70 years ago – Pacific Theater
When J.B. wrote these missives, he was 59 years old and part of the U.S. Marine invasion force to retake Guam and determine friend from foe. These are his exact words although I have corrected some spellings and any additions/clarifications I added will be italicized.
July 16th
Good Morning Precious,Still no mail and it looks as though we’ll have none got sometime. I’m not worried about you, but I do wish I had your address. Whoever is responsible for getting our mail to us has done an abominable job (l.o). We have had ample opportunity to get mail but some how have gotten it just once. Too many experts maybe. If I had some address in S.F. [San Francisco] to send your letters. John has an office over there but he isn’t there. Phil isn’t there. No doubt you have sent the address to me. I don’t even have Mrs. McDougal’s address or I would send letters in care of her. I have had plenty of chances to mail letters – I hope you get ‘2m. The chances for mailing now are pretty slim. I’ll try to take time out today for church. We will have services during the day.
Darling, you don’t know how much I miss you. It becomes more poignant when no letters come. Some fellows have wives they don’t write, how terrible. Then one fellow who has been out here for 20 months receives word that his wife had a 7½ lb. boy. How miraculous. He said “My wife’s a Mother and I’m not a father.” Another man got a letter from his wife with divorce papers enclosed. Told her husband that she was pregnant and that he must divorce her. Men come to the officers with their letters and there isn’t a thing any of us can do except talk. I can’t see why women have to write such letters at this time. It certainly upsets the boys and some don’t give a damn anymore, they just try to get killed.
Even mothers write depressing letters telling the boys that they are dying and must have him home before she dies. A lot of the cases are turned over to the Red Cross to handle. They find many who will say anything to get the boys back. We will all be back as soon as we can get back. I won’t come back though as long as I am needed here. You want me. but you don’t want me to dodge any duty. That is another of your many virtues. You are so inspirational to your man. I am so proud of you.
With you back there waiting for me I have no room for complaint. The love I have for you gives me something wonderful to think about. The Service, sunsets, waves, beaches, trees, everything makes me think of you. Every day I’ll write you. Your next batch of letters will be bulkier. Bye, bye, my adorable sweetheart. I do love you.
Your devoted Daddy
The photo JB references in his next one is currently unknown.
16th
Sweetheart –I was just handed this snapshot. Will try to get it to you right away. The boys are all from L.A. except me. The one marked X is {Blondier} husband Penny Singleton. His name is Halpern. The two sitting, your daddy and Comdr. Ganman are Navy, the rest marines. I still love you, darling, just like I do all the time. I’ll be looking for another 62 letters one of these days – nearly all from you. Big squeezes and kisses from –
Your devoted Daddy