was four o’clock, tea time, and that England was short on food in a way we don’t know about in the U.S. Consequently we were a little startled when we were put at a teeny-weeny table with a silver tea set and four cups already on the table. I was in the pourer’s seat, so I solemnly poured Olewine’s thimble full and we began munching on the little pastries they had there. We figured that when they brought us the menu we could order something big. The pastries would keep up from dying meantime. The menu did come, too. It was about the size of the menu at that Mexican food place in Abilene, was it Comidas Mexincanas? This menu was in pencil, tho. We ordered Welsh Rarebit very happily and returned to our tea, now reinforced with plain hot water from a pot. Finally our meal came—a thin slice of bread with a cheese cream on it. Olewine said, “huh, in the states we call it a cheeseburger.” All in all, we felt about as silly as you and I did at Antoine’s, and we left a great deal hungrier than you and I did.

We prowled around some more, and had “tea” at a couple of more nice cafes, but still couldn’t get what would equal one meal. Came to one conclusion—either you cannot eat at “tea-time,” or there is just no food to buy in England. Guess it’s a little of each.

We gave up finally, and went sight seeing. Without direction we found the old part of town. A section about two blocks square completely walled in by a tall parapet or the stone sides of buildings. We entered through an enormous archway of stone that looked like something out of the middle ages—and was. We went down a short street to a flat, green square. In the center was the enormous, graceful cathedral, and on the edge of the square were old taverns and stores—The Bell and Crown, The Red Lion, etc. An Anglican priest walked by, and a long legged boy went by on a bicycle. Everything was very, very European except for one thing—the boy was singing “Pistol Packin’ Mama”!

Then came the high point of the day, and I believe one of the most moving experiences of my life. We went into the cathedral. It was interesting from the outside—Gothic, old, large and majestic. It had “flying buttresses” and stone carvings and everything a cathedral should have. But it wasn’t until we went inside and looked up that we caught on to why people have been so enthusiastic about cathedrals. It was the most striking thing I have seen for a long, long time. The tall windows with the sun coming through, the high, high ceilings, the stone floors, the inscriptions that date back to long before the crusades. We got there in time for “evensong” and heard the organ playing. The acoustics were perfect, and the organ seemed to come from nowhere. We saw the robed choirboys march in, and heard the priests chant and the choir sing the responses. You can see how big a grip the church must have had on people in the old days, when it was all the had of art and culture. I was awe-struck in a way that is hard to describe.

We left soon, but I hope to go back again. We went back to the main part of town, and spent the evening at three officers’ clubs. One, to have a good American supper, a Red Cross O.C.; one that had a bar and a radio. We drank some good cherry brandy and some sherry as we listened to the sixth game of the world series. It was 2 o’clock in St. Louis, and 8 o’clock here when it started. We went to the third club to read and meet a Lt. who had agreed to take us home in his peep. We got home to our tent before midnite.

The pass was my first real look at England. It is a strange place, with very deep rooted customs. We Americans won’t change it too much. I have noticed that almost every young girl has a baby carriage. Not that there is any necessary connection, you know.

Since I started this letter my first mail has come in. I took time out to read every word two or three times. I got six letters. Four from you, one from Ma, and one from the University. The last tells me where to sit at graduation! All were written before I got on the boat, but you seemed to catch on that I was on my way. Gee, it was good to hear from you, Bunny. How did you know to put U.S.A. on your return address after Sept. 20? Every word you wrote was true, Hon. I do feel about like a boy that makes me very sick when I censor his mail. Every single day he tells his wife in 8 or 10 pages that he loves her (I quote) “madly, madly, and so very madly.” Well, I’m not mad at you, or anything, and I won’t risk driving anyone else into madness by being like that. But I can see how that boy feels, Hon.

Now, you see, this Abilene N.H. deal really shows very deep foresight, as I see it. I felt that by the time the card went out you might be either in Abilene or N.H. By compromising in this fashion I gave the postman some clue, regardless of where you were. Not many people would think of that, now, would they? And you got the damned thing, didn’t you?

Olewine and his wife have adopted “I’ll Walk Alone” until the war is over, too. It does fit us, a great deal better than I realized when I first went for it. I’ll walk alone, Honey, and I am lonely, too. And no mistake. I love you such an awful lot.

Probably you are in school now. Whatever you do is O.K. with me, Hon. I am waiting to hear about your doings after Sept. 20 or so. Ma says you are looking swell, which is natural, and I don’t see why she seemed surprised that your stay in Texas was good for you. (Did you ever tell her about the neat way you threw your dressed around the sidewalks of Abilene when we came back from New Orleans?) I will be glad when those pictures you took come through—I hope they’re the small kind.

Now, goodnite, Honey. I love you more than anyone in the world. I am so glad we had our summer together and came to see just how close we could be in reality. Before we had thought we could be close, now we are close and understand each other well. With that we can pass the time we are apart without worry and with great faith. I love you, Honey.

So long, every bit of love,
Wallace

October 7, 1944 Saturday

2008-10-22T09:28:00.000-07:00

Somewhere in England [V-Mail #2]

Dearest Honey,

Hello, Hello! My lecture on England is now being prepared and will take about three years to deliver. I am having more fun than anything looking and learning. We live in a tent city and it’s cold, no foolin’, but we are close to civilization. My nerves are being shattered trying to dodge to the correct side of the road when a car comes at me on the left side. Also am waiting to get the “hang” of English money. We have seen quite a share of England already; it’s very pretty—neat, well-cultivated countryside. Like New England, but more populated.

Am still waiting for some mail, but am patient. Have had a hard time keeping up with myself. I love you, Bunny, very much.

All yours,
Wallace

Undated [on board the Empress of Australia, sailed from NYC to Liverpool, September 20, Wednesday-October 2, Monday, 1944]

2008-10-10T09:37:00.001-07:00

[V-Mail #1]

Dearest Marjorie,

I have written several letters to you since we have been at sea. They will be mailed when we land, as this will be. This should get to you quicker, tho, so here it is to let you know I am safe and healthy and young and handsome and rugged and very much in love with my wife. If I weren’t all those things when I left, lay it to the ocean air.

Put it down on our list of “things to be done by us,” to cross the ocean and spend some evenings on a moonlit deck. The sea is very big and beautiful at night.

Maybe, too, this trip will make our trips in the U.S. seem pale. It has been most interesting so far, but I do miss you and love you very much and all the time. So long, my honey.

All my love,
Wallace

Undated [on board the Empress of Australia, sailed from NYC to Liverpool, September 20, Wednesday-October 2, Monday, 1944]

2008-10-10T09:36:00.001-07:00

Dear Mrs. Russell,

Land ho! Yes, we sighted terra firma off the port bow today, so our trip is on its last legs. At least this portion of it. I couldn’t have asked for a more pleasant voyage. Naturally, many of us are getting restless from lack of activity. I am a good loafer, tho, if you want to call it that. I enjoy reading, talking and just looking. Everything about the trip has been exciting, and much of it actually beautiful. There’s nothing like looking out across the sea as clean and blue as you see in pictures, or watching the white, white foam made when the swath cut by the ship’s prow breaks into the swell of the ocean. At night, the moon makes it just as nice—it’s a gibbous moon, they call it. Between half and full.

Now that we are close in, and sitting in the harbor, the water is yellowish green, and strangely enough, rougher than anything we saw on the open sea. Sea gulls have been flying around us all day, and I have spent a lot of time watching them with my binoculars. Scanning the shore line was fun, too. Picked out a lot of details on the first foreign land I’ve seen. Some delay is keeping us from disembarking right away. From here, tho, we can see the ships of several different countries coming and going.

Have just finished reading “The Great Impersonation,” an entertaining story about secret service in the first world war. It didn’t take me long to go thru that. Now I am putting a lot of time on the a book on early Am. Hist.—“The Struggle for American Freedom,” by Morais. The book just came out this spring, and is interesting to me for quite a few reasons. It follows up “Western Star” with something more interpretive of the same period. Morais is a liberal writer, a little in line with Marx, something of an economic determinist. Don’t necessarily agree with him, but he interprets qs well as presents facts. Finally, the man who loaned me the book is a member of my platoon named Sokol, an ex-labor leader. His is a strong union man and plans to into organization again after the war. An Ohio State man, husband of a woman who is a book agent. That’s how he gets these new books—anything he wants. He really thinks about history. May try to bend everything to fit his theory about the power of the organized worker, but he goes deeper than anybody I’ve met in this outfit.

So many things are going on, I wish I was keeping a diary. But that would involve dates and places that are taboo now. I’m afraid the sequence of things from Barkely to P.O.E. to here is already hazy.

‘Bye now, Bun. More later.

All my love,
Wallace

Undated [on board the Empress of Australia, sailed from NYC to Liverpool, September 20, Wednesday-October 2, Monday, 1944]

2008-10-09T17:45:00.001-07:00

Dearest Honey,

Time goes by easily at sea. Nothing much to write about as far as what we do is concerned. I like the sea a lot, what I’ve seen of it; and I’ve had time to do a lot of reading and thinking since we got on board.

Finished “Western Star.” It was very good, but I didn’t feel it was in a class with “John Brown’s Body” at all. It was originally intended to be 5 or 6 books long, they say, and this is all that was completed. Consequently the story doesn’t live up to the prologue, or go with it very well. The prologue deals with the westward movement on the continent; the story, with Jamestown and Plymouth only. With just these two to worry about, there is still so much history to cover that it has to be done hurriedly and incompletely. And the story isn’t as well tied together as “John Brown.” Too many subjects to tie together in one complete theme without leaving loose ends. Like biting off too much for one mouthful. Also a lot of the outline, method and even similes were the same ones used in “John Brown,” so they didn’t have the effect they did the first time. Benet’s poems are really good, tho, and both books let you “live” history.

Now I am reading a book about the Philippine insurrection after the Spanish-American War in 1898. You wouldn’t like it a bit, but it does have some military history that means a little to me. The army was the army, even in those days.

How are you today, Bunny? Happy? I hope so. I wonder if you are going to K.T.C. now, and if it is like it used to be. I love you very much, honey, and enclose a hundred or so kisses. I would swim back for one hug right now, if they’d let me. Gee, I miss you.

Always all yours,
Wallace

Undated [on board the Empress of Australia, sailed from NYC to Liverpool, September 20, Wednesday-October 2, Monday, 1944]

2008-10-09T17:44:00.000-07:00

Dear Folks,

I am writing you to tell you next to nothing. I spend my time censoring other people’s mail and am a hard-bitten, wizened-up, old meany when it comes to letting thru information. So I can’t help but practice what I preach.

We are on the high seas now, en route to an unknown place. But we’re having a good time at it. The officers have it very easy and live in excellent quarters. There are thousands of books floating around. Good ones, and free. I have been reading a great deal. Fiction, history, poetry. Feel almost as tho I was back in school.

Don’t remember that I told you that I liked the picture you sent of silly Aunt Nettie and grinning Bob. He was wearing his jacket in which he keeps the “one rose that lived in his hear,” I see. Ask him if he still has it there. You know that I got to see Laura and her beautiful, bouncing babies before we left. Greg is the best little boy I know.

I hope everything is fine with Marjorie and that she is happy with Grammie and you folks.

I am very interested in the doings of old Bob. Maybe he has a new and better job by now. I figure he’ll do all right, anyway. He always knows what’s best.

I understand I graduated from U.N.H. a few days ago! That’s good. I intend to aim at a master’s degree next. In educational psychology.

This sea-sickness theory is just a lot of talk as far as I’m concerned. Old “sea-legs” Russ they call me. Sea life really appeals to me—it’s beautiful. (Hope I don’t have to regret those words some stormy day.)

You loving son,
Wallace

Undated [on board the Empress of Australia, sailed from NYC to Liverpool, September 20, Wednesday-October 2, Monday, 1944]

2008-10-09T14:40:00.000-07:00

Dearest Honey,

Since I have been aboard ship I have been writing one of those continued letters we use when we are out of contact. However, I have just received some new information on censorship that throws out a lot I had written—about dates, descriptions, etc. So this is an expurgated rewrite of what I have already written once.

Soon after I went to see Laura our unit was alerted. Consequently, we were out of contact with the world from then on. I got around quite a bit the last minute as supply officer, tho. I was kept so busy that I did not get a good chance to react emotionally to the thought of leaving the U.S. That is a good thing about being an officer. You have so many things to do that you don’t fret about yourself.

When we finally left, loaded down with equipment, I was in charge of one fairly large group of men, and had to check continually to see if they were all there. I left the men at the pier eating Red Cross donuts and coffee. I drifted around aimlessly for a time; they were anxious to care for enlisted men, but nobody seemed to care where an officer went. A man finally told me I could do nothing but go to my stateroom and go to bed. So I hunted up an officer’s gangway, checked in, and went aboard. A steward showed me my room, which I share with a mess of other 2nd Lts. It is a swell room, tho, and compared to what the men have, it is heaven.

As soon as I was settled I went down to where our men are. I was on a regular shift with them from midnite to 6 a.m.

Now I have to skip a lot of stuff I had describing our ship. Suffice it to say, it is a good one. We all get a chance to be on deck. It rolls gently with the waves. I can appreciate how a person could get sea sick. I have felt well, tho, all the way.

They always let us talk about the food, and as far as the officers’ mess goes it deserves to be talked about. We have two meals a day and they are really meals. I don’t mean just plentiful, but served in style. We have eaten in some swank places, honey, but never have we seem the amount of silverware and plates they give us. Three knives, three forks, and three spoons is par for a meal, with more added at the slightest excuse. None of them are “standard gauge,” but differ in size from our American ware. An old English custom, our waiter says. English preparation is not much different from our own. The officers have had big thick steaks with all the fixin’s and other meals, not better than we have had in restaurants, but comparable. No wines or anything. They always have a fish course just before the entrée.

I am not too busy now that we are on board, and am having quite a nice time. Today is Sunday and I went to a Protestant service, with communion. Seemed good. Got real wine. First time I have in such a service, I think.

The Red Cross, Salvation Army, U.S.O. and Army Special Service are busting buttons to make us happy. Today the Red Cross gave everybody a little kit with just about everything in it—soap, shoestrings, cards, cigarettes, a book, razor blades, stationery, a pencil, sewing kit, etc., etc. The bag itself can be used for toilet articles.

There is plenty of reading material in little readable books even smaller than Pocket-books.” Right now I am reading Benet’s “Western Star” in a little vest pocket version—but complete. They are all good literature—classics and best sellers. Very, very good idea.

I am writing this on deck. It is quite pleasant here, but the landscape looks just the same—sky, sea, and ship. One of my room-mates keeps running to the porthole to look out—we ask just what he expects to see new each time.

We carry life preservers all the time, and have daily boat drill. The last is just like fire drills in school!

We had a mail call yesterday and I got some letters taken with us the last minute from you, Laura, and Ma. You seem to be getting back into the Keene “groove” again O.K. You don’t know how relieved I am to know that. I feel so much better knowing you are there, and not really alone, since you have your mother and my folks and al the familiar things in Keene. Now as soon as we see that our things arrived in Keene O.K. from Abilene and that your allotment is reaching the banks on schedule, we’ll be set to “wait out” whatever we have to.

I know this won’t be mailed until the ship gets to its destination, and I can’t tell when I’ll get more mail from you. But I’ll be waiting anxiously, honey. I do love you more strongly than ever and nothing in the world can make me forget you for a minute. I think of you all the time, especially at night just before I go to sleep. I love my wife more than anything.

I suppose I have graduated from U.N.H. now; at least I was invited to their senior “tea.” I had other engagements at the time, however. I thought about it at the time of the commencement, tho. I don’t mind missing that as long as I get the “sheepskin.” In fact, it was a custom in my “Don Richards” set a school not to attend commencement. It signified something or other.

That’s all for now, hon. Hope you are fine. I love you a thousand times. ‘Bye, bunny.

All my love,
Wallace

Undated [before September 20, 1944]

2008-10-09T14:39:00.000-07:00

Dearest Marjorie,

Well, I have my new pen now. It cost me all of 70 cents at the PX, but writes pretty well. Probably would be a dollar or so in civilian life. Anywho, it’s the best I could buy.

Things are going much easier now. I am getting enough sleep and not being too rushed during the day. Don’t expect leisure time now, but appreciate working at a more normal pace. Got thru censoring at 10 o’clock last night.

Got a letter from you yesterday saying when you got home. I am very, very relieved to know you made it without the loss of an arm or leg or anything. Also your disposal of Muzzie was the best way to do it. He will have a home, and that is good to know.

I am not starting this letter on the wrong side to be cute, but because I started it during an officer’s meeting and wanted to appear to be taking notes!

The reason for continuing in this strange place is to demonstrate the army way of writing on reverse sides. You see, no time is lost turning the paper over—just invert this end and continue reading.

I am hoping to get another letter from you today giving more details on your trip. Wel, got to run now already. I love you.

All yours,
Wallace

P.S. I wrote this before we left, but didn’t get to mail it. Here it is, a little out of date. Had to cut out the date after we left.

September 18, 1944 Monday

2008-10-09T14:38:00.000-07:00

Somewhere on the East Coast

Dearest Marjorie,

I received your big day-by-day letter from Abilene and read every word. Was glad to hear what happened after I left, but am anxiously waiting news of your trip home.

Being apart and not knowing just where you are is pretty “rough.” I have been taking myself very seriously as supply officer. It’s quite important and I feel responsible for each man. That job usually takes from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.—then Fairbairn, Bukovenac, Olewine, Young, and myself get together and censor mail until it’s over, usually around 1 a.m. Seeing that the men’s mail gets thru keeps me from getting to write you usually. We Lts. can do a lot to help out the men and you feel like a heel if you don’t do all you can.

To get away from business, I got in to see Laura Friday night. I found the place all right, and Justin stayed home from work. Had a swell evening of talk, and some Chinese food. Laura’s babies are the best in the world. Greg is fat and snuggly and cheerful. Most lovable baby you ever saw. I had loads of fun with him. Merellyn is a picture of Laura, and Greg, of Justin! As usual, they were very hospitable and Justin funny. Nice couple.

Gee, Hon, you better be in Keene by now! If so, I hope you get started right away on courses at K.T.C. You’ll want to keep constructively busy, I know. Bet your Mother was glad to see you! Has the place changed much? I don’t imagine it has. No matter what happens in Keene, it always seems like home when you get there.

I lost my pen somewhere this last week, so I’ll have to get another if I can. Or maybe it will turn up again; my things do peculiar tricks, you know.

When I last left you at Abilene, I strongly suspected that I wouldn’t see you again, but was not certain. No use saying goodbyes, anyway, they are so futile. I hope that is the way you wanted it. I thought it would be easier. I tried to get things pretty well lined up with you, but I have feared that maybe I left too many things for you to do. I will feel so much better when I know you are O.K. Our unit left Berkeley that Wednesday night. I was Div. Officer of the Guard on Tuesday. That tied me up so that I couldn’t get in. Of course, I could not telephone and tell you what was going on.

I have told of our train trip, and that I have been very occupied since I got here. I have been appointed ass’t. defense council for a courts-martial. Have had several cases already. I have lost them all (!) but don’t let that change your estimate of me as a lawyer. I’m good! But the court is determined to get convictions in spite of what goes on at the trial.

Please do not let the fact that I cannot write often make you too sad, Hon. I hope to write better later on, but anyway, I love you and think of you just as often as ever. Everything we have ever planned is just as real as it was when we were together. We have plans and memories to lean on and believe in. You are my wonderful wife always. I’m awfully glad of that and never forget it. Bye now.

Every bit of my love,
Wallace

Undated [September 1944]

2008-10-09T14:37:00.000-07:00

Somewhere on the East Coast

Dear folks,

Believe me, I am sorry if you have been worried over me. As you see, I have taken a train trip to an undisclosable destination. For some time we have not been allowed to write, and now that I can, I am so extremely busy second lieutenanting that I have almost no time to write. I am the company supply officer, and here that is a 24 hour-a-day job. I live in a warehouse and am dealing in big figures, but really good training, if I ever want to run a wholesale firm!

Also today I served as asst. defense counsel in a courts-martial. I am an excellent lawyer, but have to prepare my briefs between midnite and 6 a.m.!

When the current rush is over I expect to get a pass and may get to see Laura. Sure hope so.

Marjorie will no doubt be in Keene when you get this. At least our plans call for that. We made arrangements before I left, but I haven’t heard that they worked out yet. I am anxiously awaiting news on that. She is scheduled to arrive Friday night of this week.

Well, it looks like this “awful old war” will fold up sometime, so don’t fret. I am strong as a bull and feeling very powerful bossing so many people around. I love you all and enjoyed the photo a great deal.

Your loving son,
Wallace

P.S. 1. My signature on envelope means I have censored this.
2. How’re ya doin’, Russ?
3. It’s rainy as can be here.

September 12, 1944 Tuesday

2008-10-03T13:05:00.001-07:00

Somewhere along the East Coast

Dearest Honey,

I thought I would never get a chance to write you. We bump into censorship now, you see. As an officer, I censor my own mail and it is subject to spot checks only by a base censor. That means that much of it will be censored only by me, but I have to be strict with myself! We were not allowed to write during the trip here. On arrival I found myself suddenly appointed supply officer, and I guess you know what that means at this time. Remember, Olewine had it back at camp and worked 24 hours a day. I have it now and work twice as long each day! However, my big troubles will be over in a few days and after that there won’t be much to keep me busy nights. I’ll write regularly then.

Well, let’s see, what can I say? Haven’t done much yet that is discussable. Had a luxurious pullman on the way up – about ½ full of officers – rest empty. Breakfast in bed, actually, all the time we were on the train. Passed thru Louisville and Buffalo, but did not get off anywhere.

I am worrying myself a lot over you and will not be happy until I hear that you are home and safe. I know you will write as soon as you can. I feel pretty helpless, but am hoping that the baggage and your transportation came thru as we planned.

I love you even more than I thought, Hon. Please do not feel alone because I am talking to you all the time, and thinking of you. I will get to write a real letter very soon now. (Being so busy here has really made me a part of C Company, tho, so it’s good that way.)

Of course, I am feeling excellent and am as safe as ever in the arms of Uncle Sam. So don’t worry at all about me – just look well after yourself, please.

Every bit of my love,
Wallace

September 4, 1944 Monday

2008-10-03T13:04:00.001-07:00

Labor Day

Dear Folks:

While some of my laundry is soaking,, I’ll drop you a line about our weekend, not very exciting but that’s not important.

