"1 August 1948
My very dearest darling Ellen,
Here is your wayward old man once again back in stride once again and none the worse for wear. I have definitely come to the firm conclusion that I will definitely turn over another new leaf in my book of good intentions and clamber aboard the water wagon but definitely. The anxiety of this waiting for my discharge to come around plus inward loneliness for you is about to drive me nuts. If I don't get a grip on myself soon I'll be a nervous wreck. Only forty three days remain my pet and then I can relax for awhile and soothe my nerves with complete rest and a complete lack of tension and anxiety. I called you up last night out of loneliness and anxiety just to hear your voice for once. I would have to pick a night when I was drunk to put through the call. You sounded swell to me and very reassuring and what started out as a 'Lost Weekend' ended abruptly right after I called you. I had no further desire to drink and raise hell so I just secured and we all came back to the base. There were three of us together and we wound up carrying the guy in the middle who had difficulty navigating.
I got up early this morning and went to Mass as usual and I've spent a quiet, sane day reading and laying around. If my will power holds out it will be my regular routine from now on in. As I told you over the phone I'll give you (a) buzz next Sunday at our usual time and I won't be under the weather this time I guarantee you. It will probably (be) the last call that I'll put through until I get discharged. From all the information that I can gather from various sources the only colleges enrolling new students around home are St Anselm's at Manchester and Boston University so I'll have to wait and see what I can do once I get home. All I want at present is to get home to you and after that is accomplished I'll plan my course from there on out. Don't worry about my ailments honey because they are nothing to worry about at all.
I'm going to sign off for now honey so please take care. I love you with all of my heart and soul and I miss you desperately.
All of my love to you
God Bless & keep you
Always & Always
John xxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxx"
"2 August 1948
My very dearest darling Ellen,
How are you my pet? I'm one day nearer to being with you to stay and only forty two days remain or a matter of six weeks. I only hope that they pass just a little more quickly than did this day as I was certain that it would never ever end but it did finally draw to a close. I guess my anxiety is getting the best of me as I'm turning into a nervous wreck. It's just from the need of a job to keep me occupied I guess. I'll settle down eventually I guess. I have a calendar all marked off and I swear that I look at it a hundred times a day. My whole heart soul and mind is set on just getting home to you so if the days seem long and endless blame it on Father Time and Mother Nature as they are solely responsible for the delay. I'm doing my dead level best. I keep trying to forget about it all but that's about as easy to do as trying to stop breathing unnoticingly. In fact it's impossible. My consumption of cigarettes is rising steadily each and every day. Being madly in love with someone and knowing that in a few short weeks I'll be with you for good has me all agog and all of the aches pains and anxieties are well worth it all so I shall continue on my poor shook up way.
Tomorrow I'm going to mail you about three packages containing my books on the various subjects that I have been studying in my spare time. You can put them in a closet for future use on my arrival home. Slowly but surely I'll get around to sending my useful stuff home. I keep putting it off much to my own chagrin. Well today was another hot day but it cooled off later on as rain clouds opened up to give s some relief. Right now it's pretty nice out but cloudy and threatening. I'd still rather be in New England even though it may be hot up there. I think I'm just getting downright homesick after all of these years. I received two letters from you today including the pictures. The pictures came out swell honey and I've spent most of the evening looking them over. They were most unexpected I assure you. Kathleen and Cynthia are getting awful big but I guess I don't realize that six or eight months have gone by since I have seen them. Kathleen especially. She is so big and chubby that it's a wonder that she can navigate at all. Peggy looks very maternal with her off spring. Her baby will probably be up and around by the time I get home. I guess we are just getting old or else we are missing out on all the fun of married life. We will be together soon and then we can see what develops as far as our own family is concerned. You look wonderful kid and you haven't changed a bit as far as I can see. Your hair sees to be a little longer as I see the wisps of hair jutting out from underneath your kerchief. I like your new bathing suit and it suits my taste to a 't' especially the floral pattern. In the pictures with Kathleen you look very very motherly indeed. Sweet inspiration, my pet, sweet inspiration! The graduates look pretty sharp in their cap and gowns but graduation is gone now forever and a life o toil awaits them, poor kids. Everyone looks the same, no changes whatsoever. They are really swell pictures honey and I'll send them back in a couple of days after I pore over them a few more times. I agree with Norman that your pictures are very natural and really do you justice. You're not bad at all my pet, not bad at all. I deem myself quite fortunate as I firmly believe that I captured a beauteous prize as a wife. Your remark in the letter of last Wednesday has me at a loss for words, as you intimate that I insulted you in one of my previous letters. That's hard to take kid as I don't insult people and never you. I guess you must be on edge or something. If I can't comment on your dress and apparel without you getting insulted so to speak. I guess we will be forced to have a conference on that matter as soon as I get home. They just aren't made for you that's all as you have good looks and nice features and don't need those monstrosities to offset anything that you possess. I won't go into it any further as you will probably misunderstand once again and the next thing we know we'll be carrying on a spat at long range through the mails. That is absolutely & definitely out of the question. You definitely had your dander up when you wrote this letter. I hope that you have cooled off by tomorrows letter. As for my social activities I have returned once more to hibernation as I don't want to get fouled up now especially with discharge time drawing so near. This town at times can be definitely a booby-trap for anyone so I'm going to take it slow. I'm developing a blister on my finger from the pen so I think I'll close until tomorrow. I love you with all of my heart and my soul and I miss you dreadfully, believe me.
