Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Clarence Chronicles THE CLARENCE CHRONICLES Vow - 01 f Letters to and from a traveling Texan. Edited by Tina Hanna, Kathy McNeill, and Kerry Culp I I ,ate ~i 5 r .eri 4 7 r+ '4 `'."u nI Y '~'8' q i 10.1 ,616 " C }r x' Fd ~rMr6'r j , )n +~l. s f,y..; 4Y.^3 rnt§ l ' ~h"x t y^'Y zi r , 4 eS i ek n Mk:n . G I ur` r 4} t y i 0~. > +s, >rs c i eta n i° w Jill o -twr P <r €3}$ 1~& t i~ x a r r3 ~ a a' - r n { T n X I r r-~ r E t ~ r i ~1~ R~ t` ~.I K _iOA ~ Tk~ny~~`§ r ~2 ..x A: ~ Rt ,f?€~~, ,15'~ y,.'~ ~5 ,sa x td Y ~ n a'Y t ~ Mkt 9 *,9'' ~ - .X r~ti1~ rrlx yY tk I. : r r A + ~y. r A e r``' 1x+ a i~t - t E a . s ~~gw` v,µr r ~ 5 ,ya r3 ".r ' '6•f : 5.a' n y, y~~z %fdi~s ,~4 sz~ ~rr~ M~ x~+ r S + rs ,rk n d,""°5++ ° '!ffi+{~dY Y- t yr*S,r 3 t A rN V t~ fs f*, z• ~~aY;~r~ 9 S y~ r ~ r 11~' a~~ Y+~' A + `fr ~ r 3~ rw 7t ~ st.y fi ryNS ~ ✓ ~V b'~ p r .a 9~` ~ 6 ~ t':a. _ ,~r T'_u~y,. ~K y E f ~x d w r t '~.lS 'M1x f t - ~r i$ r s r ~ t ~rv:..W. 77 i 777 4 Y "y 1 ~ vaaa ximmy, r ~r~'r~'d+riilsmRn~,c~p t~! y~ 3x"-l n+~r'rk+o rq ^s'ta7'fr, ~pniTy'tF~ .fin. T=z- y'~~fr'fY / x Y ~ s v"5'fas - r surf +y r, a 1 1 a _ 4 ng" it September 26, '42 College Station, Texas ' Dear Folks - I hope you got the card before this letter. Well when I left Kerrville it was raining cats and dogs and did to Austin. I'm so tired and muddled that I don't rightly know how or what to write. ' I found another boy who was hunting a room and we found one. Good room too, right at the north gate and as cheap as can be found. I don't know what to write especially. There is no hazing yet. Lord knows we've had enough without it. All we do is stand in line getting everything and about a half a ' dozen times I've stood in line for an hour or two in the broiling hot east Texas sun only to find that the idea was right but the place was wrong. About the color test. It's a good thing they were rushed because I just slipped by them. They pulled the elementary color test and on the last bit of yarn I called a white one pink remembering the very ' pale pinks that Doctor Woodall had. I changed my mind very suddenly when he brought it back for another look, so I was marked normal. One thing about this rooming out the first semester: I will be able to study without interruption. ' Please send my fountain pen and my physics book and experiments, etc. Also let me know about Charles Lee. I'm really going to have to work as the commandant says that only the top third in all around military achievement will receive contracts at the end of the year. The rest will be drafted. I'm so tired I can hardly see straight so I will go to bed and mail this in the morning. Love, Junior P.S. Am including expense account. File it for reference. It sure seems high to me - more to come. Sept 21 ' Personal Item Cost Bus Ticket 4.52 Breakfast - Kerrville .50 Dinner - Austin .45 t Board - 2 months 29.65 Matriculation 25.00 Medical 5.00 Student Activities Fee 12.40 Laundry 3.05 Campaign hat (required) 5.00 Deposit G.I. uniform 1.50 Room first night here 1.00 Hair oil comb and soup 1.76 Razor blades 1.00 1 90.33 Total left 309.40 Expense Account Sept 22nd Pencils .05 Collar ornaments 1.45 Uniform pants, etc. 8.80 Watch repairs 2.25 ' Room rent 1 month 10.00 22.55 ' 309.40 286.90 in bank 22.55 - 16.00 money order 286.85 292.90 on hand + .05 ' 286.90 ' 1 (NO DATE) , College Station, Texas Dear Folks - This is Sunday afternoon and I am feeling very low. To begin with the Aggies lost last night. Secondly, I have contracted a bad sore throat somewhere. I guess too much standing in line in the hot sun did it. Anyway I feel putrid. My head aches, my back aches, my throat hurts and still no letter. I know you are awful busy but a card would let me know the important things and for heaven's sake I don't want to have to buy a fountain pen. I've bought so much and there's still more to buy and to top it all off they are having a Coast Artillery dance and from this point of view it looks like I'm going to have to pay , $2.50, dance or no. I'm worried silly and am rather discouraged. I've just bought a bottle of Sal Hepatica and a box of cold tablets and am going to try to fight it out r on that line if it takes the rest of September. But, on the other hand, there went another unexpected .55 cents. Rats! I sure hate to think about classes beginning tomorrow. ' I Monday - Fever departed during night thanks to cold specials and Sal Hepatica that I bought and here it is Monday afternoon with mein the midst of about 10 books, etcetera. Said books at a cost of ,r about $20. You can bet your life that I bought what I could secondhand. Another day -no letter. I don't know whether to be worried or sympathetic or disgusted. Probably I should be sympathetic. Send this ' letter to Chas. Lee if he's gone (I don't know- remember?) I saw Alex Barton this afternoon. Chas Lee and possibly you, Mother will remember him as the little yellow haired boy in the scout *.r,"ap sc , :-r,, years ago. Pete, it's a good thing I learned to carry stuff 'cause by the time I get through with these 30 or forty pounds of books I will either be weak-backed or weak-minded - probably both. I just have (to mention a few) College Algebra, College Chemistry, College English, College Trigonometry hm-m-m now where'd that physics go. Guess they overlooked it. Guess they're saving it as a trump card for next year. If I don't flunk at least half you can pat me on the back. Pardon the paper. It's cheaper and it conveys ' the thoughts just as well. Just got back from supper and it was a nightmare. A frog is about 3 grades lower than a fish and brother that's pretty low. I thought you'd be interested in hazing. All the whipping part has been cut out ' but man the tongue lashings we get. Just to mention a few things; we must walk in the street, can eat no dessert (guess I'll get in condition for the track team next spring), must know all the men in our battery, their courses, and their home towns, but worst of all they're hitting us in the pocket book. Along with the 2.50 dance fee, I heard something tonight about a battery fee of $2.00; for what I don't know. There will ' be Silver Taps tonight at the ungodly hour of 12 for a Pat Patterson. I didn't know him. That is, I understand, a required attendance. Now to study. Well here it is Wednesday night and I still haven't heard from you. Darn! I have been so busy I , couldn't write on this diary letter yesterday. Although my schedule doesn't look so heavy it keeps me on the run. I have a little spare time tonight as my schedule is fairly light tomorrow. If you have the schedule I sent in the last letter you can look at it and tell just about what I am doing and when. I had drill yesterday - oh horrors. 4 or 5 hours of solid marching and harangueing. The algebra is apparently going to be as hard as the trigonometry is easy. I like all the profs except English. That lounge lizard weighs about 220, is slightly fat, about 62", with a long beefy shiny face and a voice with a psuedo Oxford accent which he draws out at the end of a sentence like that Tulsa news announcer. As I sit here I listen to the trains going by about a quarter of a mile off. The Sunshine Special several times a day amongst others; also many freight trains with mostly tanks cars. You have no idea probably of the size of this place. There are I believe the count is around 70 or 80 large concrete or brick buildings. It's about a mile across the campus and most of us do the rounds ' several times a day. Sbisa Hall and Annex are immense seating about 5000 at each one. In all of the new dormitories are about 1100 sailors and 200 marines who are taking technical courses. We have a football game here with the Red Raiders this weekend. Hope we win although my confidence is shaken. ' Saw Robert Kensing today, Tom Helfridge from Schreiner and Lampico, Mexico, and others. I know you all are working hard but I doubt if I ever worked much harder than 1 am right now. There's much walking and thinking, also lugging books for plain back work. Love, Junior. September 26, '42 College Station ' Dear Folks - Got up at 6:15 this morning and formed for mess at 7. Went to Gurion Hall for assembly at 8 - ' heard talk on college regulations and health rules ate dinner at 12:15 after nearly breaking myself on 2 1 11 shoes etc. The end isn't yet. It's worrying me sick. Went to assembly at Gurion Hall a y and got assignments to the Professors who will advise us. There are 30 of us under Professor Brewer. We meet ' with him again in the morning 15 after 10 1 didn't know - goodnight Thursday - Am tired but getting things straightened out. I'm happy because I won't spend much money today. Guess that will come tommorrow or Saturday when I start buying drawing equipment. This ' morning we met with our advisory Profs. and Prof. Brewer interviewed each of us for 5 minutes (30 in my group). We took geometry tests yesterday and I made a 63. It sure looked bad to me but he said it was good. I guess considering the fact that there was nothing to study from it was good. Had English and algebra this morning (Heaven forbid), but I'm afraid I didn't do too good on them either. Will let you know the score if possible good or bad. No hazing yet. Upper classmen aren't back and it looks overrun with boys now! We've had 2 free compulsory shows this week and lot's of roof raising singing. The leader of ' the singing cadets is Mr. Jenkins. He's a swell guy and a son of the Camp Meeting songleader. Lot's of fun and lot's of work and not enough sleep and out of step marching; fish! Will mail this when it accumulates enough. My box number is now 4508 College Station, Texas. Friday - Today we register. My old lady and I at 2pm. Be sure and send the fountain pen and ' pajamas - also physics material from Schreiner. Spent more money for patch sewing (R.O.T.C.) and fish stripes - also a band on my overseas cap. We have 3 sets of headgear. 1 garrison cap, one "Boy Scout' hat and one Dress cap (with bill). Still no letter. The number is listed above. Please write and let me know especially about Charles Lee. THUR 9 Math 102 Chemistry Math 102 Chemistry Math 102 Chemistry 101 101 101 10 Physi. Ed Chemistry Physi. Ed OPEN Military OPEN 102 101 102 Science 114 ' 11 Engineering Chemistry Engineering Mechanical Engineering OPEN Drwin 111 101 Drwin 111 En r. 101 Drwin 111 12 Engineering Chemistry Engineering OPEN Engineering OPEN Drwin 111 101 Drwin 111 Drwin 111 ' 2 English OPEN English OPEN English OPEN 103 103 103 3 OPEN Military OPEN OPEN OPEN OPEN ' Drill 4 Math Military Math Mechanical Math OPEN 103 Drill 103 Emir . 101 103 1 5 OPEN Military OPEN Mechanical OPEN OPEN Drill En r. 101 Saturday - Well I registered yesterday afternoon. It was kinda like a treasure hunt. We went to one place and they would tell us to go to another one and finally they got tired and shoved us through about 10 places as fast as they could push us. My schedule is above. It's a fish engineering program ' (straight and required). Looks like mostly chemistry to me with also a dash of everything else. Saw where Tivy won. Incidentally the library carries the Mountain Sun. Will mail this and continue in another letter Love, Junior. ' NO DATE College Station, Texas Dear Folks Have been expecting a line from you all week, but imagine you are so busy you can't think ' straight. Well, I'm heading out for home Friday evening at 3. 1 will try to hitchhike since I hear the hiking is still good considering the amount of cars on the highway. I will spend the night in Austin if I can catch out. If I can't catch a ride to Austin I will catch the 7:00 bus here and get into Kerrville about 5 PM Saturday. If possible to arrange it I wish you would arrange your shopping for Saturday. If the old gas man has got 3 you I will try to catch a hunter or somebody coming out that way. While I'm in town I will try to see the ' draft board to find out just how I am standing and may try to have pictures made. I am well and about as nervous as a cat on a tin roof waiting for Friday to come. Have given up , on Trigonometry because I just don't seem to understand it; however I am still working hard on it to help me when I have to take it over in the future. Made 80 on my second major quiz in Algebra. (I made 23 on the last one). Guess that's about all the needed information and I have a "B" quiz in Chemistry tomorrow. ' Love, Junior October 6, '42 College Station, Texas Dear folks - ' Well, I have about 30 minutes so I think I will begin a letter; probably can't finish it but anyway here goes. I will need a needle and some khaki thread which I think you have on hand and don't have much use for. , You mentioned rain - well College Station which is noted for its 2 week rainy spells hasn't had a rain since the rainy morning before I got here. My cold never completely developer! '1-., tf, quick. About the cake - you all keep it and eat it - lord knows with sugar rationing and money taking you get ' little enough. Anyway this "frog" has gotten an easy "touch" and sits at a "day-dodge" table with a nice senior who works in the Commandant's Office and I get my full share of "cush". The service is lousy due to the fact that the kitchen is so far away and the pans for food so small but by sitting at a table long enough a person can get all the food he wants. ' My roommate is about 5'9:, #164 and has a blocky, chiseled, fari face under a shock of curly, sandy hair. His name is Wallace Smith and he doesn't drink or smoke, is fatherless, the youngest in a family of several and liks to play the radio while he studies. He is athletic, being first string end on the ' State champion Arkansas team last year. Aside from that he is a nice guy except for the fact that being the youngest in the family he never got in the habit of making up the bed. Look, Don; if you want to and haven't already done it, take the football to school with you and play with it as it is yours now. I imagine you will be too tired though. ' Mother, I'm going to stick with this algebra. Many of the boys in my section are talking about dropping it and taking 101. But I figure that there is a chance that with hard work I wll pass it. If I fail it I can take it next semester. The tests every two weeks are sure going to hurt until I get it all straight in my ' mind. Dear Folks, Well today (Saturday) was football day and we played Texas Tech. We had to stand all through the game in Aggie tradition and then when it was all over we took the yell leaders and tossed them in the fountain in front of Sbisa hall (ye olde eating place). One of the yell leaders said that even if he didn't have B.O. he was certainly glad to take the bath and hoped that he took 8 more this season. Well the last two weeks we've been yelling "Beat the hell out of L.S.U." and "Beat the hell out of Texas Tech" but now when we started yelling "Beat the hell out of Corpus Naval training base" we begin to get a knife in the back from the 1000 sailors here who are too darn loyal to the Navy. Well I've got to study. Oh yes! One , more thing. We got to eat "cush" (dessert - chocolate cake) tonight because we won. Well here it is Sunday afternoon and it's raining fitfully which means that when the stores open in the morning I will have to buy a trench coat. I went to church this morning and also attended Sunday , School. If it's not raining too hard I will go to young people's meeting tonight, providing I can make heads or tails of this algebra and trigonometry. Here it is 2 weeks to the day since I left and still no letter. Just a reminder that the box number is 4508. Now I must study as I wasted about 2 hrs this afternoon going to the free Sunday afternoon picture show. ' Well here it is Friday afternoon and I feel up and down. To begin with I hit that Algebra test and flunked it flatly to state it plainly. I think I got 2 for 5. But anyway I am making headway and I am confident that I can get it if they don't kick me out of the class before I have time to review the '/z years ' work already behind the "fish" (six (or 5) month men). I figure I have improved from an I.Q. of nothing to about 40 already. Now for the good part. In our last English class we handed in letters of application for jobs. I knew that 1 still remembered my English pretty good and had been reading but I wqas surprised at what happened. He read nearly all of my letter to the class and gave me a B+ because it had errors of course but the only other man close had a B- and the rest had C's and D's. An A=94-100; B=86-94' 4 ' C=78-86; D=70-78; F= below 70. That gave my spirits an awful boost and I Y splurged myself to a malted milk. ' Well yesterday afternoon we recessed and listened to guys talk about the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps Reserve. I am going to sign up for the present in the only thing I can, which is the U.S. Army Reserve with a choice of Navy V7 at the end of soph year and then V5 later (Navy Flying). Of course, I can't pass it but it's what I can get into while in school. Although they aren't planning it at present, if I join that, they can muster me in any time they want (the Navy). However, the army can't touch me if the Army Reserves here are called in because I will have shown a preference for the Navy. I hope you understand the above. I will be sworn in. You see, at present I am not in anything and no frogs are yet. It would be the best idea for you to get the birth certificate straightened out as I will need it shortly - (y M). I will go in as a "Special Service V-7 (AV-S) Reserve request" in the army Reserve Corps which means that upon graduation or before I will be sent into training as an Aviation Ordinanceman (Navy) which being a Special Service allows for color-blindness. I can't express it just right but I will explain it at Christmas. Must be another ball tonight - lots of frills around. Haven't even had hazing mentioned for quite a while. i ' Well forget about all the letters you have been receiving. I have finally uncovered the