August 8 and 23, 1943

In May, Johnnie told his in-laws he was transferring to the parachute troop but as it turns out, that did not happen. When the company commander asked for volunteers to go to paratrooper training, Johnnie submitted his name after learning those who volunteered would be sent to Georgia for additional training. He was not going to miss a chance to be closer to Lucile. Unfortunately, Johnnie was not selected. By the time his name came up, they had met their quota and all positions were filled.

Johnnie was still on maneuvers when he wrote his next letter to Lucile on August 8, 1943. 

Somewhere in Camp Howze = Ha Ha

Dear Honey,

I received your letter today and was glad to hear you were OK. I am sorry I haven’t written you sooner, but we have been on the go ever since Monday at noon. We will return to the camp Wednesday around noon. I will be up there as quick as I can get away so look for me any time when we do get off of these ten days of maneuvers. This is Saturday at about eight o’clock I am writing this. We are waiting for the cooks to bring out our support to us, then we are to start moving again. I have really lost a lot of sleep and I guess weight too. Honey, I am sending the letter I received from your Mother. I received it yesterday. I have sweated a little bit on it, but I guess you can make it out OK. Well, this is all the news for this time, so I will close. Be good. Lots Lots Kisses xxxx 

Love, Johnnie

As you can see from the envelope, Lucile was in Texas.

The soldiers spent several weeks on maneuvers doing combat training while at Camp Howze, enduring harsh weather and physical conditions. They marched long distances in the heat and rain, carrying heavy equipment through obstacle courses that included climbing and crawling through barbed wire over rough terrain and through rain, mud, and dust. They dug fox holes. At times, dynamite and heavy machine guns were exploded nearby. Their days were long and often went into the night hours. They had to deal with insects such as ticks and chiggers. They missed cold showers and “the soda fountain at the Service Club, the beef line at the PX, and that softest of all beds, his own army cot.” To pass the time, one soldier “recommended concentrating all of one’s thoughts on Betty Grable, Rita Hayworth, and Hedy Lamarr.” Another soldier dreamt of eating, “Roman style, reclining upon a couch with orderlies bringing him platters full of pealed grapes and placing a tube in his mouth which connects with an inexhaustible supply of rum punch.” Johnnie most likely spent his spare time dreaming of Lucile.

Betty Grable, Rita Hayworth, and Hedy Lamarr, photos public domain
(see references tab for attribution)

Johnnie’s August 23, 1943 letter to Lucile written from Camp Howze was sent to her Texas address so she continued to stay in Whitesboro to be near him.

Dear Darling,

I hope this letter doesn’t find you mad at me for not coming up tonight. But if you realize it, I haven’t slept much the last two nights and as we are leaving out so early in the morning, and being as we have to walk about eight miles, I could really need a little rest tonight. Can’t you look at it that way? Darling you know I want to be with you as much as I can, because pretty soon, as you know, I won’t see you in a long time and maybe never. I did not go to Gainesville tonight, like I told you I was. We finally backed out of going and went to a show here in camp. It was a good picture too. I got into my locker tonight and got that letter Nell wrote so here it is. She sure is hurting for Robert, Ha Ha. If you get what I mean. Say what did you do about the signs you were printing? Did you make another? Say if you see Julie and she asks you why I didn’t come up, tell her I was restricted to camp because McClusky wanted me to tell you to tell her that if she ask you when I called you tonight. You know how she is. If she finds out we could leave camp tonight she will give him hell for not coming up. He could use some rest and sleep hisself and I don’t blame him. Well Darling I guess this is all the news for this time except thanks a lot for getting me the socks and things I needed. I hope to see you Friday, if not wait for me.

Lots Lots Love x x x x x, Johnnie

June 22, July 21, and undated, 1943

Johnnie wrote Lucile on June 22, 1943 as he was preparing to go out on maneuvers. She was still in Texas, so he asked her to go to Sherman to get him a knife. Sherman is a city in Texas located about 32 miles from Camp Howze and 18 miles from Whitesboro, where Lucile was staying.

Hello Darling,

Well, we are getting ready to move out this afternoon at seven o’clock. We are going out to stay till Friday night. I expect we will start back in then, so if nothing happens this weekend, that is if I am not on any kind of detail, I will see you Saturday at noon sometime. Say, try to go to Sherman and get me that knife, will you? So, I haven’t heard from any of the family. If I receive any mail from them this afternoon, I will mail it to you. Well, I guess this is all the news. 

