3 March 1947
My very very dearest Ellen,
I'm still sweating it out in hopes of getting at least a word of where I might be going to be assigned but as of yet it's no use. I left home in a rush in order to come here and lay around and do absolutely nothing. It's just like everything else you rush like mad to wait for something to happen. As of yet nothing has happen(ed) but as I promised I'll call you as soon as it does. I'm hoping and praying for a good deal but as always I'm prepared for anything that isn't so good. Most of all I miss you so terribly much. It's driving me nuts not being with you and laying around here doing nothing doesn't ease the pain either. Once I get out of this lash-up I'll never leave you, ever, for anything. I love you so very very much. Sunday afternoon I went to town with another chief and I must have played 'Sweet Sixteen' by the Mills Brothers at least thirty times. I was driving everyone crazy as I played it three times at a clip and all that seemed to come out of the jukebox was 'I loved you as I never loved before' etc. I enjoyed it an awful lot.
I've met a lot of guys that I knew in Okinawa since I've arrived here so I'm not among strangers. They are waiting of an assignment also so we are all in the same boat. My name isn't on the list yet but tomorrow I'll probably learn something. I never really new how much I disliked this racket until now and I'll get rid of it as soon as is possible believe me. I could possibly go to Memphis Tennessee if I agreed to ship over when my time was up but they can do anything they wish to me as I'm not going to sign over. I guess since my return to the states and after getting married I am seeing thru all together different eyes but I'm a civilian at heart I have finally realized and a civilian I want to be.
As for you coming out here with me when I get settled well I hope things ease up as houses and apartments are terribly scarce and are almost an impossibility to get. I thought the Boston housing problem was bad but it seems good in comparison to this area. That is one reason why I want to go elsewhere preferably East where we won't be so far apart.
For the time being honey don't write until I send you a definite address which should be in a day or two. I'll continue to write to you though and I'll call at intervals which won't be too far apart possibly once a week or so. Just to hear your voice does wonders to my morale which at this moment is at a very low ebb. I realize I must snap out of it and I guess I will in time but not right away. I miss you so very vey much and I love you with all my heart and soul. Please take care of yourself and God Bless You.
Always
Your everlasting husband
John
P.S. Addressing this seems very strange."
My very dearest Ellen, 4 March 1947
Hello again! I'm still sweating it out and still no reply. I was classified today and made my choices of duty known to the powers that reign around here. As far as it goes it's not bad. I applied for duty at Jacksonville Memphis Corpus Christi or Pensacola with an alternate choice being San Diego. Yesterday I feared that I would be forced to sign over or agree to it, but since I have over a years obligated service I didn't have to. Now all I have to do is pray that it all comes true. I was asked if I wanted sea duty and I replied in the negative but definitely. If I'm not sent out of here before you receive this letter please say a nice long prayer for me that I'll be stateside for awhile.
Aside from my classification venture nothing has changed around here at all. I visited the Ship's Service here and about all they have is high prices much too high for me to cope with at present. I'm still looking around for your wedding present but so far no luck. I'll find it yet though but my big regret will be that I won't be around to deliver it in person to you and that makes me feel mighty blue indeed. I've been going to call you up every night but I don't want to run your telephone bill up onto three and four figures so I'll just wait for week-ends or until something definite happens here.
Most of the guys have been waiting around here for a week or more so I guess I can look forward to spending that much time here also. It isn't bad as all I have to do is lay around and eat. It won't be hard for me to do as I've been doing just that for the past couple of years. I miss you terribly hon, and wish longingly that we could be together but it can't be helped at present. I checked into that marriage allowance and I won't be able to apply for it until I get permanently assigned so I'm hoping that it will be soon. Tomorrow is pay day so if they pay me all that they owe me I'll send you a few hundred bucks for our bank account. Well honey I haven't much more to say today so I guess I'll just sign off for now until tomorrow. I love you with all my heart and soul and I miss you so very very much. Please take care and God Bless you.
Your ever-loving husband
Always
John
P.S. This is my proper address on the envelope.
J.J.P. Manning ACM
Commander Fleet Air
Reassignment Unit - Wing 10
U.S.N.A.S Alameda
Alameda California"
The back of the envelope said:
"Ellen
John called. He will be stationed in Kansas - he will call again tomorrow.
Ma,
Call me at 9:30.
Rita"
"5 March 1947
My very very dearest Ellen
Today was 'happy' day on this base as all the lads were paid including your ever-loving husband. What I had in the books seemed considerable to me but in comparison to some of the other guys who just returned it seemed paltry indeed. I drew $525 bob clearing my accounts and I'm sending you five hundred of it to build up that bank account of ours. Don't worry about me running short as I still have a hundred and twenty-five bucks on me to tide me over in case I run into an emergency. As I tally things up now we should have about four thousand simoleans to our credit if we consider our war bonds at cost instead their mature value. In my humble estimation we are doing rather nicely I think, and I'll even try harder from now on in to accumulate larger additions to our by now quite grown nest egg. If things go fairly smooth we should have possibly six or maybe seven thousand dollars holed up, that is if I take it easy and not splurge. My Parker '51 just ran out of ink so I'm forced to resort to a more primitive pen. As for my splurges they have to come to a screeching halt and I am strictly on the straight and narrow from now on in. It's a lot different now than during the war as the tension is all gone and everyone is using their head once again. I shall never cheat on you ever or ever in anyway or form so help me God. That promise is from the bottom of my heart with my soul as a witness.
I still haven't received any orders so I'm still just awearing away waiting for orders and pining for you. I'll call you up Saturday night and possibly Sunday if I'm still here which should be a certainty. This month seems to be rolling by at a pretty rapid pace so that will cut down the time I have to spend after I get assigned.
I met three officers that I knew in Okinawa and they are awaiting discharge. They only spent about five months out there so they aren't to bad off. They have a racket anyhow no matter where they go. I hope your saying your prayers for me because they usually helped me out when I needed help the most. Well honey I've got to close out for now and I'll resume tomorrow. If the post master in Watertown doesn't know you, you will probably need a marriage certificate to cash these money orders. I love you like mad and I will always and always. If some day in the near future your learn from official circles that your beloved husband has gone stark-raving mad it's because I love you and miss you so terribly much. I love you with all my heart
for always
Always
John"
"6 March 1947
My very very dearest Ellen,
Another dreary lonesome day has passed along and I'm still awaiting word as to my ultimate destination. I sincerely hope that they arrive soon as I'm going batty just sitting around doing absolutely nothing. I went on liberty yesterday but returned in disgust after seeing a show and getting something to eat. The places are all dead since the war ended. I guess it's because I have no real interest in anything or anybody but you and you alone.
I keep thinking of you all day long and all night until I fall asleep. You mean more to me than anything or anybody in this whole wide world so I guess that is what makes everything so uninteresting out here as fas as I'm concerned. Right now I'm trying to concentrate on this letter as Al Jolson sings 'Swanee' on Eddie Cantor's program. It's another reminder of you. Everything is a reminder.
I love you so desperately and I miss you so very very much that sometimes I don't or can't possibly understand how we can be apart. It tortures me sometimes just to think of it. That is one reason that I want to get permanently assigned so that we can be together again. I hope that it will be real soon or else I'll go raving mad, believe me.
