March 31 and April 2, 1943

Johnnie wrote Lucile from Gainesville, Texas on March 31, 1943 to let her know he made it back to camp. Tired, broke, and sad—but he made it back safely.

My Dear Darling,

I arrive here about an hour ago. I sure am tired. I didn’t sleep over five hours coming down. I lost four pounds on the trip Darling. Mother sure does look bad. I liked to not know her. I doubt if she weighs seventy-five pounds. I am sorry I couldn’t come by to see the family but my ticket didn’t call for me to go that way and as you know I didn’t have no money to buy another ticket to come. I am supposed to pay the Red Cross back tomorrow. That’s what worries me now. Honey if you have any money, what about sending me two or three cartoons of Philip Morris cigarettes or something to smoke because by the time I pay the Red Cross the money I owe them, and I owe a little debt to one of the boys in camp, I will be luckie to have a pair of pants to wear, Ha Ha. O yeah, don’t forget to send me the Atlanta Constitution paper once and awhile. O yeah, Kate was just coming down to see Mother when I left. She was coming in Sunday nite at eight o’clock and my train was leaving at seven thirty so you see I just missed seeing her just a half hour. Well I guess that’s all the news for this time so answer back right away.

Love, Johnnie

That trip took a toll on Johnnie’s health. In a letter dated April 2, 1943 from Camp Howze, he told Lucile he had been sick since he returned to camp. He had paid most of the money back owed to the Red Cross.

My Dear Darling,

I have been back in camp two days and I have been pretty sick the two days too. I lost six pounds while I was on my furlough. I have not eaten a thing since yesterday at dinner and the way I feel now, I won’t be eating nothing today either. Honey, I want to wish you a happy birthday and if I can get some money, I will get you something. I took the money that belongs to you and the little I had and paid on the fifty dollars I owe the Red Cross. I just owe them ten more dollars. I thought the money you had here and the money I thought I was going to draw, I could pay it all, but I didn’t draw but eighteen dollars this time and I owe eight to the boys around here and that just left me ten, so all I could … [the rest of this letter is missing].

As you can see from the “acknowledgment” receipt below, Johnnie agreed to re-pay the $50 he borrowed from the Red Cross on April 1, 1943. Unfortunately, he was unable to make that happen until much later in the year.

Red Cross acknowledgment (click to enlarge)

Johnnie wrote Lucile’s mother on April 2, 1943. As always, he asked about Lucile’s family members. 

Dearest Mom,

Well, I hope this letter finds you well. It leaves me OK. Well, I believe summer is here because we are having some hot weather here and I mean hot. We have changed into our summer uniform and I sure was glad to. I bet it’s kindy warm there? Isn’t it? Say, I hope you like the pillow top I sent you. I think it has a pretty poem on it. Say, you never wrote me and told me about your garden. How is Doc? Is he well? Tell him hello for me and ask him how the baseball games are going. How is the rest of the family coming? I hope they are all well. Tell them all hello for me. Well, I guess this is all the news for this time so I will close. Lots lots love.

Johnnie 

March 7, 10, 15-25, and 28, 1943

Lucile is planning a trip to Texas! After receiving a telegram from her that most likely confirmed her trip, Johnnie wrote a letter on March 7, 1943 to discuss housing while she visited. 

My Dear Darling,

I received your telegram. I was expecting it in a way, but it was kindly surprising at that. Honey, when you do get here at Gainesville, you can ask anybody there how to get out here to camp. They have guest houses here in camp, so as soon as you get in camp find out how to get nearest one to me. You can only stay in the guest house three days, but I believe you another to find a place in Gainesville while you are staying there three days. The reason I having find you a place is I having had much time too. I don’t want you to come till a day after you receive this letter. It would be better if you got here on a Saturday evening, then me and you both could go hunt a place to stay. What do you think of that? Answer this right back, or you can come anytime you want to. But be sure you arrive during the daytime. The reason I want you to stay till a day after you get this letter is I am sending you a little banner flag and I want you to see it before you leave. I think its real nice myself. Honey the reason I sent that telegram collect is I am short of cash. I just answered the mail call and received a letter from you. I am glad you heard from Mother and Louise because I know how you was worried about them. Well, I guess that’s all the news for this time. 

So, Lots Lots Love. Johnnie

 

Johnnie’s sister Louise Marston with one of her husband’s and child

Johnnie wrote Lucile’s mother on March 10, 1943 from Camp Howze. 

