May 2, 5, and 10, 1943

On May 1, 1943, Johnnie decided to enjoy the nice weather they were having in Texas and ventured out to a local park. In a moment of peace and quiet, he reflected on the good life he and Lucile had before the war. On May 2, 1943, he wrote Lucile and told her all the things he thought about while at the park. 

My Dearest Sweetheart,

Hello darling, I hope this finds you well and hoping this letter finds you thinking of me, as I am of you. Gosh, we are having pretty weather here. I went to the park yesterday and spent most of the day there. I didn’t think they had such a pretty park here in Gainesville, till the other day. I went out there and lay down on the grass and just got to thinking of the times we used to have. It sure does make you feel bad, thinking of the times we had together. Maybe they will all come back someday. Life is wonderful if you just think about it. The Jap’s spoiled everything for young married couples like me and you when they bombed Pearl Harbor. But they are going to regret what they started, even if I have to give my life away, just so this war gets over with, where other young married people can enjoy themselves, like me and you did before this war broke it all up. That’s what I mean when I say life is wonderful, where you can live and be free and don’t have to think about wars. Where you can enjoy yourself and live like you want to. I guess you think I am crazy, but that is just how I think about things. So, you see if anything does happen to me while this war is going on, you will know just how I feel about things. You can bear in mind later on in the years just how I felt about how wonderful life can be. You know a man gets to thinking about those things, when he’s away from home, and when your Mother is bad off sick, and away from his loved ones, like you, my sisters, your Mother and Dad, it really gets you. Honey, I sent your Mother, or shall I say our Mother one of those pillar sliptops like I got you. I hope she likes it. At least she will know I am thinking of her. I am going to try to get Doc something later on to remember me by. I didn’t have the money this time. I am sending you three pictures. Its about the worst picture I have ever had made. Well Sugar, I guess this is all the news.

So, lots lots love, Johnnie

P.S. Remember me as I used to be. Remember the night I held you so close to me. Remember me as a happy go lucky fool, Darling the night I met you.

P.S. Remember. 

Love, Johnnie

Johnnie and Lucile

Johnnie’s mother (Hattie Evelyn Prather Marston Scaffe) succumbed to cancer at a hospital in Miami, Florida on May 5, 1943 at the age of 49. The Army granted him leave to attend her funeral held in Miami, Florida on May 8.

Obituary from The Miami News, Miami, Florida, May 6, 1943

Photo by Robert Adlet, Find A Grave ID 47013499.
(Photo used with permission granted on Find A Grave
profile; https://www.findagrave.com/user/profile/47013499).

Johnnie wrote this letter to Lucile from Miami on May 10, 1943. It appears he planned to stop in Georgia to see Lucile before going back to Texas.

Dear Darling,

I received your letter today. I didn’t know what happened to you. I sent two telegrams telling you I was leaving to come down here. I am really sorry you weren’t there to get them. I really have the worst of luck. I am not going to write anything about Mother leaving us. I will tell you about it when I see you. This is Monday at Noon. I am leaving tonight. I think I will arrive there Thursday morning or sometime Thursday. All I can say is for you to be at the station every time there is a train due. I will close. Louise and Kate and all said hello.

Love, Johnnie

Johnnie’s sisters, Louise and Kate Marston

April 21, 23, 24, and 30, 1943

Johnnie thought about, and wrote to, Lucile when his company camped out under the stars. In an April 21, 1943 letter written many miles from Camp Howze, Johnnie told Lucile how lucky they both were. And as usual, he was thinking about other family members as well.

I would give a dollar for a pack of cigarettes if I had the dollars.

Camp out twenty 25 miles from camp. 

My Dearest Wife,

I received your letter today and was glad to hear from you after not hearing from you in a week. We are camping out this week and will be out till Friday nite. How far we are from camp, tell you above. You are lucky to get an answer from me way out here and I was lucky enough to get some paper to write you. I am sorry you are not getting any more letters, but that is something I am not getting much to do and that is writing. The only time I have time for writing letters is on Sunday. Please tell your Mother thanks alots for the Easter Card and that it was really nice. Tell Grandma I can’t write her till this weekend and that I would write her as soon as I get back to camp. Tell little Bob Stack’s the same. Honey, I owe all of my money out this month and I could really use some if you can do me any good send it air mail. Tell Doc Hello. 

Love lots love, Johnnie

Johnnie wrote Lucile’s mother a letter on April 23, 1943. 