I believed that I loved you as much as anyone could possibly love anybody prior to our getting married but now I find that it was nothing compared to the love I have for you now. I hate and detest anything that keeps us apart and that goes for the Navy also. I'm getting to hate it more and more each and every day simply because I figure it's instrumental and undoubtedly the sole factor that keeps us apart. When I get out I'll get a job of any kind or description just to be near you at all times. The afternoon we packed my bags I thought I was going to bust out in tears because I felt so bad about leaving and if the plane didn't leave when it did I know that I'd be shedding gallons of tears just because I was leaving. I'm just kicking myself every day because I didn't get out last fall when I could have but it's too late now I'm afraid. I've promised to call you over the week-ends but if during the week you get a call from me it's because I feel so very very lonesome. Honest honey I hope I never have to say 'good bye' to you again even if we live to be a hundred because I know I won't possibly be able to do it.
How are all your folks your mother especially? She is a very wonderful person honey and I guess you realize it. Give her my love and best wishes. I've got to take a shower and hit the hay as it's getting close on to my bedtime. I'm not really tired but laying around has got me drowsy and sleepy. I love you so very very much honey that it hurts when I can't tell you in person. I miss you terribly, so very terribly.
All my love to you and
God Bless you
Always & always
John.
P.S. Give my luck and best wishes to your Aunt Nellie and Fred and tell them I'll drop them a line possibly tomorrow. "
"7 March 1946
My very very dearest Ellen,
I just refilled my Parker '51so I figure I'll be able to continue correspondence for a while anyway. I have only one fault to find with this writing weapon and that is the fact that it digs into the paper as it writes and it picks up everything like blue serge. Honey, I'm going to ask you right now from (the) start to pray hard and often because I have been reclassified. I am eligible for shore duty and have taken a shot at a place called Olathe in Kansas. Please pray that I succeed and make it. I have been told that I can have shore duty but if I get duty out here on the West Coast I'll still feel insecure as you can never tell when or how soon you'll wind up aboard ship or on your way overseas once again. If I hit the mid-West I can always apply for duty in the 'nice' Atlantic. You must be praying very hard as my luck seems to be getting better all the time. Please keep it up honey and I'll probably wind up half way back home as everyone said. At that time it didn't seem possible but now it at long last appears to be realistic and a near possibility. If I get there it will be only a matter of eight or ten flying hours to get home which is all I think of all day. When I think of home I think of you and us and that is all just the two of us. It seems to good to be true honest it does. If I don't get there at Olathe I'll be sent to Memphis or Jacksonville. Those are my choices but I like Olathe best of all.
Today was inspection day around here so I've been walking around doing nothing at all for the whole day. My feet are very very tired. As it will everywhere it started to rain about noon so the day is overcast and dreary. I wish that you could be here to brighten it up for me in your own special way. I love you and miss you so terribly much but if I hit Kansas and things break anyway half decent I'll have you come down and take up household duties. I hope everything breaks out all right all around and maybe we'll be together again as we should be. That will be simply wonderful I assure you. As soon as I finish this letter I think I'll call you up and tell you all about it. I'm going overboard on this deal so if I'm disappointed and fail to get what I want I think I'll die from frustration. I'll close out now. I love you with all my heart and soul and miss you so very very much.
All my love & God Bless you
Always
John
PS. Keep praying hard."
"8 March 1947
My very dearest Ellen,
Well I've called you up and I feel wonderful after hearing your voice. You always have been and you always will be my best morale builder no matter where I am or what I am doing. Before we were married I may have caused you an awful lot of pain and heartache and I am really very very sorry that I did but I'll never cause you another moments pain or grief again, I promise, from the bottom of my heart. It wasn't that I didn't love you, as you may have thought, but just the truthful fact that I was a pure, unadulterated ignorant jerk who didn't know when he was well off. Well, those days are have gone forever and shall never ever return. Since we've been married I feel so happy and joyous that I don't really understand why we didn't get married sooner. It's wonderful and always will be as long as we are together, which will be forever as soon as I get out of here. Right now my heart aches and aches for you but there is nothing I can do but phone, write or dream all day about you. As we've so often said our day will come along eventually and when it does it will remain forever and forever.
As I told you over the phone I went in town today and had something to eat, sent you your flowers and then sat thru two showings of the 'Jolson Story.' The songs are so vivid, so to speak, and they mean so much to both of us that I could hardly leave the theater to call you up. Oh love ~ your wonderful. I tried to get the flowers delivered prior to the phone call to sort of surprise you but no dice and then I recalled that Sunday is the ninth and we have been married for one month tomorrow. I love you! I love you! I love you! It's too bad that we can't be together but since it's impossible - God love you and keep you always.
It's a good thing I went in town today as the noon meal has given a lot of these guys ptomaine poisoning. I came back here just before I phoned you and found a guy heaving like mad just like I did that Friday night at home. Before I knew it the ambulance backed up and took him and a couple of more over to the hospital. I guess I have the luck of the Irish at that.
Well honey I'm going to close out for now until tomorrow afternoon. I miss you so awful much that it hurts. I dream of you all night and pine for you all day so please pray real good and hard that we can be together real soon again. I love you with all my heart and soul and I miss you terribly.
All my love to you Always
and may Good keep you & bless you
Always John x"
"9 March 1947
My very dearest darling Ellen,
Today we have been married one whole month and nothing I can do, write or say can tell you just how happy I am. My only regret is that I'm not with you now so that we could in some small way celebrate the occasion together rather than being so far apart. I love you with my whole heart and soul and will always and always. I should have postponed my phone call last night until tonight but I knew that you were anxiously awaiting news as to my new choice of duty. I sincerely hope that you liked the roses that I sent to you. I plodded the streets of Oakland for at least a good hour before I could locate a florist and when I did I spotted at least a dozen of them. Out here you can't find anything unless you stumble onto it. I hope that you are praying hard for me because when you tell me that you are praying hard I know that my luck will be good. It always has been good in the past save for an unfortunate journey to Okinawa but that's over with and I have some shore duty to look forward to for a spell. I'll stretch it until my hitch is up and our separation will be at an end. It seems too good to be true. That sixty day leave I had spoiled me I guess. I saw an awful lot that I never realized could happen. When you spend a few years in this outfit, you think Navy, do Navy and see thru Navy eyes. To most of the guys that are in here now as a career that's the way they like it but not me. I always wanted to roam around but I have come to the realization that it doesn't pay off in the long run. All I want to do now is settle down with you and battle the rest of the world for a livelihood (sp). As I have told you over and over again you are the only thing that matters to me and will to my dying day. All I ever want is to make you happy - always. My being in service would never see that end materialize because we would be constantly separated and when I'm not with you I'm sad and melancholy. I can hardly wait to get out but I guess I'll just have to wait till my time comes. I love you very very much and miss you like anything honey. I hope my orders come in so that I can get to see you real soon. I'm counting on Olathe Kansas so if I'm disappointed the Navy is going to have a raving maniac on its hands. I guess I'll close out for now and I'll write again tomorrow
All my love to you and
God bless you
Always.
John."
"10 March 1947
My very very dearest Ellen,
Another day has passed, and I am still waiting, although quite impatiently. The whole scheme of things gets me quite upset and my nervous system does flip-flops. Maybe tomorrow will bring some results, I certainly hope so anyway or else yours truly will be (a) nervous wreck. I know where I'm going but the waiting around gets me on edge. I guess this Navy will return to you a nervous husband to love and care for until he becomes quite cured. All I really need is you and you alone to cure all my ailments whatever they may be.
I invested in a green uniform today and not boasting at all I say that I cut quite a neat figure in it. They called them aviation greens and they are as sharp as glass. I was going to buy them when I was home but never did get around to it. I'll wear them for you whenever we get together again and you can pass your honest judgement on them. I know they will meet your approval because they are really sharp. I'm sort of stranded now as my greens are being tailored, and my blues are in the cleaners. I went on my ear yesterday and landed in a puddle. I was perfectly sober but slipped coming down a few wet steps. The damage was just a few stains that can be easily removed by the cleanser. I remained unscathed.