Wallace came in early Saturday afternoon so we turned around and went right back out. A Lt. Myers (we’re friendly with) has access to the Hammond organ in the battalion chapel, so we went there to play. Seemed wonderful! We had to stop around 5:15 so the chaplain (Catholic) could have a mass. Meanwhile we and 4 other “lieuts” had “chow” in the GI’s mess hall. Sure was an experience! I got a big kick out of it! Had hue servings and all we wanted – mile-long spaghetti with a delicious tomato-cheese sauce and meat. Also cantaloupe, cinnamon buns, and cake. Everything was typically GI. Then until 7 we sat aournd in the officers’ huts and gabbed. Great sport! Then we could go back to the chapel and play some more so, while Catholic boys sauntered in and ou for prayers, I got a big thrill playing “prayerful” music for them! Had a date at the Supper Club at 8:30 or 9 so we left, or rather, started to leave camp around 7:30. I said “started” because it took us 2 hours to get in from camp which is only 14 or 15 miles from Abilene! Because of this we called the whole thing off, quite disappointingly. Needed the sleep anyway ‘cause W and I are having a cold or hay fever in good shape. We were both much better this a.m. tho. Saw some wonderful and beautiful sites out at camp while we were trying to leave. For instance, the sunset and full moon rise. Really undescribeable. It’s so flat that they both just suddenly disappear and appear, pop right up over the horizon. Certainly would like to be an artist at such moments—great big balls of fire!

Yesterday we both got up around 10:30 with very sore throats and whirling headaches, but after a good breakfast and being up awhile we really began to feel like ourselves. Spent all afternoon reading the paper and listening to the symphony. Last nite we went to see a very good movie about Dr. TWG Morton of Boston and ether—“The Great Moment” with Joel McCrea and Betty Fields. Then my husband felt “crazy” and wanted to go down the street to see Bob Hope in “Never Say Die.” Also Fri. nite we went to see the much-advertised “Hail the Conquering Hero” which was very funny and noisy and full of confusion and commotion.

Had a good sleep last nite and we really felt more like ourselves this morning.

Now, for the “big” news of the weekend!! Saturday was our “D-Day.” Wallace received word that he’d get his B.S. degree at the next UNH commencement, probably Sept. 22, and he acquired us a dog!! Yes, at last we’ve an old white mutt. Just plain dog. The cutest white 6 weeks old puppy. He just couldn’t resist and when I saw it at camp Saturday, I couldn’t resist either. Don’t know what we’re going to do with him, but we’ve got him now! That’s our problem!! He’s (the dog, I mean) about 8” long with one floppy brown ear and sleek-haired. More of this acquisition is a “military secret” but will tell you about it later. The boys are going to make him a nice home and Wallace will be tugging him home tonite! His name is “Muzzle-blast” which needs an explanation I’ll also give later.

Guess that completes the news in review from the Russells at 745 Hickory—now on to my washing.

How go the Russells at 23 Pleasant—Papa, Mama, Carlton, and Bob?

Love from us’ns,
Marjorie and Wallace
(only 2 sheets of paper come with each envelope in this box!)

August 28, 1944 Monday

2008-08-31T19:52:00.000-07:00

Dear Ma,

Maybe you are still in a fog as to the leave that Marjorie and I have been spending. I was just lucky. I applied for a leave on the right day, and it came thru. I had no idea I’d get one, so Marjorie and I were as surprised as could be. We recovered rapidly, tho, and Marjorie finished her course at A.C.C. a day early and we set out in a Greyhound bus for New Orleans. We thought of going to Mexico, but decided to see America first.

I got 11 days off and we spent almost a full week in New Orleans. You never saw a place like it. Very old and French, with houses that look like dumps on the outside and have patios with palm trees and fountains in the middle. New Orleans is famous for its restaurants and we just ate and ate the best meals you ever heard of. Rich, creamy dishes with long French names, and the very best sea food. The best place was “Antoine’s,” where we had pompano in papillote—a kind of fish cooked in a paper bag—and crepes suzette. They brought this to us in a pan and burned a rum sauce over it before us. They turned out all the lights in the place so everybody could see the pretty blue flame it made! The menu didn’t have a word of English in it, and we had to giggle over the formality of it all.

We saw all the historical places in New Orleans—its history is full of pirates and Spaniards and Frenchmen. Went in a big steamboat on the Mississippi—once during the day and once at night when they had dancing. Went rowing in a mossy Louisiana bayou.

The DeSoto was a fine hotel right in the middle of things. We did lots of other things. Generally walked on a big white cloud all week.

Now I don’t know if there was anything “sinister” about the leave. My future as usual is a big question mark. Now the question mark is a little bigger. Marjorie and I sure have had a wonderful summer, and neither one of us wants a divorce quite yet! We laugh so much that sometimes I think we must be a new generation of silly Thrashers.

We took quite a few pictures in N.O., and you’ll see all our souvenirs sometime.

The day we got back we went to a night football game between the Brooklyn Tigers, the professional football team, and the Army All-Stars. It was a real football game—the pros won. They were very fast and skillful.

Was very glad to hear that Bob is safe back in 2C. Don’t let him get out of it again. Would be nice if he could get away from Dodds and maybe get a start on his own place. Also glad to hear tat Pa is getting a vacation.

Little Pleasant St. sure did itself noble in the Union, didn’t it? Whole swarm of pictures! Yes, I think it is “lovely,” Ma. Thanks for watching out for “orders” during my leave. I gave your address in order to get travel time to there—altho traveling there and back would have taken most of the leave.

Well, I go back to work tomorrow. Marjorie is all thru school and tho she thinks she’ll be busy washing my uniforms all the time, I think she’ll have time for other things—namely, ironing my uniforms.

I have slept most of today while my spouse has been working and preparing luscious meals. Had corn on the cob and steak for dinner, also chocolate cake (which I didn’t make! [Marjorie’s handwriting])

Appreciated your fine letter.

Your loving son and daughter-in-law,

Wallace and Marjorie

August 22, 1944 Tuesday

2008-08-16T11:41:00.002-07:00

New Orleans

Hello!

Never thought we’d land here, but very interesting and unique—everything very French and old. Went sight-seeing Saturday. Boat ride up Mississippi Sunday and more sight-seeing today. Going to a high spot in society tonite. Will tell you all about it when we get back to Abilene.

Love, Marjorie & Wallace

August 19, 1944 Saturday

2008-08-16T11:41:00.001-07:00

New Orleans

Hello!

Marjorie and I are spending a short surprise leave here in New Orleans. We just got here this morning after a Greyhound bus trip from Abilene. Seems like a great place to “see” things in.

Love,
Wallace & Marjorie

August 14, 1944 Monday

2008-08-16T11:40:00.000-07:00

745 Hickory
Abilene, Texas

Dear Folks,

Trying to catch up on my correspondence some—12 cards and 4 letters yesterday and 4 letters today. Golly, didn’t believe I’d have so many people to write to me. Nice, tho. Very welcome.

Well, how goes everything in Keene and vicinity? Received our “Sentinel” today so I had to take time out and catch up. Lots of news. Never before read it so thoroughly!

Did a big Monday morning washing, as usual, this morning—a sheet, 2 pillow cases, few towels, 7 pr. socks, a dress, 2 blouses, 4 pr. shorts, 3 panties, a slip, 7 hankies, a uniform, and 2 fatigues. Glad there is not much to iron, I only do those underlined.

This afternoon I finished a dress I’ve been making—navy blue faille suit—skirt and bolero trimmed with white pleated pique. Quite cute, I think. Now I think I’ll make a little Dutch cap to match. Very nice dress shops here, but dresses are awfully expensive, I think. I bought a black glamour dress (guess I’ve told you) for $10.95. Thought it was terrible, but it’s pretty!

Now, I would a word with you! I’d like this little matter of my husband’s mustache cleared up! It is like none of those mentioned! Why didn’t you ever think of Clark Gable or Robert Taylor? That would be more like it. He shaved it off a while ago, but now he’s growing another. Some of the very pert officers are wondering when he’ll be old enough to shave! Such audacity. He just replies that he’s growing it by popular request, namely his wife! Believe it, or not.

Wallace and I had a big time Saturday nite. Wed had a real, true Mexican dinner at a real, true Mexican house with all the fixings—hot tamales (“from way back”), ensalada Mexicana, fritos, frijoles, enchiladas, chile con carne and good old American iced tea. Needed it—everything was plenty hot and peppery, but good.

Then went to the Am. Legion park to a dance in their very typical southwestern pavilion—stone with porch and lovely shrubbery and trees. Like a country club. Met friends there and had a grand time. Say, if you ever read about the dancing team—“The Rustling Russells,” it’s us! We sure can trip a mean fantastic!!

This is my last week of school and I sure have enjoyed it as well as getting a lot out of it, including many interesting acquaintances including some Mexican and Japanese students. Colorful state, this.

Had a nice letter from Laura Saturday with a picture of “Greg at 6 mos. And Justin at 25 yrs.” Very cute.

Well, it’s almost our bedtime so will close for now. Wallace works pretty long hours and gets pretty tired, but he gets in evenings which means a lot, and we sure do have lots of good times.

Nite for now. Want to hear all about the “Keene Russells.” Take it easy.

Love to all from us both,
Marjorie

Sent some snaps to Mom for you. Be sure to get them.

August 9, 1944 Wednesday

2008-08-16T11:09:00.001-07:00

745 Hickory St.

Dear folks,

Well, howse youse all been? Things are about the same with the Russells of Texas. I am instructing on the Expert Infantry Course again, after spending a week on duty with “C” company. We are working longer hours this time, which makes it less pleasant. Am still getting in to Marjorie every evening, tho. Our radio has come and it is all we needed to feel perfectly at home here.

Last night we went to a piano recital at A.C.C. It was very good. Tonite I am writing letters while Marjorie is playing the piano here. She’s getting really good.

I lugged home half a watermelon tonite from a place four streets down from our house and we ate it all first thing after I got home. Had Mrs. Watts’ little niece or granddaughter or some such help us on it. But even so, we don’t go in for little slices of melon here in the deep south. It comes in big hunks of 1/8 or ¼ of a melon. Real Texans eat it with salt, but I can’t see that yet. Do go for the quantity, tho.

Don’t ever talk about “90 in the shade” to me again. I only wish we’d have a day as cool as that—how refreshing! However, the heat isn’t as stifling as it was in Georgia last summer. You just sweat and keep going here—there it made you weak. We drink loads of water and soft drinks.

I wanted Carlton to have those guns, even tho I don’t recall ever having had such a pair when I was a __________. Tell him we see real cowboys in Abilene, with everything but the guns. Boots, hats, shirts, and all. Quite a coincidence that Carl will start his long years of childhood at Fuller School!

Your last letter spoke of the coming vacation for you all. Hope you get thru it all right!

Love to Russ, as well as all at 23,

Your son,
Wallace (Addy)

July 30, 1944 Sunday

2008-08-01T22:03:00.000-07:00

745 Hickory St.
Abilene, TX

Dear Ma,

I have been planning to write to you all along, so don’t believe that Marjorie is solely responsible for this letter—tho she may have hastened it a bit. One day I even wrote a letter to you while I was working, but I lost it before I finished it. A lot of things have been going on and I’ve been pretty busy, too.

You will notice that our address is now 745 Hickory, instead of 1941 Grape. Thursday a store clerk asked Marjorie if she would look at a place on Hickory and she said yes for no real good reason. That night we wandered down just to keep our word and found the place to be a lot more convenient than our Grape St. room. It is easy walking distance from town, and we have much more to “do” with. We have a kitchen that we share with the lady we rent the room from, and they have a piano that Marjorie can use any time. Mrs. Watts and her daughter live in the other part of the house. They are fresh from living on a farm, and very homey folks. Marjorie likes this place much better than Terry’s. We feel so at home here—we run the place, really, they are so deferential to us.

Since I got back Bowie I have been in to Marjorie every night. Getting real domestic and having a lot of fun. Last night we went up in an airplane! We went to the airport and took a pleasure ride in a two passenger red cub cruiser. It was a big thrill for both of us. We flew over Abilene and Marjorie found our house but I didn’t. We went 1400 feet up, and the pilot did some dips that were fun.

Did Carlton get his present form us all right? We thought of him last night, and wished him a happy birthday. I think about big Bob a lot, too, and hope the Russians keep him out of the service for us.

Speaking of the Russians, Marjorie and I have a big war map in our room now, with all the towns the papers ever mention. We can follow the news very well with it.

This morning, as last Sunday, we went to church. Marjorie got breakfast before church—and it was our first meal in our new home. We just moved in here yesterday p.m.—took about 2 hours and taxi cab.

Out at camp, I am now running a rifle and carbine range wher we test enlisted men on field proficiency with weapons. They go thru individually, choosing positions and firing at silhouette targets. If they pass this and some other tests, they become “expert infantrymen” and get $5.00 more a month and a medal. It is hot work in this weather but the hours are regular, so I like it.

Well, I’ll try to write on my old schedule from now on, so write me too and let me know how things are at home.

Love to all,
Wallace

July 13, 1944 Thursday

2008-08-01T22:01:00.000-07:00

[From Marjorie}
1941 Grape

My goodness, Honey, do you realize what time it is? 10 minutes before 11! And I have to get up at 7:30 or so. But it’s a wonderfully cool , comfortable nite to sleep wo maybe I won’t mind. Just hope to goodness my legs don’t itch. They are coming along, tho.

This afternoon Mrs. Terry equipped us with some of the necessary dishes, utensils, etc. that I can do light meals. In fact, beginning in the morning I’m going to get my own breakfast. I bought some coffee, sugar, milk, and butter today—oh, and a canteloupe. I’ll have lots of god things for you when you come in. I love it! I’m very happy, contented, and relaxed now. Hope you can be, too. By doing this seems as though we could eat much cheaper. I’m keeping a day-to-day account of my spendings just to see where the money goes and where I can save.

I came in to town earlier today—around 1:30, had dinner, and came home. Then went back down to Derryberrys ‘cause Fredda and I had a tennis engagement. She drove us out to Fair Park. We played from about five to 6:30. Had lots of fun. Then she took me to the zoo! Got home about 7:30, took a bath, got supper, and have gabbed with the Terrys all the rest of the evening. Really quite interesting—he was a traveling salesman.

Tomorrow is a big day, too. School, swimming engagement with Max and Fredda at Legion pool, and then concert and dinner with Annabelle and someone else—one of her friends.

Saturday I’ll probably clean up around, and maybe wash and iron some, too. Still haven’t done your uniform. Max heard a rumor that some of you were coming in Sat. eve. and some Sun. eve. Is that anywhere near the truth? Sounds good to me. But I shan’t really expect you till I see you. That way I won’t be too disappointed. Can’t wait to see you, however! Golly, I’ve missed you—just sick and tired of being a widow! I’m keeping busy, tho and things really look OK to me.

Sorry this is so short, but I’m kind of tired. Just like I like to be so I can go to sleep quickly.

Nite, dearest. See you soon, so I can really tell you how very much I love you and how very glad and happy I am to be your wife.

All my love always, Honey,
Marjorie

Bring in sheets, if possible.

July 11, 1944 Tuesday

2008-08-01T21:58:00.000-07:00

[From Marjorie]
1941 Grape

Dear Folks,

I started to write you last nite but the sandman got the better of me. Right now it’s 5:45 p.m. and we’re witnessing a typical sand, hail, rain, and electric storm. Real close, too! Freakiest things—gets very black, wind starts to blow, whirlpools of sand rush down the street, hail stones as big as marbles fall—all accompanied by thunder and lightning—then finally the “rain pours down on me”! Definitely not a New England one! One sees it coming for hours and miles and when it does come, it is very close—no mts. to divert its course.

Received a letter addressed by Mrs. R and written by Mrs. N today—wonderful collaboration up there, I’d say. Mom has asked a lot of questions so for hers and your benefit here are the answers:

No. 1—Re: air mail vs. regular mail? A. the former maybe a day or two shorter.

No. 2—Re: eating in diner on train? A. Only had 2 meals—breakfast Friday and Saturday mornings. Other times stops were so I could eat in stations—Friday and Saturday noons (St. Louis and Fort Worth respectively).

No. 3—Re: meaning of Wooten? A. man’s name. When I was at 1516 ½ No. 3rd, their home was right across the street. Very beautiful brick estate—lawns with sprinkler system underground, colored caretakers, wonderful cars, Venetian blinds, and lovely shade trees. But don’t ask me what kinds yet!

No. 4—Re: change of time on way west. A. Not sure. When I woke up Friday morning, it was an hour earlier than when I went to sleep. Probably somewhere between Buffalo and St. Louis. Definite, aren’t I?

No. 5—Condition of baggage upon arrival? A. Fine. It arrived the following Wed. or Thurs., I would say. $6.64.

No. 6—Nearness to Mrs. Patterson and others? Distances? A. Living in same house that Mrs. P did! She returned home last Fri. and we wanted their apt. but one couple too late, per usual. But thanks to my very wonderful psychological husband we got this room. (More about that later.) Probably about a mile outside center of city—maybe like upper Court St. Very systematic, but different to me, way in which town is laid out.
[Sketch map of Abilene with street grid and comments]

Distances mean very little, tho; there is such good bus service. Run to about everywhere every half hour.

Now, about our room.
[sketch with furniture layout]
It is the coolest room in house; very light; nice furniture; good lighting; and away from rest of the house. We may do light lunches and breakfasts—have an ice box of our own so I can keep peanut butter on hand! Also, milk, cokes, bread, fruit, etc. Stuff for cold drinks and snacks mostly. It’s a little steep but maybe my husband can talk ‘em down when he gets back. Also, excellent bus service, as I’ve said before.

Today I went out to register at ACC (Abilene Christian College) for a music appreciation course. Guess I’ve told you this before, so don’t read it if I have. My course if from 9:30 to 11 with a blind professor about 35—Alea Templeton Burford. Also I rented the use of a piano out there to be used when and as long as I want for only $3 for 6 weeks in private, individual practice rooms. There are probably a half dozen or so.

After class I shall probably practice or go to the libe which is a very good one. I think it will be wonderful. I’m looking forward to starting tomorrow very much.

Also today I got a permanent at a very nice shop run by a man—“Blondie’s.” Appointment was at 1:30 and I was out at 4:30. Very short time and fast! It’s a feather cut type. Short and cool—just what one wants and needs for this weather—101 degrees Sunday at 4:30 p.m. and that or over yesterday. Now that we’ve hd this shower, it’ll be cooler for an hour or so!

Maybe you’d like to know about your son now. Perhaps you’d think I was down here alone. I’m beginning to wonder, however. Guess I told you or Mom or someone he’s out on this division test near Camp Bowie. He left last Thursday and expects to return next Monday or Tuesday. I had letters from him written Friday and Saturday but didn’t know as he’d be able to write again. Even tho we haven’t been together too awfully much, we don’t regret my coming a bit. I’m glad to be this near and see him whenever possible and I do believe he’s a different fellow for having me here. It makes all the difference in the world. The only possible regret we have is leaving Mommy. Hope she’s getting along O.K. She’s so brave about it all—dear soul.

Well, Mrs. Terry just called in saying they were going out to a party and that I could use their kitchen for my supper and play their radio. Typical friendly Texans.

So long now—how’m I doin’ for length of letters? Be good—Love to all,
Marjorie

My questionnaire:
How’s Carlton, “Dad” Russell, Bob, Aunt Flossie and Uncle Carl? What is happening to them?
What’s the story on Nancy and Jerry?
How’s Laura et al? Must write sometime—ashamed I haven’t, but I’ve had to house hunt—no picnic, either!
Thought I was all thru, didn’t you? Ha, Ha!
Awful about the circus—read every account with interest.
Haven’t got any “Sentinels” yet but it’s because my husband hasn’t been able to get them in. And he isn’t forgetful either—much!
Going to get a Sunday N.Y. Times tomorrow (I hope). Quick service!
Guess I’m thru now.
‘Bye again.
Here I am again.
What’s the story on pictures? Couldn’t understand Mom’s list.
Also I’d like these things, please. We’ll send the postage money.
Grill toaster
Hot water heater
No, guess I’ll wait to see what Wallace has to say. Could send along the radio, tho, please.
It’s 7:05 and it’s still lightning and thunder like nobody’s business—right on my door step!
Note envelope: don’t you think I write like Wallace? Don’t answer that!

July 10, 1944 Monday

2008-07-14T06:37:00.000-07:00

Dearest Marjorie,

The music course and piano you can rent sound like just the thing. Suppose you are all started on it by now. Do you get to listen to much music there? Hope so.

I got a letter from UNH and I guess my degree is in my pocket. Remind me to write to the Registrar once more just as soon as I come back, will you?

Your letters re coming thru fine, and things are rolling along very well here. Still can’t tell just when we’ll get back yet. How good I feel depends on how good you feel and vice-versa, it seems. I feel very well after this letter No. 2, so let’s both stay that way.

All my love,
Wallace

July 8, 1944 Saturday

2008-07-08T19:07:00.000-07:00

Dearest Honey,

Good morning! I got more sleep last nite than I have in a long time, and it seemed good! The division problem really starts tomorrow, so I don’t know how often I’ll get to write after that. But you know I’ll be thinking of you all the time.

The mail service seem to be operating efficiently, more so than when we are on problems around Barkeley. So I have hopes of getting some mail from you soon. Mail service is one thing I appreciate out here. It’s the only thing we have to keep us in touch with the world of houses and mattresses.

Have you started making any notes on your adventures as an officer’s wife? I like the idea of writing things down—it clarifies things for the writer even if nobody else can read it. You are well acquainted with that kind of writing from my own letters. I often wonder how much my vague metaphors mean to you. I always feel as tho you understand, anyway.

So long, Hon, I love you with a PURPLE PASSION—all yours,
Wallace

P.S. Watch out for the surprise on my upper lip when I come back!

July 7, 1944 Friday

2008-07-08T19:06:00.000-07:00

Woods
Dearest Marjorie,

Well, of course, the main thing on my mind is you. The room we didn’t get left me a little groggy for a long time. That was really a mean break, and I had a hard time making myself accept it. I do wish I had been able to see the landlady battle-axe some more—I feel as tho I could have talked her into it again.

If this was a vacation or some kind of make believe I’d call it quits about now. But it isn’t. Your coming down here is a real part of our lives to me, and I’m going to take an awful lot before I admit that the thing is too tough for us. I still do not think it is—all we need is one break—a room to live in, and the thing is licked. We’ve come close enough to know that rooms do exist. Now we have learned that rooms don’t wait—the thing to do is to forget everything when you get a lead and don’t stop chasing until you are in the room with it all paid for. I’m sorry I goofed off and took a chance on the receipt for the room. Now I see we should have taken the receipt and at least moved some baggage in that very night. We won’t rely on a promise a minute more than necessary hereafter.