All of my love to you
God Bless & keep you
Always & Always
John xxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxx"
"5 August 1948
My very dearest darling Ellen,
Hello once again. I am once more very very happy as I received two letters from you again today. It makes me feel really wonderful to hear from you so often and so regularly and I most certainly hope and pray that your good intentions keep right on and that the mail continues to come. Keep it up kid you are doing swell and I'm rooting for you. Your letters and the fact that the days are filling out and passing by a little easier makes me feel really good and I know that it won't be too long until I see you once again. Today was another empty day but since my division and another division merged today the change and subsequent excitement filled the day. Walking around here and there and back again eases the situation quite a bit and now with this new division under our wing it will take a couple of weeks to get accustomed to it all. Who knows, maybe I'll wind up with a different job if I can find one that I like. Give me time and I'll get back in the groove but I'll never stop thinking of you or missing you for one single minute believe me. Being away from you makes me sad and down in the dumpish but when I get your mail and realize that one more day has passed along and that I am that much closer to being with you again I feel good all over. This month is moving right along so if they all follow suit I won't gripe too much. Tomorrow I have to take a group of guys down to the gunnery range for something or other concerning a 'Disaster Detail." I'm in charge of a platoon. I don't know yet what it calls for but I am about to learn. About all I can make out is a fancy name for standing watches during a hurricane or what ever else happens down here. It will kill half a day so I won't complain at all. I'll let you know more about it tomorrow night when I'll know more about it myself. We stuck a thermometer up in our shop today and it soared up to 92. Now you can see what goes on down here. With no work it isn't too bad but if we do any running around it's terrific. One consolation about working inside is that we are out of the sun but we miss the breeze blowing in from the bay. Oh well winter will be here soon and then maybe the cold will get me down. I guess I'll never be satisfied, at least until I'm with you for good. I see by your letters that you are hoping this place closes up also. I'm afraid our hopes are in vain for the time being because if it does close it won't be until after the first of the year and all the storaging etc will take months. By that time I'll be ready to get out. Right now all these old-timers that are being sent to sea are going West and that isn't exactly to my fancy. I detest that West coast and if it won't be the East coast then I'll stay here 'til the bitter end, heat or no heat. Mae meeting Stephen was indeed fortunate as I figure we still remain in their good graces. We did after all make an effort to locate them so as long as it's a happy ending everything is fine. As you say I don't think that they will ever be really satisfied in their choice of a home unless they head for the mountains as the 'punk' upstairs told them in their last home. As I always said, they should adopt a couple of kids to keep them occupied and then they won't notice the noise. They will wind up nervous wrecks I'm afraid.
I guess Rita is doing all right for herself down in Maine. She will be the envy of all her crowd when she returns what with all her dates and all. After serving so many things that she doesn't like maybe she will become immune to it all. I'm so very glad that you had a good time when I was home as I know I myself had a truly wonderful time. The very best ever, and I'm now looking forward to the next and anymore they may allow me. I'm waiting patiently, honey.
As for the telegram that I sent to you, I guess I'll use the other saying if we run into the same circumstances again. I certainly hope not but if we do ~. I still can't understand your cramps and pains but if they come again see the doctor. I don't want any thing to happen to you at all, ever, and if I was ever responsible for causing you pain I'd never ever forgive myself for it. More and more I am learning that the female anatomy is a very very delicate structure that can't be abused or roughly handled.
Last night I asked you in my letter about your talk with Madeline and behold today you tell me. Mental telepathy by air-mail I guess. I'm glad that Gin made out all right in her purchase and from what you say and the way that you describe it she doesn't seem to have done bad at all. All that painting and papering they can do themselves and they can fix it up just as they want it. I guess Gin got a break after all. I hope that we can make out as well as they did. We will see. While you are roaming keep your eyes open and see if you see anything that you like and let me know. Right now I'm in a pretty poor position to do any thing about it but who knows what may happen.
'You know I just thought of something today - I can hardly ever, in all the time I've know you, recall you addressing me as "Ellen."' The foregoing is a direct transcription from your letter of last Sunday and I've thought of the same thing a million or more times. To me it sounds unbelievable but I know that it's true. Before I went home on leave I thought about it about a dozen times and I've thought of it a couple of times since. I really can't explain it except that it's possibly a habit that I've got into, speaking to you personally without ever mentioning your name. It must be an outgrowth of our earlier days and conversations when there was only the two of us and names seemed to be unnecessary. When I see you again check me once or twice and I'll remember and you will at long last hear your beloved husband speak your name. It feels good to hear ones name mentioned now and then as it boosts the morale and makes you feel like someone. Remind me the next time that you see me.
You seem to be getting those long weekend blues that I keep getting. In all these years this is the first time I've ever know you to like going to work. I know we are both in the same groove but keep you chin up kid. There is nothing like solitude and inactivity to make you lonely as I've been up against it for a long, long time now and with the realization that it's all most over I'll beat it yet.
Well honey this letter seems to be turning into a book so I'll sign off until tomorrow night. It was wonderful hearing from you again and I'll be expecting your letter again tomorrow. I love you, Ellen with all my whole heart soul and mind and I miss you honey like I never missed anything in the whole wide world. Take care of yourself kid.
All of my love to you
God Bless & keep you
Always & Always
John xxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxx
I found a 1947 Boston Street Directory that listed Stephen DeCourcey as a sub(stitute) carrier PO r(esiding) in Somerville, but no address was listed.
All of my love to you
God Bless & keep you
Always & Always
John xxxxxx
xxxxxxxx"
"7 August 1948
My very dearest darling Ellen,
Another Saturday night is upon me and I have confined myself to my cubicle for a change. I didn't get in until pretty late last night and as a result I'm a little tired. I didn't sleep at all during the course of the day as a matter of fact I put in quite a bit of work helping a chief change a couple of springs in his car. Tomorrow is another day and more automotive work to perform. It keeps me occupied and helps me pass the time of day. This evening I did my washing and drying so I'm all caught up on that score. I still have a couple of letters to answer and I'll get into them presently. Last night, as I told you, I went out to a chiefs house for chicken dinner and I ate chicken until it came out of my ears. The chiefs wife is a rebel and can really prepare the stuff. Our gab fest didn't end until about one in the morning and after sweating out a cab for about an hour it was about two thirty when I hit the hay. I really enjoyed myself on my first social venture in quite a while. While I was downtown today picking up some springs for the car I ran into a hometown boy. His name is Billy Begley but you don't know him. You met his brother a long time ago. He just got in from Trinidad so he will become a permanent fixture down here. I didn't recognize him until he told me his name. Such is life! Now to get to your letters. I'm going to postpone my phone call until Sunday, 22 August at your suggestion. That will leave me about three weeks to do after the phone call so our time will be broken up and it will give me something to look forward to in the next couple of weeks. Okay by you?
