Letters Ray To Shirl a WWII Love Story

  Circa 1943 Dearly Shirley,   My oh my, doesn't the time pass slowly these days? In exactly 31 hours 4 minutes and 12 seconds. I shall start my furlough - I hope , I hope, I hope. I;m not at all excited. Calm and cool - that's me. Bah - who am I kidding - I'm a nervous wreck.     Hey, did you see this morning's Tribune? Quite a write up about all the stuff and things we work on up here.     You should be very proud of me! I haven't caused any sensations or been in any trouble since last time I was in. Quite a record, what? Of course I did cause a mixup in the NCO's club, but I got out of it. Our C.O. told me I should have been a Philidelphia Laywer. I wonder if I should resent this. My good name has been trounced upon.   Hey do you know what the height of ambitioin is????? An ant, crawling up an elephant's leg with rape in his eyes.   I got a letter from Bill. He has decided to fall madly in love with you. I wonder why? (dopey ain't I). He has st...

  Dec. 27, 1942Sunday Dear Shirley Your pen came this morning. I'll bet its a happy pen because it has a master who appreciates it and will treat it kindly.   I'm not sure about how to say this, but here goes. If I hadn't seen you my Christmas wouldn't have been full. I did see you so thanks for making it perfect.     Everyone surely treated me fine. I guess I'm a pretty lucky guy. There is even talk about passes for New Years Day.   I hope you got your phonograph for Christmas. If not, by jeepers, I will get you one for the first post war Christmas. Gee, what a pleasant though.   I had dinner with two sailors yesterday. ????? Excellent fellows.   I guess that's about the works.   Bye Bye   Ray

  Nov. 15, 1942 Dear Shirley,   I just got back from the post office. I reported the mail that I hadn't received and threatened to personally tear da jernt apart unless I received some instant action. I did - they threw me out. When I got back to the barracks, there sitting on my bunk was the book you sent, Oct 31st (no bunk). Oh well, I won't mind eating the postmaster's hat.     I do want to thank you for the book. Its super swell and I appreciate it. I figured that you would like to know that it got here ok. also thanks for the stuff on S. Yard.   Don't eat too many crackers,   Yours   Ray

  June 15, 1944 Hiya Darling,   Your sunglasses arrived this morning and a fine pair they are too. I think you overshot the two bit budget. Thanks very lotsish.   There's a very slight and weak rumor that we may get another furlough around the first of July. The odds are against it so i'm not even going to mention it to mom. Even so it's swell just to think about it. The whole thing depends on gunnery school. If they're all filled up and it'll be about a month or so till there's an opening we get ten days. If a school's open we move right on.     Yah know, the thought of being with you is pretty exciting and dowish. It's only been three months, but they were long ones. Anything over ten minutes away from you is bad. Gee, your nice. I like holding you in my arms. I like kissing you. Aw shucks, I just like you. If you hear my crackling voice over the telephone don't scream. OLr on second thought, go ahead and scream. I'll scream right along with yo...

    Feb. 18, 1944 Dear Shirl,   Abscessed teeth - eye excersises - calcium in the joints - well Snooks, it's no use trying to kid yourself. You're no chicken anymore. (heh heh). Say, I'm glad you didn't lose your teeth. Great pistol balls and buckshot, would you look nifty minus your molars. The thought frightens me - how about you?     Hey - that song "poinciana" is O.K., huh?   I couldn't make the grade for pilot. That old knee of mine is still getting stiff. (I enjoy it). Half of flying is done with the legs. I was given a choice of Bombardier or Navigator as a consolation prize. At first I was a bit sour on either one. I accepted Bombardier. Sunday. I began to think that blowing Hell out of enemy stuff might be more entertaining. Now I'm quite enthused about it. At any rate, after one year, nine months and twelve days I am now a full fledged cadette. You claim that lipstick, perfume and all the war paint builds a gals morale. The word cadet does th...

  Jan 3, 1944 Dear Shirl,   I had xmas cards made from the picture. That was mixed up so I was going to send you a print and explain - then one of the "Rover Boys", (my sorority). calmly told me he was getting married an d that I was going to stand up for him. This last week has been exciting. The wedding took place yesterday. In the middle of the service the priest stopped and asked me if I would be O.K. - thats how nervous I was. Once again - hope you had Happy Holidays.   Bye Now,   Ray

  Oct 3, 1943 Dear Shirl,   I told you all about that something inside that says, "that's it." I guess it works in reverse too. Every time I think of that last letter I sent you something pretty strong keeps calling me a heel. It wasn't so hot, was it? When I was small, if I couldn't have or do something I would become indignant and pretend I didn't want it anyway. I guess I haven't grown up yet. If I can't have you, the devil with you, you're no good anyway - that's how I felt when I wrote. I guess evryone felt that way at sometime. I never got the letter you sent to Florida, but I'll bet you didn't mean all the stuff that was in it. Maybe you should have , though. You were right about my testing you and putting you on the spot. I could try and explain that too, but it's more evidence of my not having grown up.   I guess I'm not the wolf type either. I just haven't the nerve. About 99.99% of the gals scare me. I don't k...

  Sept 23, 1943 Dear Shirl,   Remember the first night I poured my heart out to you? Over a cup of hot chocolate I promised I'd tell you when I changed my mind. I'm keeping that promise now. Maybe I've reached my saturation point. I'm sure I have had enough.   Forget anything I asked, forget anything I said - just plain forget.     I don't know weather I've been a sucker or not. Sometimes I feel that I have.     You asked me a question on your card. The answer is, "The third I never got from you."   I'm going to be o.k., I hope to hell you know what YOU are doing. Are you happy now?   Ten to one says that I come out better than you do.   Ray

  Sept 21, 1943 If you wrote, I didn't get it. If you didn't write - tain't fair.   Me P.S. I hooked this stationary in Washington, D.C. right under Eleanor's nose.

  Sept. 1, 1943 Dearest Shirley, I know what you mean about how hard it is to write letters. This is No. 7. I'm sending this one no matter what comes out. Lets do a little spot removing first. I guess I give you the wrong impression. Those two plans I was talking about were for after the war. I wouldn't turn quitter on my country. If I wash out of the cadets it will be for physical reasons and no other. I'll also see what I can do about becoming a man. That's a promise!   I'm pretty well up on how miserable a person can feel. I'm an old hand at it. How do you think I've been feeling.     There are a lot of things I want to say. I don't know how it'll turn out but here goes.     There isn't anything you can't do. You're made of pretty goood stuff. If you don't do something its because you don't want to. Waiting for a guy would be pretty tough, but its plenty tough on the guy too. I could have had a girl Sunday. I didn't! I'...

  August 18, 1943 Tuesday!   Dear Shirley,   How can you have a cold in the middle of August? Silliest thing I ever heard of amazing! I have one too! A pistol!     The scoundrels down here charge 25 cents for a malted milk and they don't even use ice cream. A single dipped chocolate soda costs two bits too. Anyone down here who owns a store is a millionare and a crook. We get rooked - but good. Cigarettes costs 20 cents per. Laundry runs about $3.00 a week and a punk dinner costs $2.00.   The weather here is rather warm. Right now its 100 degrees. This is a cool day. We swim in the ocean every day. The water is warm, dirty, and salty as hell. The sand on the beach is so hot it blisters our feet.     The city is very nice to look at. It reminds me of Casablanca. (Saw it again last night). The buildings are all streamlined or historic and very colorful. But in the summer its too hot to really enjoy.   Sunday was the first day off we had. Among ...