Hello Mom,

I received your letter today and was sure glad to hear from you. I hope this letter finds you well. I am feeling pretty well myself. My foot finally got well and I sure am glad too. It really gave me trouble for a while. About that phone call, that’s OK now, but when you are not expecting something like that, it kindly makes you feel shakey, you know what I mean? Well that’s over with now, so let’s forget it. I hope Henry Ford knows what he is talking about when he said the war would be over with some time in April. There will be lots of boys happy, I know that. Tell Mickey not to quit his music lessons because he’ll be proud of it later on. Tell him I said that. Also, tell him there’s one thing people appreciate and that’s music. They might send me nearer home after my basic training is over. There will be a lot of us shipped to different camps. Well, it’s about time for the lights to go out so I will close for this time. So, lots lots love.

Johnnie

Tell everybody hello.

As instructed in Johnnie’s March 7 letter, Lucile must have left for Texas after she received his letter. The image below is a temporary pass for Camp Howze Lucile received for the period March 15 – 25, 1943. 

Front of Lucile's temporary pass for Camp Howze (click to enlarge)

 

Back of Lucile's temporary pass for Camp Howze (click to enlarge)

Maybe not for this trip, but Johnnie and Lucile’s son Randy remembers his mother talking about her visit to Texas. She told him Gainesville was just a little country town with nothing to do there. To entertain themselves, they sat on the porch at night and watched the tarantulas running around under the streetlight. Lucile told Randy she stayed at a boarding house with another couple. She got to know them and the woman who ran the boarding house and said they were nice, she enjoyed their company.

On March 22, Johnnie borrowed $50 from the Red Cross so he could travel to Miami, Florida to see his mother who was on her deathbed. It would probably be the last time he would see her alive. Based on the temporary pass, Lucile left Texas on March 25. Johnnie wasted no time in traveling to Miami after she left. His next letter was written Sunday night, March 28, 1943 from Miami and was very sad.

My Dear Darling,

I received your letter yesterday afternoon and was sure glad to hear from you and to know you got back OK. Honey, you shall see Mother. She does not look like herself at all. I doubt if she weighs seventy-five pounds now. She really looks bad. She doesn’t know she’s got cancer of the throat. She thinks its just a tumor. The doctor said it would be best not to let her know for she would just pass away that much quicker. She can’t talk except in a whisper. I tried to act right when I went up to see her, but I couldn’t. Tears coming out of my eyes and me trying to hold them back. You understand, don’t you? There isn’t a chance for her and I know she isn’t going to be here much longer. She sure does want to see you and I want you to come see her as quick as you can get the money. Louise said to wire her when you are coming down and she would meet you at the station, either the bus or train. I am leaving back for camp tonight. Wish you were back out there to meet me at the station, Ha Ha. Maybe I will get another furlough next month sometime and I will be home for a while. I hope so. I am leaving tonight with just sixty cents in my pocket to eat what I can on the way back. Boy, what a life, Ha Ha. Honey, I guess by the time you get this letter I will be back in camp. So, write me there. 

So, lots lots love

P.S. tell Happy, Louise and Evelyn I said hello. Johnnie

March 3 and 4, 1943

Johnnie shared scary news in his March 3, 1943 letter to Lucile having sustained an injury from a gun accident. You also saw a bit of jealousy unleashed as he talked about other soldiers writing Lucile and her writing them back.

My Dear Darling Wife,

How are you tonite my sweet? I hope you are well. I am not feeling so good for myself. I got hit today with the butt of an army rifle, by accident, and it knocked me out for about a minute. I have a knot on my head as big as an egg and I been having a headache all day long. I believe its one of the hardest licks I have ever had. Well let’s skip that and talk about you. What have you been doing all this week? I guess you’ve been visiting all this week. Have you? Say, you said in one of your letters that you were very populus with the soldiers. One of them that’s writing you better not be Dean because I never did trust that guy anyway. You didn’t mention all the fellows that was writing you, you know that yourself. Now did you? Honey, I don’t mind Arnold writing you, but I don’t want Sanford or Dean writing you. I know that dam Sanford isn’t any good. I don’t know much about Dean. But it will be best for him not to write you. So, if either one is writing you, quit answering them, and I mean that to. You can call it jealous or what you want to, or I will go so far to tell you I am jealous. So, you know what to do, don’t you? How is Doc getting along? Fine, I hope. Tell him hello for me. How is Grandma? I hope she is not sick, why hasn’t she wrote me. I believe I wrote her last. O yeah, I wrote Cecil and Jenny and Maud. I guess they have got it by now, have they? Well Babe, I guess that is all the news for this time. So honey, I will close.