faulty link in the communications system. It seems that when my roommate rented the box he inadvertently failed to give them my name. Well anyway I collected 2 letters from you and two from Grandma LeinwQber as well as the package and a card from the Presbyterian preacher here. It may interest you to know that for the ' past 2 Sundays I have made a habit of going to Sunday School and church in the morning and a free picture show in the afternoon and then church and young people's meeting at night with study in between. Now I will take your letters and analyze the points you seem anxious about. As far as the picture shows go, I am too busy to see any except the free Sunday show and I really haven't time to see it. I didn't find out from your letter if Chas Lee is an electrician or a mechanic - I guess he is an electrician. I am sorry to hear that you both are not feeling well. Wish things had been different so I could have helped ' out there was just no future for me there. Let me tell you though - there have been times here when I would wake up in the middle of the night with the darned cramps in both legs. You know how you hate to pound the pavement, Pete. Well, that is all we do here. Well tommorrow, I have a chemistry test coming up with 4 hours in the morning of chemistry and 4 hours of drill in the afternoon. March and counter march. About the money. It would be fine to put it on the goats or in the furniture to replace some of Grandma Harper's. I have all that I will need until about the middle part of next term in the bank now. I need my other pajamas, 1 wash rag, 1 towel and later on a quilt if you can spare one. I will buy sheets and I need a wrap. Guess I will buy a sweater. October 19, '42 ' Dear Folks. Well here it is Wednesday night. We played a football game this afternoon. That is B coast Artillery freshmen and C cavalry freshmen. Being a frog I was not able to play long but while I was in I faked to one side of the opposing guard and caused him to trip near well causing an illegal block. That cost the other team 15 yards. We won on penetrations. The Aggies play T.C.U. here this Saturday and bid fair to get licked. I made 35 on that Algebra test. I'm not ashamed of it, although it was quite the lowest I ever made on a test, because it was the best I could do at the time. I am still improving steadily. Kinda looking for a letter from you telling me Charles Lee's address if you have it. Now I must study for my work tommorrow. Well here it is Friday afternoon and this place is busy as a hornet's nest. With the big T.C.U. game here tomorrow plus a Field Artillery Corps dance, it will be one of the high spots of what is known as the social season here. I've been hoping for more word from Chas Lee but haven't gotten it. It looks like I'm majoring in "Bull-text", now because if I fail it into the army I go. That is Aggie slanguage for Military Science and Tactics lecture. ' Watched the football team practice this afternoon. They are a swell bunch and were in wonderful spirits. Bill Henderson was acting Ike a fool all over the field, guess that's why they call him "Jitterbug". Leo Daniels like to have run over me as I lay on the sidelines. He is a handsome likeable kid and is straight as an arrow and looks like a high school player. 5 Lots of "skoits" here now. They moved a whole bunch of Engineers out of a big hall to quarter them in. One poor Engineer was cussing the world in general and the Commandant's office in particular because he got moved out of his dorm and he couldn't put up his "woman" there for the weekend. ' Saturday morning - I got the package and the pajamas are sure nice. However there is a certain element about it that worries me. For one thing, I haven't gotten a letter in several days and you addressed the package apparently, Pete. From all these things and since that is rather unusual I can only guess that you are sick, Mother. I hope not, but if so, let me know. ' I was very dissapointed to see that Tivy lost the game by such a humiliating score. I hope the Aggies don't do the same this afternoon. Just a word about the spirit of the 12th man. The password for a week before each game is "Beat ' the HELL out of At meals some of the frogs are made to stand up in their chairs and holler, "I got the spirit," at the top of their voices. If the public address system in the mess hall announces, "There will be yell practice tonight", every frog and fish in the outfit jumps up like he had sat down on a bed of coals, and, throwing his hands in the air, yells at the top of his voice, for about a minute. We also have what is , known as air raids. While the upper-classmen twang knifes on the tablesides to simulate machine guns, the first year men do everything under the sun to make fools of themselves. For instance one !might run around the tables with arms outstretched, banking and turning like an airplane in flight. Another might stand up in his chair with two milk glasses to his eyes and simulate an air raid spotter with field glasses. , All the time an unearthly din is going on. It may be crude and prehistoric but it's The _S irit of Agg,ieland and it is respected all over the United States. Guess I will belay now until after th6 vaow, Well here it is after the game and it was heartbreaking. The boys played their hearts out and for ' the first time this season the tackle play was good. At the half it was 2 to 0 in favor of the Aggies. At the end of the game it was 7 to 2 in favor of T.C.U. See if you can picture it as I write. It is near the end of the game with less than a minute to go. ' The Aggies to a man are praying for that break that might change the outcome. With bated breath they see T.C.U. freeze the ball and the clock hits the dread zero point. The gun fires! A few freshmen rush onto the field to carry a player or two off. A cheer leader yells, "Get the hell back in the stands." A solemn moment and then the Aggie war hymn, loud, ringing, and challenging even though in defeat. Next ' the Spirit of Aggieland; solemn, beautiful, and sad. Now, chiming and wavering, the band plays Taps. The Head Cheer Leader is crying;, T.S.C.W. is crying and all Aggieland is sad. A hush over all the stands friend and foe and then a concerted yell as ends one of the rarest and beautiful of all ceremonies. Love, Junior. October 17, '42 College Station, Texas Dear Folks, Well here I am back again and in high good spirits. Why? Well, after working a total of ten or ' more hours on algebra alone over the weekend I finally hit the jackpot, last night at about 10. From then on til eleven I worked problems as fast as I hit them. I was so happy I could have yelled. I learn some from the teacher but he goes so fast that I forget it. Anyway it takes lots of practice at juggling figures to , master the fundamentals and every time I find and master one, I feel like the first guy who discovered fire. dabble with it and sometimes I use it wrong and get my fingers burnt, but, in the end, it is generally beneficial. I made the usual Church programs yesterday. All I have missed so far is one night (the Sunday ' after I got here) when I had a cold and fever. About these letters - I put in all the essentials and then jot down the little things that I think might interest you about the life here. I imagine working hard and with us stretched out over Texas you get a tremendous lift out of the letters home. I know I do from yours, and you don't know how I watch that box ' and how disappointed I am when there is no letter and I am expecting one. Please send all or part of Charles Lee's letters and his address. Seems queer but it was just a month ago tommorrow that I left. This, I figure, approximately 2 ' more months before I will be back. I have the papers here for enlisting in the Reserve Coprs. I think I will send them home and let you sign them and send them back. Then I will hold them until I get my draft classiication. ' I have a football game this afternoon and a heavy test tomorrow so I may not write more on this till tomorrow. Well I have time to write a line or two. I took a beating at guard this afternoon and my team got whipped by a score of 13 to 0. 1 forgot to mention the rain, which fell yesterday morning and caught me in ' 6 ' church without a trench coat. I made the run of about half a mile from Guron Hall to the room in about 3 minutes. Now to Chemistry. Well I have is now Tuesday night after my worst schedule day of the week. Chemistry all morning and drill all afternoon and we never got to sit down for even 5 minutes for about 3 hours this afternoon. Incidentally my first pair of shoes have one sole worn through. That's a little less than a month. It is phenomenal what the land and walks here do to shoes. Here are my chemistry averages on 2 tests each so far. Laboratory - 90; Theory - 82. 1 have a test in Trig tommorrow and it is giving me a headache. My first test grade was 80, the next 60. That leaves 70 which is dangerous. That leaves 70 which is dangerous. I am having trouble with it. Wednesday morning - am going to Engineering Drawing in a few minutes. I like it best of all my courses, I guess. For the last 2 class days, my instructor has complimented me on the neatness and beauty of my drawings. I don't know what it means but I hope it means an A. I'm going to need one bad enough. Well here it is Wednesday night and I am sure happy. I think I made a 100 on a Trig test that I thought I was going to flunk miserably. It was just a very complex idea with a lot of factoring involved. At ' the last minute I solved it and then the problems went like clockwork. In most of our classes we have tests every 2 weeks which count as one half of our grade. Then we have Letter quizzes with about 4 a semester. I have had my "A" quiz in English. No grade vPt ! hope it is good but I am afraid. It was an essay and although by reading, I have developed my supply of interesting plots, he might not like the one I picked. We had another football game this afternoon and even the fish are complimenting me on my rushing. We lost, darn it. I got there late and only played about 4 minutes. At the time I went in they were on our goal line but we held and the game ended with us blocking a kick on their goal line. We should have had a touchdown, but the ref was a "paddlefoot" and therefore had more feet than brains. You don't know how I enjoyed your letter. I am writing Charles Lee tonight. Answer follows to some of your notes. I got the package; notice my last letter. Still more about the letter, Mother. It is so long and looks like it tells about everything I would possibly want to know. Pete, I am certainly giving you the horse laugh about those lamb weights. You stood me up a month and a half ago that the tops would bring $5.00 and I do mean $5.00 at the price then of .11 cents that means 45 lbs. It's a good thing you got rid of them.lf they've only gained %2 lb in a month and half they are wasting range. The Aggie freshmen beat Cam Hood 73 to 0 here this afternoon. Got a haircut this afternoon. My old lady said I had my "ears lifted" I October 30, '42 College Station, Texas Dear Folks, I will dash as much of this letter as possible off. I have a very important Chemistry test in the morning and I'm not fully prepared but I have to give my mind a little rest. I will study again in the morning. Mother, I got your telegram at about 6 that afternoon. I promptly went to "Commandant's Office" to get an authorized pass, without which I would have made a zero (which would not be changed) on every class I cut. Nobody was there and I couldn't find anybody. Then I found that I couldn't make bus and train connections. Also, my clothes were either soiled or at the laundry so I just gave up I called you Tuesday night but couldn't get Hatches because their phone number was out of order (so said). Then I called at noon. I nearly was tardy at English, and I broke my watch band buckle trying to get it off in a ' hurry. Rats. You don't even have time to think over here. About that English. All of my reading etc. is coming in handy now as I have topped the class on everything we've had so far except the very first day. I am afraid you are going to be disappointed in my grades as a whole when they come out. I may be 1 failing in one or two the first time. I'm making no excuses. It is absolutely the very best I can do. Some will be low because of a bad start (Algebra). Some I am having trouble with now (Trig - Chemistry). I burnt a small hole in one of my $4.25 pants with acid. I felt like cussing chemistry and the world in general out. There's so darn little time for experiments and too much memorizing in the junk. My phone number is 4-4819 in case of emergency. Call preferably at night because I am nearl always close to the phone studying after mess which is over at 7:30. I'm glad Charles Lee likes the Army. Looks like now that I will get deferred for a while. If I am deferred it will be for 9 months at a time. Golly, I would have liked to have come to see you but I guess it was best for my studies and my pocketbook that I didn't. Looks like we might get 4 days off at Thanksgiving (maybe). If we do I will 7 overlook ' Texas U. and throw a thumb towards home. To bed I must go. Thursday noon and time for a few lines. I am feeling very despondent. I am definitely flunking ' Mechanical Engineering. On top of that I am still on the flunking end of Algebra seeing as how I've had only one test in it and Trig has gone into flunking territory. However I have caught up on algebra and both Trig and M-E are hitting easier territory. I took a Chemistry test (A quiz) this morning. We were handed a paper with 1 quiz on front and one on back. I was supposed to take the even numbered one but I had ' worked most of both before I found it out. I could have cussed. I made less than 90 and probably above 80 on it (I hope). I am enclosing pictures of Baylor U. Stars who are well known to me: Bill Coleman, of course, and "Tuffy" McCormick who was a very good friend of mine at Schreiner this summer. I have a little while off before dinner and must study now - seems like that's all I do. The courses of A and M are about 21 hours a week while at most other colleges they are from 15 to eighteen (all figures not counting Labs of which there are about 6 hours a week). Will finish this later. ' It is now 15 to 12 at night., I've studied hour after hour on Algebra tonight. Couldn't get 2 problems. Will get the teacher to explain them tomorrow. Have already started bringing up M.E. grade. Hit easier going this afternoon. , An airplane made a crash landing beside Kyle field last Saturday night. Washed out his landing gear (QT15 I think.) I notice where one hit a hill at Ingram. Too bad. The young people of the Presbyterian Church had a square dance tonight ! plan-+-l t-* hit a snag when I tried to work my problems this afternoon, so stayed and worked on them. I've never worked so hard and with such driving will power on lessons as I have here. I had an easy time at Schriener with small classes and one hard subject, with the rest of the day for studying. Here all my classes are hard and I have to throw myself in every available hour when my brain will work. When it won't work anymore I take off for relaxation, exercise or letter writing. Letter writing is an essential because I know how you enjoy receiving these 6 page diaries. Must go to bed. It's 12 and I have a hard day tommorrow. Love, Junior. ' 10/24/42 - $211.01 Personal Item Cost Shoes 4.05 Sheets 2.00 Bus Fare to Bryan .10 Trench Coat 6.50 Sweat Shirt 1.25 13.90 211.01 ' 13.90 197.11 , November 2, '42 College Station, Texas , Dear Folks - Guess I better write this to keep up with the times. It rained like h--- here this morning. We made , mess formation in a pouring rain. The captain ordered us to "double time" it, but as he remarked later we got just as wet as if we had walked. The raincoats helped some but shoes and pants legs and campaign hats were soaked. Parts of the streets were running ankle depp in water. The "paddlefeet" were certainly blue seeing as how their corps dance is tonight.Queer though, it is now clear as a crystal and the ground is nearly dry. That's nice because the girls would have ruined their evening dresses and believe me they show up in fancy rigs here. You probably noticed the wettened appearance of my last letter. I mailed it in the rain this morning. I made a 100 on my A quiz in "bull. Tex". The frogs have been yelling "soo-e-a-e-e- Pig! Pig! Pig!" in the mess hall lately because of the Arkansas game tommorrow. I like that fine - it gives me a chance to let off steam. Mrs. Lloyd's daughter (20 year old Zelia Belle Howell who has been here since I got here) leaves tommorrow to join her 1st looie huxband in Louseana where he has been on manuevers. I will work 8 ' tommorrow morning and possibly Sunday if my lessons are easy. I need a Lo ' Y Y g Decitrex slapstick (Slide Rule) and the darn things cost $11.50 so I am working towards paying one off. ' Well it is now Saturday night and I'm happy. Baylor won and A and M won. Bill Coleman and the fightin' Aggies. That was sure a pretty piece of football the Aggies played this afternoon. Maybe they will whip Texas yet. Man Tivy is sure getting whipped, isn't it? ' We ducked the yell leaders in the pool again. Then we had Victory yell practice. "Chuck" Chalmers got up and, among other things, said, "Lord, Army, I'm happy. I haven't had so much fun since my mammy and pappy got married." Our victory signs and so forth which go up immediately after one game exhort the Aggies to win in sometimes vague two sided meanings. I'll tell you about them someday ' - maybe. Suffice to say that they weren't meant for the several hundred girls who attend the corps dances before football games. A mild one up today goes like this: An Aggie footballer is riding a bucking mustang. The lyrics - "They may be Mustangs to U, But they are just jack ----s to the Aggies." That is for the SMU game next week of course. There is another one up which attracts special interest but which is most decidedly rough, in fact obscene. The other hundred or so vary. Haven't gotten a chance to write the Grandparents lately. Will write them the middle of next week ' after all my A quizes and even (already a B quiz in English) are over. Lord, but I love English. It kinda makes up for my shortcomings in the others. I keep studying like perdition though and everything is kinda ironing out. ' Man, there's a pretty red head parked in the next room for the weekend. She is up for the "paddlefoot" ball, etc. Friendly girl, but slightly taken aback by our Mess Hall. She talked to Wallace and I for about 10 minutes while waiting for her date. We really had the spirit before the game today and were just slightly more rambunctious than usual at mess. She said she didn't see how we ever heard anybody ' asking for anything to eat. Poor disillusioned girl in a wolfs den! We don't ask; we yell (i.e. Shoot the 'bull neck' please.) Also, (and an interesting highlight) the girls, especially T.S.C.W., when they have dates here at football games sit with the Aggies, generally. I said sit, I should have said stand, because they stand or don't see the game and they "hump it" with the Aggies on yells. This girl with her date however sat, as she termed it, over with "the white people". She was wondering if I was one of those crazy ones who were on the Aggie side. I said, "Yes." She said, "it looked to me like you were yelling continuously." How true, oh, how true! We formed a big T on the field and made several yells. You would have to see it to understand how impressive and how large a group of 3 to 4,000 is, especially in close file in mass motion. I included the part about the girl to show you how a first time female visitor takes it. Well I have now traversed through Sunday. Wallace came back from the Post Office and said I 1 had a package there. I suppose it is the quilt, although I haven't had time to get it. I worked 5 hrs today and 2 yesterday. We finished the job there so I guess that will be all I can pick up for a while. I am enclosing a picture of our Cadet Colonel and the sweetest lil "angel" this side of or in ' "heaven". She was here at the game the other day. Tommorrow I have my Algebra 'A' quiz. I know it now I think. I had better because I have only had the one test which of course leaves me with a 35 average. I'm so busy now that I haven't had a chance to write Grandma. Verify Chas. Lee's address. I ' don't know if it has been changed or not. Love, Junior November 7, `42 College Station, Texas Dear Folks, I will write just a few lines to let you know what is going on before I forget it. It is Monday night. I made 78 on my E.D. 