July 23, 26, 28, August 1 and 2, 1944

Johnnie wrote a V-mail to Lucile on July 23, 1944 and asked that she treat herself with money he sent her.

My Dearest Darling Wife,

Just a few lines to let you know I am well and hope that this finds my Baby the same. I am so sorry to hear that you lost so much sleep here lately on account of staying with Grandma. I hope you get rested up good before you go back to work. Have you ever received the money I sent you? I don’t want you to put any of it in the bank. I want you to use it on yourself on whatever you need. I hope you like the pictures of me I sent you. You know I am getting pretty old looking here lately and I doubt if there can be any changes made, Ha Ha. I guess you will just have to bear with me, Ha Ha. I will close for now. I miss you a lot and I love you a million.

Always, Johnnie

Johnnie in Italy

Johnnie’s July 26, 1944 letter to Lucile was written on American Red Cross stationery. As usual, he was concerned for Lucile’s health, as well as the health of another family member.

My Dear Darling

Received two letters from you today telling me that you have received the pictures I sent you. I am glad you like them. Honey, by the time you get this you shall have the money I sent you, being as things are in such bad shape it will help you some. Darling, this picture of you I just received, you look so tired and worried and your face looks so thin. Gee honey, please watch your health and take care of yourself. I wouldn’t know what to do if anything happened to you. You have just got to believe me Lou. God knows how much I love you, and how many times I have told you that. So, honey please take care of yourself for me. Will you? I am glad Doc and Mom like the picture also. Give them my love. Honey in this letter I just received from you, you said Drextel was in the hospital. But I have never got a letter from you saying what was wrong with him. I guess this letter just beat the other one that you wrote telling me about his sickness. I am sure to get it in a day or two. Tell Nell not to worry about Robert. He must be OK. I am sure. Darling about you and me talking about the baby, you know what I mean? You are right I guess, so let’s forget about it, my mistake. So sorry. Will close for this time. I miss you a lot Darling and I love you a million. 

Always Johnnie

Johnnie sat down at noon on Saturday, July 28, 1944 to write Lucile. He was not happy about the mailman back home that day.

My Dearest Darling,

Received a letter from you yesterday with the pictures of your Mother, Aunt Agnes and Grandma. They are really nice of all three of them. I understand about you not writing me here lately on  account of Grandma. I just pray that with all you have been through that you are alright. I am sorry to hear about Woodrow. I hope he is much better now. How is Frances and the baby? I haven’t heard from them in a long time. I guess the reason you can’t find that piece in the paper I want is because they might have stopped it. Lou, that mailman is crazy about you not being able to send me a paper over here on account of my A.P.O. number. The reason I say that is because Dad has been sending the Journal to me all the time. You can’t listen to them guys, they will tell you anything. The reason is they don’t want to be bothered with it if they can get out of it. I just wish some of these guys in the States had to go through what we have too. Some of the others don’t even know what war is like. It really burns me up the way some people are taking this war. Well honey, I will have to close for this time. Thanks for the nice words here at the end of your letter about the way things may be after the war. I miss you a lot Darling and I love you a million.

Always, Johnnie

Woodrow and Frances (Stacks) Oglesby (Johnnie’s brother- and sister-in-law)

The Regiment moved again on July 30, this time to an area near Volterra.

Volterra is in the vicinity circled in red. Source: https://mapcruzin.com/free-italy-maps.htm.

During the month of July, 28 Silver Stars (2 posthumously, 1 missing in action), 114 Bronze Stars (3 posthumously, 2 missing in action), 192 Purple Hearts, 7 Clusters to Purple Heart, and 486 Combat Infantryman Badges were awarded. There were four casualties from German anti-personnel mines. The Regiment now consisted of 170 officers, 5 warrant officers, and 3452 enlisted men.

Click here to read the Operations Report by the 337th Infantry Regiment for August 1944.

Johnnie was still using the American Red Cross stationery when he wrote Lucile on August 1, 1944 in which he was not very happy with his sister. 

