Friday 13 April 1945
Germany
Kay darling,
The mail truck arrived last nite and I received four wonderful letters from you—They were dated the 24th, 25th, 27th, and 1st April—Thanks a million sweet— You are so sweet to me and I love you so much for it. If it wasn’t for your letters I don’t think I could take it—Gee but you are wonderful.
At this very moment I’m out on a little sun porch laying on a blanket and pillows, smoking a “Lucky”, drinking a glass of “burgundy wine” and listening to the radio and writing a letter to the future Mrs. Roland E. Goss—It’s another beautiful day here in Mainz, the sun is bright with only a few clouds in the sky—A day which makes me wish I were in Dallas with you—Wouldn’t it be swell if it were really true—Maybe it will be before long—Two of our officers came back from Paris last nite and said they saw a dispatch that said we were to be released from the Army the last of this month—However, the Naval big shots in Paris don’t think we will be but at least it’s something to help our morale a bit. We are trying to find someone to take our boats so we won’t have to nurse them all the way back to England, which would take about two weeks—After we get to England it will take some time to get on the waiting list for a ship to carry us back to the States—Just thinking about going to the States gets me all excited.
The war news sounds very good today, but we were very sorry to hear that the President died—It was too bad he had to pass away especially at such a time when the war is so near an end—He would have been a good man to have at the peace conferences because he was such a great man and carried such great power and respect from the other allied countries. It will be hard to replace such a great man.
Kay, if you don’t hurry and get me home you aren’t going to have much of a man to marry—Yesterday I was driving a 1935 Ford V-8 along the highway near the river when the right front tire blew out—I was driving about 45 or 50 miles per hour and the car went off the road and down an embankment—turned over and finally stopped with the wheels back on the ground again. Guess the good Lord was with me again because I didn’t receive an injury—only a small scratch on my little finger—A truck stopped and pulled the car back up on the road—I changed the tire and drove on here to my base—The Ford was rather smashed up but it still ran. It was a German civilian’s car that we had taken—We have three convertibles, four sedans, and one truck (all German make)—not counting about ten motorcycles and motorbikes. So being as how today is Friday the thirteenth I’ve decided to put on my helmet and sit in the house all day—just as a safety precaution—
Word was just passed that Admiral Stark, the highest ranking Naval officer in the E.T.O., was in town and may pay us a visit. You should see everyone cleaning up and getting everything in good order—hiding empty wine bottles, sweeping the floors, and getting the house ready— I doubt if he will even come here, but it is good to be ready just in case.
Speaking of “being ready just in case” brings up a question you asked me about when I arrive in New York—Here is my plan as of now—I will call home as soon as I can get to a telephone but I want to be able to give you a definite time as to when I will get home— We will have to wait for further orders and stuff like that—then as soon as I hear when I can go home I will put in a call for you at my house and give you all the details—If for some reason I can’t get a call through I will send you a wire to either your sister’s house or my folks—OK? In a way I hope I can get home as soon as possible but I would hate to get there when Frieda isn’t able to attend the wedding—But I guess we won’t be able to do much about that—Nature always has its way in such matters.
I’m a bit confused about a statement you made in one of your letters— quote “ My cousin, Arlene and Hubert, and her sister, Imogene are expecting in June.” unquote—Hubert must be quite a fellow (take that two ways Kay)—Just kidding darling, I know what you mean—But I just couldn’t pass up the chance to rib you. Do you mind?
I’m really anxious to see this Butch—From your description he must be a real boy—I wonder if he would like a German souvenir? Maybe I better remember to get him something or he will pop me in the eye.
Mom and J.D. wrote me that you were over to the house and they enjoyed having you so much. J.D. writes that you are as pretty, if not prettier, every time he sees you and that you have quite a classy chassis—I’ll have to keep and eye on my big brother when I get home. Mom writes that she likes you so much and that you seem to fit right in with the family . . . By the way sweet—when I was in Nierstein (about nine kilometers from Mainz) I lived in the hotel you see in the corner of this page—I lived in the room on the corner of the second floor from where the “X “ sign is scratched. The first floor is a dining room affair—The cellar had bottles and bottles of Rhine wine in it—Good too—
Your letter of the Saturday nite March 24 th was really cute including the ”rose bordered” stationery. Sure wish I could have been there “partying” with you that night— What is “Gallagher and Buntan”? Is that a new brand or am I just behind times? Darling, I will never kick you for waking me up—having you beside me awakening me is one of the most wonderful things that I can think of—Will you promise me that after we are married that when you wake, will you wake me and tell me you love me. Oh happy day, sweet.
Yes, the Lt. David Spaulding is the same person I sent a picture of—He is the executive officer of our unit—A correspondent from the Fort Worth Star Telegram interviewed him a few hours after we had made the crossing—Kay don’t think that I did anything unusual just because I was in on the Rhine Crossings and had a few narrow escapes because it really wasn’t anything—Guys like Willie who are in the infantry and other fellows go through that many times and many times worse than what we ran into—Truthfully I’m certainly glad that I’m in the Navy and not in the Army— The Army life is a rugged, tough life and they really go through hell—
Darling, don’t worry about your cooking for a couple of reasons—One, we won’t have much of a chance to do any cooking of our own. Secondly, I can cook a pretty fair meal myself—Of course not many people will take a chance on eating my cooking—We have enough relatives, and friends in Dallas that we won’t have to worry about food and cooking, etc.
No darling, I don’t believe I will regret getting married before sailing again— Those few weeks that we can be together will be worth any duty the Navy gives me—I think the sooner we are married, the happier we will be—and too we can begin working and saving for our home. About the apartment deal with Frieda, it’s okay with me Kay—and even after our wedding and I have to say goodbye you can have your own apartment if you want it—The Navy pays so much a month for officers wives for subsistence—So what ever you wish to do is okay by me—
Congratulations Miss Goodman on being chosen for the committee to help raise funds for a new church. By the way, if that committee decides to have a bizarre or party to raise funds, don’t you sell any of those kisses—I want all of those for me when I get home—okay? Good!
I want to thank you darling for sending Mom those Easter Lilies—That was really sweet of you Kay and I really appreciate it. As you will find out I’m very negligent on those kinds of things—so you will probably have to take care of things like that for us.
Wish I could have seen you in your Easter clothes—I know you were beautiful-
Darling, I must bring this epistle to a close now and do a little work—Just remember always that I love, want you, and think of you always—Be sweet and write often. Give your parents my best regards—hellos to Frieda, Gay, and all your friends—Bye for now—
I love you,
Stormy