Lots Love, Johnnie.

Please excuse writing, this pen has gone haywire.

Reading Johnnie’s July 21, 1943 letter to Lucile’s parents, it appears they had possibly been home to Georgia and then returned to Texas together via a bus.

Hello folks,

I am just dropping you all a few lines to let you know we arrived OK. We just got here and I am writing this in the bus depot. Say, one thing we didn’t do and we should have and that was bring enough chickens along, Ha Ha. It really was good. Well, I don’t know when I will see you all again but I do hope it won’t be long. I really enjoyed myself while I was there. Tell Grandma hello and that we will write her right away. Tell the kids hello for us and to write. Well, I guess this is all the news for this time, so lots lots love.

Johnnie and Lucile

Lucile’s mother, Leola, wrote Johnnie and Lucile a letter dated July 1943 from College Park, Georgia.

Dear Kiddies,

I am so glad you got back OK. I thought of you so much while you were on the road and wondered if you weren’t about played out. I knew I would be. It sure has been lonesome since you and Robert left but I hope it won’t be so long before you get another furlough. O say, I am sorry you didn’t have enough chicken. I bet Lucile didn’t put in enough for one of you, let alone two. I was so nervous and upset that day. I didn’t know how they did fix the lunch. I wish anything I was like I used to be. It seems I can’t do anything like I want to. Things didn’t turn out like I had planned them. I can’t seem to cook, keep house, or anything like I used to. I hope I won’t always be this way. Well, I enjoyed your company anyway. If I could show you a good time like I wanted to I would rather be sick in pain than to be so nervous. It seems like I get worse instead of better. The other night I got so worried. Earl didn’t get in from Woodrow’s till about 9 o’clock. It just went all over me I got so nervous I was sick at my stomach. I just walked the floor. He was waiting for Woodrow to bring him home. And after it was all over, I thought how foolish I was. Well, it looks like it might rain tonight. O say, how far did you have to stand up on the bus? I hope not very far. Say, old Mussolini is out of the way isn’t he? I wish that something would happen to old Hitler. I have been busy pulling weeds in the front yard. The weeds were so high you had to get in an airplane and fly over to see if we were still here, Ha Ha. Well Johnnie, you know what I would do if it would not spoil? I’d fry a big box full of chickens and send it to you but I am afraid it is too hot a weather yet. And I am afraid they will be too old to fry by the time it gets cool. Lucile, Mrs. Cochran and her daughter Lual was here yesterday. I haven’t heard from Robert yet. I hope he got back OK. He had enlarged pictures made of him for Nell. She hasn’t got it yet. I wanted to get some pictures made so bad while you all were home. I am going to try again to get some made. Well, I don’t know of any news much, so I guess I will close. And God bless my children bye bye. 

Lots of love, Mother.

P.S. if you can’t read this bring it to me and I’ll read it for you (maybe), Ha Ha.

Johnnie’s brother-in-law, Robert Astin

The next letter is undated but Johnnie mentions being on maneuvers, so it is possible it was written in July 1943.

My Dear Darling,

Well, today makes one week we have been on maneuvers. It seems like one month. I am really tired out. I am not going to say where I am going to make maneuvers or not, it’s really hard to say. Boy I would give anything to get back in a soft bed again. I am sore all over from sleeping on the ground. Did you go to work? If so, I hope not around no men. I am glad you made it home OK. I enjoyed my trip on train OK. I wish it was heading through home instead of here. Gee I miss you. Say, you haven’t had my rubbers used up yet, have you, Ha Ha. Keep them, we will need them all in about an hours’ time as soon as you are back with me again. I am really hurting, Ha Ha. Say, you aren’t writing me as much as you should. Don’t tell me somebody else is taking up your time. If so, you better put a sign up on you saying keep off. I mean just that. Darling, even though we have argued a lot since we have been married and also got sore with each other, I know I have blown my top a lot and act crazy when I get mad, but honest, Darling, I wasn’t really mad. Not deep inside. Luke, I love you, and always will no matter what happens between us. At times, a lot of time people say I don’t appreciate a good wife like you. Well darling, I do, I admire everything you have done for me since we have been together and I love every little part of you. Darling, I know I can’t do much for you now, but someday maybe I can. Darling excuse this paper and the mess it is in, but it’s the best I can keep it in out here. Tell Mickey to write me and tell me all about his new car and also his new girlfriends. Tell them all to write me and I will answer them as soon as I can. Darling, I will close for this time so Lots lots love always.

