Friday, October 1, 1943 (7:30 a.m.)

Camp Wheeler, Georgia

Dearest Cass,

I just finished breakfast, and I am writing this letter by firelight.  I didn’t get a chance to write you last night, for we had a lecture, and by the time it was over it was dark.  During the night we aren’t allowed to have fire so that makes it pretty impossible to write you at night.  We are going on a 20 mile hike Sunday night and Sunday afternoon we are going to be back in camp.  So I ought to be out of this camp by Friday, (I hope).  If you don’t get a letter every day, don’t be disappointed, for right now we will be busy until the day I leave.  Well honey, I have to get ready to fall out, so I’ll have to cut this letter short, (ok).  Always remember that I love you, and want to be with you every minute of the day, so when this darn war is over I will once more be able to hold you and tell you that I love you.  This ain’t no Bull-shit, I mean every word of it, so I want more than anything else in the world, to be with you and Kathy again for the rest of my life.  So take care of yourself and the baby till I come back.

Loving you always,

Dutch

P.S. It won’t be long now.

Saturday, October 2, 1943 (7:00 p.m.)

Camp Wheeler, Georgia

Dearest Cass,

Today we went out and dug fox-holes all day, so there isn’t anything that I can tell you that is new.  I got your letters telling me about the imprint on one of them.  Boy you sure are a suspicious wife, and to explain it in a few words it will make you feel kind of silly.  As you can see it isn’t my writing paper, as the fellow I am sleeping with owns it.  I didn’t have mine in from camp yet, so that is why I used his.  In fact, in all my letters that I have been writing, I used his pen every single time.  So he must have been writing to his wife before I wrote you and that is why whatever you saw there, was on there.  I looked and looked, but I can’t see anything.  So whatever you saw, you can trust me that it wasn’t my fault, (ok).  I’m putting this letter back, just like you asked me to, and I hope I explained everything to you to put your mind at ease.  It I ever write to anyone else honey, I’ll tell you, but as it is you are the only one that I care to write to as I only have you, and no one else.  Gee honey, I sure missed you something terrible these last long months and I hope that after this war that we will never be separated again (cross my heart).  Goodnight honey and take care of yourself till I see you.  Always remember that I am your husband, and you are my wife, for the rest of our natural lives.

Love and kisses,

Dutch

Sunday, October 3, 1943 (9:00 a.m.)

Camp Wheeler, Georgia

Dearest Cass,

Well today is Sunday and another day closer to you.  Today we have to get our things ready to pull out again, just like last Sunday.  Only tonight we are going to send all of our things back to camp and only keep a blanket with us.  We go on our 20 mile hike tonight and after it is over, we dig fox-holes and sleep in them till Tuesday, and that’s when we come back in camp.  During that time we also go on field rationing and that’s going to hurt, as you know how I like to eat.  But Tuesday, we are finished with our training and eligible to be shipped out.  But first we have to clean all of our stuff.  I hope that I get to leave for home on Friday, as that would make it that I hit home at Saturday afternoon.  Wouldn’t that be swell, I hope everything turns out like I planned.  (Don’t you?)  Did my mother mention anything about sending me the money?  I won’t be able to write to you after tonight, till I get back to camp, so I hope that you won’t mind it too much.  Honey, I want to write you every day and it makes me feel bad when I can’t, so I hope you keep writing me twice a day, (ok).  Well, I’ll get my things ready now and I’ll write you more later on.  I love you honey, just you and the babies.

Love and kisses

Dutch

Wednesday, October 6, 1943 (8:00 p.m.)

Camp Wheeler, Georgia

Dearest Cass,

Since I last wrote you, we went and got our shipping notice.  After we got the notice, we all went and got a physical.  We are going to Fort Mead and we had the choice of the Government paying our way or paying it ourselves.  Everybody took paying their own way, as they get it back when they come back from furlough at 3 cents a mile.  You see if we took it at Gov. expense, we would have to stay a couple days longer in order to go on a troop train and on a troop train we are still under Military orders.  So you can see its better traveling on your own and you will get the money back (alright hun).  Tonight I sent a telegram to my parents to send me money right away, as my furlough might start any day.  I’m sorry I wrote that letter this afternoon for at that time I was pretty mad and disappointed in everything.  I guess you can understand how I felt with no money and a furlough staring me in the face.  But I really told you long ago to have the money to send to me when the time came.  Boy when we were told that we were getting a furlough and at the same time a letter from you telling me to write to Rudy for the money, I really was down in the dumps.  But I am still hoping that I will get the money by tomorrow anyway, as telegrams travel fast.