My Dear Darling,

I received a letter from your Mother today, and one from Evelyn. I was very disappointed in not getting any from you. I haven’t heard from you in almost a week now. Your Mother’s letter got to me in twelve days, not bad is it? Evelyn wrote me an eight-page letter and what she said in it really burnt me up. It was mostly about her and Bill, and her getting a divorce from Ray. Honey, I hate to say this about my own sister, but she did wrong to Ray. And she will have to pay for it some day. I hope you get what I mean in this letter Lou? I am glad now you didn’t go down. I wrote her and told her what I thought about how she did Ray. I really told her too. I am never going to Miami again. Well it’s getting where I can’t see what I am writing. Will close. I miss you a lot and I love you a million. 

Always, Johnnie

Evelyn and Johnnie

If Lucile were alive today, Johnnie’s comment in his August 2, 1944 letter about her being a woman might not go over so well. But in this case, she was probably just happy to hear from him and to know he was alive.

Please excuse envelope

My Dear Darling,

Receive letter from you today, also one from Dad and his wife. Sure was glad to hear from you after not hearing from you in ten or twelve days. Honey, the reason I wrote Dad to get me a pipe is being he knows a lot more about good pipes than you do. I know you would try and get me the best you could. But being as you are a woman, all pipes look the same to you, Ha Ha. Am I not right so please don’t be mad about it. I will write Dad and tell him the reason I wanted him to get it instead of you. I wouldn’t want them to get the wrong impression of you. You have done wonders for me, in case I have never told you, and you are above everything else, regardless of what it is, and as long as I know you are for me, that all that matters. Honey, you can send me four packs of Prince Albert pipe tobacco and some of the cheese crackers, and homemade fudge candy. The reason I haven’t been asking you to send me things is I know you are low on money and haven’t been working here lately. I am sure by the time you get this you will have the money I sent you and it will help you out a little. How do you like the way I end my letter to you since I have been over here? I mean every word of it to. You have never said anything about it. Well, as this is all the paper I have I will close for now. I miss you a lot Darling and I love you a million. 

Always, Johnnie

 

July 16, 19, 20, 21, and 22, 1944

Johnnie was anything but vain talking about pictures of himself in his July 16, 1944 letter to Lucile.

My Dearest Darling, 

Received a letter from you yesterday and was glad to hear that you are feeling much better and also glad to hear that my letters are coming to you pretty regular. Lately I have been hearing from you about every four days. Before you get back to work, I wish you would rest up some after staying up two or three nights with Grandma. I know you are pretty tired out and you know how I am always getting on you about your health. You have just got to take care of yourself. It might not hurt you so bad now, but it will as you grow older. I hope you get what I mean. O’yeah, this picture you sent me doesn’t look like me at all now. But that was taken in my prime, and you can’t expect much now, Ha Ha. I am glad to hear that your bank account is still growing, you never can tell when you will need it. Have you received any of the money I sent? What about the pictures? What do you think of them? Don’t tell me, I know, Ha Ha. I know they are bad, but what can you expect from over here? I was darned lucky to get to send you that. So, bear with me on those pictures, will you? I received a letter from Dot yesterday also. She is still as good as she ever was on jokes and laughs. Same old Dot, isn’t she? By the way, who is Margaret? I don’t believe I ever met her? If so, I don’t remember. I am glad to hear I still got a hold on you, at least we understand each other. Well honey, I will have to close for this time. So, keep writing and smiling. I miss you a lot and I love you a million.

Always, Johnnie

Lucile

On July 19, 1944, the regiment was on the move again, putting them in an area near Rosignano where they continued to train. “Part of an Italian mule group was attached to the Regiment for training and much time was spent in learning how to use pack mules.”

An Army mule using a “G.I.” helmet to grab a bite before leaving Sicily for Italy on September 20, 1943.
1st Infantry Division, photographer: Bonnard. Photo source: U.S. National Archives.
Digitized by Signal Corps Archive. Public domain.

Lucile learned that she had been taken on a watch she bought for Johnnie in his July 20, 1944 V-mail to her.

My Dearest Darling,

Just a few lines to let you know I am well, and hope this finds you the same. I haven’t been hearing from you lately, like I shall, what’s wrong? How is Grandma? What about the rest of the family? Has Doc ever come back from his fishing trip? How did he make out? Or did he say? O’yeah, I hate to tell you, but someone really put you in the dark on this watch you bought me. There’s a guy here in my outfit that really knows about watches and he said, in practice, you could get watches like this for six or seven dollars. Boy, it really made me feel bad to know that after telling everybody what you paid for it. Will close. I miss you a lot and I love you a million.

