March 7, 1945 Wednesday

[V-Mail]

Hello my wonderful Marjorie,

I’m afraid that big letter won’t be tonight or tomorrow. Had to work until 10:30 tonite and have a big day scheduled for tomorrow, too. I have looked ruefully at the pile of souvenirs I have and wondered how I could send them.

However, that is not what I really want to talk about. I always fritter away my time writing trivial things, when actually I am trying to find a way to say how awfully much I miss you and want you without hurting both of our “morales.” But I do miss you, Honey – it’s like a knife in your chest and thinking about it is like turning the blade around a little. Not all the time, because you can “think” in some hope and that helps. But when the thought of being apart first creeps into your mind unrationalized and naturally, it is pretty “rough.” Well, that’s the truth of the matter, anyway, and even loving ‘til it hurts is a thing I’m very thankful for. 

Yours,

Wallace

March 6, 1945 Tuesday

[V-Mail] 

Hello again, my Honey,

Getting the platoon in shape is the best way for me to “be careful” and we know it more forcibly than ever now – but the new men still think it’s all a picnic and that training is a thing to avoid! If we could only impress them with the necessity and seriousness of it. Got to find some way to make them learn the easy way – the hard way is too expensive. 

But that is just my daily worry – the thing I want to tell you most is that you are still my very wonderful and lovely wife. I love you every second and am always your loving and faithful husband. Captain Fairbairn and I flatter ourselves because we are the only two men in the army guaranteed to be forever faithful to our wives – we have seen Paris in the spring, and are therefore, natcherly, proof against any future temptations after passing this test! Seriously, Honey, “you and I” saw Paris, just as we saw London. It is a beautiful city with all the unique “spirit” you have read about. We must see it together in reality someday – I am sure it would be the best city in the world for us to visit, even over New York and New Orleans. Until I can write more, let me send all the love I can squeeze into a V-mail to you, and be sure I love you a thousand times more than that. 

All my sincerest love,

Wallace