Miss Jean Johnson
Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Wed. Eve

Hi Darling,

I’m right smack back in the old routine again and after the couple of days I had at home it’s harder to take than ever.

Thanks a million for the Camels (the best cig.s made), they came in plenty handy, but darling you shouldn’t have spent that money on me. What are you going to use for cash this month? I know darn well you’re going to be short, so thanks a hell of a lot again.

Outside of nearly missing my train in Chicago, I had a pretty decent trip back. We got into Denver at about 11:00 on Monday morning and it was noon by the time I got out to the Post. My pass was good only to 6:00 that morning so I was 6 hrs. A.W.O.L., but the Company Commander was swell about it and let me off without even a three day restriction—which is what they usually give for even as little as one hour A.W.O.L.!

Darling I didn’t see you at the depot the afternoon I left, but I wish the heck I had. I went to the ‘phone a half a dozen times that Sunday morning meaning to call you, and then never even lifted the receiver. Mom had asked me to stay at home that morning, and I knew darn well had I talked to you I’d have wanted to see you again—and would have—Mom or no Mom—so I didn’t call. Now I wish I had. Don’t see how I’ll ever be able to wait till March to see you again; gal that’s a long time off! The few days I had with you were super—but they were so damn short! And now no you for another two months! I shouldn’t gripe though, after being away for over six months and then actually being with you again—even if it was for only a couple of days—well ‘hon it was swell.

About your job with Mrs. Bloom—I’d say take the job if you can get it and if you think you’ll like it. I’d marry you tomorrow if there was even the slightest chance of our being able to be together—but darling with this God (that slipped) damn war on what the heck can we do? It’s going to last at least a year and perhaps a lot longer, and how can I ask you to marry me while I’m in the damn army?

We’re getting married as soon as I get out, for sure, but that may not be for over a year, so why not take the job now and if anything turns up before the two years are up and we can get married I’d say to heck with Mrs. Bloom—Not very ethical maybe, but what the hell—

What did you find out from K. Kade about joining the army? I’m still agin’ your joingning unless it meant we could get together more often than we can now. Have you any choice of what camp they send you to? If not, it would be just our luck to be in camps a couple of thousand miles apart, and what good would that do? The rumor is that our outfit is going to be moved to California, and what if you signed up and were sent to a post in New York? Nope, I’m still agin’ it. ‘Course darling, that’s just the way I feel about it. Anything you decide to do about either the job, the army or anything else (with reservations?) is O.K. by me.

Last Saturday afternoon three of us went into Denver to get a dinner of Raviolis—Tony, one of the fellows, an Italian, had been talking about them for so darn long that we finally decided to go to town and see if we couldn’t find an Italian restaurant that served them. We found one alright, and boy what a feed we had! After dinner we took in a show and then went bowling. We were having a heck of a good time and it was getting pretty close to eleven o’clock—we were supposed to be in camp by eleven—so we decided to stay out until we felt like going back and take the consequences.

Well we quit bowling at midnight and then had a few drinks (two short beers)—When we finally decided to get back to the post buses had stopped running and we had to hitch-hike out to the hospital. We finally got a ride to within a mile of camp and walked the rest of the way. By this time it was about 3:30, so instead of going in through the gate and having the M.P.s pick us up, we hiked about another mile around the camp and climbed over a ten foot fence to get in. Boy with all the noise we made it’s a wonder we didn’t get caught.

—But we didn’t, and finally got back to the barracks at 4:30 in the morning. The pay-off came yesterday though, when the whole school was given a lecture, in which we were told that the M.P.s patrolling the camp had orders to shoot on sight anyone seen prowling around after-hours. —Boy, I hate to think of what would have happened if any of them had seen us climbing that fence at 4:00 in the morning. Anyway we’re not going to try to find out—at least not in the near future.

I’ve been thinking and thinking—we get plenty of time for it in the army—trying to figure some out for us, but I always end up against a stone wall—the army! ‘Guess we’ll just have to wait it out and hope for something to turn up. There’s one consolation, though, just think of the fun we’re going to have, when we do get married, making up for all the time we’re losing now.

Darling I’ll have to say good night for now as I’ve got just some studying to do for an exam tomorrow—so adios ‘till later when I’ll be dreaming of you—loving you now and always—goodnight dear.

Louis

P.S. Thanks again for the Camels.