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.
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