February 10, 12, and 13, 1943

By February 10, 1943, training on the range was done, which gave Johnnie time to sit down and write Lucile another letter from Camp Howze. He was in a good mood and joked around a lot that Wednesday night. The Arnold he mentions is his paternal cousin, Arnold Pair. 

My Dear Darling,

I hope this letter finds you well and also hope the rising is gone off of your neck. I received a letter from Mother the other day and she is getting along pretty well. At least that’s what she said. She is going to a doctor every other day. She didn’t say what was the matter with her. I believe it is pretty serious. What do you think? Say, I got a letter from Arnold the other day. He mentioned something about sending you a picture of him. I believe my cousin is trying to get my wife. Anyhow, he wrote me to see if he could send you any pictures of him. He knows who the boss is, Ha Ha. Say, if I don’t go out on the firing range this weekend I am going to town and have some pictures made and if you don’t mind, I will send you some, Ha Ha. If you will give me some, Ha Ha. O yeah, I received a birthday card from Mother yesterday. I really wasn’t expecting that. Say, what did you buy with the twenty dollars? I hope it helps you. If you need five or ten more, write me. I broke my watch the other day and it is going to cost me five dollars to have it fixed. I was playing around with a fellow in the barracks and I hit my arm against the wall and that was how it got broke. So that is that. Well honey, I guess that is all the news for this time so answer this letter back by air mail and make it a long one too. Don’t write as I write. Write as I tell you to write, Ha Ha Ha. 

Well I will be waiting to hear from you. Lots Lots Lots Lots Lots of Love, Johnnie

Buy a dollar’s worth of stamps so you can write me more often. Love, Johnnie

Last page of February 10, 1943 letter

Arnold Pair (years later)

Lucile was sick and Johnnie was worried about her. In his February 12, 1943 letter from Camp Howze he told her he was sending money for medicine. She must have also wanted to come visit him but they didn’t have enough money to spend on a trip to from Georgia to Texas.

My Dear Darling,

I receive your letter tonight telling me that you receive the money order which I am glad to hear that you did. Honey stay inside all you can and get you some medicine for it. I am sending you three dollars to get the medicine for your cold, and if you need anymore, let me know right away, Darling, you said I have not mentioned about you coming down here in my letters anymore. You know I want you with me more than anything in the world at all times and Darling, you know I want you down here with me but being that we haven’t got the money right now, there isn’t much use wishing it. Honey I am also sending you your applicants copy for your allowances, so keep it, and if you don’t get your money when you’re supposed to, you can give them hell about it by showing them this copy, and I bet they will get it for you then. Honey I really thank you for the nice valentine and I really thought it was cute what was wrote in it. Well honey, I will close for this time because I will have to clean my rifle and get a few other things I have to do done. So be sweet just like you always have been.

Lots and lots of love, Johnnie

I would have written sooner, but my work in this Army
demands a lot of close personal attention –
(click to enlarge)

From the sound of his February 13, 1943 letter from Camp Howze, Texas, Johnnie wanted Lucile to come to Texas as much as she wanted to go. 

My Dear Darling,

Well today started another week and I have just five more weeks training to go. Honey, the time I think of you most is at night. Not that I don’t think of you during the day, but at night I just lay in bed and think of the times we used to have together and wish that you were here with me. Gee, I hope you get your money soon. You can come down here then and stay till I get my furlough, then we can go back together, or you can come down here and stay with me. All I want is for you to come as quick as possible. I don’t see how I have stood it this long. Sometime I just think of taking off and coming home to you. But I know that won’t do any good. So, I guess I will just have to wait till you can afford to come. I hope it is soon. Well, it is about time for the light to go out so I will close. Lots Lots Lots Love to my sweet wife. 

Johnnie x x x x x 

January 29, 31, and February 7, 1943

Johnnie’s January 29, 1943 letter from Camp Howze was the longest one to date. He had lots to talk about—getting Lucile to Texas, his mother’s illness, a boxing match among other things.