It’s like waiting for Christmas to wait for a room—your emotions tell you that everything is wrong and that you never will get a room. Reasonably, tho, things aren’t so bad—our income makes a good safety net so that nothing really big can go wrong. We can’t end up worse off than we were—you can always return to Keene and status quo—we’re just investing some time and money into making something better than that. And it will be better, too, Hon, tho it may be hard for you to see that now. I can see it very plainly—regardless of how this episode turns out, you and I will have shared something big. Just you and I are sweating this thing out together. We are a unit now, bucking a problem that is pretty big to us. We are bringing your world and my world together. You are learning something of the way I live and I am learning to consider you as myself. Perhaps it’s too bad that “our” team is starting off in such a tough game. We’ll get to be a good team quicker, tho, and learn how to operate as the “mobile” outfit we want to be. We’re going to have our cake and eat it, you know. By being a little different from the average, we are going to have a home together, but at the same time we will not get encumbered with domesticity enough to prevent our getting an education, doing things and finally tying ourselves into the niche we choose to be in.

Maybe this new world of ‘ours’ doesn’t seem nearly as comfortable and nice as the old one. Of course it doesn’t! All it is now is a framework with a lot of rough edges. We’re in it to put on the finishing touches. Remember that foundation we built when we were engaged? –Of understanding and tolerance and love? Now we’re married and have the first important beams all up. It will be drafty until we finish it up some more, but look at the prospects. All the elements are here to make a much better world for us than either of us has ever seen—and think of the fun we can have making it the way we want it. Don’t let the newness or the bareness fool you, Hon, it’s the start of a wonderful place.

Oh, out here everything is very much as usual. I got a letter from the Colonel about that time he said my platoon was not on the alert, and maybe I’ll get a week’s restriction the way Lt. Fairbairn did. I’m mad about it because I know I haven’t done anything more amiss than he had, either. We’ll see, there’s nothing definite as to when it will be yet. Otherwise, everything is under control. I am healthy and vigorous, and love you more than I ever have. I want you to eat a lot, drink a lot, and be a rip-roarin’ Texan when I get back.

All yours, always,
Wallace

P.S. Have no mercy on the checking account. What you want, get.
Love, Wallace

[a postcard from Marjorie to Wallace]

July 7, 1944 Friday a.m.
Hello, Honey,

Want to keep you posted on your wife’s doings, etc. Went up to Terry’s yesterday a.m.—got my money back, but I may move in Mon. Her brother and wife may come this weekend. This is her proposition now—how does it sound to you? She wants an understanding verbally that we’re renting it by the nite, but she’ll only charge us what we were going to pay by the week and after all her visiting, etc. is over, we can have it permanently by the week. I guess that it’s just that she doesn’t want a fuss when her company does come and we might balk about moving out. I want it so much that I think I’ll take the chance. However, unless you hear more definitely report here first. Going to ACC this p.m. with Fredda. Think I’ll take Mus. App. From 11:30 to 1:00 Tues. thru Sat. $15 per course. Tell you more details tonite. News this a.m. that Ringling Circus had big fire in Hartford, Conn. yesterday—about 150 dead. Awful panic. Happened between 1st act (animals) and 2nd act (the aerial bicyclists-Wallendas). I love you. Be careful, Bunny

July 6, 1944 Thursday

2008-07-06T18:09:00.000-07:00

[from Emma Nelson]

7:20 am

Dear Children,

See how early I am up to write to you—out in Texas with a rock (?) or a suitcase for a pillow. Sorry Wallace had to be away last week—house hunting is great sport if you can stand the disappointments.

Mrs. Russell shared your letter with me. I supposed you could stay at the hotel as long as you could pay your rent. Great world these days. The pictures came Monday and I have done my best to sort them out and give them to who you wanted. There wasn’t enough of the bride and groom and I am getting an enlargement of it. I like the one you ordered so much. I will let you know who gets them. Emily called up yesterday. I was planning to go up there next week but she said Ralph could get me Sat. so that is when I go, Sat. and come back either the 14 or 16 so as to be here if Chandler wants anything.

Peas are ripe and I want some. Haying is done. I will have my mail sent to Emily’s but I hope I get a letter from you this morning telling me how nicely you are situated. Glad the ladies are so nice.

Margaret and her mother are planning to go to N.Y. for a week. Bud is there going to a trade school. I was up there for supper on the 4th. Hazel Lewis is visiting the Joneses so she and Alice took me up in their car. A most brilliant sunset but thundered most of the time.

Alden is in Australia. My but he gets around. Grace and Aunt Florence were in yesterday morning and said they had over 200 at Parker Pine. Kitty is doing wonderful work and about the youngest there. Dwight Augier said only two boys showed up at Plymouth. He and another had no place to go so were put in with the teachers [?]. Mrs. A telephoned and told me about it.

Did you get the Sentinel [Keene newspaper]? Probably you will get home before I know the answer. I sent it to Wallace. His address seems to be the one to use. I am going to get Miss Brown to mail this and Goodnows doughnuts have just come.

I hope you are together this week. Burdens are lightened when two share them.

Love,
Mom
Of course I wonder if you took any decent shoes to chase around in – in that hot country your feet will be blistered.

[on same sheet, in Wallace’s hand]

Dearest Honey,

Am writing this on the fly, but do want to say for you to take the room right now without any hesitation. We are hunting a room, not choosing one. Make any verbal agreement she wants, provided the room will become permanent in a reasonable time. We can woo her to our way once we get in there—she is bendable. We can settle down if we know it will definitely become permanent. He who hesitates is lost—close the deal, make a payment, get a receipt and move in as soon as you can. Don’t wait for an O.K. from me. Attack! Attack!! Attack!!!

How to go on the music course! Do start on that anyway. I love you,

Wallace

June 27, 1944 Monday

2008-06-28T09:32:00.000-07:00

Woods
Dear Hon,

We know the army too well to be surprised that I’m not coming in when I said I would. That doesn’t stop me from tearing my hair because we’ll have to plan on my coming in Saturday night now.

Please don’t be too discouraged because we haven’t seen much of each other, yet. These are not normal things, even for the 12th—and by staying out here now, we will be in for next week. After the Corps test things should return to routine, and this change in schedule gets us to Bowie and back much earlier than we have planned.

I love to have you so close now. Get very exasperated because I can’t get in to you, but it is a much less serious kind of feeling than the loneliness I felt when you were in New Hampshire.

I am very worried over your housing situation. Am praying that you have reservations for next week, or a room somewhere else. You can write to me out here—same address. Please let me know how you are and what you are doing.

I get paid next Sunday according to the new schedule.

Funny thing, I don’t know whether I am happy or not. It all depends on you—of you are finding it hard to get along or find nice things to do, I feel completely lousy. If you are busying yourself well and are comfortable, I never felt so good. I love to think of my wife in Abilene, happy; but I am miserable thinking that you be in Abilene, unhappy.

Monday morning I found a very fine way to ease up on the bad feeling of leaving you! Just by thinking over again the things we did together. Wasn’t our weekend just perfect? It was wonderful, honey; worth a lifetime. Please write.

All yours, always,
Wallace

June 27, 1944 Monday
Woods
Dear Honey,

Read the other page first—this came later.

This is my mother and father’s anniversary, a pretty big numbered one, too. Wonderful to think of us being together that long, by then there’s nothing we couldn’t do.

I got a letter from your mother—very, very nice one. She is a real lady. Do have trouble making out some words.

Don’t worry the least little bit over me. The only claim I have to be out of heaven is that I wonder how you are. If I knew you were O.K., I would feel perfect—in a state of dynamic equilibrium as some psychologists say. If things are not O.K., let me know and I’ll do something if I have to pull rank on General Brewer to do it. I would, too.

Bye for now, my very special wife. I love you more than you can imagine.

Love again,
Wallace

June 23, 1944 Friday

2008-06-24T19:34:00.000-07:00

[From Marjorie to Wallace, a postcard of St. Louis’s Union Station]

St. Louis, 4:45 pm
Not doing any site-seeing—staying right here! Hot, is putting it mildly. Very interesting trip and not really bad, but better from now on. Lots of flat country with corn, wheat and clover fields, and as many pigs as hollyhocks, and there are plenty of hollyhocks! Have met some very nice and friendly wives!
Love,
Marjorie

June 21, 1944 Wednesday

2008-06-24T19:32:00.000-07:00

[From Emma Nelson, Marjorie’s grandmother, illegible in places]
Keene, N.H.

Dear Wallace,

Happy Birthday, Wallace, may you live long and prosper.

I am sending my most precious possession to you as your gift, one I have held dear for 22 years and enjoyed every minute of it, the dearest gift in the world, always good and kind to me. I think she will be good and love you dearly too—your dearest friend at any time.

I expect you are going to take care of her and not leave her. Come back with her so we can all be happy together. [I..bother you] to me to have you starting on your new life on your birthday—hope you will at least have 22 years of happiness. I am going to try […] that you come back soon.

Excuse mistakes you know I can’t see—if the sun doesn’t shine soon I will lose all use of my eyes it is so dark.

I wish I could write a verse like the Russells do, wishing you all the nice wishes that are in my heart but I am not smart that way, nothing original in me.

I was glad to hear what became of the case of olives I showed you and didn’t show up at your last dinner.

I will be anxious to hear how you get settled, I know it will be OK. Lots of love to you and Marjorie,
Mom

June 21, 1944 Wednesday

Dear folks,

Am writing rather spasmodically lately. My duties here aren’t so that I can have any kind of schedule. Something new every minute. Work hard a while, then have it very easy.

At present I am platoon leader of the 2nd rifle platoon of “C” company. Expect to have them at least a couple of weeks, but they change around very often.

If they didn’t have a rule that bars infantry officers from transferring now, I would have had a swell break. They wanted me in G-2 (Intelligence) work. They tested my French and were all ready to sent me to Camp Ritchie, Maryland, for a course in Prisoner of War interrogation. They had to stop proceedings because I was an infantry man! Got to know a Major in division G-2, tho, and someday something may come of it.

A belated father’s day greeting to you, Pa. I’ve been neglecting everybody this spring! Been so unsettled, and away from civilization. I’ll get into stride again soon.

Last week our division field test was a flop. We worked our ears off all week on a full scale maneuver with live ammunition, but nobody high up was impressed.

Sure will be good to see Marjorie down here. Maybe we’ll buy a ranch, who knows?

What is Bob’s status? And what’s new in New England?

Love,
Wallace

June 19, 1944 Monday

2008-06-20T06:56:00.000-07:00

[One of the few letters included from Marjorie to Wallace]
8:55 p.m. Keene, N.H.
Hello, dearest,

Guess we’ve been keeping the wires hot from Abilene and Keene! Telephone last nite and telegram this morning. They all came so fast and furious that I was stunned. But they were worth it—guess we understand each other now concerning my trip down and conditions in Abilene. Ought to go very smoothly. I’m so all excited and thrilled to be on my way to you. And I’m almost all ready—much to my relief! Had a big day of ironing and fixing some clothes. Tomorrow I’m planning to wash and iron some more tomorrow [sic], also really and actually get at my banking. Intended to today but it has rained so all day that I did things inside instead.

It seemed so wonderful to hear you last nite. The connections weren’t so clear as Louisville’s had been (or maybe I was still half-asleep or half-awake), but you sounded very natural and I did feel very close in spite of 2000 (?) miles. (By the way, how many miles is it?) It was awfully nice to go back to bed and sleep after just hearing you.

Well, here it is Wednesday morning. We had company come in Monday while I was writing so didn’t get to finishing this, and yesterday I worked like mad every minute and didn’t get thru, or stop, until 12 last nite, consequently still not finished. So I’m taking a little while this morning to write some necessary notes—Bill, Tamie, Sara, and Mrs. Craig. I’ve done the latter 3—Bill’s is next. Want to tell him about how I’ve left things up here.

Opened my conservator’s account for Mom yesterday and also ours.

Almost all ready to start, Hon. Am going to ship out 2 suitcases today, so they’ll be on their way. I’m expressing them to the Hotel Wooten, OK?

Maybe you’ll see me before you get this! Won’t be long now, dear. I’m so excited!

See you soon. I’ll be coming as fast as the train does!

All my love, always,

Marjorie

June 18, 1944 Sunday

2008-06-18T07:22:00.000-07:00

Dearest Honey,

Music is one thing that is never disappointing. When I haven’t heard any for some time, I forget how meaningful it is. It’s hard to imagine just noted being much to listen to. But when I hear some it changes my whole attitude toward things. Reminds us how beautiful life can be, I guess.

After being on the problem all week, I got so that the whole world seemed to be G.I.—dirt and canvas and guns. Very refreshing to hear the Sunday programs and to think of having you here. You may even be here before you get this letter! [editor: yes, this letter arrived in Keene after Marjorie had left; see note appended by Marjorie’s grandmother, Emma Nelson.] That will be so nice. All we’ve got to do is remember that we are “good music” people, not “G.I.” people. Music seems to express all the clear and pure parts of life that people overlook when the tough parts confront them.

Actually, last week wasn’t at all bad. The 56th was in reserve until Wednesday and I didn’t do much but sit in a peep and read. When we were finally committed, I was with the anti-tank platoon and just moved along behind the assault platoons.

The division flunked the test. The whole problem was set up to see how we could work as a division. Some general forgot about our rear security for the division, so the division still can’t go overseas.

You asked about my work here. Well, these men are not at all green. The 12th was activated about 2 years ago, and most of the enlisted men have been in it from the start. The platoon sergeants are wonderful, and all the squad leaders are efficient. Consequently, I follow the policy of keeping quiet and looking. Occasionally issuing a brief order just to keep my hand in. At the A.R.T.C. the lieutenants had to do everything in the absence of good non-coms. Here we make decisions, give the orders and just watch as it is carried out. Don’t have to show each man what to do. When you get here you will probably hear too much about these things.

Last night the 56th had a party here at the rec hall. I met all the officers’ wives and they seemed very interested in your coming down. They live in Abilene and will not doubt be friends of ours soon.

Today I sent you a night letter just in case I can’t get a phone call thru. As yet I haven’t been able to get the long distance operator! Nothing new, tho. As soon as Lt. Kurtz moves to his apartment, we can go to his room. He planned to move this week, but there is some delay in finishing off the apartment he wants to move to. I went to see the place today. It is in a good locality and a good house. Kurtz was out so I still haven’t seen the room!

Figures a little on our financial status today:
Total month’s pay=$252.00
Less one war bond=$18.75
Less insurance=$6.50
Less my board=$31.00
Less 2 bus trips to Abilene per day=$9.00
SO--$186.75 left to pay for our quarters, your board, laundry, and miscellaneous.

We should be able to do very well on that, even under the worst of conditions!

This will be a big change for both of us, particularly you. Changes are always a little tough at first. I know it will be a change all to the good for me, because I won’t be leaving anything I value and will be gaining the very thing I want most of all. But you will be leaving home really for the first time, will have a long lonely trip and a completely new environment to come to. You will have a new civilian life to get used to as well as learning about married life and in a sense getting adjusted to “army” life. That’s a big order, Honey—I know just how big. I wouldn’t ask you to do it, if I didn’t feel sure that even with these things, you will find this the best thing to do. We belong together, now. We have realized that for a long time, but we have been together so little that we haven’t done much but talk about the things we wanted to do. Now we will start living and doing these things. We’ll be doing them as the “Russells” and under conditions that will be imperfect, but will probably make us the real “unit” we want to be. This is “us,” honey, not just together in thoughts, but working in a real world. We can start on that building we have been laying the foundation to.

You’ll be homesick as hell, maybe, and you’ll feel like a stranger around here for a while. Expect that, and rather look for things to seem all wrong. But think of what we’re gaining. You’ll be with the person who loves you most in the world, and will do anything and everything to make things as fine as he can for you. That’s the permanent thing. The things you are leaving you will never forget, but will find that it is possible to get on without. You won’t be homesick long and when we do get adjusted we’ll be what we want to be—a functioning couple, young and mobile and as adjustable as they come, doing things and building a life that is going to have a hundred times the richness and value of the average. We have more to look forward to than most people because we are going to do the things that other people dream of. We aren’t after money and security primarily, but experiences, beauty and above all, truth. Those things are hard to remember in the face of a real situation, but they are there and much more available than either money or security to people who are after them sincerely.

You see, honey, we’re on the offensive now. We’re going to kick the world around a little for a change. Circumstances do not bring us together, we’re doing it. We expect to get scratched up here and there when we are doing the kicking, but think of the thrill of getting in a whack or two ourselves! And also of gaining our objective of being together!

I guess I don’t need to tell you how I’ve missed you. Last night most of all. Seeing all these other officers with their wives, dancing. I never thought that I would be yearning to dance. I just ain’t the type. But lately I’ve been longing to dance with you every time I hear an orchestra. Strongest of all last night. Made me wish for you so much last night that I left the old party early. I can’t take that environment without you now. It’s bad enough when there’s nothing around to remind me of you. But when they start playing “our” songs, and dancing, I know you’re supposed to be right beside me. When you aren’t, the music just cuts right into me. So I went to bed, after relaxing on three beers. (I was not drunk.)

I’m still trying to phone you—guess it will be pretty late when I do, and I know the connections will be bad. Want to hear you tho. Maybe next week we’ll be together at this time.

Gee, I’m in love with you. Hurry down, honey. We’ve got so many new worlds waiting for us.

All my love,
Wallace

[added on the last page, a message from Emma Nelson, Marjorie’s maternal grandmother]
Friday a.m.
I couldn’t resist opening this to hear what was new—but I decided it was the same date as the one you had—I did not mean any harm and hope Wallace will forgive me. It probably won’t happen again—this morning when I turned on the radio it was “Oh What a Beautiful Morning” then “A Song of Texas” and you were on the way there—I wonder what your night was like.

[Illegible name] and Emily left yesterday and Mrs. Liverham [?] and Lizzie Woodward called and last night Mrs. Woodbury came and stayed till 10 so I had her help into my dress. Janet is here this morning.

Love,
Mom

June somepin [14], 1944 Wednesday

2008-06-12T20:11:00.000-07:00

Dear Honey,

Here is the whole division, in to camp for a couple of hours to police up the area. Never saw a good tactical situation change so quickly—I had taken over the 2nd platoon after their regular Lt. was captured, and was having a great old time. We are working against a foot infantry outfit and having a tough time of it. They are dug in up in the hills west of camp and we can hardly get a patrol thru. Will be out ‘til Sunday, trying to break thru.

This coming in is conceded to be hen-house waste, as the vulgar say, but from it I have a gained a shower, a shave, a letter from you and a bottle of beer, very cold. You don’t know how good those things are after being out in the sun. It isn’t half as hot a Georgia—big sun, but dry and a good breeze.

I am still feeling good about the room we practically have. I think about you coming a lot. Who would have thought we’d live together first in Texas! It’s a wonderful, exciting world. I find it better and better as time goes by, and I become broader and less inhibited.

Glad you are enjoying your K.T.C. activities. You will finish there, you know. This is just a postponement. As soon as we can’t be together, you can plan to finish up at K.T.C. If that situation doesn’t come, that’s just fine, as far as I’m concerned.

Have been browsing over a book “Trumpet In the Dust” during spare minutes in the field, very good—always think of us as reading books together. We have so much to do together.

All my love,
Wallace

June 10, 1944 Saturday

2008-06-10T18:21:00.001-07:00

Dearest Honey,

You don’t know how happy I am to report that I have paid one week’s rent on a room in Abilene for you and me! Actually, it isn’t completely settled but it can be planned on. Lt. Kurtz, of Class 61, is moving out of his room to an apartment right after our Division problem. He is going to see that we get his present place by paying a week’s rent for the room for us when he tells his landlady he’s leaving. I have given him the money and it looks like a sure thing.

I did what I said I wouldn’t, and took the room without seeing it. Now before you hit me, remember that the situation here is getting so that there just are no places left. You don’t get a chance to choose between two places. With this room, which Kurtz says is light and O.K., we can live very reasonably until we can find a better place. It is better than the hotel plan, and maybe even better than I have expected it to be. The bathroom is downstairs and no cooking. That is bad, but as they say, we’ll have a beach-head to work from. The room is $8.00 a week, which is high but the lowest I have seen for Abilene. When we find an apartment, it will be $45 a month. Now we won’t be rushed to find an apartment, tho, and can enjoy life while waiting. Double bed and other furniture. Easy walk to center of Abilene. Many chances to ride to Barkeley.

I have told you, haven’t I, that the whole division will be in the field on a test all next week. We get back Saturday, the 17th. Then I’ll go in to see how our place is, and if it is still ours. If you get here any time after then, things will be fine. Don’t expect to hear from me next week. I’ll be out in the woods with the biggest outfit I’ve ever seen. Won’t have a platoon, I guess, just do odd jobs and watch the anti-tank gun platoon. I will have that when we get back, I hear. Certainly getting away from my specialized field—tank platoon leading! Very all around, you see. Now I’ll be shooting at tanks for awhile.

This afternoon I sent a telegram to you. Don’t know as it was really necessary. The main thing now is for you to let me know when you plan to arrive, so that I can meet you and have things kind of prepared. Unless I hear that you have set out before next Sunday, I will wire or phone again any new developments then. Really not much to coordinate on. You come down, I meet you. You look after getting here, I’ll look after the Abilene end and meet you at the train. If I can’t meet you, you go to the Hotel Wooten, still, unless I send you the street address of our room; then, of course, go there. Do think I can meet you, tho, almost any time from the 18th on.

Seems as tho I’m always saying goodby to you! Very likely I won’t be able to write until a week from today. It’s as always, tho, they can’t disconnect us completely. I’ll be thinking of you all the time. I like to so much. We have the nicest conversations sometimes—out in the wilderness at night, or anywhere. Very much like our real talks, too. Maybe that’s why we find it so easy when we are together. I don’t know, tho. The way we get together after being apart is just one of those things I can’t explain at all. It’s there, that’s all we know. It’s remarkable. I don’t believe in people being made for each other. There’s nothing to it at all. Naturally. That only makes us more of a paradox, tho. Don’t know why I keep trying to reason things out when everything is so unreasonable. There must be a reason, somewhere, why you and I are different from you and anybody else or me and anybody else. The difference is so big to me, and it is because “I love you.” That describes it perfectly, but does not explain it. Guess the reason isn’t too important, anyway. Just I love you is enough.

And I do, always,
Wallace

June 8, 1944 Thursday

2008-06-07T20:08:00.000-07:00

Dearest Honey,

Another letter today! I love them, they make you feel so near. I feel just the way you say—very warm and contented inside. Almost like the “mella glow” that Frankie (Sinatra) Brown claims comes from a Manhattan or two. Only much deeper and better.