'A' quiz which made me rather blue. Here is a tentative lineup - Algebra F about 60 average E.D. C 11 82 Trig F about 60 average English B or B+ " 90 to 94 average 1 ME F about 60 average Bull Text A 100 average Intramurals check Chemistry High C or low B around 80 to 85 9 Saw Billy Morriss this morning and the poor kid is sure blue. He looks like he's lost 20 pounds. , Says he flunked all his quizzes and is going home this week when his parents come over. I hope not, because I hate to see a boy have to go home; it hurts the family so and especially his because they are ' so well known. I saw Edna Real and Ruth Robinson from Kerrville at the paddlefoot ball. Mother I got the box this afternoon. It was wonderful - my favorite cake and the nice candy and the rabbit's foot and the cookies which I presume Don cooked. You ought to be spanked though for doing ' it after I told you not to. Only a person who knows what a sacrifice you are making with the money for the candy and the sugar for the cake can appreciate the real meaning of it. Don't worry but what we will do it justice. I have no keys for the rabbits foot and I am afraid I will lose it which would indeed be bad luck, so ' I guess I will keep it in cold storage for the present. Well it is now Tuesday night. My left leg has been hurting behind the knee and under the knee r cap today, why, I don't know. Drill didn't help it any. I got back my Chemistry'A' quiz. I only got 74. As I told you in my last letter, I filled out 2 tests ' when I should have only filled out one, but the worst blow of all was the fact that if they had graded the one which I was not supposed to take I would have made around 90. Most of the boys have had high r school Chemistry which makes it tough on me. Only 19 out of the thirty passed the test which means that , I am about the middle of the class. From my angle of view the horizon is very dark. Must study for a Trig test now. I am fighting with tooth and toenail to pull it up to passing. Well here it is Friday morning and I still haven't gotten this letter finished. I wds sure iuvv iui Lh" last 2 or 3 days. My spirits are up a little now though. I got a 23 (imagine) on my'A' quiz in Algebra. ' That was the sickest bunch I ever hope to see. 3 boys out of 30 passed. Many made 13s and Os. Guess I was about the middle of the class. I know I flunked Trig too, but by what score I do not know. The Algebra prof said we would be graded on our improvement more than on the quizzes. We better be, , because if we aren't, he won't pass but about 3 boys. I am bringing M.E. up by leaps and bounds and might pass it. I know these grades hurt you but not near as much as they do me. I have enough hours passing and enough credit points to be in good standing. College grading makes high school grades look sick. Many boys are flat flunking everything they are taking. I am still leading my English class by a large ' margin. I'm running short on stationery and have changed to English theme paper. This weekend was .supposed to have been our official corps trip but it was called off because of the 'no special trains' ruling. About 9/10 of the boys are taking off though. I would have sure loved to have gone but with my grades and lack of money I just overlooked it. Looks like I may have to ride the bus home Christmas. I paid my second maintenance fee the other day and had my shoes repaired. We had to turn in our G.I. khakis for woolens (i.e. blues lapeled blouse, pants, 2 O.P. shirts and a tie). It takes a 1.50 ' unreturnable deposit to get them. I may run short on khaki shirts without my G.I.'s. Don't know just what regulations are as yet. Mother, you sure stuck my neck out when you gave Mary Louise my address. I love to write to ' her and get her letters, but golly it's embarassing when I can't answer promptly. She wrote me immediately after you were down there and I immediately answered having a little spare time. 2 days go by - results - 1 long letter. I resign I'm swamped. Must get this letter to you or you will think I'm dead, and I must write the Grandparents and Mary Louise and Chas Lee and - my gosh, is that all? ' Mother, if you have a spare copy of Grandpa's epitaph that John wrote, would you please send it; also, if possible, the poem that Mrs. Kuhlman had. This is sure a big page and I'm having trouble filling it up. Oh yes - something I am getting used to - rain. It rained steady for about 2 days the first of the week. ' Had a theme for English today. He picked 2 off the top of the pile and read them. These didn't please him very well so he looked through them and picked mine out and read it (anonymously of course) and passed compliments on it. A bright star in a dull gray sky. ' Love, Junior 11/6/42 - $197.11 11/11/42 Personal Item Cost Personal Item Cost Maintenance 24.35 stamps .73 ' Shoe Repair 2.00 No. 1 Cap 3.50 G.I. Uniform deposit 1.50 Ornaments - Uniform .65 27.85 1 tie 1.00 1 khaki shirt 1.00 1 candy bar .05 Soap .15 ' 9.58 10 27.85 37.43 197.11 37.43 1 11 /11/42 Left 159.68 November 13, '42 ' College Station, Texas Dear Folks - Golly, I've been neglecting my writing. Let's see now - A house filled with rags and papers (storage) caught fire here last weekend and everybody who wasn't in Dallas turned out. The fire chief didn't do too good a job and the Aggies started heckling him. He gave the hose a backhanded flip and drownded out about a 100 of us including myself. I was at the back keeping out of the way but they went ' down and to one side so that the hose looked like a machine gun at work. We had a ceremony here this morning (Armistice). The Corps passed in review and at least 2 Aggies passed out. There are so many of us here that some can't stand the strain at times ,Fast torn much standing at attention. ' I'm really bringing up my M.E. grade, I've been making 90s and 95s. Maybe it will bring my grades up. I'm doing better in Trig but after that last Algebra I'm afraid to forecast how I'm doing in it. Mother, I know the principles but made little trifling mistakes and the whole problems are counted wrong. ' I got a letter from Chas. Lee yesterday and as you seem worried I will forward the letter. (Ed. note: Letter from Charles Lee - Stationery "Randolph Field - West Point of the Air" - 52"d School Squad - dated 11/9/42): Dear junior, I have realy been busy here. I have been C.O. for the tent city and had about 1300 men to look after and maybe you think that wasn't a job. I don't know so much to write except that I will I hope go to officers training in January. I can qualify I am sure but I may not take it. I like it here at the 52"d very much but I have to go on night duty tonight and I sure don't like that but you haven't much say. Well I hope you are making good in school because it will realy come in handy when you do go into the army. You don't realize how much education means until you realy need it. I have to quit now and get some sleep so until next time remember me as, Your Brother, Charles ' "Jitterbug" Henderson is getting married in a little while. Saw him today with his fiancde'. He's a crazy dope and is something of a hero in Aggieland. Am running cross country in intramurals. One mile and three fourths and that ain't hay. I have ' run it twice and must run it at least 3 more times before the meet. I am badly out of shape and don't guess I will win anything. Can't take too much time for athletics. You will get my grades next week probably - some may be better some may be worse. Don't guess I will get home until Christmas and probably have to ride the bus then with gas rationing. I don't know where you got the ideas about girls. This place is practically a desert as far as girls are concerned. I haven't hardly spoken to a girl since I've been here. I got a No. 1 cap, a new khaki shirt, altering on my Government Issue blouse. I was in number ' one uniform today for the first time. We will wear no more white shirts for the duration - Khaki shirts with our number ones. I guess I will have to buy another pair of wool pants. I don't know just exactly what to write on the rest of this page and I want to mail this in the morning. Oh yes. I got another English paper back but I didn't do so good on it. About 2 or 3 other boys did better than myself. I made a B (about 90). It was an essay describing a process and since the radio was playing I was unable to write good. Therefore I wrote on the process of "Studying while a Radio is ' Playing." The darned thing is playing now which probably accounts for the very bad enunciation of this letter. it I hope you all don't get the flu too bad. Don, it's up to you now that Chas Lee and I are gone. Do your best because Chas Lee and I are doing our best. (Drill field or class, it's all work). Just think, it's only a few days until hunting season opens. I guess the deer aren't any good , though. This country is rolling and practically brushless except for post oak forests. There are no deer here that I know of. Guess I'll have to close now and study because no night is relaxation night. Letters may be scarce while I am running in this intramural cross country. Love - Junior ' November 17, '42 College Station Dear Folks, It is Monday night here and I have just a few minutes to write in before mess. Have been running , in the cross country for my intramural hour (required) so haven't had much time. Don't have much time tonight. Grades are out and you may get mine before you get this. Here's my lineup. It is a little better than I thought it would be so seeing as how I have been bringing up my grades by leaps and bounds. English B+ (1 of 2 highest in class; highest average B+) , Bulltex (Military Science) A+ Engineering Drawing C Chemistry C ' Mechanical Engineering D Algebra F Trig F , There will be about 1/3 of us flunking out. I have enough credit points and passed hours though. The M.E. really surprised me as I was a hundred miles into failing territory for a while. However I have been making 100s and 95s lately with now and then a 70. My last grade was 95. In Algebra my last test grade was 94 (my first one passing, let's hope for more) and in Trig the last one was a 100. Let's hope ' for more of those too. They're shooting a picture called 'We've Never Been Licked" over here now. 1 million dollars, thank you. Really super colossal. Expect me home Thanksgiving in spite of hell or high water. We get off Wednesday at 5. Will ' hitch-hike. Too busy to write much as I must get off this credit in Intramurals or have it hanging around my neck next year. Sorry to hear about Tivy High. Mother, I told you you stuck my neck out by giving my address to Mary Louise. The enclosed letters (which I am forwarding to you just as I received them) will prove that you also cut it off. I will tell Mary Louise to tell them I have a wife and 2 kids and another on the way and anyway, I gotta gal in Kalamazoo. (song) (Sorry, no more space) ' Love Junior (Ed. Note: Enclosed Letters) , Dear Junior, How did you answer that question of "how you can help in the war when you fuiish school." I would have answered 'By being drafted or joining the army". ' How far is Denton from College Station? Well you know what gave me the impression that you have a girl friend that goes to T.S.C.W. If I am not mistaken, you called them "An el Yes, I read in the paper about you all winning 27-20. Excuse me when I said 'Bob Feller" but I meant `Bob Williams". My heavens how much do those books weigh. Right now I weigh 1191bs. I knew that "C" stood for College I was just going to see what you was going to say. Ha Ha , Evelyn & Charles Lee phoned me so they could come over but I wasn't at home. So they went to the zoo. You know to see the rest of their kinfolks. What do you do, look out of the telescope for girls. I wouldn't doubt it. Are you by any means 1V student in Prof. 's English class? What subjects do you like best? What did you make on that "particularly hard punctuation assignment"? (in English) What do you do roll up the cuffs on that "too long" G.I.'s? Or do you have them to drag in the mud? Which I ' guess you do. 12 ' Oh yes, speaking of fire, you dear old school `Tivy' caught fire. I'm sending you the article. There are two girls who are dying to write you, so I let them, and mind you I didn't tell them anything about ' emu. They just like the word A.&M. Love, Mary Louise P.S. Don't believe what May Beth says. Cause she just has to think of something to write. She's just telling you a lot of "bull". And you can believe your cousin, can't you? I hope. November 12,'42 San Antonio, Texas Dear Clarence, I guess it is very unusual for you to get letters from girls you have never seen. Mary Louise has asked me to ' write to you. I read the letters you have written to her they seemed very interesting. The way you write they must be hard on you. If I get anything mixed up you can blame it on my Social Studies teacher. She talks all the time. I will describe myself to you. I am 5 ft 1 '/2 in. tall, have brown eyes and black hair. If you care to carry on a correspondence with me I will send you a picture of myself. Mary Louise is one of my best girl friends. She is lots of fun. She said you were real good looking. Maybe I had better get to work. I will write more later. ' Well here it is home room and Mary Louise wants to mail this so I will finish. If you care to write to me you can address all my letters to May Beth Byrom, (street address crossed out) San Antonio Texas. ' Well - must close and see about some book that is overdue in the library. Write to me. Your Unknown Friend, May Beth Byrom Or. - I scratched out her address because I don't think she is a nice gir)l. M.L. Dear Clarence, ' I took your name and address so don't blame Mary Louise if you start receiving letters from all sources. Everybody looks through everybody's purse and know s what everybody has in their purse. Mary Louise wrote you and asked you if you knew Bob Feller. You most likely never heard of him because there is no such person. She got the names mixed and the one she was really talking about was Bob Williams who is on the football team. I have met him at the home of Charlene Bledsoe who he married a few weeks ago. I think he is awful cute. From my handwriting you may think Mary Louise drug me out of West Side but I don't think I'm that bad. Im 15 and I weigh 111 lbs have brown hair, brown eyes. You are going to get in this letter a note from a girl named May Beth Byrom. Im not trying to be catty ' or anything like that but she hangs around with soldiers and well she just isn't a nice girl in fact she is very cheap. I hate her and Mary Louise isn't nuts about her. Well I guess I had better close. If I were you I wouldn't write Mary Louise what I think of this letter for I will find out. Love, Barbara Layton ' P.S. I wrote on notebook paper because I can't write straight. Qunior - In my next letter write a note to May Beth and tell her you are sorry you can't write her because you write to so many that you can't find time but that you enjoyed her letter. Mary Louise) Texas A&M College ' November 19, 1942 Dear Katie-- Maybe I should say "Chatter" since all three sisters and the baby brother flashed a dumb look ' when I referred to you as Katherine. Golly, seems as though it was only yesterday that I was down there, time is flying so fast. Referring to time, I've