My Dear Beloved Darling,

I hope this letter finds you well as I am about the same. Honey, I am going to try and get you out here as quick as I can because if I don’t see you I will go crazy as a “bat.” If I get enough money Monday to pay your way out here and to stay here about two weeks and also enough to pay your fare back, I will send it to you. I told you in my other letter that I will get paid on the thirty-first which is Monday. O yeah, I believe you will get your money too because I finished out the alloted and was sworn in, for it to start last Thursday. And the officer that swore me in for it to start your alloted said you might get yours the thirty-first of this month, or two, or three days later. I hope you do. Honey I guess you noticed that the ink is a lot darker now than it was when I first started to write. Well the reason is the pen gave out and I had to fill it with this kind because the fellow I been getting blue ink off of is gone to town. So please look over this change of the ink. Honey, I boxed last Wednesday night and lost the fight, I didn’t get hurt but I got knocked down once. We were just fighting five rounds, and me getting knocked down in the last round lost the fight. That same day I twisted my ankle and I had to hop around the ring. It made me tired out quick, but we will box again in the next few weeks and I believe it will be a knock down and drag out system, Ha Ha. I haven’t been getting any letters from you lately. I wish you would try and write me every night because you know I am waiting to hear from you every mail call. You don’t know just how I feel when the mail call is over, and I didn’t receive no mail from you. So, honey try to write as often has you can. I believe this is the longest letter you have ever received from me, isn’t it? Well I haven’t got nothing to do right now, so that’s why I am trying to write you a long letter for once, Ha Ha. Didn’t I write you in one of my other letters telling you that it was sleeting and snowing? I believe I did. Well it has kindly clearing up now and its turning hot again. Now isn’t that funny weather for you? I have never been in any weather like this before. Sugar, if you are going to stay in our house be sure and keep those doors locked and the windows because you know how dangerous it is with that convict camp so near. So please be careful, will you? I still haven’t heard from Kate or any of them about Mother’s sickness. Darn it I wish they would let me know something. I sent an airmail letter to them and another letter, and it by now and that has been about a week ago since I wrote it. Well tomorrow is Sunday and I hope to receive a letter from you because I haven’t received any in the last two or three days and I hope it doesn’t go another without hearing from you. O yeah, has Nell or Bob said anything about receiving a letter from me? I wrote them and have not received an answer from them yet. Tell them I am not going to write them till I get an answer from that letter. Well honey I guess that is all the news. 

So, lots and lots of love, Johnnie

P.S. The fellow that wrote that joke for me is a boy from College Park, Ga. His name is James McDonald. Do you know him? Let me know. Love, Johnnie

Johnnie wrote his mother-in-law from Camp Howze on January 31, 1943, as always, asking about other family members. 

Dear Mom,

I am writing this letter to thank you for the nice handkerchief. I don’t think I said anything about the handkerchief in the last letter I wrote you. I am awful sorry if I didn’t. You will have to excuse this handwriting with this pen. I never could write so good anyway, Ha Ha. I hope this letter finds you well, as I am the same. How is Gearl’s hand? I hope it is well by now. Let me know in your next letter. Excuse me for misspelling Gearl’s name twice, but I believe it is right now, Ha Ha. How is Doc coming along with the sawmill? I hope he is making good at it. Tell him I said hello and to stay away from them wrestling matches. He’s having too much fun for an old man, Ha Ha. I guess I told you about it sleeting and snowing here. Well anyway, it has cleared up now and it is getting hot here again. How is the weather there? I guess it is still pretty cold, is it? Well, I will close for this time, so answer back as quick as you can because you know I am always waiting to hear from you and the rest. So, lots and lots of love.

Johnnie

P.S. Tell all I said hello.

It was just under a month before Johnnie was able to write Lucile again. In a February 7, 1943 letter from Camp Howze, he warned her, and asked her to tell others, that his writing time would be limited due to training with another company. It’s possible that’s why it had been a month since his last letter.

My Dear Darling,

I am writing this letter to let you know I am going to be mighty busy the next two weeks and please don’t expect many letters from me. The reason is I am going out on the rifle range with another company of soldiers. As an instructor, I will be getting up every morning at 4:30 o’clock and coming in every night at 7:30 o’clock, so you see why I said not to expect many letters from me. I also will be on the range Saturday and Sunday. Darling, also tell everybody that writes me not to expect a letter right back. Tell Woodrow and Frances I will answer their letter as soon as I possibly can. I guess you have spent all the twenty dollars I sent you. Go ahead honey and buy what you want and spend it like you want too. I still have a little money left and if you need any more, let me know. Well Babe I will close. So, write me alots of letters and also, I love you always. 

