June 11, 1945

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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

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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!

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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!

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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

June 4, 1945

1945-06-04_Page_1 June 4th
Monday
Ward B-8
3 PM

Darling Peg:

We’ll have to try & see if I can
write a half way decent letter for a change.
Every time I sit down to write it seems
to be their signal for me to do something.
Have great ambitions today – plan on writing
4 o 5 more letters after this one.  They haven’t
don a thing since Friday to me – all
I do is hang a five pound weight on the
end of my foot & exercise – it’s quite the
thing. The results of my x-rays will
probably come floating in one of these days
& they’ll start working in earnest. Am
almost convinced I won’t get out because
of my wound – don’t want to dampen
your hopes – but then if I do make it I’ll
be that much better – and if I don’t we’ll be
prepared to meet it. This getting out stuff is
a funny & crooked business – with a fair
amount of money you a cinch – otherwise
you just sit & wait! I Love You My
Darling! Love Me? Huh?
1945-06-04_Page_2 Haven’t heard from Winnie as
yet – am convinced the answer must be
no! Oh well Honey we’ll get something
just as nice or nicer – we’ll never get the
same buy on it- but something will go our
way somehow! I Love You!

Honey maybe you had better pay
Mrs. Duren for my telephone calls – guess
I must have forgotten all about it!

Still haven’t sent the cigarettes - am
having trouble finding a box to send them
in. Should get one pretty quick though as
I’ve asked for one at the PX – It’s like
pulling teeth. I Love You!
Went to the show last night + the
night before – saw “Where Do We Go From Here ” with Fred MacMurray – it really
stinks Honey –There’s no sense to it at all.
Can’t even remember the name of the
other – but do know Jack Oakie was in
it – Ghost something or Spirit – anyhow, it
was a one bell picture – not to bad.
Haven’t bad any beer for sometime in fact
I don’t even care for it – If I can’t be at home
I won’t drink – hmm take that! I Love You!

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The soldiers are really pouring in from
Europe – 200 + some came in here
yesterday. This hospital is really loaded -
I wouldn’t be surprised if I’ll be leaving
here soon, it’s a little early to be predicting
something like that but I just have a
hunch.

Wish I could see you & Jackie – sure miss
you just loads – and know now for sure
I’ll never be contented ‘till I’m home with
the two of you! I Love You So Much! I
can just see little Jackie growing – he sure
is the finest baby in the world!

Darling this is all for today – be good
& God Bless You!

I Love You Honey!
Love & Kisses
Your
Johnnie
   

June 3, 1945

1945-06-03_Page_1 June 3rd
4PM
Sunday

My Darling Peg:

It sure isn’t a pleasant Sunday – things
are really dead, they don’t even have a baseball
game tuned in – it’s bad. I believe I’ll have to
try and go on next week – would have went
today only I don’t have any clothes! Loaned a
fellow a suit before I left on furlough & in the
meantime he was discharged – so here I sit just
plain out of clothes! I Love You Honey!

Have been wondering just how
on earth I ever got that 15 day extension -
everyone else was turned down – maybe
the Red Cross wire helped. Hope it isn’t too
long till we’re together again! I miss
you just loads Honey! I Love You!

Haven’t had any more medical
attention – just lay around & wait. If
we don’t get our house & I get stationed in
the states somewhere you and Jackie will have
to come with me. I’m really going to buck
for a discharge in the meantime – Pray hard

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Honey – I’m going to try & get to mass
everyday & take communion every week anyhow.
Am starting a Novena to the Sacred Heart
next Monday. Going to church is the greatest
consolation while I’m away – it always makes me
feel so near to you! I Love you Darling!

Honey I wrote Ma & told her to send
you that 95th booklet – when you get it send
it to Chess’s folks – You’ll find the address on
that list with the Company Picture!

Hope Jackie is being a good boy and
that you’re getting enough sleep! Next time
I get home I’m going to get up earlier – wish
the days at home would’ve dragged as these
are now!

I’ll sign off for today – All My
Love to you Both!