Johnnie

Johnnie and Lucile (1943)

May 18, June 7, 18, and 20, 1943

Shortly after Johnnie wrote the letter on May 10, we learn that Lucile was in Texas, her second trip there. It is not known if he made it to Georgia and brought her back to Texas with him, or if he went straight to Texas and she met him there. On May 18, 1943, Johnnie took the time to write two letters; one to Lucile’s father to let him know Lucile was safe.

Hello Doc,

Well, how does this letter find you? Is business OK? I heard you bought a lot of chickens. I wouldn’t mind being there to help you eat of couple of them, Ha Ha. I might be in Georgia sometime next month. I asked for a transfer to the parachute troop. They said they would give it to me, so be looking for me. I will take my training in Georgia. Lucile is getting along OK. I don’t get to see her hardly except on the weekend. How are all the mill hands? Most of them are still with you aren’t they? Tell them all hello for me. Well, I guess that’s all the news. So, take care of yourself.

Johnnie

P.S. Has Atlanta got a good ball team this year? What team is ahead?

The second letter on May 18, 1943 was to Lucile’s mother. He told both of her parents he was transferring to the parachute troop.

Dear Mom,

I am writing you a few lines to let you know that me and Lucile are OK. I hope this finds you well and the rest of the family the same. Say, has Robert left for the Army or Navy yet? I hope he makes out OK. I am getting a transfer over to the parachute troop. I will take my training in Georgia. It won’t be at Fort Benning. It will be at a new training camp they have in Georgia. It is about a hundred miles this side of North Carolina. I will be leaving sometime next month if nothing doesn’t happen. I will let you know more about it later on. How is Doc getting along lately? Is he still going to the ball games? Lucile said that Estil got turned down. She said he had high blood pressure. I bet he is happy over that. Well, I guess this is all the news for this time. So, tell all hello for me.

Love, Johnnie

Lucile wrote her mother a letter on June 7, 1943, postmarked from Whitesboro, Texas, 14 miles from Camp Howze.

Dear Mama and all,

I received your letter and my check. Sure was glad to get it and to hear from home. Hope this finds all well, as it leaves us OK, all except I have a headache pretty bad. I went to bed with a headache and got up with it. Sure is hot out here. I got a letter from Francis this morning. I sure was glad to hear from her. I guess she is pretty big now for she is so run down. I hope she don’t try to work in the field this year. She said she had two girls staying with her. I hope they will help her. How is Grandma getting along? I am going to write her tonight. Mama, did you take any pictures Sunday? When you get some made, send them and let us see them. We have been trying to get a camera ever since I have been out here to take some pictures. Poor little old Johnnie, he wants to come home so bad. He said to tell Daddy he had better get to protecting in playing horseshoes, for when he did get to come home, he would beat him, Ha Ha. Well Mama, as I am expecting Johnnie home now in a little bit I will have to close. So, write me soon. Thanks a lot for sending my money. Lots of love to all.

Lucile

Lucile

Johnnie’s next letter was to Lucile’s mother on June 18, 1943, when he shared that Lucile was still in Texas with him and would be writing her as well.

Hello Ma,

Well, I finally got time to answer your letter. I hope this finds you and Doc and the kids well. We are OK. I received the watch and the money. Thanks for getting it fixed for me. You talked about hot weather; we really are having some here also. I received a card from Robert and wrote him back but have not received an answer from him yet. I guess they are keeping him pretty busy training him. Well, that’s all I want to tell you; Lucile will be writing you so there isn’t much in getting two letters with the same thing. So, I will close. Lots love to all.

Johnnie

Lucile's mother, Leola Stacks

Lucille was still in Texas on June 20, 1943 when Johnnie wrote a letter to her dad, Sam “Doc” Stacks. We learn that he has been playing baseball at Camp Howze.

Hello Doc,

Well, how does this letter find you? It leaves Luke and I OK. Say, are you all having hot weather there? We are having our share of it. Say, how is Earl and Gearl running the farm? Have they got a big crop this year? How is the lumber business coming along? OK, I hope. Is Atlanta winning any ball games lately? What team is ahead? We have a good team in my outfit here. We have played six games and have just lost one. Not bad, is it. I still play my position I played when we played back there. As you know I was always good at shortstop, Ha Ha. Well, Doc as news is short, I will close. Hoping the family is all well and tell them all I said hello.

Johnnie and Lucile

Lucile’s father, Sam “Doc” Stacks

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

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