been out of Schreiner 3 months and down here two months. An awful lot of things 1 have happened in that time which will go down in history. Well here's the old roommate angle again. My roommate, Wallace Smith, has two brothers in Houston and is coming down Thursday (Thanksgiving). I told him there was another at home like you, whose phone number and address I could furnish, but whose name I seem to have misplaced in the roll call. I am referring of course to the older sister who goes to Rice. If she's interested he's 5'10"--165-- sandy headed--handsome--and played end on the 2 year state championship Arkansas football team (Blytheville). You furnish her name and we'll make a poor Aggie happy Thanksgiving. In case you didn't know girls are rationed down here and we don't even have ration cards. If we did they'd have to add another letter to the alphabet to classify us. 13 We're getting off four days at Thanksgiving but will have to make it up on Saturday afternoons. ' We're on rush schedule here because there is a greater shortage of engineers than cannon fodder. Well Kathe the "dean's team' is out and I didn't make it. They're still sitting around drooling because they think I would have made a fine drawback. They're flunking out about 1/4 of the'frogs'. You ' have to pass 10 hours of work and make 10 credit points; otherwise you make the Dean's team or if you're too bad you get a one way ticket to the army. I'm passing 12 hours and making 15 credit points. I hope that your'gam' is getting better'cause one of these days I might come'birddogging' and you'd have to be able to navigate. I got a pen here I am saving for future reference. Some day I'll bring it to Houston and mayhaps leave it there. I always did hate to kiss a girl in the parlor anyway especially if she's just fainted and the excitement of a prolonged Aggie kiss might be too much. Kathe, they're shooting the motion picture 'We've Never Been Licked" up here now. It will cost a ' cool million or more even counting the fact that the services of the Aggies are free. We march and r counter march before the cameras in No. 1's and it is very tiring and amoozin' if confoozin'. Love, , Clarence (Flywheel) (Llewellyn) (Louella) (Frog) (Racehorse) etc. Texas A&M College ' November 23, 1942 Dearest Chatter, , was rather surprised to say the least to hear of your misfortune. You should have kicked me out that night because you were no doubt feeling very bad then. Well, we'll start out on some of the amusing things that happen here and see if we can't get a ' laugh, huh? Traditionally the language of the Aggies is rough and imagine the chagrin of all good Aggies when a troop of "jock-swobbers" (cavalry) marched into the mess hall, yelling "Beat the Heck out of ' Texas". Our language is much stronger but Universal Pictures were filming and making a sound track for the movie about Aggieland. Everybody haw-hawed. When I got back up here last Sunday I had letters from three girls. One cousin and two of her girlfriends. I wrote back and told my cousin that I was married and had two kids and another on the way , and I was about to be drafted and, besides, I hadda gal in Kalamazoo. Hope that stalls them off. We had a rip-roaring time down here this weekend. About a million girls and two big dances. The place looked like T. S. C. W. on an Aggie holiday. ' We had our cross country race today with about 200 boys running in the freshman race. They represented the other 2500 in the freshman class. I'm telling you, beautiful, by the time I got to the end of that two miles I was about pooped; I was seeing spots in front of my eyes; and I was seeing about 10 boys in front of me. I beat everybody in my battery, but the 'paddlefeet' and another battery of the Coast ' took the lion's share of the first 10. Incidentally, pounding the hard road in the above mentioned race has just about put me on the crippled list. Shin-splints, I beleive is the name. Your nurse will know what they are if I got the right , name. The legs are just sore. Think I'll run it a few more times; hear they have a pretty brunette there. In your spare hours you might try to snare one of those internes. It should be amusing diversion because women always can make such big fools outa men. Don't take me seriously now because you know hood and well I didn't mean for you to take me literally. ' You can imagine my surprise the other day when a boy in my section addressed me as 'flywheel'. I like to have fell off my drawing stool. Seems he'd met Nancy in Houston and they'd turned over the remains of my buried past. He tried to blackmail me to keep quiet and he tried to bribe the class to get , him to talk and since he couldn't make money he didn't'sing'. Nancy is always gumming up the wheels for me! I'm hoping this letter catches you out of the hospital. Hospitals are only for the sick, lame, and lazy and if you stay there too long you'll qualify for all. I hope my next visit won't end the same way ' because it would give a guy a terrific inferiority complex if the effects of his visit were so bad that the girl had to be rushed to the hospital immediately afterwards each time. Love, Flywheel ' P.S. Flywheel ran down today. 1 14 i November 23, '42 College Station, Texas Dear Folks - Well I've allowed myself about thirty minutes to write this short note to you. Pardon the paper, it's cheaper and I know you will enjoy it just as much if not more than as if it were on the finest parchment. Well, you all be expecting me sometime Thursday afternoon because I'm going to be a 2 per center and go through Austin like a dose of salts. The game would cost me $1.25 anyway and I'm coming home by air just once before gas rationing. I will leave out of hereafter my last class on Wednesday afternoon and with luck I'll hitch-hike over. Well, we ran cross country this afternoon and I came out about 10th. The race was awful being about 2 miles on pavement. I had to quit off practice about 4 days ago and it broke into my condition pretty badly. The race was run on hard surface road and the constant pounding hurt the bones in my shins. I heard many of the boys complaining about it. There were about 200 boys running representing about 2500 members of the freshman class. 10th (or thereabouts) isn't so bad, and I badly outdistanced the others in my battery. This will probably be the last letter I will have time to write before Thanksgiving, so you all be ready then because I'm going to spend a major part of my time talking a leg off. I must drop Charles Lee a note tonight - the poor kid - I just haven't had time to think much less write. We had school yesterdgv afternoon to compensate for the days we will miss Thanksgiving. I am skipping Young People's Meeting tonight to study and write. Seems as though I owe Grandma Leinweber a letter too. Well, be seeing you sometime next week and wish me luck because I'm going to need it "riding the air". Love, Junior. Texas A&M College November 30, 1942 Dearest Chatter, I'll spare a grabbed moment and write as long as I can tonight. To begin with I've had a hilarious time this weekend. Some of the more hilarious points will be herewith described. It seems that the tea-sipper bonfire burned down Tuesday night quite accidentally. ' They're still wondering how it happened. That is a secret known only to A. and M., however the uncensored fact is that a thermite time bomb encased in a rotten log 'accidentally' got placed on their little playhouse. The Coast Artillery seems to know more about it than anybody else. Perhaps a few of the events on my Thanksgiving trip would interest you. I left out of here ' Wednesday afternoon and got into Austin in time to help some of the boys clean up some tea-sippers who tore our sign down. It was over in about 20 seconds and the Army Officers took over. One teasipper made some afterwards regretted derogatory remarks about me in particular, poor boy! Slept that night in a tea sipper's bed. He was guarding buildings against Aggies. Headed home next morning and listened to the game over the radio and over the conversation of assorted relatives. I made that Aggie touchdown with Barney Welch but it wasn't the football I touched down because my chair slipped out from under me and the nether portion hit first. ' Went out next morning and killed a big 8 point buck. I get the buck aker every time I kill one (or shoot at one). I'm telling you beautiful, I was shaking like a nigger in a haunted house. There is only one thing that will make you tremble all over with lust or perhaps fear of bungling the job and that is hunting---- ------(deer, dear). ' It was Randolph Field on Saturday, to see my brother. That is undoubtably the prettiest army post on God's green earth. We went into San Antone to see the zoo and talk. Saw the reptile garden but they didn't as yet have Hitler in captivity. When I looked over the sunken gardens my mouth just watered ' for a girl, a moon, and a little cooperation. I spent the night in San Antone but somehow I wasn't in the mood to look up my cousin's girl friends. Came back over here today. Some other Aggies and myself took 6 1/2 hours getting from Austin to College Station. You know, I looked twice at one spot in your letter before I beleived it. That was the part about you walking around. Why, you had me beleiving that you were nearly dead. Get a little bailing wire and keep the thing patched up because I might be down in January. I don't know what they are going to do with us here and I might be in the army by then. Just got my second questionnaire and the boys here are in a habit of telling their friends goodbye when they get them. 15 The A. and M. boys collect quite a number of salutes from ignorant soldiers wherever they go. I was rather taken aback the other night when a sergeant saluted me. There was something mighty queer about it though; seemed like his thumb was resting on his nose when he gave the salute. ' You asked about Wallace who was supposed to look up your sister. He isn't in at the present time and I can only guess that he is painting Houston maroon, white and blue tonight. If he isn't with her tonight and hasn't been I'll let you know why next time. If your singing makes as much of a hit with the soldiers as it did with this Aggie it will get you quite , an ovation. I loved to hear you sing and could pick your voice out of any number at Kerrville. I told my parents that your voice had the tone of a silvery bell ringing and they said, "Oh, Oh, Look out". Well, it's getting up into the big sizeable hours of the night and I must get rid of this seedy after ' holiday look and go to bed. Yours, Leinweber P. S. I don't want to tell you the things I told my cousin's girl friend's. Where do you think Kalamazoo is anyway? December 3, '42 I College Station, Texas ' Dear Folks, Well it is now Wednesday night and I am feeling very low. There are many ontrlbuting fdcl:ors which I will bring out one by one. ' Monday, we were excused from classes to film mess hall shots for the movie. We had to sit around and simulate eating in take and retake for about 6 hours from 12 to 5. 1 missed 1 period of E.D., Trig, and English. , Yesterday the bulls pulled a 'B' quiz in Bull text which was scheduled for Friday. You could hear the "buzzard busters" "bitching" and bleeding from one end of the campus to the other. I don't know what made but it definitely wasn't 100. Today I had a quiz in Trig which I definitely flunked due partly to the fact that I was making ' movies Monday. However I got back 4 Chemistry quizzes and experiments with grades of 75, 85, 87 and 100. Yesterday we got 1903 Springfield rifles issued to us and are having a rush job of learning the ' manual of arms which you will know isn't easy, Pete. More d---ed movie. To top all that off we are going to have to work on movies the major part of next week (all day). The students are raising a heck of a howl because we are afraid it will cut into our Christmas holidays. Another thing is the fact that I am having to rack my brain for another theme heading on a subject ' that is very unappealing to me. Well so much for how I feel. Sunday I headed out from San Antone and got out of Austin at 11:30. 1 didn't get into College Station until 6 that afternoon. Got stuck every place I stopped; finally went through Brenham and Navasota on the way back. ' The night club fire in Boston was pretty bad wasn't it. Buck Jones, the movie star who was killed was father-in-law of Noah Berry Jr. who is playing 1 of the two male leads in the movie here. Noah is also the father of Buck Jones' only grandson. Along in the afternoon he received a telegram about it which he ' read and stuck in his pocket. Nobody knew the difference until he didn't show up for supper that night. He was at a telephone consoling his wife in Hollywood. They've got a big 3 hour yell practice tonight which I am skipping, more movie. We've got a Chem 'B' quiz coming up Saturday - more 'reds'. I don't know what in the world to write here to take ' up space. I guess I will just fill in with squibs from here and there. Paid last maintenance fee today. 26.90. Will get the Dean to write in a request for deferment tommorrow so I won't get drafted out till January if possible. Guess I'll wait until tommorrow to finish up this because a 3 cent stamp will carry 6 , pages of information and there just ain't no use in mailing an incomplete letter. Thursday morning - Have a little more time and will write another line or two. I looked over the pictures at the studio here. It will take $2.50 for the first 8X10 picture in a plain cardboard frame and $2.00 apiece thereafter. Seems unreasonable to me. Let me know as soon as possible what to do on ' this line. Grandma Leinweber gave me $20 before I left the ranch the other day. I will use it for Christmas and perhaps use 3 or 4 dollars as spending money as it was my Christmas money - I presume. The rest I will keep in cold storage. I bought the castor oil and have begun applications on the wart. ' Chas Lee's jacket sure comes in handy. Got back an M.E. quiz 'B' this morning -made 65. That is some improvement over the last one but still not near enough. Still another guy from my section is leaving for the Naval Air Corps. That makes nearly a third of the originals so far who have quit, been kicked out, or joined up. I'm holding my ' 16 breath hoping that I can make it through to January. Cliff Gandy is (from all reports) now at Foster Field in Victoria. ' We had more of the doggoned rifle drill last night and will catch another hour of it this afternoon at 6. I was bleeding to my M.E. instructor about the movies keeping us away from classes. He said ' that he thought we would like that but I told him that it got very disgusting when a test came around and we had been missing classes on the subject. Our Chemistry'B' quiz has been delayed for 2 weeks because of Thanksgiving and the movies. I wrote for about 2 hours on an English theme last night but couldn't collect my thoughts so finally got disgusted and quit. More radio playing and I just couldn't do any good while that was going on. I love to go to English classes though because they are so simple for me. I played a little football yesterday afternoon for the first relaxation I've had since I got back. Succeeded in getting my ring finger sprained which is all very cussable. Love, Junior ' Texas A&M College December 7, 1942 P.P.R.L.H. ' Dearest Chatter--- Well, many things have happened since the last of these 'letters to Chatter was mailed. I don't think I wrote anything about the happenings of Monday afternoon in my last letter. We were excused from classes and worked on mess hall scenes for the movies. We had a good dinner but as take after retake was made, it didn't set so well. Very soon we had nothing on the table to simulate eating with except empty dishes. When that happened, we started yelling 'shoot the air', etc. Can't seem to get together on this letter tonight so will wait until tommorrow to write. Well here it is Sunday night and I've gotten together on this letter and every part is aching. The reason for the aches is a tackle football game between the sophs, juniors, and seniors of our battery and our fist. I really got off light though since we sent a steady stream of men to the hospital; only got a twisted and skinned knee, a bad headache and a generally letdown feeling. It was knockdown and drag out but we didn't quite kick their teeth out although we did knock a big hole through one upper-classmans upper lip. He was hunting the freshman who did it to him. You can bet your life I made myself scarce because I played the guard opposite him and he might accidentally think I did it. The only bad fish injury was an arm knocked out of place for our captain. One boy came back from the hospital and said that he yelled so much that the poor nurse left for church immediately afterwards to pray for her soul. It's wet down here tonight apparently although I haven't stuck my head out to see since it started ' raining. Went to Presbyterian Young People's meeting tonight. Had a grand time argueing over the topic, "A Lasting Peace". Afterwards some of us messed up Leenie Anderson's and another girls hair to look like Veronica Lake. I talked to Mr. Anderson (our preacher) about a new house he had been working on. He exhibited blue black thumb nails. and I asked him if that was the kind of thing that would make a preacher cuss to which he replied that he wasn't going to commit himself. Haven't received any work as yet from Cliff. Pertaining to your mention of George's quandary: ' seems as though Uncle Sammy has or will decide it for him (no unneccesory civilian travel). Guess his girl in Louisiana will be let holding the bag or perhaps a soldier. Along that line of thought---We were told when we first got here that we had better forget about how we were going to miss our girls because by ' the end of our freshman year they would have forgotten about us; by the end of our soph year they would be engaged to another guy; by