Cherbourg, France

Aug. 17, 1945

10 A.M.

My darling wife:

I just had to write to you Maggie. I couldn’t sleep very well last night again, today we have off again, but I couldn’t sleep because of you, so I finally decided the best thing to do was to write. I love you so much again this morning. Oh Maggie, if I could only get to see you soon. You know honey, five months from today I’ll be twenty-seven. I hope it is my last birthday in the army.

I have given that lot very much thought yesterday, last night, and this morning and I come to the conclusion that we better not take it. It is too narrow unless you have a special planned house to put on it. I wish you would measure off 40 and then I think you will know what I mean. Maybe you better wait until I come home. I know you need my help especially on a case like this. Maybe I am wrong, if so I want you to tell me about it. I am very anxious to get back home and start working again. Can you imagine me working after a four or five year vacation. I guess I can do it though. I have something to work for now.

I had some awful dreams last night about you and I and Toledo. Damn, I can’t get that place off my mind. I even thought I had on that robe you got for me. I swear I don’t know what I’ll do when the time comes – I don’t hope anything happens to change those plans, but as far as I’m concerned, the next time I’ll see you will be in Toledo, Ohio, at Stones. Old George was as hard as a rock all night again. He misses Suzie without a doubt, and we will keep on missing you until we see you again.

It sure is going to seem strange for me to take my own little boys hand and take him for a walk. Sometimes I can hardly believe it was man enough, but I guess I was, any way we have the proof. When I come home I guess both the kids will be walking good. Bobby will be starting in a couple of months. I’m not leaving you out Maggie. I want to take your hand too and take you for walks. I love you Maggie, with all my heart. I was just thinking last evening, what would I even do without you. Just the thought of it made my heart sink. I don’t believe I would want to live any longer. That’s how you have me honey, not only a part of me, you have all of me, and that’s the way its going to stay. All or nothing. I don’t believe any man ever loved you the way I love you.

How did you like the book, “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn”? My buddy here read it and said it was pretty good, it had a lot of things that they didn’t have in the picture. “Forever Amber” is floating around too, but I guess there is a long waiting line. I’ll wait and read yours. Anyway you said you wouldn’t read it to me.

Its dinner time already, so I think I’ll take a break, wash up, and come back to you after dinner.

We had a fair dinner. It was macaroni with a tomato and meat sauce, something like spaghetti.

Your letter just came today, the one in which you gave me hell for drinking. I don’t think you have any reason to give me hell. For over two years I have been after you to stop smoking, well that’s a closed subject now, but I have also been after you for the same length of time to go to a dentist, but no. I think you better do some of the things I ask you to before you harp on me. I am old enough to know what I am doing, and take care of myself. Let’s forget the subject for now and take it up when I come back. I love you too much to have any arguments honey. I told you so often that I’ll never let you down, and I never will.

I love you forever Maggie–forever.

All my love,

Pres