Johnnie

Johnnie had learned Lucile’s maternal grandmother passed away on July 7, 1944. His July 21, 1944 letter to Lucile shows he must have held her in high regard.

July 21, 1944

My Dearest Darling

I received two letters from you today. Also, one from your Mother. Darling, I am really sorry to hear about Grandma. She sure was a Grand Old Lady and we all are going to miss her a lot. I know I will because I used to kid her and have a lot of fun out of her. But being as she was, it was for the best, don’t you think? I guess it really hurts Mom Stacks a lot, being as she has a lot of worry already and I know that’s going to make things worse. I am going to write your Mother tomorrow. I was going to today but as it is getting dark and there won’t be any light. By the time I finish this to you it will be too late. I think the picture of your Daddy and Woodrow are just like them, only it seems Doc has aged a lot since the last time I saw him. I also received the package you sent. The cracker was alright, but the candy bars were not so hot. They had worms in them. I believe if you will put more cellophane papers around them, they will stay fresher. Don’t you think? Well I will have to close for now. I miss you a lot Darling and I love you a million. 

Always, Johnnie

Leola Lemon Stacks and her mother
Amanda Carnahan Lemon Stacks Masters (years earlier)

Funeral notice for Lucile’s mother, The Atlanta Constitution, July 9, 1944

Now that word had gotten to Johnnie about the passing of Grandma (Lemon) Masters. He wrote a V-mail to Lucile’s parents on July 22, 1944 and shared kind words about her.

Dear Doc and Mom,

Just a few lines to let you know that when Grandma passed away, what a kind and gentle woman that has left us all and how well everybody that knows her well loves her. And as for myself, I will never forget how I used to kid her and have so much fun out of her. In her passing away, she left a lot of sorrowful and broken hearts. Mom, I sent Grandma a picture of me I had made here lately. I want you to take it and keep it, or if you want to you can give it to Aunt Agnes. Whatever you think is best suits me. Tell Doc I hope he enjoys his fishing trip and I hope the next one he goes on, I can be with him.

Lots lots love, Johnnie

Stacks family photo, left to right: Unknown, Betty Stacks,
Nancy “Amanda” Carnahan Lemon Masters (Granny Masters),
Mary Stacks, Leola Lemon Stacks, and Nell Stacks.
Baby is probably Melvin. Man on horse unknown. 

July 5, 10, and 15, 1944

Johnnie wrote Lucile’s parents a letter on July 5, 1944 sharing that he had been to Rome.

Hello Folks,

Just a few lines to let you know I am well and OK and hope that this finds you both in the best of health and the kids the same. I visited Rome and had some pictures made. I am sending one to you. How are things going at the lumber yard? Have you moved to your new location yet? Luke wrote and said that Irvin was over here. Sure would like to run into him. Are you letting Melvin go to school next year? He is about six years old now, isn’t he? Have you heard from Cecil lately? I bet he’s homesick. Maybe it won’t be so long now till we will all be coming back home. Well, I will have to close for this time so write and let me know whenever you receive this. And lots love.

Johnnie

Melvin Stacks

When Johnnie wrote Lucile on July 10, 1944, he shared how he had received a war medal, although he could not give her the full details. The medal would have been one of the 1614 Combat Infantryman Badges awarded in June for the campaign to liberate Rome.

My Dearest Darling,

Just a few lines to let you know I am well and hope this finds you the same. Are you working regular now? You haven’t changed jobs yet, have you? I hope you haven’t. The job you have is so near to home and at least I know who our boss is, Ha Ha. I received the pictures you sent yesterday of you and Melvin and Mickey. They sure are good. You look to me like you’ve changed a lot. You haven’t grown any more, have you? You really look tall and the way I am drawing up over here, I will have to get on a step ladder to even kiss you when I get back, Ha Ha. Little Melvin looks good. He is about six years old now, isn’t he? Have you received the picture I sent? Also, I sent you forty dollars last month and twenty-five this month. Let me know when you receive it. How is Grandma? Is she any better? I hope so. I hope she likes the picture I sent her. I guess you and everybody else want to know what kind of medal that is on my shirt. It is a combat medal and campaign ribbon. On the ribbon is a little gold star that means one major battle. I am sure you will want to know what they are for, so that’s why I am telling you now, where I won’t have to later on. How is Nell? Ok, I hope. I dropped her a card the other day. I guess you know Evelyn has another baby. Is it a girl too? I know now if we ever have one, it will be a boy, Ha Ha. Do you think we will make it? We shall, we have come over a lot of other things together, haven’t we? How is Doc and Mom Stacks? Tell them hello for me and tell them I still look for a letter from them once in a while. So, Mickey is going to get him a converiable (sic) job. Boy I bet he will think he a big shot riding around in that, Ha Ha. Well Honey, I will have to close for this time, so keep writing and smiling. I miss you a lot and I love you a million.