The grapevine got a very bum steer about this port of debarkation business. Camp Barkeley is far away from any coast, and is noted for its Medical Administration O.C.S.—the closest male approach to a WAC organization! Moreover, there would be the whole 12th division to move out if I should go—I’m in a line outfit now. And we must be near water before we can go. So your scares are a mole hill now.

The situation is this, Bunny. The 12th has been activated a long time but it has never been able to pass the tests required for overseas—has a reputation for flunking tests! It should have been ready long ago, but it isn’t. Now it is trying to round into shape, and is in a semi-alerted state. That doesn’t mean a great deal, tho, many outfits have been fully alerted for over a year. We have an A.P.O. number, 262, I think, but few prospects of using it. We’ll have to move in the States to a port of embarkation, first.

Probably I will not be permanently with the 12th, but train with it at least 3 months and then become good replacement material for some other outfit.

Finally, I will hit a port of debarkation when I get back. My first port will be one of embarkation!

There is nothing morbid in the thought of going overseas, Bunny. I think it will come, and that is why I am so anxious to be with you now. It’s just another thing to look at squarely. Don’t imagine things about it. Now that the initial steps of the invasion are under way, we can be optimistic about the length of the war and also future casualties in it. We’re not in this heaviest part of the war, anyway!

In coming to Texas, we are answering the problem of my going overseas.I don’t believe I’d have you come down if I thought wasn’t leaving in a few months. Conditions are far fro good here—not sordid, but crowded. It’s hard to find what we want, at a reasonable cost.

However, I have never been more sure of anything that that it will be by far the best thing for us to do. Even figuring the highest costs, we can just afford it—and we can easily do better than that. Here is the most expensive way we can live—you in a hotel, eating out all meals. We can afford that if we have to, but I know we won’t have to long. That is the way we must start, tho. I have just about given up trying to get a place without you here—none of the agencies will help unless you are here, and I am not able to be in town mornings when there are private openings, or when the Public Utilities is open. I have a good inside tip on how to use them, but it works only in the a.m. Here is my plan then: You can work at arranging your Keene affairs and getting most of our things ready to ship. Make all the plans you can for the trip down—pullman cars and reservations where possible. Don’t worry at all about the trip. Train riding is only very monotonous and has nothing in it to be concerned about. Carry as little as possible with you for luggage and see if you can keep clean. You can’t, but it passes time to try. You’ll see how easy it is, even for a lady alone. You’ll meet lots of them.

When you leave, ship your clothes and personal necessities only, and carry what you need for the trip and a couple of days. Pack our other things and put them at my folks or anyplace where they can be shipped easily when we need them. Take plenty of money for the trip and be sure that what is left in the bank is available to us at short notice.

The best date for you to arrive will be Sunday, June 25. That Saturday (24th) evening is O.K., too, but Abilene will be very crowded; but aside from that it is better than Sunday. (The Jeffersonian has no pullman cars, only reclining chairs. Pullman is better.)

Let me know when you plan to arrive and I’ll meet you or bust. If I bust take a cab to the Hotel Wooten where I will have reservations for you. I’ll meet you there just as soon as I can after that.

When you get into the Hotel sing out “Wahoo” three times just to get into the spirit of things, and to let them know that you’re here, dadgummit, and intend to stay as long as you want and don’t care who knows it.

Then I will orient you on the ways of Abilene and the layout of the city. After that, we will be together very often; have nice long Sundays together, most every evening and nite; and really be man and wife! We’ll have lots to do. First we’ll get the agencies looking for a miserable little room, and then find a nice bright one by ourselves. That done, and we have a home. Big step. Then we’ll find a place to prepare meals—maybe that 2-room apartment you dreamed about, or in the kitchen of the house our room is in. Then we’ll be saving money. Then we’ll get some of our own things down and start Living together in the way we dream of.

How’s that? Makes me feel good. And we can do it. I’ve got $130 in my pocket right now that will go us until next pay day—July 1—when I should get $225 or thereabouts. You bring a substantial sum, too, just as a reserve.

I love you, honey, very, very, very much. Know that?
All yours, always,
Wallace
P.S. Let’s wait and celebrate our birthday together! Seeing you is the best thing I can think of for a gift.
Wallace loves you.

June 7, 1944 Wednesday

2008-06-07T20:07:00.000-07:00

Dear Mrs. Russell,

Five days ago I came to Barkeley. Tonite is the first one I could not have been in to spend the evening and night with Mrs. Russell, if she had been in Abilene. I am duty officer tonite, which means I must stay on post. Just for the sake of being here, that’s about all. Not a great deal to do.

Today I saw a prairie flower, which, natcherly, was growing wilder every hour. I knew that flowers would make you happy so I picked it (it was quite a fight—it had become so wild) and after domesticating it for a mile in the sun, managed to get it in this envelope and on the way to my best wife. “Best” may sound as tho there were others, but you specifically called me your dearest husband the other day, and I’m jealous.

Next Monday, or maybe even Sunday, we go out on a 5-day problem with the whole division. That won’t be long, and when I get back you should be almost here! I’ll give you the situation from my end of the line starting tomorrow. Then if I can I’ll call sometime this weekend to get things up to date.

Tomorrow I go out on the range with 2 groups of me, and give instruction before they fire. Got to read up on that now. So goodbye. I love you so very muc—wish I could write lots more.

All my love, always,
Wallace

June 6, 1944 Tuesday

2008-06-07T20:06:00.000-07:00

Dearest Bunny,

Today I was in a division review. Now that is a mighty big affair, with a battalion almost lost in the crowd. You see men for as far as you can see. When you think how many divisions there are, you are impressed at the size of the army.

Of course the review was to celebrate the invasion, which we found out about this morning. That is big news, all right. I’m just praying that things will go fast now. If they do, the war could end up shortly. That’s the thing that is so good I don’t dare think about it. We’ll hit ‘em awful hard then, Honey.

I got all my luggage at the station yesterday—now I have all the little things I’ve been doing without. My diary, for example. That poor thing has been suffering this year. Haven’t written hardly anything in it. I did get ambitious one day and just skim over the first 14 weeks of O.C.S. Now I’m just skimming up to date. I think getting married is worth a short note! Also where I am now.

Have I ever told you how wonderful my wife is? She is so wonderful that I have the feeling I can’t do half the things I should for her, and I ask myself how I deserve so much for doing so little.

That’s true, on, I’m pretty lame at showing how I feel sometimes, and doing the things I should. Anyway, I love you a hundred times more than I ever have anyone, and I want you to let me know whenever I can do something for you.

Nite now. Just going to sleep under that big old prairie moon [full moon on June 6, 1944]. Love me? That’s good. Sleep tight, Mrs. Russell.

All yours,
Wallace

June 5, 1944 Monday

2008-06-07T20:05:00.000-07:00

Dearest Marjorie,

I got my first letter from my wife today. It was a big thrill for me. Isn’t it nice to be married? I got your name put all over my official papers today so that the government is sure to know they have a married officer. I can’t get over how wonderful it is to have you legally my very closest relative and all. Everybody recognizes our right to be very close.

Well, today I was put into “C” company of the 56th Arm’d. Inf. Battalion. There are a lot of fine officers there. Too many, in fact. All I do is mill around and look official. There are too many officers, and in this real outfit the noncoms are so god the officers don’t do anything, anyway! I can be happy just overseeing anyway. Makes me feel powerful. An officer is an officer here—more so even than at Knox. Wearing my arm out saluting and giving “rest.” A man makes my bed and shines my shoes and cleans my private cabin. There are some other Lt.’s with me in the cabin but they live in Abilene, so actually I live all by myself. Wish you could live out here with me. Went to Abilene to hunt again tonite. Found that transportation will be no problem, but getting a place is still hard. No response from our ad yet. Nothing new from the C. of C. or Travellers’ Aid. They say “Is your wife here?” I say no, and am licked at once. Tonite I did reserve rooms for you at the Wooten Hotel starting June 16. Can move it up if you don’t arrive until later. If I don’t get a place—but I’ll keep trying—you come to there for a week maybe. By then, with you here, I know we can get something. There are rooms, but they let couples here, or the ones that get there “fustest” have them. Maybe I’ll have a chance to get there first Wednesday. May get in in the morning.

Sleepy again tonite, Hon, so good nite. Feel very close to you after getting a letter so soon. I have a wonderful wife. Very best variety. I am very happy about us—we’re such a good couple.

All my love, always,
Wallace

June 4, 1944 Sunday

2008-06-07T20:03:00.000-07:00

Hi, hon,

Are you listening to the symphony this afternoon? I hope so, because I am right now. Maybe we’ll get a chance to hear a lot of good music this summer. We’ll try to arrange it. They have a good record store in Abilene.

Now to get things up to date. I reported Saturday morning to the 12th Armd. Div. headquarters. They went thru the motions of interviewing us for placement, but I know they had us all assigned before we came. The few of us that came here were split up all over the 12th Division. Tom, Hinchey and I were put into the armored infantry section. Rudick got into a tank battalion.

We went down the line until the offices closed on Sat. We didn’t get far enough to report to our battalions—but can see where we will end up pretty well. Tom and Hinchey are in the 66th Arm’d. Inf. Battalion. I am in the 56th A.I.B.—the only new officer put in this battalion. So you can see we’re pretty well spread out. I am not officially in the 56th yet—just attached for quarters. I will report officially tomorrow.

Armored Infantry is set up like this—3 battalions to a division. 3 or 4 companies to a battalion, and 4 platoons to a company. A platoon (which I will probably have) has as I recall, 5 half-tracks, 3 rifle squads, a machine gun squad and a mortar squad. Big outfit to handle—nearly 60 men, if they have regulation platoons.

You never saw such flat country! The road from Abilene to Barkeley (15 miles) is straight as a string.

I’ll just write on here as things come to mind—so many things to tell you about.

The most important is about room hunting. That isn’t so easy. Things are pretty crowded in Abilene. But not impossible. The ones that brought their wives with them are all settled now. Last night I went in to the Chamber of Commerce, U.S.O., Public Utilities, a couple of realtors, and called up the advertized places in the paper. They had nothing, or were saving what they had for couples already here. I put in a classified ad to run 4 days starting today. I’ll enclose a copy of it.

Here’s what we’ll do. I’ll continue to look nights for a place. I am at a disadvantage, tho, because they serve couples already here first, and the paper ads are answered before I can get in. Consequently, I will take most anything I can get. If it isn’t good enough, we can change when you come and can be free to operate in a big way. Everyone is confident that we can get an apartment when you are here. Can I plan tentatively on your being here the weekend of the 18th?

I’ll work like a beaver this week, because I hear that the week of June 11-18 the Div. will be in the field on some kind of tests. Back in time to meet you, tho.

Do you know how much your fare to Texas will be? 40 or 50 dollars, I imagine. Gee, we are dealing in pretty big finances these days—know that? I am being as tight as possible now, but find that money goes pretty fast, anyway. As soon as we get settled, tho, this will end. It only cost 15 cents to take the bus to Barkeley. That will be much better than Knox.

About our money in the bank. I’d like to leave it in Keene, but would also like to have it available if we need it. Can it be changed to a checking account? If so, better change it. Otherwise, we can leave some signed withdrawal slips with my folks and send to them when we want some. Checking account best, tho. I plan to have one soon anyway.

Whee! You’ll be a real financier by the time you get all your money straight! You handle more people’s money, hon.

Take all the time you need, tho; any time you get things done is soon enough to set out for Texas. I’ll be waiting.

That’s all the uninteresting things I can think of. In this framework I have been living some very interesting things. Seeing so many new things, and also getting used to myself. Getting married really changed me, I think, and I’m quite happy about it. Feel as tho I had gotten a real start on life, and now it’s much easier to do things I like to, but which are hard to start. You know—like reading something a little deep. You find it hard to start, but when you do, you’re very glad you did. I’m not distracted by little things as before, and can follow a thought through to a conclusion.

Have been reading some short stories by Sinclair Lewis, Ernest Hemingway and Conrad Aiken. They are all favorites of mine, and write things that are worth reading slow rather than just skimming.

There are three colleges in Abilene. Hardin-Simmons is the only one I have heard of. Some army families are living in rooms at dormitories there. Maybe we will if we can find nothing else—wouldn’t be bad, maybe you could take some courses good for graduation at K.T.C. Should be a good environment there, but the rooms don’t have a place to cook or prepare food. That would make living expensive.

It will be nice when we’re together, Bun. We’ll be sharing things again, and living a real life. Bet we’ll get on just as well facing real problems together as we did living as royalty at the Bradford. Be even more satisfying to be doing some solid building together, I think. I love you so many ways.

Your loving husband (heh, just wanted to see how it looked),
All yours, always,
Wallace

Sunday Eve.
Dearest Honey,

Just thought I’d say I love you again before I went to bed. Feel like the old lone cowboy tonite. The prairie moon am beaming, and tho I haven’t heard a coyote yet, I expect he’ll sound off soon.

Well, there’s a train whistle. That’s just as good.

Funny how lonely this country gets. Everything seems so far away. You walk for miles to reach a building that looks just down the road a little. It rained this afternoon, but the sky is so big the clouds just covered a spot in the center, and it was clear all around the horizon.

This place is very pretty, tho, but in a way that a New Englander finds a little big. It won’t seem so big when you get here, tho. Together it will seem as beautiful as it is. It’ll be “Mighty Fine,” as they say here.

Come as soon as you can, Hon; I love you very much.

Your,
Wallace

June 4, 1944 Sunday
Dear folks,

Wahoo! Never thought I’d be writing from the depths of the heart of Texas tonite.

Last week has been full of travel, and travel and things. Main accomplishments: crossed Ol’ Man River; got assigned to an armored infantry battalion of the 12th Armored Div. Will have half-tracks rather than tanks when I finally get settled. Now I’m still working my way from one headquarters to another. Started at division and going down. Things closed up between Reserve Combat Command and battalion this Saturday.

Camp Barkeley seems to be O.K., and Abilene is a clean, modern city. Every thing is so flat out here that they don’t dare build anything over one-story high.

Don’t know as I thanked you folks for all you did at the wedding the way I should. Want to now, anyway. You all did a lot of work, I know, to make things go as well as they did.

Haven’t got a permanent address yet, but will let you know when I do.

I think I am going to be in the 56th battalion—the only new officer in it. Our class of 61 is spread out all over now. From California to Arkansas and Louisiana—and Texas.

Keep me posted on the adventures of Carl, Bob, Justin, Jay, and women folks.

Love,
Wallace

June 2, 1944 Friday

2008-06-02T12:10:00.001-07:00

Hello hon,

I am writing with a hotel pen, which is second only to a post office pen.

Well, here we are in Abilene, the town that goes with Camp Barkeley. We arrived here at 7:40 tonite and are staying at this hotel tonite [Hotel Wooten]. Will clean up and go to camp tomorrow.

Abilene impressed me first as being a clean, up-to-date city. The country here is flat and grassy, with scrub trees. The buildings of the city here are low, but clean, and the streets are quite wide. I took a walk to get oriented, having the idea of living here in the top of my mind. The town is dry – bone dry. Perhaps it will be different on Saturday night but there were not too many soldiers around tonite. Those that were seemed to live here – were walking out with their wives! Many officers seemed to have found places somewhere.

To break in – try particularly to get pullman reservations for the last part of the trip. That is, from Dallas on – the train was crowded and all pullman seats sold.

Bought a copy of the Abilene Reporter-News and looked over the want ads – a few rooms and apartments are advertised and a lot of people want to rent rooms or apartments. Typical ad – “OFFICER and wife desire furnished apartment or house. Call 8822.” Some are longer, saying “no pets, no children, no drinking,” and stuff. If I can get in tomorrow I’ll look into the apartments advertised and put in an ad myself. I’ll take a place as soon as I can get it, and hold it until you come.

Gee, Bunny, I’m tired. Tom and the boys have gone off to a movie, but I’d rather stay right here. I think of you all the time and hope and hope things go well for us here. Texas is a new kind of country, people and land different from anything I’ve ever seen. Pretty tho. Not like a desert as I expected. Tom is of course crushed by the thought of Abilene’s dryness, but it may make it more as we want for ourselves.

If it is at all possible, I am going to try to graduate from UNH this summer by taking army institute courses here, if necessary. I only need 7 credits. Tom says they are now giving credit for what we did in A.S.T.P. If so, I’m in already. If not, they do accept theses army correspondence courses. I’ll take some of them. It will make things so much easier right after the war if I can get my degree now. I will write to UNH for details right away.

My eyes are really getting out of hand now, so goodnite, my honey. I’m kissing my ring instead of you tonite. I’ve really got some wonderful plans on the fire – just let’s hope that they don’t crack up too much when I report for duty again tomorrow. I don’t know what I’ll meet there.

I love you every minute,
Nite, Bunny,
Wallace

June 1, 1944 Thursday

2008-06-02T12:09:00.000-07:00

My dear Mrs. Russell (Heh, Heh, Heh),

O’Donnell, Hinchey (you met him), Rudick, and Russell are operating very well these days. We are now between Memphis and Jackson.

We got Pullman berths last night and today have (with regular fares) got command of the drawing room of the air-conditioned car. It’s our own private room – complete with toilet and divan just for us! They like officers here! Having the most comfortable ride ever on a train. When you come down I recommend pullman all the way, even if it takes longer. You can get good trains and be comfortable, so please do it. This is real south now, so get air-conditioned cars. Make all the reservations you can. There are many wives traveling alone, and only nice people on these cars. You will be all right – just remember to get the best.

Saw Ol’ Man river for the first time – quite impressive. Had some papaya juice for dinner. Flat country, many darkies and poor whites. Texas will be still different.

Wish I had a pen but I can’t get one anywhere. They don’t even have ever-sharp pencils!

Be interested to know all about graduation and what you are doing. All the thank-you’s done? There is a section for brides in Coronet this month – my companions tell me.

Gee I love you.
All yours,
Wallace

May 31, 1944 Wednesday

2008-05-21T20:28:00.000-07:00

Dearest Honey,

Somehow it seems funny to be writing to you again. I still feel as tho you were close enough to talk to. And I hope you will be soon, because I do miss you very much. It helps a lot to know we’re married, but still can’t feel quite right with you away.

Well, I’ve been running around all day signing things. Tonite at 10:30 the train leaves for Texas. Our class is being split among Camp Cook, Calif., Camp Chaffee, Arkansas, Camp Polk, Louisiana, and Camp Barkeley, Texas. Except maybe for Chaffee, I’ve drawn the best one. Tom is going there, too, and also Bill Sayre – who got married when we did. He brought his wife back with him, and now they are going to Barkeley together. I have talked with him, ad we will hunt for quarters together. He suggested that together we might rent a small house and split it between us. Might do it if the house divided easily into two parts. They are nice people, but not quite the kind that would be our best friends, I think. A little too flowery and keep-up-with-the-Jones-y. Like music, tho.

Barkeley isn’t as well located as Knox for cultural advantages, but I hear it is less crowded and that Abilene is a pretty city. I’ll get busy as soon as I get there and we’ll have the best place in town! We can learn from Sayre’s experience and spare you breaking into a new place. It may not be any longer than we had planned, so go on as scheduled with your work – but keep flexible. We’re doing all right, when, a change of a thousand miles doesn’t have any serious influence on our plans! I love you, honey. Always more and more. Everything seems so good when I look at my ring. “There’s half of you, Russ,” I say to myself.

This afternoon I took a nap and caught up on sleep. When I woke up I laid still and caught up on my thoughts. Have to stop every now and then and digest the new things that have happened. No denying I have never felt so satisfied over anything as our marriage. Still purr when I think about it. Tom says I’m smug about it – but I think he’s jealous!

I got a lifetime of things to remember from our honeymoon – did you? Wish we could have had another week to spend in places like the Library court yard. We still have some things to talk over, and those are the places that bring them to mind. Just got a few things I have always said to myself that I must say to you. Very definite things that may explain why I want to do the things we are planning later on.

If you’ll excuse me now, I’ll get some more rest before setting out for Texas. I love you so much that you’re never out of my thoughts all the way. I’ll write very soon.

All my love,
Wallace

Oh, Mrs. Russell – a letter to the 12th Armored Div., Camp Barkeley, Texas, would reach me sooner or later.

May 23, 1944 Tuesday

2008-05-21T20:25:00.000-07:00

[Wallace A. Russell and Marjorie A. Nelson were married in Keene, New Hampshire at the Second Congregational Church.]

May 15, 1944 Monday

2008-05-16T06:58:00.000-07:00

Hello my honey,

Will you marry me say 196 hrs. from now? If you can’t make that, maybe 198 ½? That’s practically right now, isn’t it – compared to the times we have waiting. This time I feel very confident that everything will work our O.K., in fact I feel very smug about it – don’t give a damn about anybody.

This is a wonderful bivouac, or maybe I’ve got spring fever. It hasn’t rained at all and everything is smooth. My platoon is now strictly in the groove on morale and discipline. Have just 2 men that continually pity themselves and they are on sick call today. I hope they stay there; they are my only problems. Just old men that cannot adjust to the army. I suppose they feel sick, but there is nothing physically wrong with them.

All the time I think about our wedding plans, but actually know very little about them. Wonder if my imagination is right. Close enough, I guess. Gee, I feel good and love you most to death!

Ken E. is out here with a training battalion now, acting as executive officer. Just had a long talk with him. His marriage went over fine and he is very happy. Here’s an idea he gave me. I don’t know what Dr. Holmes has done about my blood test or needed physical, but it is just possible that this official looking document from my 201 file will impress him into signing. Ken says it has worked. If it does it might smooth the way some when I get home. You might have the license and things.

This morning I have sent my men out on two details for the engineering dept. So I have nothing to do but sit here in my peep with Ken E. He’s reading a mystery story. You see, married men never write their wives. I hear you say something to the effect that I am sadly mistaken if I believe that. Well, I don’t believe it for us, anyway.

Yesterday I was in charge of the whole company almost all day. The C.O. left in the early afternoon, putting me on as O.D. – I stayed on up until midnite last night. Made very few weighty decisions, tho.

One of my minor worries is about getting my uniform out of the cleaners. I sent a lot of stuff and must arrange to get it before I leave on Saturday. Can handle it, tho, one way or another. We get off Friday night. Khaki’s are in order here, but not in the New England area. So I can wear about what I want, I imagine. Somewhere along my way home I’ll let you know when I will arrive. Expect it will be Sunday evening, early. Just next Sunday!

Today we are on the first leg of a 36-hour problem without sleep. I am not too worried, tho, I have been going without sleep so much out here. I make it up by getting easy spells during the day. Like this. Tonite we have a dismounted march, a mounted march and a platoon problem. Then tomorrow’s work before going on as O.D., until midnite on Tuesday. Whee! May not get a chance to write you again before I see you.

