Winter Blues & Valentines (February 1942- Part III)
[UPDATE: I've been asked to use the real names of the letter writers- Larry & Joy, so you'll see that I've made that change.]
Well, we're still several weeks away from St. Valentine's Day, and stuck in the ides of January. Are you a lover of Winter? Here in Kentucky we're enjoying our first real snowfall of the season, and even as the temperatures dip, the icy blanket is illuminating a day that would otherwise have been dark and gloomy. I love winter weather when it's actually weather- a churning sky, rain pouring down, snow squalls, howling winds.... but at times, too many of the days between Christmas and St. Patrick's Day can be flat, gray, damp, and cold. It's a great time of year to rest, to dream, and to read enchanting books. Nearly all of my very favorite novels follow a similar structure- someone in the present discovers a cache of very old letters or documents, and becomes completely entwined in the story they find there. Inevitably, that person's life is forever changed in ways they could never have anticipated. By connecting with lives from the past, they learn vital lessons for their own future. The contemporary heroine becomes a new link in the chain of an almost-forgotten history, and does whatever is needed to protect and preserve it. People who could have never met in life are forever connected by the Story. It's always been such an alluring idea to me, and I cannot believe that I'm living in something like that now! (AND- I'm so glad that you're coming along for the adventure!)
Today I'm sharing three more letters from February 1942. The first dated on Valentine's Day, and two more from the following week. Valentine's is not a holiday everyone loves, for so many reasons, but vintage Valentine cards just HAVE to make you smile. Here are a few cuties from the 1940s to brighten the January gloom.
Feb. 14 ‘42
Darling,
Remember me? I received your letter yesterday but didn’t have time to write. You see I am a staff sergeant now and I have to get so much flying time a month (you see I get paid for so much time during the month) They told me I had to get in 18 days flying time this month and I have been very busy getting it. I just got back from a “test hop” a few minutes ago and boy it was a rugged experience. We really “wrung that ship out” It made both of us sea sick or air sick for about 15 minutes. Didn’t last long tho’ thank goodness. Did you get the roses Dearest? I was going to send you a corsage but I didn’t know whether you want it or not. So in order to be sure it would be O.K. I sent the roses. I was very interested in the clipping you sent. I was especially interested in the item about “Miss Joy O’Neal”. Now there is a very lovely young lady who interests me greatly, could you introduce me sometime??? You mentioned, you & I and a tropical island. The idea intrigues me and meets with my complete and heartiest approval. Being anywhere with you gets my approval. Oh yes! I have something else to tell you. Remember you asked me once if I was a 1st sgt.? Well I had the opportunity yesterday to become one. I refused it because it wouldn’t pay me anymore and I would have to stay in the office all the time and wouldn’t ever get near an airplane, I wouldn’t get to go up. They asked me to become a 1st sgt. of one of the school sqdns. On this field. If I hadn’t have received the promotion I might have taken it but not now. I like the job I have, better.
So I owe you that bet! Gosh am going to enjoy paying it. And Darling in order to see that you aren’t being cheated I must remind you that debts such as that should draw interest (unselfish, what?). Darling what a rash statement you made when you said you would drag me to the alter. You will probably have to hold me to keep me from running toward it. However you may have to drag me away from it. I’ll be in such a happy daze when I realize that you actually are my wife. I’ll probably forget to leave the church. And those dreams of yours I love those you say all our hopes come true in your dreams. Well now, we will make your dreams come true and everything will be swell. No? And Dearest Princess I can tell you some pretty definite information about when I shall see you again. I’ll be there either the first week in April or around the second and I’ll have just a “little more” that 3 days if I wait till then. That seems like another year but Darling if we wait till then I think we will both be glad we did. Why? You ask, well I won’t tell you till then. Well I must quit my Love and mail this. Best wishes and regards to your Mother and Dad. And I love you completely, immeasurably, yes and always too.
Bye Princess, I adore you, you heart thief, well you stole mine anyway. No you didn’t either you just made me give it to you of my own free will. Any way I must quit.
