Hi Pedue,
I just heard over the radio a while ago news from Guam. They said the battle is over on Okinawa, and I am so tickled to hear it. I don't think you should have to fight anymore for a while. Maybe you all will get a long rest period. I am just going to write this one page because I have a lot of clippings to send you. Dad left last night around 11:00 and was supposed to get in around 3:00 this morning. It is after 9, and he hasn't come yet. Dad's buddy just called me and said he saw him last night around midnight, and he had 3 flat tires. I'll bet he is mad.
This will be short because I didn't get to go get any air mail paper. Honey, I got a letter from you today, and you don't know how tickled I was to hear from you. We read the papers and listen to the news, so we are keeping up with what you are doing.
Please be careful for your old Mom.
Your letter was mailed the 4th of June, and I got it the 15th. I guess that is not so bad, but I used to get them in 8 or 9 days, though.
How is my boy doing today? Your dad and I set out about 100 tomato plants yesterday. After we got them out, it came a little storm, and then last night about 8 o'clock, it came another storm.
I have a pot of pinto beans on. Sure wish you were here to eat some.
Your brother sent Dad a pair of dress shoes for Father's Day. Sunday is Father's Day and also Betty's birthday. She will be 22.
Your dad says that after you all take Okinawa, it doesn't look like you ought to have to fight much more for a while. Maybe they will let you come home then.
I hope to get a letter from you today. It has been 2 weeks since I've heard from you.
We read today that the Japs are jumping off cliffs to kill themselves. I wish they all were killed so you could come home. The way the newspaper reads, the 6th Division is doing a lot of fighting. After this is over, you all ought to ask for a 30 day furlough just to get some rest.
Looks like we are going to have too much rain for our garden. It just won't stay dry enough to plant anything.
Hoping to hear from you soon.
-----
We just heard over the radio that the 6th Marine Division took the Naha air field and are cleaning it up. I knew you all would do it. I wish you wouldn't have to fight anymore for a while, but I guess you will have to fight for something else.
I got a pound of grease from Mr. Perry day before yesterday. It is bad. People can't get meat or lard to cook potatoes and beans with. Dad has tried for two days to buy a pound of lard, but he says he just can't find any. They got a barrel of loose lard up in Dawes yesterday, but they sold it out in two hours.
I will send the clippings from the newspaper tomorrow. After this old war is over, and you are back home, I hope you don't ever leave West Virginia again.
-------Another Sunday almost gone, and I am wondering what you are doing right now. Everyone was here today, except you. Roy, Betty and Jewell all went out on the nine bus tonight. It is so lonesome after they leave. Betty laid out in the sun and her back got burned.
Ruth and Helen have gone out, either to the show or just down to the drug store.
Your cousin, Dugie, has got his discharge and is just waiting for it so he can come home. He said he has over 100 points. I don't think the Marines gives points, do they? You will soon be over there one year, and I think that's long enough for a young boy to be on one of those islands.
Please write as soon as you can.
Dad didn't get to work last night or today. The air hose burst on his truck, and Red went fishing, so Dad was afraid to drive without brakes.
I fixed a good supper last night for Betty's birthday, and she really enjoyed it. I had 3 fryers and potato salad, macaroni salad, green beans, tomatoes, gravy and slaw, and a birthday cake.
Dad got a big payday yesterday. It was for 3 weeks, and he made a hundred and fifty-some dollars, but he just drew 123.00 because of taxes. My store bill was 28 dollars. I'll have to pay the rent which is 19 dollars.
I am sending you some more clippings from the paper.
How often do you get to shave?
Monday, August 15, 2011
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Monday, June 13, 2011
June 1945
Dear Mom and Dad,
Don't have but a short while to write you this small letter but will write to let you know that I am ok and you don't need to worry. Maybe it won't be long until we have this island secured. I sure hope not. I guess you have read in the paper about Sugar Loaf Hill. It was a pretty tough time there.