Have I any last minute messages? Love you like everything and am just bursting to get on my way. It’s a great life – we’ll ne so nice together. We’ll show them what marriage should be like.

Yours with all my love,
Wallace

May 14, 1944 Sunday

2008-05-14T09:52:00.000-07:00

Dear folks,

‘Ere long I’ll be up in your country, and will see you just as much as I can and still accomplish my mission, namely, matrimony. I have things all planned and should have a couple or three days at home.

This bivouac is a big improvement over our Georgia adventure. Have been out here over a week and it hasn’t rained yet – ideal weather. Being an officer is an interesting experience – lot of advantages, many headaches. Main thing is you aren’t under the regimentation you are as an enlisted man – I keep unauthorized material in my tent, use a mattress cover as a sleeping bag, let an “apple polisher” clean my mess kit and such. My recon platoon offers a lot of work for a prospective psychologist.

Will see you soon and find out
1. How Pa likes his job
2. How tough old Russ is (and his future)
3. What Ma thinks about the war
4. How smart Carl is

Be prepared on all these subjects, and also be able to orient me on my own wedding. You probably know more about it than I do.

Love,
Wallace

P.S. Gosh, look how military I’m getting – the list, the order – oh my!

[No date]

Hello Hon –

Am going on Battalion in about 2 hours, but got to write about something in this. Here is the sealed report of my blood test, only Dr. Holmes can open it. I don’t hardly think that he will complete the thing without me, but you might act as tho you expected him to and get away with it. The people at the Hospital looked up all the NH laws and decided this was all we could do here.

Also here is a ticket on Stir-Up to win the Derby – he let me down. Very pretty horse, tho.

I know how much work you will be doing, Hon, and will be thinking of you every minute. Please try not to worry about anything at all – we’ll fix anything. I love you more that I thought I could.

All yours,
Wallace

May 13, 1944 Saturday

2008-05-14T08:47:00.000-07:00

Morning Honey,

The weather is still dry and so far this has been a very easy bivouac. Not much sleep nights, but enjoyable work. Every night I arrange for our bivouac security, lead all the tanks into position and send out patrols. My platoon has had three battles with the Nazis, not counting bivouac raids. We have some thru with one man only going to the pokey – he went with the C.O. Some of my old men’s bones are creaking but they work as hard as they can.

I got two of your letters last night and am perfectly satisfied with the way things are working out. Just a week now and I’ll be on my way. I can hardly believe it yet, seems too good to be real. But I’ll be there, sure ‘nough.

It’s unbecoming of an officer to ask for money, but if you get this in time can you send me $15 to back me up on the way home? I have spent wildly since I got my commission, just seemed to slip away. It won’t go so easy from now on, Hon, so don’t give me up yet.

Won’t it be nice just to relax together without any secrecy? I believe I’ll take you up on going to sleep the first thing. I got about 45 minutes last night, but am amazed at how good I feel. Everything is rosy, hon, I keep saying to myself – “You never had it so good.”

All my love,
Wallace

May 9, 1944 Tuesday

2008-05-09T17:31:00.001-07:00

Ha, Ha, Hello,

You didn’t think I’d write today, did you? I find that being in charge of a unit offers a little spare time during the day. My platoon is on a “field engineering problem” today. That is, they are policing an old bivouac area for “C” ration cans. Nothing on schedule for Recon today, so –

Of course, I can’t work myself at this, so I organize the endeavor and follow along in my peep to see that all goes well. Now I am writing you from “Quibble,” my peep, clip board on steering wheel is my desk.

At night I am busy, tho. Officers meetings, reports, maintenance, security. Never get to sleep very long at a time before my runner wakes me up and says somebody wants to see me. Last night the Nazis captured almost all the big shots in the company. Company commander, Executive officer, 1st sergeant, almost all the C.P. – the recon platoon was well protected, all we lost was our runner who was at the C.P. – they’re all up in the pokey now for eight hours! Tonite we’ll hear what the Company Commander, 1st Lt. Bruderlind has to say. No doubt it will be plenty, and we’ll all be on guard all night from now on. He’s a good man, tho, reminds me of Al Greenwood.

What’s the latest on Bob and the service? Is he going to be here for our anticipated nuptials? Rather good line, anticipated nuptials. Is it nooptials or nup-shalls? Anyway, I like it. Never did get to try on the wedding ring we finally got for me, did I? It’s a theoretical fit, and I don’t think I’ve grown any.

Looks like it will be just the opposite from what we anticipated on mail. I don’t see how any mail will get thru to me, but I have it fixed with a guy to mail mine. The trainees get mail from the Post, but I have no address there. None comes from B.T. yet. I sit here and think of the things you must be doing – hope it leaves you some time to sleep.

See you soon – isn’t that a good way to end a letter, when it’s so?

Love,
Wallace

May 8, 1944 Saturday

2008-05-08T07:47:00.000-07:00

Hello, Hon,

Here I am, writing from the relatively civilized movie barracks. My recon platoon is seeing a picture on scouting I have seen many times.

How are you? Everything in order, I hope. I’m much more interested in what you’re doing than what I’m doing.

Had a busy day yesterday. As soon as I arrived at the area they put me in charge of the maintenance platoon and the Recon platoon. My recon platoon is in sad shape – only 12 men with 2 peeps and a half track. The maintenance platoon has three half tracks and about 20 men. These last kept me busy yesterday. Then I became Officer of the Day (O.D.) and spent most of last night inspecting the guards and all. Today I have only to march the men to class and keep a guard on our vehicles. Got some sleep, but the ground was clean but cold.

Well, I saw the Kentucky Derby as you know. Just like the pictures. Then I called you from a restaurant in Louisville. Tom and I got a table next to the phone and ordered dinner while it came thru. Only took a little while.

Gee, I love you, Honey, and in only two weeks we’ll be together. Seems like a long time because the bivouac looks so big. I’ll learn a lot about being a lieutenant. My thunderbolts look to me for everything. There are so many little details that come up – like relieving guards. Suppose I should forget where I left a certain guard – he might stay in one place unrelieved for years! I won’t forget, tho. I love you just as much as ever – even more out here in the woods.

Always yours,
Wallace

May 4, 1944 Thursday

2008-05-06T14:09:00.000-07:00

Dear Hon,

Here’s a new brand of bad taste, but I swear it is all I can get at the P.X. Case of necessity, not choice. Wish they would leave some space to write in. What kind of a plane is it? (Close to a B-25) What model tank? (Ha, ha, M4)

That concludes today’s quiz. Some more news came in today on our future. Fun to watch things work out day by day, isn’t it? Got my bivouac assignment today. They were assigned alphabetically and I find myself at the head of a reconnaissance platoon. That is both good and bad. For our immediate future, it is good. They say that the recon outfit is an easy job, so I may end up in better condition. I was anticipating really getting my teeth into the meat of leading a tank platoon, tho. Here I will have a half track and two peeps, I believe. That’s not a recon platoon according to the book, but what they have here. My duties will be to run reconnaissance problems, go ahead of the company and scout out bivouac sites, keep everybody from getting lost, and do most of the jobs nobody else has to do. Will satisfy my recent dream of putting around in a peep and looking official, tho. The heart-rending job of tank maintenance and recovery will not be mine. Some say the RCN platoon contains most of the company’s illiterates, which I hope is not true. The schedule for the platoon is not full; they do not have problems every day. On the off days we do our own company work.

We will have the 18th battalion, which is currently rumored to be all black and to contain all the Fort’s illiterates. Don’t see how they can both be true. Anyway, that leaves me with the illiteratest of the illiterates. Well, Binet and Simon did all right with feeble minded people to work with.

Tonite I took my blouse, not the R.O.T.C. one, a pair of pinks, summer khakis and assorted shirts and ties to the cleaners. Theoretically I will next wear the blouse when we get married. I will also sort out what things I’ll take home and what things I will mail to the Fort to my A.R.T.C. address. Then when I come off the bivouac on May 19, I will be all set to leave immediately. Just think, by this Saturday I will be all ready to get married. Then for two weeks of the primitive life. After that, we’ll be together. I’m very happy with the world. Great place, isn’t it?

It’s raining as tho its heart would break today and tonite. Trainees got all muddy and their morale was next to zero, so I spent most of my critiques trying to cheer them up. Developed quite a little song and dance that should have left them raring to go. They react very easily. Come up so glum and cold and wet. I built a big fire for them to stand around while I critiqued their problems, told them how good they were and told an old story or two to illustrate in a funny way why they have to go thru the discomfort of maneuvers.

The old men are hardest. Their bones just creak crawling in and out of tanks all day – and they are so beat by the army system. They act like whipped dogs. I think it’s because they don’t get treated with the respect they used to – no traineed does – and they can’t find a way to get used to it. A decent word or two to them helps, and if you can find time to talk about their civilian jobs they relax a lot. Then you can slide right into the problem at hand and they think about it as a man should, not like a scared trainee.

By the way, I had an assistant today – Private Brosnahan from South Dakota. Had point one, where I played the part of a machine gun and Private Brosnahan took a rifle and fired blanks at the side of the tanks. Great team we had. He’s the man who cleans the rifle at the end of the day, bless his soul.

Aunt Flossie sent me a card for being a Louie. I answered it yesterday and let her know that we would be glad to receive any information she could give us as a result of Alden’s furlough wedding. Should pave the way if you want to enlist her on our wedding projects as before. She’s good at that kind of stuff.

Last Monday there was a picture of the UNH men that got commissions here, in the Manchester Union. That is the remnant of 50 infantry juniors who studied together when we left for Wheeler. We’ve had some great experiences together. I’d like a copy of the picture very much, if you see an old Union laying around. Maybe my mother can find one from some of her friends.

This would be a good night for one of those walks in the rain. We would need some good raincoats, tho, and we’d have to avoid where the tanks have been or go over our heads in mud. So let’s have it be along a good sidewalk somewhere. We’ll just stroll along as if we didn’t know it was raining. Be nice when we get back, too, warm and snug. Maybe some coffee (or tea, if you must) before we go to bed. Some ripe olives, too, even if they are out of order with coffee.

‘Nite now,
I love you always,
Wallace

May 3, 1944 Wednesday

2008-05-04T14:46:00.000-07:00

Dear Bunny,

I’m improving. Tonite I have my pen with me, only it is empty. Soon I will get pen, ink, and paper all together at once. Can you read this? If you can, I admire you more than ever.

Moved to another new point today and instructed on the tactics of tanks crossing a defended ford. We have a groups of non-coms out here getting ready to ship out, and I did feel erudite lecturing to 30- and 40-year-old staff sergeants and such. They work the problem, then I push the model tanks around on a sand table, showing where they should go. You get a cross-section of the country taking basic, all right. A good way to wake them up is to ask a question and then ask for a man from, say, Minnesota to answer it. You’d be surprised how often you find a man from the state you mention. He seems pleased to think of his home state and everybody gets a kick out of it. Pretty soon they start volunteering in order to get their state into the discussion. Works very well, and is interesting to people from Florida, Maine, California, and Joisey all in the same outfit. Everything from Ph.D.s to kids that are still hoping for a high school diploma, too. They try very hard, too, and are easy to talk to. Far from dumb.

A New York City tailor now working at driving a medium tank looks homesick as hell and tells how his wife wants to know if he really sleeps on the ground. “If she only knew” he says breaking into his C rations.

A kid from Virginia wants to know if graduating from high school wasn’t just about the biggest moment in my life. I told him it was.

There’s the operator who says “Lieutenant, we’ve learned more here than at any other point. It must be a difficult one to teach. Would you want to swap your sandwiches for a C ration?” No.

Also the slick 35-year-old Florida man who goofs up his problem and like a well oiled lawyer talks his way out of it at the critique – “I assumed that your emplacement was meant to be at a greater range than it actually is, so I used H.E.”

And nationalities – accents are everywhere – Mexican, Swede (very thick accent, so I had him talk a lot, wonderful to hear), Italian, English, and all the U.S. accents. “I’m from Texas. We declared war the same time the U.S. did.” An Austrian smuggled some food in and comes out with black bread, figs, and salami instead of C rations!

I get a tremendous lift out of it. Then I feel like a heel again and leave at 4:30. They get ready to pitch pup tents and I come back and have cold beer with Tom, and shower and get my mail. Then I’m so comfortable I almost forget about what a racket this officer business is. About the filthy rifle I fired all day that I left for some enlisted man to clean, for example. May be silly, but it makes you wonder if you’re doing anything to rate such a preference. These men are almost thru basic, and will ship out soon. Consequently, I do try to show them some things they must know. Lot of practical things they don’t know.

Well, anyway, the next couple of weeks I won’t get anything the men on bivouac don’t get. Then I can complain about how uncomfortable it is. That’s always fun.

It’s rumored that Battle Training will close down in three weeks – that’s when I leave, of course, but I don’t mean to intimate the two are connected. They will use this area for maneuvers, and the regular A.R.T.C. officers will come out with the men they have been with for 15 weeks. Personalize training – that’s a good thing. Maybe basic won’t make the trainee feel he’s being run thru a mill.

Lt. Sayre has the location before mine. Every now and then he sends a message by a trainee, telling me to stop thinking about getting married and get on the ball. This burns me up, because he’s getting married, too, and I don’t get a chance to return the messages. All the trainees work in the other direction. When a problem goes wrong, tho, I blame it on him because he orients the men on my problem.

Found out today that in all probability I will get Sat. p.m. off to get a blood test in. Aren’t I wonderful? How are you doing with the minister, church, gown, invitation, test, etc., etc. – I’m sorry, Bunny, that I can’t do my share of the work now. Did get my train reservations for May 20th.

I love you out of all reason, Hon, and look forward to our week together more than anything I ever have,

All yours, always,
Wallace

May 2, 1944 Tuesday

2008-05-04T14:45:00.000-07:00

Hello Bunny,

Your real honest-to-goodness Sunday letter came today. I was very glad to get it. Clears up things a lot to see what you are thinking about these things. Now we can coordinate.

My leave will start on May 20 and I will get home Sunday night or Monday, not sure which. Now I will probably have to start back here on the 28th – that’s Sunday following, or maybe early Monday. So that amounts to about one full week at home. If you can get off for that, it should do very well. That would let you be back by Memorial Day.

If it’s a church wedding you want, let’s have one by all means. I thought it would be a lot more work and all. If it is possible, however, let’s do it. You can’t scare a tanker! Much.

On the blood test, I know N.H. is comparatively strict. However they have a whole section at the station hospital set up for pre-marital blood tests. The doctor here at Battle Trng. says that a test there is good in any state that requires one, for the length of time that the state has for its own tests. That would be 30 days for us. They have regular forms for it and it looks very official. I’ll keep in mind about getting an N.H. registered man, tho. I have the doctor filling out and signing the form now and will do everything to get to Camp before 5 p.m. this week to have the test taken.

The license plans you mention look very simple and effective!

In view of the fact that you will need to be back to start school on May 29, we would save travel time by going to Boston. I prefer whatever you say on that. The Bradford it will be. Can you make the reservation, OK?

Noon wedding, midnite weding or before breakfast is all the same to me, Hon.

One of the things I have learned recently is just how little I know about psychology. I never really have studied it, but these last months there has been a lot of chance to observe people. There is a great deal to know – they are all so complex. I imagine I would want to be with you always even if we hadn’t been forced apart. That emphasizes it tho, no doubt.

We can talk over all about summer school sometime when I am home. That’s in the next phase, so well get thru this one first.

You know that starting next Sunday I will be on a 2-week bivouac in charge of a platoon. I won’t get mail, and won’t write any, they tell me. So if there is a big silence from me the two weeks before we get married, don’t be at all disturbed by it. I will certainly let you know if anything comes up to interfere with our plans. And we’ll try to cover everything between now and this Sunday.

I will plan to call you this Saturday night, May 6, at 11 Court St., and we can see what the score is then. I will do everything to get that blood test and get my things ready to move out the minute I come off the bivouac.

If I turn up with a blood test and a big kiss (maybe two, or even more), can you see about the other things? Big order, but I hope you can do it. Let me know what else there is for me to do, too, if you can think of a thing I can do. Gee, they better not induct Bob before then, or we’ll be short a best man! We can pick up some guy off the street if necessary, tho.

My passionate pleas to trainees today totaled some four hours of actual speaking time, and I’m hoarse – there was a big wind (don’t say that was me, please) to talk over. I can still croak I love you, and mean it very much, Bunny.

Yours forever,
Wallace

May 1, 1944 Monday

2008-05-01T05:53:00.001-07:00

Hello Honey,

Well, I was Queen of the May today and knocked the 5th battalion dead with my lectures on ammunition and position for tanks. Brought the house down with my punch line – “For a tanker, position is everything in life.” Went over all twenty times I gave it. Got a little tired of it myself, tho.

Tonite Tom and I went to Post and finally got a valopak and some other very important items – a mirror (haven’t seen myself well for a week now) and a clipboard to help me look official. Tomorrow I will be an anti-tank gun at point four.

Today I got $51 in pay for just the last ten days. Spent $16.01 for the valopak. Called about reservations on the Jeffersonian from here to N.Y.C. on May 20. Will know about them in a couple of days. Most of the N.H. men are going home that way, so I guess it will be best.

Got back here by 10 p.m. and jotting this down before I go to bed. Wore my pinks with all the nice little notes in them tonite. I leave them there and take them out when my morale is low. I love you very, very much.

All yours,
Wallace

April 30, 1944 Sunday

2008-04-30T20:25:00.001-07:00

Dearest Honey,

For no good reason we stayed out last night, or rather Friday night, with a company that is on its bivouac. Made a bed roll and slept on the ground rather than pitch a tent. We got up early and followed the tanks on a blackout march. We officers were given a sector to guard, so I sat out in the moonlight and thought about us for an hour or so. It’s fun to think over all the possibilities. Our situation is one that could exist only in wartime. It gives us a chance to come to a lot of conclusions we never could in peacetime. As long as we don’t get scared of the whole thing, we’ll be in a position to do a lot. Perhaps we are lucky in that most of the usual patterns are broken down, and we can almost chart our own course. In the ordinary course of events we would be hemmed in pretty well to a small part of New England, and limited pretty much in profession and class of people we’d meet. Now anything can happen geographically and socially. We may get a chance to find out how big the world is, and how we stack up in it. If we are big enough ourselves that is all to the good.

The Nazi platoon attacked another part of our camp and tossed tear gas all around. They have been doing that all around since we got here and none of we “observers” have gas masks. I have shed a harmless tear or two over our plight, believe me.

My peep license came thru today, so I can go spinning off in one any time the opportunity arises. I hope it will be soon. I have told you what type of vehicle they are – they have replaced all the motorcycles in the armored outfits and can really go anywhere. Small as they are they are built like a truck in the way they shift. They have a four-wheel drive and all so they can just about lift themselves up by their own boot straps.

You must be crashing into Westmoreland society in great style. What with bridge putting you into the more exclusive circles and with the playwriting making you the idol of the masses. I knew they would appreciate you when you had a chance to show your abilities. How is your piano playing? Any appearances in the offing?

Once I went to a public card party; I think they were playing whist, but I never found out for sure because they played to fast that I could never get my cards arranged, to say nothing of following the game. I didn’t win any prizes.

Last night Tom and I went in to the Post to supper. We went over to the Officers’ Club there and paid our dues. Looked around a little bit. It is a nice place, all right. Listened to the last part of the hit parade and played billiards with Tom. Came back to sleep very late this morning.

Big news about Bob volunteering. Too bad he has to join up at all, but perhaps it’s best. He wants to be in the navy, so I hope he makes it. Be cleaner work than the army, I imagine. And the army is about at a standstill as far as advancement goes. The Armored O.C.S. closes completely with the 68th class, which is just starting.

Tomorrow I start on my first assignment as an officer. It’s as I said – I am to have point 12 on the crew tactics course, and for the first time in my career I will be a teacher rather than a student. Have a nice 10-minute lecture on ammunition selection and tank firing positions, as well as a critique of a practical problem. Have a visual aid and a sand table to help me. Expect the trainees will leave point 12 weak with emotion and filled with undying zeal for choosing the correct ammunition. I’ll tell you how it goes.

We didn’t get off early enough on Saturday for McCully and me to see about those blood tests. Even the P.X. was closed when we got in around 7 o’clock.

Word has it that since we have been assigned almost to a man to the A.R.T.C. at Fort Knox, almost all of us are due to a stay of at least one cycle, or 17 weeks, right here at Fort Knox. If that is the case, does that give you an idea as to where you could spend your summer vacation? Pat’s wife would be a big help to us in finding a place in Louisville or Etown. If your school is out by June 9 or so, we could work that out and be together at least until September.

Do wish we could get together for a nice long talk about now. We both have so many things to get coordinated before we can make definite plans. I can see how very busy you are at Westmoreland, Honey, and how a wedding would throw all those things out of schedule. But this leave is the time for us to get married. I can’t see a better time coming in this “epoc” of army life at all. And if we can get married, you see, we’ll have chances to be together thrown at us a good many times. Probably all this summer. Then we don’t know, but we’ll be ready for anything. As I see it, you have your job, finishing college, and your mother to consider. You have to consider getting away from your job only for the actual wedding ceremony. The rest enters when we want to live together. If you can get off just for 15 or 20 minutes while we have the ceremony, I’m in favor of getting married now. Anything more you can get will be so much better, of course. We can talk over the others when I’m home. They won’t be too hard for us, as I see it. The time from leave until your school lets out is about what we need to act on plans we can make then.

Remember I love you always, hon, and think if you more and more as the days go by. The great day is coming.

All my love,
Wallace

April 30, 1944 Sunday
Dear Ma,

Your letter came yesterday and had a lot of news in it. It’s getting so you can’t tell any more what is good news and what isn’t. Joining up could be good thing for Bob, although he doesn’t need the lesson in “living with people” they always talk about. He got that in college. He does look good in blue, and besides, think of the monstrous fox-holes he’d need in the army. In the armored force they always seem to put big men in light tanks on the assumption that even a small man doesn’t have room to move. So they let big men be stationary in a light tank and put little men in medium tanks where they can move a little. That’s why I expect to go to a medium tank outfit – plus the fact that my commission is in the infantry where most of the mediums are. Bob would be able to take a good rest in the service, tho, compared to what he has been doing.

There is one subject I’d like to bring up at this time. It’s a rather delicate one but I feel I must mention it, and I’m sure you would be interested. You remember that book by Chic Sales – The Specialist? As I remember he was pretty proud of his ten-holer. Well, you can imagine our pride here at battle training. We have what is undoubtedly the holer to end all holers. We claim the world championship with an officers latrine with a beautiful twenty-four holer. It is an artistic job, as well as being large and utilitarian.

