1944 december 7

Dec. 7, 1944

Thursday

1730

Dearest Katinka -

Have a half hour before chow. Then, what is known as field day when we clean thoroughly the brks. After that I should have time to finish this.

Today is one of notable interest in your life & mine because of Elaine and also for its historic significance. Of course, we overlook the larger for the smaller because the smaller is much larger to us. Laney (Lanie) is undoubtedly very especially sweet today and is very aware of the fact that she is growing up. Next year will she be able to go to school on account of her birthdate. Surely she should. Tell her that I wish I could have been home today to give her a big bunch of squeezes & kisses and maybe just a little tiny spanking. Tell her that I think of her very much and I love her an awfully large amount. I hope that my pkg arrived on time as well as the card.

Besides the bong campaign here there is nothing particular about today that is no special events. Except Jan Garber will be here this evening. Special arrangements are made to have our duty section muster at 2100 so that we can go to the dance if we wish. Believe it or not, I haven’t the slightest desire. This will be the second time since I’ve been here that Garber has come. The other appearance didn’t attract me either. Isn’t it amazing!

Sunday afternoon I noticed that there are plenty of guns available for Brad. So leave it to me.

I am quite unhappy about some lockets I intended to get for the girls. There were some in our ship’s service on last Friday and because I only had $15.00 and wanted to go to the air base shop Saturday, I decided to wait until payday which was to be on Monday before getting the lockets. Then when I went to get them on Tuesday there were none left Now I don’t know what to get.

I’m not going to be able to get you all things as nice as I would like, because I find that buying for 5 takes more.

1945 The work is done & now I have a while to spend with you before bedtime, my darling.

As I was saying it takes a lot of money to buy nice presents for my whole family. Do you suppose the kiddies will forgive me if I do not get them something distinctive. Perhaps if I get them each another present or maybe two it will be enough. As for you, my dear, I do hope to please you a bit tho not excessively nor extravagantly. By rights I should get something for my family & Ruth, Dorris & Ellie. Maybe I can find them some sort of trinket. There are all sorts of things I could get at a place where they have a collection Mexican made gadgets, but nice things cost money. I was paid $20.00 on Monday and I should save 5 or more of that if I send you the 15 I promised on the 20th. So that laves just 15 more I can spare for presents. Allow me at this point to commend your genius for managing on so little spare cash.

Adding to the previous confusion I have made of the subject, I will tell you a bulletin I read today concerning rates. It is dated Dec 4 & says that the upper 75% of our classes will get 3rd class after 16 weeks. Upon completion of 28 weeks, a number not to exceed 50% of our class will get 2nd class if their grades are above 77.6. That is good official news even if there is a rumor about at present which says there will be no more rates after the first of the year. Do you see what I mean when I say confusion. Anyway, my 16 weeks will be up Jan 20. and we will see.

Today I laid the finishing touches on our delicious cake. It stayed right moist to the very end and I was just as selfish with it as I could be.

Speaking of kisses, I must try & describe to you my feelings of the other nite at the movie, For Whom the Bell Tolls. It was a technicolor &  there were a lot of close-ups of that gal Ingrid Bergman. Her face & lips were lusciously desirable, & the boys at the show were loudly expressive, but I can very honestly say that the desire she created in me was not for her but for my very own sweet wife. That may be hard to understand but actually it is true. Her desirable sweetness stirred me to be sure, but my yearning was so definitely for you that it was worthy of my special notation. And, oh, how I did wish for you to be so near that I alone might see the sweetness & dearness of your lovely face. And, oh, how I would have kissed you! That I might justify your words of praise and add that it takes a beautiful kiss to extract a beautiful kiss.

There still is one thing concerning your questions about my post-school assignment which I believe I have not answered. That pertains to the type of planes. Well, the word is that it may be anything the navy flys.

Yesterday and this morning I thot I’d freeze to death. Then when we went to Phys. Train. at 1130 today, the sun was brite, the sky was clear, and it was so warm I wore just my bathing trunks & was very comfortable. Such is the way of this Texas weather.

This evening’s paper says the Japanese Islands have been hit by earthquakes. I wonder how seriously. The B-29’s seem to be creating a few quakes of their own down there also, and quite regularly, too.

You may tell Harley that his letter is now no. 1 on my list, with no promises forthcoming.

You may return Karl Burdette’s desire of remembrance with notice of my cognizance of his interest. (how’s that grammar) Wish him many happy returns of the day for me.

I am not able to discuss David with you, my dear. Perhaps someday.

Your telling, quite frequently, of the bad luck so many of our friends seem to be having with their children, confirms very convincingly the extent of our continued blessings in this regard. I do consider it a blessing that our fortune has been so good in this respect & I thank God for it every day. You must continually remind the babies of the dangers of automobiles, but, if you can, do it without stirring their resentment.

Has the school board acceded to your demands as yet?

How come the dance was so early in the month? I presume that you made it and had a good time. Needless to say how much I would that I might have escorted you. That would be on the hopeless side.

Here is a Jolly Roger (I guess) for Elaine

There was a day when I knew how to draw one back in 1929.

I am caught up with your letters again. Another had better come tomorrow. My morale has been better this week than any time since I’ve been here. That has been brot about by what you have been saying to me in the latest letters & complemented by the new schedule we have which makes the days just whiz by. Please keep saying nice things to me and find them to say from the trust feelings of your heart. How fervently I hope that the closing words of your last letters may be actualities of the very near future, because I Love you with every breath I take, my dearest sweetheart. And i do need you - so much!!

Will you accept a sweet kiss from me, in closing - and at least one apiece for the younguns.

I love you, I love you, I love you

Rex

I’ve got to go shave before bed. Nite, nite.