Dearest Mom,

I received the nice Easter card and I don’t know how to thank you. I wish I could send you and Doc and the kids something to show just how much I do appreciate it. Well, thanks anyway. I hope this finds you lots better than you have been. How is the garden coming along? What have you planted in it? The outfit I am in has been camping out all this week. We just came in tonight. This has been one week I am glad that is over, Ha Ha. Say, I will get some pictures made as soon as I get ahold of some money. They have put up a picture of the outfit here in camp. I can have six pictures made for a couple of dollars; I think the price is. They are pretty good-sized pictures too. I will get some made as quick as I can. Say, what do you think of your daughter working? She really surprised me. I didn’t think she knew anything except cooking and keeping house, Ha Ha. Say, how is Doc coming along? I hope he is well. How is little Melvin? Tell him I said hello. How is Mary and Betty coming along in school? I bet they will be glad when school is out. Tell them hello for me. Also, tell Mickey to take a little time off of his farming and his mind off of girlfriends too and write me sometime. Tell Gearl the same. I have not heard anymore about us pulling out. If it does come around, I hope they head me nearer to Georgia. I received a letter from my sister the other day and she said that a big knot came up on Mother’s throat. I guess it is just a matter of time now. Since I came back from seeing her, my mind has been a blank. It’s really got me down. Well Mom, I guess that’s all the news for this time so I will close. Hoping to hear from you and all soon. 

Your son. Lots love to all, Johnnie

Johnnie's sister-in-law, Mary Stacks

Johnnie was broke. In his April 24, 1943 letter written from Camp Howze, he asked Lucile to send him money. 

My Dearest Sweets,

I received your letter and also the paper today. Thanks a lot for sending me the paper. I really enjoyed it. If you come down when you say you are, I wish you would tell your Mother to send the paper to me once in a while. I really enjoy reading what happens back home. Be sure and tell her. Honey, we are going back out in the field this week and camp out some more. But we will just be out till Friday and if I am not on any kind of detail, I will meet you some time Saturday. So just in case I don’t meet you, you will know I am on some detail. I hate to ask you to send me some money but I haven’t got any cigarettes, shaving cream, toothpaste, or shoe polish, so you see the only reason is that I owe all of my money that’s coming to me this month. So, you can see if you don’t send me some I will be just out of luck. I hope you can spare it. If not, don’t send it. I’ll make out some how. Well honey, I guess that’s all the news. Except to keep telling you I love you.

Johnnie

P.S. Don’t mention any more about me going to be transferred. It is a military secret. Love Johnnie

As requested, Lucile sent money to Johnnie to buy cigarettes and toiletries. But thanks to friends made on his late March trip back from Miami, Johnnie had already received some by the time the money arrived. He told Lucile about the mother and daughter who made several kind gestures to him in an April 30, 1943 letter written from Camp Howze.

My Dearest Wife,

I received a letter from you yesterday and I couldn’t get the register you sent me with the money in it till today. We have been out on the field all week and that is the reason I didn’t get it till today. Thanks alots for the money you sent me. But it was just a little late for I received some cigarettes from some friends I met on the train, coming back from Miami. The people I am talking about that sent me the cigarettes is a young girl and her Mother. This girl is about eighteen years old and not bad to look at either, Ha Ha. The way I met them was they had a lunch box full of cakes, sandwiches, apples, and alots of other good things to eat. I was sitting across from them on the train and this girl’s Mother came over and invited me to eat with them. Being that I just had sixty cents, of course I went over and eat with them. Do you blame me? They asked me where I live and was I married. I told them yes, to the most wonderful girl in the world and I am not just talking either. As you know you are the only one for me. They asked me would I write them if they give me their address and I told them I would and of course they asked me my Army address. And I give it to them. They sent me an Easter card and the cigarettes at the same time. I think they are pretty nice people, don’t you? They live in Illinois. Honey, I wish you would have come on up because from what I gather, we are leaving some time this month or the part of next month. Gosh, I wish I knew just when we were leaving. We are wearing our summer uniform now and mine doesn’t look bad at all. You shall see, Ha Ha. O’yeah my hair is getting to look like something new, Ha Ha. Well Babe, since this is all the news for this time, I will close. Tell all hello for me, and to be good.

