February 24 and 26, 1943

Johnnie sounded like he was getting weary of training in his February 24, 1943 letter from Camp Howze. Or maybe it was his sore foot that was causing the problem.

My Dear Darling Wife,

Well here it is another day almost gone and making my training that much nearer over with. I didn’t go out with the rest of the boys this morning because I had to go see the doctor again about my foot. I have just got back, and it is just a little after eleven o’clock. I am going out with the rest this afternoon but being as I have to wait for them to come in for dinner, I thought I would drop you a line or two. Please excuse this writing because I am laying on my bed writing you. I am kindly resting my foot. What have you been doing all morning, laying in bed, Ha Ha. Say, you’ve been getting a pretty good bit of letters from me lately haven’t you? You should be. I’ve been writing you at least one or two a day. Say you know just four more days and this month will be over with, then I will just have four more weeks for my basic training. Say let me know if you get your money this month. I am sure you will. O yeah, I told you to mail me that card I sent in that letter back and I haven’t received it yet. You did get it, didn’t you? It might be in the evening mail. I hope so. I shall get a letter from you today. I didn’t get none yesterday. You are writing me every day, aren’t you? You better be, Ha Ha. How is the weather down there now? Is it turning any warmer? It is pretty fair here now. The wind is pretty strong, but it is getting close to March, and you know that is a windy month. Well honey I guess this is all the news for this time. So be as sweet as you have always been.

Lots lots lots love + kisses x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x, Johnnie

P.S. You still Love me? If so what about a little sugar, Ha Ha

Love, Johnnie

Someone was trying to call Johnnie at camp but due to his training schedule, he wasn’t available when they called. Johnnie tried to explain that to Lucile in his February 26, 1943 letter from Camp Howze.

My Dear Darling Wife,

Well, I received your letter yesterday but didn’t have time to answer it till now. I also received the card with it. Thanks for sending it back. I will take care of all the papers I got about your money. Honey forget the argument about the money I sent you last month. That’s in the past now. I will send you the two dollars to finish paying on my watch so don’t take any of your money. Be sure and pay your Daddy as soon as you get your money. It’s OK about not writing me back by airmail, but don’t let it happen again, Ha, Ha, Ha. Honey today is Saturday. I started this letter yesterday but didn’t have time to finish it till now. We left on a hike yesterday evening about four o’clock and didn’t get in till about eleven o’clock. When I did get in the sargent told me I had a call from Atlanta, Ga. and for me to call back and ask for operator forty-four. Well I tried to get the call through last night, but I couldn’t do any good. So, I was going to let it go till I got a chance to call today. But before I had a chance to, they called me in the camp. Call operator forty-four so I’ve been trying to get the call through all day. But the long-distance operator said she couldn’t get no line through to operator forty-four. Honey, the call has got me worried pretty bad, so let me know where ever it is sevirty [sic] or not. I wish you would send me a telegram when you want to let me know something really quick because it is hard for me to get to talk to you over the phone here in camp. Well I guess that is all the news for this time. So, answer this back by airmail.

Lots lots love, Johnnie

February 22 and 23, 1943

Monday night, February 22, 1943 at Camp Howze, Texas, Johnnie was probably enjoying a good smoke on the new pipe Lucile sent him. 

My Dear Darling,

Well here it is the start of another week and what I like about it is I am that much nearer to finishing my basic training and so nearer to seeing you. I hope this letter finds you well. It leaves me feeling pretty well as far as health is concerned. O yeah, I received the pipe today and it sure is a dandy. Thanks a lot. I also received a nice birthday card from your Mother. I am going to write her tonight and thank her for it. Honey guess who I received a letter from tonight. From your Mother’s sister, Aunt Agnes Jones. I wrote you telling you about me receiving a letter from Marie, didn’t I? I have answered her letter. I am going to answer Aunt Agnes’ letter tonight if I get time. Well honey, since I have so many letters to answer I will close. So, answer write back. 

