Undated letters - mid-March 1944

Johnnie received tragic family news in March 1944. In an undated letter, he mentions the stabbing death of Leroy Stacks. On March 26, 1944, the Atlanta Constitution reported on the stabbing of 19-year-old Leroy from College Park following “an argument in the Blue Bird Inn, on the Roosevelt highway between College Park and Red Oak, Ga.” A 43-year-old local Fairburn, Georgia farmer named Melvin Lowry was indicted on murder. Leroy, Lucile’s paternal first cousin, was buried in College Park on March 27.

My Dearest Darling Wife,

I received your letter today telling me the bad news about Leroy Stacks being stabbed to death and I know it was a shock to you all. As for myself, I still can’t believe it. Another thing, I am sure they could have saved him if they would have rushed him to the hospital like you say. I am going to drop Aunt Lois a line and tell her how sorry I am to hear about him. I want you to let me know what they do to the guy that done it. Honey, it seems like everything happens to the Stacks family. The last two years, if you get what I mean, I just know your Mother is a nervous wreck again. Things like that really upset her and her being a nervous type anyway and I understand just how you feel about it all too. Please try to settle down again for my sake Darling. Well honey, I guess that’s all I will say about that. Well Darling, I will try and finish up on this today. I started still yesterday morning, but something came up and I had to quit writing and having had time to write no more till now. I don’t know whether I wrote you and said that I received a letter from Dot or not, but I did anyway. And she still seems like the Dot when I saw her last. You know honey, that girl goes through a lot and has been through a lot to stay as joyful as she does. She’s a swell kid and I think a lot of her. You can tell her that or either let her read this if you want. How is Mickey and his girls coming along? I am still waiting to hear from him. Did his girl go to Leroy’s funeral? I guess she did. O’yeah honey, you asked me in one of your letters if I care if you put the money I sent you on a stove. Honey, you do anything you want to with the money I send you. It doesn’t do me any good here and I want you to get the benefit of it. Get what I mean, Ha Ha? No kidding, go spend it the way you want to. Honey, is Irvin still down at Macon, Ga.? What did they ever do to him for staying at home away from camp so long? I don’t think you ever told me how he came out. Let me know, will you? O’yeah, what about sending me the papers once in a while, will you? I like to read about things going on back there. Well honey, I guess I will close for this time, so write me all the time you can, and I will try to do the same for you. Tell all the folks hello for me and to write. I miss you a lot Darling and I love you a million. 

Always, Johnnie

 

The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, March 26, 1944

In another undated letter to Lucile, Johnnie mentions Leroy, as well as the death of a man named Thurman who was killed in Italy on February 16. On March 24, 1944, the Atlanta Constitution reported the death of Henry Grady Thurman, a “paratrooper from Red Oak,” the same area of Georgia that Johnnie and his family lived. 

My Dearest Darling,

I received another letter from you today and in it, you were telling me about the Thurman boy being killed in action over here in Italy. Gee, it seems when bad news starts coming my way it really comes. First LeRoy and now him. I guess it really shocked his family. Sorry to hear about it. Well, I will quit on that. How is this letter finding you? A lot better I hope and over your nervous spell. I hope so. It really makes me feel bad when I know you are not well. I don’t know what would happen to me if you got hurt. I really miss you Luke and God knows how much I care and love you. Maybe we will get a break for us both pretty soon. I hope and pray it will be so. Well Darling, I received a package from Dad and also a letter from him. They are getting along OK. I also received the cigarettes you sent. I want to thank you a lot for the cigarettes. I just hope I get the ring OK. Well Darling, how is the rest of the family? Well, I hope. Tell them all hello for me and tell Grandma I have never received an anwer from her letter I wrote her. Well Darling, I will close for this time so keep writing and I will try to do the same. I miss you a lot and I love you a million.

Always, Johnnie 

H. G. Thurman, Killed in Italy, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, March 24, 1944

We cannot be sure when the next letter was written but Johnnie mentions receiving the ring and cigarettes referenced in his March 24, 1944 letter so this is as good a spot as any to place this letter. Johnnie was using U.S. Navy letterhead so crossed out “Navy” and wrote Army. He was probably using stationery from the ship they were traveling on.

