Dec 23, 1954. From Airman Charles to June. Letter 9 of 10 in collection.
Right before Christmas in 1954, an airman stationed overseas writes tenderly to his sweetheart back home, picturing her face as he buttons his cleaned but damaged suit and prepares for a weekend in Madrid. In a world of veiled strangers, foreign coins, and long bus rides, his heart stays anchored to her …. dreaming of a March reunion, steamship arrivals, and the sound of her voice he couldn’t afford to hear by phone.
23 Dec 1954
Dearest June,
Hello Babydoll. How’s my baby tonight? I love you and miss you very much. Are you being sweet and good for me? I am for you. The time is passing a little faster now that I have something to do. The squadron is a good one and right now I have nothing to work at but after the holiday things should pick up.
I’m going to Madrid tomorrow morning. Take-off is at 7:00 and we should be there around 10:30. I guess I’ll go sightseeing until noon Sunday.
My suits came back from the cleaners today with two front buttons off. I think you could send me one to match? (light blue) The cleaning fluid they use must be real strong because the clothes look like they have been cleaned ten instead of one time.
The same thing keeps happening all the time, so there isn’t much to write about.
I got my first letter from you this afternoon. It was so good to hear from you. Honey, I’m glad you got home all right. I want you to come over here as soon as we can arrange it. I think it would be best to live in a hotel. I would have called you , but it would have been $15 or $20 dollars for 3 minutes and then the pound is not so good I hear besides. If anything comes up in an emergency, I can use the MARS station here free.
I made my bus with plenty of time to spare an it wasn’t cold, except at Westover. The gloves helped a lot. Tell Dad that I’m sorry I didn’t send the money to him as I promised, but it cost (the trip) so much more than I had planned. I’ll pay him as soon as I can.
The public bath that you mentioned is no more I suppose. I would have heard about it otherwise. The Arab women are almost always veiled. The French girls are pretty and nice – most of them.
Of course I still love you. You’re my baby. I miss you so much. Most of the wives like it here. Some families have even put in for extended tours.
When we get ready for you to come over you can go to Barksdale and get your shots. Just be sure to carry your ID card. If going there isn’t practical, you can have it done at home. Then you go to NY and contact the steam ship lines applicable and they will tell you what to do from there. Six days on the water won’t seem too long. If the car comes in on the 6th of next month we will still have to wait until we get some money. We can probably save $600 during Jan. and Feb. and you can be here about the 1st week in March. Besides, we don’t want to get you here too early because after you have to go back and I would have too long to spend by myself again. After this tour is over I’m going to put in for Barksdale, Austin, and Little Rock (new base) in that order. We’re bound to get somewhere around there.
I guess this is all for now, Babydoll.
I love you. How is Dawn? Maybe we can work it so as to have her come over with you. I miss you both very much. I love you.
All my love, Charles.
p.s. I love you.