Aug. 2, 1943. From Charlie to Charlotte (1)

A young Navy recruit at Bainbridge Naval Training Station pens a letter to his girlfriend with equal parts homesick, hopeful, and humor-filled offering a rare, heartfelt glimpse into love, duty, and life during wartime.

U.S. Naval Training Station Bainbridge, Maryland

August 2, 1943

Dearly Beloved,

Keep your fingers crossed. Honey, I just turned them in, hoping they get approved. Better tell you I am talking about visitor passes. Tomorrow we should get them back, if approved. I shall try my best to get it through. You may be my sister but that should get it OK’d if the one I have in now doesn’t. On the one I turned in today for relation I put fiancé (can’t spell it now). Last week many of the passes were turned down for friends.

Haven’t had mail call yet today. Should have at least one letter from you. The last one I got was the one you wrote Friday. Probably get two today and more tomorrow.

Feel pretty sore today. I got a watch again tonight. 7 to 12. Wasn’t supposed to get any until next week. Saturday we got a new company clerk and he started a new roving again. Naturally the roving was alphabetically. I’m going to change my name to Zilch or something. Take your name when we get married instead of you taking mine. Then I wont have any more watches to stand so it won’t matter a whole lot.

Having mail call now. Will have to get my letters from my Honey. Just collected three letters: yours (the best), Mother’s, and one from a buddy of mine, now stationed in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Honey, the only explanation I have as to why you didn’t get a letter Sat. is the slow mail service. I have written every day with the exception of that one shortly after I got. Let me know if you don’t have one for every day last week. I’m waiting for the 3-page letter you have at the office.

No dear, I didn’t hear Hit Parade Sat. Wish I had as the No. 1 song is one of my favorites.

Have you raised yourself up from the doldrums of disgust? Sure hope you have. Don’t like for you to feel that way. At times it is impossible to avert it, I know just what seemed to be the main trouble (Let’s not get nosy Charlie). Go ahead say it. I know that is what you were thinking. I sure was mad when I found out I had guard duty tonight.

U.S. Naval Training Station

Bainbridge, Maryland

We got a card like this for going to church.

Mother said she is anxiously looking forward to our coming. Dad is planning on what we are going to have to eat. Mother said I should tell you that from what Dad has planned you are apt to put on a few pounds! She said it would not detract from your beauty. I will tell her what you said about it. That if she adds it would be something no one else has been able to do.

O.K. it is your turn to bawl me out. All I talk about is your gaining weight. Go ahead Boo, I can take it.

Oh yes, Honey, one thing Mother asked me was if you do any fancy work, you know, embroidery, crocheting etc. I don’t remember seeing you do any so I shall hold the answer in abeyance until you tell me. You probably are quite good at it. She didn’t say why she wanted to know or anything about it.

The movie last night was terrible. I didn’t know what to do with myself. No one to put my arm around, no one’s hand to hold and squeeze. Gee it was awful. Was thinking of the times we went to the movies. Was wishing all through the show that you were here. No more movies for me while I’m here, if I can get out of it. I understand there are a series of 30 or 40 that we are supposed to see. Prelude to War is the first one.

Honey, one thing you won’t like when we get home, at least I don’t think you will like it, is when I go to say hello to all my relatives. I have plenty, don’t think I don’t. It’s a good thing I have them spread out and not all in Fremont.

Dearest, it is time to start our afternoon work. First on the program is a first aid lecture.

Thinking of you and you only. Loving you alone, Charlie XXX many more