My Dearest Darling

Receive letter from you today and was sure glad to get it after not receiving any from you in the last five days. I am glad to hear that you have been getting my letters pretty regular. But I hope you understanded later on why you won’t be receiving many letters from me, as you know I won’t have time to write you as regular as I have been doing. If I am right, I told you in the last letter I wrote you that I had receive the ring and cigarettes. Honey as I told you in my other letters, whenever you do have pains or sick I want you to go to a doctor. Because I don’t won’t anything to happen to you, regardless of anything else. I hope you understand me Lou you will have to write me, if I expect to get any mail at all because no one else does and I am not kidden either, Ha Ha. The letter I receive from you today just took seven days to get to me and that not bad at all is it. Lou, you said in this letter I just receive from you? That you try to do what I want you to do, I am sure you do Baby and that what makes me love you so. I am sorry to hear about Cecil and Drextel. I hope they don’t have to come in. Do you think they will? I kindy believe Cecil will. But Drex having that breathing trouble he might not make it. I hope when you do go to town this weekend, you try to find me a watch, I hating to ask you for those other things in the letter I wrote you before but I want them, and they will come in handy over here. I hope you don’t think I am asking you to get me anything foolish. Honey you remember that little picture holder you give me back at Trenton N.J. well I had a small picture of you in it and that little glass that fit in it came out and I lost the picture of you. I really hated to lose that picture of you because it was the best picture I ever had of you. What I mean by that is that picture look more like you, when I last saw you. Say honey when are you going to sit down and get other things off of your mind, and write me more then two pages in a letter. Latey I been reading them over two or three times, letting the fellows think I receive a long letter from you, Ha Ha. I know I been writing a lots of V mails to you lately but that all I have time for lately. One thing though, when I do have time to write you like I want to, I really try to write you everything that on my mind. I guess you notice that by this one, I am writing now. Well, I guess you are pretty busy and tired from working all day and want to get a little sleep and the guy here want his pen, so I will close. Tell the family hello for me and give them my love. I miss you alots. Baby and I love you a millions always. 

Johnnie

March 16 and 18, 1944

Four days passed before Johnnie wrote to Lucile again. On March 16, 1944, he sent a V-mail questioning who addressed her recent letter to him.

Hello Darling,

I hope this finds you well, as I am OK. Honey, I received a letter from you a couple of days ago and I know you didn’t address it. Whoever did, had our name spelled wrong. They had it spelled Marriston. From now on, what about you taking time to address your letters to me, Ha Ha. Have you ever received the money I sent you? How are all the folks? Well, I hope. Well Darling, I will close for this time. Hoping to hear from you soon. Keep writing.

Lots lots love, Johnnie

Johnnie has asked about a ring several times and in his March 16, 1944 letter to Lucile, we finally learn that he is talking about a wedding ring. 

My Dear Darling Wife,

Just a few lines hoping this finds you well and getting along OK. As for myself, I am OK, except missing you alot and thinking about you all the time. Say Darling, have you ever sent me that wedding band yet? Sure hope it fits me. That reminds me, honey, the first of next month is your birthday. I haven’t forgot and I can’t send you nothing from over here as there is nothing to send. But I will send you some money for you to get yourself something. Honey, I want you to send me the paper once in a while. I would like to read what’s going on in Atlanta once in a while. Especially the ball games, Ha Ha. O’yeah Darling, did Frances ever get my letter I wrote her? Or Cecil or Ginnie Maude? I hope they answer it. Sure would like to hear from them. What about Mickey? I thought he would drop me a line by now. I wrote a letter to the gang that works up at the lumber company. Have they ever received it yet? Honey, I received a birthday card from Dot last week and I wrote her and Drex a couple of days before I received the card. Tell Dot I said thanks alots and I thought it was swell. Well Darling, I will close for this time. 

Lots lots love always, Johnnie

Johnnie’s sister-in-law, Dot Stacks

Johnnie shows concern for Lucile in his March 18, 1944 V-mail. She has been experiencing pains of some sort.

