Monthly Archives: January 2016

January 31, 1946

28. January 1946, Dart's Letters, Dot's Letters

With just a few more hours to go before arriving in San Diego, Dart’s biggest hope is that there will be a pile of mail for him. “Two weeks is a long time to go without it. (You know, don’t you?)”

Because he didn’t have a solo liberty in Panama, he wasn’t able to get into any of the shops he wanted, so Blevins did his shopping by proxy. The results are unsatisfactory. All he was able to purchase were two pairs of silk stockings in Dot’s size, but the quality is inferior – not even as good as the Haggard’s supply officer was able to get for him last year. Although he’s almost ashamed to send them, he’ll try to get them mailed during their brief stay in port.

He drew $16.00 of his pay today, and promptly spent three precious dollars on an “anchor pool.” If he got the ticket that has the exact minute the anchor is dropped in port, he wins $100; $25 if he gets one minute on either side of the exact time. It’s his first gambling attempt since joining the Navy, and he knows the only guys who stand to make any money are the three men who are organizing the pool.

As he looks back on her mother’s response to their letter about getting married in 1947, he thinks she was quite helpful. They already knew the pros and cons, but she was able to see from an outsider’s perspective which ones matter and which are merely side issues. She puts the decision squarely on their shoulders, where it belongs. He sure hopes Dot agrees with him on what their decision will be.

He talks about visiting all his old friends once he’s back home, renewing old acquaintances. He hopes Dot will accompany him to meet Homer, Fred, and maybe even visit Mr. Foecking’s bride, Pat. He says getting reacquainted with his pre-war buddies will feel almost like being in a new city. I’m glad you’ll be there to help me get started again.

Although it’s only 60 days until he’s eligible for discharge, those days seem almost beyond reach. It feels almost as long as the 16 months until June, 1947.

“What kind of wedding have you dreamed of, Dot? Or is that a prospective bride’s private domain? You’ll be a lovely June bride, Darling. You’re so lovely and lovable all the time, anyway, and being a bride adds 100% to any girl’s loveliness, usually.”

“Oh, if I could just take you in my arms tonight and never let you go! I miss your kisses (the ones we stole when no one was looking, and at traffic lights), and I miss your presence in every way.”

#        #        #

Dot’s letter tonight is a few short sentences, quickly scribbled after she’d completed her theme assignment. She’s weary of writing, and tired to the bone but must ask him one quick question. “Will you still love me even if I flunk biology tests and can’t write themes? I surely hope so, ’cause that’s just the situation that prevails.”

She got a letter from her future mother-in-law today, telling Dot how giddy she is for Dot’s visit this weekend. Dot is so very much in need of a weekend away from Kent and she’s very eager to go the the alumnae banquet at her old school.

Helen Peterson also mentioned that the points needed for discharge from the Navy had been lowered again. Is it possible Dart will be close enough that he’ll get to serve his final weeks on the west coast instead of heading back out to sea?

February 1, 1946

29. February 1946, Dart's Letters, Dot's Letters

It’s a red letter day for Dart with a stack of 17 letters waiting for him when he reached San Diego. Eleven of them are from Dot, including one written as recently as January 29.

There’s a huge inspection tomorrow morning which the crew has been preparing for almost since leaving Charleston. The ship has been scrubbed, painted and polished, including a diesel rub on all of her exterior surfaces. Once the ship was looking shiny and new, the men aboard turned their attentions to their personal uniforms and haircuts. Dart hopes they do well so they can have the maximum amount of liberty while in town.

He has explicit directions to Ira Cotton’s house in San Diego and he plans to visit as soon as they pass inspection, he makes two phone calls to Cleveland, and gets a haircut.

He ends his brief note with an enthusiastic “Oh, Darling, I love you! Don’t ever stop writing such wonderful letters. You keep life worth living.”

#          #          #8

As Dot sits down to fill four pages, Ellie is tossing and turning and trying to sleep. For once, it isn’t Dot’s lamp that’s keeping her awake, but rather plain, old-fashioned excitement about her trip home with Tip. How Dot wishes she had something exciting to write to Dart about, but anything exciting would involve him, so he’d probably already know it.

There is nothing exciting for her this weekend. She and Janie are the only girls who’ll be in the house, and Janie will be gone tomorrow night to attend a dance. That’ll leave Dot with lots of time to write letters, iron, and feel sorry for herself.

Tip will be coming upstairs to see the girls’ newly decorated room tomorrow, so Ellie has spent hours today washing and scrubbing everything. Dot washed the windows, ironed and hung the curtains and dusted some of her things. The room gleams! She promises she’ll do as thorough a cleaning job for Easter if Dart will promise to be home by then.

She’s very much looking forward to next weekend when she’ll go to the Andrews Alumnae Banquet and stay with Dart’s parents. She’s eager to see her old school chums, but even more delighted at the idea of seeing Helen and Dart, Sr. She tells Dart that a year ago, she never would have believed that she’d get as homesick for his home as she gets for hers!

Does he have any idea how much she misses him? It’ll be worse this weekend because she’ll have so much time on her own to dwell on her loneliness. “The Navy would be doing me a great favor if they would leave you in San Diego when you arrive there on Sunday. Don’t tell them that, though, or they’ll be sure to take you with them to the Pacific.”

She’s managed to fill four pages, but she doubts this letter will be saved for posterity. (Little does she know!) She hopes it serves to tell him what she’s told him before, and what she hopes to be telling him forever: “I love you very much, my Darling.”