It's just about supper time as I'm writing and since I'm on a diet (?) I'm going to miss it. Usually I only eat the noon meal here and if I get hungry I run into town and get something to eat. The 60 day leave ruined my appetite for this kind of slop especially after the feeds your Aunt Nellie sent my way. I often wonder where I put all that food she set in front of us. When we make our first two or three million we will have to hire Fred & your Aunt Nellie to cook and tend the furnace for us. Agreed? You start on your five million now and so will I. It will take us time more than we have I'm afraid but we can try. Today I was thinking of our second honeymoon, you know the one we planned up into Canada. It sounds wonderful and too good to wait for. I guess I had better start marking off the days until then. I miss you so very very much and my old heart is longing and pining in agony for you. When can we possibly get together for always? I keep thinking and thinking all day and all night about you, missing you so terribly. It can't go on like this forever so we had better come together soon or better still they had better give me orders out of here so that I can get within hailing distance of you at least. Please keep praying and hoping that they come in soon because I miss you so very very much. I love you with all my heart and soul.
All my love to you and
God Bless You
Always
John x"
"11 March 1947
My very dearest darling Ellen,
Another day has passed and still no news neither good or bad. One incident occurred though that gave me a momentary lift. At noon master they called me out but only handed me a health record to be taken to sick bay to be checked. It had me on edge for a while but curses nothing at all happened. The orders are coming in very slowly so there is nothing for me to do but wait and wait. This waiting and laying around is getting me very moody and it's making me most unhappy. I think of you back home and me out here and I curse the day I joined this outfit. I get blue and melancholy and it doesn't do me any good whatsoever. I shall never do a foolish thing again in my life so help me. I miss you fiercely honey no kidding. I'm just blue that's all and you are the only one that can cure it. I hope something happens tomorrow to give me a spark of hope or light to help tide me over. How are things at home with you and everyone else? That reminds me I haven't written to my mother yet but that can wait a while as you are all my heart and soul from now on in. I'm going in town tomorrow to get some Saint Patricks Day cards for all and sundry just to remind them that I haven't forgotten them since I left dear old home. I guess I miss them all as they remind me of you and home and everything that I hold near and dear and all that I love. I guess I'm homesick after all these years dogging around and I want to settle down with the one I love and be happy and contented for the rest of my days. It sounds idealistic but it's true. All I want to do is settle down with you and be happy raising a family. Right now it seems so far off that it frightens me but it won't be so long if I can get my mind occupied doing something that will make the time fly past for me. This laying around makes the days seem twice as long as they are. Before we were married I had some thing to work at and the war to think of. That kept my mind quite full of thoughts but now it's different and things are so much different. No matter where they send me, nor what they give me to do you will be my first and last thought always. I'm insanely in love with you and everything else can go to the hot-place. I should get a letter from you either tomorrow or the next day and it will do me a world of good to hear from you again. I keep looking for mail although I know none is due for a while but anxiety and anticipation keep me guessing. Well honey, I'll close out for now until tomorrow. I miss you so very very much and I love you so.
All my love to you always
And may God bless you
Always and always.
John x."
"12 March 1947
My very dearest darling Ellen,
How are you today? It was just another day for me today and still no word. Wednesdays are only half-days in the Navy now that the war is over so I consider it another day wasted. Maybe tomorrow I keep telling myself and one of these days I'm going to be correct. Since it was only a half day I went into town and browsed around. I had something to eat and went to the show. I'm leading a quiet easy life and feel so much better for it. I saw that picture 'California' with Ray Milland and Barbara Stanwyck with Barry Fitzgerald as an added attraction. They should have quit before they filmed it - as it was most boring. The only one I enjoyed was Barry Fitzgerald. It's a propaganda film depicting early times in 'beautiful' California and showing how crooked some people are. The old times have left but the crooks still remain and have grown ten fold. I've seen all I ever want to see of this so called garden of Eden and will rejoice when I leave it.
On my way back here to the base I dropped into a store and got some St Patricks Day cards for all and sundry so that I won't have to answer embarrassing questions if and when I get home to you once again. Already it seems like years since I've seen you although it's only a matter of twelve days but those twelve days have given me the willies. Even speaking to you last Saturday night seems so long ago that I feel that I'm neglecting you or something. I think of you every day and I miss you very, very much. I wish that I could go home and stay but no soap. I keep complaining like this and I feel like a cry-baby but I'm not. I'm just so madly in love with you and I miss you so. I hope you understand. I try to take things easy but I can't. I start to do something or go somewhere and bango something occurs that reminds me of you. I start my day dreaming all over again. I guess I'll have to learn to control my thoughts. I had a remedy for my lonesomeness for you at Willow Grove. I went all out and got drunk but I've sworn off since I came back. I don't think I've had over three drinks at any one time since I've been out here. I haven't any urge for it any more. You are my life and my whole love, you and you alone. Everything that I do or ever hope to do or be, will be because I love you and I want to make you so very happy. Well honey I've got to close out for now but I'll write again tomorrow. I expect a letter from you tomorrow and if things break even maybe I'll get word of my departure from here. Here's hoping anyway. I love you so very very much and miss you terribly.
All my love and God Bless you
Always & always
John x"
"14 March 1947
My very dearest darling Ellen,
I got the dope today as to my next tour of duty. You will probably find this old news as I'm going to call you up about it Saturday anyway. The tour list came out today and I am bound for Corpus Christi instead of Olathe Kansas as was my original choice. I knew I shouldn't have gone out on a limb as to my choices and the Navy has taught me to expect nothing and take what you get. I was convinced when they told me about Olathe or Memphis Tennessee but I should have known better. This is supposed to be my permanent station but I'll have to wait until I got there to be sure of anything. If everything works out all right I'll put in for a house and bring you down. If I can't go to you I'll bring you to me. How will that be honey? I still haven't got any mail from you so if you're writing I'm not getting it yet. Maybe it's held up somewhere and I'll get them all at once. I'm glad that I'm assigned at long last as I was beginning to get unstrung from laying around and thinking of you. Now that I'm assigned and everything looks rosy for the time being I feel so much better. Now I can look forward to seeing you once again. It feels wonderful no kidding. From the way it sounds I'll be there for quite awhile maybe until my enlistment runs out. I certainly hope so anyway. I guess things aren't so bad after all. I was going to call you up tonight but I'll get official confirmation tomorrow and I'll call the official word Saturday. I don't want you going around in circles. We are do to leave here until Monday or Tuesday so I'll just lay around some more.
I love you and miss you so very much. That's my only complaint now and I'll solve that as soon as I get to Texas. That Corpus Christi is on the Gulf not far from Mexico so if we get together again maybe we can take a trip to Mexico before we settle down. I hope everything breaks all right. I guess we'll have to go on praying that it does. I'll certainly be glad to get out of here and this West Coast. Oh happy day! I love you! I love you! I love you!
Honey I'll have to close out for now and I'll write again tomorrow when I know that everything is strictly official and not subject to change by the powers that be. I love you so very very much and I miss you so terribly. Maybe soon we'll be together again as we should. I hope so and I'm praying for it honestly.
All my love to you Always
God Bless You Always
John xx"
The back of the envelope says "Ma - I have to get up about 6:30 or 6:45 Hannie.'
u
"15 March 1947
My very very dearest darling Ellen,
Today is the Ides of March and did you file your income tax return? I hope so because I couldn't stand it if you went to jail for failure to do so. I'm really very happy today as I received three letters from you. There is nothing like mail to soothe an aching and longing heart. It was wonderful hearing from you and it gave my spirits a terrific boost. I needed it as I was really blue and down in the dumps. Since my orders are in and your mail is arriving everything is taking a turn for the better. Before I go any farther, I love you very very much and I miss you an awful lot.