About 6 young lieutenants from class 61 have been assigned to the position of field engineers. They go around over the bivouac area and supervise the installation of latrines. Super-latrines, they call them. They take great pride in their work, and we love to talk to them about it. When their girls are at the club, we like to ask them about field engineering and how their latest field fortifications are progressing.

Monday I stop being an “observer” and start my first assignment. They have a crew tactics course here with 20 locations. At each location they have an individual tank problem – an enemy machine gun or A.T. gun, for example. Tanks work from point to point and solve each problem. After doing so they assemble and listen to a critique and short lecture on the principle involved in the problem. That’s me. I will be in charge of location 12, stimulating trainees to fire H.E. ammunition at machine guns, while remaining in defilade themselves.

Now Ma, you do not have to hold your breath for the four weeks I am out here. My life until my third week is almost as civilized as yours. On those crew problems we fire no live rounds. Very few people ever have accidents at Battle Training – and then it’s usually a trainee who fell asleep at the wrong time. Just picture battle training as big area where a lot of men are playing cops and robbers.

Am glad Bob got his picture in the paper for my graduation. I didn’t get the clipping but you should save one for future reference, anyway. They just took the best looking Russell picture they had, I imagine.

My leave is scheduled to start May 20th, and I’ll be taking the first train home – arriving maybe on Sunday night. Will be on bivouac with my platoon until the day I leave, so I may not write for two weeks preceding my arrival.

See you soon,
Love,
Wallace

April 27, 1944 Thursday

2008-04-27T04:54:00.000-07:00

Dear Honey,

Today I found out a little more about my schedule. Next week I am assigned to the driving section at Battle Training. That means that I will have a rather easy time next week. They have a course here for individual tank tactics. It consists of 20 points with a situation to be solved by the tank commander at each point. Probably I will be assigned to one of these points. I will act as an antitank gun or what have you and toss out firecrackers. The tank will decide how to capture the anti-tank, then I’ll wave them in and critique the problem. This show will be repeated over and over all day. Men go mad on the job, but I anticipate boredom – a change from O.C.S.

This makes certain that I will be on bivouac with a platoon the two weeks before my leave. So let’s get ready as best we can.

K. Erwin leaves to get married this Saturday. He received an invitation to his own wedding tonite. He hadn’t known for sure when it was, or where. He is going home via New York, which is a good way. Fare to N.Y.C. round trip is $21.50. Goes up to Boston from there. Plans to attend his wedding!

W. McCully is in my group, planning the same thing, only he has to go to Colorado. He plans to get married the 23rd, and is also in a position where he will be on bivouac the two weeks prior to that. If I get a tank platoon, there almost surely will be no time to write. They work until midnite or so on maintenance of tanks. I may get a mortar, assault gun, or reconnaissance platoon. If I do I probably will be ablt to write. McCully and I are going in to Fort Knox this Saturday and see what can be done in the way of army blood tests. Also will get our officers’ identification cards.

Two or three of us plan to get married over this leave, so we are definitely in the swim, Honey. I am waiting anxiously for your outlook on all these things.

Today I took my peep driving exam, and passed. Now all I have to do is get to be on a job requiring a peep to go touring around in one. A peep is an armored force jeep. Same thing. They are a great little vehicle.

Tonite I got a letter from my old A.S.T. roommate Bob Mosker. You never met him, but he knows all about you, and hopes we can get married now. He is at Yale tking a pre-med course now.

Suppose you have noticed by now that my serial number has been changed to O547328. What’s in a number?

Tomorrow we go out to Bivouac no. 5 to stay over night. Seems kind of silly, we have no reason to stay out. But the army is like that. I guess it is jut to complete the orientation we have been exposed to.

You know, I have never done so little during the day as this week. We go to an area and wander around and look all day. Say a few words here and there, and try to look like Lieutenants. Which is difficult. Our fatigues re baggy old things, and we don’t look at all dapper. But we try hard.

If there was any kind of a book around here I’d have time to do some reading evenings. Haven’t read much at all lately on non-military things. And I need that. It’s as I thought it might be – if you get saturated with G.I. subjects long enough you get so that you naturally think in a G.I. manner. It’s habit forming – all set and secure, with an answer for every problem. Very easy to sink into it and forget that there is anything else. That’s what the army would like its men to do. That’s not good. Because army habits are unthinking ones and undemocratic ones. They make a soldier a very nice tool in the hands of a person who wants to use them.

We won’t be like that, Bunny, because we know what the bigger things are. We can always keep that idea about you and me and truth alive enough so that even the army can’t take control completely. And unless it does that, our idea will eventually win out. See what I mean, Bunny?

Bye for now. I love you, Bunny, always,
Wallace

April 26, 1944 Wednesday

2008-04-26T19:17:00.000-07:00

Dear Bunny,

Made a few sage observations today and got to fire 125 rounds of cal. 30 machine gun at a radio controlled airplane. Fired them all in one long burst. Also saw a spectacular air demonstration. They had planes of all types come flying by us at about shoulder height, for identification. Then they demonstrated tactical air force methods of attack. You would have been thrilled at seeing the fighters zoom down right at you.

Got in a little late, but to start an evening off at 6:30 is a big thing to me. A lot of the men hurry right in to camp, but I’d rather take it easy here at the club. Tom and I usually have a good talk and a beer or two. Generally a great life, and we are making the most of it.

By the way, what is our financial status? I will get paid on May 1st for about 10 days as an officer. That should be close to $50. That is all we’ll get between now and the leave. After that tho, we shall be fairly well off. An officer gets about $100 more a month if he has a wife. That, of course, is the main reason I want to marry you. Until that starts coming in we’ll have to use what we have saved. I’ll look up the travel costs from here by train this weekend. Then we can start to plan on how much to spend and where.

What would you like to do on our honeymoon? I still prefer a hotel and a life of ease for a few days. Where? Capitol Hotel again? That’s O.K. with me. We can write for reservations again if things work out. Perhaps we could come back to Louisville together from there, depending how much time you could get off. I’m working on the assumption that that is possible until I find out otherwise. I realize that all this is just thinking now – but we always have liked to plan and if you can get off, this could be reality much more easily than many of our plans.

If we want to conserve on travel time we could go to Boston. But I don’t know as that would save much – New York isn’t too far out of the line to Fort Knox. And we could drop in on Laura before we left New York and see her smart children. She sent me another fine picture of them. We won’t need to plan much beyond hotel reservations, tho.

Bridge rivals even poker and black jack as a popular game here. No doubt you could teach them a trick or two, with all the practice you are getting. I have learned the fundamentals of bridge a couple of times, and have now forgotten them again. I would be scared to play with you now. I’m afraid I could never become an expert at it.

It’s raining tonite, so I’m glad again that I’m not with a Battalion. One of the boys who is got a commendation today for the way he handles his mortar platoon. That’s fine, but things like that don’t mean much any more, and I’m glad they don’t. I am glad to have things let down for a while. I’m really getting back into pretty good condition and am starting to think like a human being again. Things were pretty stiff back at O.C.S. for a time. Now it’s easy, and as soon as the two weeks of battalion work is passed by, we’ll be together again. Then I’ll really feel good. It’ll be so good to see you again. For both of us, I hope. I appreciate more than before how much I love you and how much I want to be with you. You and I can do anything, you know that?

I love you like everything always,
Wallace

April 25, 1944 Tuesday

2008-04-25T20:23:00.001-07:00

Evening, Bunny,

My first mail as an officer came today, your Sunday letter. The post office here is divided into two windows – enlisted men and officers. I have a box and feel like Henry Ford or somebody going after my mail.

Have another night completely off after 4:30. Can’t get over that. So much time. Dressed all up in my dark green pants, dark green shirt with brown tie and belt and came up to the officers club to write you. Must try out all my combinations!

Our work here consists of going out to a training area in the morning and “observing” enlisted men in training. It’s wonderful! We stand around offering comments here and there and sticking our noses into other instructors’ problems. Today we went with a reconnaissance problem. We’d watch how well the men worked – correcting errors here and there. Every now and then we took a bunch of firecrackers and went out to act as enemy for the patrols. Great fun, and we could quit at our own pleasure. This afternoon we critiqued formation tank driving and rode on the rear decks of the tanks keeping the men on the ball.

This life of Riley will end when I go to a platoon on bivouac. Our men who are out now are in sad shape – working night and day. But I enjoy this no end. I’m a great observer and critic.

Being a new shave-tail is all right, but there are those who do not think much of us. Older lieutenants call us “O.C.S. Lieutenants,” as if that was a particularly troublesome kind of weed.

And maybe you have heard of the Nazi Platoon they have here. It is a group of German speaking men that function all the time in German uniforms, know German drill and all, and haunt the tactical area of battle training. Whenever you are there and make an administrative or tactical error, they capture you and take you to their headquarters. They specialize on Lieutenants, and the sentence is 8 hours in their prisoner of war camp – “Schicklegruber’s Pokey.” I know because 10 men of Group 61 were caught today as they slept thru the tank formation driving. We saw them in the Pokey, and they are still there now. They got all our “Big operators,” so it gave us all a big laugh. They did not have any security out, so they were surrounded.

It still makes me feel like a heel to see the basic trainees. They are in the tactical area all the time, and a more beat crowd I have never seen. They must be under pretty severe discipline, they act so scared. One company spent all p.m. One company spent all p.m. on arm and hand signals that we never took up in O.C.S. – just soaked up by being near tanks. And after four hours, they couldn’t learn them! They must have been very tired from the bivouac.

Say, I hope like everything you got my yesterday’s letter. I wrote a long one and enclosed a graduation program. I don’t remember mailing it but I couldn’t find the thing anywhere this morning. The only thing I can think of is that some “pal” of mine picked it up from my foot locker and mailed it with his letters. If you got it, please let me know. What I said was that I am in favor still of getting married right away, and want to know if it was entirely impossible for you to get from May 20 to June 1st off. Also told you about graduation and the weekend in Louisville. I have been aggravated all day because I couldn’t definitely account for that letter or one I wrote home. Never saw things disappear as they did. I had some very good reasons for overcoming all difficulties to marrying and living together. Can’t remember just how it went now, but I am entirely convinced it is the thing to do. Please let me know just how serious your school and teaching complications are. That is a terrible time for a teacher to get off, but I hope there is something we can do to work it. Also, can you find out what we can do now to allow us to get married as early as possible in my leave? We have to have a blood test and a license. Why don’t you get yours sometime around May 1st, and ask if I can’t get one thru the army. I have had dozens and could get another if necessary, I believe. I am sure my father can help us out on getting a marriage license if that offers any trouble.

As far as plans for the ceremony are concerned, we have the same problems we had before. With all the things that could come up, I think plans should be pretty flexible. That means pretty small and informal, so that the date can be changed some if necessary. Just as a suggestion, would May 23rd make a good tentative date? With the wedding at my house, and friends invited in the best way possible after we are sure of the date?

I would like to get married as early as possible in the leave, so we could go somewhere, anywhere where we can be together, and have as long as possible. Then I expect we would separate for a time until I had made arrangements for you and maybe Grammie to live near wherever I am stationed.

That is about as concrete as we can be for now. These plans leave almost everything up to you, honey. And I know how busy you are, too. But I am very helpless out here at battle training. Don’t know a great deal, and have no place to find out. The two weeks I am with my platoon, I may not even get a chance to write. We are right out in the woods all thru it, with 5 big tanks to keep going and 25 men to keep alive and learning. So I would like to get just as much planning done as possible now.

These things I’ve suggested tonite are completely subject to what you think, Honey. If you can’t get time off, or can see no way to take it, that is a big thing in our way. About all I can say is that I fully expect to have from May 20 to 30 off. Figure a couple days travel time on each end that leaves only 6 days at home. I guess about all I can supply is myself, and at that particular time. You can see what the situation is in Keene. If there is any way you can arrange for to get married in that time, I’m entirely in favor of it, no matter what it is. And if there is anything I can possibly do to help in planning it, just let me know what it is. I feel stuck way off here in the wilderness, and am only guessing as to what is going on in Keene.

We will have a chance to make a play of our own soon, tho, and if we do it looks as tho we will be able to work it so that we can be together for some time. As before, most of the work, and the discomfort in case our plans don’t work out, lays with you. Because you are there where the plans will work out for better or worse. After we are married, I will be able to take the responsibilities and make the plans. That’s the way we want it, so let’s try like everything to make it that way.

Planning a little wedding isn’t so much, when you think of it objectively. Let’s plan it confidently. We can certainly work out something in the time we have. I can get off. Let’s do anything to get you away from duty for a while. That’s all we need to get married. You and I free for just a little while. We can beat everything else easy enough.

I love you very, very much, Honey. We have a lot of living to do. We’ve got a good foundation and good plans for all the future. Let’s get going on it.

Always all yours,
Wallace

April 24, 1944 Monday

2008-04-24T06:44:00.000-07:00

Dear Honey,

Even here at Battle Training, which is about 20 miles from Fort nox – near Cedar Creek – they have a very nice officers’ club and that is where I’m writing you from tonite. I really feel rather guilty about being such a damned aristocrat. It wouldn’t be possible in a democratic system. All the soldiers live in old quarters and have only a small P.X. – we get a special mess with waiters and all, and this fine club to relax in – plus the inestimable luxury of not having to stand formations – reveille, chow or retreat! I’m beginning to feel like an individual again, but pretty snobbish, too. The army is very unjust.

Today we observed the 5th training battalion on its first day of its two-week bivouac. I will take that bivouac with some platoon of another battalion before I leave here. Good to learn the ropes first.

They have given us all our orders and military records to keep in our own 201 files. Among them was a new transcript of my college grades. They have now given me 6 credits for English 1; I will get 6 R.O.T.C. credits for getting a commission. That leaves only 7 credits necessary to graduate – they have recorded my A.S.T.P. grades which may count someday and there are also a few courses I took “audit” that I might get changed into credits. Altogether, that leaves me very, very close. Perhaps an army course or two would push me over. Then we could start in on bigger things when the war is over.

I guess I’m talking about myself a lot these last letters, Hon, but things are so different that I still feel as tho I was trying to “catch up” with myself. Tell me if I’m boring you.

The arrowhead I found is still in my locker waiting for me to find something to wrap it in – I will get it to you soon, so be patient.

My address has another addition – getting pretty complicated now. Here’s the latest –
Lt. W. Russell, O547328
Attached Officers’ Group 61
Box 192
Battle Trng. Det.
A.R.T.C.
Fort Knox, Ky.
Gosh.

Just beginning to think about my new financial status. After paying all bills, I have $60 in my billfold. I still have a $15.00 valopak to buy, and am still mulling (is it a word?) over buying a pink shirt or maybe a tropical summer outfit. Now I get a base pay of $150 a month plus $21 for rations. Giving me a check of $171. My war bond allotment has been forced up to one bond a month, which is quite a slice -- $18.75. Now I have a lot more expenses, too. Pay for board, big cleaning and pressing bill, officers’ club dues (that is not optional, but an obligation) and a lot of other things I haven’t found out about yet, they say. Have had to buy my own sheets, for instance.

On the whole, tho, there should be a lot more left than before if we keep reasonable.

We can plan on my furlough starting May 20th, knowing there’s no such thing as certainty. That’s awful for you and your job. I can see that. But there’s nothing I can see that can be done to change the date. And I can’t see letting another chance go by without our getting married, Hon. Things are happening too fast. We’re missing too much. I think we can afford to get married now, and that with any reasonable luck we can get to live together for some time. With the right attitude, we couldn’t go wrong, and things would be sure to be better than they are. I miss you too very much.

Now that’s just my side of it, Honey. You seem very concerned about being able to get off at the time my leave will come. Is it absolutely impossible? And what about Grammie – we could consider having her move where we were, since it is not easy to think of leaving her alone. Of course that would depend on where I’m stationed. Perhaps we should aim solely at getting married now at the first chance. Then we can make some more decisions about living arrangements as the situation changes. Please write just exactly what you think about the opportunities between May 20 and June 1 – how much, if any, time you can get off or any other things you can think of. Tell me just what you think, as you always have. I feel it’s time we took things into our own hands for a while and started making our own luck.

These are big times, Honey, and I want to experience them with you. There’s no limit to the things we can do together. We don’t want to sit out all this just waiting. We have too much to do.

I love you forever,
Wallace

April 23, 1944 Sunday

2008-04-23T13:54:00.000-07:00

Hello, my Honey,

Lt. Russell now finds a break in the mad rush of official obligations to stop and think of better things. Namely, you. How are you, Bun – hair all dried out from last Friday? Well, I feel I was just lucky to find you home at all. I felt pretty sure of finding somebody home at 23, but I figured you would be at a movie. Was very happy to get you, tho, because I didn’t know what would come up this weekend.

The graduation went off well and was satisfying. Everything was just as it should be, except that I felt more like an onlooker than a graduate because there was noone here I knew or that knew me. A surprising number had relatives or girls down. Naturally that made me lonely for you, and if you had been here it would have been a big day in our list of big days. We’ve got to get together soon, Hon; I get very impatient seeing things like this go by, meaning so little, when they could mean so much if we could have them together.

It was a beautiful day, sunny and warm. We fell out all prettied up at 8:00 and had pictures taken by everybody – for school papers, newspapers, and alumni college papers, etc. Then we marched behind the band to theatre No. 1. We marched in three columns – one on the very left of the road, one in the center and one on the extreme right. That spread us out so it looked like a large group – and to see so many pink pants in perfect step was very thrilling. The exercises were like a college graduation. A lousy speaker included. When we had received our diplomas, the band played marches while we broke and went to all parts of the theatre to have our bars pinned on by mothers and wives and sweethearts. That is where you should have been, Hon. Pat’s wife, Milly, was the only girl I knew, so she pinned mine on. Then we went out and paid a dollar to the first person to salute us. Mine happened to be a soldier driving by in a car, so I saved a dollar. (Leave it to a Yankee, they say, to save his dollar.)

Then back to work. Got about 300 dollars in back pay and paid out most of it for uniforms. And to innumerable collections and knicks for everybody. These tips and contributions went on all day, until it seemed that palm greasing was a Lt.’s chief duty.

Left for battle training at 1:00. All the parents hanging around still made it like the day school lets out. They followed us out to our new quarters – old C.C.C. cabins near Cedar Creek. We were oriented there, and came back in around five and got a free ride to Louisville with nothing more than a longing look.

Then we found out how social life is made easy for officers. Also how the smooth way is paved by tips. The Seelbach was full, but the clerk remembered a room for four when the four Lt.’s – Skofield, Doon, O’Donnell and Russell asked for one. We went to the “Colonial Gardens” for our class party and took over the spot. There was an awful lot of drinking. All our tac officers were high and many of our instructors also. Most of them are Louies, too, and they really let down their hair. Seemed very queer to see the barriers so quickly dropped. I took advantage of the situation to get into a very stimulating talk with Lt. Klee, who is one of the few thinking instructors we had. Along the Mr. Stearns type – tho you won’t like that. We got quite chummy, I met his wife and got a ride back to the hotel. He’s got a lot on the ball – is owner of two retail stores in Chicago. You’d take him for a professor, tho.

Now I have slept and had a good breakfast here at the Seelbach. That’s my career as an officer to date. Officers get much better service from everybody and have a real advantage as far as doing things goes. I am glad I am a Lieutenant, but my military ambition is now satisfied. Promotions from here won’t amount to enough to warrant breaking an arm over. I am content for the duration, and shall spend my time doing my job rather than trying to get to be a general.

My next objective is to marry you, Bunny, and we’ll start on that right away. I understand it is much easier to be a married officer than a married E.M.

Bye, Hon, I love you more than ever and wish very very much you were here now.
All yours,
Wallace
P.S. Pat’s wife is very anxious for us to marry and for you to live near her in Louisville.

April 23, 1944 Sunday
Dear folks,

Graduation came off on schedule, and was quite an impressive affair. The wife of George Patten, and A.G.R., pinned on my bars in the absence of Marjorie. So now I am a Lieutenant and starting a new career in the army.

We are now still together, not as Class 61 but as Attached Officers’ Group 61 – my complete address is more than I gave over the phone:
Lt. W.A. Russell, O547328
Attached Officers’ Group 61
Battle Training Det.
A.R.T.C.
Fort Knox, Ky.
That’s quite a mouthful for an old C.C.C. camp where the Armored Force basic trainees come for the last two weeks of basic training. The trainees are called “Thunderbolts” from the A.R.T.C. motto – “We forge the thunderbolt.” Looks like we’re in for a rough month, but we’ll learn a lot and that’s what we want now. Seems good not to have to keep bucking for a commission. I probably won’t be more than a 2nd Louie, so now I can just work at doing well at that, and not worrying about advancement.

Had a big weekend in Louisville; we had a class party. Now I am back at camp getting ready for tomorrow. We are going to have a week getting oriented about work here. 20 of us were chosen to take a platoon tomorrow morning! They went alphabetically, so I was glad my name was Russell.

Will see you soon.
Love,
Wallace

April 20, 1944 Thursday

2008-04-20T15:00:00.000-07:00

Good evening, dearest,

We had a good solid day in the field today. Armored infantry problem with a real enemy and a big area to chase him in. Came back and dashed madly into our new extra specials and acted as part of the reviewing party at tonite’s parade. We are a pretty smart looking class in our uniforms – everybody is young and able and on the ball. Too bad all the army isn’t like this class.

Tonite we turned in our G.I. foot lockers, packs, shelter halves and field equipment. Good to be thru with them, but it took me all evening to re-settle after losing my foot locker. Have two trousseaus in stock now, my new and the old.

Tomorrow we turn in more things, listen to three or four farewell lectures and become civilians for a day – on paper. Oh, I saw what my new serial number will be today – O 547328. O fro officer, 5 for 5th service command – that’s as far as I can interpret. Don’t know what will become of old 11083692 – he was a good number.

Bye now, Hon, I hope everything is just as it should be in Westmoreland. I love you like everything.

Yours always,
Wallac

April 19, 1944 Wednesday

2008-04-19T14:18:00.000-07:00

Hello dearest,

Here we are again with a million things I want to say. Tonite I have almost an hour in which to write so let’s see what I can cover.

First of all, I love you more than ever and am beginning to feel excited at the thought of seeing you soon. Thanks very much for the 25 dollars. It came in plenty of time. Also read and read your letters while we were in the field. We’re awful nice people, don’t you think? To be so close just thru letters.

