March 21, 1942
U.S.S. MONAGHAN
Dearest Mom:
Same old story. I still don't know
where you are
and you don't know where I am. I do have the advantage on you though,
in being
pretty certain that you are at Grace's. It should be the best season of
the year
to be there, if the dust hasn't started blowing yet.
How are the girls, Grace & Ted? Undoubted Grace is planning her spring planting and counting the number of sows and pigs that she will have ready for market in the fall. There's a couple of things that are bothering me though. Did Grace Sr. ever get to the place where she hog tie a good muddy porker? and does she take the sick pigs to bed with her? I would really like to know. You know us boys in the first line of offense really shouldn't be kept in suspense about such important things.
I saw Joe1 the other day. He seems quite happy and well satisfied with married life. His wife seems to be expecting a new arrival sometime late in the summer. They were married in September. At any rate a few weeks ago she had a Valentine for him and it read,
"I went for a ride with Joe
It was such fun and so,
Little bundles I'm nittin'
But they won't be sent to Brittin."
He just about made Captain last week.
They
requested a Captaincy for his job, but Wash. sent back word to disband
the
office & merge it into another one.
Does Grace Sr. have a piano? If she doesn't would she like to have a small one? I think we could afford to buy the girls one for Easter if you could pick one up for around $50 or $60. Then if you do you could make the arrangements for them to take piano lessons during the summer months.
Only if they do, for my sake let them learn to swing it, classical stuff is alright in its place, but its place is down in the cellar where it won't disturb anyone.
We are getting another raise in pay which will bring my pay to $120 per month, I don't want to leave it on the books and I'll have $50 a month in the clear which is more than I can spend, so I reckon I'll send the cash that I don't spend at the end of each month.
I'll write to Jeannette and thank her for her courteous treatment and the fine visit you had with her, but don't you really think that she should thank me for letting her meet you?
I must close now and get this in the mail, Jim.
[Written along the edge:]
P.S.
I got another letter from Shawnee (Lucy) she
is as silly & set on romance as ever. Also got one from Kate in
Arkansas.
Told her she could write you as I wasn't writing many letters, so she
may do
that.
[1] Joe Coulter, a
boyhood friend.
Joe joined the Army about the same time as Jim joined the Navy.