You might as well take advantage of the pleasant weather at the beach as not too many weekends remain for you to do so. By the time I get home it will be a little chilly to go swimming. Your mother going on a weeks vacation really surprised me honey as she is such a home body. She has really earned it and deserves it more than anyone and I hope that she really enjoys herself no end. The change should do her a world of good. The heat isn't so bad these days as the humidity has gone down for a change and at night it's almost pleasant. I expect it to get back to normal real soon though as pleasantness and Florida heat just don't jibe. I'm going to sign off now till tomorrow when I'll write a longer letter. I love and miss you with all of my heart and soul. Please take (care) of yourself honey.
All of my love to you
God Bless & keep you
Always & Always
John xxxxxx
xxxxxxxx"
"8 August 1948
My very dearest darling Ellen,
Hello once again my pet and how are you tonight? I hope that I didn't cause you too much disappointment by not phoning you tonight because in my letters during the week I almost pledged it. As I said yesterday I'll call you the 22nd at about our usual time. Okay? I'm half asleep from cat napping all afternoon so I'm going to really secure as soon as I write to you. I still must shower and shave. It was a day of complete inactivity for any of us so I slept and napped and ate the day away. It's only about eight o'clock now so I'll have a long night of sleep. A little over five weeks remain honey until I'll be home with you to stay and for a change the time seems to be moving along. The reason that I think the times moves so slow is that the school kids are hoping for it and my appeals of a speedy passage of time are outnumbered. I'll win eventually though. Tomorrow morning will bring another 'work' week but alas we will add two more men to our already overcrowded crew so I'm forced to relax whether I want to or not. I'll take your advice and relax from work while I can as responsibility will really catch up with me soon. I won't mind it though as long as I haven't found a lazy streak after these past years of just laying around doing nothing. Being home with you will make me content and once I'm content I like to work and struggle. As for the responsibility of a family, I'm looking forward to it very, very much. As for my health honey please forget about it as I'm all right and you can forget about it completely. If I weren't drunk I wouldn't have told you about it at all, as you are all flustered over it now. Take it easy honey, it's nothing at all. I got your postcard with its registration information but it seems I'm a little indisposed as of now. Maybe in the Fall I'll manage to eke my name in voting register if I'm able. That is only a small item just now. Madeline should be having her baby soon and then her worries will be multiplied but such is life. I must say that Pete is confident of my ability to produce an offspring. I'll have plenty of time this time. As for your domestic problems let them go until I get home and get my feet on the ground for good. Then we can tackle problems together and find our way out. We'll figure out something somehow. Well I'm running out of paper now so I'll close out for now. I love you and miss you with all of my heart and soul and please take care.
All of my love to you
God Bless & keep you
Always & Always
John xxxxxxxx"
"9 August 1948
My very dearest darling Ellen,
Another gloomy cloudy day has passed by and now only thirty-five days remain until I get home. Right at the outset I want to get down to brass tacks so I'll make it fast and very blunt. You stay away from that beach party down at Falmouth that I learned about in your letter that I received today. Call it my suspicious nature, jealousy or anything else you want to think, but stay away from that party. I've come to the very end of my patience with those boozing affairs and I'm definitely insistent that you be home on Sunday 22 August to receive my phone call. I'm not drunk or anything else like it. I'm just shaking with anger. I don't care what the others think or say about it, break that date. The others can do as they wish, I really don't care, but you are my wife and about you I do care very, very much. Sometimes you give me the impression that you don't realize it. As for that big blow out they intend to have for me when I get home they can forego that because once I get home you are going to have a serious fellow on your hands until we get firmly established on our feet once and for all. This may sound like a reversal of my usual form but all these single people haven't a responsibility in the world while we have a whole life to plan and live. You told me once that I lacked a sense of responsibility but I guess I'm beginning to develop one at long last. Once I get home we'll have too much to do and accomplish to mess with sundry events. I'm foregoing all social activities until I get my feet definitely on the ground and heading for a definite objective. I hope this meets with your approval, if not I'm at a loss. I don't want any recurrences of past events so heed my words. I definitely disapprove of Pat's joint, as you well know, unless I'm with you. You can most assuredly await my arrival if you want to go there bad enough, so cease and desist. If you insist on going to Falmouth with the gang and habitating Pat's prior to my arrival you have only yourself to blame for the consequences. I'm as serious now in fact more serious than I've ever been in my life. You take it for what it's worth. I'm going to close out now until tomorrow night. You can let me know your answer as soon as possible. I do love you with my whole heart and soul and I do miss you very desperately.
All of my love to you
God Bless & keep you
Always & Always
John xxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxx"
The tone of this letter left me quite surprised as it seems totally out of character for my father. The envelope is postmarked Aug 9 4:30 PM so he must have written as soon as he received the letter. It made me think of how much living he had missed during his 6 years enlistment. And my mother must have also had a difficult time - married but no husband around - she had responsibility for a new house, working full time, a husband begging her to write every day to keep up his morale. And they were only in their 20's. It must have been very difficult for both of them.
"10 August 1948
My very dearest darling Ellen,
Here I am once again after flying off the handle last night. I still don't want you to go on that beach party. Chiefly because I don't like it and secondly you promised me not too long ago that you wouldn't. You know how I feel about it all. Only 34 days remain now until I get my release from service and I'll be home to stay. I have definitely developed a case of the jitters what with the passage of time and unsettled conditions in Europe. All I want is peace and loads of it so I'm hoping that Joe Stalin comes to terms and lets everyone settle down for a change. Any emergency would trap me completely without any means of escape. So if you want your poor old man home with you to stay say a pile of prayers and say them earnestly and fervently. This whole area is changing back to wartime footing with all of the outlying auxiliary field being reopened and put back in an operating status. Students are piling in on us daily and training is moving into high gear, more so even, than during the last pre-war stages. So honey pray hard because after all of this time (if) I'm finally disappointed I'll drop dead with despair. I'm keeping my fingers crossed hoping and praying for the best.
