I intend to post almost daily, and in roughly chronological order, the thousands of pages of daily love letters that my parents sent to each other during WWII and any other documents that pertain to these letters..
Not much to say today. There was no mail, and hardly anything worth writing about.
Last night I attended the re-opening of the renovated "Thunderbolt Theater". The picture, as I told you yesterday, was "For Whom the Bell Tolls". I didn't enjoy it quite as much the second time. The element of suspense was gone because I knew the plot. However, it would have been worth my while if only to see "Maria" again. The theater is a very great improvement over the previous one. The screen is large and new and white, and the two new 35 mm. projectors make it unnecessary to stop the film to change reels. I'm looking forward to many pleasant evenings there, (but not too many more I hope).
I turned in very early, about 9:30, and had a good night's sleep. My work for this month is pretty well cleaned up—until the 28th, when I have to start on the Company History.
This evening, it walked down to the Snack Bar, had some sandwiches and coffee, and then settled down in the lounge to listen to the radio and read some old papers that were lying about. Today's "Stars and Stripes” didn’t arrive, for some reason. The news on the radio brought me up-to-date.
Later, there was a speaker, an elderly gentleman from Mass., who talked for an hour and a half about post-war prospects in employment. His talk was very general, though, covering a variety of subjects, and was most interesting. I learned a good deal, asked a few questions, and revised a few of my concepts and opinions. A most profitable evening.
Which once more brings me right up to the minute, Sweet. I think of you constantly, and wish most fervently that I will soon be free to return to you and the punkin and all my loved ones at home. Good-night my darling, I love you more and more each day. My love to all.
Ever, Your Phil
22 July 1944
Dearest Evie,
No mail today for the third day in a row, and I'm back to double-spacing as a result. There is still so little to report, that I have to think and think until I get an idea as to what to write about. I'll tell you what I did today. That's always good for a few lines. Then, I'll say a few words about the weather, etc., and by that time I may have thought of some thing else.
To begin with, I relieved the CQ at 6:30. It was a gray, cold morning, and the gloomy appearance of the sky did my spirits no good. I was entirely caught up with my work, and I spent the morning reading a magazine, Directly after lunch, there was a dental inspection. I have a coupla new cavities, and have to make an appointment at the dispensary to have them filled. Which reminds me to ask you, dear, when you last visited the dentist, and isn't it about time you were making an appointment to have your teeth looked at? Then I hopped on a bike and rode down to the Finance Office, where I transcribed the payroll. This killed the afternoon. I had intended to go into town this evening with Klein, but the lunk-head got himself grounded for speeding, and isn't driving the Officers' liberty-run bus anymore. I could have gone in on the Enlisted Men's Liberty run, but I don't enjoy it because it's uncomfortable riding, usually crowded, and some of the guys drink too much and get sick all over the place, and on anyone who is unlucky enough to be in the vicinity. Not relishing the prospect, I went along with Klein to the Snack Bar. Then we stuck around the lounge awhile, while Klein wrote a few letters and I read "Yank" and listened to the radio. When it came time, we went around to the movie, where "Dixie" was playing. I had already seen it, but since it was a musical, and because I'm caught up on my correspondence for a change, I thought I'd kill the evening that way. At that, I found it far from boring. I hit the sack at exactly 11 o'clock, and I'll give you just one guess, darling, as to what I was thinking about at that particular time. If you are wondering when I found time to type this, Sweet, permit me to enlighten you. I am typing this the "morning after". This morning, for want of something better to do, I decided to compile a few statistics - on the percentage of married men in the company, those with children, etc. This afternoon, if there is still no mail, I think I'll start drawing the plans for that Duplex Apartment - remember? I'm hoping, though, that there will be some mail.
Just enough space left, honey, to remind you that I love you very much. Kiss the punkin for me, and give my love to all. I am
I didn't write yesterday cause I was too tired and it was too late when I finished with Adele. I had two lovely letters from you, though, of July 13 and 14, respectively, and enjoyed both immensely, after three mailless days. I called Dot and she read me her letter (yes, in its entirety) and I enjoyed that, too. You know something, Sweet - you frighten me a bit sometimes when I think of what you'll be like when I have "relations" with you again, after such a long time. Yeh man! (I'm sure you bear in mind the fact that I have a fear of becoming pregnant for some time and I know full well that you (as, well as I won't let it happen, not, at any rate, until we both want it to. I hope I won’t forget this sentence when I do see you.
I did a lot of reminiscing last night. If you will remember, sweet, both you and Jack were home on the 20th last year and today marks the year since Gloria or the family has seen Jack. Tomorrow, incidentally, is the second anniversary of the J. Strongins - yep, it's two years already !
