1944. From Bill to his sweetheart, Gloria

As the war continues, this tender letter from Bill to his sweetheart Gloria captures a soldier’s longing for home, love, and a life waiting to begin again.

Wednesday nite

Dear Honey,

The radio is now playing “I’ll Be Seeing You,” and that doesn’t make things easier. It just gets me lonesome and I sure do wish I was back up on the farm with you. I’ll be back though, and soon the war will end and we’ll be back together for good.

As for that job up Tri-City, I can’t figure it up. There must be some mistake, but I’ll fix it. Somebody will know about it when I get back. To tell you the truth, I never did like that Eli’s brother. He thinks his shit don’t stink. Don’t go into Simonds if things don’t pan out for you, it’ll only ruin your health and eyesight. I’m sure that I got color blind down there, for I took those tests in Groton the first time and I could see them perfectly.

So Boy’s going hunting with Reds? Well he’s starting off early, but it’ll do him good.

When I get back up there for good, we’re starting off on a clean slate all our own. Don’t worry about those things they call their own, for they know where to settle when the day of reckoning comes. Should he sell the tractor let me know. If he doesn’t say anything about it, I’ll write him a letter, one that’ll make his ears burn. I still hold the trump card and don’t forget it. He owes us forty dollars and that ain’t hay. You could go up Sunday with Ma and get a couple of chickens for a dinner and call it quits as far as the chickens go. It was a bum deal for us but we’ll know better next time.

Remember pay our taxes on our bill only and the camp one. Write to me about what I said in a previous letter.

So Ethel’s working? Might do her good. She might grow up now. I hope so anyway.

Boy, have I got a cold coming on. I can feel it down in my chest and it’s going to be a beaut. I hope I can shake it.

Well got to close now and I love you very much.

Love, 
Bill
P.S. Knee’s O.K. but the way I feel with this cold coming on I couldn’t even get a h**d on say nothing about seven times.