A transcript follows the letter images.
Transcript:
May 30, 1942
Hello Sweetheart:—
Do you have a kiss for me? You do. I can have two or three the first five minutes? I (and) can. “Goody” Boy oh Boy! And (oo) if you only knew how much I want to collect them. I am very sure that I don’t have a large enough vocabulary to tell you how much—and I’m not kidding!
It is very hot—I took a shower before “chow” and need another one.
I went to the P.X. with Red Robinson and drank a couple of beers and I am lying on my bunk now and I don’t have very many—well, If you were here with me or I was there with you, and you were dressed like I am, well—there would very likely be an explosion—or a heat wave or something, or do you understand—You do? Yes I imagine. For if you were an ice box to some people you sure weren’t to me—Thank the Lord—etc.
-2-
You know Sweetheart—I guess I’ve told you before (in fact all this wk.) that I miss you more and more—more then ever—it must be the weather or “sompin,”—probably or “sompin”. If I could just hold you for awhile, sleepy or wide awake or otherwise—It would be heaven—Kiss me? Thank you. It’s a good thing for I’d have kissed you anyway—Say,—I’m overbearing and think I can have anything I want don’t I—but—just that far and no farther, unh?
Say Honey—If I’d get a few shots (which they don’t have in Kansas) I’d probably start (hich) hitchhiking back to Ruth.—
Got another kiss—I guess I should not write like this because it makes me lonelier then ever—but I can’t help it—I (got) have to get a few things of my chest once in a while, don’t I?
You know—I was (illegible cross out) really starting to sit up on my bunk when I read the first part of that paragraph you wrote. Quote:—”He is awfully nice, honey, and I’m sure it would be allright. Would you mind?
I was doing two things at once—I was saying under my breath—”No, I don’t mind.” and at the same time my heart fell so hard I heard it thump—No kidding—(W) When I read
-3-
(“You needn’t answer that sweetheart, I was only teasing you”) I heard it thump back up again.—Whooee. But I like your reason best of all—Selfish, am I not.
I hope that medium did know what she was talking about. (I guess (according to your story) you will be allowed to smoke—Ha))
Have a cigarette?—No—Oh, excuse me, I forgot.—Yeah—I guess you know about how much about you I’ve forgot—I haven’t forgotten one little hair on your head or well—I just never will be able to forget you.—Besides I don’t want to in the first place. And—by the way, dear—
“Sugar is sweet,
Wasn’t it?” [curly bracket pointing to this line: That’s That is the last straw—The last one Ha]
So you played me a song—for me? I liked it—even if I couldn’t hear it I liked it anyway,—for I’m sure I was near there somewhere.—Must of been if you played “Moonlight Serenade”—And (you) you are “Always In My Heart”—Altho I get blue and “bluer” yet—Still You will be “Always In My Heart”—You know—Every now and then I hear Glenn Miller. And our song.
-4-
Yes Honey, You have really written quite a letter. I liked it very much. I liked it very, very much. Much more even then that
Nuts ain’t I?—I liked it anyway.
Oh Yes—(fo) For the last couple of weeks or so I rolled my own. This morning I ran out of it and a fellow (lent me) loaned me a pack—I loaned him a pack once before. Then this afternoon when I only had 3 or 4 left I got a whole carton from your mother. Whoopee—I sure did need them and Thank her—for me—Maybe I’ll get a chance to thank her someday.
Well Honey—there is some of my (our) kind of music on the air now—You know—the kind of music that weaves a spell and takes me to you even tho your far away—Lovely music “Yeper.” As I said before, “Well Honey”
“Until tomorrow”
Goodnight Sweetheart
I Love You
I LOVE YOU
i love you
x Walt x
(* **** ***)
Written sideways, in very small print, next to closing:
They are playing “Tangerine” now—(R) Pretty unh?
I love you
x Walt x
I love you I Love You I Love You
I LOVE YOU
Say—It’s the Hit Parade—are you listening
Note inside envelope:
I Love You