[Vol. 1: Number 9 — A Continuing Friday Blog Series]

My Mom saved all the letters that my Dad wrote to her while he was away at colledge and then also during his service in the Navy from summer 1942 until the war ended in 1945. There are over 400 letters, telegrams and postcards that allow us into the mind of “Duke” as he works to serve his country as best he can, and as he struggles to be worthy of, and to keep the commitments he has made to his beloved Anna Mae.

My Dad served the early part of his Navy tour of duty in Norfolk, Virginia during the late summer/early fall of 1942. Lots going on there, but he doesn’t mention anything, such as the battleship USS Alabama that was built in the shipyard there and commissioned on that Aug. 16, so he probably didn’t know about it. He actually mentions in this week’s letters that they, he and his buddies, don’t know what is going on in the world or in the war, although maybe he is trying to keep Mom from worrying.

Nice to know that the ol’ man was arguing for his faith against the secular humanists in his barracks, guess I am a chip off the old block, after all.

He is continuing to reassure his Anna Mae that he is not drinking or out carousing around with other women, and is desperately hoping that she is doing the same. Like my Mom would have ever been drunk.

What comes through all these letters is his homesickness and continual loneliness. It’s so hard in these times of cell phones, fax machines and email to get into the mindset of someone whose only contact with the woman he loves is via the 8-day wait provided by the U.S. Postal Service, now affectionately known as “snail mail”! What patience I may have, I learned from him.

So, once again, my father’s letters, continued . . . (db)

[Postmark: September 12, 1942]
[Click image for larger view]

[Norfolk, VA]

Sept. 11, 1942

My Darling,

I slipped yesterday and didn’t write you a letter. I was on ambulance duty & boy was we busy, started at 6 o’clock & got through at 1:30. We made two trips to Portsmouth hospital & one trip to Camp Bradford, so tonight I thought I’d write you an extra long letter & just then we got another ambulance call to Portsmouth again. It is now 10 o’clock & the lights in the barracks are out, but I am determined to write you so guess where I am writing this letter. It is a place where they never turn out the lights, by the way, do you smell anything?

I heard from J.L a couple of days ago & wrote right back. I’ll bet he will be surprised.

I am glad none of our friends have forgotten us. It pays to have friends, that is (real friends). I saw my friend Bill while I was over at Portsmouth tonight. He asked me if I was married yet. He sure is a swell guy.

By the way, the trip to Virginia Beach has been called off. I knew something would happen.

All My Love
Duke

[Postmark: September 14, 1942]
[Click image for larger view]

[Norfolk, VA]

Sept. 11, 1942

Hello Sweetheart,

How are you today, I feel like a million. I am taking my medicine like a man & am trying to quit smoking. I think I can do it, don’t you? I went to town Saturday & guess what I did? Well, you won’t believe it until you see it. [Not a clue, here - Okie]

I am sorry I didn’t write yesterday, but I went to the show & didn’t get back until late. I am not going to town any more so I won’t miss writing anymore. I am sorry about this paper, but it is all I have out here at the Inoculation Hut. You asked me about B.H.. Yes, he was in the Navy before. He and I planned on joining the Navy just after we graduated from High School. Well, he did and served 4 years.

He didn’t like it but he was a seaman. I guess that is pretty rough. I haven’t as yet got to see him. They are changing our liberty & boy is everyone hollering. We used to get off every other night & every other weekend starting at noon Saturday, but now we don’t have anymore weekends off. It won’t bother me in the least except I don’t like to work on Sunday, can you blame me? I am trying to write this and several guys are trying to talk to me so don’t blame me if it don’t make sense. I’ll bet you can guess what they are talking about. Yes, that’s right.

I got a letter from the people in the pictures I sent you. They are still in Corpus Christi. I don’t know if you ever understood who they were or not. They are Ted Sturgeon’s sister & Family.

I’ll have to quit, they are driving me crazy trying to listen & write at the same time.

All my Love.
Duke.

[Postmark: September 16, 1942]
[Click image for larger view]

[Norfolk, VA]

Sept. 15, 1942

Hell-o Sweetheart,

I know you don’t like typewritten letters but I don’t see how you can read the ones I write with pen and ink, and besides I can write more and better letters when I have time to think, besides I need the practice and how.

I don’t have any contact with the outside world, no papers, and we only listen to music on the radio, this is right, we aren’t interested in what is going on in this war torn world of ours. Boy how I can rave! No fooling, we don’t hear much about the war in here, they just don’t talk about it, and you would be surprised they all seem to want to get in to it, the only thing that seems to make them mad is because they have to stay here so long and can’t get right into the war.

I don’t know if I will ever get this written, every time I start someone comes in for a shot, some of the men were on duty and we have to shoot them when they come in, stragglers we call them. And also, they are building a weather shelter around the hut and of all the noise, hammering, sawing and all kind of noises.

They just brought a man in with a cut in his head and we had to give him a tetanus shot, he acts out of his head, yes, he is a little goofy.