Glad you are sending the clippings from the paper. I like to read them when I have time. You could also send me one or 2 stamps because it is hard to find stamps when I do have the time to write. I received 9 letters from you in one day. I think the mail is getting held up.
Mom, you can find out all you want about this battle by reading the paper and listening to the radio. I just don't have much time to write, and I don't like to write about it.
May 1945
May 20, 1945
Guess you have been worrying a lot about me lately, but I'm getting along OK. The reason I haven't written for quite a while is that we have moved down to the southern end of this island to help the army. We've been real busy, and probably will be for a while.
We heard that the war in Europe was over. I'm waiting now for this one to be over.
Money isn't any good here because there is nothing to buy. Most of the place has been blown up.
This isn't much of a letter, but we can't write much. I just wanted you to know that I am ok.
We have been here 35 days now. I sure will be glad when we get off this island and I don't have to sleep on the ground.
I haven't heard from Louise since I left the last place. She just writes when I write her. That's the way all the girls are. I'm sure glad you are still writing to me.
If Jerry did go down with his ship, Uncle Fuller should have heard by now. I don't think his ship was sunk around here close.
I know you worry when you don't hear from me, but I'm writing every little chance I get.
No Mom, I don't have my watch anymore. I broke it before I left the other place I was at. I've been trying to pick me up a Jap watch but can't seem to find any.
No, Mom, I don't really don't get very homesick, but sometimes I sure wish I was home. I don't think I'll ever get married. A guy's fun is over when he gets married.
Guess you have been worrying a lot about me lately, but I'm getting along OK. The reason I haven't written for quite a while is that we have moved down to the southern end of this island to help the army. We've been real busy, and probably will be for a while.
We heard that the war in Europe was over. I'm waiting now for this one to be over.
Money isn't any good here because there is nothing to buy. Most of the place has been blown up.
This isn't much of a letter, but we can't write much. I just wanted you to know that I am ok.
We have been here 35 days now. I sure will be glad when we get off this island and I don't have to sleep on the ground.
I haven't heard from Louise since I left the last place. She just writes when I write her. That's the way all the girls are. I'm sure glad you are still writing to me.
If Jerry did go down with his ship, Uncle Fuller should have heard by now. I don't think his ship was sunk around here close.
I know you worry when you don't hear from me, but I'm writing every little chance I get.
No Mom, I don't have my watch anymore. I broke it before I left the other place I was at. I've been trying to pick me up a Jap watch but can't seem to find any.
No, Mom, I don't really don't get very homesick, but sometimes I sure wish I was home. I don't think I'll ever get married. A guy's fun is over when he gets married.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
April 1945
Dear Mom,
I wrote you a V mail the other day but thought I'd write you a few lines on this paper while I have it. I only have one envelope, and it's so dirty, I'm ashamed to send it, but I guess I have to.
I got a couple of bottles of Jap beer, and boy, they sure have good beer.
I know everybody is going to be glad to see Dugie come home. Sure wish I could see him.
Mom, tell everyone who has been writing me, especially June, that I won't have a chance to write until I get out of here, but keep on writing and I will make up for it when I get to a place where I can write.
We heard about Roosevelt dying, and I know everyone at home hated it.
I'd like you to save me all the clippings from the paper about this place and send them to me.
You were wondering why I hadn't written for a while, but when you heard that marines hit Okinawa, you should have known that I was in that bunch and couldn't write. I won't write to anyone but you now, and I'll write every chance I get. I guess you do worry when you don't hear from me, but I guess any mother is like that.
Mom, it might be a good while before I'll get to write again, but just don't worry about me, and tell everyone hello. I think the mail has started coming in here pretty often, but I haven't gotten any for 3 or 4 days.
I am sending you a piece of Jap money, and a piece of the the money that we use here.
I will write you the first chance I get, but it may not be soon.
I wrote you a V mail the other day but thought I'd write you a few lines on this paper while I have it. I only have one envelope, and it's so dirty, I'm ashamed to send it, but I guess I have to.
