 | England 21 Jan 45 Sunday My Darling Sweetheart Hardly know how to start this letter tonight – I’ve only received 12 letters from you today – some from as far back as October – and a 3 that were wrote in January! I Love You My Darling Wife! Honey first of all I want to tell you I’ve never held anything back from you! If anything I’ve told probably more than I should – but Honey believe me there’s nothing withheld from you! It’s probably that you haven’t received all my mail as yet! I Love You Hon & believe me there are no secrets! Sure hope you’re feeling |
 | O.K. Honey! Get quite a kick out of the way you’ve described the baby’s kicking – just like it’s old man!! I Love You Momma! Yes Honey every time I think of our arguments and petty things that didn’t amount to anything I always think to myself It won’t happen again – and Honey I really believe they will be fewer – cause I don’t believe I’ll be quite as pig-headed as before – battle really did things for me – but it will remain to be seen – I’m hoping! Our kid(s) are going to have a good home life that just won’t be marred by bickering - I Love You Hon! Enclosed is a picture taken |
| | Xmas day – look pretty spry for having been out only a couple of times – eh? I Love You! Darling please do take care of yourself – cause you’re old man is going to get back whether it’s one of month or one year – God Bless You Darling! I Love You Honey! Love & Kisses (Lots of them too!) Johnnie Give my best regards to all! Love |
January 21, 1945
January 19, 1945 *Partial*
 | I Love You Hon! My Darling Wife: |
 | Have had my teeth over-hauled - just had one to be filled & a good cleaning for the rest - they look almost white now anyhow! Hope you're feeling well Honey -- wish I could be with you before the baby's born --- but don't suppose I will. I'm with you in spirit all the time however - and am Praying hard that all will be al-right! I Love you Hon! Was thinking a lot about our stay in Pa. lately - How wonderful it will be when we're together again! Hope they can get Veal Cutlets back home!! Remember how I used to thrive on them -- and olives! But most of all being with you is what |
 | counted! We've had a lot of fun and we have an interesting life to look forward to - our responsibilities are mounting with each step - our problems will be rougher and tougher each year - but I'm sure of our ability to meet them - because I'm sure of our Love! The Last four months have been perplexing to me - battle was another world - and the will to fight when death lurked at every corner - we just kept going kept Praying & hoping - times it seemed only a Miracle would bring us out alive -- Still everyone laughs and Jokes as though we were maneuvering -- It's hard to figure out - when you're brought back wounded it suddenly strikes you just what you've been through - and |
[Additional pages missing]
Transcribed by Ken Brey
January 17, 1945
 | England Wednesday 17 Jan 45 My Darling Wife: Believe it or now but a couple of my Xmas packages arrived – and the most important one, yours, was one-- Honey the ring fits perfect – It’s beautiful – I Love it! The stuff was pretty well beat up – as I expected – but still wonderful! Hve been feasting on candy bars all day - will look like a Hershey pretty quick! Also had a box from Bill & Edna - It was filled with eats! Christmas was late but enjoyable! The cigarette lighter was really a God-send ‘cause matches are almost nil here! I Love You My Darling! Have had oodles of mail – so much that |
 | I can’t do justice to it – even Uncle Bill wrote – and I received an awfully nice letter from Father Hughes! Must try and answer so many as I possibly can – but I’ve been having a hard time staying awake long enough to write! Getin Lazy – hey? I Love You! The war news has certainly been encouraging – we just heard that Warsaw was liberated – those Russians will wind Hitler’s tail around a few notches! Can remember when we’d get Prisoners how happy they were to be captured by Americans than Russians - They’re really afraid of those Russians and a good reason why they should be! Maybe this thing will end one of these days after all – I hope and Pray! I Love You! |
 | There isn’t any more news on getting back – Am just waiting & praying!! Gee Honey I hope everything goes O.K.!! I Love You Hon! Won’t be long – hey Mom!! I’m getting more concerned every day – and am looking forward to it eagerly! Not that I didn’t before – but it’s more so now! I Love You Honey! Goodnight Darling! Thanks a Million for the ring and stuff – I Love You So Much Hon! God Bless You! Love & Kisses & Hugs Your Ole Man Johnnie |
Transcribed by Ken Brey
January 13, 1945
 | England 13 Jan 45 My Dearest Honey! Received another flood of mail today – 5 from you, 3 fro home & one from Edna & Bill! Am sorry to hear that my mail isn’t coming thru to you – I hope by this time you’ve received all that I’ve wrote – since being hospitalized I haven’t been writing as much as before – but at least 4 letters (or notes) have left here every week – felt kind of bad that you’d even think I’d write everyone else & forget you - because whenever I do writ it’s a letter to you first & then if there’s time I write the rest! Can’t write |