I'm glad to hear that Jim's baby has finally arrived as the delay was causing an awful lot of tension. I guess Jim is relieved, but in a small way disappointed because it wasn't a boy. Better luck next time I guess. You know the old saying If at first you don't succeed try, try again. I hope when we start raising our family that it doesn't turn out to be all girls. It's just my luck though. The Keohanes seem to have all girls and my side is masculine so maybe we'll split even. I guess we'll have to wait and see anyway but it sounds good nevertheless. Now to get to your letters. I guess we both feel the same about being separated so early in our young married life. I never thought that I couldn't miss anything or anybody like the way I miss you. I guess we both feel the same way. I want you so badly that at times I think I'm blowing my top. You are on my mind constantly. I guess when they give me a job to do I'll feel better and will have something to occupy my mind. But I'll still think of you no matter what I do. You too are the bestest of the bestest and the best and nicest wife in the world and I'm not fooling either. I love you so very much. As far as sleeping alone, I don't like it one bit either. I guess your nice comfortable bed spoiled me because these beds feel like planks to me now, they are so hard. When we set up house that is going to be our most important piece of furniture. Nothing but the best for our nocturnal comfort.
Writing all those letters must have given you a case of writers cramp. The gifts though were worth it and everyone was so wonderful to us. As for my living like a hermit because I'm married please don't get me wrong. I have good times when I go out but I reiterate I won't cheat on you ever so help me. Your my wife and the only girl that means anything to me. You are the only girl that I ever wanted and the only girl that I ever will want. I am hopelessly, blindly and madly in love with you and no one else counts at all. Well honey, I'll answer your other letters tomorrow and I'll call you up tomorrow night. Till then I'll sign off. I love you and miss you very very much.
All my love always and
God bless you
Always
John xx."
"16 March 1947
My very dearest darling Ellen,
I miss you so very very much that it's depressing, but I'll get used to it eventually. It's Saturday afternoon and I'm waiting to call you. I don't want to call you too early as you may be working or out shopping and if I called and you weren't home, I'd feel awful. I hope I leave here Monday as my anxiety to leave is getting the best of me. The sooner I get settled the sooner we can get together again. From what I hear the housing situation at Corpus Christi is pretty good and I may make out without too much delay. I'm hoping so anyway as I want you with me very very much. I am supposed to leave Monday or Tuesday and by train it will take a couple of days anyway. Once I get a job to do everything will be all right, I know as the time will fly by for me. I don't know how long it will take to get home from Corpus Christi but I'll soon find out once I get there. If it takes too long we can rendezvous somewhere, possibly Chicago or somewhere. I've simply got to see you soon or I'll go nuts honestly. I was expecting mail today but I'll have to wait until Monday as there is no Mail Call here over the week-end. I guess I had better answer your letters now as they give me inspiration. The only thoughts I have in my mind are you and you alone. Mentally I'm in a rut but it's a lovely beautiful rut that I hope I never get out of. Being madly and hopelessly in love with you is all that I ever want to be. I'm glad that you liked the flowers. Roses, I heard somewhere, mean undying love. As for a reoccurrence of our wedding night that was really something. You were so very very bashful that you sat for at least 30 minutes looking out the window down on Beacon Street until I was forced to pick you up bodily and place you quite gently on the bed. As we got under the covers you had to get up again to remove your robe and then we settle down to a night of bliss and solitude. Every night I spent with you was like a wedding night to me and will continue that way always. It took us a long while to perform our marital obligation but when we succeeded I was indeed very glad. I didn't mind our failures and mishaps. I only hope that it doesn't take me that long to succeed again as I'll need a thirty day leave. Be that as it may every time I see you will be like a honeymoon and I can't wait until I see you again. I love you so very very much honey. I'm glad to see that you're going to the Monastery as it will use up a lot of time. I always pictured you as a clean, honest Catholic girl and that's the way I want you always. I've got to close out for now and I'll write again tomorrow. I love you so very very much and I miss you so terribly. Please take care of yourself.
All my love Always, and
God bless you.
Always.
John xx"
"16 March 1947
My very dearest darling Ellen,
Once again being a Chief paid off. I received two letters from you today that I didn't expect to get until tomorrow. I got your pictures also and they were swell, honest. After I called you up last night I went into Oakland and had a few but I couldn't get a boot out of them so I quit and went to see 'When Irish Eyes are smiling' starring Dick Haymes. That makes about the umpteenth time that I've seen it but I like the songs very much. Tomorrow is St Patricks Day and celebrations galore are being planned but I'd just as soon be home with you celebrating the great day. I guess Hibernian Hall will be jumping as usual tomorrow night while everyone will be Irish for the day. All St Patricks Day will hold in store for me is the possibility that I will get transferred out of here.
It did my heart and also my mind a world of good to speak to you over the phone yesterday as it gave me a boost in morale and a lot of reassurance that we weren't in two different worlds as the long distance between us makes it appear. You sounded wonderful and I feel very happy indeed, I guess I'm just plain homesick or I'm acting like a little boy a long way from home. As I've said before once I can knuckle down and get my mind occupied everything will be swell and the time will practically fly by ~ at least I'm counting on it to do so any way. While at Mass this morning I was poring thru my Missal and discovered that Easter is only three weeks away so time isn't standing still. I guess everyone is running around getting all decked out for the beautiful Sunday. I know that you will look swell as always so if you take any pictures rush them along to me.
I'm glad you like my letters. I don't think they are so hot but I speak from my heart every time that I write to you. I guess I can say things in letters that I'd never be able to say to you in person without choking up and stuttering and stammering. I love you very very much and I miss you so bad. You have work to occupy your mind but mine is centered on you all day and all night and there is nothing else that I can do but pine and long for you until I feel as though I'm about to explode with a terrible feeling of loneliness. That feeling will remain with me always whether I'm working or not maybe while my mind is busy it won't seem as strong and so urging but it will be there in my mind constantly day and night. I'll close this letter out and I'll write you again a little later in the day. I love you with all my heart and soul and I miss you an awful lot.
All my love to you Always
Always
John x"
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"16 March 1947
My very dearest darling Ellen,
After getting fed up on roast chicken I guess I have the strength and stamina to write another letter to you. Somehow or other writing to you makes me feel much closer and that helps out an awful lot, believe me. Today is another beautiful day out but maybe tomorrow will bring buckets of rain. I guess I'm turning out to be a cynic or a killjoy which ever is worse. The past few days have been nice I'll agree, nice and warm and sunny in typical California fashion. I guess I'll get to answering your mail before I go into a lengthy discourse on California's weather. The pictures as I've said before are really swell. They are clear and show you up as a beautiful bride that you are. Poor Joe looks as though he was about to freeze. You're wonderful honey and no one knows it better than I do. According to your letter
you seemed to be worried over the fact that I love you and miss you so much. Please don't worry about it honey as you're the you I love. The Ellen Keohane that I always knew and loved and since I married you I love you so very much more. I don't expect you nor would I ever want you to be perfect in every respect as then life wouldn't be worth living. You have faults and I have mine as we both agree. Just carry on as always honey as it's you and you alone that I love and miss so very much. You can never disappoint me, never. You see I'm the little 'boy' that was madly in love with you when I joined the Navy and went away to Florida. I almost wept many times while in Jacksonville every time I wrote to you and I heard the trains hooting as they headed north. I missed you always but after missing you so much and so often I guess I got hardened into it and more or less took you for granted and caused you some grief and heartache. For that I'm very sorry. Before going overseas I saw you for the longest time I had seen you all through the war. That leave removed all the aches and bruises the callousness and hardness that missing you had brought about. You often told me in your letters to me that if I ever cut loose or let myself go I could be very very romantic. Since I've come home and now since I'm married to you I've broken down all the restraints that kept me from pouring out my heart to you. If the war and the Navy hadn't interfered I guess I would be the same as always –. You see now I can go to you or you can come to me and I have no fear of cracking up. You say I've changed. I admit I've changed but back again to a guy who has no war or strife to worry or think about. Only you. You are all my thoughts, desires and wishes and I'll never cease loving you as I do right now – never ever. Please don't think I'm setting too high a mark for you as all I want you to ever be is just plain you, who I love, admire, and I could almost say worship. Just stay like you are and have always been as that's the girl that I love with all my heart and soul.
