October 17, 1944
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310.27.1-6.2016 Transcription
17 Oct 44
Dearest,
Boy! oh boy!—is the mail
service ever snafued at this “nameless-
camp”! When mail final does come
in it is in huge bunches—this
is about every 3rd (4th) day. The rest of
the times it comes in 2 or 3 letters only
& these times are what could be
called anticipated-times (logical times).
I surely hope my letters to you haven’t
been so snafued. Anyhooo, it seems
that I have something non-restrictive &
interesting to write you today, so here goes.
I went to NNYC on a 12 hr pass.
I spent the first 2 hours running
from one “big-named” place to another
until I had covered 8 of ‘em—then
I went to 3 “small-named” places,
all in search for a trench coat-hood.
About half of our officers want one
& they are scarce as platinum.
Finally I gave up on hoods. All
this same time I kept inter-
mittantly calling Aunt Katherine’s
number, & a “middle-man” party
in order to maybe connect c̅[1] Clyde
or Dobie. To make a long story short
[2]
I never did reach Aunt Katherine [9 calls][2] &
only after many calls did I learn that
neither Clyde nor Dobie has ever called
up the “middle-man” [really a woman friend
of theirs][3]. Soooo, then I had NYC all-
to-myself! I started out by having
a Manhattan in Manhattan (ONLY ONE, DEAR).
Aw Hell—the mail just came & no letter!! Doggoneit!!
Next I started down (ritzie) 5th Ave. to
“do” the tallest biggest building in
the World (Empire State) & the biggest store
in the World (Macy’s). Next I went in
to an Automat to make food jump out
of a cubby-hole by dropping a nickle
in a slot. Then I rode an open top
bus a long way down 5th Ave.
I got off at Rockefeller Center (RadioCity)
& watched much going on in that
“World-unto-itself-within-a-World”.
Next I tried a bunch of places to get
that “Hit” record called “Don’t Worry”, &
might have gone only 4 blocks to the
Hit-factory if closing time hadn’t
arrived. Then I spent the only really
foolish money by eating [guess what][4]
a seashore dinner for $1.35 that was
such a skimpy-gyp that I decided
[3]
on a “desert” [guess what][5]—an
order of steamed clams + clam broth &
butter for dipping ‘em 70¢—oh me! [“desert”][6] finally I
did taste something. Anyhooo, next
time I’m going out to dig my own
clams as I can do a Hell of a lot
better & c̅ lots less sand in ‘em to
chew-up. Then I walked all the
way back down ritzie 5th Ave &
stood on Time Square 942nd & Brdwy)
reading the electrical running
news signs for about an hour. I
came “home” even an hour earlier than
I would have had to. All in all
I only spent $2.05 foolishly & walked
well over 10 miles.
This reminds me——the
116th went on a training march of
8 miles today. It was optional c̅
the officers but 5 of us out of the 39
officers did go. It was good
training & many of us hadn’t done
it since Carlisle [except me & my 10+ miles
in NYC yesterday][7]. My feet held-up better
than I thought they would.
For that “Porgy-Bess” & “Nothing But
the Truth” that I wrote you about
[4]
I had tickets—I was luck in
the scramble. Tonight is “Hellzapoppin”
& I haven’t been so lucky as to get
a ticket, but lots of guys just waste
tickets they scramble for so 5 minutes
before the show begins they throw the
door wide open. I should be able
to make-it during that open-door-
scramble. [They really show you the “big-stuff” of
the entertainment world at these spots!][8]
There are no pertinent questions
in your last letter to answer. The
only thing is to say in passing about
it is that I may speak more
later about that interesting
settlement in North Dakota c̅ its
interesting people.
Oh, yes, can you [when you a are
buying your own][9] send me 6 (six) 5 (FIVE)
air mail stamps OF THE 6¢ TYPE
inside your letters about every
two weeks. The reason I seem
“dogmatic” about it all is this—
if you always put in FIVE stamps
their loss wouldn’t break us. Also I
could learn if any incoming
censoring/swiping was going on. Also,
[5]
remember that anybody c̅ an APO
number [whether in USA or out of U.S.A][10]
can receive & send for 6¢ air
mail. Thus you will save 2¢ as
compared to previous months.
Gee—is we savin’ money—huh?!?!
Gosh! I wish a letter had come
today but I know it isn’t your
fault. Anyhooo, I had better quit
so as to not run over 6¢-weight.
I’d like to write lots more but I
can’t—but they never can
stop me from saying I love you,
I love you,
I love you, so,
Dave
[PRIVATE][11] for you Mrs. Wilsey:
- Thump[12] ol’ boy—its about time
again for you to give Mother another
gentle tender left cheek kiss—huh? OK!
[1] Medical abbreviation meaning “with.”
[2] Bracketed text inserted into original with a caret.
[3] Bracketed text is part of original.
[4] Bracketed text is part of original.
[5] Bracketed text is part of original.
[6] Bracketed text is written underneath “70¢—oh me!” in original.
[7] Bracketed text is part of original.
[8] Bracketed text is written in small print, to the right of “scramble” in the original.
[9] Bracketed text is part of original.
[10] Bracketed text is part of original.
[11] Bracketed text is part of original.
[12] Nickname for their infant son, Terry.