Lt. Col. Carlton J. Cook
Ord. Sec., Hq. M.B.S.
A.P.O. 600, N.Y.C
Sept. 5, 1943. Letter # 3
My Darling Jeannette,
Today I was very pleased to receive two more letters from you, dearest. They were your missing letter #1 of Aug. 1st and V letter # ? of Aug. 24th (I can’t make out the no. when you type it over the word “date”). Don’t forget the red printing shows up just as black as the typewriter. Many thanks, dear, for the three pictures enclosed in your Aug. 1st letter. I was glad to see you in your slacks (I still don’t like pants on a woman though!). One of the pictures was quite good. And I was glad to see what Miss Trotter looked like; I’ll probably send that one back to you some time.
Yesterday afternoon and evening I spent with the ordinance officers and company of the organization from which my successors at Beauregard came, you know whom I mean. I took Sat. afternoon off instead of Friday and went to visit them in their bivouac area in some woods. It was very enjoyable being able to visit with them again as I had not seen some of them since January and before that since Ireland. Had dinner with them at night and went to a show at one of the artillery units in the evening with some of the officers. One officer, Capt. Jacobson, was at NIBS with me in Ireland for most of the time I was there.
I took off this morning and worked in the afternoon since it was my turn. I am writing you now before going over to Brunet’s. I slept until about 9:30 and then got up and fixed myself a bite to eat from some things I have and took a bath. I felt lazy and like wasting a morning which I did very successfully. That is not usual though, so don’t get me wrong.
Now to answer your Aug. 1st letter. Yes I think too, you are contributing to the war effort directly by working for the RedCross at a lower salary than you would get elsewhere. But you can do that all right as you surely do not need the extra money. I like to feel too, that you are doing something directly for our soldiers, which of course you are there with them and their families. I see now why you took your vacation a week earlier as I asked in my last letter, I think…Am glad to hear Ginger and Rover get along so well. That may be a problem when we move back to Brookfield Rd.—whether or not they will want to part, and whether or not they should. Yes, I think I can cure you of the habit of going to bed late all right. When you write regular airmail, single space it as I can read it perfectly all right that way. As I said I want nothing for my anniversary as I need nothing here. My trunks and the “House Beautiful” subscription are a very fine present dear. I guess you had better buy something that you need from me, as there is nothing here worth buying to send to you. The same for Christmas this year as I shall send nothing home from this place. I don’t want any more socks from any one; as is, I gave away one pair of the knitted ones. I didn’t wear woolen socks all last winter. With my low shoes I wear the cotton ones and with my high tops—the white woolen army ones. I haven’t had on my high tops since last spring though.
Your letter of Aug. 24th. Am glad your teeth were in good shape. Also very surprised to hear that the painting of your folks’ house has finally begun. How does the combination of grey and green look? How did you make out finding presents for all the birthdays?
I think I told you, I wrote 10 letters in August. You might send me another box of chocolates, and a pillowcase. Rec’d a letter from Uncle Tubby yesterday and one from your dad today, also one from Aunt Frieda and Bud Nichols yesterday. I’ll answer them all when I can. Have been quite busy lately and still am and you know how I don’t like to write letters too.
Oh, darling, how I wish I could see you. It has been so long now and I guess it will be over two years though I hate to think of it. Someday we shall look back at this as just a passing thing but now it seems like an eternity to be separated. I love you sweetheart and miss you so.
Devotedly,
Carlton