December 2, 1943

Dearest Cass:

Yesterday, we got forms to fill out to send cablegrams.  You’ll probably get the one I sent you in about 3 days.  I got a pass yesterday to go to town, and while I was in there, I went to the post office and had a money order made out to send you.  I don’t know when you will get it, but it will probably be there before Christmas.  The natives here are pretty dirty and I don’t think they ever wash themselves or change their clothes.  They live in huts with about 6 to 12 families in them, not including the live stock, so you can see how dirty they live.

While I was in town, I had my dinner and supper there.  I was with another fellow and neither of us knew how to speak French, so it was pretty difficult for us to order the things we wanted.  But as it was neither of us had to say a thing, as they only serve a certain kind of dish each meal.  I don’t know what we ate, but it was pretty fair, and it cost us about [blank].  In case you don’t know what a [blank] is, it’s 2 cents.  You can get all the wine you want and they have beer, but that isn’t worth buying, as its lousy.  It was pretty interesting, and I hope to go there again in the future.

I’ll write you more about it in my next letter, as I have to get to bed now.  Take care of yourself and the babies, as I love you very much and miss you terribly.

Love & kisses,

Dutch

P.S.  I’m enclosing the money order in this letter, and I hope it comes in handy for you.  Buy the babies their Christmas presents for me, and get the coat I promised you.  Don’t worry about me as everything is o.k.

December 3, 1943

Dearest Cass:

Well another day is gone, with nothing much to write about.  I’ll be glad when I start getting letters again, as not hearing from you leaves me worrying something terrible.  You needn’t worry about me, as I’m as safe as if I was in the states.  If you get any letters all cut up, it isn’t my doing, as the censer takes care of that. 

Have you been doing any Christmas shopping yet?  I’ll try to pick-up a Christmas card to send you.  I’ll sign off now, as I can’t think of anymore to write about.

Take care of yourself honey.  I love you very much.

Love & kisses,

December 5, 1943

Dearest Cass:

Today it rained all morning, so we couldn’t do anything, but in the afternoon we took a hike for about 3 hours.  After the hike I went up the P.X. and got my weeks supplies which came to $1.25.  We have an outdoor theater here, and it doesn’t cost us anything, so I go there most of the nights as it’s the only thing doing at night.  Well that’s all I can think of to write about for today, except that I love you and miss you more every day.  Tell the folks that I was asking about them and am waiting to hear from them.  Goodnight honey, take care of yourself and the babies, and don’t worry about me.

Love & kisses,

Dutch

P.S. Don’t forget the pictures.

December 8, 1943

Dearest Cass:

Today started another week and it is now 12:00 o’clock.  You are probably just getting up, as we are 5 hours advanced from your time.  It doesn’t get light here till around 7:30 in the morning, and we have to use candles, if we have any.  I’m going to try and get a pass tomorrow and if I do I’ll try and pick up a little something for you.  I’m always thinking of you honey and am waiting for the day when we will all be able to come back home.  That’s all I can think of to write about right now and I have to go and get my chow or go without.  I love you honey, so take care of yourself and the kids.

Love & kisses,

Dutch

P.S.  How are the babies coming along?

Friday, December 10, 1943

Dearest Sweetheart,

Today I didn’t get any mail but I guess there will be lots of days like that because you’re so far away.  You didn’t write every day on the boat.  Did you?  The thing censored in your letter was the kind of money used.  I believe you to be in Morocco., am I right.  If I am honey when you put a P.S. on my letter put Yes, I love you and if I am wrong just yes, I miss you.  Oh I wish I could be with you honey.  Especially now I know you must be worried about Eric.  I am at your mothers today.  Betty, Grace and I helped her.  Tonight Walter and his wife were here.  They gave me two dollars to buy the babies something.  Kathy is sleeping in the crib and Carol in the little back room.  Your daughters were bad girls last night both of them were crying so you can imagine how tired I am.  Kathy, honey is walking all over the place and is a little kissing bug.  She is always wanting someone to kiss her.

man if I could send it and he said no only the one package to a letter, so I said I was your sister and if your wife sent a package why couldn’t I.  I said I can’t help it if he writes her first so he said alright this time but the next time I’d know better so now you’ll get a lb of candy and a Xmas box from us.  I hope you get it in time.  Today a newspaper reporter was here likely are printing about Eric in the paper with his picture.  I will send it to you honey, the reporter asked me if I was his sister, I said no I’m Carl’s wife.  He said he asked me how many children I had.  I said two.  He said  how old are they, I told him.  He said “Holy Gee.”  Darling, I might get my coat tomorrow.  If I have enough money, I will get a hat too.  Coats have went up quite a bit.  Honey, do you have your identification bracelet with you.  Did you have it engraved. 

Well Darling, I am going to get to bed.  I love you very much and miss you more than you’ll ever know.

Loving you always,

Cass

P.S. I love you Sweetheart and as soon as we get word about Eric, I’ll send a cablegram to you.

Monday, December 13, 1943

Dearest Cass:

Last night after I ate chow, some other fellows and I got together an had a good card game.  But I didn’t do so good, as I lost 17 dollars.  There isn’t much of anything to do, except play cards, so I won’t have much to write about.  All day today it has been raining and when we get out of our tents, the mud comes up around our ankles.  We have a theater here and a Red Cross where they serve coffee and doughnuts.  Well honey, that’s all I have to write about for now, except that I love you and miss you terribly.  Take care of yourself and the babies, as I am worrying about all of you constantly.