I just got back from the hospital where I was visiting a friend of mine who is laid up with a badly lacerated arm. He broke a window with his fist to put out a fire in an adjoining apartment. He wound up with forty stitches in all of his gashes. The doctors fear infection so they have been stabbing his plump rear end with a penicillin needle every three hours. That's been going on since Sunday and the poor guy can hardly sit down. I don't know what hurts him the most his arm or his rear end. Well today was a hot humid day but ended with a downpour of rain to ease the situation. It's beginning to get cool in the evenings now but I'm still waiting to get home to the really cool New England September evenings where if I do get chilly upon occasion I'll have my love to keep me warm. This weekend is due to be a killer for me as we have a personnel inspection in whites Saturday and I'm 'lucky' enough to have a watch all Sunday afternoon. Both are bond to be my last or at least I hope so anyway. I thought that with luck I could avoid both but no luck. I didn't get any mail from you today so I'll close for now. In spite of what you may have thought about my letter of last night I love you with all of my heart and soul and will forever and I do miss you so very very much. Please take care of yourself as time is growing short.
All of my love to you
God Bless & keep you
Always & Always
John xxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx"
"11 August 1948
My very dearest darling Ellen,
This week is now half over and it's moving at a pretty good rate of speed. Only thirty three days remain honey and I'll be camping at your doorstep once again and this time it will be for keeps I promise. In another month, in fact one month from today, I'll have reached my twenty-eighth birthday. I've finally come to the realization that I'm getting along in years although I feel as young as a sprout. We have nothing else to do I guess but to grow old together. I received another letter from you today and Rita O'Hara's invitation. All I can say for her intended husband is 'May the Lord have mercy on his soul'. Amen. You can use your own discretion as to whether you will attend the affair or not. I don't think you will and I don't blame you a bit. I wouldn't go myself if I were home simply out of spite for their actions at our own wedding. Even the reception doesn't appeal to me as I think the only drinks they will have will be the wine cocktail at the dinner(?) table. I'm just a little bitter towards her I guess but her snobbish deceitful actions over the past few years can allow me no other course. She was always one for performing wonders now we'll see the wonders that are performed by her highness. Since she has always been so high and mighty I had imagined that she would hold her reception at the Copley Plaza or some such exclusive joint. I wonder if they will be as well fed as you fed our guests at our wedding reception? Enough comment on her now back to the letter. I'm glad you received my books of larnin' as I'll have something with which to bide my spare moments during the long cold winter nights. Of course you come first with me at all times and my books second. Don't let the books scare you as they prove as interesting as a good novel once you get to understand them. Maybe I'll make a mathematician out of you in future years.
The Callahans seem to be settled for the winter so there doesn't seem to be much that we can do there. We'll thrash it the whole thing out once we get together to stay. Your cooking venture really appeals to me my pet so keep it up and surprise me when I get home with a sample of your culinary art. Seeing that you did such a good job with the broiler I'll put my order now for one well done when I arrive upon the scene. Minding Peggie's baby all night really gave you a taste of domestic home life. I didn't hear or read any complaints so that's a good sign in itself. I'm running out of paper so I'll close out for now 'til tomorrow. I love you desperately with all of my heart and soul and I miss you so very much.
All of my love to you
God Bless & keep you
Always & Always
John xxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxx"
"12 August 1948
My very dearest darling Ellen,
Another day has passed away and only thirty-two days remain until I get home with you to stay. The days continue to click along at a fair pace. I'm only hoping that the days will continue to move along at the same rate of speed. It won't be too long honey so keep up your spirits. Today was another hot and humid day with nothing much to do and very little accomplished by anyone. At the rate we are moving along down here it will be one sit down day after another. The rest should build up my strength for the future as, if I remember correctly, you have a pile of work lined up for me so I should be all set for it. I'm hoping for the best.
I didn't get any mail from you today but I'm hoping that tomorrow will bear fruit as I'm faced by a long weekend if tomorrow is fruitless. With only a month to go, keep up your good work as I appreciate it very very much and I'll remember it and cherish your efforts always and always. You have been absolutely wonderful about it all honey.
Everyone is preparing for inspection Saturday with yours truly also taking part. I'd sooner work all day than stand through one of these ordeals. The inspection itself isn't too bad at all but the hot blazing sun and the glare from the white uniforms just wears you down to a frazzle. Try standing still in the hot sun for an hour or so and you will get a pretty good idea of it all. The weaker elements pass out like flies but expecting such eventualities they have an ambulance or two standing by to bring them around. This being my last one, I hope, I'll do my best to see it thru without too much fuss. I just looked over that cartoon that you sent me and I get the impression that you are the glamor girl of the office. Good for you! Every day I realize more and more just how lucky I am in capturing you as a wife. You deserve any compliment that I can forward to it. You're an ace.
The evenings from your accounts are beginning to get cool at long last and I'm longing to enjoy a few million of them with you. Cool days will also be quite welcome. Every time I hear the song 'My Happiness' on the radio I listen closely as it expresses my sentiments almost completely and they will be only complete when I'm home with you to stay for good. I'll have the same sentiments after a year, ten or even twenty years of living together. Well I'm coming to the end of the paper once again so I'll close out for now until tomorrow night when I shall write again. I love you my dearest with all of my heart and soul and I miss you terribly.
All of my love to you
God Bless & keep you
Always & Always
John xxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxx"
"Friday 13 August 1948
My very dearest darling Ellen,
The usually unlucky omens that are supposed to prevail on Friday the thirteenth reversed themselves drastically as we got the word that we won't have to stand inspection tomorrow. Instead we will work a half-day tomorrow much to my liking. I'm in my hibernation period now as I have been for a long time now in fact since I called you up around the first of the month and working Saturday morning will shorten the weekend for me. With a long watch Sunday afternoon the time should zip by. I checked up today on my departure from this field to get discharged at the Main Station. I'll check out of here on 6 September so that cuts down my stay here by one week. As it is only thirty-one days remain to pass us by so all is going well down here.
