Wow! I have only two letters from 1944 and if finding all of these letters has been like finding a gold mine, this was the nugget that made it all the more worthwhile. My Dad was about to ship overseas and made it pretty clear that he wouldn’t be able to write as much as he had been during all his training. We live in a time now where communication is practically instantaneous, I can’t even imagine having to wait for months to hear about a loved one who is in harms way.
You can hear the disappointment in my Dad’s “voice” having come so close to visiting home even for only a few hours one final time before shipping out or the chance to show off his new promotion in person.
I, also, found it charming that he wanted to send his sister, Pat, $5 for graduation until I figured out that today that would be the equivalent of $67.97 when you factor in inflation. Not a bad gift from your 19-year old brother!
The part that really struck me, though, was his talk about saving for the future and planning for that future with my mother, Rosemary, if she’ll have him. Ha! That was heartwarming!
U.S. ARMY AIR CORPS
Columbia, S.C.
April 10
Monday 10 AM
Dear Mom and Dad,
How’s everything? I am in fine health and still flying every day that the weather is good
I almost came home for a few hours Friday afternoon because we were flying up to Bedford Army Air Base about 20 miles from Boston and we were almost to Washington D.C. when the radio went on the blink and the radio operator couldn’t fix it so we had to turn back, and was I disappointed. I guess I won’t be able to come home before I go overseas which is only a few weeks off.
Oh yes, I was promoted to Sgt. Last week and when I heard that we were going to Boston, I didn’t bother to write and tell you because you’d be able to see for yourself but I guess my luck didn’t hold out long enough.
By the way, Mom, did you get the money order in time to get something for Easter, the minute I was paid I went over made out the money order bought you an Easter card and mailed it to you. I hope that you received it in time.
By the way when is Pat’s dance and graduation? If I can I’d like to send her something but if I can’t will you give her five dollars and tell her that it’s from me, I’ll send you money when I get next month’s pays.
By the way, I’m going to make out a Class E allotment that is, having a certain amount of money taken out of my pay each month and sent home to you folks. Now here’s what I want you to do I want you to open an account in some bank in my name and put the money away for me, of course, if it comes that you need badly then I want you to take some of it and use whatever you need. But I don’t want you to use any of it unless you really have to, you see, I want to have a little nest egg by the time I get home so that I can be sort of financially set. I think you know that sometime after the war I intend to marry Rosemary if she’ll have me then and I don’t want to be worrying about bills and everything the way you folks had to. I hope that you can see my point in the matter and a little money in the bank means a lot.
If an occasion ever rises where you need money in a hurry then you can always get it out of the bank and use it, don’t hesitate to use it if you need it. Is that okay with you folks?
My pilot told us today that once we leave this field it maybe six to eight weeks before we’ll be able to write home but I’ll write every chance that I can.
Boy, have I been busy what with flying and having my clothes checked and my clothing forms and immunization forms and then tomorrow I’m going to make out that allotment, I haven’t had much time to do anything.
Well, folks that’s about all I have time to write be good, take care of yourselves and God bless you all.
Your loving son,
Frannie
Duke of Dead Air 