Lots Lots Love, Johnnie

A photo from December 1963 of Johnnie enjoying a cigar

It was February 23, 1943, Johnnie’s birthday, when he wrote Lucile a letter as he waited on a testing exercise to take place at Camp Howze, Texas. 

Dear Darling,

Well here it is my birthday and I don’t feel a day older than I was yesterday, Ha Ha. I hope this little letter finds you well. It leaves me OK. Darling what have you been doing lately? I hope you have been enjoying yourself, have you? Gosh when you get in your twenties, time sure does go doesn’t it. It seems like just a month ago I was just twenty. Darling you are twenty-one now, aren’t you? Say, have you had many dates since I’ve been gone, Ha Ha? I bet you have. Say, you know what I would like to have now? A great big sugar tet with a little of this and that, Ha Ha. You get what I mean don’t you? Say, you are coming out when you get your money aren’t you? You better. Say I dreamed about you again last night. I had to send my sheet and blanket to the laundry this morning. If I keep on dreaming dreams like that, I am sure going to have a big laundry bill at the end of this month, Ha Ha. Are you going to help me pay for it, Ha Ha? We are having testing today on things we have studied. I have been out all this morning on different things. I am waiting now for them to call me out this afternoon to finish up. It won’t be long from now, so I better close for this time. So be good and keep thinking of me. Love Lots Love.

Kisses xxxxxxxx, Johnnie

P.S. You still love me? I love you my Darling.

Johnnie spent the evening of February 23, 1943 at Camp Howze thinking about Lucile. He ended his birthday smoking from his new pipe and writing her a second letter.

My Dear Darling Wife,

Well here it is Tuesday nite and I was sitting here smoking my new pipe and thinking of something to do. Well being I didn’t have no studying to do, I thought of nothing to do better than to write you. I wrote you today at dinner, but that don’t mean nothing. If a fellow loves his wife or girl, like I love you, he’ll be writing every chance he gets. And that’s one thing I try to do. Honey what are you doing tonight? I guess you are in bed by this time, aren’t you? O yeah, Mother said in her letter that she was going to write you. Have you heard from her yet? I haven’t got my watch back yet. Every time I go to get it, the man that’s fixing it is sick, and he is not there. Gosh I believe he is sick pretty bad because I sent the watch three weeks ago and he doesn’t seem to be getting any better. I sure will be glad when he gets well enough to fix it. I wrote your Mother also at dinner. I guess she will receive it the same day that you receive yours. Have you noticed lately I have been sending all of my letters to you airmail? I am always as long I can get them. I was telling you at dinner that we were taking testing today, well I passed it OK. It had me worried for awhile though. Honey, Mother wrote me in her letter that she wanted me to have some pictures made and send to her. Well I wrote her back and told her that as soon as I got all of my hair back, I would have some made and send to her, Ha Ha. And that goes to you also, Ha Ha. Well honey I guess that is all the news for this time so Lots and Lots Lots Love # Kisses xxxxxxxxxxx, Johnnie

P.S. You still Love me? Darling I worship you. Love, Johnnie 

In addition to writing Lucile two letters on February 23, 1943, he also wrote her mother. 

Dear Mother,

I received the nice birthday card and I appreciate it very much. Thanks a lot. I hope this letter finds you well. It leaves me OK. I don’t feel like I am any older than I was yesterday, Ha Ha. How are all the kids? I hope they are all well. Tell them all hello for me. How is Doc getting along? Is he still growing younger? Tell him I said to watch his self and not get too young or they might take him in the army, Ha Ha. Also tell him hello. What have you been doing lately? I guess you’ve been pretty busy. You always were when I was home. How is the weather down there now? It is like summer here and boy I sure do like it. Well, I guess that is all the news for this time. So, lots of love to you and all.