I've just read this letter over and I don't know if it makes sense or not. My mind is so full of thoughts of love for you that nothing else does make much sense. I'll close out now for today. I love you and miss you with all my heart and soul.
All my love to you Always
God Bless You
Always
John XXX."
"17 March 1947
My very dearest darling Ellen,
It's a nice, 'though sunless day out here in California although the usual St Patricks Day rain of Boston is missing. I wonder if it's raining back there now? As a kid I remember that it was always a bleak, cold, rainy day that they picked to hold their St Patricks Day parade. Out here they had their parade yesterday and I guess it went off pretty well from the way the papers wrote it up. I hope that someday, or some year I should say, I'll be home for St Patricks Day but if things keep going like they are I doubt it very very much. I guess I'm in the dumps once again. I didn't get any word yet as to when we are to leave for Corpus Christi so that doesn't exactly elate me. I did have one ray of sunshine fall on me, I received another letter from you today. It helped an awful lot as I sort of look forward to them anxiously. They are the greatest morale builders ever made as they spread more happiness than anyone can realize. I miss you terribly and I love you so very very much. I haven't any news for you either good or bad so I guess I'll get around to answering your letter.
By the way thanks for your rose petals. They smell wonderful even after this long spell. As for the last few days that I was home I guess I still haven't pulled myself out of the hole. I hated to leave more than anything and just thinking of it drove me to despair. Friday afternoon as I or we were getting ready to depart I almost burst into tears. I guess it's my Irish sentimentality but I felt so bad. That's why I have always hated to say goodbye for any length of time. I just choke up and all that comes out is tears. I'd love to be home with you now to stay forever and ever. It's got to happen soon as I miss you so much.
What happened to the fancy name that Bertha was going to christen the poor child? I guess Jim must have got her in one of her weaker moments and she agreed. I love Kathleen for a girls name but Maureen I'm not to hot on. It's Irish enough but it doesn't make too much sense. I guess it's feminine for Maurice a name I don't especially like. As far as looking like anybody why the poor kid has hardly been born yet never mind looking like anybody. Give her a couple of months yet and then we'll see who she resembles. If it's a girl it's got to look like a Keohane. I sincerely believe that it might cause Cynthia to be a little jealous now that all the attention won't be lavished on her as it was before. What's this Irish tea deal you speak of? One of those hen parties I hear so much about, where everyone talks and nobody says anything. I guess Madeline will be getting married in the near future so her terrific manpower problems will be all over ~ thank God. Boy, she had some dizzy ones. She was going around in circles for so long and so often I didn't know who she was going out with. Give my love and best wishes to your Aunt Nellie and Fred ~ they're swell. I'll close out for now until tomorrow. I love you with all my heart and soul and I miss you terribly. All my love to you always
God Bless You always
John xx"
My very dearest darling Ellen,
I have finally arrived at my point of duty and I don't think that it will be too bad. One consolation though, it's an awful lot better than being in Okinawa or some other sandy spot umpteen million miles away. It isn't that I like the place but it will have to do. I guess if they sent me to Squantum I'd complain over something or other. One thing about this place once you get here you're here to stay as the only way that you get out of here is on orders from Washington or by discharge. I guess I'll finish my time out here in Texas. This place is located out in the boon docks of Texas hundreds of miles from everywhere and only a rattle trap train as a means of salvation. On the way down from Houston I figure we stopped at every cowpoke town on the way and then finally the locomotive broke down. It's strictly a Toonerville Trolley sort of a railroad. I still don't know yet about air transport out of Corpus itself but when I go to town that will be my first objective, believe me. I looked into Naval Housing with wonderful thoughts of bringing you down but I might just as well have asked for a million dollars. If I apply I won't be able to get a house for us for about a year, ten months at the least. It's heart breaking the way things like that come up but that's the way that it is. I guess the only time that I'll get to see you will be on my leaves. As soon as I get settled around here I'm going to try to put in for some leave for the summer around the first of July. I'll probably be able to swing twenty to twenty five days about that time. I only wish that things would break right for us once in a while so that we could be together. I miss you so very very much. I haven't been assigned to any division as yet but I'll undoubtedly wind up working with civilians in the big Assembly and Repair Shops. That's where they pull airplanes apart and put them back together again. It won't be so bad and I think I'll be able to put up with it for a year or so. I get assigned Monday morning. It seems that everywhere I go I wind up on a weekend when there is no one around to help you out. They told me that all I needed for liberty was my I.D. card but poor Corpus is is about as big as Watertown Square. The nearest big town is Houston which is at least two hundred miles away. I'm going to lead a quiet secluded life down here as I have no alternative. There are rumors around that the base may fold up as manpower is scarce. It isn't like a real permanent base as everything is only temporary. There isn't a brick building on the whole station. No matter where you go you hear rumors though so I'm not even thinking about it. I have my time to do and that's all there is to it. It would be so much nicer if only you were nearby and then I would be completely happy. The only thing I'm glad of now is that I didn't go overseas again. That would have been the last straw. I love with my all my heart and soul honey and I miss you terribly. I'll close out for now and I'll call you in an hour.
All my love to you always and
Always
John x
P.S. This is not my address but your mail will get to me here all right.
I love you."
"23 March 1947
My very dearest darling Ellen,
How are you this fine day? I have just returned from the 'large' metropolis of Corpus Christi and I retract my previous statements as to its size. It's larger than Watertown Square and is in reality about as big as Waltham. The housing situation is pretty acute as it is everywhere, I learned, as I pondered over a glass of beer. I miss you terribly honey and if you want to come down here come along. You will be forced to live in a hotel but we've done that before. In your phone conversation with me you didn't say whether you wanted to stay here or just pay a visit of a week or two. If you come please give me a week or two days notice so that I can make reservations for you. It would be wonderful to have you here with me as I think of you all the time and not having you around drives me nuts. Once you get here we may be able to make arrangements so that you can stay down here with me till my time is up. I'd love to have you so very very much. There isn't much to do down here but we'd have each other and that's the most important thing. It isn't a bad towns as towns go and the bay and gulf are only a short distance away so at least when we have nothing else to do we could get tanned and sun-burnt. Just the idea of you being here fills me with delight, honest it does. I know it will lift me out of my miserable mood that arises in me every time I think of us so far apart. I think that you would like it down here as it's nice and warm days and cool at night. If and when you do come please travel by air as it would take you a month to get here by train. Please come honey even if only for a visit as I miss you desperately, honest I do. Talking to you on the phone last night made me feel so very very good so just imagine what seeing you and being with you would do for me. Why I'd be out of this world completely. Please come on down soon honey, please! The financial situation will be rough at the start but we have money in the bank and bonds to our credit and if being happy together uses them up we'll use them up. As for your job, to hell with that also. If necessary you can always get another. I need you so much honey and I miss you so very much. If I stay down here all alone for eighteen months I'm afraid you'll have a poor broken down wretch for a husband who'll wind up as a living example as the statuesque human 'Thinker.' Right now I wander around with my mind up in N.E. with you. Every song and incident that occurs reminds me of you in some way or another so you see how it is. Please come down honey if only for a visit as it will do me a world of good and build me up as nothing else in this world could possibly build me up. Tomorrow when I check in I'll apply for a house and sweat it out. I miss you so very very much. I'll have to close out for now honey so please let me know how you feel about it. I love you with all my heart and should and I repeat I miss you very very much.