I felt rather ill all day as I “fell off". We're having unusually cool weather for this time of year and it's actually cold at night. Nothing like Philly weather - one day you roast to death, the next, you freeze to death.
I'm kind of proud to report that Adele is making fine progress eating alone. So much so that now I give her a small bowl of corn flakes with milk and a bit of sugar and she eats it all by herself. When she's finished and can't get the last drop she drinks from the bowl (not at all mannerly, is she?)
I've been advised by several people not to send those pyrex bottles you requested. Perhaps there is something else I can get? Do you think I should keep sending chocolate in this hot weather? Were the last packages okay? I shall start the next package tomorrow, when I intend to do some shopping. Today was payday, honey, and we now have another $25 bond, making our total $650.
The news is wonderful, especially about the German Army rebelling. I hope it means an early end and that I will see you in ’44 cause I sure am anxious to see you! Tony is at a POE and Ann has been crying her eyes out all week. It came sort of suddenly though they thought it might happen soon. I also called my Aunt Gussie this evening to learn that my cousin Meyer is in Texas and very disgusted with the present setup. Everyone there sent their regards to you, honey.
I still haven't decided whether I'm going to take Adele with me to Dot's tomorrow or whether I will go alone. I'll see first how Adele is tomorrow. Sarah keeps bothering me to have her feet examined, but I'm sticking to my decision that I'll have her examined in the fall, if she doesn't outgrow it first. It's most annoying though, especially when someone else keeps harping about it. Oh, well, I don't want to sign off in a discordant note, so we'll change the subject to love, if'n you don't mind. I LOVE YOU, PHIL!
Your Eve
P.S. Mom is still at Browns Mills.
20 July 1944
My Own Evvie,
You will receive no letters dated 18 or 19 July. On the 18th, because it had been a pretty busy day, I went to the movies to relax. The fact that there had been no letter from you that day contributed to my decision. The picture was "Uncertain Glory, with Errol Flynn and Paul Lukas. As far as I was concerned, it was a perfectly good plot gone to waste. The writing was bad enough to ruin the interest and suspense that the film could very easily have had. Errol Flynn is terribly miscast in this one. Seems he just can't resist the urge to be charming, and since he is supposed to be a murderer of the first water, it just doesn't jive. The only thing that saved the whole thing from being a complete bust, was was the superb acting of Paul Lukas. To my mind, there isn't an actor in the world who is even in the same class with him. Remember when I raved about his performance in "Watch on the Rhine"? I forgot to say "I told you so when he copped the Academy Award for it.
Yesterday, the 19th, I again found no opportunity to write during the day, and in the evening there was "Cover Girl". I remember you wrote that you enjoyed this one very much. Sorry I can't say the same for myself. The only worthwhile feature of the whole picture, for my money, was Gene Kelly's dancing. Maybe I'm screwy, but I consider Rita Hayworth neither beautiful nor charming. She is talented, undoubtedly, but not so much so that she can get by on that alone. The plot is old as the hills all the way thru, and there wasn't one hit tune in the whole of the production that is generally hailed as the musical of the year. In short, I was greatly disappointed in it.
Your letter (V-mail) of 11 July arrived in the afternoon, together with Dottie's of 7 July, and Mickey Brown's of 8 July. I had time to knock out just one letter before lights out, and I decided to favor Mom 'cause I had held up her letter too long for my peace of mind. By the way, Chippie, didn't you say Mike Nerenberg had written some time back? I'm still waiting to hear from him.
This afternoon, I managed to get off a letter to Mickey Brown. Which reminds me that I have neither sent a letter to Syd or received one from him for a long, long, time. If you'll send me his address, Baby, I'll try to pick up our correspondence with him.
The snap I am enclosing was taken about six months ago at our previous station. The right pant-leg is rolled up cause I had just got off my bike. Klein took the picture, and just received it today. You might send the negative to Jack after you are through with it. If you'll send me some film (127 or 130), I'll take some more snaps for you. We can't get film over here.
Tonight the "Thunderbolt Theater" is having its gala premiere. Although they staged a USO show there some weeks back, this is the first picture since they installed regular theater seats, re-decorated the place, and installed standard projection equipment. The film is "For Whom the Bell Tolls" (no less).
The weather has been beautiful these past few days, and some of the fellows have even gone swimming. I haven't been off the base since last week, but now that the week-end is coming up again, I may go in with Klein within the next day or two.
There was nothing in your V-Mail that required comment, Sweet, and now that I'm completely up-to-date and can't think of another solitary thing to write about, I'll close this with a fond kiss for you, a kiss and hug for the lass, and my love to all.