Johnnie

P.S. Thanks again for such a nice card. Love Johnnie

February 20 and 21, 1943

In his February 20, 1943 letter from Camp Howze, Texas, Johnnie was concerned that if they promoted him to corporal, he would be shipped overseas sooner than he was ready to go. He knew once he shipped out, he would not be able to see Lucile. 

Johnnie didn’t mention the military parade he had participated in earlier in the day when the 84th “passed in review before high ranking officers of Camp Howze … in the largest mass demonstration by a military unit since the camp was established.” Gen. Nelson M. Walker, the assistant commander of the division “declared that the division had made a distinguished record on the rifle range, considering the short period of time since training began.” The Denton Record-Chronicle reported that it “required 32 minutes for the entire division to march past the stand.” As a rifleman, Gen. Walker’s declaration would have been a proud achievement for Johnnie and his fellow soldiers. 

Johnnie wrote a second letter that night but didn’t mail either so before putting Lucile’s letter in the mail on February 21, he added to it. As usual, he was worried about her.

My Dear Darling,

I hope this letter finds you well by now. I have really worried alot about you. I have really worried about you ever since that night, you remember. I had tears I believe about the first time in a long time. It really gets me all over when you are not well. Honey, I don’t think I want to make a corporal after all, because if I do I will get shipped somewhere and from what I can gather here around camp, they are sending all the fellows that make corporal or sargent across to train the boys there and I don’t believe I want to go just yet. Not that I am scared, but I want to see you as much as I can. My commanding officer said we would all be made corporal or sergeant and be shipped out to train other boys that come in. So, I am sure to be one whether I want to or not. Honey, I guess I told you already about me having my hair cut off real short. You remember how my hair was either red at times or light brown? That was because the sun burned it. Well, it is coming back black as it used to be, and it is kindly wavy coming out. I was hoping it would come back straight where I could comb it straight back, but I guess I will have to let it grow wild, Ha Ha. Honey, I received a letter from Kate tonight. She is getting along fine. So, if you don’t mind for this time, I will close so I can answer her letter before the lights go out.

So, lots of love and kisses x x x x x x, Johnnie

Honey, I didn’t mail this letter last night so I will write a little more this morning. I hope you had a good nites rest. I slept pretty well myself and of course I dreamed about you, and it wasn’t a bad dream after all. I enjoyed every bit of it, Ha Ha. Well this ends another week of my basic training. I have just four more weeks to go and it will all be over with and then I don’t know where I will go. My foot has gone bad on me again. I am going to see about it tomorrow at the clinic. I am going every day till they do something about it. The soldier that sleeps across from me has a radio and it is on now. The Ink Spots are singing now, and the song is “If I Didn’t Care.” It really gives me the blues. It makes me think of the times when I was with you and the good times we had together. Some of my pals that I go around with say I have changed a lot since I have been in the army. I might have changed alot in ways, but I will never change as far as my love is for you, and you know that. Honey, don’t send me anything for my birthday because you need the money. I know that you haven’t forgotten that day for me, so thanks alots. I will be twenty-three, gee I am getting old fast aren’t I, Ha Ha. Well, tell all hello for me and that I wish them the best of health and a long life and give all my love to all also.

So, lots lots love to you x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x, Johnnie

P.S., How many letters have you received from me so far? Let me know. Love Johnnie

Click here to hear the song “If I Didn’t Care” by the Ink Spots.

Johnnie and Lucile

The evening of February 21, 1943, Johnnie sat down and wrote a second letter to Lucile. A 1941 song by The Ink Spots had him thinking about his dear wife.