Johnnie

P.S. You still love me? You should see me now. I have had my hair cut real short, Ha Ha.

Partial view of first page of February 7, 1943 letter

January 24, 26, and 27, 1943

Letters, letters, and more letters. Johnnie worked hard to keep a continuous stream of letters to Lucile and other family members. In his January 24, 1943 letter to Lucile, he mentioned teaching fellow soldiers how to read and write. They probably wanted the ability to read letters they received from their loved ones and to be able to write them as well.

My Dear Darling,

I just received one of your letters, so I will write you a little line to answer it. You know I am not much on writing long letters, so Darling don’t expect a real long one. You said in this letter that you have received twenty-two letters from me. Well there is about five on the way. Because I try to write you everyday or night, I never have gone over two days without writing you. Don’t worry about me getting hurt in boxing. Not saying I won’t but I will try not to. I just sharpened this pencil so don’t you notice the change in this writing? Honey if you need any money go ahead and get some from your Daddy. But if you can wait till I get some next week I will send you some. I have not received any letters from Mother yet. I wish they would write and let me know how she is. Have you heard any word from Kate since she left? Honey, I received a letter from your Mother, Dot and Drex, Frances and Woodrow, and Grandma and Earl. Tell them I will answer them as quick as I can. O yeah, I received a little letter from Betty. Tell her I will write her one too. Well honey, I will have to close because I am teaching four boys in my company how to read and write, and they are waiting by my bed now.

So, lots and lots of love and kisses. To my sweetheart and my beautiful wife. Johnnie

P.S. you still love me. Check that.

Johnnie’s sister-in-law Frances (Stacks) and her
husband Woodrow Oglesby (photo taken years later)

Johnnie wrote another letter to his mother-in-law on January 26, 1943. He talked about the weather, issues she was having back home, and his weight gain.

Dear Mom,

Received your letter and was sorry to hear how sick you have been. I hope this letter finds you well and happy. Please excuse my writing such a short letter because I have just finished giving some boys in my company some instruction on the army rifle and it is just a short time till the lights go out. It has been snowing and sleeting here the last two days. It is about three inches deep, but the sun has come out, and it is going away fast. Have you any idea who has been stealing your coal? I hope you catch whoever it is. Tell little Melvin I said hello and for him to be good and I will be home soon to watch him dance for me. Tell Doc I said hello and don’t let the frost bit his toes, Ha Ha. I feel swell as far as my health is concerned. I also have gained a lot of weight. I weighed a hundred and forty-six about a week ago. Sure do miss you all but I will be back with you all soon. Tell little Betty, Earl, and Grandma I will write them tomorrow and not to get mad if it is a few days late. So, lots of love to you all.

Johnnie

 

Betty and Melvin Stacks 

The letters are not coming fast enough to suit Johnnie. In his January 27, 1943 letter from Camp Howze, he let Lucile know it had been three days since he had heard from anyone. And he was especially worried about his mother.

My Dear Darling,

I will drop you a few lines to let you know I haven’t forgot you, but I really just haven’t had much time to write this week. Will try to make up for it this weekend. How is my little wife tonight? I hope you are well. I am OK as far as health is concerned but still worry about Mother’s sickness. I wish they would let me know something. It’s been a week since I wrote her, and I haven’t received an answer yet. I haven’t received any mail from you in the last three days. I hope you are not tired of writing me. I received yours, Grandma, Frances, and Woodrow’s about three days ago, but haven’t got a letter from nobody since then. I expect to get paid Monday and I will send you some money. Well I have a lot to do tonight. So, I will close for this time. 

Lots of love, Johnnie

January 18 and 23, 1943

In Johnnie’s January 18, 1943 letter from Camp Howze, it appears he had received good news from Lucile. Unfortunately, we’ll never know what that was since we don’t have her letters to him. Perhaps she was responding to his January 11, 1943 letter and told him he had her full heart, not just part of it.