The weather turned back to its usual mugginess today accompanied by stifling heat so I guess that the comparatively cool weather that we have been enjoying for the past few days have passed on. Being home with a change in temperature and climate will do me all of the good in the world and I'm constantly looking forward to it with all of my heart. I got a letter from you today and from all indications mother Keohane's absence is definitely felt now that you have to get up a little earlier in the morning to catch a snack at H&H. She should be home tomorrow and then you can get back in stride once again. All I have been thinking about all day is getting home to stay and if some work doesn't come along soon I'll be a nervous wreck due to my tremendous anxiety to be with you again and this time to stay. Last night I was almost a physical wreck as I fell out of my bunk, the top on a double decker, and banged my legs on a chair on the way down. What a surprise! I haven't fallen out of bed since I was a kid. Fortunately no broken bones but a few scrapes and bruises remain as a memory. I'll tie myself in tonight for safety's sake. As for those books I only sent two bundles so you have them all now. Next week I'm going to send home my blues and greens and you can stow them away also. For posterity I guess. Well honey you will be a 'widow' for only one month now and I'm hoping and praying that the time passes rapidly so that the month seems like week. Your patience has been wonderful honey so hold out for this one month and I'll do my back breaking best to try to repay you for all of these past lonely nights. I love you with all of my heart and soul my dearest and I miss you desperately both day and night. Please take care of yourself.
All of my love to you
God Bless & keep you
Always & Always
John xxxxx
xxxxxxxxx"
"15 August 1948
My very dearest darling Ellen,
I just got back from early Mass so I can write you a letter this morning before I go on watch. The long stretch until midnight frightens me when I think of it. I'll manage to get through it somehow though. I got a letter from my mother yesterday that has been in the mail for almost a week. She gave me all of the details of the impending marriage due in September. Rita asked my sister to be maid of honor and Joe Walsh is going to be an usher. Get this now the maid of honor is to wear red velvet and the bridesmaids are to wear blue velvet. She will probably have a train a block long with flower girls sprinkling about Chanel #5 and strewing orchid petals under her feet. Nothing but class. May she always be so well off. I guess she is going to be married at a Mass. I'll hear all about it when I get home. I had intentions of writing to you last night but I went downtown had a couple of beers and came back too late to write. I was worn out from an hour or two of exercise that I went through during the day. Football season is almost upon us so the footballs are all coming out of the mothballs once again. Chasing one of them around really wears you out.
Well only twenty-nine days remain honey until I get home to stay. The time is going along all right for me but I'm hoping that my anxiety doesn't drive me completely nuts in the remaining weeks. I'll keep my fingers crossed, hoping for the best. For the rest of the week I'll be twiddling my thumbs waiting to call you next Sunday afternoon. It will do me a world of good just to hear your voice once again as my morale is a little low. I've got to rush off to chow now honey so I'll have to sign off now until tomorrow night when I should have some mail to answer. I love you with all of my heart and soul and I miss you with all of my heart.
All of my heart & love
God Bless & keep you
Always & Always
John xxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxx"
"16 August 1948
My very dearest darling Ellen,
Another week is now underway and the month is half gone already. It makes me very happy indeed now that I fully realize it and only twenty-eight days remain for me to do until I get my final pay check. Exactly four full weeks so time is really giving us a break at long last. Nevertheless I'm still fidgety sweating out my time and I won't be completely cured until I plank my size nines at 6 Green Street once and for all. My anxiety and the heat are driving me nuts but I manage to relax occasionally. My cigarette consumption has gone back down to one pack a day instead of two as has been the case for the past few weeks. In time I'll manage to settle down to steady plodding day in and day out. If things keep up around here I'll be a hermit as all of these other guys I'm with are buying homes down here and are sending for their families. One of them is driving up to Jersey this Wednesday to bring down his family while a couple of more are going to do likewise next month. Maybe I should reverse the procedure and have you come down here to bring me home. Quite a thought!
I received two letters from you today honey for which I thank you tremendously from the bottom of my heart. They build up my spirits tremendously my pet and give me a measure of relaxation during the day. I guess your mother is home by now so all will be serene and orderly once again with outside meals a thing of the past. I hope that she had a wonderful time at the beach as she really deserved it. As for my freezing when I get home, it will be a welcomed pleasure indeed as long as you are with me. Then nothing will really matter only us. Has your hair grown out so much already that you have to put it up again? When I get home I can while away an hour or so watching you do your chore as is my usual custom.
Since you mentioned your Novena I remembered that I'll have to go to Confession soon as it seems like years since I've been, about six weeks I guess. I'll make Confession and Communion on my last Navy Sunday just as I did my first Navy Sunday. For your sake as well as mine I hope that your Novena petition will be answered my pet and once I get home I'll make one also just to be doubly sure. Well honey time and paper is running out so I'll sign off for now. I love you dearly honey and I miss you with all of my heart.
All of my love to you
God Bless & keep you
Always & Always
John xxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxx"
"18 August 1948
My very dearest darling Ellen,
Only twenty six days to go honey and this week is half over already so time is really moving along at a pretty fair pace. I'm hoping that it keeps up for another month. Today was one of those hot blistering days that seem to stay with us and as a result I'm pretty well tired out from it all. I managed to get in some work this afternoon and I have more lined up for tomorrow so I'll have a busy morning at least. Tomorrow is also payday so it will be a pretty good day after all. They are looking for instructors at Memphis Tenn. and I was interviewed today. I told them that I had only 26 days to do but they gave me the quiz anyway. I had to read a paragraph of big words so that they could check my speech, its tone & modulation. I passed that all right and then I had to submit a sample of my handwriting for reasons unknown to me. After a few more questions they turned me loose. I told the guy that if I stayed in I'd like to be an instructor which I would but since I'm getting out there wasn't anything that I wanted in this Navy. I have a routine set up for daily use and it makes time move along at a faster pace for me. It's just a series of time outs for coffee but the break in the monotony brings results. I got a letter from you today and I was glad to hear from you my pet. Keep up the good work kid as you have only about twenty more to write. You can't quit just yet. I'm glad that your mother liked her vacation so much and that she looked so well when she returned. Just the change from the daily routine should have done her a world of good. She is in a position now where she can take her vacations without worries as you have all grown up now. Taking care of Peggie's baby has you confined to a very motherly life and after all of the wear and tear the kid creates I hope that he hasn't caused you to change your mind about raising a family. That would never do at all. As for Rita's wedding I guess that will have to fall in your hands now that your mother wants to go. Problems will grow! Well honey I'm going to the show tonight for a change so I'll close out for now until tomorrow. I love you with all of my heart and soul and I miss you terribly.