Lots lots lots love, Johnnie

Johnnie

April 12, 13, and 17, 1943

Johnnie did not have any good news to share when he wrote Lucile at noon on April 12, 1943 from Camp Howze. His Mother was worse, he felt his mother-in-law was overdoing it, he owed the Red Cross money, and he feared he would not be able to get a furlough to go see Lucile.

Hello Darling,

Well here it is another blue Monday for me. I hope you are well. How is your job coming along? I bet its really going hard with you this first week. I received a letter from Kate yesterday. I have written you about that already, haven’t I? I don’t remember whether I wrote you about it or not. My mind has kinda been blank lately. Maybe I’ll pull out of it someway. I received a card from your Mother today. She’s really having too much to do. I wish she would go to the doctor and see about her side. She’s just going along working around the house and trying to keep you all from it. Gosh, I hope she takes care of herself. Well Darling, from what I hear, Mother is getting worse. I hate to get letters like that. Well I guess that’s all for this time. I keep thinking of you. Love Johnnie

Pay the Red Cross was forty dollars. So that honey I don’t know when I will come home now. This boy here in camp say I might not get a furlough because I got one when I went to see Mother. I hope that one doesn’t count against me. It shouldn’t. Do you think so? Honey, save all the money you can because if I don’t get a furlough in the next six weeks, I want you to come and stay with me. I wish you had never left but I guess its too late to wish now. I was a fool for letting you go back anyway. How much do you owe your Daddy now? Let me know in your next letter will you. Well I guess that’s all the news for this time. So, lots Lots Lots Lots 

Love, Johnnie

Honey, the way Mother is now, I really need you here with me. Lots love, Johnnie

Johnnie's sister, Kate Marston

When Johnnie wrote Lucile on April 13, 1943, he was thinking about her coming for another visit at Camp Howze. But, as much as he wanted to see her, Johnnie was being practical in that he wanted to make sure she had enough money for other things she needed.

Dear Darling,

I received your letter today and was glad you took off a little time from your work to write me, Ha Ha. I am feeling pretty well today, and I also have gained all my weight back. You said you received a card from Louise, and she said for me to write Mother. Well I have wrote her three letters and have not received an answer from any of them yet. I will write her again tonight. Honey, about you coming back out here. Well as far as I am concerned, the quicker you get back out here the better I would like it. But, we have to look at it the other way. I want you to have a little money to back you because that’s one thing you have to have to stay here as you know. At least enough to hold you till you get a job. Don’t you think that’s a good thing to think about? It might be a little harder to find a place this time because alots of the soldier’s wifes are coming in to visit them. But there are also alots going back home every day. Whatever you do, try to get here on a Saturday or Sunday because I usually have Saturday evening and Sunday off. And just in case, I don’t get off to find you a place when you write me that you are coming. I hope you understand what I just wrote. Do you? Say, are you going to send me an Atlanta paper once in a while? Or was you just talking to have something to say when you told me you would. I would like to get it once in a while. I like to read what is going on down there. What about sending me one at least, will you?

Well honey, I guess that covered everything for this time, except I send you my love and hope you don’t take up with one of them potatoes chips men, Ha Ha. Well anyhow, lots lots lots Love to the one I adore. 

Johnnie 

Johnnie was on the verge of being sent to war yet all that was on his mind was his mother and wife. He shared his fears with Lucile when he sat down at noon to write her from Camp Howze on April 17, 1943.

My Dearest Darling,

Well here is a lonely letter, from a lonely soldier. I hope this finds you well and not as lonely as I am. I have just come back from mail call and was really disappointed when I didn’t receive any letter from you. Maybe I will get one from you this evening. I hope so anyway. I received a letter from Louise yesterday. They are all getting along well, all except Mother, as you know about her anyway. Honey, Mother wants a picture of me and I thought I would send her a large one for Easter Sunday as a present. But as I am in debt with the Red Cross and owe some around here, I don’t know when I can send it to her for Easter Sunday or not. Being that I don’t want to borrow any more money around here in camp, but it looks like I am going to have to anyway because if it is in my power to get it, I am, as you know that anyway. I told you I was going to send you something on your birthday and I did, so I am going to have a picture made someway and send to Mother. I am going to try to do everything I can for her because the way things look, she won’t be here much longer. You don’t blame me do you? I try not to think about her going away, but its no use, it stays on my mind all the time. All you hear around camp now is that we are leaving. That is all they are talking about. Darn I wish they would quit talking about it, that’s another thing that’s getting me. Not that I am scared of going but I am afraid they might send me off without seeing you one more time. It if wasn’t for that, I am ready just any old time. I am not forgetting what them damn Japs have done to us. How is Earl and Geral’s farm coming along? Tell them to write me all about it. How is Robert and Nell? Your Mother? I will answer her letter as soon as I get some more time.