the end of our junior year they would be married and by the end of our senior year they would already have one kid. Sounds encouraging don't it. Mr. Jenkins you know was the song leader at the Cowboy Camp Meeting this summer. He's a grand singer but he had a young baritone named Billie------up here who stole the show. The kid was wonderful. Incidentally the younger Mr. Jenkins has done a wonderful job with the singing cadets. Pardon the writing on the back--I also am out of stationery. ' Love,Flywheel ' 17 December 8, '42 ' College Station, Texas Dear Folks - , It is now Monday night and I am feeling pooped and there ain't a bone in my body that ain't aching. The fish in my battery played the upperclassmen a tackle football game yesterday morning. It was without the benefits of any padding and was played on a hard drill field. We sent two boys to the ' hospital and scarcely any were free from bruises of varying degree. It was foolish but was sure fun and if it don't make men out of us nothing will. Our fish captain got an arm knocked out of place and one upper classman went to the hospital with a hole through his upper lip. For my part, I came out with a skinned ' and slightly twisted left knee and a headache. Sure enjoyed it because I don't get too much exercise. I went into the picture studio here again to see about pictures after I received your letter and they r can't make them until after the first of January because they are too rushed so I decided to wait until Christmas week since they will be cheaper in Kerrville or San Antone and get them done there. They , would be late anyway. We had classes this morning but staged a rehearsal review this afternoon. More flan - it wa,' Cold I as h--I and we stood and marched in close formation on an open drill field for 3 hours without benefit of , gloves or coats (excepting rain coats). It was only about thrice as bad as Armistice Day because we passed the reviewing stand twice and this time we carried rifles. Tonight all Coast Artillery batteries marched into Sbisa Hall yelling "Beat the hell outa Universal" meaning of course the piuiui a curnpdi.y wY making us march in such weather. About the cough which you all were worried about when I was home, ' it is gone now and as 1 said was due to running with open mouth in cold air. I got a 95 in my last algebra quiz and would have made a 100 if I had reduced 2 answers to the right fractions. I tested them and they couldn't be reduced by any number up through 12 so I figured they were reduced far enough but it turned out that some number like for instance 78 would divide both parts of the fraction. It's not that I don't understand the principle - it's just the little things. I've just about given up on Trig for the present semester and am concentrating on the others although I am studying as hard as possible on it. More boys are quitting every day, guess we won't have any boys pretty soon. ' Man, they fairly slammed the door in my face as far as enlisting before the draft is concerned. Looks like their action ought to convince you that you won't be drafted either, Pete. Don't seem to know much else that would be interesting but will fill in with squibs from here and ' there as I am going to mail this in the morning - don't seem liked have time to carry on a running diary nowadays. A senior at our table was sporting a huge $325 diamond in a gold gilt case tonight - guess some lucky girl will get it at Christmas, although he said he didn't have any immediate intentions of getting ' hitched. Reverend Anderson was sporting a couple of very blackened fingernails yesterday. Seems he was working on a new house his family had just moved into and the hammer had a bad habit of hitting in , the wrong place. I asked him if that wasn't the sort of thing that would make a preacher cuss to which he replied that he wasn't going to commit himself. Love, Junior 12/8/42 - $159.68 ' Personal Item Cost Room rent 10.00 Matriculation etc 26.90 , Trip Home 2.00 Fish slacks 10.90 Captain's watch fee 2.00 ' Waiter's Xmas .25 Stationery .35 School supplies 1.00 Tie 1.00 ' 54.40 159.68 , 54.40 12/8/42 105.28 18 Texas Aggies Coast Artillery ' December 14, 1942 RSVP B CAC Dearest Chatter-- Got your letter this afternoon and thought that I might as well get started on this letter because if I put it off once it kinda drags along. Well, Chatter, for the last week I have been taking turns walking like a duck and then walking like a duck with a sprained web. I've gotten over the sprain but we've been having so many reviews that it is impossible to heel the big skinless place on the knee. I'm wearing a patch identical to the one you were wearing when I was down there. I'm listening to the UCLA - USC game as I write and it is absolutely coming in one ear and out the other because there is simply nothing in between to absorb it. Incidentally, I don't imagine you 'bled' near as much about the loss by John Reagan as I did because even though I ' never rooted for John Reagan, I hate anything connected with Austin like a Pole hates a German. Well, it is now Saturday night and I have just gotten back from church, beleive it or not, and it is a Baptist Church at that. Just a revival and the landlady would give me no peace until I attended it. Maybe she thought that by instilling a little more religion in me she could bring her home back to normal Flashback on the summer----At Schreiner I was called 'Flywheel'; up here they call me 'Racehorse wonder why? Guess you are wondering about the movie. We're too tired to wonder after 3 afternoons and all day today standing for review. We'd fall out with rifles in the early afternoon and stand around while those ' Hollywood 'queers' prayed for sunshine' then comes 5 o'clock and we stagger back to await another sunless day. Finally we get sunshine and we take and retake because something happened to the camera or the scene was just so lousy that an excuse wasn't even needed. Once we had a scene just perfect and were congratulating each other when the Commandant announced, "That was good boys, just beautiful, and the only regret we have is that we didn't shoot the scenes." About the most enjoyable thing we get from the movie is the kiddings we give Martha O'Driscoll. She is a definitely beautiful blond but I never did go for blondes very much. It's a queer thing to here no music when you are standing 20 yds. from a band that is apparently playing, but that is just what has been happening because they recorded the music and had the band fake so we could here commands over the loudspeaker. Today the band came swinging down the street ' playing "Der Fuehrer's Face". We were razzing them and they were razzing the razzes and it was all pretty comical including the fact that the band members were wearing their respective caps backwards. They really looked very Nazi. "Heel Hitler". I don't know why it is that perfect strangers take such an instant dislike to me. I like to have ' gotten my nose knocked off today by an aquaintance of 2 minutes. The gym boxing room was the scene and I had just finished pounding a punching bag when this boy introduced himself to me. We were standing at the bag talking with another boy when he suddenly punched the bag; it socked me; and I ' nearly socked the floor. Seems he thought I was out of distance and had been testing the power of his right arm. He has a pretty good wing and I should know for I absorbed a good portion of it. Thinking about punching reminds me of Eisenberger and George and it makes me laugh out even to myself. You were an angel, I was a wolf, and George was the avenging kinfolk. Horrors! A melodrama! Odd funny signs---- Johnson City cafe--Don't gripe at our coffee; you may be old and weak yourself someday. Brenham--Drive slow and see our city; drive fast and see our jail. Midland--This is God's country; don't drive like hell. Guess I better draw this to a close because it is eleven o'clock and I need a bath. Entranced, "Frog" Leinweber P. S. Excuse the scratching please. There has been more than one person quit after the heiroglyphics experts gave up. In checking over this I found that I wrote on the wrong back pages first. Hope you muddle through. I gave up long ago. 19 (No date) ' Dear Folks - ' Well here it is Saturday and at this time next Saturday I ought to be home. Wish I could be there this weekend while Chas Lee is there and help clean up the place. I have definitely got the 'reds'. The doggoned movie people has had us out every afternoon since and including Wednesday afternoon. Today we worked all day on the thing. "T" yell and silver taps on Kyle Field. The silver taps will, I ' understand, end the movie. There will be a real silver taps tonight for a boy by the name of Dick Dowling who was hurt in a car wreck early this week and died last night. About the draft - seems I got caught with my pants down when they cut off all enlistment. My ' questionnaire is in and although it was bound to have been a little late, there has been no kickback. I am going to get my Dean to send in a request for temporary deferment to make sure that I can finish this semester. Looks like that is about all I can do now since I missed out but if I am good enough they will leave me here. If I'm not good enough, I don't want to stay here because it just wouldn't be cricket with ' the rest of the boys. I'll let you know more about this when I come home. About my classes - the 'pop' quiz in "Bull-tex" proved disastrous not only to me but to nearly evory other boy who took the quiz that day. I topped the boys of my battery in that section but nevertheless I ' only made 69 which drops my average to 841/2 which definitely makes me 'bleed'. Made 45 on first 1/2 of my E.D. quiz which will be 90 if I can do the same on the second half which was delayed by the movie. Will cut this short because I don't have too much time and will tell you all come next Suisday. Make preparations to go to town Saturday if possible and pick me up because the hitch hiking is probably ' very bad. Will write a card the middle of next week. Love, Junior December 28, '42 ' College Station Dear Folks, ' Just a line to tell you I got back okay. Left out San Tone at 11 oclock Sunday and got in here at 6:10 in the afternoon. I nearly froze though. Aunt Ede was sure sorry that she missed you all. Had a good time in San Antone visiting kinfolks. Kathleen and I left out a little while after you left ' and went downtown. Got a book of exploding matches and some of this stationery and a package of hot chewing gum. From there we went to Fern and David's where we ate supper. Pawned a stick of the chewing gum off on one of Mary Louise's cousins. The poor girl nearly burnt up and we all nearly ' laughed ourselves to death. Don't know too much to write and don't have too much time but another word about the draft. From the way it seems now all Engineering and Vet. Medicine students will be deferred until the end of the next semester anyway. That is strictly an unstable fact and just like as not orders will be changed overnight. I rode with an Army Colonel from San Marcos to Austin. He said that ' they meant for us to stay in school if they deferred us. I don't know but guess I will wait about 15 days and then talk to the Dean about the very latest developments. Hope you are all okay. I am not feeling too good and may be coming down with a cold. ' Love, Junior. (Ed note: The gag stationery was from " `The Phlopp House' overlooking the Beautiful Third Street El". Headers and footers read as follows): MANY ROOMS WITH INTIMATE ATMOSPHERE - OTHERS AIR-CONDITIONED ' FOUR MINUTES FROM BROADWAY - 40 YEARS BEHIND IT RATES: $3.00 A WEEK AND UP - BATH INCLUDED WHETHER YOU USE IT OR NOT 100 RMS. WITH PRIVATE BATH ' 200 RMS. WITH PRIVATE TOILET 300 RMS. WITH LARGE WINDOW YOUR COMFORT IS OUR BUSINESS AND BUSINESS IS LOUSY 20 December 28, 1942 ' The DEE-TEE SANITARIUM FOR A NIGHT'S STOP-OVER--OR A WEEK'S HANG-OVER "WE PUT THE SOT ON THE SPOT" 100 PROOF COFFEE ANIMATED MURALS Dearest "Chatter", ' Bet you can't guess what I did over the holidays. The place was pretty nice to me so I decided I would swipe some of their stationery. I'll send a chaser to this one tommorrow or the next day so just consider it all one letter. Since your letter is dated as of the 19th, I imagine this one deserves the trash can without reading- I am sorry Chatter but I do not know Mr. Wagner and Mr. Cain of the Coast. You must introduce me to them sometime. In answer to a query as to why I hate Austin---it's a long story and I'll tell you sometime. ' I left out of here Friday the 18th and spent the night in Austin. Went to bed in a hotel there at 11. Woke up at what I thought was daylight and dressed and went down town where I found out it was 1:30 in the night, which gave me the reds no end. Sure enjoyed the visit to Kerrville. There is no army camp near and the girls whistle at the boys there now. Had my picture taken and the proofs nearly wrecked my ' whole Christmas. The different initials on my letters are the B-CAC or B Battery, Coast Artillery Corps and PPRLH which means Please Postman, Rush Like H#$@%. Incidentally what is the name Dorothy McNeill doing on the back of your last letter. I have quite a bit of this stationery of different varieties, hot chewing gum, etc. Gave a girl a peice of the gum in San Antone last night and she nearly killed me. Hope this will alleviate the head of steam you have probably worked up. ' Hopefully, Racehorse COMFORTABLE CELLS SNAKE TRAPS AND FORMAL AND INFORMAL PINK ELEPHANT PITS STRAIGHT JACKETS IN EVERY ROOM RATES FOR THE ALL INTERNES WEEK, MONTH ARE REGISTERED ' YEAR OR LIFE BARTENDERS "WE BRING'EM BACK ALIVE ' --OR A REASONABLY EXACT FAC-SIMILE" 21 1 9 4 3 1 1 1 _ ~ 1 r ~ ~~s~ ' ~ .r ~,q u~,~~ ,i~ z ~ ~ ° ~ e ~ e ~ r 7~ y~~ ~r ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 1 ~ ~>T 'a i ~ i k vim' $ i / I January 2, '43 College Station, Texas Dear Folks - Well guess by the time I finish this and it reaches you, you will think I am dead. Truth is I have had a bad but very short lived case of flu. Had fever two nights so bad that I couldn't get my assignments. ' I am practically well now except for the hurt to my grades. There is also a lot of pink eye over here. Well looks like I will be home on the 23` because although I can finish this semester it doesn't look like I will be able to finish another. If the Navy quota is full then I will see just what the chances are of ' not getting drafted till June. Wallace is leaving out today to join the Naval Air Force. If he succeeds he will be on the same basis as Dale Priour. You don't know how badly I wish I could go with him. That's what I always wanted in. None of the Juniors will even be allowed to graduate. Some of the Enlisted Reserve freshmen and sophs will be allowed one more semester I understand. The actual fact is that nobody ' knows the straight of things, except that every new bit of news they let leak out is a little bit more "drafty", and I do mean that 2 ways. I am going out to Lloyd's farm this afternoon to mark his lambs for him. I guess I can spare the ' time although it is very prescious. There doesn't seem to be to much to tell and not time to elaborate. I will take my physical Monday here at the hospital on the campus - very convenient. From the look of the paper this morning they are starting food rationing. I hadn't even heard that one rumored. Must write more letters and study as I am going to church tommorrow. Love, Junior 1/12/43 - $105.28 Personal Item Cost Trip Home 4.15 Presbyterian Banquet .75 Room 10.00 Candy bar .05 Suit cleaning .75 Pencils, etc .35 1 Watch Cleaning 3.00 Sunday School .15 86.08 170.00 ' Left in bank 256.08 The SONOVA HOTEL ' On Beautiful Lonova Beach A SNOOTY JOINT BIG DOUBLE BEDS OVERLOOKING IF YOU DESIRE THE COMMON ' SINGLE BEDS IF YOU DON'T DESIRE ' January 4, 1943 Dearest Chatter, Uh, huh! Ain't your mama done told you never to lead with your right and most especially if it is pushing a pen. Referring to your statements about my letterheads--seems you said that the other one slayed you. Alright beautiful, this one should give you a decent funeral or backfire and slay me. ' I'm a mind reader, see? I'm a super teleotelepathic mind reader, see? All this last week I was delving around in your skull cavity finding out just what you were thinking. I was a pretty hard job I admit, what with all the vacant spaces and gears and nuts and loose screws and all the little devilish impulses having a knock down --drag out fight with the angelic ideals, but I managed to sift through. ' Results: What did he mean by a follow-up letter? Maybe he'll explain next time. 25 (Changing the subject--A word to the wise. Notice the masculine subject-verb form 'he'll' in the above ' sentence. Change the apostrophe and you have h_I. Change one I and you have a heel. Change one e to i and you have heil as in Fuehrer (same principle as h-a-e-1) Resuming---Since there is only one sheet of each letterhead, I figured that I would just write another letter , as a chaser to the trick one but I came down with an awful sore throat and fever and couldn't even study for 2 nights. Avoided the flu and am again in high spirits. You mentioned the fact that you were mad about the closed bowling alley. I would have liked to ' have been there to hear some of the picturesque parts of speech. I still laugh every time I think of what you said and just how you said it the time Nancy ducked you at Kerville. If you'll send me a list of your aquaintances in Kerrville, I will check off the ones I saw. I thought I mentioned this in my last letter but here goes. I walked around a bus there at the bus station and ran right ' smack dab into Jeanie Cunningham. Surprised both of us since she is an "angel" but didn't know I was an Aggie. The kid is sure blossoming. Her complexion is clearing and she is getting very pretty. Saw Flookie too. Her brother John is a lieutenant now. Saw Bessie (the Encampment office girl) drive by on ' the street in San Antone. Must