I also sent it collect as I am flat broke and I still have my suits in the tailors.  So you see how much I need it, don’t you.  Right now we are returning all of our stuff, but as we have to clean them, I’ll be pretty busy till I hit the next camp.  About not writing you the last three days, I think you can understand, as we were out in the field with no outside communication.  Boy sleeping in them fox-holes was pretty uncomfortable and what made it worse it was cold and damp.  I’m sure glad it’s all over and I hope it’s easier sliding from now on.

Well honey, I better sign off as I have a lot of work to do.  I might have very good news for you later on, and I sure hope that what I think is right.  Well goodnight honey and I’m hoping to see you in a couple of days.  I love you and can hardly wait to see you (how about you).  You better start warming up that bed of ours, as when I come home we are going to use it quite a lot, (right).  (Now, don’t get me wrong.)

Love and kisses,

Dutch

P.S. Tell Kathy that her daddy will soon be home.

Friday, October 8, 1943 (11:00 a.m.)

Camp Wheeler, Georgia

Dearest Cass,

We just got done scrubbing the barracks from top to bottom.  I don’t know what’s on the schedule for this afternoon, but I’ll tell you later on tonight.  I didn’t get any phone call last night, so I was a little disappointed.  Did you call me Wed.?  Everybody here is ready to leave except a few fellows and I.  I’m darn glad that I don’t have to go to Calif., as it would make me very unhappy being so far away from home.  They all have to go to Cincinnati first and from there they go on a 5 day furlough and after their furlough they go straight to California.  My furlough may be delayed a little but it’s better that way than going with the rest of them to California (don’t you think so).

Well honey as yet I don’t know what they’re going to do with me, but as soon as I find out, I’ll let you know.  As I told you before, it might be sensational news to you and it will make you very happy.  So I’m keeping my fingers crossed.  Well I’d better sign off as I’m sneaking this letter in as it is.  I’ll write you later on tonight (O.K.).

Take care of yourself darling until I get home for I love you something awful.

Love and Kisses

Dutch

P.S. Did you go out my mothers and tell her that I wouldn’t be home right away?

Friday, October 8, 1943 (7:00 p.m.)

Camp Wheeler, Georgia

Dearest Cass,

Since I wrote you last I have ate dinner and after dinner we went to the movies for the whole afternoon and seen a picture about spies.  It’s 5 p.m. we had gas mask inspection and right now we are having an inspection of all our clothing.  I don’t know what time we will get done, but I guess it will be pretty late.  I don’t have anything new to tell you, but I will know more tomorrow.  I got another money order tonight, but as yet I didn’t go up to the telegraph office to get it, so I don’t know who it’s from.  But I guess it’s from Rudy, as I wrote him before I sent the telegram to my parents.  So if it is, well you call her up and ask her what I should do with it.  I don’t know whether to send it back to him, or send it to her.  So you ask her about it will you.  I’ll be glad when I get out of here, as everybody is going nuts, getting everything straightened out.  I’d like to tell you what I am expecting, but I don’t want to lead you to any false hopes, so you’ll just have to wait to hear it, like myself.  As I told you before, I don’t expect to get a furlough till everything is straightened out with me, so we’ll both have to wait a little longer.  But darling it’s worth waiting for if everything turns out right.  Goodnight honey and don’t forget that I love you and hope to see you darn soon.

Love and kisses

Dutch

P.S. I love you.

Sunday, October 10, 1943, (11:00 p.m.)