So, lots lots love, Johnnie

Robert and Nell

Lucile got a new job and Johnnie poked fun at her in a second letter he wrote on April 17, 1943. He also let her know how important letter writing was to him.

My Dearest Potatoes Chips Baby,

Ha, Ha. Well how are you tonight? I guess you are pretty tired. I hope you are not too tired to drop me a line or two, are you? I wrote you a letter this morning but being that I haven’t any place to go tonight or anything to do, I thought I would write you again. I hope you don’t mind. Well, did you make many potato chips today? About how many do you make a day? Say, do you know I haven’t received a letter from you in about four or five days now? Now don’t tell me those potato chips are taking up all your time or I will quit writing and if you ask me why I haven’t written, I’ll tell you the Army is taking up all my time. And I know you wouldn’t like that. Or would you? Say, tell me something, do you write me every night or every other night, or do you get a letter from me, and say well I will write Johnnie tomorrow night. Then tomorrow night comes you say O’ I am so tired and sleepy, I’ll just wait till tomorrow and write him. If you do, you better change your writing hours or the next thing you know you won’t be receiving any mail at all. And I am not kidding either. Louise wrote me and said that you were going down to see Mother. How do you expect to go see her and come back out here? Don’t tell me you found a gold mine. Tell me what you are going to do in your next letter, will you? Well Baby, I guess that’s all for this time. 

So, lots lots love, Johnnie

P.S. I am waiting for the answer of this letter. Johnnie

Lucile’s mother apparently overdoes it at times and that prompted Johnnie to scold her a little when he wrote her a letter on April 17, 1943.

My Dearest Mom,

I received your letter today and was really glad to hear from you. I hope this letter finds you much better. I wish you wouldn’t try to do what a man is supposed to do in fixing your garden. I know you, when there is something to lift or something real heavy to move, you go ahead and move it yourself someway. I wish you would get somebody to do all the heavy work for you. That’s one thing I know is making you feel run down all the time. Watch yourself, will you? As for myself, I am OK. Say, I wish you would get that daughter of yours I married to write me more often than she is doing now. I haven’t received a letter from her in about five days. I know she is working now, but at least she could write me every other night or is it those potato chips? Are they taking up a lot of her time, Ha Ha? I guess Lucile told you about us being shipped sometime soon. Gosh, I wish I knew when and where they were going to ship us. I believe it is to another camp to train some new army boys. I hope so and that it is nearer home. That would suit me just fine, Ha Ha. Say, how is Doc coming along? I hope he is well. Tell him hello for me, will you? How is little Melvin? Does he still remember me? Boy, I sure would like to see him. Tell him I hope to see him soon. Well, I guess that’s all the news for this time. So, I will close. Hoping to hear from you soon.

Lots lots love to you all, Johnnie

 

Melvin Stacks

April 3, 5 and 10, 1943

Johnnie took a break at Noon on Saturday, April 3, 1943 to write a letter to Lucile from Camp Howze. He was worried about his mother yet trying to console Lucile. She must have written Johnnie and shared her feelings of being unable to go to Miami. 

My Dear Baby,

I received your sweet little letter today and was sure glad to hear from you. Honey don’t worry too much about Mother. There isn’t much we can do now. As you know the doctor told me that the cancer in her throat has gone so far that it was impossible to save her, not unless a miracle happens. And if praying does her any good, that’s one thing I’ve been doing all the time. I have been pretty run down since I saw how bad Mother looked. I’ve been nervous and been smoking about two packs of cigarette a day. I know that it isn’t good for me but I just can’t help it. Honey I understand about you not going to be able to go see Mother and I want you to pay your Daddy what you owe him because he’s been so good to us. So, go ahead and pay him and forget about the cigarettes I asked you to get for me. I shall have thought about paying your Daddy anyway. Tell Dot and them I received their letters they wrote to me and you when you were here and that I will answer them as quick as I can. Tell them all hello for me and that I hope to see them all soon. Well, I guess that’s all for this time so answer back right away.

