Jan. 4, 1951. Early letter series from Charles at West Point to his sweetheart, June. Letter 2 in the series.

Written in January 1951 from the halls of West Point, this tender letter captures a young cadet balancing duty, distance, and a fierce devotion to the girl he left behind in Texas. It is one chapter in a longer exchange, and already you can feel how much is riding on what comes next.

4 January, 1951

Dearest June,

Hello, Angel. How is my gal tonight? If you are as lonesome as I am, then you must feel awful. I miss you so darn much I hardly know what to do. Gosh, I love you. I got two letters from you today – the one you wrote Sunday night and the one you wrote Monday the 1st. Since I didn’t get any yesterday you can imagine how much I was looking for one. One was postmarked 8:30PM on Jan 1 and the other was 11:30AM Jan. 2. How did you get the last one mailed, Honey? I don’t imagine things are running too smoothly where are are right now are they? I worry about you all the time because I know they won’t treat you right and won’t take good care of you. I wish I had you with me so I could look after you. Don’t you ever forget, Honey, that I’m the guy who loves you, so if it gets to where you need something because of what is going on, don’t wait and not say anything to me because you don’t want to bother me with your troubles. You know as well as I do your troubles are mine as well as yours. There was no need to worry about me on my way up here. Honey, I got on the plane, went to sleep and pretty soon I was in NY. It was all as simple as that. I can remember seeing the Red River under us in the twilight. You have no idea how much different that county of Texas is from this place.

I practiced again this afternoon and my hands are covered with blisters. All I ever do is get up in the morning, go to classes all day, go to practice or tactics, come home and study and then go to bed. Tomorrow it will start all over again. Interesting? I wouldn’t mind at all if you were up here with me, but as it is I hate it. I’ll never forget our nine days either, Honey. From Wednesday on when you couldn’t go to Dallas it all started. I’m glad those first few days were so wonderful. All the next were wonderful too just because I was near you no matter what happened. I didn’t want those days to be like that either, Angel, but I guess most of them couldn’t be helped. The last could have though, I guess because it was all my fault. Although I suppose if it hadn’t been that, he would have found something else, because from the way all those things turned out he was looking for something.

I know the next year is going to pass so slowly, but I can wait if you can because I have such a wonderful little gal to wait for. I’ll be so glad when we can be together. I know you’ll have the picture made for me as soon as you can and you know I’ll do the same. No, I’ll bet your hair doesn’t either look awful. I wouldn’t think so if I could see it. I’m glad you like my arms because I try to make them so you’ll like them, but I don’t want you to say so unless you mean it. Honey, I don’t really care what you wear when you have the picture made and I don’t suppose it makes very much difference since it won’t show up wo you can wear a sweater or anything you like. I guess I’d like the sweater better than anything else, so is that OK? Do you want me to wear the coat I had on when I had the one made for you that you have now, or would you like for me to wear my grey dress coat – you know – the one I wore home last Christmas.

You know I’ll be saving all my love for you, so don’t worry one bit. All I can do is tell you how much I love you, miss you and want to see you but I think you know. Gosh, I’ve sure go me some gal. I think she is the prettiest and the most wonderful little creature on earth. Tell 10 & 14 not to get too lonesome, Honey ‘cuz I’ll be back to seem them before they know it. There should be plenty of girls coming up here June Week that you can come up with and I’ll pay your way so how about lets us try to plan on you coming up then? I love you, Angel. Please take good care of my gal for me – please. I love you. Goodnight, Baby, sweet dreams.

All my love, EVER,

Charles.

p.s. I love you.