I got a couple of bottles of Jap beer, and boy, they sure have good beer.
I know everybody is going to be glad to see Dugie come home. Sure wish I could see him.
Mom, tell everyone who has been writing me, especially June, that I won't have a chance to write until I get out of here, but keep on writing and I will make up for it when I get to a place where I can write.
We heard about Roosevelt dying, and I know everyone at home hated it.
I'd like you to save me all the clippings from the paper about this place and send them to me.
You were wondering why I hadn't written for a while, but when you heard that marines hit Okinawa, you should have known that I was in that bunch and couldn't write. I won't write to anyone but you now, and I'll write every chance I get. I guess you do worry when you don't hear from me, but I guess any mother is like that.
Mom, it might be a good while before I'll get to write again, but just don't worry about me, and tell everyone hello. I think the mail has started coming in here pretty often, but I haven't gotten any for 3 or 4 days.
I am sending you a piece of Jap money, and a piece of the the money that we use here.
I will write you the first chance I get, but it may not be soon.
March 1945
I haven't been able to write for quite some time, so I'll write a few lines now to let you know that I am ok. I received the bracelet and was sure glad to get it. It is real nice. I also received the aspirin, and that will help out a lot. It only took your package about 7 days to get here. I sure thank you for it.
Day before yesterday I got 8 letters, and yesterday I got 7. I haven't been able to get mail for a while.
You said I haven't mentioned the hog you all killed in any of my letters, but I did. I asked you how much it weighed, but maybe you didn't get the letter. I have found out that you don't get all my letters.
I've just been sitting here looking at your and dad's picture.
Day before yesterday I got 8 letters, and yesterday I got 7. I haven't been able to get mail for a while.
You said I haven't mentioned the hog you all killed in any of my letters, but I did. I asked you how much it weighed, but maybe you didn't get the letter. I have found out that you don't get all my letters.
I've just been sitting here looking at your and dad's picture.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
February 1945
Letter to sister Jewell.
Hi Sis,
I want you to pack up about a bushel of that snow and send it to me as quick as you get this letter. I think I can get rich off of it. Several men here have become millionaires selling snow and ice here. They have it sent here from the states. Snow sells for a thousand dollars a pound, and icicles for one hundred dollars each.
Sister dear, I got a letter from you today dated November 25. Now honey, if you can't get my address right, I guess I'm going to have to send you some self-addressed envelopes.
Oh, I make mistakes in my letters, too; otherwise I would take the eraser of this pencil!
Jewell, I don't care how big Eileen's husband is, I'm going to work him over when I get home. I am tired of seeing those "home front soldiers" taking all the women. I guess it's mostly the womens' fault, though. They don't realize they could do much better if they would only wait until the real men come home.
Honey, hurry and send me that picture. I want to show the boys what a cute sister I have.
Love,
Your brother, Pedue
Dear Jewell,
Don't know how to explain about the last letter you received, so I'm not going to. The sergeant that wrote it (and he is my sergeant!) said that he would drop you a few lines and put it in my letter and tell you just how it happened. He is really a swell guy and comes from the deep south -- Alabama. As soon as he comes in from the show, I will have him tell you just how it happened. I started to write and tell you right after that but it slipped my mind.
Sure hope you aren't mad over it. As you know, it was all in fun. If we didn't do something crazy like that every now and then, we would probably go crazy.
Hi Jewell,
Pedue said I should write and explain why I wrote to you for him. I've heard so many things, all good, about you, so when he said he was too tired to write, I readily agreed to do the job for him. I knew you would see that it wasn't his writing and you would wonder who was writing to you. So, if this continues the way I hoped it would, you might write me and send me one of your cute pictures.
So honey, do you think this will go the way it does in the movies?
Anyway, I know a swell guy, and he's your brother. Just knowing him tells me that you couldn't be anything but sweet and charming.
Good night.