All my love to you always
God Bless You
Always
John x"
"24 March 1947
My very dearest darling Ellen,
I'm back to work once again but I doubt very much if I'll work too hard. For one thing I'm not particularly interested in the deal that I'm in and secondly I don't think I'll be allowed to work very hard since I'm a chief and all that sort of thing. As far as chiefs go we have eight or nine now and the job only requires two so we are considerably overstocked in my rate. I checked in today at my new job and was told to come back whenever I saw fit. I'll drop in tomorrow afternoon. What a job to check in to this outfit! My legs are so tired from walking that I can hardly stand up. This base must cover at least twenty square miles and I think I covered every square inch of it. Oh for my automobile! I made out my allotments to you today but I haven't changed my life insurance beneficiary as yet. I'll do that tomorrow. Time was short and I had to rush but I'll change it real quick. I'll also have to change the name on my War bonds from Ellen Keohane to Mrs Ellen M. That name really sounds wonderful honey, honest it does. I miss you very very much kid and I think of you all of the time.
Rumors are flying that they may close up this base. I don't know how true they are but from all indication it could be a possibility. It would probably take five or six months to do it. All that is going on here now is the place that I'm in, and a class of cadets going thru training. They are the only ones flying and when they leave which will be in about 6 to eight weeks there will only be us. During the war this was a huge busy establishment but now it's dying completely. There are more civilians here than sailors so you can see how it is. I didn't register for housing for us yet but I received a few tips on it from some of the guys around here. It depends on the time in the Navy and the size of the family. Well honey I'm still a boot compared to some of these guys here and I have no family except you. It also depends entirely upon the fact that some guys, local yokels, have been here for years and years and have all the housing sewed up. That's what takes so long to acquire an abode for us. I'll keep praying and trying to see what I can dig up for us as I want you with me so very, very much.
I went to the show on the base here tonight and saw 'It's a wonderful life' with James Stewart and it was really swell, honest it was. Even my 'cold' heart was moved. If you haven't seen it already see it sometime or other as it's really worth it.
Incidentally before I forget it my official address now appears on the envelope. You would think I was in East Jalopy somewhere all the code numbers that they have here. The joint is really chicken but I'll stand the gaff as best I can. Everything was so free and unassuming in Okinawa that it all seems strange to me yet. After a few days or weeks or months I'll get accustomed to ti all once again ~ at least I hope so. I'll keep my nose clean my eyes open & my big mouth shut and just hope and pray that an opportunity presents itself so that I can grasp it firmly with both hands.
Have you decided to pay me a visit yet? A week or so would do me a world of good. Keep me posted okay! I love you with all my heart and soul honey and I miss you like mad. I guess I'm running out of paper is I'll close out till tomorrow ~ All my love to you always
God Bless You
Always
John x"
My very dearest darling Ellen,
I have just ended my first day of toil in many a moon and I'm about set to retire until tomorrow morning. The work is nothing but I'm just so worn out from standing up all day. My legs feel like logs although they respond when called upon. The work is keeping my mind occupied but I still think of you constantly. I'll never let you get out of my mind ever never. You mean more to me than anything else in the world and you will always. Tomorrow I'll send you my phone number as I've finally got straightened out as far as quarters and everything else is concerned, plus a set of hours that Hannie will have to use in order to reach me. I go to work at 7:30 am and I don't get thru until four in the afternoon. My lunch period is from eleven until twelve noon. She would have to call me between 12-1 your time back home or I should say 12:15 - 12:45. I'm along way from work and after eating I have about a half an hour to myself before starting the long jaunt back.
I'm getting an interest in my work already and I checked a book out of the library tonight. It's been a long time since I've done that before but I've got to do something or I'll be as forlorn looking as one of these Texas cows. I miss you so very very much. I don't remember if I told you last night or not but they are not going to fold up this base after all. Some big shot just returned here from Washington with the news. I guess I'll have to bide my time here after all. I don't want to go back overseas so I'll be forced to stay. I'll do the best I can to keep my morale up but being with you would be so much better. I still don't think we are getting our share of the breaks at all. That seems to have been an old cry from me for quite awhile but they'll come eventually. I hope sooner than that. Have you made up your mind as to whether you'll pay me a visit or not yet? I'm anxiously awaiting a reply from you. I haven't received any mail from you down here was yet but it will come soon I hope. I hope my mail is getting to you before the pages turn yellow from age and travel. I'll probably get your letters from Alameda next month sometime but they will still do me a world of good. Just hearing from you or talking to you does wonders for me and I want you to know that I appreciate you and your letters from the bottom of my heart. Your wonderful and swell and no one realizes any more than I do. I love you so very, very much and I pray to God every night to keep you safe and well.
Today went by pretty fast but not quite fast enough. I wish they only had twelve hours a day for a year or so and then they could stop the clock and let time and everything stand still, just so I could be with you. I guess I'm just plain lonely. A poor guy who is madly in love and lonely for his loved one. That's me all over. We have so much time and loving to make up for that I think it will take us until the end of our days to succeed but that's what I'm counting on just you and me forever and ever always madly hopelessly in love with one another. I just looked over some of our pictures and I do feel lonely, very lonely. I'll have to close now honey as it's bedtime. I love you and miss you with all of my heart.
All my love to you always
God Bless you & keep you
Always
John"
"27 March 1947
My very dearest darling Ellen,
Hello once again. I miss you very very much. I thought about you all day today and I almost went mad with the thought of you so far away. To make it more disheartening I didn't receive any mail today. I guess the pony express must have broken down somewhere along the line. I hope that you are receiving my mail all right and aren't being subject to this broken down Texas mail service. I hope I make out tomorrow if I don't I'll have to wait until Monday which will be an awful long break without word from you. I'll call you Sunday so that will give me a terrific boost because just about now I need one.
The Navy is taking over a housing project a few miles from the base and Saturday morning I'm going to put in an application for an apartment. They aren't furnished but come with heat and a refrigerator. I'll be able to give you more dope when I write to you Saturday or better still when I phone you Sunday afternoon. From all indications we won't have to wait too long as compared to the regular Navy housing here on the base. All the civilians are getting eviction notices and have to be out by the end of June. The Navy takes over formal formal control the first of April. The rents are very reasonable, all less than thirty dollars a month which around here or anywhere else is really wonderful. Maybe I'll get something in time I hope so as I want you with me very very much.
Time is still rolling along but it still seems to fairly crawl by. I guess I'm paying too much attention to it but I have no other alternative as my job has me watching the clock all day long. I guess once I get out of my rut I'll notice time fleeting by like mad. I hope so anyway. Making myself feel better I have figured out that in 72 weeks I'll be out on my own and home with you where I belong and from where I'll never stray again I promise you.
I wish that I could write a letter to you when I was in a happy frame of mind but it fails me. Sometimes I feel like a little kid for acting this way instead of being a man, but being a man so deeply in love with you makes me feel and write like this. I'm afraid that you are the only remedy or cure for what ails me. I hope that you aren't as forlorn as me because it's awful.