Always, Johnnie

Combat Infantryman Badge

On 13 July the Regiment moved to another open temporary camp in the mountains near Reccastrada and spent the next few days in physical conditioning and mountain warfare training. 

Serious thoughts were coursing through Johnnie’s mind when he wrote Lucile on July 15, 1944—curiosity about the death of a possible family member, the illness of another, and perhaps regrets.

My Dearest Darling,

Just a few lines to let you know I am OK. Hoping this finds you the same. I received the stamps you sent. Thanks a lot. Have you received the pictures I sent you? I know they don’t look so hot but I believe if you had them painted up, they would look much better, Ha Ha. I don’t blame you for being sore about my folks not coming down and seeing you once in a while. I know how we used to chase around to see them. Let them chase you awhile now. You have the right idea. I received the Journal the other day. I don’t know whether you sent it or Dad. I think I wrote you both about sending it once in a while. Anyway, I was looking through the paper and I ran across this funeral notice of George Carling Marston. I think it is Dad’s brother’s boy. I want you to find out for me for sure. How is Grandma? I think about her a lot. I just pray that if she has to go that the Lord takes her without much pain. You know we all are going to miss her. She was such a wonderful old lady. I know Grandma and I always got along fine together. I hope the picture I sent her gets there before she goes. I just wonder if any kind of drugs or anything there is to cure cancer. I know they have been trying to find something to cure it, but I doubt if they will ever cure that kind of disease. How is your Mother taking it? I know she can’t take much more. I surely wish I was there to help out all I could. How did Doc make out on his trip? I hope he didn’t have any trouble. Did he? O’yeah, did you ever go fishing with Mickey and the others? I hope not. I have always wanted that privilege. You remember when you used to ask me to take you fishing and I always put it off? Usually when you asked me, I always had other plans for us. Well anyway, I hope you enjoyed yourself. It kind of makes you feel good when you first catch one and it’s always been a great sport with me anyway. Well, I will have to close for now so keep writing and smiling. I miss you a lot and I love you a million. 

Always, Johnnie

Published in The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, June 1, 1944 

Johnnie wrote a short V-mail to Lucile on July 15, 1944, as always expressing concerns for her and others in the family.

My Dearest Darling,

Received a letter from you yesterday and was glad to hear that you are well and OK. As for myself, I am OK. I was hoping the picture I sent to Grandma got to her before she got worse. But I guess it got there too late, being as she doesn’t know who you are now. I am sorry to hear you didn’t get to make the fishing trip. Maybe you will get a chance to go again later on. O’yeah, have you received the money I sent you yet? I am sure since you haven’t been working lately that you can use it. How is Mom Stacks and the kids? Give them my love. I will close for this time. I miss you a lot Darling and I love you a million.

Always, Johnnie

Johnnie wrote Lucile’s mother a V-mail on July 15, 1944, even though he had already written Lucile and and sent his love to her and the kids. 

Dearest Mom,

I received words about Grandma being bad off sick as she is and not expecting to pull through. It just doesn’t seem right her leaving us this way. But I guess the Lord knows best. I know just how it’s going with you and I just wish there was something I could do for you. But as it is now, I can’t. All I can do is tell you how much I adored her. Well I will close for this time. So, write and try to keep your chin up. I hope you like the picture I sent.

Lots lots love, Johnnie

June 25, 26, July 1 and 3, 1944

Lucile sent Johnnie a copy of the June 9 newspaper clipping that contained his photo. He joked about how young he looked in his June 25, 1944 V-mail.

