"Just because of the darn army again — phooey!" - March 11, 1942

Miss Jean Johnson
Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Company "A" 45th Medical Bn. (Armd)
Third Armored Division
Camp Polk, Louisiana

Dearest Jean —

I just got back to the tent from the kitchen — one more day of K.P. finished with only three more to go. Boy and they're really long days — from 6:00 in the morning 'till 9:00 at night. We've got 6 K.P.s to do all the dishes, set the tables, peel the spuds, etc. for nearly 200 men. Right now I look a mess, need a shave, shower & shampoo, and feel pretty lousy in general.

Darling it was swell of you to call Sunday, but I'm afraid I wasn't very communicative. Here's why - your call came in through the captain's office, and as luck would have it he had to be there at the time, with an orderly and two lieutenants — with them sitting practically on my lap it made it a little tough to talk. They were being especially quiet — just grinning like dopes, and I don't know why, but it sorta got me down. It was swell just to hear your voice again, but when I think of all the things I'd like to have said and couldn't — just because of the darn army again — phooey!

'Had a swell trip back from Denver with day's lay-over in Kansas city — but it was pouring when we hit Leesville and there was no one to meet us so we had to take a bus out to camp. Hardly knew the place when we finally got there, it has changed so since last November. Boy it's really a mess now - the 45th is living in tents and a new bunch of recruits are living in our barracks - some fun! It's been raining and cold nearly every day since we've been back and the darn tents are colder than all hell — especially in the morning when we've got to tear from those tents to the barracks to wash up — with only a raincoat over a pair of shorts. Each tent has 4 cots and a poor excuse for a stove (the darn thing's always going out) and we're forever arguing about who's going to get up and build the fire in the morning. I've been transferred to Co. "A" now and am sleeping with 3 other fellows who were send from "B" to "A" Company.

I went up to see the Colonel about my furlough the Monday after I got here but he had gone up to fort Knox and I didn't get to talk to him till Thursday — and almost got thrown out of headquarters. He was O.K. 'till I got around to asking for a furlough — in fact he gave me a Tech. rating which will pay me $54.00 a month now instead of $30.00 per. For that I thanked him, but when the old drip said "no furlough" it burned me up. I argued with him and told him that when I went to Denver he promised me a furlough when I got back. But he still said "no soap", and the more I argued, the more sure he got that that's just what he meant. 'Said they need every man in the battalion here now, and he wasn't giving out any furloughs except "emergencies ". We've got to train all the new men who are in the barracks and that will take 'till the end of March or early in April. after that the old badger said we'd probably be able to get to go home — but from here on in I'm not planning on a thing until after its happened and I have a furlough all signed and in my hand. The payoff is that not only can't I go home, but I get stuck on a wks. K.P. besides. I imagine the colonel had something to do with that! I've got to see him again tomorrow about my service record and I'll try to pin him down for some time early in April, but even if he promised me time off, I'm not going to be too sure about it until it actually happens.

Once more I've got to cross of the days of another month that I'll have to be away from you — and this one's going to be twice as tough 'cause I had planned so heavily on being with you on our anniversary no. 1 and then too for your birthday. But such is life in the army, and there's not much can be done about it. God how I wish I could get home to you darling — not in a week, or a month, but say in about an hr — after a good shower & shave. Hon' I'm "hurtin" just some! and that's not the half of it. Hey! Where do you get that stuff in your letter about being "so darn fat" and "better I think about ten yrs. from now"? Darling you were a sight for sore eyes in January, and I'll bet you a quart of Kentucky Club you've gained all of 2 pounds since then. As for ten years from now, what the heck, by that time I'll probably be up to 200 (can you cook?) — 'Course this darn army, if it lasts too long, will probably have me down to an even hundred if they keep me on K.P. "sweating out" those pots and pans.

Sweetheart you're swell and you know I want you (that's putting it mildly) just the way you are. 'Wish I could break a leg or something and get shipped to a hospital — it would surer than heck be worth it, if I did get a chance to see you in them thar new clothes — pretty as a picture. I remember the spring outfit you had last year, with a wide hat, blue coat, etc. 'Remember going out to the Lodge one Sunday afternoon — Boy you were a knockout. Say, wasn't that the coat that somebody spilled coffee on while you were asleep (?) — I know — I'm a rat for bringing that up. But it was, wasn't it?

When I get home were going to have to go bowling —that 143 sounds a little bit of all right. Bet I couldn't average 130 now. 'Did quite a bit of bowling up in Denver, but there's no chance for it here. There are alleys in Leesville but they're just some lousy, and he pins are set by hand. How was Madison and the basketball game? Did you happen to bump into any of the kids at school that I'd know? Have fun?

Darling forgive me for not thanking you for the valentine's — I must be getting lame-brained. Yes I got them and it was like betting a jackpot that day at mail-call. When you do things you do them up right — They were all a bit of O.K., and 'guess you know what they meant to me. Don't see why you bother with a moron who doesn't write for weeks and forgets to thank you for being just some swell to him. I surer than hell deserve what you threatened — that is not to get a letter for a month, but darling that'd be rough and I throw myself at your mercy — Please not K.P. and no letter.

You asked about the rumor Mother picked up about our getting married — I've no idea where she heard it, or from whom. I don't see how in the heck it started either, 'cause I hadn't said anything to anyone. Not that it makes a heck of a lot of difference — but I guess Mom thought I was pulling something over on her and she had to be placated so placate her I did. That's about the sum total of the rumor as far as I know. In Kohler rumors are always flying thick and fast and I'm only sorry that it had to put you in a sort of awkward spot — I can imagine how you must have felt when you were out at our house that day.

Darling I'm so tired that I can't even write straight anymore so guess I'd better say good-night for now.

Wishing every hour of the day that I could only be with you, I'll say so-long,

Sweetheart I miss you more than ever,

I love you

Louis

P.S. — Forgive me for being a heel again & not writing —

Previous
Previous

"She kept calling him Kenny and his name's Ernie " - April 26, 1942

Next
Next

"Impressive enough to wow any mosquito" - February 28, 1942