"‘Spect that’s just about a courts-martial" - January 24, 1943

Sgt. L. Winsauer—36212741
A.P.O. 253, Div. Hq. Co.
Indiantown Gap Mil. Res., Pa.

Miss Jean Johnson
Sheboygan, Wisconsin

January 24, 1943

Dearest Darling, 

Hi again sweet, here it is the end of another none too perfect day in this G. damn army (See, I’m still alive and kicking—mostly about the army) and once more I’m finishing the day off over here in the Dispensary. No poker game tonight though. Heimann, myself and three of the boys had to come over and finish off a report that’s due in the Division Surgeon’s office in the morning. We let the darn thing go all day yesterday and today so had to bang it out tonight.

Finished about a half hour ago, cooked up some coffee (in the sterilizer again) and it’s now about 11:30. Thanks a million daring for offering to send some coffee. Right now though, we’re pretty flush (on coffee only). One of the last boys raided the kitchen last week and brought back enough to last a couple couple of weeks at least. Those cookies you spoke of thought—that’s another story—they’ll really go good. I can just hear the boys, “This above all—the misses can also cook”.

By the way, did you ever read the book, “This Above All”? It’s good, even though it’s a little sexy in spots—or maybe it’s good cause it’s rugged in spots. I don’t know, anyway I liked it. Saw in the paper just the other day where the author was killed in a plane crash—he was a major in the army. Much as I like to read, I don’t think you’d better go to the trouble of sending any books—even with such luscious titles as “Tiger love” — cause in the first place it’s a lot of bother for you to send them, and in the second I don’t have much chance to do any reading right now. As for a diary, I’m afraid I’d never keep it up. Thanks again though darling, for offering to send them.

The other night after I had talked with you and the damn operator had put in her two cents worth about “Your three minutes are up” I felt like kicking myself around the block.. Next time I’m going to say “I love you, I love you, I love you”, as soon as you say hello. I do you know darling, but when I’m talking to you on the phone I get tongue-tied as a love-sick freshman. Got your letter today with your picture—keep ‘em coming darling—the more pictures you send the better I’ll like it. Your letters have been swell too.

About that cross—its got quite a history. i got it over in Denver about a year ago and was going to give it to you when I was home that time. Then when I got home I thought “to heck with the cross, I want to get a ring”. Well I carried the darn thing from Kohler to Denver to Polk to California to Virginia and back to Kohler and then didn’t think it was nice enough to give you ‘cause the box was all shot and you had said something about having a cross and never wearing it. You say you can’t understand me—well hon’ don’t try to hard ‘cause at times I can’t understand myself, and that’s no foolin.

Thank Roddy and Toots for their nice notes they sent with your letter last Wednesday—Roddy’s still home isn’t he? Darling you must have sent him a card for Christmas, cause I know I didn’t—I didn’t even know his address, so thanks for that also. Sweetheart you’re wonderful. And that’s not the half of it.

Rumors are flying thick and fast here now as to how, when, and where we’re going, but I’ve been in long enough to know none of ‘em are worth a damn, and that you can’t believe anything in the army until it actually happens. Personally I think we’ll be here for quite some time yet. We’re stilll busy as the dickens getting everyone up to date on their shots, getting their teeth fixed, having their tonsils out, etc.— boy I’m getting so fed up on the damn routine it’d take a week’s drunk to get me back in condition. 

Darling all I can think of is getting out of the damn army so we could be together. ‘Guess I’m not very patriotic or something. I suppose I should feel “glad to be doing my part for my country” etc., etc., but hell, I want to get across just so we can get it all over with in a hurry and so I can get back to you. ‘Spect that’s just about a courts-martial, but I can’t help it, that’s just the way I feel about the whole thing right now.

Darling I miss you and want you more than anything in the world — starving would be a cinch compared to the way I feel about you now.  Look hon’, if I got a three day pass couldn’t I meet you someplace about half way between here and home? We’d have a couple of days together anyway. It would take me about 18 hours to get to Sheboygan from here and another 18 getting back which would make it hardly worth while on only a three day pass, which is the most I could get right now. But if we each went halfway look at all the time we’d save to be together.

I know I can get a pass for Sat., Sunday, and Monday anytime I want it and the only thing I’ll have to wait on is the time when I’ll be able to save a little cash. What do you think about the idea? Or would your parents say no. Hell, I know we could be good if we had to. Or could we? Wish I could say come on down to Pa. and change your name to mine, but darling I don’t see how we could swing it. Boy, I wish I had been born filthy rich—look how much simpler it would make everything. I don’t give a damn though, with all the lousy luck we’ve had I still ‘spect I’m about the luckiest man alive to have you at all. Darling I love you,

Goodnight for now sweetheart and forgive me for not writing sooner. Let me know what you think about coming to— say Cleveland, it must be about half way. 

All my love,

Louis