Sgt. C.E. Abernathy (same address as Pedue)
Dear Mom and Dad,
Thanks for the birthday card and candy you all sent. The boys all liked the homemade candy and told me to thank you for it. Can't believe I'm 19 years old. I am a man now, that's for sure. I sure never dreamed I'd be here on my 19th birthday.
We can't get any good toothbrushes here either. The ones we get don't last but a couple of weeks. They only cost 10 cents, though.
There is one thing I'd like for you to send me as quick as possible and that is a bottle of aspirin. We can't get them here, and I have a headache pretty often. They should let you send something little like that by airmail. If you don't send it airmail it will take about a month and a half to get here. I sure would like to have them as soon as possible.
I guess Dad thinks I never think about him because I hardly ever say anything about him or write to him, but when I write a letter I'm writing to the both of you, and I do think of both of you every day. I guess he understands all that.
Yes, I smoked the pipe you sent until I broke it, so I started smoking cigarettes again.
I sent you a grass skirt today. It will probably take a couple of weeks for it to get there, if not longer. I'm also sending $50 bucks that the boys donated to me last night. I've got plenty of money to buy anything I need, so you take this and pay off some of your debt.
I have a couple of pictures of the native women I wish I could send you, but we're not allowed to do that.
Mom, I wish I could write about more things, but we just aren't allowed to. You ask me lots of questions that I can't answer.
Yes, this makes 2 birthdays I have been away from home. But, I'll be home for my next birthday for sure.
I got another letter from Louise, and she was saying that she wants to get married when I get back home. I don't know what she is talking about.
I'm glad you got the bracelet, but you shouldn't have paid 17 bucks for it. Hope you sent it by air mail so I'll get it soon.
You said you were going to get my picture enlarged, but you know you don't want to put my ugly mug on your wall. Some of the boys were talking about how cute Ruth was and one wanted to write to her, but I wouldn't let him do it because I don't want any of these boys writing to my sister. They are too much like me.
I got a letter from Uncle Bob, and he told me that he quit his job and is leaving soon to go up North somewhere. He said he wants to see the world before he gets too old.
I'm ate up with hives right now and had to go get a shot for them.
Yes, I knew Bub Pelly, and you are right, there are a lot of boys getting killed from back home. You don't have to worry about old Pedue. He will be back safe and sound, but it might take a while.
I'll bet I would sure look funny to you now because I am so dark. I'm not as dark as the natives, though.
I got the headache powders that you sent, but the aspirin you sent was all smashed to pieces. It takes so long for packages to get here, there's probably no use in you sending any more.
That Leo E. must stay home. I think that makes 3 furloughs he's had since I've been overseas. Well, if a guy is lucky enough to get them, good for him.
I hope Dad is real careful with his truck when he is working. It would be awful if something happened to you or him while I was all the way over here.
I don't expect you and Dad see many Marines back there, do you? I think all of them are over here now.
Tell Dad I'm thinking of all of you.
I haven't been having it too hard for a couple of weeks, but we've sure had some rugged times since I've been here.
Yes, *** was always awful bad about getting with other men. Is her husband overseas yet?
Well Mom, chow bumps just blew, so I guess I will go see if I can eat some of that stuff they call food.
Hi Sis,
I want you to pack up about a bushel of that snow and send it to me as quick as you get this letter. I think I can get rich off of it. Several men here have become millionaires selling snow and ice here. They have it sent here from the states. Snow sells for a thousand dollars a pound, and icicles for one hundred dollars each.
Sister dear, I got a letter from you today dated November 25. Now honey, if you can't get my address right, I guess I'm going to have to send you some self-addressed envelopes.
Oh, I make mistakes in my letters, too; otherwise I would take the eraser of this pencil!
Jewell, I don't care how big Eileen's husband is, I'm going to work him over when I get home. I am tired of seeing those "home front soldiers" taking all the women. I guess it's mostly the womens' fault, though. They don't realize they could do much better if they would only wait until the real men come home.
Honey, hurry and send me that picture. I want to show the boys what a cute sister I have.
