Philosophy of marriage fidelity

310.277.1-3.2017 Transcription

[This letter is written on Red Cross paper, with a thick, red cross and the words “AMERICAN RED CROSS” printed on the top of each page.]

Paris (241 Gen Hsp)

10 Nov. 45 Sat

Hi, dearest,

Maybe “lights-out” in

a few minutes will cut this

letter short but I’ll at least

get a line or two off.

Let me admit right off that

I’m a wee bit woozie—NOT

drunk, but a tiny bit dizzy

from after-dinner-liquers c̅[1]

“The Boys.” I went to downtown-

Paris again this PM about 3 o’clock

c̅ a Britisher & an ol’ hunter (deer ducks So[uth] Dak[ota][2])

Air Corps Major. Main reason was

to get a decent dinner down at

St. Augustin’s “Circle Militaire.”

There is a bar there (clean, decent, &

non-gyp) & the three of us sat there

[2]

“bulling”—a wee bit too long

I’m afraid. [Too long as re: wooziness][3].

Anyhoooo, here’s P R O O F—

the Major practically begged me

to help him out by taking a

“duo” of French babes off his

hands (another guy failed to show up)—

B U T I was just loosened enough

from my inhibitions to explain

to him my exact “Philosophy” re:

fedelity, marriage, Life, etc.. Long-

story-short, he said:—“Well! (whumpf)

you’re the 4^th guy I ever knew

who felt & stayed that way!”

I dont mention this in

any “martyr-way” at all, Em—

because I know it is just

as much a 50:50 proposition

on the part of American-wives

who remain faithful. The only

“advantage” resides on the part

[3]

of the male—as these immun-

erable French “whores” would

never be [ever][4] contacted again to

“carry-the-Past.” Even so, that

thing called Conscience can

follow, even if a French “whore”

does not {geographically verbally actually[5].

Well, dearest, I’m now

writing in the toilette as they shut

the lights off. Maybe I’d better

also “shut” this pen off, huh?

[This woozie pen, sez she][6]—but

not I until I {write live & prove[7]—

Allmylove,

Dave

EXTRA! EXTRA! EXTREEEEE! (QUOTE)

“All Z-I[8] patients will be cleared

out of this 241^st G.H. by this coming

Wed..” SIGNED, Made-ger Ass-tired Rumor.

[1] Medical abbreviation meaning “with.”

[2] In original, “deer” is written above “ducks,” which is written above “So. Dak.”

[3] Bracketed text is part of original.

[4] Bracketed text is part of original.

[5] In original, “geographically” is written above “verbally,” which is written above “actually.”

[6] Bracketed text is part of original.

[7] In original, “write” is written above “live,” which is written above “&” and “prove.”

[8] Refers to being sent back to the Zone of the Interior (The United States).