My Dearest Darling,

Just a few lines to let you know I received two letters from you yesterday. In one was the picture of me that you sent from the papers. I don’t think the picture looked much like me now. I look like a kid about seventeen years old in that picture. Of course, then I felt like a kid about that age, Ha Ha. None of the fellows hardly believe it’s me. Some say it looked like my brother, if I had a brother, Ha Ha. Also, I received a letter from your Mother. I am going to try and answer it as soon as I finish this. Well honey, I will close so keep writing. I miss you a lot Darling and I love you a million.

Johnnie

With the Army, Navy, and Marines, “The Atlanta Constitution,” Atlanta, Georgia, June 9, 1944

Lucile’s sister Nell had apparently been encouraging them to have children. Johnnie asked Lucile to pass on a message to Nell in his June 26, 1944 V-mail.

Hello Darling,

I received a letter from you that was mailed the fifteenth of this month. Not bad do you think? Enclosed was a few lines that Grandma wrote. Sure was glad to hear from her also and to know she is much better. Honey, I have sent you forty dollars. Let me know when you receive it. I am glad to hear that you are going back to work. It’s so much better for you. Tell Nellie we’ll do our darndest about the family situation. She can count on that, Ha Ha. Well, as there isn’t much more space to write, I will close. I miss you a lot Darling and I love you a million.

Johnnie 

Lucille

During the month of June, “the Regiment advanced from the Lariano sector to a point 46 road miles north of Rome and captured a total of 473 prisoners of war including 13 officers.” They awarded 18 Silver Stars, 58 Bronze Stars, 74 Purple Hearts, and 1614 Combat Infantryman Badges. Seven officers and 39 enlisted men were killed in action; 3 officers and 109 enlisted men wounded in action; and 63 enlisted men and 2 officers were missing in action.

From July 1–12, 1944, the Regiment was positioned in an open temporary camp “on the sea near Lido d’Roma” spending their time training for future combat, rehabilitation, and making administrative moves. Training was extensive concentrating on “firing of all weapons, small unit combat exercises, battalion attack of permanent land fortifications, combined operations with tanks and tank destroyers, and battalion river crossing problems.” The recreation put in place in June was still made available for the troops.

Johnnie revealed that July was his favorite month in his July 1, 1944 V-mail to Lucile. He also shared who wrote him letters and who did not.

My Dearest Darling,

Received two letters from you yesterday. One of them had the picture of Earl, Gearl, and Irvin in it. Surely is a good picture of all three of them. If Irvin is in Italy here like you say, I might run into him some of the days. I hope so. Have you been up to see my old man lately? How is he? I haven’t heard from him in a long time, and Louise, and Evelyn have quit writing all together. You know I doubt if I would get any mail at all if you, Dot, and your Mother wasn’t writing to me. Well, here it is the first of the month of July and it’s always been the choice of all the months for me. I doubt if I ever told you that, have I? You haven’t ever told me what month out of the year you like. Which one is it? Will close. I miss you a lot and I love you a million.

Always, Johnnie 

Johnnie’s brothers-in-law, Earl and Gearl Stacks

Johnnie was dreaming of their future home and comfort foods when he wrote Lucile on July 3, 1944. He put in an order for a few special treats. And his father’s ears must have been burning. Johnnie was happy to report that he had heard from him. 

My Dearest Darling,

Just a few lines to let you know I am well and OK and hope that this letter finds you in the best of health and getting along alright back there at home. I received a letter from Dad yesterday. They seem to be getting along OK. He sent me a picture of me that was in the papers also. He seems to be pretty proud of it. He said he didn’t think he had a son that good looking, Ha Ha. I started this letter a day ago, but later in the afternoon. O yeah what gets me on all this writing paper you sent me, especially the air mail envelope, you didn’t send me one airmail stamp and I haven’t any so you see what you sent won’t do me any good. There’s no place to buy any, so you see how things stand? I still dream and think of the swell place we are going to have when all this is over with. All this I am going through now seems just like a nightmare. If it is, I wish I could break away from it. I really think all this will end this year. I haven’t received the watch you sent me yet. I hope it gets to me OK. Say, you can send me some cookies, small chocolate cakes, and candy bars. Can you get these for me? Sure wish I had some chicken legs. Remember how I used to eat them all when we went to your Mother’s house to eat, Ha Ha. Say, does Doc still have chicken fry’s and fish fry’s up at the lumber yard? I really miss them. Well, I will close for this time, so keep writing and smiling. Tell all hello for me, and to write. I miss you a lot Darling. And I love you a million.

Always, Johnnie