 | a suitable explanation why I’ve let up a little – but there’s definitely a reason – will tell you when I see you!! There’s one think I’m sorry I did – and that was giving you the impression that I’d return to the front shortly – I knew better – but didn’t want you worrying about me! I Love You Peg Honey! It all hasn’t been to Rosey Hoey – My knee is feeling much better – but is stiff & sore – and more than likely be a constant reminder for a few years to come – hope not – but joints are pretty delicate (and not beer joints)! And the other stuff is what we’ll discuss rather privately!! I Love You Darling! Am glad you were up home for Xmas – I was certainly hoping you |
 | would! Wish I was with you! I Love You Darling! Honey each day is bringing us closer & closer to our first child – am quite worried and would like to be at least in the States when it comes - Mu hopes are high – Honey to tell you not to be afraid would be like telling a guy to stand up under fire – but be brave Honey & I’m sure all will come out well! My Prayers & thoughts are with you every minute! I Love You Honey! Had letters from Ma, Sam and Ann—all served well at home – Sam sounds as though he’s growing up – and Ann just as devilish as ever! Mom sounded quite concerned about all -- each letter mentioned you – I’m convinced |
| | that they’ve finally realized that I have the finist & most wonderful wife in the world!! I Love You! Bill and Edna have been having luck with Bingo – he naturally listed everything he’s won in the last month! Well Darling five my best regards to all! Am going to Holy Communion tomorrow! God Bless You! I Love You Darling! Love & Kisses Johnnie |
Transcribed by Ken Brey
January 12, 1945
 | Still In England – Friday 12 January 45 My Darling Wife: Received my first letter direct to here – I sure seemed wonderful—I Love You So Darn much Honey! I’ll start writing every day from now on—guess you know why I’ve been just jotting a line here & there – each day I’ve been looking forward to a trip – but the time is passing quickly & I’m still here – It isn’t hard to get over here – but getting back is a problem! Keep Praying hard Honey and all will come out in our favor! I Love you Darling!! Was really sorry to hear |
| | that Ruth Olson had Scarlet-Fever - It must have been pretty rough on Her – wish I could have let you know sooner about Ole – but just couldn’t! I Love you Darling! Well Darling will close & send a short note home—God Bless You! I Love you with all my Heart! Love & Kisses Johnnie P.S. The name of John Edward is swell - sure hope it’s a boy! Take care of yourself Peg Honey! Often think of that Joke about what they do with babies in Mexico when they are born! I Love You Johnnie |
Transcribed by Ken Brey
January 10, 1945
 | England Wed 10 Jan 45 My Darling Peggy: It’s a beautiful day in England - for a change – it has stopped snowing and the sun is out doing it’s job -- makes life look rosier for a change – I feel so darn lonely – wish I could snap our of it! I Love You so dard much Honey!! Hope everything is going O.K. for you – I’m sort of getting on edge myself – you’d swear I was the one that was going to have the baby! Hope I can get home before or right after it’s born! It’s really something to Pray for – I always hoped to be back by March – one never knows – I may! Don’t build the castle to high – but I’m |
 | suppose to go home – however there’s so many things that can upset it that I’ve been holding my breath for the last week! Better not mention this to anyone cause it’ll be like on of those expected furloughs for sure! I Love you Honey!! As usual there’s nothing doing around here – excepting the process of getting well – haven’t had any more mail – sure would like to get a sack full today – am hoping my Xmas packages catch up to me here one of these days – probably they’ll get here in time for next Xmas! I Love You Darling! Am feeling pretty good – and get around quite well – just finished taking a good bath – clean clothes – feel like |
| | a million bucks!! I Love You! I suppose by this time you’ve heard from Ruth – It’s really to bad- I’ve had that on my mind ever since it happened – and if I don’t start forgetting I’ll be going nuts-- Well Darling will close – Just can’t seem to settle down & write a decent letter lately – but then who wouldn’t be sweating? God Bless You Darling! I Love You with all My Hear! Love & Kisses Johnnie |
Transcribed by Ken Brey
January 4, 1945
 | I Love You Honey! England Thurs 4 Jan 45 My Darling Sweetheart! Happy Birthday Honey! Enclosed is the most suitable gift I could think of – buy yourself something – and be damned sure you spend it on yourself!! I Love you Darling. Isn’t much going on around here – It’s pretty cold out today – an odd snow flake her & there – but that’s England! Just recieved today’s mail - and had a Xmas card from Mary & that was all – guess I’ll have to sing the blues tonight – and hope again for tomorrow! Sure am looking forward to a direct letter from you - gee I miss you Honey! I Love you! |
| | Noticed that Mary’s letter was mailed here – so it probably won’t be long now!! I hope! Hope everyonoe at home is well-- and you, Mrs Brey, Please take care of yourself- and if you must bowl just wait till about June or July to do it - (the Old Man is talking)--- guess I’ll have to come home & take care of you – I wish--- Darling will close – must serve supper to the cripples – tah tah!! Good night Darling – God Bless You & Keep You Safe!! I Love You Hon! Love and Loads of it! Kisses Your Johnnie |
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