Ever-lovingly,
Your Phil
July 20, 1944
Dear Phil:
Received your letter today and I don't need to tell you how glad and how pleased I was with it. You put me on a spot, though, with such a long letter. It means that I have to reciprocate. But I do want you to know that it is always a pleasure to write to you. You can tell that by the prompt answers you get.
You need never fear that you can't keep up with me. It is the other way around. You have a far better excuse for not writing than I might have. Mine is just plain "laziness."
Snuff will probably leave in August (Once more) and I'm sure that he will correspond with you. After he was sent back, he received a new classification -- 1A! The Shop then put in another appeal and the Draft Board called to find out if they were crazy. They said that according to Snuff's records he should have been in two years ago. And not only that, but there are only three men left that are under 26. Two are 4F's and the other is Snuff. They said he might leave in July, but definitely by August. There isn't much of a chance of his getting the Navy this time, as they have stopped drafting into the Navy. Also, enlistments have been stopped. It doesn't make much difference to Snuff now whether or not he gets the Navy, as he was glad for the chance to remain at home for a little while longer. It makes me think of the prisoner that got a last minute reprieve.
I hope to be able to send you the "Bulletin" each week. Of course, this depends on whether or not I can get into town to get them, but I shall try my darndest. I'm glad to hear that you enjoy them so much, as I think they are a very good idea, personally. The news may be a little stale by the time it reaches you, but at least it is something from "home".
I enjoyed immensely your story about the show you went to and also your story about "Ev". I called Ev tonight and read her your letter—all eleven pages.
About that paragraph—normally my curiosity would get the best of me and I would insist that you explain it. But I shall respect your wishes and wait for the time when you are ready to tell me. Not that insistence by mail would do me much good anyhow!
I'm just a little surprised that you think that the "incident" didn't mean anything to me. It is just that I can't place this particular one, but I do want you to know that everything we have done together and all the moments we have shared, are treasured ones as far as I'm concerned. There have been so many that I can't forget that I can't remember the particular one you speak of. Well, enough of that before I get even more involved than I am already.
I do want you to know, however, that I certainly wouldn't laugh at you because I happen to have that same particular horror of being laughed at and ridiculed.
Again I shall explain that I don't always wait for an answer from you if I have anything to say. I understand that at this particular time you must be pretty busy and I'll excuse any tardiness on your part in answering.
Ev is supposed to come out here Saturday to spend the day with Adele. However, if she feels she isn't up to it, she will put Adele to bed and come out alone. I'm need not tell you how I'm looking forward to this day. We haven't seen each other for some time. It is not as easy for me to get out now as it has been in the past, as my Mother is working and she depends on me more or less to take care of the house. However, I'm a little ashamed of myself for having neglected Ev. Of course, I speak to her frequently, but I haven't seen too much of her.
Speaking of our double-dating after the war—hurry up and come home, won't you, so we can commence to have some of those good times I'm sure we all have lined up in our minds,
Every time I think about the friendship that exists between us, it puts a little glow in me. Especially when I think that you are a mature man of 30 (?) and I am but a mere child of 21 (?). By the time you get home you will be an A.K. and I'll still be a spring chicken. How about putting that in your pipe and smoking it. (I couldn't resist the little dig. I hope it doesn't hurt you to be reminded that you are getting "old)").
Please pardon the errors, but I have five more letters to answer when I finish yours and my thoughts are running ahead of my fingers. That is because I'm a little out of practice, not having worked for over two years.
Now that it is more or less imminent that Snuff is going away, I'm beginning to feel the strain of it. Up to now I couldn't realize that he was actually going and so, therefore, I had no feeling about it. Now that the full realization has finally hit me, I have the feeling that I should like to follow him. Of course, the applies only if he is stationed somewhere halfway decent. I wouldn't go anywhere that would be a hole. I may change my mind after he goes away, but I can't, right now, conceive of getting along without him, I know that other people have done it, and I could probably do it too (and will), but it hurts deep down inside where nobody can reach.
It seems as though I always pour out my troubles to you, but I know that you can understand how I feel, as I understand about you when you write to me about being separated from Ev. I certainly am doing a lot for your morale. Here I am telling you my troubles instead of cheering you up.
Snuff and I went to the movies the other night, for the first time in weeks, and we saw "Four Jills in a Jeep." It was entertaining, but it had no plot. But then, who goes to the movies expecting a plot.
I just received a letter from one of the fellows I told you to look up. Never mind, now, he is in France. Keep away from him! Stay where you are.
There isn't much more I can think of saying right now, except write soon and often.