My Dearest Darling,

Just a few lines to let you know I am thinking of you and hope this finds you well. Darling, please, if you have those pains every month like you say, go see a doctor. It really makes me feel bad to hear that you are sick like that. Honey, I received all the Easter greeting cards that your family sent. They were all very nice. Will close for this time. 

May God bless you and lots lots love, Johnnie

John wrote Lucile’s parents a V-mail on March 18, 1944 to share his appreciation for all the Easter greetings he received.

Hello Folks,

Received the Easter greeting card and was very glad to get it. I could send you something but as it is I can’t. I can say though I wish you both a good Easter and I hope to be with you both the next one. It really made me feel good to get all the Easter greeting cards from all the family. I am going to try and write them all and tell them how much I appreciate hearing from them all. Well Doc, it won’t be long till the ball season is opening again. I hope Atlanta comes out on top. 

Lots lots love to you both, Johnnie

The regiment departed Camp St. Denis du Sig in Algeria via convoy on March 23, 1944, arriving in Oran, Algeria later that day. After spending the night in Oran, they departed there on March 24, 1944 via the USS Florence Nightingale, “a Maritime Commission type C3-M cargo ship”, and the USS Lyon, “a type C3 ship of the United States Navy,” both according to Wikipedia. It is not known which ship Johnnie was on. 

USS Florence Nightingale (AP-70) (public domain)

 USS Lyon (AP-71) (public domain) 

March 7, 10, and 12, 1944

Johnnie sounded impatient when he wrote Lucile a V-mail on March 7, 1944.

My Dearest Darling Baby,

Just a few lines to let you know I am well and hope this finds you the same. Darling, you said that I would have to ask you in the letter to send me the ring, that you couldn’t send it, not unless I wrote and told you to. Honey, I have wrote you at least six letters asking you to send it. What do I have to do, come over there and get it in person? Tell those guys I said they better get on the ball and let you send that ring to me. It’s funny as the devil the rest of the fellows are getting packages and I can’t. Will close for this time.

Lots lots love, Johnnie 

His mood had changed by the time he wrote a March 10, 1944 V-mail to Lucile. It seems he enjoyed some family photos she had recently sent to him.

My Dearest Darling,

I received the picture of you and Earl and his girls and also little Nell. They sure are good of you all, especially the ones you are in. You still got what it takes, if you get what I mean, Ha Ha. Little old Earl really is looking good too. You know he is almost as good looking as me, Ha Ha. You know Nell sure looks like she has gained some weight. Has she? Well Darling, I guess I will close for this time. O’yeah, tell Earl I think he is doing alright.

Lots lots love, Johnnie 

Earl Stacks

Johnnie wrote a long letter the night of March 10, 1944 where he talked about getting letters from his father and his grandma.

My Dearest Darling,

I just received four letters from you and boy did it make me feel good. I hope this finds you well. As for myself, I am OK. Darling, you asked me in one of your letters if you sent me a watch would I think it would reach here OK. I believe if you get me a shock proof watch it would. Of course, it would have to be wrapped up good. Also, if you find one with a good reasonable price, go ahead and get it and send it to me. Honey, I have sent you about forty dollars in the last two months. Use it any way you want too for yourself. I will send you some every month. Darling, I received a letter from Daddy yesterday. He said he has sent me a box with candy, razor blades, cakes, and some cigarettes in it. Pretty nice, don’t you think? I haven’t even written him yet. I am going to drop him a line as soon as I finish this to you. Honey, you said that Mrs. Sewell was putting more on where you work. If she does put you on night shift, I want you to quit and I mean it too. I never have liked you working up there anyway. If you do quit, don’t start back at that first place you were working either. That’s worse. I hope you do as I say and I know you will. I believe every word you write and I want you to do the same for me. I hope we understand each other by now. Well, I guess that’s about all I have to say about that. How are Doc and Ma getting along? Do you know whether they ever received an air mail letter from me or not? I guess they have by now. Honey, the last letter I got from grandma she was telling me about what a good wife I had. I wrote back and told her I knew what a good wife I had and that there was none better and I tell you one thing, that’s the truth if I never told the truth before. Then she got to talking about what a lucky girl you were to get a guy like me. Well Darling, I can’t say anything on that because of one thing that happened since we’ve been married. But I know one thing, if there was a man that cared and loved a women as much as I Love You, I have never heard about it. Well I will close for now leaving that in your mind.