All of my love to you
God Bless & keep you
Always.
John xxxxx
xxxxxxxx"
All of my love to you
God Bless & keep you
Always & Always
John xxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxx"
20 August 1948
My very dearest darling Ellen,
God Bless & keep you
Always & Always
John xxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxx"
22 August 1948
My very dearest darling Ellen,
Only twenty-two days remain my pet and I'll be home with you to stay. It makes me feel wonderful just to think of it and I can hardly wait for the time to pass. Today it was wonderful to hear from you once again and your voice lifted my spirits sky high my dearest. When I get home with you for good I'll be the happiest guy in the world, believe me. I do miss you with all of my heart and soul honey all through the day and all night too for that matter. It won't be long now honey as in two weeks I'll be on my way to the Main Station for discharge and during the remaining week I'll be counting the minutes and seconds until I get released from this tour of restriction. It will be one of the happiest days of my life and just to be with you will be ample reward for all of this turmoil. I received a letter from you yesterday with Eileen's letter enclosed also her snapshot. She is really quite a character and I'm glad that she is having a good time this summer. I don't think that she will ever return to Ireland after she has remained in this country for a couple of more years. Ireland may be quite the place from the Irish sentimental point of view but once they get settled here they never usually go back to stay unless they have a batch of cash and want to settle down like country squires in the old country. Time alone can tell for Eileen. She still seems to be at odds end with Mae. Some day Mae will snap out of her slumber and knuckle down to living a normal life. She is completely beyond my understanding. With a steady job and up to her neck in debt it will take a complete about face to get her down to earth. No will power I guess or to high a sense of pride. Eileen will show her how it's done in short order. Well I did all of my washing and ironing after I called you today so I'm all set once again for a few more days at least with all of this heat I change clothes a couple of times a day otherwise I'd smell like a goat. I'll be glad to get home where it's reasonably cool so that I can relax without being covered with beads of perspiration just from the exercise of breathing. This weather and climate is fit for animals and nomads. I'm going to close out for now until tomorrow night when I'll write once again. I love you with all of my heart and soul and I miss you desperately.
All of my love to you
God Bless & keep you
Always & Always
John xxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxx"
"23 August 1948
My very dearest darling Ellen,
Well honey only twenty-one days remain until I get home to you to stay. Time is really moving along and the remaining weeks shouldn't take too long in passing. Today passed at a pretty fair rate and I haven't any complaints yet. If the rest of the week moves along just as fast I won't mind. I got two letters from you today that helped my morale considerably. Your letter writing days will end pretty soon in fact just about Labor Day but I'll manage to write to you up until my date of release. Okay by you? Well today was another hot and sultry day and going through my puttering chores I really worked up a sweat. I had all my work done before dinner so I relaxed all through the afternoon resting up. Tomorrow will be another day of routine for me but as long as time keeps moving along I'll keep plugging along. The letters that I received from you today will be my inspiration from now on out. One that you wrote at work, arrived beat up but legible. When they tied the letters in bundles the string cut the letter in half. I'm sorry that you felt so downhearted last Wednesday night when you wrote but after you tore up the letter and sent along the quickie I guess things were looking cheerier. Just keep your spirits up honey as only a few weeks remain and we will be together again for always. I get down in the dumps upon many many occasions but somehow I manage to pull through all right. We have had our ups and downs before when time seemed so endless but now that time and separation are coming to a rapid end, please cheer up and all will be happiness in no time at all. Once I do get home I'll do my level best to make up to you all of the miseries and heartaches that I have caused you in these past years. At times I kick myself silly for all of these wasted years that I've spent in service when I could have been with you. It really gets me down. Now that it has finally come to a close I'm as nervous and as anxious as a cat just waiting waiting and waiting. At times I work myself up into a frenzy but it's worth it. Everyone seems to be getting married these days, I guess it's the vogue and it keeps the world moving along. Well honey I guess I'll close out for now until tomorrow night when I'll write once again. I love you with all of my heart and soul honey, I really do, and I miss you with my whole mind constantly.
All of my love to you
God Bless & keep you
Always & Always
John xxxxxxxxx
- Cheer up honey time is really moving~"
All of my love
Always & Always
John xxxxxx
P.S. How is your Novena making out?"
"25 August 1948
My very dearest darling Ellen,
Hello once again my pet and here I am once again with this week already half gone. Only nineteen days remain my pet and I'll be on my way. I have less than two weeks to do on this base and I'll be on my way to the Main Station for ultimate discharge. The time is moving along at a pretty fair pace honey and I won't complain at all. I received two letters from you today and it built up my morale considerably. It's really wonderful to hear from you honey so keep up the good work until Labor Day at least. After that your letter writing days will be over for ever I promise you. At long last we can carry on our conversations in person. It will seem just like a dream come true. Today I sent on its merry way my box of uniforms that should reach you in about a week. I had imagined that the cost would be quite high but I got off easy at $1.50 so it wasn't too bad at all. Now I'l be able to travel very light and fast when the opportunity arrives for me to get going. All that I have to worry about now is my underwear and my suit of khakis and whites that I may need between now and then. A few of the boys are having stomach trouble presumeably from the chow down here. Last night I felt a bit woozy but I'm all right now ~ I think. I'll be able let you know definitely tomorrow. Speaking of movies I haven't seen one in months although they are showing the latest pictures here every night. It will give us something to do once we get home together. I see that Madeline is sweating out her blessed event in October and I wish her a lot of luck. Pete is probably a nervous wreck now. I see that you are keeping your novena and once I get home I'll join you honey believe me. Don't worry about going away somewhere on our vacation as I intend to go somewhere for a few days anyway maybe the whole week so settle back and relax. Maybe New York maybe any place that you suggest but anyway someplace where we can be together.