Now let’s see, let’s get up to date on what I have been doing since Monday when I wrote. The arrowhead I found is in a little black box now, all cleaned up, and I will send it to you as soon as I can. Don’t know what you want of an arrowhead, but just as soon as I found it I knew I’d have to send it to you. It’s kind of a rough old arrowhead, but it’s real. I got a thrill out of it and I hope you will, too.

They kept us going all the time at Hayes School, night and day. Came thru without any ill effects. Three or four men had accidents or got sick, tho. Nobody hurt seriously, but they may not be able to graduate.

Tuesday we had a light tank problem with live ammo and Tuesday night a security problem. Today we saw a large scale armored infantry attack from a high observation post. They had a complete company with supporting artillery all using very real bullets. Whale of a fight! We won. The view of the OP was breathtaking – almost like an aerial photo. You would like it a lot.

We came back to civilization this afternoon and again I appreciated what a great thing civilization is. You don’t know how nice warm water, heated buildings and mattresses are until you go without them a while. We’re in heaven most of the time and don’t even realize it. By the way, this was the coldest weather I have ever bivouacked in. Tom and I rolled in together and kept well above freezing anyway.

From this short but intensive trip I learned that altho I may make a good average officer, this will always be way out of my line. Training helps immensely, but like anything else you have to have a natural leaning toward it to excel in tank work. I learn with practice, but it’s not at all like a duck taking to water. It requires you to make snap judgments and use brief language. I do better at thinking things thru and splurging all over telling about it. Am improving on the first, but it will never be my best way of thinking.

We got back to school to find ourselves now called the “graduating class” in official circles. Tomorrow we will be the reviewing body at the battalion review. We will wear our new uniforms, except for the bars. All very complimentary, we feel. Also we turned in our dog tags tonite, which is an awfully good sign that we are thru as enlisted men. They are the last thing an EM loses.

Tomorrow we have our last field work, Friday we become civilians and Saturday we graduate in Theatre No. 1 at 9:30 a.m. That’s the schedule, looks very good. I have been miserable to my folks again and not written as I should. Haven’t been able to write you as I should, even. I will try to phone them before Saturday to let Ma know “how to picture my graduation” as she says. If your 25 dollars holds up, I will call you, too, I guess, just to hear you some more. Anyway this weekend.

Saturday we are kicked out of here and taken to our home for the next four weeks, address – “Battle Training Det., A.R.T.C., Fort Knox, Ky.” Ah, Lt. Russell, not O/C Russell unless you hear otherwise. There isn’t much I particularly want to do this weekend. Don’t feel like cutting up any large capers, but since I can’t sleep here, I will probably take a room with the boys and look in on our class party at the Colonial Gardens in Louisville. My chief hope is that I can find a good place that’s quiet where I can write to you. You’d be surprised how hard it is to find both a time and a place.

At Battle Training we spend two weeks with “battalion,” so-called, where we have out own platoon of basic trainees on their last two weeks of training – it is a bivouac. Then we have two weeks of some indefinite work that is said to be chiefly observing and critiquing training problems. Either two weeks may come first.

To answer your question about leaves – if anything can be done to put it off for a short time I will do it. But I doubt very much if it can. You see, it’s not a real leave, but a 10-day delay en route to a new assignment. The new assignment will probably start on a definite date. I’ll keep my eyes open tho, and watch for a chance. I get leaves if I am an officer, and furloughs if I’m an enlisted man. Time off by any name is equally valuable to us, tho.

But now, I have to graduate first. Uniforms are the chief headache, with their transportation a second problem. The exercises themselves will be something like a regular college graduation, militaried up with a band. Probably will be a more impressive display than my scheduled UNH graduation would have been. I’d choose the less impressive one tho a thousand times sooner than this. We had an instructor the other day that I felt must be a kindred soul or some such thing – he really tried to get away from grades and nice talk and teach us something. He said, “That’s the trouble with everything. Somebody always trying to impress somebody else.” He saw a difference between how a thing looks and what it actually is.

Since he agrees with me, I think he’s a great guy.

My hour is about up. Been nice to be able to say a little tonite. Maybe we won’t be so rushed from now on. There are lots of other little things I’d like to talk to you about, Honey. Things come into my head, and I say I’ll remember to write that to you. I remember about 1/10 of them when I get to writing on paper. When we are together, tho, we won’t have to postpone the little things. Then we’ll really start to live.

I love you always,
Wallace

April 17, 1944 Monday

2008-04-17T06:33:00.000-07:00

Dear Hon,

Here’s a few minutes to tell you a little about Hayes School. We are having a rather luxurious bivouac. Pitching pup tents for four men and burning individual fires of pretty red cedar.

During the day we ran a big tank problem using live ammunition against real targets. Very instructive.

My biggest thrill came this noon; we found a new plowed field near our area and some of the boys picked up chipped pieces of flint that suggested Indian work. I investigated, and what do you know – I found a nearly perfect genuine Indian arrowhead. I will send it to you as soon as possible. I guess they are pretty numerous around here, but it made me feel good to find it.

I love you very much, Hon. Have to start out on a night problem now.

Always yours,
Wallace

Outline of my archaeological remnant

April 16, 1944 Sunday

2008-04-17T06:32:00.000-07:00

Dearest Honey,

Well, today we leave for three days at Hayes School. Believe me, we have been pushed the last few days, but it is all for a good purpose now. The end is in sight. We took our last graded exam yesterday, and will finish our work in tactics Wednesday.

Meantime, we don’t even get our usual short weekend. We have been up since early this morning getting ready for Hayes School, and worked late last night preparing a field problem.

Hayes School is a real bivouac. We live in pup tents and it is all tactical. We have problems day and night. One of the objects is to show how little sleep you get in combat, so we have scheduled work for all except about 4 hours a day – between midnight and early morning.

That doesn’t look as tho there will be much time to write, but I am taking stationary and will write every chance I get. After Wednesday I think there will be time to really write you the way I want to.

Meanwhile, you know I love you more than anything or anybody.

All yours,
Wallace

April 13, 1944 Thursday

2008-04-04T18:07:00.002-07:00

Dearest Marjorie,

Well, here I am, Honey. Quite a long period “on duty” since Monday. Big bunch of night scouting and patrolling, light tank problems, medium tank work and stuff. Covered about everything we have studied, and in our spare time we put on two formal reviews with all the fixins. I don’t suppose you’ve ever tried to control a platoon of tanks? I have the last three days and it is not easy. It was all very practical field work—marches, security, attacks and defense positions with the demonstration regiment as enemies. I got killed two or three times a day, on the average.

And tonite we got our uniforms. They are quite nice. Sam made the pants too long, but I guess they will be all right when they have been cleaned a couple of times. It gave me a thrill, too, to sign my honorable discharge from the army. Yes, we will be civilians for about 24 hours between the time we are discharged as enlisted men and signed up as officers. I am trying to figure out a way to have it so that I don’t have to get in again, but I haven’t discovered the method yet. We closed our service records, and I am being “favorably considered” for a good conduct medal! All this was signed tonite, but dated April 21, giving me 1 year and 6 days as an enlisted man.

Finally, we took a big exam in tactics. We still are immersed in maps, and problems. “Actions and orders of Lieutenant 1st platoon” is a phrase that I will never forget. Lieutenant 1st platoon gets into the damnedest messes and they always expect me to get him out.

So, Honey, you can see that big changes are going on. I am still astounded when I forget the problem and look at me standing in the turret of a tank giving orders to four others over the radio. It is still one of the things that doesn’t happen to me. But usually I am too busy to think about that, and I do get a lot of fun out of it. The drivers we have now follow the course we designate, and I’ve been knocking down some of the biggest trees in Kentucky with the medium tanks. They are wonderful. Go anywhere.

Would like to tell you all about the things that happened. This week has been crammed with experiences. One of the ones that pops into my mind is the time my gunner, who controls the radio, flipped the switch from interphone to radio and I found myself broadcasting instructions to the driver of my tank on a range of 40 to 70 miles. I guess everybody got them except the driver. They were good instructions, tho.

Tuesday and Wednesday I didn’t even get to the mail room when it was open. We got back so late. But I got your letters today and your dandy maple sugar. Tastes like home, all right. Thanks very much.

Your surprise week off must have been welcome, anyway. Hope you had a big time, Dear. You know, I think I saw the “Marriage of Figaro” by the same troupe you did when I was in Durham. I am not smart enough to remember the cast, but it is the same opera and the program reads the same. It was when I was a sophomore, I think.

Gee, I have a lot of things to say tonite. Wish I had time to elaborate. How is Grammie now? I asked that Monday, but then I didn’t know about her nose bleed. Hope it was nothing of consequence. Someday we must expect something serious, and I hope like everything I can be with you when it does.

Sometimes life seems pretty complicated! All full of things happening that we don’t have much to say about. A little undemocratic, but like a roller coaster, it’s full of surprises. Can’t help but get a thrill out of it.

If I show signs of forgetting Laura’s birthday on April 21, Hon, will you remind me?

Oh, yes, and while I’m rambling, I might as well do a good job of it and say that my opinion of gangbuster Dewey is not complimentary. He is strictly a party man and supported by every outstanding isolationist in the country. I do not like “party” candidates and isolationists drive me mad. If Wilkie is really out of consideration by any party, I guess my choice will be a democrat. Wallace would be good, but they will insist on Roosevelt and I would choose him at least in preference to any of the possible Republican candidates.

Paper is running out and the lights will be out soon. Goodnite, Bunny. I wish you were here to talk to. I love you much more than a reasonable person should. I’m not at all reasonable about you. Soon I’ll see you and show you how much I love you.

Yours,
Wallace

April 10, 1944 Monday

2008-04-04T18:07:00.001-07:00

Dear Hon,

Well, here’s a minute to say I love you in. We toured over the greater part of Kentucky this morning and afternoon on a reconnaissance problem. In armored cars and peeps. Kentucky has some very nice countryside. We rode along and waved at pickaninnies between plotting our map position and using the radio. Finally ran into the enemy and got ambushed, but they gave us another chance and we weren’t fooled the next time.

Tonite we are going out on night scouting and patrolling. It is already raining guns so I anticipate a good time! After a while, you get rather a kick out of being uncomfortable. Pleasantly miserable, you know.

Bye now, dear, I love you always,
All yours,
Wallace

April 9, 1944 Sunday

2008-04-04T15:33:00.000-07:00

Dearest Bunny,

The operator must have known that talking to you was just no ordinary affair. She put us together just as fast as she could, even tho it was Easter and everybody, including Tom O’D. and Jim D., had been waiting a long, long time. I came over late, and still we beat all of them. You sounded just the way I hoped you would. I have to check up now and then to see if you talk the way I think of you. You can say so little in five minutes that it really doesn’t matter much what we talk about. I guess I’ve already forgotten most of it; it’s just hearing you that counts, and knowing you’re there. Puts us very close together for a few minutes.

How is Grammie these days? Very fine and cheerful, I hope. And those roses should be as pretty as I hoped they would be, if my picture of Apt. 2 this afternoon is going to be correct. I have been very lucky to find you home every time I have called. I always take a chance and call station-to-station. Usually aim to call about the time of the Philharmonic, because then you are likely to be in. Missed it by a mile or more today, but that is because I was expecting a much longer wait.

We had a little excitement last night. Tom caught a robber. Some guy dressed up as an officer has been stealing purses lately, and last night Tom happened to be awake and saw him come into our own barracks thru the attic. He let him come in, got between him and the door and turned the lights on. The guy started to go but Tom scuffled with him and held on, yelling, “Boys, let’s get ‘im.” It wasn’t long before we had him surrounded and everybody just waiting for him to try to get away. He thought the better of it pretty quick and waited quietly while we got the M.P.’s. They took him away and it looked like we had the fellow on about 4 charges. But today we find that he escaped from the M.P.’s this morning! We done our duty, however.

Don’t be surprised, Honey, if I am not able to write the next two or three days. From Monday thru Wednesday we are in the field all day, and have scouting and patrolling problems every night until midnight. I will write, tho, if the time shows up anywhere.

At least three of us in our section of 33 men are going to get married on our leaves. Candidates McCully, Bay, and Russell. Probably more will join us when the time comes. Bill B. got married one weekend here some time ago. He was my bun-mate at the beginning of the cycle, remember?

Do you know that I love you very much? I do, and I am becoming quite optimistic about doing something about it. I’d give anything to be with you, and that loks quite possible before very long.

One more faint rumor came in today. It is that after battle training we will go to an officer’s replacement pool here at Fort Knox to wait assignments. Understand places like that are nice to loaf in, and I could stand some very heavy loafing for a while. That’s not very definite, tho.

The music on the air was good this afternoon, wasn’t it? I came back to the barracks and listened and slept most of the afternoon. Consequently, I have now a very nice “Sunday” headache. I wonder what causes them.

The quartermaster things that we buy, must be paid for in cash I find. And we buy them before we get our first pay. So will you please refund me from our stores about 25 dollars? If you send it Saturday, it should get here soon enough. Thank you loads, and I promise to send back $25 as soon as they give me $250. Today it looks as tho I may be able to squeeze in that pink shirt, after all. And I am also getting socks, underwear and stuff from the quartermaster. QM things are very inexpensive.

Bye for now. I love you like the dickens. I d, I do.
All yours,
Wallace

April 9, 1944 Sunday
Dear folks,

This week I’m back on schedule with my writing. Slept real late this morning and then came over to the service club for a late breakfast. Now I’m going to call Marjorie and write in my diary and maybe go to the library for a time.

The 61st class caught a robber last night! Fellows have been losing wallets lately and twice fellows have been wakened by a man in officer’s clothes going thru the barracks late at night. Last night Tom O’Donnell heard him come down to our squad room thru the attic and head towards the bunks of some of our boys. He jumped out of bed, turned on the lights and sounded off. The guy tried to get away but Tom held him and in about 10 seconds we were all out surrounding him. He was a fake officer from the airport, with no kind of story to explain his actions. We turned him over to the M.P.’s, got out our military law books and began to think up charges, only to hear this morning that he escaped from the M.P.’s early this morning! We hope they catch him, but for his own sake, he should not re-visit the 61st class!

Well, two weeks from now, I hope to be an officer. After graduation the schedule calls for four weeks leading basic trainee platoons in their final two weeks of training. Then comes furlough time, when I will return to my native haunts, and haunt you all again.

Happy Easter to everybody. Thanks for your cards, letters and pictures,
Your loving son,
Wallace

April 7, 1944 Friday

2008-04-04T15:32:00.000-07:00

Dear Bunny,

You can see that my stationary has come up in dignity, even if it has lost color. Don’t know what to do with the infinitesimal envelopes that came with it. Paper shortage, maybe.

Some evil first sergeant has put me on guard again this Saturday. Can’t I draw any day but Saturday? It isn’t bad tho. I don’t have anything planned but sleep, and I’m going after a lot of that. Guard only involves an hour of walking, and it gives me time to ponder the woes of the world a little. I suppose they will give us a beer party tomorrow, since I wouldn’t be able to stay for it.

Friday is always a day of surprises—our laundries come back. Usually you get several items that are new and unique. This week I got a beautiful pair of shorts—red, white, and blue shorts. Best yet, tho I have got some real pretty handkerchiefs before.

We are solving enough tactical problems these days to make the invasion of Europe look simple. I go around with rolls of maps covered with hieroglyphics mumbling about double envelopments, covering forces, defenses in depth, etc. Another big battle today. Lost three tanks. Spent 4 hours this morning advancing 1000 yards on a sand table. Thought I was thru and could write more tonite, but they are just passing out another big map and a reconnaissance problem to pass in tomorrow. Here goes Napoleon Russell.

I love you, Bunny, every minute.
Yours always,
Wallace
P.S. Keep care of your sprained appendage, dear.
P.S. What will Wilkie do now?
Bunches of love,
Wallace

April 6, 1944 Thursday

2008-04-04T15:31:00.002-07:00

Hello, Hon—

Managed to get another $26.00 worth of uniform tonite. Shoes, O.O. shirt, 2 one-piece fatigues. Am beginning to push the 250 dollar mark and I still have my quartermaster things to get. Am getting only required things, too. Had hoped I’d be able to get one thing as a luxury item—like a pink shirt. That’s not required but the pink trouser and shirt combo is real fascinating. And they have those tropical worsted outfits that are just out of this world. However, I probably wouldn’t have much chance to wear such things anyway.

Hope your ailing digit is better by the time you get this. Your writing isn’t half as bad as you make out, Hon. No doubt such things are relative, but relative to mine it’s fine.

I promise to fill my pen before tomorrow night, so help me. [This letter is written in pencil.]

We were in the field all day today, observing a first class, full scale tank-infantry battle. A little tired tonite. That article that came with my uniform was right in that tanks can’t go anywhere. They aren’t intended to. They are designed for use against infantry and automatic weapons. Employed with our own infantry they are pretty effective in my biased opinion.

I love you, you know,
Wallace

April 5, 1944 Wednesday

2008-04-04T15:31:00.001-07:00

Dearest Bunny,

Another big day today. Have been table waiter the last three days and tonite we had a review on top of it. With platoon flags and flashy drum corps, all O.C.S. classes took part. We have another tomorrow, too. However, I got over to the P.X. and accomplished my main mission concerning you and Easter. Was going to get some more uniform but wasn’t able to.

Your intuition wasn’t as completely hay-wire as you might think. I came very close to calling you last Sunday. We were slower getting going than I had thought we’d be, and the time never came. Hope I didn’t disappoint you too much, Hon.

Would like to discuss at length our plans for the immediate future. It looks very promising. But actually I know very little more about it than I did when I first got here. I may graduate if I can hit a tactics exam or two, I will probably go to battle training for from 3 weeks to 5 weeks. And then I should get a leave of 10 days. If I go to a station other than Ft. Knox it will be plus travel time. If it is at Ft. Knox, 10 days only.

Now what can we do with that? What is your schedule? When is your vacation exactly? When does school let out, and KTC or Plymouth TC begin? The main thing is to make it so we can be together the whole of the leave. When I get to battle training we can start wheels going again on licenses, announcements, blood tests, et al. We’ll be old hands at that. Then we can get married as early as possible in the leave, go somewhere and be very, very much together just as long as we can. If we can do that, that’s all I want.

It would be very nice if you could come down for our graduation, but that’s not practical, so we won’t consider it unless things turn out to be very auspicious. I have a yearning to be impractical, anyway. However, that would dig rather deep into our nest egg—is that what you call it?—for the short time we could be together. I would like you to see Louisville sometime; I have dreamed of you so much there. Maybe at the start of my leave we could meet there. That will depend on the situation, so we’ll just be ready to make snap decisions as things turn up and take advantage of all opportunities. We want to get married and be together as long as possible over the leave, so we will decide at the time how best to do this.

I enclose an invitation or two to the graduation. Like our wedding announcements, we know that this may or may not be valid. If it isn’t we can start a good collection of false evidence. Looks nice, tho, doesn’t it?

I love you so much, Honey, and hope we can always share our lives together. Nice that way, isn’t it?

Bye for now, every bit of my love,
Wallace

April 4, 1944 Tuesday

2008-04-04T06:59:00.000-07:00

Dear Marjorie,

Your package came today, and everything was in fine condition. Thank you very much. Don’t know how all those notes got into my trousers. Don’t remember putting them there. Made me feel at home, tho.

I really goofed off on a tactics exam this morning. Didn’t know a thing on it! We’ll see how far my guessing ability takes me. Drove home the fact that there are still 3 very full weeks before we graduate, and that tactics will require study the same as anything else.

Today we had our first experience on the school’s big “Haskard Map.” A gigantic landscape to run tactical problems on. Something like inside the perisphere. You look down on the map from upstairs. As the instructor talks, assistants, unseen under the board, run tanks around on the map with magnets I guess, and make puffs of smoke and sound effects and such. Extremely realistic and perfect to practice tactics on. We each have a desk, binoculars, a map of the board itself, oral order blanks and radio net hook-ups so we can act as platoons on the same net and give orders as we watch our own tanks moving along below us.

Will lock the door after the horse is stolen and study tonite, and maybe even write a letter home. I feel very lax because I haven’t written home in over a week.

Gee, I love you Honey, more than you can ever guess.
All yours,
Wallace

April 4, 1944 Tuesday
Dear folks,

You must think I have forgotten you-all. I definitely haven’t, and I hang my head in mortal shame for not writing. Haven’t been busier than usual, but the time when I usually write (Sunday p.m.) has been taken up the last two weeks and there never seems to be a good substitute time.

We went to be measured for uniforms a week ago, and I went to Louisville this last weekend. All is well here. I am swimming thru tactics and feeling like Eisenhower. The instructors do not agree with me on that score, however, and I am getting my lowest grades to date. Much fun, tho, like playing cowboys or chess. A little of each, I guess.

Those pictures of Carlton were great. Laura sent me some of her masterpieces, too. She’s really good.

Doesn’t spring ever come in New Hampshire? Every letter I get warns me not to believe any reports I have about good weather there.

Will write more next Sunday. Happy Easter to everybody.
Love, Wallace

April 3, 1944 Monday

2008-04-03T19:18:00.000-07:00

Dearest Honey,

Our weekend in Louisville proved to be a long affair, because we stayed over to go to a movie Sunday p.m. and didn’t get back to camp until nearly lights out. That is why I didn’t write. I am sorry I didn’t, Bunny.

It was a good weekend, tho, with a good bunch—Tom, Herm S., Jim D., Aus, and Pat H. We rode in with my bunk-mate Braley and hired a suite at the Seelbach. Had a monstrous dinner in a private little cove of the French Village. T-bone steak, shrimp cocktail, martinis (which greatly resemble hair tonic, I found) and lots else. Then we split up some, but we sifted up to a new place the Elks have at the Henry Clay Hotel eventually. I played billiards for the first time. It is very interesting and exasperating too, I bet. We had some highballs during the evening, but not too many. Even Frankie Brown had one, and you would have to know him to appreciate the fact. Then back to the suite and to sleep very soundly until noon on Sunday. Wonderful beds at the Seelbach. We had another good meal, went to a long movie and came back around 9:30.

The change is the main thing. It’s very good not to be a G.I. for a while. I think of you more in Louisville than here even. It’s fun with the fellows, but we could have so much better times together—just you and me. We could do much the same things, but they would be completely different. Yes, we must be married the very first minute we can, and that won’t be too long, either. By the way, you mentioned a few letters back that you had some complications to get eliminated. Don’t know what they are yet, but maybe you’re just holding out because I promised a long letter over a week ago and never have written it. Well, mine has simmered down to the fact that I want to marry you right away. How are yours making out?

I hope your hand allowed you to work on your coat, so you can have it ready for Easter. I remember once you got a whole new set of things all in blue for Easter. I can remember them just as plain as can be. You were on the high school steps first time I saw you in them.

