February 8, 1945

Dear Al,

I received your letter a few days ago and was very glad to hear from you. I hope you received my other letters I wrote right after you sent me that Christmas card and your pictures.

You asked me how the four F’s were treating me. Who are you trying to kid, sailor? I wish I could find one. Naw, I was only kidding. I’d rather wait for the Navy. Ahem! Ahem!

Bill was home two weeks ago on a fifteen day furlough. He was overseas all year. He’s ok: Looks pretty good to me. Eddie is in the navy. Right now he is in boot camp. Poor guy! Or was it that bad? Mahoney is as slap happy as ever. I doubt if that guy will ever change. Adam (I presume you mean Ruse) is swell. He’s also in the Navy. He was home last week, but I didn’t get a chance to see him. He was probably down at George’s. I don’t get to go down there anymore. I only go down about once a month. I don’t trust that guy alone. He gets too fresh, if you get what I mean.

Yes, we have swell movies here. Tonight I saw “ Here comes the Waves” with Bing Crosby and Betty Hutton. It was swell. I laughed an awful lot in it. What do you mean you’ll take me to show in “46” or “47”? You’d better be home before that or I’ll have to talk to the Admiral about it. No kidding, I hope you come home soon. I miss you, really I do. I hope you miss me a little. (I doubt it).

Jean is getting along swell, and so is the baby. It’s 8 months old already. You should see her, she’s cute. You asked me how Hawkie is. He was killed in action in Burma last June 28^th. Almost a year ago. I couldn’t believe it when I heard it. The baby was only 6 weeks old when he died. He never saw the baby. Jean got the Purple Heart. You see, he died of wounds. They had a memorial service for him at his church and we collected money for flowers. We put on the card “ from George and the Gang”.

Well, I answered your question. Now about you. How are you doing with the girls? Do you ever think of me? I bet you probably don’t ever give me one thought with all those women there. Well you better think of me or you won’t get that big kiss off of me that I promised you.

Did I tell you Jean and I went to the Allentown Fair last September. Remember that thing we went on that turned us upside down and inside out. Well anyway when Jean and I got in, we thought about you right away. We had no protector like we did the year before. Yes, I mean you. Remember how Kenny and Dufrey were afraid to go on those things. We were brave weren’t we?

How’s the weather were you’re at. I suppose it is opposite of ours. We have quite a bit of snow on the ground yet. We had a lot of snow this year. I needed you to keep me warm but you weren’t here, so I had to keep warm all by myself. Maybe some other time? How about it?

We have a brownout here in Bethlehem. If you get what I mean. All the lights are dim. The store lights and the bridge lights and everything. A girl has to be afraid to walk along the street nowadays, when it’s too dark.

Remember “Booby” Smith. He was killed in action too. He was killed on Leyte in the Philippines. We used to have a lot of fun with that guy.

Are you getting a lot of cigarettes? I wish I was. I’m lucky if I get one pack a week. Ok well maybe it’s all for the best. Maybe it will teach young girls like me to stop smoking? Did I say I was young? Why here I am 18 years old and not even married yet. That’s what I get for waiting for the Navy. I guess I have enough patience to wait a little while longer.

Well, Al, I guess that is all I have to say for tonight. I’ve tried to make this letter as interesting as possible and I’ve also tried to tell you about the gang, as much as I know. Take care of yourself. It’s a promise about that date for the show when you get home. I’m serious, Al, I’m looking forward to it. It’s a date. Don’t forget.

Love,

Marion

Please write soon.

I’m always looking forward to your letters and I’m serious: They mean a lot to me and my morale.

What does that U.T. 3/e mean after your name?