About now my thoughts are all centered on getting discharged and getting home to you for always. I love you with all of my heart and soul and I miss you tremendously my dearest darling.
All of my love to you
God Bless & keep you
Always & Always
John xxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxx"
"26 August 1948
My very dearest darling Ellen,
Hello again my pet. I received two letters from you today and as a result I'm in a happy frame of mind. They build up my morale quite a bit. Well honey only eighteen days remain for me to linger around here and time is moving right along for me. Today was a day of clean up and stand by while the inspecting officer gave the whole joint a going over. As a result nothing was accomplished by anyone. It made the day drag somewhat but since it's all over now I haven't any complaints. We got a hurricane warning this noon so we are about to sweat out a big blow if it ends in this direction. When I left the islands I had imagined that all the big wind days were over but I guess not. They were hit down here last year and I'm hoping that nature doesn't repeat itself. Just the suggestion of a heavy wind gets all of the powers to be jumpy and as a result we are forced to put all of our efforts into a mess of unnecessary work before it arrives and after it dies down. I'll hope for clear calm weather for the next three weeks for my own sake anyway. Well I see that you have been viewing the new construction up at the Rosary Academy. I remember they were starting construction the last time that I was home. For four rooms they are seeking a terrific price at $90 a month even though they have a refrigerator furnished. I imagine they were built to ease the housing shortage but at those rates there will probably be a few vacancies. Some fine day we will have a house all to ourselves and if all goes well it won't be so very long. A couple of years maybe. Your mother seems to be passing along quite obvious hints what with that diaper bag she made for you. Time will tell. You seem to be in a quandary as to Rita O'Hara's wedding. You do just as you please about it all, regardless of what others think. It's nobody else's business but your own. If I were home with you I'd be damned if I'd attend after her attitude toward us. Call it revenge or something. I'll leave it up to you. Don't worry about my folks. They will probably go and get disgusted with the whole proceedings. I'm going to sign off now until tomorrow night when I'll write once again. I love you my pet with all of my heart and soul and I miss you with all of my mind. Please take care.
All of my love to you
God Bless & keep you
Always & Always
John xxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxx"
I would love to know what happened between my folks and Rita O'Hara. I met Rita down here in Falmouth several years ago and she asked me why my mother never invited her to her wedding. I was flabbergasted - I knew she was a good friend of my mother's and she was related to my father. My mother met my father at Rita's house for heaven's sake! Will we ever know?
"28 August 198
My very dearest darling Ellen,
Hello once again honey. Here it is another Saturday night, the loneliest night in the week. I received another letter from you today and I want to thank you very much. It was quite unexpected as mail isn't usually delivered on Saturday. We had to work a half day today practicing for a hurricane that will probably never come our way. The one that we have been sweating out has blown out to sea but since the season has been opened we can now expect them each and every week. I'll probably bring one home with me just to cool you off. The heat seems to have settled upon you all for a few days but it should lift soon and then you'll have to wait for your human heat wave namely me. I'll be around when you will need the heat the most so endure these few days and stand by for my ultimate arrival. I have only sixteen days to go my pet so time is really passing along at a good clip for us. It won't take too long in passing. My last full week on this station comes up next week as will the end of the month. I can hardly wait to go back to work. I'm going to save your letter until tomorrow for inspiration when I'll write once again. I had a chance to buy a car today but I turned it down and I'll wait until I get home. It was a pretty good deal. One of the chiefs got pinched for drunk driving for the second time and at two hundred dollars a clip, driving proves to be much too expensive for him. I imagine that by now the heat has knocked you out completely. Just relax honey and it will pass you by. It will probably be the last few hot days you will have for the rest of the year. Well honey I'm going to close out for now until tomorrow evening when I shall write once again. I love you and miss you with all of my heart honey and I'm yearning and pining to get home to you.
All of my love to you
God Bless & keep you
Always & Always
John xxx"
"29 August 1948
My very dearest darling Ellen,
Sunday night and here I am once again using up my last sheet of paper and also my last envelope. I'll have to replenish my stock tomorrow but definitely. Well honey only 15 days to go and I'll be on my way out of here for good. It hardly seems possible that the months have streaked by so swiftly but I wouldn't have them pass any other way. I'll be home now almost before you realize it. Only one more weekend and full week to go on this place and then I'll be off for discharge. It seems to be too good to be true. Time hurry, hurry along! All day long I've been reading and listening to the radio. In my spare time I did all of my laundry plus going through a weekly practice of airing my clothes and luggage. It's as damp and humid around here as it is in the islands and clothes get moldy in no time at all. I'll be glad to get back to New England where things usually remain normal. I see that you have finally made up your mind about the O'Hara social affair. I'm glad as you seemed to be quite uncertain about it all. I don't imagine that my sister is in any lovable mood concerning the affair but ~ such is life I guess. As for the O'Haras I've severed relations with them for many years now so don't let them bother you at all. Someday they will get down to earth and become human for a change.
I was surprised to hear that Edwina is expecting once again. It should create another vicious cycle of events but good luck to her anyway. The whole world is miles ahead of us so we will have to get the secret formula for twins or triplets to catch up. Even the thought of such a happening will drive you frantic I know but it's a thought. We shall have to see what the future has in store for us. Okay? Well honey I'm going to the show tonight for a change so I'll sign off until tomorrow night when I'll write once again. Please take care of yourself. I love you muchly my dearest and I miss you with all of my heart.
