84 Cherbourg, France

June 23, 1945

(Saturday Night)

My darling wife:

Do you know I didn’t get to write to you last night? I felt bad about it too all day today. It bothers me when I miss a night. It was my own fault I guess—hope you will forgive me this time. One of the offices bought a bottle of cognac for me. I had a few of my friends in my shack and we got to talking about almost everything, and before I knew it it was past midnight and by that time I was pretty sleepy. It’s a very poor excuse I know, but I won’t let it happen very often.

Darling do you know something? I love you so darn much and miss you so much too. If only I could see you soon again and forever. Maggie, I can’t think of anything but you all day long. Something better be done about our separation pretty soon or you’ll be reading about one staff sergeant swimming the Atlantic Ocean to be with his darling wife.

Guess what? I received three letters today finally. One from you (only) and two from mother. I was so glad to hear from you, but disappointed because it was so very short. Only a page and a half. You had five pictures in it (no.86) and none where I could see you. Your last letter was 79 and jumped to 86. I also have numbers 73, 76, 78 still missing that makes a total of 9 letters somewhere on the way. I see by your letter here you are having the same trouble.

We had our usual date tonight sweetie. We saw a show—“Brewster’s Million”, with Denny O’Keefe. I enjoyed it as it had a few laughs. The part I enjoy Saturday nights is when the show is over, I come back and talk to you on paper. I love you darling very much.

No Maggie, you never did tell me you had your pictures taken until now. I hope it turns out good. I need you so bad. Please buy the proofs and send them too. The more I have of you the better, for no one loves you the way I do. I’m your lover you know. I am going to love you more for those pictures, so if you want more love, just give me more pictures. Is that a bargain?

I wish I could see Bobby in her new swimsuit, you make her sound very interesting to me. And from those pictures she does look like a little doll. Say how did you ever get two such lovely children? Are you going out on the sly? Maggie, you should teach Allen the art of self defense, and how to use his hands when he gets in a jam like he was with Pam. I think he should have his daddy around. He does sound a little like his daddy. I can take a lot too, but I can still give you a spanking—yes and I am big enough.

You are perfectly right honey, we do have a lot to be thankful for. We seem to have two of the best children in the world. Allen looks like a two or three year old to the kids over here. We have each other too which is the most important thing. I am going to keep you and never let you get away from me.

Tomorrow is Sunday, so I think I will sleep until noon. That gives George and I more time to think about you and yours.

Maggie, did you see the May 28^th issue of Life? I don’t know if the overseas addition is very much different, but they had a bathroom and some houses in it. The bathroom is called a 3 passenger and would be just the thing. They also had a sketch of a one-story house with this bathroom, and this house I think would be just the thing for me if we could have some place made up for it. To me it looks very comfortable. It has 3 bedrooms. One for me, one for you and one for the kids. The new bath, a nice large kitchen and a living room. I had a letter from home and dad says it is almost impossible to build, as there are no materials or labor. This house should be very cheap to build. Tell me what you think about it, that is if you can find what I am talking about. I’ll see if I can have a friend of mine draw it into full house.

My prayers are still to be with you darling. I love you.

All my love, Pres.