Thursday, 1800

Jan. 20, 1944

My dearest wife:

I was so glad to hear from you today. I didn’t think I would be hearing from you so soon. How are you today? And how is the baby? Does he like your milk, or does he eat better now. You said he was spitting it up. Does he cry much, or is he quiet like his father?

Jack garden left to go home about midnight last night. I guess his wife is having her baby now. We didn’t beat him by much.

I want to come home so bad, I want to be with you now more than ever before. I thought now that you had the baby the weight would be lifted, but that isn’t so. I have more to think and worry about now. Have two of you. Although you do give me a lot of relief. I know you will be a good mother. I wouldn’t mind myself, but I’d rather have it the way it is. I have so much love for you too honey. You will always be the first and the only one for me too. If only I could be in your arms now. I want you to help me by praying hard for this war to end soon and quick so we can be with each other. We need each other and a home.

I haven’t done much today again. This afternoon I took about 425 blankets to the laundry to be cleaned. I layed a blanket and a few other things I want you to send home for me when you are home and well again. When pay day comes around again I will try and get you a few more towels and maybe a few wash cloths. I think they are pretty cheap here and they are good. I’ll bet they cost about .50 cents or more on the outside. I guess I take you they are only 34 cents wash cloths 7 cents.

I have been looking at a train schedule to see if I could find a quicker and maybe cheaper way to travel, but I can’t find any trains that run from Columbus north. I have a Penny schedule here, and the map shows a line that goes from Columbus to Sandusky, but there is no schedule. It goes by Bucyrus and Carrothers. I don’t believe Bucyrus is much further than Fostoria is it? I thought I saw a sign somewhere which said 14 miles to Tiffin, but I may be wrong. I’ll try and dig up some more time tables. Time with you is valuable and most important.

Don’t worry so much about the baby, he will be alright. They would tell you if anything was wrong with him. I’ll bet he will be a little giggle box. Do you really think he looks like me? I wanted him to look like you so much. I hope he gets your blue eyes. I guess I will never be able to disown him if he looks like me the way you say he does. I think you are wrong though, he is too small to tell yet.

This is about all for tonight my dear, but I love you so much.

All my love, Preston