July 10, 1944. From Charlie to Charlotte (5)

In July 1944, just a month after Allied troops stormed the beaches of Normandy, Charlie got the orders that would upend everything—a transfer to Norfolk that meant scrambling to find new plans, battling phone delays, and watching their carefully arranged leave dissolve into uncertainty. What follows is a letter written in a flurry of nerves and exhaustion, full of apologies, logistics, and the ache of remembering that exactly one month ago, they were thinking of getting married. This is our fifth and final letter from Charlie—leaving us to wonder whether he and Charlotte ever made it to that altar, whether Norfolk became home, and what became of two people whose love survived wartime uncertainty one letter at a time.

10 July 1944

Darling,

Honey, I guess everything happens to us. Yes, I got my orders to go to Norfolk. I am to leave Wednesday. If the transfer was because of the letter I wrote asking to be changed to naval intelligence. I didn’t work but I’m nearer Washington. I will try getting a place at Virginia Beach for us. I don’t know what kind of liberty I will get at Bradford. Probably 48 hrs out of three. I will call you from Bradford and let you know what I made out. Will call as soon as I get squared away. Probably be about Friday or Saturday. Honey, it looks like I went and used up the works this time. Honey, I’m really sorry for it. If you can come down to Norfolk, that will be less traveling and tiresome for you. I am really sorry about it Hon, but you can’t tell what the navy will do. Hope you can come down to Norfolk by Monday anyway. By that time I should have everything all straightened out.

One bad thing about being at Bradford is the transportation difficulties. I’ll have to find out all that stuff before I call. Will take care of it as soon as I can. Sure don’t want you to waste any of that leave.

I sure was surprised this morning when my orders came in. The billet was changed. I was asking for a transfer and wasn’t interested. Then he was quite surprised to see that it was my orders! He didn’t know I had asked for a transfer and said the commander would have waited until I “got back from leave.”

Hon, I guess that is enough about my transfer. Hope to see you in about a week or a little less if possible. Wish you could have come down here for a month instead of coming to Norfolk. Either way I am very anxious to see you. Was your letter this weekend. Of course, that would be after you have completed your leave and started working again. I don’t know just what I’ll be doing at Bradford but it kinda looks like I will be in the personnel office. Hope that I will be in Bradford for a while yet before leaving the states. Will find out all the dope when I get to Bradford.

Got two letters from you today. The one where you sent the one letter we got was a foster. I thought I was getting a long letter. Oh yes, that letter was from one of the old gang. He was the first to get married.

Hon, I should answer your letters tonight but I am too tired and sleepy, nervous and excited. Why? Well, I am just wondering what is in store for me and then I am just wondering. Three guesses and I bet you only need one! Remember a month ago today we were thinking of getting married. Those were happy days, they were.

Tonight when I called I got right through but you weren’t home yet. So I called again about seven and had to wait. At 8 I called again and was told there would be a delay of 1½ to 2 hours. At 9 I called again and they said the same thing so I cancelled the call and sent the telegram. Also sent one to Mom.

Well Hon I hope I can get a call through easy tomorrow. Think I’ll turn in for tonight. Goodnight my love.

All my love & kisses,

Charlie

XXXX many more

Keep your fingers crossed and I hope to see you soon.