stop now and make'mess'. Missed breakfast this morning and my stomach is beginning to believe my throat is cut. Dinner was more of a madhouse than usual. They got too ambitious in cutting down the number of tables set up and a lot of us frogs with no upperclassmen were seated at a quickset table by ourselves. ' One boy hollered for the catsup with the result that another boy pitched the bottle to him. He caught the bottle but it had turned over in transit. (quite a mess). Another boy asked for the salt. ~t,_ watching one shaker travel towards him, the boy sitting beside him sprinkled his meat very thoroughly with , salt from another shaker. All of the dopes grabbed the dessert the minute it was set on the table with the result that I (sitting at the middle) got only what was left in one pan. I immediately took the pepper sauce bottle and tried to sprinkle it liberally on my neighbor's dessert while he wasn't looking. He, however, hit my hand and spilled about 2 tablespoonsful in the pan of dessert. One boy started to clean the platter but ' the stuff smelt hot. The next one wasn't that wary or else he was hungrier. He took a big mouthful and promptly spit it all over his plate. His taste for dessert was gone. I had a fine Christmas--hunted, rode the range, dipped cattle, rode cattle, bulldogged one and in ' general got rid of my college refinement. My brother got a special pass for Christmas day and the next day. We were sure happy because we had just gotten word that his pass had been cancelled but it was renewed. Last Christman we spent a quite day at home and then drove to Kerrville to a picture show. We thought then that it would be our last Christmas together for a while but we dood it again. We may do it ' next year and again we may never see another Christmas with the family intact. I had a cousin-in-law killed in a plane crash at Lubbock about a month ago. Spent a while in San Antone with his widow (my Cousin). She said it was sure a shame because she had spent 22 years ' catching just the one she wanted and then Someone else wanted him worse. She says she has heart trouble now and that it occurs every time she sees a man. A really brave girl-hurt bad-and trying to cover it up. Well, looks like Uncle Sam is out after me with all hands and the cook. Got 3 cards in one day ' and I take my preleminary physical Monday. Wallace is down your way today trying to enlist as a Navy pilot. Wish I had his color sight. For the present, I am finishing this semester, then I will try to enlist in the Navy if the quota is not full. If it is, I guess I will just have to wait and be drafted which sure gripes me. Never hear anything from Cliff although Roy is still at Schreiner I understand (Conre Harper). Wallace ' Scott didn't come back to Schreiner. I think he went to New Mexico military Institute. Guess that's all the news and I'm too scatterbrained to write any more. Indefinitely yours, ' Flywheel January 7, '43 ' College Station, Texas Dear Folks, ' guess it is about time for me to take off time for a little letter writing. Don't know just what to write that would interest you. It has rained over here and is very muddy as well as being darned cold. Saw in the Express where you had gotten rain. You know, I don't know what to do. The situation over here is unchanged as far as the war ' situation is concerned. I will pass my required quota for remaining here and will probably bring 2 or 3 of 26 m grades u while dropping in Y p Chemistry. Talked to Colonel Marshall -the army recruiting officer. He says to stay, Doctor Walton says to stay but it would hurt like the devil to get pulled out in the middle of a semester and lose the time and money and yet if I drop out and can't join up immediately I will hurt my chances for officer's training school. You talk it over and see if you can't offer a speck of advice. Frankly I'm just waiting and watching because I know how hard it was to get started in this again and I know it ' would be even harder after 2 or more more years. Don't know whether I wrote you about my attack of flu or not. I felt very bad for a couple of days - the worst sore throat I ever had and so much fever I couldn't study for 2 nights - sure hurt my lessons. I'm completely over it now though and never even got any in my head or lungs. Queer - just seemed to be aching all over and with a terrible sore throat. I went to Presbyterian young people's installation ceremonial banquet Monday night. Very nice and my only diversion since I have gotten back. We have been studying English words derived from the Greek words lately. The teacher was talking about'anthrop' which means man and 'philo' which means love. He connected the two and got 'philanthropist' which means 'a person who donates to a worthy cause' or, more literally, translating from the Greek, 'lover of man'. The teacher then asked for an example - thinking of course of Ford and Carnegie and Mellon. I spoke up and said 'woman' which was true literally. Was his face red. ' B.J. Lloyd was out looking over his cousin's horse the other day. He is about my height and weighs 175 and played on the high school football team here. The horse was young and unbroken. B.J. was young, foolish, and inexperienced. Results - a shoulder knocked 4 inches out of place as well as a ' badly battered nose. His father got a hurt foot in trying to hold the horse as B.J. got on. Wonder how far I would fly if a horse ever pitched with me. Got my bank statement and it tallies out with the slips I have been keeping except that I had listed more than the bank statement showed. I must have spent a little of my $20 on some of it. Probably the trip home. It seems like an awful lot but that is within 5 dollars of what this semester will cost me. The next one if there is a next will cost much less due to the material already on hand. Must study now. Love, Junior. January 11, '43 College Station, Texas ' Dear Folks, Well here it is writing time again and I know good and well you are expecting it but seems like my time is in larger patches and further between so that I cant carry on a running diary form. ' Don't know too much to write as news is scarce although rumors are still rampant over here. I read one bit of news in the paper that strictly isn't rumor and I'm trying to figure out where the "scenery" collected the Aggie pen and Field Artillery insignia which was mentioned in the paper. ' I will definitely be home sometime around the 25 or 6th. Don't know just when. Final review is on Saturday 23`d and 1 will wait a day or 2 to get straightened out. Then I will head home, talk to the draft board and if it is not possible to finish another semester I will probably try the Navy if their quota is not full. About the pictures, Mother - it is getting a good while after Christmas, so wish you would forward ' one to each of the Grandma's, keep three or send one to Chas Lee and send one to me - either kind. Wrap suitably - I will inscribe the next time I see them if that is wanted. I went to Sunday School and Church this morning as usual and must saw off now in a minute to ' go to Young People's meeting. One thin certain, when I want to get my mind off of things for a little while I go to church instead of a picture show. And that is practically every Sunday. Frankly I haven't paid for a single picture show since I have been here- hurt my eyes and don't further the education much. Well it is now Monday morning. Fish ball weekend is over. Wallace had a date at the last minute ' and it was all very complicated. I will tell you about it when I get home. I didn't go to the dance seeing as how I can't dance and the thing cost $1.10. 1 must stop off again now and head for Engineering Drawing where I am making good grades, I hope! Made 97 on the last quiz and have been making good on the ' drawings. Adios for a while. Maybe I'll get this thing mailed in the morning. Well, I'll add some to this and mail it. Monday afternoon - flag at half staff today. I understand it is for John Rosser, the announcer on WTAW (our radio station) whom you hear announcing when you listen to The Texas Farm and Home Hour. ' This gave rise to the rumor: Silver Taps tonight for the Enlisted Reserve Corps and had them really hunting information because the Seniors always are honored by Silver Taps before they graduate. ' 27 I understand that Billy Morriss made the Dean's Team back in November in the same thing that Wallace who is strictly a town boy made good grades in, namely Animal Husbandry. I'm still having Hail Columbia with my lessons as is nearly every other engineer. Wish I was just naturally smart, then things ' would be so simple. Guess I'm just too darn average. Maybe someday I'll get the swing of things and go to town on this junk. Oh, well don't mind me I'm just kinda down in the dumps today. Guess it's just a blue Monday. I cover it all up very cheerfully and gain quite a reputation wherever I am for being good- natured (would you believe it) and in good spirits always. Frankly, I'm disgusted with myself - maybe I'll ' sleep it off. Wallace is going to Houston this weekend and I may go with him to look into the Navy problem as it is only 90 miles and I will hitch hike so it won't cost but a little. That way I will know just what I am doing when I come home. Maybe I won't go - I don't know. , Love, Junior January 14, 1943 ' Postcard College Station I Dear Chatter, I won't be able to make it this weekend due to the scheduling of an important major quiz for Saturday afternoon. May be down at the end of the mid term week. Time is very scarce and cannot plan ahead. Here's hoping, t Clarence The MUSCLEBOUND ARMS THE JOINT WITH THE FRIENDLY CHAMBERMAIDS ' ALL THE PEOPLE WHO STAY DISAPPOINTMENTS HERE ARE CRAZY ' OF HOME TO COME BACK Cell 4508 Sing Sing on the Brazos College Station, Texas (Where you swim, wade or drown) ' January 13, 1943 Dearest Chatter, ' You'll have to excuse the writing and the makeup because I'm trying to write while Wallace's radio is going.. I'm so doggoned far behind in my lessons that it is pitiful and the same holds true with my letter writing. ' Wallace couldn't make the Navy without an induction order, whatever that is. He is coming back this weekend and I may traipse along to see about special Navy work so I will be prepared when I sit in on a round table with my draft board at mid term. Also I might take in the "scenery" while I am there. Its raining like the up here and may go on doing it so I may not get off. ' Lots of mud. The password is "Roll your pants up boys; its getting deep." Bout the only good thing about it is the fact that we got out of drilling today. That was a darned good letter head you sent me. I showed it to Wallace and he nearly laughed ' his fool head off. I haven't the slightest idea what he was laughing at. I am enclosing a song which is self explanatory. Nuff said! Got a box of homemade candy from an aunt today-man was I surprised that Christmas had rolled around again. Incidentally Wallace came in after Christmas and said "Just think, only 360 more days till Christmas." ' We had our Fish Dance down here Saturday--maybe I should have learned to dance long ago but there was a shortage of girls around home--no sisters and no neighbors. Wallace got into quite a dither. On the Saturday of the dance he got telegram TSCW which said, quote "Have you a date for Fish Dance, ' if so can you get me one. Arriving Bryan 8 p.m. Answer--Tommy." He didn't know any Tommy but figured it might be a girl from his home so we chased into Bryan at 8--the train didn't stop. We chased 28 ' 1 ' back to the station here but no girl. He went to the Ball and found the girl but another boy had attached her. He spent till noon the next day fighting the other boy off. Results--$1.50 borrowed from me and a decision to make a trip to Denton. Guess I'd better close this poor imitation of a letter before the United Nations get ahold of me for mutilating the English. Perpetually, Flywheel ' January 18, '43 College Station, Texas (Typed on blue Texas Aggies Coast Artillery letterhead) ' Dear Folks, Well, I guess you will be surprised to get a letter from me which is written on a typewriter. The Lloyds have one and I haven't written on one for a coon's age so you will have to pardon mistakes. I may not get to finish this letter seeing as this is the last week and there is so much to do. The Seniors had to report for duty at 3 yesterday morning. They will be back for final review maybe if everything works out all right. Everything is kinda straightened out now and it looks as if it will be ' impossible for me to finish another semester. I really don't care much even though the months I have spent here have been the most important and interesting of my life. Whatever betides I will be back after it is over to finish the job. These days that I have spent here have been the ones of most terrific mental ' strain that I have ever spent but I have enjoyed every minute. Seems like every time I think that I have gotten the bull by the tail he turns around and hooks me in the seat of the pants. I really don't know how my grades will turn out for this semester, but as usual I have given everything that I have to it. Its cold as the devil up here and I don't have any longhandles. I didn't think that it got cold down here, but Lordy, how wrong I was. Couldn't get this room warm this morning and I like to have froze to death before it warmed up to around zero. I understand that it will be no warmer tonight. Just heard over the radio that David Hill was back in the States and was going to deliver an address in San Antonio in a day or two. Also that he had just been awarded the Silver Star in addition to the Distinguished Service Award which he already has. I'll bet Dr. and Mrs. Hill are sure happy and proud. Had a Bull-text quiz today and it was sure a honey although I think that I passed it. Wallace definitely won't be back next semester although he hasn't been classified yet. As I told you in my last letter I am 1A and I don't look to finish another semester so I am coming home early next week to get things straightened out. You probably won't have advance notice as to just when I am coming in because I will wait until I think hitch-hiking will be good-which definitely not on Sunday. A little more about the muddy weather we have been having. I was walking down the sidewalk the ' other day and saw a boy up to his neck in mud. I asked him if he needed any help. He had a jockswabber (calvary) ornament on his collar. In answer, he replied "No, thank you. I have a good horse under me." Alright, That one was comy, but I have heard worse in my day. Think I am running short on paper on this side and I am definitely running short on time as it is almost time for afternoon mess. This thing may look short but it has more in it than a hand written letter. Yours relentlessly, Junior (Handwritten on back of matching blue envelope: BOX 4508 COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS (SING SING ' ON THE BRASOS) WHERE YOU SWIM, WADE, OR DROWN ' January `43 The Ranch Mountain Home, Texas Thursday Dear Junior - Have been thinking I'd write but as usual I have been very busy and didn't know your address so I'll try ' box and hall both and maybe you will get it. I shall state things rather brief because my time is limited. I missed you a lot after you left -so got a stack of clothes out and began to patch to take my mind off it. I'm so in hopes you can makes good this time and not have to be sent home. Would be so nice to be a sophomore when the war is over. We enjoyed you so much and I hope you can keep the sunny disposition you are cultivating for a good many years. ' We planned to go to see Chas Lee Sunday but he rang Saturday afternoon and said to meet him so we terribly glad that we didn't have to make the trip and of course it was so much nicer for him. He looked at all of the ' 29 1 stock. Grandma and Aunt Dollie and Aunt Armer and Sister came and spent the afternoon. Daddy took him to town in time to catch the 7 oclock bus. Monday afternoon there was one lamb and one kid -the lamb yours (a ewe) and the kid a billie (wild bills half brother.) Papa says you got 313 of the lamb and 113 of the kid so you were on top. We put the ewe in the field and we are feeding her a little. Today no. 51 nannie had a billie kid. Daddy cut out some of the nannies and put them in the field and is going to plow johnson grass for them. You would have laughed if you could have seen Papa and Mama putting on a rodeo. We tattooed five ' calves and marked three. I wasn't much help and I'm afraid not even much moral support. I had to laugh even though I knew it was hard for Daddy because before he got through he rolled all over them. We got the job done anyway. Makes fifteen heiffers and 16 bulls from the registered stock since we bought them (some good, some bad). ' I washed yesterday and ironed and helped with stock today so I'm tired now. I cleaned the corner of the yard where the lumber was and it's a relief to look at. Gee there's so many r places to clean and I'm afraid the spring will get here before I get it done. Daddy hasn't had time to finish his spading and got down in his hip. Wanted to plant some but don't know ' where I can. Onions should be growing. Daddy put another grade cow thru with a bull calf also Pooky for a week or so to put in his beloved pen. Junior here's some more reminders: Don't let your head hit your pillow until you write Jim & Velma. t Pack everything you don't use, the clothes you wore up there etc and ship home now. If you think you need other things let me know. You will need both robe and k-shoes. Kisses & prayers. Your own Mother Ree January 19, '43 Dear Folks, , Got your letter today and sure enjoyed it. Theres lots of news around here but I don't know how much of it will interest you. Was sure glad to here that you got the good price for the bull. Well Wallace is gone again this weekend to Houston to see about enlisting in the Navy Air Corps. had planned heavily