My Dear Wife,

I received your sweet birthday card for me, and thanks alots. I haven’t received the pipe yet, but I expect to get it tomorrow. Also, thanks for the pipe. I have been trying to get one here in camp, but they are such a high price I just didn’t want one that bad. I also received a nice blessing card from Marie, Joe and Betty Kuebu today. I am going to write them and tell them how much I appreciate the card. They say that Hildreth has been transferred to Nebraska. Boy he really gets shipped alots doesn’t he? He does not stay in one place long enough to get settled good. Marie said something about you coming up there and staying with them awhile. I am leaving that up to you, wherever you want to go or not, you can decide on that yourself. I would appreciate it very much if you would come out here first and see me. Honey, you will get your money this month. I am sure of that. If you don’t, I will do something about it. Say, why haven’t the rest of the folks wrote me. Remind them of it will you? This makes two letters I wrote you today, so you see, you are on my mind at all times. I can’t hardly wait to see you again. I hope it won’t be very long now. Honey, the radio is playing now, and the song is “I don’t want to set the world on fire.” That’s me. I just want to keep that flame you got in your heart for me always there. What about it, will it stay there? I hope so. Well honey, I guess that is all the news for this time so answer it right back.

Lots lots lots love love love xxxxxxxxxx, Johnnie

P.S. You still love me? Johnnie

 Click here to hear the song “I Don’t Want to Set the World on Fire” by the Ink Spots.

Part of February 21, 1943 letter

Before Johnnie went to bed the night of February 21, 1943, he wrote a third letter to Lucile. He reminisced, talked about his dinner, another soldier, and asked about family members, including Mickey, better known as Earl Stacks, Lucile’s brother.

My Dear Darling Wife,

Well here I go writing another letter to you and this one makes three I wrote you today. I haven’t got anywhere to go or nothing to do so what better to do than write you? You are all I am thinking about any how. Say honey, what you are doing today? I hope you are enjoying yourself. I sure as hell aren’t. When I haven’t got nothing to do, I just lay around and think about you and wonder what you are doing and the times we did have together and never realized it. We have had some good times together, haven’t we? You remember the time you met me out at the fair and how late we came in? And do you remember we parked across over there on Welcommed and I started making love to you and you almost slapped my face and you wanted me to make love to you anyway and I knew it all the time, Ha Ha Ha. Those was the days, wasn’t it? Honey, I am going up to the mess hall and eat and I will write some more when I get back. Well honey, I just finished eating and we had a pretty good supper. We had ham, potatoes, tomatoes, and butter and sweet milk and banana pudding for dessert. I enjoyed ever bit of it. I guess you had a good dinner today, didn’t you? Honey, one more week and I will get paid again and I am sure you will get yours this time. Let me know about it, you will?

Honey, how is Gearl’s hand getting along? Fine, I hope. It shall be well by now, is it? How is little Melvin getting along? I bet he has grown alots hasn’t he? I sure would like to see the little fellow. Why hasn’t Dot and Drextel wrote me lately? I would like to know how the baby is coming along anyway. Honey, you know that boy that wrote that letter for me? Well he is getting a discharge. You know who I am talking about, don’t you? His name is James McDonald. He was burned pretty bad when he was a baby all around the stomach and down to his knees. It sure is a pretty bad burn. The skin is pretty thin, and it has burst a lot since he has been in the Army and it sure does bleed too. He does not do a thing but lay around the barrack. Boy is he lucky. Say, we are having some good weather down here. It’s just like Florida. I guess it is pretty cold there, isn’t it? Isn’t Robert riding in his car much now? I haven’t heard you mention Nell to him in a good while. What’s the matter? Say, Mickey hasn’t wrote me lately either. Is he still working at the saw mill? Write me and let me know, will you?

 Well honey, I guess I will close for this time. I believe I wrote you enough today. I have wrote you three letters. I believe that is a record for one day, don’t you?

Love Love Love as you know always, Johnnie

P.S. You still love me? I love you. 

End of February 21, 1943 letter

February 17, 18, and 19, 1943

The possibility of Lucile visiting Johnnie appears to be getting closer, but he wants to make sure he has enough time to get a place for her to stay while she’s in Texas. In his February 17, 1943 letter from Camp Howze, he asks that they exchange letters before she comes.

