January 19, 1945

Below is the text from the letter.
Click on the image to view the hi-res version.

Dear Wilma & All:

The days go by pretty fast here. It seems when I think how slow I am at writing. The first thing I know I haven’t written to you far over a week.

Now if the months would only slip by like that. I guess you wouldn’t hear from me as ofter, but that day would come sooner when I could go home and believe me that is really the day I’m looking forward too. If I stay on this little rock much longer I think I’ll wind up in a psychopathic ward.

I’m getting so I can hardly realize what it is like back there, why I’ll bet if I saw a train or a horse or something it would scare me to death. Nearly all we see here is planes and coral and water on all sides.

I guess I shouldn’t bitch though a lot of guys are worse off than I am. I do have a fairly dry place to sleep and we get three meals a day “sometimes”.

How is Dad making it? I’ll bet he really gets lonesome. You asked me if I got all my Xmas packages. I think I did. I got them all real early. The billfold Mom sent me was really nice and all the food was in pretty good shape. I thought i told you I got them alright but I guess I forgot it.

Do you ever hear from Ruth & Claude and has Claude made it back yet. I sure hope he is in the states when I get back.

You know Wilma I was just thinking a few days ago I haven’t seen any of you since I came through K.C. going to Kansas in June, 43. And you came over to the station. I saw Tom & Lena when I was home in August thats been almost two years now hasn’t it.

I sure hope I’m back before another year is up. A lot has certainly happened this last year I’ve been out here.

How is Ethel putting along with her new girl? It looks like I better get started pretty soon or I’ll be left clear out. I guess the youngest in the family should be the last to get married though a little while ago I thought I would beat Claude but he kinda surprised me.

How is Mary & Ray and has Tom’s moved to the farm yet. I’m sure going to have a busy thirty days here when I get back if I get around to see everybody. I imagine Illinois will be my first stop. I want to try to make some arrangements for you to be at our wedding if it is possible. None of the family has had a formal one yet and I’m the only one left so maybe we better make this a good one. Both of Aline’s sisters had nice weddings so I want her to have one too if we possible can.

I guess I better stop.
Write when you can.


Love Elmer