I think I'll close out for now and do a little reading and studying to keep up with my work. I never realized that I once knew so much and how rapidly it's been forgotten. I guess I'll have to do a lot of reading and brushing up in this racket if I want to keep getting along as I have been. Not having to use the vast store of information that they pounded into my head I've forgotten quite a few of the simple details and rules that one learns at the beginning and which any novice can rattle off like an alphabet. I'll write again tomorrow night. I love you so very very much and I miss you terribly.
All my love to you and
God Bless and keep you
Always and Always
John X"
"28 March 1947
My very dearest darling Ellen,
Here I am once again, still very lonely and constantly thinking and dreaming of you. Everything is going along pretty good but I'm not getting any mail. The letters that you are writing must be pigeon-holed somewhere as I'm suffering a mail famine. I went to every mail room that I could find today in hopes of obtaining at least one letter but I ran into a blind alley. I'll have to check the main post office tomorrow and maybe there I'll make out. I certainly hope so. Tonight starts my weekend and I only wish that I was at Quonset Point and I'd be home by now if not before now. What wishful thoughts I have but they come on because I love you and miss you so very much. Our luck will change for the better some day. I'm hoping, but right now it seems to be pretty rugged. How are you keeping yourself! These early risings of mine were getting the best of me but now I'm getting accustomed to it. I'm up bright and early at six each morning but since I'm not going on liberty I can stand it. To go any place in this town you need an automobile as all the excitement is in the honky-tonks which are on the outskirts of town. I really don't crave going out during the week so I can do all my howling on a weekend. There isn't much to do as I said before without an auto so I go to town and have a few quickies and come home again. It's better that way and I feel much better not having the effects of a dismal hang over haunting me thru the day. I'm in good health and in reasonably good spirits and that's the way that I intend to remain. If you were with me or I was with you everything would indeed be wonderful.
Tomorrow I'm going to register for one of those apartments that I told you about in my last letter and I'll give you the scoop what they are like etc. I haven't seen them as yet but from all the regulations governing them they should be all right. For you I don't want anything but the best that's obtainable so we shall see what we shall see. Tomorrow afternoon I'm going down town and get some Easter cards as I can't forget my beloved and my friends who have been so good to me and to us. Everyone is wonderful.
Here is the pay station telephone number of this barracks. Call Corpus Christi and ask for 2-0426 - got it. They haven't any exchanges down here only numbers. Hannie can call any day between 12:15-12:45 your time and any night after 5:30 your time. Right now I'll have to close out as I have to shower shave and study a little bit to improve my mind. I love you with all my heart and soul and I miss you terribly. I'll write again tomorrow and I hope I can dig up a letter from you.
All my love to you always
God Bless and keep you
Always
John x"
"29 March 1947
My very dearest darling Ellen,
I am very happy today as I finally located some mail. I was beginning to get frantic because I hadn't heard from you for so long, but that's all over now. I'm happy and peaceful once again and I can rest comfortably instead of being on edge. I uncovered two letters at the main post office that were being routed in my direction and it indeed made me feel so very happy. You are indeed a very wonderful person and I appreciate you with all my heart, believe me. I was beginning to run out of inspiration in my letter writing but now things are so different. I'm going to be forced to refer to your letters and answer them immediately.
I haven't heard Christopher Lynch since I left home but I guess if I get around to it some Monday night I'll lend an ear. He has a beautiful clear voice that is nice to listen to. I enjoyed him a lot when I listened to him at home. Oh sweet, sweet memories.
I guess you'll have a chance to attend a wedding and not be the main feature if and when Pete and Madeline find a place to hang their hats. Pete is a nice guy and I guess he'll make a pretty good husband for Madeline. I guess that's all she needs is security and a lot of love to settle her down once and for all. Pete seems the type to provide both items. When you see them again tell them that I was asking for them. As far as Corpus Christi is concerned it's dreadfully muggy and sticky. It's just like Boston and vicinity during the month of August. I guess you would call them real dog days: no breeze and constant haze.
Tomorrow afternoon I'll call you up and I've been looking forward to it all week. I just love to hear you when I'm not able to be with you. It makes me feel so wonderful and so glad to be around. I love you so much and I miss you terribly but your letters and phone calls help me out so very much. I sent my phone number to you yesterday and to make sure that you receive it correctly I'll give it to you over the phone tomorrow. You can call me Saturdays if you wish as I'm not usually doing anything anyway and if I know that I'll be getting a phone call I can stand by and not roam around. To speak to you at any time would make me feel like a million dollars. When I get out of the Navy I promise you I'll never leave you for a minute so help me. This separation so far is something that seems so unreal and I hate to think of the months ahead. The time is rolling by though and as long as it continues to do so I'll manage to get by without too much grief on my part. I really miss you an awful lot honey. I'll close this letter out for now and I'll write again a little later. I love you with all of my heart and soul and miss you terribly
All my love to you always
God Bless you
Always
John x"
"29 March 1947
My very dearest darling Ellen,
Here I am once again the same day and with the same thought uppermost in my mind - I love you and miss you with all my heart. I keep telling you that because it's so very true and I'll keep telling you the same thing forever and ever. You are the very best there is and oh how well I know it. You alone are all that I want and need to make me very very happy and contented. There is nothing else that can bring me the joy and beautiful happiness that you have brought to me in all the time that I've known you and especially since we were married. I maybe far away from you personally but you are still with me in my thoughts and dreams but this cruel Navy is so very realistic that it shakes me out of my beautiful dreams in the morning and shatters my thoughts during the day. I'm so very very happy but yet I'm sad because I can't be allowed to be with you. As you told me in your previous letter everything will work out for the best eventually. I'm hoping that it will be soon. I'll have to get back to your letters again or I'll rave on for hours just telling you how much I love you.
That book 'Hungry Hill' must be quite the book so I guess I'll have to give it the once over. I haven't done much reading outside of these technical books so I'll have to give myself a treat and read a good book for a change. I've been over to the library off and on quite frequently since I've arrived here. My main interest is the Boston Post which keeps me informed of things at home. The papers naturally is four days old by the time I get to see it but it helps my morale out an awful lot just to read it thru and get all the home town news. I guess it's been pretty cold and dismal up there what with snow and wind. All we get down here is wind and heat and most of the time a little dust to help us along. I'd certainly cherish the possibility of being home these windy nights to keep you anchored down in bed. It would really be wonderful but when I get home to stay you'll never have to worry about being swept out of bed because yours truly will keep you well anchored down. After getting accustomed to a big bed and then returning to these cast iron affairs I'm afraid I'll have to learn my sleeping habits all over again when I get home. It will be worth it though.
The dungarees and shirts that you have at home you can hold onto them then I won't have to be dragging so much stuff home when I get my leave. I have plenty of clothes for the time being and can pick up what I need down here pretty cheap.
Well honey it's getting pretty late so I guess I'll sign off for tonight. I love you very very much and miss you terribly, honey, all of the time.
All of my love to you
God Bless you
Always & Always
John x"
"30 March 1947
My very dearest darling Ellen,
I just finished talking to you over the phone and it was really wonderful to just to hear you. Your voice makes me feel so good, so very good and I hated to stop talking to you. I guess I must be forlorn and lonely without you and every word from you by phone or letter means so very very much to me. I miss you and love you so much that nothing else really matters to me at all. You are the most wonderful person in the world and I want you to know that always. I really do feel cheated being away from you now when we could be having some (?) out of life. We've been separated too often since I have known you and this separation is the hardest of all. If there was only a way out I'd gladly take it but no opportunity avails itself. I guess I'm just stupid because when opportunity presented itself last spring I failed to grasp it. Now it really hurts so very, very much. I've often told you that we had an awful lot of wasted time to catch up on but at this rate we never will manage. I guess I had better refer to your letter before I get into a melancholy mood. As I told you before your letters really helped me out as I was beginning to get despondent but now everything is bearable once again. As far as Corpus Christi is concerned, I can tolerate it but I don't like it. It's better than being Pacific bound on some rock so that is its only consolation. Yes another thing it lets me talk to you and eventually will mean that I can visit you.