All my love to the sweetest girl in the world
From her: Larry
2/23/42
Dearest Joy,
‘Received your letter today, Darling and was sorry to hear about your classmate and friend. I know how the school feels about something like that cause it happened twice during my high-school days. Once in my junior year and once in my senior year. Our Coach during my junior year and a classmate the last year. You asked me what my next promotion would be. There are two more enlisted grades: Technical Sgt. (check) and Master Sgt. I have had the opportunity to become an officer (a Lieutenant) but I didn’t take it and I am going to explain why. As a staff sgt I get about $100.00 a month and my clothes, food, shelter, etc., As a 2nd Lt. I would buy my own clothes, so I think it would be sort of foolish to change. Of course it would be nice to be an officer but it would be kind of an empty honor at that rate. There is another element that perhaps I shouldn’t mention to you but I’ll tell anyway. You see if I go to this officer’s school, I’ll never get any combat service. They would put me in charge of a supply depot or some such job and that wouldn’t be any better that I have now at less money, the way I figure it. So I don’t think I’ll be an officer. Do you mind too much Darling?
You asked me how long I could stay when I come back, well I should be able to stay 3 or 4 days maybe 5 I don’t know just yet.
The Heavens have been weeping steadily today and its very cold and uncomfortable. ‘wish the weather would sober up and be nice. Ray came back to work here, this week. The army turned him down because of his eyes. Well I must quit my Princess and I will as soon as I tell you I love you with all my heart and you will always be the one and only “Joy” in my heart. Au revoir my darling I’ll write more later.
All my Love belongs to you,
Larry
Feb 25 ‘42
Dearest Joy:
I received your letter yesterday evening, late. I was out all day yesterday after a crash (wreck). It came down in a swamp and was pretty difficult to remove but we got it OK although it took all day. It is awfully cold here. Unusually so. Very uncomfortable to us after the mild weather we have had. Oh: by the way your little poem was swell.
Darling, events are changing swiftly here several of us have tried to transfer before but now the rumors are that we may get our wish sometime within the next two months. But however they may be just rumors. But Darling I’ll see you before I go. If I go anywhere. The war seems to be going badly for us at present, doesn’t it. I am sure it will change for the better in a few weeks. It seems as if the British “laid down” and double crossed us at Singapore. When will we ever quit being dopes and trusting the British? The only thing England ever had to brag about is that it is near Ireland. And I don’t think the Irish are very proud of that fact. Pardon this letter my darling if this letter is gloomy and morbid. Maybe it’s the weather or maybe it’s the thought of those long days in March until I see you. The next month will seem like years. It seems as if everything I do is flat and uninteresting. I don’t enjoy doing anything except dreams of you. All I am living for now is those all too few days with you. Joy if anything would happen to our future, I wouldn’t want to live. I don’t often get this serious, but I mean what I’ve just written with all my heart. You mean everything to me. From all indications I am going to be in this army for some time, yet the only thing that makes me blue is that, it is going to keep me away from you. Forgive this sorry letter my Princess I won’t write like this often but I guess I have that “mood indigo” tonite. Even my writing is worse than usual. I expect I better quit before you get the idea that I am crying for sympathy or something. I am not really, I am just trying to tell you, in my poor way, just how much you mean to me. Bye my dearest, I’ll do better next time.
I love you, hadn’t you heard?
All my Love,
Larry
I feel for Larry, and I wonder if Joy was feeling her own Winter blues? I'm struck with how observant and poetic Larry was - waiting for the next visit home, wishing away the rain and gloom, feeling frustrated with the state of things. (I think we can all relate!)
I was also curious to find out what events Larry was referring to with the British in Singapore. I really know so little of the details of how WWII progressed, especially in Asia! If you're curious too- here's what happened. I'm sure it was painful for the Allied Forces to face a surrender anywhere, when the fate of the whole world seemed at stake. The human consequences of this loss were high, paid by thousands of soldiers and civilians. Another awful tragedy in the fog of that war.
It's sobering to balance the horrors that were taking place at that time with the love, sweetness, and humor of these letters. I admit I was tickled when Larry quipped, with Irish pride:
"The only thing England ever had to brag about is that it is near Ireland. And I don’t think the Irish are very proud of that fact"
Larry worked stateside (for the time being), to ensure the safety and success of his fellow soldiers. He believed in what he was doing, even when setbacks came.
And he dreamed only of Joy O'Neal, who was waiting for him back in the Kentucky heartland. He filled the Winter months as best he could with romance and making plans for a beautiful future. Mail was such a lifeline for soldiers & their loved ones- keeping these dreams alive across seasons, hardships, and continents.
May your Winter blues fade my friends! Hope you find something cozy to wrap yourself in today (and maybe go send a little note to someone you love!).
Leah
This is so sweet. I love that he spoke honestly of his feelings and didn’t hide them!
What an enchanting story you are sharing with us! I just love getting a glimpse into a real-life love story at such a time in history. Thank you!!