Thursday, October 15, 2009

Happy Birthday Dad - July 4, 1944

July 4, 1944

Dear Dad,
Happy Birthday Dad and lots of Good Luck. Did you celebrate in style today?
How is the new job going? It sounded like a good deal from your letter. Hope you like the work and that prospective raise sounded good - if it materializes.
I had the coldest bath the other day that I have had sense our trip to Colorado. We went swimming in one of these French streams and it felt just like ice water. Every time I think of it I shiver.
Well somebody cut this letter short. I have to go on detail so call it quits for now

Lots of Luck

Kenneth

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Somewhere in France - June 24, 1944

June 24, 1944
Somewhere in France

Dear Mother,
Just a couple of lines to let you know that all is well.
I don't know how good the mail service is from here - but I do know that our censorship is a real problem for our bunch. We are short officers to censor mail so each man must hold his outgoing mail to a minimum until things clear up.
Because I can't write as often as would like - don't let that hold up your letters. I am always glad to get mail.
How is the old man making out after his bout with the college? Does he feel any better educated now than he did before? You want to watch that he doesn't start getting ideas about dressing for dinner and such.
Is Puggie still working as hard as ever? If she runs out of work she can come over here and do my cooking for me. By the time I get a meal cooked it's time to start work again and I have to eat in a hurry.
It won't be long now. Until later, Love to all including Stubby,

Kenneth

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

The Color Photos - June 14, 1944

June 14, 1944

Dear Mother,
The four color pictures arrived safe and sound. They are really nice. I like the picture taken from the hill looking down on the Black River. It's strange how much life color can give to a photo. If the "Sky Ranch" looks as nice in reality as it does in these pictures, then we have a real find.
That picture of Puggie--------! I could make some comment but the boys here expressed everything much better with a low whistle, than I could with a page full of words.
Today should be payday, I hope, although all I'll do is turn right around and send the money on to you. I sent a fifty dollar money order a couple of days ago that you should have by now. I don't know how much the next one will be until after they pay off.
Well just took time off to get paid. That about puts me square with the government for a while. I turned right around and sent the money on to you by government cable. You should get the money before you get this letter. If not the amounts one hundred and thirty one dollars. Just a nice addition to our nest egg.
And then there was the young lady - "She laughed when the P.F.C. sat down,
But when he started to play ------!

I'll be seeing you soon, until later

Love
Kenneth

Monday, October 12, 2009

I Received Your Letters - June 11, 1944

June 11, 1944

Dear Mother,

I just received a couple letters from you - one May 16 and the other May 20. I guess this invasion has made the mail slower than usual.
That picnic you had the last of Dad's vacation sounded real interesting. I would like to have been there. "Cake" it sounds like a word out of the past. It's nice to think of cake made out of real flour again. I'm going to have to stop this dreaming - all it does is give me an appetite.
Grandma must be enjoying her stay in St. Louis. Does the change seem to be doing her any good? Tell her hello for me will you.
You tell that little sister of mine that she should spend some time writing letters instead of draped on the bed reading a book.
I'm enclosing another money order, this one for fifty. I never have time to spend any money so it might just as well be earning interest at home - or buying something we need for the place.
Say as long as you are washing Dad's shirts you might just as well do mine. I don't seem to able to find time myself.
Give my love to Dad, Puggie, Grandma, Stubby, and everybody else.

Love

Kenneth