So, lots lots lots love, Johnnie

P.S. How many letters have you got from me now. I bet you gots at least fifteen this week. Love Johnnie

How do you like that I love you.

In his March 4, 1943 letter to Lucile, Johnnie wrote about a discussion he had with his company command about leaving the Army, as well as some time off.

My Dear Darling Wife,

I received your letter tonite telling me about the phone call. Well I have been over to see my company command and he said the Army is letting some of the men out of the Army, but he said it would be kindly hard for me to get out, just to go back to farm or help on a farm. He said just about all of the men in the Army would give that in just to get out. He said I could go ahead and try to get out. He said he would have to get some certain papers for me to fill out and another thing, he said if I ask for a six months furlough, they would just give me about two or three. So honey, I don’t believe I will try to get out. Another thing he said was it would take such a long time for all of that stuff to go through so I guess we will have to drop that. Tell your Daddy I appreciate what he was trying to do and thanks alots, and try to explain to him just how things are. O yeah honey, you said for me to call your Daddy Wednesday nite. Well I didn’t get the letter till tonight and the nite is Thursday nite. So, you see this letter you sent air mail and special delivery was four days getting here. Say have you got your money yet? You ought to have by now. Thanks for mentioning that. You will help me pay my laundry bill. It sure is going to be a hell of alots, Ha Ha.

No kidding honey. I believe I will be going crazy if I don’t see you soon. Not for what you think I am talking about. But because I have never been away from you this long. It’s really about to get me. Honey, words can’t describe just how much I love you, I don’t believe it can be described. And I really mean that.

Well I guess that’s all for this time. So, lots lots love, Johnnie

P.S. I love you darling, Johnnie

Lucile and daughter Diane standing in front of the
Stacks home (ca. 1946, after the war)

March 1 and 2, 1943

You hear a song and it brings back memories that take you to a special place. That is where Johnnie was when he wrote Lucile from Camp Howze on March 1, 1943.

My Dear Darling Wife,

Well here it is Monday and I have done put in a half day training. I hope this letter finds you OK. It leaves me feeling fine. We get paid today at four o’clock. That is about three hours from now. Honey the radio is on and the song that is playing now is “I Don’t Want to Walk Without You Baby.” Boy, that song sure brings back remembers of the good old days with you. Don’t you hear a tune on the radio sometime and think of the times we had, and the places we were when we heard them. You remember when we first heard the tune of the Chattanooga sho sho? You remember how Harry used to dance around when he heard it? We were in good old Minnie at the time. Mother said that Bill got a letter from Harry and he said he has seen action twice with the Japs so far. He said that Harry said it was fun out-smarting the dirty Japs. You know Harry has alots of nerve, and I bet he is doing his part of fighting too. I wish him the best luck in the world, and I hope we all meet again after this is all over with. How is everybody getting along around Stacksville? Tell them all I asked about them. Well Honey, I guess that is all the news for this time.

So, lots lots love. To my most dearest one. 

Johnnie

Click here to hear the song “I Don’t Want to Walk Without You Baby” sung by Rosemary Clooney.

Johnnie wrote Lucile a second letter from Camp Howze the night of March 1, 1943. As usual, he wrote about writing letters to her and other family and friends. He also wrote about the power of love.

My Dear Darling,

I have just come back from the mail call, and I got the one letter I was expecting most and that was from you. I am glad you are getting most of my letters, and I am going to try to write as many as I can when I get time to. I have written you one already today. I guess you will get this one about the same time as soon as you get the other one. You look at the date on some of those letters you have got in the past week and you will see at least two was mailed each day. Skip what I said about you going to see me or Marie. I know you will be out to see me before you go anywhere else because I got my power of love on you, Ha Ha. No joking about it honey, you are the one that’s going to make me go through this war, because I have something to live for. It’s OK about the folks not writing me, because I have something to live for. It’s OK about the folks not writing me, because I shall have known they are pretty busy this time of the year. So that takes care of that. I will write Cecil and his wife tonight to tell him I said I would let him kick me the next time I see him for not writing him, Ha Ha. I also will write Arnold too. I am going to give all them soldier friends of yours hell for paying too much attention to my wife, Ha Ha. I guess they know just how good a sweetheart I have, and they are trying to beat my time with you, Ha Ha. I am glad to hear you are having such pretty weather there. The weather is nice here to. Say you said you was on the go all the time and that you never stayed home much, but you never told me where you are going, now is that nice, Ha Ha. Honey you know Mother and them care alots for you, and you know they always took their time about answering letters when I was home. So, don’t think that I am sure you will get an answer from her soon. Well I guess that is all the news for this time.