on going but had to call it off in the middle of the week due to the scheduling of a major M.E. quiz for this afternoon. I had planned on looking into the openings for special officers in the Navy as well as the regular Navy so that when I cam home I would not have to chase down to San Antone t to inquire around and be unable to catch back to the ranch. Maybe even with the added difficulties it was best though because I have a major quiz in Trig coming up for Monday as well as major quizes in everything else before the week is up. I was in the test room in Mechanical Engineering for 3 '/z solid hours working my head and a "slip stick" (slide rule). It was sure a job. I only missed one problem that I ' know of and it counted 2 points but with the chances of error I might have even failed the thing. Think I made around 80 to 95 though. Chemistry is something that is hard to fathom and we go through it like a dose of salts, so to a person with a mind like mine that is slow to absorb and then slow to lose a dose of t knowledge it is pretty bad. Saw in the Bryan paper that Henry Hauser is now a captain in the U.S. Intelligence Service. Somehow, he never seemed that smart to me. Also saw where Mr. And Mrs. Williams out at Schreiner Institute have a new baby girl bom this last week. If she is only half as sweet as her mother she will be ' one of the nicest girls anywhere when she grows up. There have been some of the prettiest girls I ever saw in my life up here for the Senior ring dance this weekend. It is the most important dance of all the dances here. I will explain its meaning as far as I ' managed to find out. When the Seniors get their rings early in their Senior years they wear them backwards until the ring dance. Then to the ring dance are brought the sweethearts and the lilies of the valley. The spaciously magnificent main dining hall is hung with red and white blue gathered bunting with a blue covered light at the bottom. The bandstand is decorated with the flags of every R.O.T.C. Battery, ' Company and Troop on the campus. On each side of it or huge golden rings which are the exact duplicates of the senior rings. A huge banquet is served early and then comes the dance. The lights are off- except for the blue ones at the bottoms of the color streamers. In the soft blue light the dancing goes ' on. Then each in turn a senior and his best girl step into a ring. She takes off his ring and turns it around straight in which position it will be worn for the rest of his life. Then they embrace and kiss and pass on for the next couple. From what I hear it is very impressive. Celia Belle and Shelby came in last night. He is sure a handsome duck in his first Louie's , uniform. 30 ' Just a word about the rain. Its been raining so doggoned much over here that we have begun singing 'it ain't gonna Rain No Mo", "Singing in the Rain", etc. It's got to where when the boys take a swig ' of that imported fire-water they say "Well, here's mud in your eye" and really mean it. The password is "Roll up your pants boys. Its getting deep." Enjoy this letter it may be the last because next week is full as it can possibly be. ' Love, Junior. P.S.- Monday afternoon - Just got a card and I am 1A - see you about Tuesday or Wednesday week. ALL YOU CAN EAT BICARBONATE OF AND ANY HAT THAT SODA FREE WITH FITS YOU FOR 50c EVERY MEAL A ROOM TO FIT EVERY POCKETBOOK SOME ROOMS EVEN LARGER January 26, 1943 College Station, Texas Only 260 miles from "heaven" A boy's school ' A girl's paradise Dearest Chatter, Well, this is a red letter day, and it may be full of mistakes since I have not typed for over three years except for one letter last night to my parents I type like a Jitterbug walks (kinda dizzy). We got about seven more minutes before morning mess. Hafta get up at the ungodly hour of seven after going to ' bed at 11:30. When I get up of a mornining (souse please) I have to scoop the sleep out of my eyes with a grain shovel. I got a telegram from home last night. Seems my mother went around to see the draft board and they said that if I stayed in school they would let me finish another semester, and that if 1 didn't stay in school I would be drafted in March. Therefore, since the army officers here and my draft board want me to stay in school that is what I will probably do. It is ten o'clock now and it is still freezing. Yesterday when it was so windy, I was in such a state of mind that no one could have told me that there was something between me and the north pole. I felt kinda like the old cowboy who was with Admiral Byrd at the South Pole in a 60 below blizzard. He said "Man, I'll bet Amarillo is catching #$@%! tonight". I'm used to the hills where you can duck down in a valley to keep out of the wind, but out here like the plains at Amarillo you can't get any protection. I'll ' swear if I didn't lite the stove yesterday when I got up and it still hadn't warmed up to zero when I left to go to breakfast. Everything is fine here except for a little trouble with the sophomorons every little while. My grades are bad and getting worse. Wish I was like my Port Arthur aunt. She has a good memory with a tongue right in the middle of it. About the only time I use sharp words is when she and my mother and the rest of the women in the family get together. I have to use sharp words then to get one in edgewise. This math gives me a pain in the neck (just my single atom brain trying to find company). Honestly a person has to be an excellent mathemagician to solve it. Must leave now to find out what my Engineering Drawing prof has to say. We are going to do some tracings today I think. I'll have to be an expert at tracing to find what happened to my grades this semester. I will probably be down to Houston before the end of next week. I am planning on going home, and maybe up to TSCW during the holidays. Will finish this later as I have a class to make now. Well here it is afternoon again and I still haven't finished this letter, so I guess I had better get busy. Got a letter from home this afternoon which conveyed the news that my brother had tryed to make the Cadet Corps again but had been knocked out on account of the color blindness again. He will probably go to some kind of bomb sight school soon. ' 31 More about the mud------- I was walking down the sidewalk the other day when I saw a boys head and hat sticking up out of the mud alongside of the walk. His hat cord denoted the fact that he was a cavalryman who didn't have any more sense than to step into a mudhole I asked him if he needed any ' help and he said "No, thank you. I've got a good horse under me." Alright, that one was corny but it was the best I could think of at the time. I hope you enjoy my salutations because I spent some time thinking them up. CLL:mmi Yours relentlessly, Signed "Racehorse" PS: No I don't have a private secretary. The initials stand for me, myself, and I. February 1, '43 College Station, Texas (A post card w/ campus picture of Law Hall and Puryear Hall) Moved into Dorm. Too busy to write a letter now. Plenty to write when I get time. I am okay and stopped by to see Chas. Lee. Am meeting my first classes today. I Love, Junior February 3, '43 College Station, Texas ' Dear Folks, I hope you will pardon the writing on this kind of paper but it is as easy to read as otherwise. I have just a few minutes to write and so much to write that it may seem a little jumbled to you. Please communicate this with Grandma Leinweber and mail it on or the important parts of it to Grandma Harper because I am so doggoned busy that I don't have time to write right now. I only made it to Austin by night on the day I left as I stopped off and visited with Charles Lee. I caught a bus at Austin which cost 2.30 ' and which I will deduct from your 5 as that is about as nice a present as I could want. It was a maximum 32 bus and there were 38 Aggies and one blonde on it. I am sending a schedule of my classes but I will also have 5 study periods mixed in in the off hours. A little word about the hazing. All the fish caught it this afternoon from the new sophomorons. I did 406 knee bends and 44 pushups before the seniors stopped the little orgy. I am still having to walk with stiff legs to keep my knees from buckling and falling out from under me. Got to where I would hit the floor flat on my face after each pushup, while I gathered strength for the next. Guess it'll make a man out of me. It was quite a joy to listen to the sophomores betting the "board" for taking to many privileges in the way they did us. And they got it for about 30 minutes from the seniors. One fish said "Yes, you'll live over it." I said, "Yes, that is what I am afraid of." , Well, I simply haven't got time to write any more and we get only 7'/2 hours of sleep on week nights except Wednesday when we get 6'/2 and Saturday when we get 5'/2. Love, Junior. February 5, '43 College Station, Texas ' Paragraph on Chlorophyll It is the same unchanging green stuff from age to age, passed without perceptible improvement from evolving plant to plant. In the ages since it was created by God and made the Garden of Eden a beautiful carpet and canopy of irredescent green, chlorophyll, the ageless, has continued its tireless work for man, unheralded and generally unknown. Producer of food, light, shelter, and clothing; absorber of poisonous materials; beautifier of the earth - these are but a few of the miraculous jobs which chlorophyll ' fulfils daily. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, undoubtedly the most miraculous of all the miraculous elements and substances is chlorophyll - the substance which makes God's earth green. 32 1 Dear Folks, I am writing on the original draft of my latest English composition. I'm out to make an A in it this time if my grammar doesn't throw me for a loop. I'll try to include some of the latest happenings in this letter as the last one was a little abrupt and of a necessity short. I sent you a schedule but I got all messed up in my E.D. classes and missed about 2 before I got straightened. Looks like I will have a ' pretty easy time of it this time except for Chemistry which is always a bug-a-bear. One thing certain, I will have plenty of study time even if it is at the expense of sleep of which I get very little. I get about 3'/2 hours of study a night and 5 study periods in the daytime during the week. There were 5 hours of Physical Education required so I have gone out for the half mile in track to get the P.E. and I do not have to run details, etc. during the afternoons. Hows that for using the old noggin. Anyway I love running. I've been out 2 days and I can barely negotiate the stairs here because I am so stiff from the hazing I got and the track exercise. The food is wonderful and I don't have to serve upperclassmen. I eat at the same set of tables with Bill James, the football players, swimmers, basketball team, and other track men. Jennings Anderson, the football star of Brackenridge about 2 years ago sits at the same table with me. This new regime is really tough on the seniors. They are not allowed to wear their boots anymore and must stay in quarters at night the same as the lowest freshman. I would sure hate to be in their 1 shoes. Hope you are all okay. I am fine except for being sore as a boil all over. It has been trying to rain all day and in fact for the last few days here. Guess it will before it is over with. I saw Morris Bode the other day. The kid has grown so that I wouldn't have recognized him if he hadn't spoken to me. Incidintally, Billy Morriss is still in school as are most of the rest of the boys from the hill country. Saw in the paper where a plane crashed 10 miles from Kerrville killing both men. Also see where David is making quite a record as a public speaker. There are rumors chasing around over here to the effect that there will soon be an edict issued which will bust out any students who so much as fail one subject. I think I can pass everything I am 1 taking. Seems like that is about all there is now. My brain is kinda stagnant and there just ain't no more. Love Junior ' Box 4508 College Station, Texas Where real men congregate ' Visitors welcome--especially girls W.A.K. X Dearest Chatter, And how is my little damsel of the flowing tresses this ugly morning. Oh, oh, that sounds like Shakespeare. Guess I better drop back into the colloquial. Ordinarily, I sit down and write a letter completely before I get up but to you, beautiful, I make a special plan. It is the installment plan with no interest added. (A darned fish came in and read the first line and I had to kick him out of the room.) But to continue, or rather, to discontinue because I have to hit a class. More later. Back from Algebra. The profs words slide off of me like water off of a duck. Speaking of ducks; my uncle Cam and aunt Ede got into an argument the other day. Seems they had a fowl for dinner. He said "Goose?" She said "duck". He said "No, Goose". She said "Duck" and he didn't. They give him a 50-50 chance. I I caught that S.P. Sunshine out of Houston yesterday. Had to stand up all the way. I don't know what this world is coming to; no pretty girl offered me her lap. I've got a new room mate, Chatter. His name is Van Patton and his father is a Presbyterian ' minister and an Army Colonel. He is stationed at Sherman, Texas right now. Just another one of the P.B.'s I must quit again as the bugle is about to blow for mess. They call it mess and that is the literal meaning. Well here I am again with 10 minutes of spare time before Taps. I went to the Baylor - A.M. game tonight and we whupped them proper. Saw Tuffy McCormick from Schreiner there. He was on the Baylor team but didn't play. Too big and slow. 33 Don't look like I'll ever get this letter finished. I'm sure catching HA with the upperclassmen. I did t about 406 knee bends today in a row and topped it off with about 40 pushups. The seniors broke up the little party and there was some boards pounding away on sophomores for a while. I still have to walk , stifflegged to see that my knees don't fall out from under me. One boy told me "Don't worry. You'll live over it." I told him "Yes, that is what I am afraid of'. It's tough, but A. and M. isn't a tea sipper Institute. I never saw so much trouble as I am having writing this letter. I am writing during C.Q. now and if the Captain catches me I get rammed. (Demerits) I'm whistle sergeant and have to blow a whistle at 1 most of the bugle calls. I have the thing for a week and then I have the pleasure of giving it to someone else. It's about the most hated job in the dorm and the kind of thing a fellow would even pass on to his best friend. , Here's some orders from headquarters. Keep your brass shined and wear it everywhere except on dates with other boys, or the S.P.C.A. (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Aggies) will get you. Guess that put my head on the chopping block, but I mean it. I like you better than any girl I ever went with, which is why I gave you the pin. , Chatter, have you a recent picture of yourself of any size, shape or form which I could use to take my mind off of my studies. If you have I would greatly favor a reciprocal trade agreement along that line. It's going to be a long time before I get to see you again and I need to see a reasonable facsimile every ' day to keep my spirits up. Thank your mother again for me for the dinner for I certainly enjoyed it. Made me think of home back in the good old days before our family was broken up, 'cept we didn't have any pretty yip is. Guess I have concentrated all of the foolishness, facts, and romance(?) inhumanly possible into one letter and had better quit while the going is bad. Yours until further notified, Clarence P.S. Just another daffy salutation I picked up somewhere. To be taken by halves. One half seriously and the other part ignored. R.S.V.P. --pronto February 10, '43 ' College Station, Texas Dear Folks, ' Well here it is letter time again and a lot to write about but no words to say it in. I have been out for the track team but apparently haven't made the grade. I'm just not in condition. My roomy moved to another battery after the hazing, along with several other fish. If they keep moving I will be battery captain sure in my senior year if a Jap don't get hold of me. We had an awful mess over here and it has had the campus in quite an uproar. The doggoned new Cadet Colonel had some crazy ideas about running the Corps the way he wanted it. He came out with - among other things (including banning of boots for Seniors) - an edict banning the gray officers trousers for any seniors except those with cadet commissions. It is pretty rough to dissappoint a boy at $18 a whack because nearly all had already bought them. To start it he had a giant firecracker thrown in his room which blew the window panes out. Then he was drownded out. The next night eight masked boys entered his room and tied and gagged his roommate. They were going to shave the colonels head but he put up a fight and one of the boys hit him twice. He managed to get a light on and the boys fled. Somebody squealed and the boys were all turned in. I knew 4 of them and they were swell kids as well as being top men on the track team. They took the poor boys and paid them for everything that they had ever bought at A. and M. Then they took their senior rings and cancelled all their grade points in school, gave them a dishonorable discharge and kicked them out of school with the warning never to come back. It was about the rawest deal I have ever seen anyone get. The cadet colonel is ostracized and had better , quit school before something worse than a fist lands in his face. I must quit now and write more later when I have a little more time. Well here it is Tuesday night and I will try to finish this thing and mail it in the morning. Much has been happening around here. Every boy has to be able to swim for 5 minutes. They took us and threw us all in the pool like you would dye cattle. It was so crowded that I wiggled my big toe and kicked a boy in the shins. After it was all over they drained the pool and collected the boys off of the bottom, recuperated them and put them in a swimming class. (It wasn't quite that bad but that is the general idea.) 34 ' There is an awful wind here today and I ran a straight mile and then 2 separate quarters in it - pretty tough. I don't believe that I will make the track team but I am building up a wonderful endurance and am getting away from the sophomores of an afternoon. I live right across the hall from the battery captain and the first sergeant and their roommates and am room orderly for the captain and his roomy. 