Camp Wheeler, Georgia

Dearest Cass,

I hope you don’t mind my writing just one letter today, as we were busy cleaning up our rifles most of the day.  They went under a very stiff examination, as we turned them in for good.  (Am I glad).  I was very glad to hear your voice today, weren’t you?  The phone call tonight cost me $3.60, but every second of it was worth it.  I feel much better when I hear you talking and you sound like you want me home.  Well honey I sure want to be with you and I hope I fail in the examination at the hospital so that I will get home forever.  So keep your fingers crossed.  I told you over the phone today that I would tell you how I made out.  So if I know definitely what they’re going to do, I’ll call you up right away.  I also got a money telegram from Rudy, and it was for $42 dollars.  I’m going to take it down the orderly room, to have all of it put in the safe, so that I can’t get at it to lose in a crap game.  So ask my mother what she wants to do with it, as I don’t know whether to send it back to Rudy or her.  Well honey, I better get to bed, as I have to get up early tomorrow the day, so keep your fingers crossed.

Love and kisses,

Dutch

P.S. I played cards all tonight and lost $10 back.

Tuesday, October 12, 1943 (7:30 p.m.)

Camp Wheeler, Georgia

Dearest Cass,

I received two letters off of you today.  All day today we just cleaned up the barrack’s in the afternoon we went down the carpenter shop and sawed wood and made up targets.  As yet I don’t have any information of what they’re going to do with me, so I can’t tell you much.  I don[t think I’ll call you up tonight, as I can’t tell you whats, what.  But as soon as I find out, I’ll call you up right away, (o.k.).  I hope you don’t get too disappointed in my not calling up, but wouldn’t you rather me call you up later when I have some information, than now when I don’t know what’s what.  As you know, it costs a lot of money to call home and I can’t spare it.  Tomorrow probably I’ll know a little so, I’ll postpone the call till then (o.k.).  Honey, I love you very much and want to come home as soon as possible.  You were telling me how disappointed you were when I didn’t get home.  Well honey, I guess you know how I felt and I really felt bad.  But when I do come home, I bet we will be the happiest two people on earth. (Don’t you think).  Well honey, I hope I can give you some good news tomorrow so that I can call you up.  I love you honey and I’ll call you tomorrow for sure (o.k.).

Loving you always,

Dutch

P.S. Give this emblem to Joe.

Wednesday, October 13, 1943 (7:00 p.m.)

Camp Wheeler, Georgia

Dearest Cass,

Well today is the same as yesterday with no news of anything.  I hope that your not worried about me not calling up, but it would be silly to call you up now and then have to call you up the next day again.  I wished that it wouldn’t cost so much phoning you, or else I would call you up every night.  Well honey I sure am disgusted here, as they make you work every minute of the day.  Today I went and put in posts in the ground all morning and in the afternoon I did some K.P. and after that mowed the lawns.  Boy, as soon as your done one detail, they shove you right on another.  I hope I’m out of here by tomorrow as I want to get home something terrible.  There were quite a few fellows who were kept here for the same thing and they're pretty disgusted themselves.  All we talk about all day is, when were going to get our shipping orders.  In your letter today, you asked me if I was still going in town.  Well honey you can stop worrying about that as we are all restricted to the company area till we get shipped from here.  So does that make you feel better?  Honey, I can say one thing from the bottom of my heart, and that is, I never did one thing out of the way, since I have been away from you and I’m darn sure I never will. Goodnight honey, I love you deeply.

Love and kisses,

Dutch

P.S. I love you.

Friday, October 15, 1943 (9:30 p.m.)

Camp Wheeler, Georgia

Dearest Cass,

I didn’t get to writing you last night as I went in town and did some shopping.  I also sent back $50 dollars to my mother, as I didn’t want to carry so much money around with me.  I wanted to buy something for the baby, but I couldn’t make my mind up as to what. Do you have any suggestions?  There just isn’t anything good enough for her, so I am asking you for help (o.k.).  As yet I don’t know what’s going on, but there are shipments going out each day.  There’s only about 5 fellows left in my barracks so it won’t be long before I know where I’m going.