My Dear Darling Beloved,

Received the one letter I been waiting on today. And I was sure glad to hear how you felt about me, now I want be so worry about me and you. I really feel bad about Mother being like she is, I wish there was something I could do, But the way things are now, and me being in the Army, you know there isn’t any way for me to help her. How did you know? Kate must have call you up, and told you. What did she say when you told her I was in the Army, I bet she sure was surprised, wasn’t she? To tell you the truth I haven’t wrote Mother, Louise or any of them since I been here, but I will drop her a line tonight because you know, I just get to write so much, being as they got me on the go all the time. Most of my time I get to spare is writing you, and you know that. Well I am glad Kate got a better job and it isn’t as hard as the other one. Did Kate tell you when she was leaving to go down there? I wonder if Daddy knows about Mother’s sickness? Did Kate say? Write and let me know. 

Well honey, I hate to end this letter so soon, but it is about ten thirty, and the light goes out at eleven o’clock. And if you don’t mind, I want to drop Mother a line or two. 

But I will write you some more tomorrow night. So, goodnight my Love. And sweet dreams. Your as you always know.

Love, Johnnie

P.S. Please excuse writing with this pen. You know I never could write with one. 

Johnnie

Johnnie's sister, Kate Marston

Sometime before Johnnie sat down to write Lucile a noontime letter from Camp Howze on January 23, 1943, he had received a letter from Lucile telling him that his mother had cancer. 

You still love me?

Sat. Noon 

My Dear Darling,

Well here it is, Saturday at noon, and being as I haven’t got anything to do right now, I will drop you a few lines. Darling, how have you been doing? Are you well? How much do you owe your Daddy now? Well, I get some money next week, about Friday or Saturday, and I will send you half of what I get. I am sure you could use some. I wrote Mother two letters asking her about her sickness. I hope what you wrote about it being cancer that it isn’t so. Honey, you don’t know how I worry about Mother since I received your letter telling me how sick she is. Honey, I am sure you all are wrong about not sending any more packages, because alot of the boys in camp receive packages every day. You know what I am talking about, I guess you can’t send packages across sea, but you can send them anywhere in the U.S.A. I have put on two more pounds of weight, now one hundred and forty-six and a half pounds. You should see me now. I have really filled out in a lot of places and I am not fat. It is all solid muscle. They give us an hour and a half of exercise every morning and Gal, you should see my shape now, Ha Ha. Well Darling, it is about time for dinner so I will close. Answer right back.

Lots of love to my best sweetheart and my beautiful wife, Johnnie

P.S. You said in one of your letters that my letters weren’t long enough. You should overlook that because I write you almost every night.

Johnnie wrote Lucile a second letter from Camp Howze the night of January 23, 1943 in which he was clearly worried about his mother’s illness. He was also working on getting Lucile to Texas.

My Dear Darling, 

I am sorry I haven’t written you in the last two days. The reason is I have been showing the other boys in my company how to read an Army compass, the order of arms, and the army general order. And honey, if you don’t think I haven’t been busy you don’t know the half of it. As I told you in my other letter, my company command made me an acting corporal and he wants me to go to school for two weeks and take a test of a regular corporal. I told him I would let him know. That’s why I wrote you about it. Honey I really felt bad when I received the letter about Mother. If there was only something I could do. I guess if she has got the cancer, I pray for the Lord to cure her. Gosh I hope you are wrong about her sickness. There is one thing. If Kate sends a telegram saying she is worse, I am sure I can get a pass to go see her. Honey, there is a little town just about or I would say bigger than College Park about forty miles from camp. A fellow here in camp who is a pal of mine, has sent for his wife and has rented a nice little apartment. The rent is only four dollars a week. We thought if we could get you down here, you and his wife could stay together and the rent would be lots cheaper for me and him both. There are two beds in the apartment, a radio, and a nice small kitchen. What do you think about that, let me know? Well Babe, I guess that’s all I can write right now but I will write you more tomorrow. 

Lots lots love to my best gal x x x x x, Johnnie

P.S. Say, did you know I love you? I suspect the same from you.