With lots lots love, Johnnie 

Johnnie’s paternal grandma, Mattie Powell Marston

Johnnie wrote a short V-mail on March 12, 1944 where he mentions a photo of Lucile someone painted.

My Dear Darling,

Just a few lines to let you know I am thinking of you and hoping that this finds you well. I received the little photo of you. But I don’t think it looked much like you. You are much better looking than that. Whoever painted the picture didn’t do such a good job of it either. Do you think so? Say honey, have you ever received any of the money I sent you yet? Let me know. How are all the folks? Well, I hope. Tell them all hello for me. Will close for this time.

Lots lots love, Johnnie

February 25, March 4 and 6, 1944

Lucile must be very busy at home. On February 25, 1944, Johnnie wrote a V-mail to Lucile and complains that he still has not received a letter from her.

Hello Darling,

Just a few lines hoping this finds you well, as I am OK. Honey, it has been a week and a half since I heard from you. I was receiving mail from you pretty regular, but darn it, I don’t know what’s the matter now. I am sure it isn’t your fault because I know you will write me every chance you can. I sure hope to hear from you tomorrow. How is my mail coming to you? I have been writing you every chance I get. Well, I will close. Will try to write you tomorrow. 

Lots love, Johnnie

Now Johnnie is the busy one. When he sat down to write Lucile a V-mail on March 4, 1944, it had been seven days since he wrote his last letter to her.

My Dearest Darling,

Received a letter and birthday card from you today. The card sure was nice. Thanks alot. You never have said whether you received that money I sent. I sent you some more this month. Honey, I hope your back is lots better by now. If it keeps giving you trouble, go to a doctor and don’t wait too long about it either. Well Darling, I guess I will close for this time. Tell all the folks I said hello. 

Lots lots love to you, Johnnie 

Not much was going on when Johnnie wrote Lucile on March 6, 1944. He had recently been scolded by his father for not writing. He also asked about his first cousin, Arnold Pair.

My Dearest Darling,

Just a few lines to let you know I am thinking of you and hoping this finds you well. I received a letter from Louise and Dad a couple of days ago. They really got on me for not writing. I am going to try to drop them a few lines as soon as I finish this to you. You never have said whether you have received that money I sent you. I guess you have got it by now. I also received a letter from Grandma Marston. I have got to drop her a line too. I hope your hair suits you when you have it fixed this time. Be sure and send me a picture of you right away. O yeah, Dad said that Arnold was back in the States. Did he come by the house? Well darling, I guess I will close for this time. 

 Lots lots love to you, Johnnie

Johnnie’s grandparents, John and Mattie (Powell) Marston

  

Arnold Pair

Nell remembered Johnnie’s birthday with a card, something that surely made him happy. He sent a V-mail to her on March 6, 1944 to let her know what it meant to him.

My Dearest Sister-in-Law,

I received the nice birthday card and I wish there was some way to show you how much I appreciate you thinking of me on my birthday. Maybe when I get back to the States, I can slip you a kiss, Ha Ha. Be sure and don’t let your old man hear of it, or Luke either one, because I will catch the devil then, Ha Ha. No kidding Nell, thanks alots again and the next letter you write Bob tell him I said hello and send me his address.

Lots lots love, Johnnie

Robert and Nell

Johnnie had a busy day on March 6, 1944. His also wrote a V-mail to Lucile’s parents to thank them for his birthday card.

Hello Folks,

Received the birthday card and sure was proud of it. Thanks a lot. Well, how does this letter find you young people by now? In good health and getting along fine I hope. I am glad to hear you got the car back. Does it ride any better? Tell Doc I said to keep it in good running condition because we will have to have it to go see our girls in it, Ha Ha. How are all the kids? Well, I hope. Tell them all hello for me. Well, I guess this is all for this time.

Lots lots love, Johnnie