Love,
Your brother, Pedue
Dear Jewell,
Don't know how to explain about the last letter you received, so I'm not going to. The sergeant that wrote it (and he is my sergeant!) said that he would drop you a few lines and put it in my letter and tell you just how it happened. He is really a swell guy and comes from the deep south -- Alabama. As soon as he comes in from the show, I will have him tell you just how it happened. I started to write and tell you right after that but it slipped my mind.
Sure hope you aren't mad over it. As you know, it was all in fun. If we didn't do something crazy like that every now and then, we would probably go crazy.
Hi Jewell,
Pedue said I should write and explain why I wrote to you for him. I've heard so many things, all good, about you, so when he said he was too tired to write, I readily agreed to do the job for him. I knew you would see that it wasn't his writing and you would wonder who was writing to you. So, if this continues the way I hoped it would, you might write me and send me one of your cute pictures.
So honey, do you think this will go the way it does in the movies?
Anyway, I know a swell guy, and he's your brother. Just knowing him tells me that you couldn't be anything but sweet and charming.
Good night.
Sgt. C.E. Abernathy (same address as Pedue)
Dear Mom and Dad,
Thanks for the birthday card and candy you all sent. The boys all liked the homemade candy and told me to thank you for it. Can't believe I'm 19 years old. I am a man now, that's for sure. I sure never dreamed I'd be here on my 19th birthday.
We can't get any good toothbrushes here either. The ones we get don't last but a couple of weeks. They only cost 10 cents, though.
There is one thing I'd like for you to send me as quick as possible and that is a bottle of aspirin. We can't get them here, and I have a headache pretty often. They should let you send something little like that by airmail. If you don't send it airmail it will take about a month and a half to get here. I sure would like to have them as soon as possible.
I guess Dad thinks I never think about him because I hardly ever say anything about him or write to him, but when I write a letter I'm writing to the both of you, and I do think of both of you every day. I guess he understands all that.
Yes, I smoked the pipe you sent until I broke it, so I started smoking cigarettes again.
I sent you a grass skirt today. It will probably take a couple of weeks for it to get there, if not longer. I'm also sending $50 bucks that the boys donated to me last night. I've got plenty of money to buy anything I need, so you take this and pay off some of your debt.
I have a couple of pictures of the native women I wish I could send you, but we're not allowed to do that.
Mom, I wish I could write about more things, but we just aren't allowed to. You ask me lots of questions that I can't answer.
Yes, this makes 2 birthdays I have been away from home. But, I'll be home for my next birthday for sure.
I got another letter from Louise, and she was saying that she wants to get married when I get back home. I don't know what she is talking about.
I'm glad you got the bracelet, but you shouldn't have paid 17 bucks for it. Hope you sent it by air mail so I'll get it soon.
You said you were going to get my picture enlarged, but you know you don't want to put my ugly mug on your wall. Some of the boys were talking about how cute Ruth was and one wanted to write to her, but I wouldn't let him do it because I don't want any of these boys writing to my sister. They are too much like me.
I got a letter from Uncle Bob, and he told me that he quit his job and is leaving soon to go up North somewhere. He said he wants to see the world before he gets too old.
I'm ate up with hives right now and had to go get a shot for them.
Yes, I knew Bub Pelly, and you are right, there are a lot of boys getting killed from back home. You don't have to worry about old Pedue. He will be back safe and sound, but it might take a while.
I'll bet I would sure look funny to you now because I am so dark. I'm not as dark as the natives, though.
I got the headache powders that you sent, but the aspirin you sent was all smashed to pieces. It takes so long for packages to get here, there's probably no use in you sending any more.
That Leo E. must stay home. I think that makes 3 furloughs he's had since I've been overseas. Well, if a guy is lucky enough to get them, good for him.
I hope Dad is real careful with his truck when he is working. It would be awful if something happened to you or him while I was all the way over here.
I don't expect you and Dad see many Marines back there, do you? I think all of them are over here now.
Tell Dad I'm thinking of all of you.