So, lots lots love, Johnnie

 

A lone envelope in the letter collection, postmarked February 28, 1943, shows that Arnold Pair did in fact write Lucile.

A change in weather took Johnnie by surprise—he wasn’t expecting snow and sleet! He wrote Lucile Tuesday evening, March 2, 1943 from Camp Howze to tell her about it.

My Dear Darling,

Well here it is another day almost gone and I hope this finds you well. Boy the weather here sure is changing since I wrote you last. It is cold as hell here today and it has been sleeting and snowing to make it that much worse. It was so nice and warm yesterday. I never thought the weather would change like this. Say have you got your money yet? Let me know, will you. Well its about time for the class to start again, so I will close. I will write another letter tonight.

Lots lots love, Johnnie

P.S. We are having classes inside today because of the weather. 

Love, Johnnie

Johnnie wrote Lucile a second letter Tuesday night, March 2, 1943 from Camp Howze. 

My Dear Darling Wife,

Well how are you tonite. I hope you are well. I am OK. Gee chicken you don’t know just how bad I am getting just to see you, I am getting horned as hell, you get what I mean, don’t you? I haven’t been around you so long, I won’t know just how to act with you when I am around you. So, if I do go out of the way just a little bit, don’t think I am crazy, will you? I mean when you come down to see me, and of course when we are alone. Its still cold as the devil here. Gee this weather here sure is crazy as hell. One day, or shall I say week, it is warm, then it just changes the other way, and what I mean the other way is that it is cold as hell. Well Babe, do you still love me, or do you worship me now. You know that one thing you don’t have to ask me, because you are the one, and the only. Of course, I don’t have to ask you but I do, just to remind you, Ha Ha. Well Babe I guess that is all the news for this time. O yeah, I wrote you today, I guess you will get this one about the same time as the one I wrote today.

Well lots lots lots lots and lots love, Johnnie

And hoping to be laying or sitting by you soon.

 Love, Johnnie

Lucile

One more from February 26, February 27 and 28, 1943

Although signed “Your Mother,” this letter appears to have been written to Lucile by Johnnie’s mother at noon on February 26, 1943.

Dear Lucille,

I guess you thought I was not going to write you anymore but I have bin going to the Doctor ever other day and I have had such a bad cold till I have not felt much like writing but I feel some better today and I will try and do better next time. Say have you got you a job yet since Johnnie left or are you staying with your Mother and Father? I sent Johnnie a card for his birthday. He sure was proud to get it he said. He says he likes it out there fine but would like it better if you was with him, but that is not what Uncle Sam says when he gets you. Well dear, write soon and a long letter.

Your Mother.

Johnnie described a big achievement by his regiment in the February 27, 1943 letter he wrote at noon from Camp Howze.

My Dear Darling,

Well here it is Sunday and I thought I would drop you a few lines. I hope you are feeling well. I am about the same as can be expected being away from you as long as I have. Honey, if the boys across keep doing like they are, I hope to be with you again soon. They are sure getting at them Japs. German, now. Honey, the commanding officer of the whole camp spoke to us yesterday and gave us all something to be proud of. He said after checking the scores of the rifle sheet while we were on the range and checking other scores on the rifle in the history of the army since Washington, he found out that our regiment has the highest score in the history of the army and that is something, don’t you think? Well tomorrow starts another week of my basic training and I just got three more weeks to go. Well I was kindly late getting up this morning being that it was Sunday and I missed out on breakfast. I am kind of hungry now. I’ll be glad when dinner is ready. I bet you were kind of late getting up this morning too. Were you? Don’t lie about it, Ha Ha. What have you been doing this week? I hope you had a good weekend. All I am doing is laying on my bunk thinking of you. That is all I ever do anyhow. Say, have you called Kate or has she called you yet? I wrote her and told her to get in touch with you. Let me know, will you. Well I guess that is all the news for this time. So answer this and let me know how things are with you.

So, lots lots love and kisses, Johnnie

P.S. What about not going out on that date tonight and writing me? You remember me? I’m your husband.