Yesterday morning I applied for a house at the Naval Housing Project and was put on the waiting list. It will be a matter of many months I'm afraid before I will be informed as to whether I get one or not. In your letter you said that you were afraid that you would be a nagging wife and would go crazy with nothing to do. You would go crazy down here so I guess your flying visits and my leaves will suffice until I get home. If you came down here to stay there is nothing to do and nothing to see just a mess of people going here, there and no where. You have the right idea, I guess, by staying home and working. That way your mind is occupied most of the time. You are a very understanding and intelligent girl, honey, and I appreciate you more every day. I guess you will be a good checkmate to any wild and silly notions that I may get in the future when we are together once again. I love you.
As for loving you so much, why honey, I can't even begin to tell you how much I love you as I can't think up enough words and phrases to make myself understood. You are the swellest and most wonderful girl in the world and I love you like nothing else in this world. Just to be home and out of service would mean so very much to me right now.
Well honey I'll close this letter out for now and will write again later if I get a sudden inspiration. I love you and miss you with all my heart and soul. I miss your smile, the smile on your lips and the smile and sparkle in your eyes and especially just the nearness of you that makes things so comfortable and certain but I especially miss you. I'll close now with
All my love to you and
God Bless you
Always & Always
John x"
"30 March 1947
My dearest darling Ellen,
I've decided to write you another letter tonight as I have everything in order for work tomorrow and I have lots of time on my hands. It won't be a long letter but it makes me feel good to write anyway. I guess it's like keeping a diary or something. I've had the radio going all afternoon since I called you and the music is so very soothing. It's all played in my mood, - sentimental and loving and it keeps me reminding myself of how much I love you. It's so wonderful to be so much in love with someone and have everything appear so beautiful in the background. I guess I'm getting a romantic touch of spring in my poor old bones. I love you with all my heart honey and now when we are so far apart I miss you and appreciate you so very very much. You are so very wonderful to me that sometimes I can hardly contain myself. I'm dying to see the pictures that we took in New York as I know you look really lovely as you always do. You know somebody once said that you get disappointed when you see your girl when she is ready to go to bed or when she gets up. Do you know I can't say that. You looked so lovely to me in the morning with your hair all done up and no make up or lipstick to mar your looks. I'd say you looked beautiful but I'm afraid that it would go to your head and spoil you. But honestly honey you did and I surmise that even now you get up in the morning looking lovely. I always liked you without make-up as you looked so clean-scrubbed like and so fresh looking. Just like a flower covered with dew in the morning if you ever saw one. Take a look at a rose or any flower with dew on it and you'll see what I mean. That's something that I like about you so much, your very natural looks and color and the fact that you aren't a paint horse. That's one thing I can't stand a paint horse. Some of these so called Texas belles look like a bunch of fire engines they are so powdered and rouged up. Just stay like you are honey as your perfect and marvelous and I love you so very much.
By the way I was thinking today about our honeymoon and I had a sudden thought as to the bruises that you gained. How are they now all gone or are lingering? I didn't suffer any aches or pains but now I have a very weak heart that only can be helped by seeing you and being with you for always. You know after talking to you this afternoon I feel very good now and I figure that maybe I'll get out of my day dreaming rut for a while. I'll still miss you so very very much but I'll try to smile once in a while even though it will be a sad smile. I'll keep doing something even if it's to write letters to you all day long. Well honey I'll close out for now until tomorrow when I'll write to you again. I hope I get a letter from you tomorrow as it will fill me with joy and make an otherwise dull day seem very beautiful. So long for now honey and please take care.
All my love to you always
God Bless you
Always
John x
I love you xx"
31 March 1947
My dearest darling Ellen,
Hello again my dear, how are you the last day of this month? It went along fine for me and I anticipate and look forward for the new month as I'll look forward to every new month that brings me to you for always. I got paid today and did a lot of changing as far as my insurance and bonds are concerned. You are now beneficiary to my $10,000 insurance and the war bonds that I send to you will be sent to Ellen Manning instead of Ellen Keohane.
I'm getting things straightened out slowly but surely and should have everything straightened out eventually. Maybe I'll file my claim for my unused leave tomorrow if I get the opportunity. When I file it you should get a bond for a couple of hundreds dollars but it won't mature for five years. I guess you can tuck it away with our War Bonds. By the way are they still coming to you all right? I know they had office difficulties for awhile and I guess they are all straightened out by now. This allotment that I made out for you and which you should receive soon please keep me posted on it. They took quite a whack out of my pay for it and I think that it reverts back to the date of our marriage. Let me know, will you, hon, as soon as you get the checks. They should arrive around the first of the month, each month. As soon as I get straightened out in my pay accounts and everything else that goes with it I'll boost the allotment up a few dollars more, otherwise it will slip thru my fingers or burn a hole in my pockets. I can't spend it down here and enjoy it so I might as well save it until I can find time and get home to enjoy it with you. I won't run short as my needs down here are small and I really don't need much to carry myself thru since I get paid twice a month.
I have a few more incidentals to buy before I can find myself all set for any eventuality. After that everything will be fine and I can see how I stand financially and otherwise. Once I get out and free of the Navy you and I are going to enjoy ourselves for a change and that is what I'll save for. Money seems pretty easy to get now since it's always there whether I work or not but once I get out it won't seem so plentiful. If we bank and save now we'll have a good start plus something to fall back on in case of an emergency. I want you to be happy always and not go thru drudgery and worry. For you and your happiness I'll do anything on earth just to provide for you and care for you. I will do anything, honey, anything. I miss you an awful lot tonight as I do every night and I love you dearly. We'll be together soon, I hope, and then I'll be completely happy. You are all that I need to make me feel wonderful and happy.
I've just read this letter over and it makes some sense and again it doesn't. With the radio going and card games I'm a little mixed up. Please forgive me if it doesn't make sense to you. I'll close out for tonight and say once again that I miss you very very much and I love you dearly.
All my love to you
God Bless you
Always
John x"
The Change of Beneficiary - National Service Life Insurance form below states:
"My serial number is 202-46-63 Insurance No. Not Known
My Full Name is John James Patrick Manning
Home address 11 Cedar St., Mattapan, Massachusetts
I, the undersigned insured, hereby cancel all previous designations of beneficiaries under the above numbered National Service Life Insurance policy and direct that said insurance, which amounts to $10,000 be paid from and after my death as follows:
Principal: Ellen Mary Manning Wife $10,000
6 Green St.,
Watertown, Massachusetts
Contingent: Katherine Agnes Manning Mother $10,000
11 Cedar St.,
Mattapan, Massachusetts
Signed at NAS, Corpus Christi, Texas on this, the 31 day of March, 1947
Signature of witness: M.A.Wilson
Lt., U.S.N.R.
Address: Insurance Officer
NAS, Corpus Christi, Texas
Signature of insured: John James Patrick Manning
AON, U.S.N.
Address: A&R Dept - 400 Div.
NAS, Corpus Christi, Texas
This form, when completed, should be forwarded to the Veterans Administration, Washington 25, DC
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