I haven't been having it too hard for a couple of weeks, but we've sure had some rugged times since I've been here.
Yes, *** was always awful bad about getting with other men. Is her husband overseas yet?
Well Mom, chow bumps just blew, so I guess I will go see if I can eat some of that stuff they call food.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
January 1945 South Pacific
Letter to sister Jewell
Dear Sis,
Don't have much to write about but thought I'd answer your letter received today. I haven't had a chance to write to anyone for the past 4-5 days, not even Mom, so I wrote her tonight.
We're still having that hot weather. It is about 110 degrees here every day.
There's nothing that I want for my birthday because there is nothing that I need. There's not much a fellow can use over here, anyway. Hard to believe I will be 19. I'm getting to be an old man. haha
I got some awful good pictures from Mom of her, Ruth and Betty. The boys said I sure had a good-looking family and couldn't understand why I was so ugly. They said they are going to go home with me after the war to meet my sisters. So, send me one of you to show them.
No, we can't have pictures taken over here. We aren't like those doggies over in Europe. They get anything they want; it's just like being home. I wish I could spend a vacation in Europe like they are doing.
It would be nice to get that "Sport Page of the Air", or anything, to read over here. It gets pretty lonesome sometimes.
Your brother,
Pedue
Dear Mom,
While sitting here with the sweat pouring off of me, thought I'd answer your letters received the day before yesterday.
Drank a good bit of beer last evening for New Year's, and laid down down and some boys woke me up fighting around midnight. I think every gun we have here cut loose to welcome in the new year.
Christmas and New Years was a whole lot better than I ever imagined it would be, even though I am so far from home.
I wrote you a letter last night and sent you a $50 money order. After I sent it, I got in a little poker game and won $50 more, so I'm sending it now. I know you won't want to spend it, but I want you to, so you and Dad can get out of debt. Besides, I got a good bit of money from you when I was in Washington. So, I want you to use this money however you want to. And don't cry about it, like you did the other time. I don't need it because I have no use for money over here.
Received an awful nice letter from June R. I think that she would be a nice girl for me, don't you. I was out with her twice, and she was too nice for me.
I think they will stop taking money out of my paycheck in February. When I get out of the marine corps, I get all that back, plus 4% interest. If something happens to me, which it won't, you will get the money.
Well Mom, I've got a hard day and night in front of me tomorrow, so I'm going to hit the sack and try to get some rest. I won't get to write tomorrow night, but will write day after tomorrow. You know, Mom,I got to stay in the states a long time compared to some of the boys. Some of them just got out of bootcamp and had to come over here.
Yes, I know I've got a good home to come back to, and I'm going to stay there for a long time. I'm never going to get married because I've got a sweet mother and dad to take care of after you get old.
You could Ruth a little something with the money and tell her it is from me since I didn't get her anything for Christmas. And of course, get Dad something, too. I want you and him both to use it.
.....Roosevelt is going to make a speech the 15th of the month, isn't he? Hope I get to hear it. They claim he's got some good news for the Marines.
Well, here I am back after 2 days and one night out. We had it pretty tough. Got back here about 3 hours ago and had three letters -- two from you and one from June. Makes a guy feel pretty good to be out a couple of days and then come in and have a couple of letters from home.
You all sure are having a rough winter this year, aren't you.
That Ray B. sure must like Betty, but I guess she doesn't care anything about him, does she?
I started this letter about 4 hours ago, but some boys came in and wanted me to go down and drink some beer with them, so I couldn't refuse. We also had some doughnuts from the Red Cross.
Mom, I'm sorry you haven't gotten a letter from me for a while but I write every chance I get. I'm sending you a piece of Jap money. Hope the censor will let it through.
Yes, I know that bunch over at Toots are pretty bad people. I know that because I hung around with them a little, but of course you didn't know about it.
.
Dear Mom,
Thanks for the pretty birthday card and the pictures. The boys said you look young and pretty enough to be my girlfriend instead of my mother, and I told them you'd be the sweetest girlfriend I ever had!