My Dear Darling Baby,

I hope this letter finds you well and rid of your sore throat. Did you receive that copy to show that your monthly checks have started? I guess you did. I sent it by airmail, and I told you to answer me back by airmail. I should have received an answer from you by now, but I haven’t. I also sent you three dollars to get some medicine. But after I sent off the money for you to get the medicine with, I received a letter from you saying that you had been to town to get you some medicine. So, go ahead and use the money for something you need. Honey what about when you get your money come down here and stay about two weeks. But before you come, be sure and write me so I can get you a place to stay and also wait till I write you back telling you that I have a place for you to stay before you come. I received a card today telling me that your allotment has been received and that you should get your money at the end of this month. I am sending you this card for you to read but be sure to send it back to me in your next letter. Well honey, I guess that is all the news for this time. So, answer back by airmail.

Lots x lots x lots love x love x love, Johnnie

P.S. Honey I am sorry I have not sent you any pictures but if you saw how short my hair was, I guess you wouldn’t want any. I had all my hair cut because it had two or three different colors. It is growing back a lot darker then it was. I guess it will be a month or two before it grows back like it was. So be good till I see you. 

Lots of love Johnnie

Johnnie wanted a constant stream of letters coming in and in an earlier letter had asked Lucile to answer by airmail. She apparently didn’t do that and so in his February 18, 1943 letter sent from Camp Howze, he scolded her for not doing so. 

My Dear Baby,

I received your nice sweet little letter tonight and was glad to hear from you. But one thing you didn’t do and that was send me the letter back by airmail. I will not get mad at you this time, but please, when I write you, and tell you to answer me back by airmail, please do. Well I am finished with the range today and boy am I glad because I believe I have lost at least two nights sleep and I am really tired out. Honey, are you sure I asked you what you got with the money I sent you? I believe you are wrong about that. If I am not mistaken, I wrote you and told you to get anything you wanted to with that money, didn’t I? I know what I sent you wouldn’t do you much good, but it did help you, didn’t it? Yes, I get what you mean when you said you got up sick, and I know it is going pretty bad with such a cold you got. Write and let me know how you come out, will you? Honey, I don’t know what I am going to do if I don’t see you soon. I hope it won’t be long from now. I am going to start counting the days till I see you. So honey, be good till then. 

Lots # lots love x x x x x, Johnnie

P.S. You still love me?

Partial view of February 18, 1943 letter

Johnnie sent the first of many V-mail letters to Lucile on February 19, 1943 from Camp Howze. Victory Mail, or V-mail, was a process used by the United States military during World War II to ship huge quantities of mail to and from soldiers overseas. Letters were written on standard sized paper, photographed, and then transferred to microfilm for shipping. Once the microfilm made it to its destination, the letters were printed and cut to a 4 ¼ x 5 ¼ inch piece of paper. This freed up space and weight for other cargo needed for the war.

From: Co B 337 Infantry, A.P.O. #85, New York, NY

To: Mrs. J. H. Marston, College Park, Ga., Route #1

My Dearest Darling,

Just a few lines to let you know I am well and OK, and hope this finds you the same. I received a letter from you yesterday with the stamps and those other stamps, showing that the letter is air mail. Thanks alots. You asked me in one of your letters I received if they censor the mail you sent me. No, they don’t. I am sure of that. You say Robert thinks he is going to be shipped somewhere. Tell him I wish him luck. Well, I guess this is all for this time. Will write longer letter as soon as possible.

So, lots lots lots love, Johnnie

February 19, 1943 v-mail, first of many (click to enlarge)

The “V Mail BB 60 Display” graphic below, published by the Bureau of Navy Personnel, describes the process for sending a V-mail.

How v-mail works (click to enlarge)

Click here to learn more about v-mail. 

It should be noted that all the V-mails sent by Johnnie were sent from the same address to the same address so won’t be noted further.