Brigadier General John H. Hilldring, Commanding General of the
84th Infantry Division at Camp Howze in February 1943
 (U.S. Army, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

Johnnie kept up regular correspondence with Lucile’s mother. He wrote his next letter to her on February 27, 1943. 

Dear Mother,

I received your letter last night but didn’t have time to answer it till tonight. I hope this letter finds you feeling much better and I do wish you would take about a week’s rest, because you are just running yourself down. I know that is saying a little too much because of the kids, but at least you could take two or three days off and kindly get rested up. Tell Lucile to take over for a couple of days and you get right in bed and catch up on your sleep and rest. Thanks a lot for the package. I haven’t received it yet but I am expecting to tomorrow. Say, tell Mickey to write me. I haven’t heard from him in a long time and also Geral. Say, in my letter to you last time I wrote, did I say anything about receiving a letter from Marie and also from Aunt Agnes? Well, I did, and I have written both of them back and I am expecting a letter from them both tomorrow. How is Doc coming along? Fine, I hope. Tell him hello for me. Well, I guess that is all the news for this time so I will close. Tell everybody hello for me. Lots of love to all.

Johnnie

Johnnie couldn’t sleep so about midnight on February 27, 1943, he wrote Lucile a second letter from Camp Howze. He was happy after getting his watch back from the repair shop.

My Dear Darling,

Well here it is about midnight, and I thought I would drop you a few lines, being I am not sleepy. I hope this letter finds you well and in good health, and that your ear is not sore any more. I am OK, as far as health is concerned. I am still trying to get you on the phone. I won’t be able to call no more tonight because all the places are closed, but I will try to get you on the phone in the morning. I got my watch back today and boy am I glad. I sent one of the boys that was going to town to pick it up. I had an unbreakable crystal put on it and also had it cleaned, and the winding spring fixed. It is keeping pretty good time so far. It ought to, it cost me five dollars to have it fixed. Well Monday is payday again and I do hope you get yours, remember to let me know about it. Well I guess that is all the news for this time, except that my love for you is so amzine [sic - amazing]. It divides my heart, my soul, my life and all, so Darling bear that in mind.

Lots lots love and kisses, Johnnie 

Johnnie not only wrote Lucile’s mother, he also wrote her father an occasional letter. On February 27, 1943, he figured he would surprise him with one.

Hello Doc,

I hope this letter finds you well. It leaves me OK as far as health is concerned. How is the sawmill coming along? Fine, I hope. Is the old guy still with you? If so, tell him hello for me, will you? And also tell him to write me. Is Bob Stacks still working or have they got him in the Army yet? Let me know. How is old Joe coming along? I know he’s still with you, isn’t he? Tell him I asked about him. Are you still selling much lumber to the government? I guess you are. How is the Buick coming along? I guess it is just getting broken in good now. Are you still going to the wrestling matches or are they still having them? I guess you are surprised to get this letter from me, aren’t you? Well, I thought I would drop you a few lines anyway. I know you don’t have time to write much because you are always pretty busy but you can get Lucile or some of them to answer it for you. I would like to know whether you have the same men you had when I left. Say, I guess Lucile told you I made sharpshooter on the range with the Army rifle, didn’t she? The Army rifle isn’t anything like any other rifle. Boy, I sure would like to bring one home to go hunting with because whatever you aim at with this rifle, you are sure of one thing, you hit it. Well I guess that is all the news for this time. So, let me know whether you get this or not. O yeah, can you still play horseshoes, Ha Ha. Your son-in-law, the champion horseshoe thrower of Stacksville, Ha Ha Ha.

Johnnie

P.S. give my love to all.

It’s been three days since someone tried to call Johnnie at Camp Howze and he still hasn’t figured out who it was. In his February 28, 1943 letter to Lucile, he expressed concern in not knowing who had called.

My Dear Darling Wife,

Well here it is Sunday nite and being as I have written you three or four letters since yesterday, I thought one more wouldn’t hurt you. I hope this one finds you well, it leaves me OK. I am still worried about that phone call. I have tried twice today to get the call through, but I guess I am going to have to give up. It really has had me worried. Say, tell your Mother I received the candy today and thanks alots. I wrote your Daddy today. Also, being as he is so busy all the time, I am not expecting him to answer it back. Tell him that for me, will you? Well honey, tomorrow is pay day. I am not expecting much money either because you know they are taking yours out of my pay this time. Well let me know how things come out.

Lots lots love, Johnnie