All of my love to you
God Bless & keep you
Always & Always
John xxxxxxxxx"
"31 August 1948
My very dearest darling Ellen,
Here it is the very last day of August and I'm terribly glad that it's all over. I didn't receive any mail from you today but that's all right as tomorrow may bear fruit. As usual it was hot and humid but from the weather reports you have finally been blessed by a little cooler weather. I'm glad that some relief has come your way after the heat wave that you have all endured. Down here it is pretty consistent so we don't mind it too much after awhile. Just relax honey and it will pass unnoticed. I should be home in two weeks so honey the time is really rushing along for us. I'm just hoping and praying that it all continues to pass as quickly as it has for the past few months. In no time at all we will be together to stay which is my greatest hope and desire believe me. I heard over the radio that during the terrific heat wave that all of the business houses were letting their help go home early and I kept thinking about you especially with the hot laundry down below your office adding coals to the already overheated temperature. That Miss Mac should be tarred and feathered for her selfish attitude toward everyone but herself. If I were boss I'd fire her with ten seconds just on general principles as they exist. How can one woman be so rottenly cantankerous and rotten. I don't blame you for getting sick and tired of her and once I get home and get half way settled you can spit right smack in her eye with another thrown in for me. Even I detest her now. When you see Madeline give her my regards, luck etc on her new offspring. She was a month ahead of time but such is life I guess. Where did she get the name of David? Pete should be all smiles by now as he should be with his new offspring. Our turn should be coming up soon I hope maybe next year. I'm glad that you are still on your novena and I'll be home soon to help you out with your Rosary. I'll need it I guess. I went to see 'So this is New York' with Henry Morgan and I liked it very much. It's all about the 'roaring Twenties' and a couple of heiresses(?). When I get home you won't have to worry as to if and when I've seen a movie as this was the first in ages.
Well honey I'm going to close for now until tomorrow night. I love you with all of my heart and soul and I miss you terribly. Please take care honey.
All of my love to you
God Bless & keep you
Always & Always
John xxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxx"
"1 September 1948
My very dearest darling Ellen,
September is now underway at long long last and we are definitely on the home stretch. Only thirteen days to go honey and all will be normal and natural once again. Oh happy happy day! It will really be a dream come true after all of these years of separation and heartache. I'm just hope(ing) that time doesn't come to a complete halt now that we have so little time to go. It usually winds up that way. Two weeks from today I should be home but definitely. The heat continues to depress us down here and the humidity is terrific. As the sun goes down each evening the change in the temperature brings on the rain clouds and we are temporarily cooled off. As of late each and every day brings about the same heat and steady sweat plus the rain in the evening. I'll be glad when I get home to New England where I'll get a chance to cool off a bit and maybe freeze for awhile this winter. Pleasant thought. Most of all I'm aching and dying just to get home to you so that we can really settle down and live like human beings through thick and thin success or poor times. I just want to be a husband for life. It will all begin in less than two weeks. No more separations or good-byes. I got a letter from you today and you sound down in the dumps. Please cheer up honey. Since I wrote that scathing letter to you I've felt like a dog about it all so disregard it kid completely. I'm sorry for it all kid and for all of the inconveniences that it has caused you. I'm really a rotten dog. My mind is going around in circles due to the Russian situation and my getting home. Maybe it's needless worry but nevertheless it can't be overlooked at all. I'm hoping and praying that it turns out all right and that we get some semblance of peace. Down here everything is booming for a possible conflict. Don't worry about me being in a bad mood when I get home as I'll be as happy as a millionaire on a spree. All of my glum days will be at an end on that eventful day come what may. Just being home and together is all that I ask of life for happiness. I'm going to shower and shave now and then hit the hay as I'm worn out from the heat and humidity. I love you with all of my heart and soul and I miss you desperately. Please take care of yourself honey and smile for a change. Have fun!
All of my love to you
God Bless & keep you
Always & Always
John xxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxx"
"6 September 1948
My very dearest darling Ellen,
Hello again my pet! I haven't written to you for a couple of days due to hurricanes and also the fact that any letters that I would have written would only lay in the mail box until tomorrow morning. So I'll write today. We were alerted for a hurricane Friday night at seven oclock and had to go to work for the rest of the night loading all of the airplanes into the hangar and the overflow we had to tie down. With the wind kicking up the rain we got thoroughly soaked but it had to be done. Everything moveable was lashed down even the trucks which we chained bumper to bumper just in case. After everything moveable was taken care of we secured and waited for the winds to come. About three in the morning it really began to rain and the winds picked up considerably. It reached full force early in the morning but it was a real disappointment as the winds only hit about fifty miles an hour. Someone overlooked the wing above us in our barracks and as a result Saturday was a wet damp day for us. The windows were left open and the rain just flooded the place. All day Saturday the rain seeped through the ceiling all over our effects. By the time the hurricane had worn itself out we were still seeping wet. Today it is all cleared up but the dampness lingers. Well honey it won't be long after you receive this letter and I'll be on my way home to you. I should leave here tomorrow for the Main Station for processing and discharge. Today being Labor Day the last milestone has been hurdled and I'm really agog as time rolls along so swiftly. I'll be home before you know it. Nothing much is transpiring down here save for the fact that the Army and Navy are holding joint war games down here. The hurricane ruined all of the plans that everyone had made but I guess they made out all right just the same. I hadn't any plans formulated so I wasn't disappointed. I'm just awaiting tomorrows arrival so that I'll be on my way. Well honey I love you with all of my heart and soul and I miss you desperately. Please take care of yourself my pet. I'll be home soon.
All of my love to you
God Bless & keep you
Always & Always
John xxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxx"
We have finally arrived at the end of my father's letters. There were some without envelopes, and some letters were missing. But overall most of them have survived thanks to my mother saving them in boxes in the attic. I suppose someone of my sisters or my brothers might have read a couple of these letters, but I don't think anyone has read all of them in the past 75 years. I think they are an important part of our family's history and should be saved for future generations.
Below is the long awaited discharge!
"Honorable Discharge
United States of America Navy Department
from the Armed Forces of the United States of America
This is to certify that
John James Patrick Manning Aviation Structural Mechanic Chief
was Honorably Discharged from the
UNITED STATES NAVY
on the 10th day of September 1948. This certificate is awarded
as a testimonial of Honest and Faithful Service.
F. R. Rodriques, C.S. Clk., USN
By direction of the Cmdg. Officer."
A couple of weeks after he was discharged, my father applied for a readjustment allowance.
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