Well, we have just three more exams in tactics and the end will be at hand. On of them is first thing tomorrow. Am going to cram for it now.

I love you, Darling,
Wallace

March 31, 1944 Friday

2008-03-31T11:10:00.000-07:00

[This letter is damaged along the lower right edge, and some words are missing; it looks like tiny teeth marks, a rodent?]

Dear Honey,

Have a hundred enclosures to make tonite. Know I’ll miss some but here’s at least a partial list—your [Jesus Maria] Sanroma program [a pianist], Laura’s news clipping, and some more pictures—Hamilton, this time [$10 bill? See also Feb. 2, 1944 letter to Mrs. Nelson for “pictures of George Washington” = $1 bills?].

Our assault gun problem today was something you should have seen. We manufactured a battalion tank attack, got the first wave going O.K., and then they put up a smoke screen between that wave and our supporting assault guns. Could see neither the enemy nor our own tanks. The lead [missing] folded up because of no support, [missing] wave got lost in smoke and our [missing] assault guns stood by amazed. Our victory [missing] clouded by smoke and it wound up [missing] stopping our attack completely. Wonder [missing] Napoleon would have done.

Got a letter from Laure today, with the (I hope) enclosed clipping which might prove of value to us. I have a lot of respect for Laura. She is having it pretty tough these days. Expects Justin to go any time. But her basic maturity shows up in her letters. She’s got it. Whatever “it” is in this case.

We had a chaplain speak to us today on the relation of chaplains to officers. He was an intelligent man, one of the few we heard among the chaplains. He bemoaned the fact that C.O.’s ignored chaplains. Most [missing] feel that the chaplain’s main [missing] is to punch T.S. cards. This one [missing] tho his own should be brought [missing]. Some day I would like to [missing] an intelligent minister and see [missing] they get that way. Among the candidates here we have supporters of [missing] any side and any topic, except that we have none that even claims to be a Christian in the real meaning of the word. I suppose that is understandable.

This week has been an easy one all round, honey. Has given me a chance to rest up, but I still feel rusty somehow. Need a long rest and a big change. Maybe this prospective Louisville trip will do it.

Oh, I just thought of why I liked Laura’s letter—I must be flattered to find that there is [missing] person in the world who writes as badly as I. Almost, anyway.

I’m very sleepy tonite, Bunny, and would very much appreciate the comfort of your couch. I do believe I could sleep one (1) solid week.

Remember I love you all the time, Honey, and am waiting for the day when I can really take care of you.

All my love,
Wallace

March 30, 1944 Thursday

2008-03-30T17:27:00.000-07:00

Dearest Honey,

Expanded my “trousseau” to the tune of $45.45 by ordering a trench-coat—a pink overcoat. That figure astounds me. Wait just a minute until I figure my financial status now. Have ordered $178.75 worth of materiel so far. Can foresee items to total $222.85. Then we have to buy quartermaster items to fill out the $250 allowance. G.I. things to wear in the field.

Tomorrow we will go out on our first real field problem in tactics. The assault gun platoon.

Your Monday letter came today, and I can only say that if the Blue Grass Room isn’t good enough for you to sleep in, I don’t know what place would be [see March 23 letter]. Comfortable seats, fine orchestra, slow service. You’ll need to sleep before you get your order.

Since I am stealing this time in study hall, I must stop short tonite, Hon. Bye now, dearest.

I love you,
Wallace

March 29, 1944 Wednesday

2008-03-29T08:21:00.000-07:00

Dear Bunny,

My name certainly should be called “Manual” tonite. The company supply room loosened up and started giving out manuals to the 61st class to keep. About this time we are supposed to be buying a field manual library, anyway, so we all grabbed as many as we could. Have too many to measure in numbers. Got about 10 lbs. or more of my own tonite. In my possession I have about 7 lbs. of gunnery manuals, 10 of G.T. and 20 of tactics. All told, I can barely turn over in bed with finding a field manual in the way. All will be turned in except those I got tonite. But the school realizes that we couldn’t possibly remember all we study here, so they expect us to buy most of the important manuals for future study. I will start that soon.

Tonite I finish up as first sergeant, and after this week we have no more D&D, so I’m strictly a tactician from now on.

Have to see if I can get those manuals into some kind of shape before study hall, so will get to it now.

I love you like the dickens,
All yours,
Wallace

March 28, 1944 Tuesday

2008-03-28T07:09:00.000-07:00

Dearest Marjorie,

How are you tonite? Still wading to school or tumbling on the school grounds? I liked your adventure of one stocking off, one stocking on! Very exciting!

Today we spent part of our noon hour watching the presentation of the Silver Star to some hero by a couple of generals. The hero was a Lt. Col., so I had to wonder how many undecorated privates were with him during his great deed. That is completely malicious, tho. I did notice that the hero was more bald than I am, even!

Invested in a G.I.’s Emily Post tonite—“The Officer’s Guide.” Which tells just when to wear poplins and chinos, etc. The more I buy of uniform, the more I see that I must be a field officer of the future. At least, I’d be a flop as a peace time officer.

There is some talk of an imminent invasion of Louisville this weekend, and I may become a member of the outfit. I haven’t been in in a dog’s age, and perhaps the change will make a new man of me. At least it will be fun.

Do you know whom you will vote for for President this year? I don’t. In fact I don’t know as I can vote without being registered. Will you ask my father just what the score is along that line, and see what I have to do? I would like to exercise my franchise just a little. I cannot see any of the Republican prospects, except Wilkie. Wallace sort of appeals to me, and Roosevelt has been going down in my book for some time. Can’t see what his foreign policy is, and I think that is the most important thing in the next election.

I beg your pardon. [switches from pen to pencil]

Some kind soul sends a copy of the Christian Science Monitor to our class every day. It gets here about four days late, but as first sergeant, I am the recipient these days. I enjoy the articles a lot and have stopped reading the local papers that come on time. If I did read them, it would be like peeking ahead in a continued story.

Things look like hell in Italy these days. No wonder, I guess. The equipment of the Germans is still about the best there is. Most of our new weapons are copies of weapons the Germans have had for 4 years. I guess we have a new wrinkle or two now, but we are just coming around to Germany’s spaced armor, bogey wheels, submachine guns, bounding mines, field glasses and lots of other things. They still use better anti-tank guns than we do.

I love you even more than usual tonite. In fact I doubt very much that, even with a knowledge of my alleged weak spot, you could come close to it. You would probably be too concerned in keeping your hair in place and your ears covered!

I love you,
Wallace

March 27, 1944 Monday

2008-03-27T18:46:00.001-07:00

Dear Honey,

Today we dived into the core of tactics—the art of controlling armies. Got a bunch of majors and captains that look like champion chess players or Prussians to lecture on offensive combat and estimation of situation. Got into the theories of Clausewicz [sic for Clausewitz], already. Quite fascinating.

Did I ask you yesterday if you would send me my R.O.T.C. uniform the next chance you get? I’d like to have it down here now to put with my other stuff and see if it is still in style. Officers are very fastidious, it seems. You can’t wear a chino shirt under a blouse, only a poplin shirt. I can hardly tell the difference, but they say there is one. I’d like the complete outfit, minus the Sam Brown belt. That is no longer worn. Thanks a million, Hon.

Bought a foot locker tonite—a small trunk. All this is charged to us and will be paid by our allowance of $250. If we do not graduate it can all be returned!

I am enjoying being a mean first sergeant today. Straightening out a few things that I have no power over as a private. I can see why 1st sergeants are not popular. They have to assign all the details and keep the wheels rolling in general.

Thanks for the two nice letters I got today. You’re a darling and I love you always.
Yours forever,
Wallace

March 26, 1944 Sunday

2008-03-26T17:02:00.000-07:00

Dearest Bunny,

This has been a rather busy weekend. Haven’t enough time off to write the kind of a letter I want to—or planned to. Am taking an hour off and will rest and ramble at the same time. By the way, I love you extremely.

Last nite we finished work at 5, had a delightful beer party until 6. The company’s P.X. dividend pays for these affairs and our C.O., Lt. Browning, thinks they are a good thing for candidates. Big time in a little time idea, I guess. At six went back on guard for the rest of the evening. This morning we got to the Military store at 8 a.m. and spent the morning buying uniforms to the extent of $125.05. That is just a beginning, but I have enough insignia now to dazzle me. Have seven sets of gold bars in my locker now! Whee!

My bunk-mate Braley and I took our weekend between 12:30 and 3:00 to go to the village of West Point for a big meal and a ride in his car over Kentucky landscape. Found some very beautiful scenery. As the Symphony was playing the Beethoven concerto I was gazing at a breathtaking, broad, flat, settled Kentucky valley. Very effective. Needless to say, I thought about you and wished so much you were there. Thought of you hearing the music, did you?

On return I did some duties as first sergeant—which job I start tomorrow for three days. But the board has met now, so I don’t mind.

Oh, don’t worry about our work here, Bunny. Maybe I have overdrawn it. It isn’t easy, but nothing for you to be upset over. I really prefer this to basic training. They at least treat you like a man. Your letters are the best thing you could do for me here, and you are right in that I have everything I need. True, the uncertainty here is lousy psychology, but it is a deliberate part of our training. Battle is like that, and they want to find out who can work well in such an atmosphere. I think I have learned a lot from it.

This war is very much out of line with the work I want to do. Briefly, I want to work at something that finds truth and is based on that. Soldiering doesn’t do that, but this war is a very big reality and as such provides much solid experience from which a lot of truth might be learned. Also, by forcing you to face the most grim realities, it helps you to overcome the natural fear of many real things. You can’t fool yourself in war and live long. It can make you better able to adjust. Good adjustment is based on seeing things as they are. According to some articles I read, many of the psychological casualties of battle are among the ones who never settled in their own minds just why they were fighting, or had been satisfied with ideas they only half-believed until they saw action. As civilians, they might have gone on fooling themselves, but you see what happens when the chips are down. They find they are playing with real things that illusions cannot change.

The most solid attitude that I can take toward the war is that it is another struggle for power between nations. Completely apart from a consideration of doctrines. The men who make wars work for their country first, and a doctrine second. Each country wants to be “top dog.” What they will do when they are top dog is important but unpredictable. It is foolish for people to fight other people. But the war is on and somebody must become a top dog to end it. The top dog determines history to a large extent. Germany and Japan are trying to do this, and necessarily at the expense of us. I would rather have the course of history in the hands of people like me; if it cannot be a cooperative matter among all people. Ideally, I am for a world community. In view of reality, I am willing to fight to keep control of the course of history. As long as we are in control there is a chance that we can be smart enough to stop the dog fight and accomplish something worthwhile.

My watch says that’s all for now. Come up for breath, let me kiss you, say good nite, and to the devil with everybody but us. We’ll worry about them tomorrow. Meanwhile, you and I are the whole world.

I love you always,
Wallace

March 24, 1944 Friday

2008-03-24T06:05:00.000-07:00

Dear Hon,

My friend Frankie Brown did me a favor and got me some more of this stationery! I know you appreciate it.

Met Ken Erwin over at the P.X. just now. He is all set to graduate in about two weeks. He is being very original and getting married as soon as he gets his furlough! A girl in Montpelier. His class is going to battle training right after they graduate, too. And will probably be there until the 61st comes out. So the best information now is to plan on about four weeks of work then after graduation, on April 22nd. That will give the snow time to melt in New England and make it almost exactly a year from our engagement. Speaking of snow, if you will point out the boy who threw the snowball at you, I will kick his teeth in. Maybe I have lost my proper attitude, but they can’t do that!

The little summer school UNH pamphlet brought up pleasant memories. Pretty campus, isn’t it? Also reminds me that we must decide about your summer school requirements sometime. Guess it will depend pretty much on where I am stationed. If it is where we could be together and still be solvent plus, financially, I think we should definitely do that. If it isn’t, then summer school would be best. We’ll just be ready to make quick decisions when we know what the situation is.

I can feel another long letter on marriage coming up when I get some time off, since that is what I have been thinking about most lately. Always write down directly what I think to you, Hon. I hope it is in English, and that you know a lot of it is just the way I muddle thru to some attitude that isn’t clear to me.

I can never write down the way I feel about you, either. There are a swarm of ways to say I love you, but I never seem to be able to talk about it the way I feel it. It’s a real short-coming of mine that I can’t talk to people very well, at least as far as expressing an emotion goes. It always winds up looking like a stock market report. That is why I always have to give up and ask you to understand even if I can’t say it very well, because, damn it, I do love you just as enthusiastically and whole-heartedly and romantically as anybody ever could. I think so many crazy, idealistic thoughts about you that you’d think I was an adolescent if I ever wrote them down. Maybe that’s why I don’t very much—it looks so superficial to write them down, because we use the same words superficially so often.

You’re the one I love, Marjorie, the only real one, and that will never change. Believe me, honey.

All yours,
Wallace

March 23, 1944 Thursday

2008-03-23T15:41:00.000-07:00

Hello, Hon,

Please excuse the pencil. I’m over at the barber’s waiting my turn and neglected to bring my pen. My writing is so legible that it probably doesn’t matter which I use. Well, anyway, it doesn’t matter which I use as far as reading it is concerned.

Hope “Fort Knox” pleased you. He was what I was going to send around Valentine time, but the P.X. was all out. He wasn’t fluffy and nice like the best ones, but maybe he has personality.

This week my hours of luxury will be stolen away, but for a good cause. Sunday morning the class is going to get measured for uniforms. Flattering as it is, I can see that it will be an exhausting chore. Got to buy a complete boudoir, or retinue, or wardrobe, or something all at a whack. Nobody knows just what to buy. The Major wants us to spend every cent of our $250 allowance, our O.C.S. regulations gives a minimum requirement list adding to about $400, and Lt. Shalala (who bids goodbye to us every day and still stays on) says spend just as little as we can now—then buy what we need when we get stationed. This last sounds O.K. to me. The Major (Major Riley, head of G.T.) says our R.O.T.C. uniforms will not do. They will after we get our commission, however. Guess I’ll just go up and buy whatever appeals to me. They have some very catchy combinations.

As you know, this is “suitability week,” and since I haven’t been an officer, nor called out to instruct at all, I assume that all is well. It is going hard on a few men, tho. Four or five men in each platoon are marked men, and have been under the glare of the “tac” officers all week. I feel sorry for them. They get criticized for every move they make. Only observation could show you how tight they get when nothing they do id allowed to pass without a sneer or a forceful correction. It’s all done to see just how much these doubtful men have on the ball. It’s really tough.

You can see from the extra length of my letters that the sun is shining for me these days. This has turned out to be a very good week for me. Our last gunnery test—range estimation—was O.K., the report is that the whole class passed map reading. Soon D&D will stop completely and only tactics is left. That is tough, but since my past average will count for something now, it should come out satisfactorily.

The board meets tomorrow and soon we’ll se just how many men will be leaving us. It won’t be many—our class has set records scholastically and is good all round. We started with about 80 and should end up with about 60. That is extremely good.

Saturday night I am on guard again. My week-end won’t be too hilarious, all round. Am slightly proud of my financial status for the month, Hon. Looks as tho the next installment will be slightly above par. How much have we got now? Pa says I have two bonds now at 23 Pleasant. That is an asset, too.

Louisville is not at all cramped up, Hon, as you dreamed. Very nice town, which I hope you may see soon, and for more than a movie. That’s all theory, tho, but I had a swell day dream about it today during a lecture on German mines. We spent an evening in the Blue Grass room of the Brown Hotel, slept there, had breakfast at the French Village and left for Keene about the middle of the next day. You would like those places, I know. And we had a lot of time to talk and relax together.

Gee, I love you, Hon, and wish we were married right now. On second thought, I wish it very much. Because I admit that my heart jumps right into my throat when I think of a wedding ceremony. It will be a real test of courage for a tanker. Maybe it’s because of the flowery environment at a wedding. All I can think of is being the center of a fluttering mass of Belle Wrights and thin coffee cups that you have to balance on one knee. However, you are well worth it, and I promise that the tremble in my knees will not be visible beyond the 3rd row. Being Mr. and Mrs. will be better than becoming so, I’m sure.

I love you very dearly always,
Wallace

March 22, 1944 Wednesday

2008-03-22T17:59:00.000-07:00

Dearest Hon,

If you heard a faint roar this afternoon, it was probably class 61 out demolishing. We divided up into crews and blew up everything in sight. Gus [?] and I and a few others blew over a tree over 2 feet in diameter with 18 lbs. of TNT. We devised a system to knock it down in the direction we wanted by attaching a smaller charge to the top of the tree. [sketch of tree trunk with positions 1-4 labeled]

1. Main charge to cut tree, forcing trunk to left [at bottom right of tree]
2. Small charge to push top to right [at top left of tree]
3. Theoretical position of blown tree [some distance to right of tree]
4. Connecting cord for simultaneous detonation [dotted line connecting 1 and 2]

That was initiative, the thing they looked for. I hope that in the confusion they did not notice that the tree did not assume position 3 at all, but fell at right angles to it. That’s war—always the unexpected!

Also am sorry to report that the beautiful Kentucky daffodil that I picked especially for you was lost during the ride back in. It would probably have met with the same fate as the cotton ball I sent you from Georgia. Anyway, I love you loads today, Hon. Could hug you a very great deal and only wish I could. You are the very best girl I know.

Which reminds me to ask how your interfacing is coming along. Scruptitiously, I trust.

You’re right about us being together again relatively soon. The class just graduated went directly to battle training the Monday after Saturday graduation, so I imagine that’s what we’ll do. But, even so, it won’t be long now before we are into another “decisive” period. You know how we start one thing and let time pass automatically for some time, then a break comes and we get our bearings, make some new decisions and start in on another phase. One of the breaks is coming before long. I am beginning to think that I might actually become a lieutenant. Before, that has been a goal, an end. Now I can see that there is much to come after it. For one thing, I will have to make a positive decision on my attitude toward the war. So far I have coasted along, a student half-heartedly playing soldier. Now it looks as tho I’ve got to decide whether to be a soldier in a very professional sense of the word, or whether to goof along waiting for the war to end so I can be a student again. I haven’t put that very well, but it’s really a problem. Because there seems to be little alternative but to be an active soldier, while I find that very hard to harmonize with what I want to do in the long run. I’m going to think that one over. It’s got a lot of angles.

About us, there are not many problems—except what to plan. That’s very hard, Bunny. We don’t need to discuss army uncertainty any more! Sometime I’m supposed to get a furlough. That’s about all we know. I don’t even know just how long it will be. Around 10 days, I think. However, that’s a life time and we’ll try to spend every minute of it together. The exact dates being so uncertain, I don’t know as we can plan a real 3-ring wedding. But we will be able to have the best one possible. That’s what I want. We can start planning, anyway, Bunny, using all information we can as it comes along. What I want is you, Honey, and if we can’t fix up everything in 10 days we just aren’t living in 1944. What am I worrying about? We’ll just have the swellest honeymoon you ever saw! And after that any number of chances can come to us to be together, maybe all the time!

You’d see how much I love you if you were here tonite, Honey. There’s no end to it.

All yours, always,
Wallace

March 21, 1944 Tuesday

2008-03-21T18:22:00.000-07:00

Hello Hon—

Probably you know that Pa got $33 of my income tax of last year back. That’s good, but since he paid the original tax, he will naturally get the check. I knew they couldn’t impose a tax like that on me and get away with it.

Well, I feel ten years younger tonite, now that map reading is over. My first test came out O.K. and I don’t think I messed this one up so that my final course average won’t be satisfactory. I measured a few items inaccurately on the first test, but when the raw scores are changed it should be around 84 anyway.

Now I’m a demolition expert and will be for the rest of the week. Am learning how to blow bridges like “For Whom the Bell Tolls.” It’s very interesting, with formulas for determining how much TNT to use and how to detonate the charge. Explosives are usually used to blow up tank obstacles and anti-tank mine fields. Glad to find out how because I had been wondering just how to run a tank thru a mine field. The Germans are producing as many anti-tank mines as they are artillery shells, so they should be pretty numerous.

I have been meaning to expound a little on the teaching situation in the tactics department. It has everything the ardent “progressive educator” ever dreamed of. I won’t talk about its basic faults tonite, and they are many, but here’s an idea of the set up. Each classroom is nearly as big as a gym with excellent fluorescent lighting. The desks are roomy, well spaced tables, and the speakers platform is right out of the 25th century. A raised stage with a blackboard at least 60 feet long, and 20 feet high. (I swear—maybe not quite 60 feet, but at least that high.) As if this weren’t enough, it is 3 blackboards thick. When one is full, or the instructor wants to reveal another bunch of figures, he rolls it like a big garage door to one side and the next layer is visible. In addition a big screen for movies and a large frame for visual aids are on the stage. Visual aids are prolific—anyway 4 or 5 to an hour’s lecture, and the smallest is 6 feet square. Sand tables with Fort Knox terrain or the Italian front are scattered thru the 6 or 7 tactics buildings. Airplane models hang from the ceiling. News posters are all over, and cokes are available during the breaks.

All teaching principles, except teaching to the individual, are rigidly kept. It is remarkable the number of facts they can put across, and the timing that is put into the lectures. It’s generally “G.I.” deluxe. You’d be impressed two ways. At how clear teaching complicated subjects can be made by using good teaching methods. And how meaningless it it to use those methods if you haven’t anything to teach. It is admirable training but not education at all.

Now we can go to study hall the way we did before we took map reading—with just a book or two. Should say manual. Have been lugging small map factory around the last week or so.

I have soaked in more field manuals since I got here! Every new one I get, I have the same silly thought. Don’t know whether it refers to me reading so many manuals, or if it is a possible name for our son. Anyway, the old line from “The Messiah” always goes thru my head “And his name shall be called, Manual.” I usually sing it, too, but nobody appreciates it.

I love you always and always,
Wallace

March 20, 1944 Monday

2008-03-20T18:08:00.000-07:00

Hello, Hon,

Am taking a few minutes out to write to you tonite regardless of the fact that we got in late and haven’t too much time to study for our big awful-awful in map reading tomorrow.

Had loads of fun this p.m. on a field maneuver in reconnaissance. Piled into some scouting half tracks and followed a map all over the country. We went rapidly over some absolutely impassable muddy old roads. Didn’t stop to see that we couldn’t make it, so we got thru with a lot of flying mud and roaring motors. Beautiful way to express your savage instinct, or something. We had one peep along and it went across a couple of streams that I swear you could float a battleship in –almost.

Am on my way to some more exacting phases of map reading tonight. Just thought I’d let you in on the fact that I love you a great deal before I settled down to the grind.

‘Bye now, card shark,
I love you,
Wallace