[Vol. 1: Number 1 — Beginning of a continuing Friday series] [Updated to add 6/9/'42 post card in sequence] [Updated images for faster loading on dial-up connections]

It’s my birthday today, I’m 53. I promised myself that on this birthday I would begin a project that will take a decent amount of time, and will bring up a lot of strong emotions. Over however many months it takes, I’m going to share with you my Father’s love letters to my Mom that he wrote to her during World War II.

A year or so before her death, I had given Mom her Sunday call, and she didn’t sound quite right, reserved, non-talkative, on the emotional edge. Asking her what was wrong she shared with me that she was in the process of reading in order, all of Dad’s letters to her that he wrote while away in college and during the war and had only gotten through to the middle of 1944. She was going to read them and then throw them away. I asked her to save them for me, and when my sister and I were sorting through her things a few months after her death, I found that she had indeed saved them like I asked.

I’ve read a few at random, jumping around through the years, and found out that my Dad had quite a wit, and he was also quite a romantic and a lusty fellow to boot. I never really knew that before, so this will be quite an adventure for me. Starting at the beginning, I see that letter writing for him was a lot like this blogging is for me. Kinda rough going at first, with more and more openness and feeling expressed as time goes on. I will do the college letters later in the series, ’cause I want to get right into the war years. The first is his last letter as a civilian, and the next is his first letter as a Navy man.

I’m not going to correct any of the spellings, grammar or punctuation, as these are what is on the pages. He was a college educated man, a pharmacist, so I know that he knew better, but obviously didn’t type very well back then, and when writing by hand, was really in a hurry. Hey — There was a war on!

I hope that you will enjoy these and will let anyone that is interested in WWII, or who might have lived through it, know about this series. God bless the souls of my Mom and Dad. They did love each other so very much! (db)

[Postmark: June 6, 1942]
[Click image for larger view]

June 5, 1942

Dearest Anna Mae,

Well here I am sunburned and all. Sure am having a swell time Will leave here monday and go to Okla. city
I dont know where to from there. but will let you know
I would like to have stayed home till time to go to the city but I had some things to do and if I had stayed there we would done things we shouldnt have.

I may be gone a long time so what ever may happen ### ## dont ever forget my heart is with you where ever I may be.

Tell mother hello and I will write her when I get in Okla. City.

With Love
Duke.

[Postmark: June 9, 1942]
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June 9, 1942

James I. Baker
Ph. M. 1C. U.S.N.R.
Corpus Christy, Texas

Dear Anna,

Am leaving OK. City in one hour. Will write later. Don’t forget what I said.

Love
Duke.

[Postmark: June 16, 1942]
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[U.S. Naval Hospital - Corpus Christi, Texas]

June 14, 1942

Dearest Anna Mae,

I’ll bet you are rather angry with me but it really isn’t my falt. I wrote mother & just as I finished I was called on duty at medical ward II & worked from then til 9 oclock at night & have every day till this evening. 14 hours per day.

I signed up in Okla City at 4:30 last tues. night, caught a train at 5:30 & landed here in Corpus at 6 oclock Wed evening. Road in a pullman & was given money for meals. My first meal cost $1.35 pretty high for me but I didn’t care it was on Uncle Sam.

The first 2 days I was sent around & took an examination & given small pox, tetanus, & typhoid shots. Then I checked out my uniforms. Saturday I went to work in the hospital. I check peoples (Men) temperatures, pulse, & Respiration Rate. We are suppose to get paid the 15th. but I haven’t been here long enough to have my record straightened out yet. Won’t be paid til 1st. also where I work I serve the patients their meals.

This is a Naval Air training station there has been 5 men killed in plane crashes since I have been here. There are planes in the air Day & night.

I am trying to get to work in the laboratory where they run blood tests, type blood & make cell counts. I hope I get it. also we run tests for syphillis.

You don’t have to worry about me going with anyone (if you do) they tell me girls don’t even look at a sailor down here. I haven’t been to town yet & may not go for a month or so.

The first time I go to town I’ll have a picture made & send it to you.

Have you heard about the effect of salt petre? Well if you haven’t it reduces your sexual desires & they put it in our food.

If the rumor is true I won’t be sent on ship for 2 or three months & maybe not at all.

We are on the shore of the Gulf of Mexico. It is about 2 Blocks from where I sleep. I think I’ll go down & swim tomorrow. I can’t think of anything to tell you so ask me when you write anything you would like to know.

With all My Love
Duke.

Dad’s WWII Letters to Mom™
A celebration of love and discovery by Duke’s son.
Copyright © 2005 — Arthur Dale Baker — All Rights Reserved

This entry was posted on Friday, February 11th, 2005 at 5:59 pm and is filed under Dad's WWII Letters. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.  |   Print This Post  |   Email This Post

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