Boy I wished this would get over with as, I’m growing pretty inpatient with this waiting and hoping (don’t you).  I’m going to call you up tomorrow night whether I know where I’m going or not, as I want to hear your voice once again.  Gee honey, if you only knew how much I love you and missed you.  I got a letter off of my mother today telling me that Red’s expects to go out to sea again and that he is leaving his wife without a cent.  Boy I bet he sure wished that he had all that money he blew before he got married.  You said in your letter that you wanted me to write twice a day, as I have more time to myself now.  Well honey I’ll try but as for having more time to myself now, I have less time to myself now that I had when I was training.  Boy in this camp they have you working every minute of the day.  Right now I’m doing all kinds of detail.  Mitchell said he’d stop around and see your father.  Did he?  I sent you a package last night and I hope you like it.  Tell me if you get it, will you.  I was going to wait and deliver it myself, but I didn’t dare leave it laying around, as there are too many crooks around.  One of the fellows that is shipping out tonight had his wallet stolen with $55 dollars in it.  Boy ain’t that something, and he’s going home on furlough. 

Well honey, I hope I’m on my way home before next week as I’m growing pretty impatient.  If there is anything you want me to bring with me, tell me will you.

Well honey I’d better save something for tomorrow, as I’m going to try and get two letters in (ok).  Remember that I love you and miss you terribly.  These three little words are my whole life.  I love you.

Love and kisses,

Dutch

P.S. I love you.

Saturday, October 17, 1943 (10:30 a.m.)

Camp Wheeler, Georgia

Dearest Cass,

Last night after I wrote you, I took a shower and then played cards till 1:00 a.m.  I won $30 dollars and it sure comes in handy.  This morning I just cut the grass and moped around till now.  After I finish this letter, I guess I’ll write one to my parents, that is if I don’t get a detail by then.  As yet, I haven’t heard a thing about shipping out so I guess I’ll be here for the weekend.  I haven’t much to write about since we finished our training, except my love for you.  Tonight I’m going to call you up, so I hope you’re around to receive it.  Don’t forget and tell me what to buy for the baby as I can’t see anything good enough for her here.  Well, I’m all out of words, so until tonight I’ll say, I love you and miss you terribly.

Love and kisses

Dutch

P.S.  I’m enclosing $10 dollars, so that you can buy yourself a dress, so that you can pretty up for me when I come home.  Don’t forget and tell me if you receive that package or not, for I don’t know whether I put enough postage on it.  I love you darling!

Monday, October 18, 1943 (7:30 p.m.)

Camp Wheeler, Georgia

Dearest Cass,

Today, I was barracks orderly and I had to keep the barracks clean all day.  I still didn’t hear anything about shipping so there isn’t much that I can write about.  In your letters you asked me to send you back the letter that I got from Jack Smith and the picture of Betty and the baby.  I have already thrown the letter that I got from Jack Smith away, but it didn’t say much, just how I was doing and where his son was stationed.  But I’ll put the picture in this letter (o.k.).

I guess by this time you get the things that I sent you.  How did you like them?  It was the best compact I could find and everybody that I showed it to, liked it very much.  After I finish this letter, I’m going to play some cards and I hope I win.  So far I have been pretty lucky and I hope my luck keeps up till I get my furlough. 

Well honey, I hope that tomorrow I can call you up and tell you where I’m going.  Remember that I love you and want to be with you more than anything in the world.

Love and kisses,

Dutch

P.S. Give the baby a kiss for me.

Note from WOLF:   Dutch finished basic training at Camp Wheeler Georgia in October, then went home on 10 day furlough before going to Fort Meade,  Maryland for additional training.

October 31, 1943 (4:00 p.m.)

United States Army

Dearest Cass,

I was very worried about you when I left, and was very much relieved when I called you up today.  It cost me $.54 cents, so you can expect a lot more phone calls from me in the future.  All we are doing down here is laying around, and I wished I had stayed home for the weekend.  Tomorrow we will have a pretty busy day, so I’ll have a lot more to write to then.  As yet, I don’t have a return address, so you won’t be able to send me any mail.  But you better have a letter for every day and when I do have an address, you can send them all at once (o.k.).  Well honey, that’s all I have for now, so until tomorrow, I love and always will.  Take very good care of the baby and yourself, I’ll see you next week-end.

Loving you always,

Dutch

P.S. I love you.