Lots lots lots love, Johnnie

P.S. The boys here in camp says while I was on my furlough that an order came around to be ready to be shipped out at any time. I didn’t believe them but Eitel, you know the fellow you met in the café that night says we will be shipped somewhere. He is sending for his wife, just in case this is the last time he will see her. Honey don’t worry much about it. Because I don’t believe it’s true. I will let you know more about it in my next letter. I am going to town now to try to find you something for your birthday. It won’t be much, but you know I am remembering you anyway. 

So lots lots and love and love to you. Johnnie

You saw Johnnie used USO stationery to write his March 31, 1943 letter to Lucile. According to Wikipedia, the USO, “a nonprofit organization that provides live entertainment, such as comedians and musicians, and other programs to members of the United States Armed Forces and their families,” was very active at Camp Howze. Among other events, they organized shows to entertain the troops, often including the soldiers in the show themselves, dances, dinners, and sponsored baseball games. One of their events took place the first weekend of April 1943 when they brought actor and comedian Guy Kibbee in for two performances in a variety show production of “Show Time at the Roxy.” Even though Johnnie was sad and sick, he may have attended one of the performances that weekend, possibly as a distraction of all he had on his mind.

United Service Organizations Inc. (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

 

Guy Kibbee (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

In Johnnie’s April 5, 1943 letter to Lucile from Camp Howze, he expressed how sorry he was that he let Lucile go back to Georgia so fast. He was regretting it now.

Dear Darling,

I received your sweet letter tonight and was sure glad to hear from you. I am glad you’re well and I hope you like your job. Let me know what you have to do. Let’s see, you said you was starting in at twelve dollars a week. You’ll be mighty sick in no time then, ha. Have you heard from Mother or Louise or any of them yet? Say, I’m really tired tonight. If you were here in town and I came there to see you, I really don’t believe I could do you much good, Ha, Ha. No kidding honey, I miss you more than ever now. I was crazy to let you go back home so quick. You know lately, I don’t think my mind is working right. I have crazy thoughts and sometimes catch myself doing the crazy things. Well honey, it’s getting pretty late and my head is giving me pains. I believe I will close and go to bed. Honey, I am going to hold up on that present for your birthday because I want to get enough money to get you something real nice. So, tell all hello for me. Goodnite.

Love, Johnnie

When Johnnie wrote Lucile at lunchtime on Sunday, April 10, 1943 from Camp Howze, one minute he was laughing about her eating a lot of potato chips at work, the next minute fretting over his mother dying of cancer and whether he would be able to handle her death.

My Dear Darling,

I received your sweet letter yesterday evening and was sure glad to hear from you. Say, since you got that job, you really think you are it, don’t you? Ha Ha. You say you get a lots of potato chips to eat. I bet you hate to look at them now, Ha Ha. I am feeling much better now, I don’t believe I will feel like I used to anymore. I guess its from thinking of Mother, going away, and not being able to do anything about it. I received a letter from Kate the other day. She said the cancer has made a big knot come up on Mother’s throat, and that the doctor told her that it was just a matter of time now. I don’t know whether I am going to be able to face it or not. Honey don’t worry about me. I’ll make it some way. Tell Mickey and Geral and them all to write me. I hope you like the presents I sent you darling. I wish I could have got you something better. Well, I guess that’s all the news for this time. So be good and God bless you all.

Lots lots lots love, Johnnie

P.S. Tell all hello for me.

Lucile

Johnnie wrote Lucile’s mother on April 10, 1943 expressing concern for his mother. It was probably all he had on his mind at the time.

Hello Ma,

 I hope this letter finds you well. It leaves me not so well. As you know, the reason is about Mother’s sickness. When I went down to see her, it didn’t look like her at all. She has lost so much weight. I doubt if she weighed sixty-five pounds now. It really got me knowing she is going to pass away and I can’t do nothing about it. I received a letter from my sister and she said that the cancer has done caused a big knot to come up on her throat and she said that the doctor said it was just a matter of time now. We are leaving this camp pretty soon. At least that’s what some of the boys here in camp say. My buddy that sleeps next to me said that an order came while I was on my furlough to be ready to leave at any time soon. So that’s that. How is Doc and the kids getting along? Tell them all hello for me. How is little Melvin getting along? Is he growing any? Tell him I hope to see him soon. Well, I guess that’s all for this time. So, lots lots love.

Johnnie

 P.S. tell Mickey and Gearl hello