I swear, I've never seen such hot weather as what we have here. It gets 110 degrees during the day, and we have to go back out again starting day after tomorrow, for four days. So, don't worry if you don't hear from me during that time. I think we come back on Sunday, so I'll probably get to write Sunday night.
Well, I wrote to Louise and don't even remember what all I said, but then she wrote me back and said she wasn't going to get married now since I wrote that sweet letter. So, I wrote her back, but haven't heard anything from her.
There is a boy here in the Army who is making moonshine. I had a shot of it the other night, and it was pretty powerful.
Well, it has started raining, so I think I will close and hit the sack since I can sleep pretty good when it is raining. I will try to write again tomorrow night, but if I don't, I won't be able to write again until Sunday night.
January 21, 1945
Got back this evening and went to mail call and had four letters from you and a birthday card from Betty and Jewell.
Pretty tired tonight after those three hard days. Had one awful bad night. It rained all night, and I was sleeping in a fox hole, and there was about 1-1/2 inches of water in it when I woke up, so I got out and slept on the muddy ground. When daylight finally came, I looked, and there was about 8-10 inches of water in it. I believe that was the worst night I ever spent here. Well, anyway, I feel pretty good now.
Got a letter from Louise the other day, and she was telling me that she is going to wait for me to get married. Well, I'm going to fix that right now and just quit writing to her.
You could send that ID bracelet if you want. It would be nice to have. No, my number will never change. I will have it as long as I'm in the Marine Corp.
That was awful about Frank Bass getting killed by the train. I know that will hurt Ruby an awful lot.
January 27, 1945
Dear Mom,
Received 3 letters today; one from you and one from June R., and one from a guy that I did duty with in Washington. Oh yes, also got a birthday card from Roy. I've been getting quite a bit of mail here lately, and that always makes me feel good.
Was glad to hear that it had turned warmer back home. It has rained all day today here. I sure love to see it rain and wouldn't mind it raining every day. I'd rather be out in the rain than out under that broiling sun.
I sure thought Ken would get more than 5 months in the pen for stealing that gas. Boy, I know that will hurt his wife and daughter.
Dear Sis,
Don't have much to write about but thought I'd answer your letter received today. I haven't had a chance to write to anyone for the past 4-5 days, not even Mom, so I wrote her tonight.
We're still having that hot weather. It is about 110 degrees here every day.
There's nothing that I want for my birthday because there is nothing that I need. There's not much a fellow can use over here, anyway. Hard to believe I will be 19. I'm getting to be an old man. haha
I got some awful good pictures from Mom of her, Ruth and Betty. The boys said I sure had a good-looking family and couldn't understand why I was so ugly. They said they are going to go home with me after the war to meet my sisters. So, send me one of you to show them.
No, we can't have pictures taken over here. We aren't like those doggies over in Europe. They get anything they want; it's just like being home. I wish I could spend a vacation in Europe like they are doing.
It would be nice to get that "Sport Page of the Air", or anything, to read over here. It gets pretty lonesome sometimes.
Your brother,
Pedue
Dear Mom,
While sitting here with the sweat pouring off of me, thought I'd answer your letters received the day before yesterday.
Drank a good bit of beer last evening for New Year's, and laid down down and some boys woke me up fighting around midnight. I think every gun we have here cut loose to welcome in the new year.
Christmas and New Years was a whole lot better than I ever imagined it would be, even though I am so far from home.
I wrote you a letter last night and sent you a $50 money order. After I sent it, I got in a little poker game and won $50 more, so I'm sending it now. I know you won't want to spend it, but I want you to, so you and Dad can get out of debt. Besides, I got a good bit of money from you when I was in Washington. So, I want you to use this money however you want to. And don't cry about it, like you did the other time. I don't need it because I have no use for money over here.
Received an awful nice letter from June R. I think that she would be a nice girl for me, don't you. I was out with her twice, and she was too nice for me.