God Bless You!
Love & Kisses
Daddy
   
   

June 2, 1945

1945-06-02_Page_1 B-8 Sat.
June 2nd 3:30

Dearest Sweetheart:

Another day has quietly slipped
away–didn’t do nothing–Just had a few x-rays
taken + that was the crop.  Surely hope they
let me out – but am going to relax + let them
take their time.  They have a new way of
discharging now – You don’t have any idea
as to what compensation you’ll get ‘till after
you’re out – the compensation board is in
St. Louis – Oh well who’s getting out anyhow?
Such is life in the Army – Just one big
question mark! I Love You Honey!

Try + get some pictures of Jackie – as
I’d like one + we can send some to our
friends.  Hope He’s fine – every 4 hours I
think of him eating & stuff – gosh but I’m
lonesome for you too!  I Love You So Much!

Haven’t heard from Winnie yet.  But
am expecting to any one of these days – if the
news is good I’ll call.  Sure would like
to get a start – but then if we have to
wait we can do that too as we’re old
hands at this waiting game.  I Love You
Honey!

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Hope all at home is well – Suppose
all the kids will be out of school soon – So
you’ll have company during the summer
months – hope I can get in a bit of the
summer home myself – it’s to early yet
to know whether I’ll have the good fortune or
not! If I’m here another months I should
get another 30 days – but if I find a chance
to get out the furlough can to to heck!

Well Darling be careful & take darn
good care of yourself and Jackie.  God Bless
You Both!

I Love You!
Love & Kisses
Johnnie
   
   

June 1, 1945

1945-06-01_Page_1 Ward B-8
Friday 3:30 PM

My Darling Peg:

Arrived back here on time – it was
a heck of a trip, I was so darn lonesome
that I couldn’t even eat – and now that’s
really getting back when that happens to
me! I Love You Peg Honey and miss
you & Jackie more than words can express.

Believe it or not they’ve already
looked me over – they’re going to X-Ray
my leg tomorrow & I’m going to get
treatments. And guess what? I’m not
supposed to be on my leg! The Doctor said
I was awfully lucky having the knee
actions that I do – and he couldn’t quite figure
out why it does work so well! But you
know my recuperative powers are
are just too good! I Love you! Pray
that I get a discharge Honey!

Haven’t heard from Winnie yet -
just wonder what he’ll do?  It sounded
encouraging – but he also said “Remember
I’m not promising you”. You see I wanted
to wire you & have you make a 75 dollar
down payment but he didn’t think it very
practicable – Oh well – we’ll see – enclosed
1945-06-01_Page_2 is a 5 dollar bill – I was paid today
(by check) for March & April – I drew all
of 39.26 – can’t quite figure out where it
all came from but won’t put up any
argument! Gee we have 70 bucks coming that
I forgot about – I get 66 cents a day while home – so that’s 66+45=330 – and also a 7 month
rebate on my insurance premium which
is 6.50* 7 = 45.50 – but it’ll be some time before
I get the insurance money – almost 3 months!
I Love You Honey!

Have about 10 packs of smokes for
your Dad – will have to get them packed
and on their way soon – I’ve got to get
settled a little more first – they’ll be home
next week though! I Love You!

How’s Jackie – I sure hate missing
watching him grow – Even a month will make a big difference in him. He’s sure
pretty darn wonderful – and he has the
most wonderful Mother in the World! I
only hope the three of us are together soon!

Honey don’t plan to hard on my
getting discharged – I’ll probably know in
a week or so – they’re giving them out
pretty regular but this is one time we can’t
expect something because the guy next to me
gets it! I Love You Honey!

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Received a lot of mail – enclosed is
a letter from Chess – am quite proud of it
so keep it! Had two letters from Joe – all
pretty old & a couple from Father Rank &
the rest from you! None of the Packages
came.

Well my sweetheart I hope you’re
feeling good & that our son isn’t to wide
awake at midnight.  Hope it won’t be to long
’till I can get home & do his working. Until
then we can take it cause that’s the way
we’re built – rugged!

Goodnight Darling! God Bless You!

I Love You!
Love & Kisses
Johnnie 


Minton is transferred to O’Reilley Gen in
Missouri!