October 18, 1944
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310.29.1-5.2016 Transcription
Wed nite (late) 18 Oct 44
Hi, dearest,
Just got back from NYC & doing
those things I wrote about having
planned in this morning’s letter.
Call this second one sort of a “Premium-
Letter” for a very very nice ‘n swell
one that I just know will arrive
tomorrow (Thurs.).
First I did “biznez” in N.Y.C.
Then I went to Church Missons House
at 281-4th Ave (the “Hub” (Episcopalianism)
to see if I could run into any
clergy, etc that I knew, but no soap.
However, I did talk quite c̅[1]
Fr. Kelley’s former secretary who now
Practically runs the Church College
Division. She knew lots ‘n lots of
people that I knew. (She, too, has been to
Inaschool for a stay). Next I went out
to the Statue of Liberty & climbed as
high as they permit—boy! it’s really
a workout. I sent an awful swell guy a
post card from there & I hope it arrives—sure do!!
[2]
After that I saw Trinity Church &
spent a dew “private” moments c̅ a
very lovely Mother & Son “in” the same
pew c̅ me. Then I hot footed it out
to Aunt Katherine’s (I finally had contacted
her after 12 failures two days before) for a nice
dinner & reminiscence. Wonder what
tall beautiful brunette had buzzing
ears?!? Aunt K. in person sent
a telegram while I was there.
All this talk about Aunt K. makes
it almost imperative (for completeness)
that I divulge what my “biznez”
was when I first landed in NYC
today. Well, I finally located a
certain Anniversary present—I
say finally because two days before
I had run all over Hell (& NYC) trying
to locate a certain something. Well
today I was successful & when it
arrives you will see that I pretty
much had to get someone to act as
“USO Pal/Agent” to send it for me
on an appropriate date for the purpose
of appropriate arrival time. (The
[3]
secretary at 281-4th Ave could & would have
sent it on the right mailing date, but I felt
a little better about putting it into Aunt K’s hands).
Anyhooo, now that the background
has been laid I can say this—
I believe Aunt K. will err on the
side of getting it to you before that
26th. Also, (this will be puzzling until it
arrives, & then all will clarify), the part
that counts (really) deals c̅ just 2
words. Lastly, I must say that it
isn’t exactly what I would have
liked to have found (& you’ll agree) but
there is no other “source” for this
particular thing. [oh, yes, I should explain
that I joke c̅ Aunt K, & mean it, that she
“runs” a very super swell “USO” viz baths, food,
mailing service, cat naps, etc, etc][2].
Well, darlin’, when I started
to write this I didn’t feel very
tired (even tho [it’s] late) PLUS a lot of the
boys making racket in the fun of
poker games, crap games, etc (Lovely! these
1st Lts will lose almost a whole months salary on
one roll of the dice—I wonder what their wives &
babies do, because I know for sure that they have
wives & babies) but now the racket has
[4]
subside[d] some & I am begining to get
sleep. Soooo, I will now go
to bed & dream of a very kind, &
gentle, & lovely girl who will surely
“see” to it that I get to it that I get a letter that
is as lovely as she is in the
Thursdays mail. (It seems days since a letter came
—or do I say that too much & too often).
Anyhooo, to you & Thump[3]—
All my love,
Dave
P.S. I always forget to point out that due to censor delay.
mail delays, etc that these common letters will
arrive in a seemingly screwy chronological sequence
after telegrams, after debarkation, after phone calls
if any, after etc, etc, etc.
P.S. Oh yes, while on this same type of discussion—it
is said that Uncle Samie is “any-wifes-best-corresp-
ondent” because anything really worth while or
pertinent [wounded, missing, etc][4] Samie writes to the
friend wife even if the soldier cant or doesn’t.
[1] Medical abbreviation meaning “with.”
[2] Bracketed text is part of original.
[3] Nickname for their infant son, Terry.
[4] Bracketed text is part of original.