"Half a million soldiers on our necks" - August 22, 1941
L Winsauer
Co. B - 45th Med. Bn.
Leesville, Camp Polk Branch, LA.
Miss Jeanne Johnson
C/o General Delivery
Pensacola, Florida
Friday, 10:30pm
Dear Jeanne,
Up to the time I got your last letter I was under the impression that you were going to be here this week instead of next — probably because you had written me before you knew you were coming South that your vacation was to be from the 14th to the 24th. What happened? Did you get an extension?
I went into DeRidder the other night to see about hotel accommodations and the hotels there are nearly as bad as those in Leeseville. What’s more, you can’t reserve a room in advance for love or money in either town, as every hotel is jammed with officers and their families home from the army maneuvers that are going on all around this district — it’s almost impossible to get any kind of a room. In my last letter I suggested you stay at the “Guest House here in camp, but since then I’ve changed my mind. I talked with one of the fellows in the barracks who had his gal stay there and he said it wasn’t too good. There isn’t a place on or near the camp where we could go without having half a million soldiers on our necks and I’ll be darned if I’m going to share you with half the army if I can help it — especially now that I can be with you only once in about three months.
So — what do you think of this: The train you’d take to Leeseville has to go through Shreveport first to get here. Now Shreveport is a pretty fair city and that’s more it isn’t overrun with soldiers. If you’d get off the train there I could meet you either at the station or at one of the hotels. I know I can get a two day pass from camp so if you’d stay at Shreveport we’d have that much time together anyway. The only hotel which I know the name of there is the 'Washington-Youree’ so if you do decide to stop at Shreveport it would probably be better if I met you there instead of at the station, as it’s hard telling at exactly what time of day I’ll be able to leave camp.
However, there are a couple of draw-backs to your staying in Shreveport — In the first place a room at the Washington-Youree would cost about $2.50-$3.50 a night for a double room, while here at the camp it would only cost you $.50 a night per person at the guest house. In the second place you won’t be able to see camp Polk — though I’ll guarantee you you wouldn’t be missing much.
You decide where you’d rather stay and then send me a wire or a night letter letting me know what time you’ll arrive here. All you’ll have to say is “Arriving at Leeseville (time & date) or “Arriving at Shreveport (time & day)” and I’ll meet you either at the station in Leeseville or at the Washington — Youree in Shreveport.
Really, it isn’t too important to me where I see you just so I can be with you again darling, even though it’s only for a day or two. You have no idea how much I do miss you, but right now there’s not a damn thing I can do about it and that’s what gets me down. I’ll be holding my thumbs till I see you next week — so goodnight till then darling—
All my love,
Louis
(Over)
Sammy doesn’t think he’ll be able to get a pass to go to Shreveport but one of the fellows in my barracks says he might drive me there if you decide to stay there.
Goodnight again
Saturday
Just found out that your train to Leeseville doesn’t go through Shreveport, however if you don’t already have your ticket you can get a train to Shreveport from Pensacola via New Orleans which will make better time than the train to Leeseville.
Am I talking in circles or does this make sense. I have to hurry ‘cause the mail is just going out.
