July 29, 1945

	[Editors Note:  Although this letter is labeled 1948, it was written in 1945.  John was frustrated about the slow pace of events, and wrote 1948 as a joke.] Sunday July 29th My Darling: Have finally got started processing and will be out sometime Thursday morning.  Have a pretty busy schedule until that time, so this well be my last letter from the army.  We have had a darn good letter writing record for the past three years, but I’ll be only happy to be able to convey my messages for Love personally! Tomorrow morning I sign my discharge and put in my application for pension & there are a few other things.  Tuesday we get lectured on Insurance & the G-I bill of rights - Wednesday
	we have the final check on everything- & then Thursday morning we get our final pay, discharge, etc.- They’ll load us in a bus & when we pass the gate we’re civilians free to do anything we want!  Yesterday we listened to a 2 hour lecture on Veterans Benefits & Rights, checked all my clothing in & cleared all other organizations for indebtedness.  I mailed a box of my clothes to you yesterday- I won’t have a pile of stuff to carry around this way! There’s only one thing that can hold us up Thursday – that’s the Payroll. It has to check out.
	Wrote to Ma but didn’t say anything about coming home, I only gave the usual line and then said they shouldn’t write to this address anymore cause I was going to move.  I’ll bet Ma reads between the lines and will be expecting us! I Love You! Well Honeybunch guess I’ll close & go have a malted milk-- God Bless You! I Love You Loads! Love & Kisses Johnnie

Transcribed by Ken Brey

July 27, 1945

July 26, 1945

July 25, 1945

July 24, 1945

July 23, 1945 *Page 3 and 4 missing*

July 22, 1945

July 21, 1945

July 19, 1945

July 12, 1945

July 10, 1945

July 9, 1945

July 8, 1945

July 7, 1945

June 19, 1945 *Probable mismatched page 2 and 3*

June 18, 1945

 

June 13, 1945

June 12, 1945 *partial*

June 11, 1945

	I Love You Honey! Monday June 11  2:30 P.M. My Darling Peg: Received the enclosed letter yesterday and feel pretty bad today. He was one of my squad leaders & although I was told he was killed it was the first I had heard officially. He was missing the same day he was killed – and more than likely died the same day. The last the fellows saw of him was his body hurtling threw the air & they couldn’t find him after the fighting died down. I wrote a letter to his folks – only hope I didn’t say to much. I explained that the day before I was wounded & that what I knew was just second-handed information. It was really a hard letter to write! It makes me feel so lucky to be still around to be able to write! I love you loads Honey! That short letter I wrote you yesterday
	took just enough time that we missed the bus, so we hitch-hiked back & beat the bus in. It was a lot of fun hiking. I’m fact the best part of the whole trip. I really didn’t enjoy it anyhow – I didn’t have the money that it takes - and was really glad that I didn’t as it’s time to save our money & not be spending it foolishly like that. All three days just cost me 10 dollars – which was fare, room and meals – and a few bottles of beer. I went to church & the Priest went walking threw with a cigarette in his had. I was waiting for him to take a drag but he didn’t – that was the first time I ever saw that! I Love You! Hope the cigarettes got home safely. I didn’t insure them as you’re not supposed to send that stuff out of here. They’ll get there somehow. I Love You!
	Haven’t so much as ever seen a Doctor here today. My x-rays still haven’t come back so there isn’t much there. You asked about the weight exercise – well all it is, is hanging a five pound bag on my foot & working the knee. I’m suppose to do it 10 minutes every two hours. And then a half hour every day I go to a class that has more exercise. It’s the nuts – my knee feel worst now than it did three months ago! I Love You Honey! Honey please send me a suit of Kaiki-Sun Tans – I only have one suit – all the rest are too small. (The doctor just came in, goodness maybe this is a hospital!) Am really happy that our Jackey Boy is doing so good. But then why shouldn’t he? Look at his Mother! I Love You!
	It really seems good to get letters only a few days old – it’s so much nicer than having to wait two or three weeks! I Love You Peg Darling! Am going to church in a short while- I’m trying to make it everyday. So far I haven’t done so well – but will keep trying! So much for today Honey - will write tomorrow. God Bless You! I Love You Honey! Love & Kisses Johnnie For You & Jack & Mom XXX