Love & kisses,

Dutch

P.S. Don’t forget and send me them pictures and let me know if you got the money I sent you.

December 15, 1943

Dearest Cass:

I didn’t get to write a letter last night, as we were going on a night hike.  But at the last minute it was called off, so I went to bed.  I expect to get some mail any day now, and I’m sure looking forward to some, as I haven’t heard from you since I left you at the hospital.  There isn’t much to write about, except that I love you and expect to be with you and the babies soon.  I’ll say goodnight now, as I can’t think of anymore to write about.

Love & kisses,

Dutch

P.S. I love and miss you and the babies very much, so take care of yourself.

December 16, 1943

Dearest Cass:

Today was the same old grind, with nothing much to write about.  I still didn’t get any mail from you and I am sure looking forward to getting some.  How is everyone at home, are the babies coming along alright?  I expect to get a pass to town soon and when I do may I’ll have something to write about.  Goodnight honey, take care of yourself, as I love you very much.

Love & kisses,

Dutch

December 17, 1943

Dearest Cass:

Last night I went up the Red Cross, and got some coffee and cake.  Boy it sure was good, as we don’t see much of cake or candy.  After that, I went to the movies and seen “The Constant Nymph.”  That’s what we do most every night, as there ‘s nothing else to do except go to bed.  How’s everything at home?  I sure wish I was back home with you and the babies, as I miss you very much.  But I guess it won’t be much longer before this war is over (I hope).  Are you getting your allotment checks alright?  Don’t forget and send them pictures I asked you about, as I am looking forward to receiving them.  Goodnight honey, and remember that I’ll love you for always and always.

Love & kisses,

Dutch

December 18, 1943

Dearest Cass:

This morning we went on a nice long hike and we sure were tired when we got back to camp.  This afternoon we have to wash out some of our things, as they are pretty muddy and dirty.  I wish I was back in the states, so that all I would have to do is send them to the laundry.  There’s one thing that I hate to do and that’s wash. 

I still didn’t get to town, but when I do, I’ll pick up a little something for you.  I still didn’t get any mail, so that doesn’t leave me much to write about, so  I hope I get some soon.  Well honey,  I hope you and the babies are well and don’t worry about me as everything is swell.  I love you and miss you terribly, so I hope this war ends soon.

Love & kisses,

Dutch

December 19, 1943

Dearest Cass:

Well today is Sunday and another week gone by.  Last night I went to the movies and seen “Queen of Burlesque” it was pretty good.  I wrote a letter to your Aunt Emma last night, so tell me if she gets it.  After I finish this letter, I’m going to write one to my mother.  Are you going out this house on the weekends with the babies yet?  As yet, we haven’t gotten any pay since we left the states, so most of the boys are pretty broke.  But even if we got paid, we wouldn’t have any use for it as there isn’t anything to spend it on.  Well good night honey and god bless you and the babies as I love all of you very much.

Love & kisses,

Dutch

December 20, 1943

Dearest Cass:

I’m writing this letter at the Red Cross recreation hall and after I finish it, I’m going to go to the show, which is next door.  Right now it’s only 5 days from Christmas and I sure wished that I was home with you and the kids.  Did you get the money that I sent you to buy Christmas gifts with?  When you write, I want you to tell me everything that happened on Christmas day.  It won’t be such a very nice Christmas for me being away from home, but I’ll pay up for it next year.  Don’t forget to send me them pictures and I am looking forward to getting them.  I love you and miss you and the babies very much.

Love & kisses,

[undated]

Dearest Sweetheart,

Today, I went in town, that is after the morning mail went by and it did go right by, so I hurried home from in town only to find two Xmas cards, but not from you.  There was one from Grandmom and Mrs. Lewis, the lady next store to us.  But Darling, what I want most was a letter from you.  It would be so nice if you walked in.  Honey, I wish they would send you home to me.  It is now twelve thirty and after I got the babies to sleep, I wrapped Xmas packages.  My father got turkeys for your mother and mine as they are very scarce.  I told your mother and father to come down our house on Xmas eve.  Darling I miss you so I hope you are getting my mail and I sure wish I was getting yours.

Today I got your Miraculous Medal, but I won’t send it until its Blessed because I know you won’t get it done.  Darling, always wear it and don’t even take it off to get a shower.  Wear it well Sweetheart and I hope it helps you to remember me always.  Maybe it will be in this letter as I wasn’t [rest of letter missing]

[From Cass]

December 24, 1943

Dearest Cass:

Well today is the day before Christmas and I’m sitting here wondering what you are doing.  It doesn’t seem like Christmas to me, as it’s feels different from the one I’m used to having.  They’re going to have a midnight mass tonight, so the rest of the followers and I are going.  Does that surprise you?  Well darling, I wish you a wonderful Merry Christmas and I’m thinking of you more than ever at this moment.  Tell everyone at home, that I wish them a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Years.  I love you honey, and give the babies a kiss for me for Christmas.

Love & kisses,

Dutch