Well, here I am trying to write you and I don’t know what to say. I LOVE YOU.

They are having a show tonight so I think I will go to it. I don’t know just what it (will be), but there isn’t any thing else to do. Oh, if you were only here I would be satisfied and would ask for nothing else.

[handwritten part]

I guess I’ll have to finish this with pen & ink. Say, guess what I just got, another letter from my best girl, You. I was certainly surprised but pleased. I suppose now that I won’t get one tomorrow. Your letters are my main interest.

I am sending you a clipping of an article written about the outfit I am in. It was in Colliers magazine this last week. I hope you get that picture you wanted real soon, I am trying like everything.

I am not afraid of you getting drunk ever, you can’t stand the taste remember, & you needn’t worry about me. I was only kidding.

I wouldn’t feel right going with anyone else & I wouldn’t have any fun, so I am not going with another girl except You.

These guys here are now arguing about the Bible & evolution, can you imagine? Some of them don’t believe in the Bible. Boy, do we have a time arguing.

It sure is hot here, I am wringing wet with sweat.

I can’t think of anything else so By till next time.

All my Love
Duke

[Postmark: September 17, 1942]
[Click image for larger view]

[Norfolk, VA]

Sept. 16, 1942

Hello Darling,

Well, I finally bought some new stationary. I ran out again. This isn’t much better, but it is all you can get on the compound.

We moved today (the hospital corps), we just moved to a new building, nothing to it except a lot of trouble. I even smashed my little finger in the process, sure does hurt, want to kiss it? Oh, now it feels better. I don’t know what I would do without you. My Darling, you are my life.

We didn’t do much today, we just messed around & shot a few officers.

I didn’t get a letter yesterday I mean today, but I got two yesterday so I guess it is all right.

You can’t believe anything you hear in the Navy, the stuff about changing liberty is a bunch of hooey. In the Navy, they call it Scuttle Butt. In other words, it is just hear say, or rumor.

Well, how is everything in Tulsa by now. I am sure you like your work because it is new & interesting, buy the way, how do you like your boss, or do you have a boss who tells you what to do. This is the best part about the job in the inoculation hut. I have no boss, just do everything more or less as I please, just so I get the work done.

My nose and throat is already feeling a lot better since I started taking this medicine, jut think, that’s all I needed all these years & no doctor was smart enough to know. This doctor is a specialist in eyes, ears, nose & throat.

Well, here I start on my third page, say that’s a record for me, isn’t it?

I could tell you a few more times how much I love you, but I am hoping you know that by now. I even believe you trust me now, & I certainly trust you. If it will only remain that way our life will be a happy one & as far as I am concerned, It will be. I have changed a lot since I met you. I have you to thank for making it better. With your love to guide me, my self control has grabbed hold of me & straightened me out. I am a changed man because I am Very much in love with you, My Darling.

I Love You
“Duke”

P.S. I hope you don’t think me silly, but it is the truth as I see it.

[Postmark: September 17, 1942]
[Click image for larger view]

[Norfolk, VA]

Sept. 17, 1942

Hello Darling,

I just mailed you a letter not more than 30 minutes ago. The one I wrote last night, & here I am writing another. I just now got one from you. That is the trouble with having to wait so long for an answer. It takes 8 days to get an answer from a letter. In the letter today, you send your regrets because I was sick & I haven’t been sick for a week, but that is the best we can do, & thanks a million for feeling sorry for me. I only wish I had the privilege of getting all my colds from you. I guess you won’t be having colds anymore. I am certainly proud of the outcome of your physical examination. I personally had never doubted it but it is something to be proud of & stay proud of, as long as a person has good health they can get along. It doesn’t matter what you look like, for example, look at me. I could never have gotten in the Navy if I wasn’t in good health. They don’t care what I look like. But you Darling, have Good Health & looks, both. You also have personality plus, as a matter of fact you are just what I want. May I have you? Thanks a million!

Have you heard anything about my little brother in Calif.? I haven’t heard from him in ages. The last I heard about him was from you. Has he & Gladys tied the knot yet, or have you heard. I sure like Gladys, she is a swell person. You can quote me on that.

Tell Pauline Hello & to keep her chin up. I am sorry I hadn’t mentioned her before, but I thought about her & how she was standing this war situation with Paul gone. [Paul was Mom's older brother who was killed by a sniper in Okinawa, Pauline was his wife and is still active in the family all these many years later, even after remarrying. It's quite a special family! - Okie] Say, you may get a few pointers from her on how it is to be married & away from your husband, or have you already looked into that matter? My, aren’t you glad you are not tied down, or are you?

You said your old friend Marlene wouldn’t live with you. You didn’t happen to suggest that she live somewhere else did you? I thought so. Shame on you. I really can’t blame you though because I know how she gets on my nerves sometimes, don’t quote me on this, but I think she would like to hook my brother, what do you think? Say, I am not in the habit of gossiping, but I don’t have anything else to talk about, except that I love you & that is the reason I do all of this writing.

With all my Love
Duke.

P.S. I AM LONELY.

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

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