I think they will stop taking money out of my paycheck in February. When I get out of the marine corps, I get all that back, plus 4% interest. If something happens to me, which it won't, you will get the money.
Well Mom, I've got a hard day and night in front of me tomorrow, so I'm going to hit the sack and try to get some rest. I won't get to write tomorrow night, but will write day after tomorrow. You know, Mom,I got to stay in the states a long time compared to some of the boys. Some of them just got out of bootcamp and had to come over here.
Yes, I know I've got a good home to come back to, and I'm going to stay there for a long time. I'm never going to get married because I've got a sweet mother and dad to take care of after you get old.
You could Ruth a little something with the money and tell her it is from me since I didn't get her anything for Christmas. And of course, get Dad something, too. I want you and him both to use it.
.....Roosevelt is going to make a speech the 15th of the month, isn't he? Hope I get to hear it. They claim he's got some good news for the Marines.
Well, here I am back after 2 days and one night out. We had it pretty tough. Got back here about 3 hours ago and had three letters -- two from you and one from June. Makes a guy feel pretty good to be out a couple of days and then come in and have a couple of letters from home.
You all sure are having a rough winter this year, aren't you.
That Ray B. sure must like Betty, but I guess she doesn't care anything about him, does she?
I started this letter about 4 hours ago, but some boys came in and wanted me to go down and drink some beer with them, so I couldn't refuse. We also had some doughnuts from the Red Cross.
Mom, I'm sorry you haven't gotten a letter from me for a while but I write every chance I get. I'm sending you a piece of Jap money. Hope the censor will let it through.
Yes, I know that bunch over at Toots are pretty bad people. I know that because I hung around with them a little, but of course you didn't know about it.
.
Dear Mom,
Thanks for the pretty birthday card and the pictures. The boys said you look young and pretty enough to be my girlfriend instead of my mother, and I told them you'd be the sweetest girlfriend I ever had!
I swear, I've never seen such hot weather as what we have here. It gets 110 degrees during the day, and we have to go back out again starting day after tomorrow, for four days. So, don't worry if you don't hear from me during that time. I think we come back on Sunday, so I'll probably get to write Sunday night.
Well, I wrote to Louise and don't even remember what all I said, but then she wrote me back and said she wasn't going to get married now since I wrote that sweet letter. So, I wrote her back, but haven't heard anything from her.
There is a boy here in the Army who is making moonshine. I had a shot of it the other night, and it was pretty powerful.
Well, it has started raining, so I think I will close and hit the sack since I can sleep pretty good when it is raining. I will try to write again tomorrow night, but if I don't, I won't be able to write again until Sunday night.
January 21, 1945
Got back this evening and went to mail call and had four letters from you and a birthday card from Betty and Jewell.
Pretty tired tonight after those three hard days. Had one awful bad night. It rained all night, and I was sleeping in a fox hole, and there was about 1-1/2 inches of water in it when I woke up, so I got out and slept on the muddy ground. When daylight finally came, I looked, and there was about 8-10 inches of water in it. I believe that was the worst night I ever spent here. Well, anyway, I feel pretty good now.
Got a letter from Louise the other day, and she was telling me that she is going to wait for me to get married. Well, I'm going to fix that right now and just quit writing to her.
You could send that ID bracelet if you want. It would be nice to have. No, my number will never change. I will have it as long as I'm in the Marine Corp.
That was awful about Frank Bass getting killed by the train. I know that will hurt Ruby an awful lot.
January 27, 1945
Dear Mom,
Received 3 letters today; one from you and one from June R., and one from a guy that I did duty with in Washington. Oh yes, also got a birthday card from Roy. I've been getting quite a bit of mail here lately, and that always makes me feel good.
Was glad to hear that it had turned warmer back home. It has rained all day today here. I sure love to see it rain and wouldn't mind it raining every day. I'd rather be out in the rain than out under that broiling sun.
I sure thought Ken would get more than 5 months in the pen for stealing that gas. Boy, I know that will hurt his wife and daughter.
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