1 Today at drill I was told to march a contingent of the freshmen in my battallion (3 batteries - 50 boys) about a quarter of a mile across the campus to the drill field. It was quite a chore with the instructors watching and a bunch of slightly trained unruly boys. Some of the boys told me I did pretty good as I never missed a command although there was no comment from the instructors. It will all go in a file which they keep on the military ability of the boys. I kinda wish I was home now. You know it was always kidding time and daisy time that I looked forward to most in the year even though that is the time of hardest work. Guess the little kids are awful 1 pretty unless you are too tired to notice. About the ewe lamb. I have become to thing that is an outrage when I get a buck lamb. Maybe there's a little bit of Jew in me somewhere, Pete, or maybe its that Irish buck. Anyway its precious little you make off of my sheep! I have no grades to base any expectations on yet in anything except English. The teacher I have now grades some papers just F or P. F -failing and P - pass. I just got a P and an 84 on two papers which I have gotten back. I must close now because I have a pretty full day tommorrow. Lots of Love, Junior. February 10, '43 Mountain Home, Texas Monday Dear Junior - Try to write a few words to my boys tonight - nothing new, not even rain. Oh yes something new, four kids half & half. No.5-14-51 and Wild Bills mother have kids. They are really cute and the pens are cleaned so their hair should stay clean. Daddy has them in the field and is cutting brush and plowing johnson grass roots. Annie is still fine but I must say don't look very nice just now. I'm so sorry they are hazing so bad. Maybe it wont continue so bad. If you think they are putting it on too thick and you want to quit, do what you want to. I'm afraid if there's too much on the side you wont have time to study. Who are your roommates. What is your sponsor for, could you talk it over with him. Got a letter from Chas Lee and he says they canceled his week furlough (in fact all of them.) but they might change their mind later. He was so dissappointed and of course I am to. Don came home with A&A - on all his grades again this month. Guess he is trying. Neva has been real sick but is better tonight. She has to be in bed about two weeks longer, don't know whats wrong. Guess we will play Pierce Boy' sure enough as they are rationing shoes. Take care of yours because you might run short. We have to get to town about Wed. for feed and other things. Can't get much feed. Looks like the C have us. My dear I must go to bed so prayers and kisses to you, Mother Ree. 1 Feb. 13, 1943 Dear(est) Chatter Do you have spots in front of your eyes? Does your mind for no apparent reason wander off into space in the middle of a class? Do you feel as if you had lost your last friend? Does life bore you? Do you feel as if you hadn't a care to your name or does your conscience hurt? H-u-u-u-u-u-h? You do? Well then, what you need is to write more letters oftener. I I've been 'sweating' that P. O. box for a week and a half and still no letter and tommorrow is the 14th. Its very discouraging. Letters?? Yes, from everybody else except you and this dog-goned place gets kinda boring if you don't think about a girl now and then, but, as the President of our college told us, our girls will have forgotten us by the time we are sophomores. By the time we are juniors, they will be married, and by the time we are seniors they will already have one kid. That was before the speed-up process of course. 35 Did I dood something wrong or didn't I do enough or did you just get tired of the old Aggie line or , lack of a line? I'm all questions and all of them have a hundred answers. Maybe its the old brush-off. Just a little bit uncertain, Flywheel P. S. Maybe its sabotage. Feb. 18, 1943 Box 4508 Hell's Acres ' STRICTLY POSTED Except for birddoggers SWAK Dearest Chatter, , Just a stolen line during CQ, so this will be breif, I imagine. I imagine you all had one grand family reunion the other day with George at home. Faith and if it's the Irish he ought to make a good soldier. It's 1 a shame that he had already started another term and it was broken into. Pardon the errors, my fingers are all thumbs and my eyelids are so heavy that they keep getting in the way. We get very little sleep now. This doggoned place is getting on my nerves. I run track and details and study and gab ail gay, day after day, and don't ever seem to get anywhere. I will come down again and we will take in bowling alleys, skating rinks, little secluded restaurants, etc. that we missed last time. That trip may be months away and it may be never as the army will have me and I might not be back. We were drilling the other day and had just gotten our rifles when down the street came one of those (umm-uh-h-h) sweater girls. She very promptly had an honor guard of Aggies. She had quite a time telling us that she was married. In fact, we had escorted her, rifles and all, for about 50 yards before this heartbreaking news was given. There is a Reagan boy running on our track squad now. His name is McFarland. He's about the only boy that I have met from Reagan. Plenty from Lamar and San Jewcenter. You were mentioning your rage at Nancy in the last letter. I guess you know my sentiments but as far as I am concerned she can go to ( ) and stay put with my compliments. Well, beautiful, I've got to stop so float a propoganda leaflet this way every now and then and don't kiss any wooden soldiers. Your until further notified, Flywheel February 18, '43 Mountain Home, Texas Tuesday Dear Junior - Well guess you are wondering f you have folks at all. Things stacked up again as usual and I'll try to tell back as far as I left off in my last letter. Did you get your valentine? Should have put a fancy name instead of mine on it but thought I had better not. Just thought if you filled the sore spots with chocalate they might feel a little sweeter. t We got a load of feed the day we were in town. Just sixteen sacks to the tune of forty some odd dollars. Was high but the last we can get until they straighten things out. (if they ever do.) There's going to be a terrible loss in all livestock if we don't get rain soon. I'm glad you are not here to see everything because it looks very desolate, the cold spells have burnt the live oak leaves and they are falling. Chas. Lee had us meet him at nine oclock Kerrville Friday night. We were so glad he got to come of course it was only a pass until Monday but that was a lot. Never had such horrible luck though. He talked to me and helped with feeding in the morning and we came in the house. After a little he got his new billfold out and wanted to give me forty dollars to put in the bank but I told him it would be much better if he would deposit it Monday morning, so he put it back and put it in his hip pocket -as he does at camp. After dinner Daddy wanted to try the tractor out (after he had changed the carburetor from the old Buick to the tractor.) so Chas. Lee plowed about a round and a half (over a mile with the terrace). and noticed he had lost his billfold. We hunted all afternoon. They hoed a while and took the tractor and threw the dirt back and forth, no find. That night we decided 36 he would always claim the field because he had so much money in it. Then too we thought it would be so nice to ' have a home with a buried treasure on it, always like hunting the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Daddy decided it would be so nice if it would grow and multiply. There was so much to do Sunday morning that we didn't have time to look for anything but in the afternoon Aunt Dollie, Cleve and Grandma came over and the mad search began again. Once the pipeline got stopped upon the tractor and Clarence was working on it. Don was looking 1 around in front in the loose plowed ground and found it, not even scratched or marred at all. Of course I cried a little (for joy). He was so proud of his folder with the saddle on it. Then we came to the house and someone suggested to go kill rattlesnakes but it was a little late in the afternoon Isuppose because we saw very little game but armadillos and deer. We wished foryou remembering that since you were large enough to walk nothing was more interesting to you than wasp or rattlesnakes. Yes this is daisy time but since there's been no rain they are not much. Daddy has brought me two or three and they lasted several days in water. ' I'm so sorry to hear of the trouble and as I have always had a lot of school spirit - when I attended I'm sure it's tough. I do hope you had nothing to do with any of it - always think twice before you do a thing like that - and you probably wouldn't do it. Whatever you do don't squeal or even repeat a thing you see or know to even your ' best friend. You have no idea how awful I feel for those boys who were sent away. That's so far reaching for both the boys and their families also you have to think of the teachers who have taught and learned to love them. How hurt and disappointed they must be. Of course the boys just didn't think like they should about the war or they would have realized what a privilege they have to have parents or friends who are financing them ix school else 1 they might be in Africa fighting hard or even dead. You see boys of your age are already in and you boys must not resent the few privileges that are taken from you and be glad to get all the training you can. Some of the boys were only in the army three months, so little training and were shipped to Africa. Nice, if you have to clean for someone, that it's high class, the Captain. Chas Lee was on the shipping list. Doesn't know where he is going. We sure hated to leave him because when he gets so far you never know what could happen. He is going to a technical mechanical school 4 mo. training, and then, we don't know. We must hope and pray for the best. Junior Priour was shipped to Nebraska. They think he's on the way out. Dale and a lot more reserve boys were called in. Jimmie Stehling writes back that he is where it's peaceful and very happy because there's lots of pretty girls there. I thought I heard them say this afternoon that the Government was taking the Colleges over but haven't heard anything more. I must stop and go to bed. Your sweetheart Ree. 1 February 20, '43 College Station, Texas Dear Folks - Just a letter to let you know how 1 am getting along. I really enjoyed your last letter which was quite the longest you ever wrote. If I know the family Pete was worried silly and Mother was about to have hysterics when Chas Lee lost his wallet. Did I get the right impression? ' I certainly did enjoy the candy although I had to eat it sparingly as I am in training. Ran a quarter mile yesterday. It was a race but I took my time and my breath and beat out 2 boys while 2 others whipped me. I'm really getting in good shape and I don't have to make the darned Physical Ed. classes and be late to other classes. Sometimes I get so darned blue its pitiful. I'm doing fine in Algebra and mechanical Engineering and Bull Text but the Descriptive geometry and Chemistry and English are getting me down. I hiked my last English paper to a C+ but I still don't like the teacher and he apparently doesn't like my style. 1 Chemistry and 'Descrip" are just a lot of memorizing with no time to do it in. They are moving a mess of Air Corps Pre-flight boys (500) in here today. I got disgusted with trying to keep my hair combed and went down and got a burr. It is sure pretty but it will be more comfortable to run with and being as how I won't be going anywhere it will be alright. I got a letter from Grandma and it seems that Aunt Veda is awfully sick. I just can't seem to think of much else to write now I don't know why but I guess nothing but routine things have been happening around here. I Oh, yes. One amusing incident took place in the mess hall at supper last night. The usual announcements were being read while the Corps set at attention. The customary command to resume eating is "REST!". This command came but it was very feminine. The whole corps let out a yell and 37 r looked around at the sound booth which is a glassed in blister high up on the wall of Sbisa's main Dinin t 9 Hall. There stood a beautiful brunette with one of those figures and a smile. There was a prompt race by upperclassmen to get their freshmen up there and find out her name and address. The sound booth was t promptly crowded. About all the information garnered was that her name was Madalleine Howell and she wasn't from Bryan. Apparently she was the announcer's girl friend. I'm sure tired and sleepy and I think I will go to bed at about 8 tonight as it is the one night of the week that we can go to bed when we want to. , I sure hope it rains and it looks like as if it might around here today but you never can tell. I haven't got much to gripe about when I think of it. I haven't been sick with even a cold since I got back from Christmas and I don't do any hard manual labor although I am dead tired by the time the ' bugle blows every night. I must close now as it is close to mess time and I really don't know anymore. Love Junior Texas A&M College , No date Dear Grandpa & Grandma, ' Well, doggonit, I'm behind times on my letters again and you all are always so prompt in answering mine. There has been an awful lot happening here since you last heard from me. For instance, they , moved in 1,200 Air force soldiers the other day and I understand that they are going to move in 600 Engineers soon. Tuesday we thought we were going to have to triple up on the rooms so everybody moved and just as we got moved we were told that we would wait a few days. Back we went again and beleive me we were plenty disgusted. I beleive now that the moving order has gone through for tommorrow. I sure hate to see it for I have a whole big room all to myself and it will be plenty crowded with three to a room. It was awful cold here yesterday and today but I guess that that is not news to you. It was plenty ' cold working out on the track yesterday. I practiced a little on relays and then ran a half a mile. I'm getting to where I'll be able to run old Agate down and kick dirt in his face. I weigh up around 160 and stand 6 ft. tall now and I'm in fine shape, thanks to the running so I guess I am as ready for the army as I will ever be. Incidentally, I haven't had any news from Charles Lee in a coon's age. The grades are coming along quite a bit better than they did last semester I beleive. I made a 100 on one major quiz the other day and as yet haven't flunked any of the major quizes which I am taking , this week. I guess I'd better draw this to a close as I have to write home tonight. When the letters are far between just remember that I love you and am thinking of you even though I just can't find time to write. Love, Junior Feb. 22, 1943 Where the wild oats are sown. , They are reaped elsewhere. Dearest Chatter, Well, I am afraid you wrote me a book, as well as Jeanie. I enjoyed every line and was especially tickled by the descriptions of Nancy's basic instincts. She better be careful though or she will end up like the old maid who wanted a tall dark and handsome man in her beautiful youth. At 30 she changed it to a , tall man and at forty she prayed, "Oh Lord, send me a man, just any man." Anyway she was but definitely fooled because I haven't even been to Bryan since I got back a month ago. I was in church that day but it was here at A.&M. There isn't much happening here that is important enough to chronicle. They are moving in a bunch of Air Corps boys (about 500) to take the place of the fighting Aggies who have gone to War. I sincerely hope that they won't end up like the teasipper's thought we would Thanksgiving Day. The number/headine on their paper was, quote menu for breakfast tommorrow morning, Scrambled Ags." Taint funny Magee. , 38 I've been running as usual but there are only too things that would make a good runner out of me. ' One is a wildcat behind me and t'other is a skirt in front of me. I got a Letter from Wallace. He is now attending Arkansas U. and I doubt if he passes a course he is taking. The reason- for one example his chemistry class has only three boys and the rest assorted girls. I know I couldn't study in that kind of atmosphere. You'll have to pardon my wrecking of the King's english in this paragraphing; because I just feel disgusted tonight. Your mentioning of Jeanie brings to memory the fact that there are boys in the Battery from Lizzie and Pat's home town's and they know the girls. Notice the drawing on the envelope. I showed one something like it (only much better) to a boy today. He said "Man that picture gives me the reds. It reminds me only too well of all I am missing here." I must quit and study now cause I have a chemistry quiz tommorrow. I thought I was going to take Aeronautical Engineering but they keep dosing me with so much Chemistry that I am beginning to beleive that that is what I am majoring in. Para vigo me voy - Con Amor. Leinweber Du beist mein schotsie? Hein? February 24, '43 ' College Station, Texas Dear Folks, Again just a note to let you know that I am well if I am a little tired. There has as usual been nothing but routine stuff going on around here. I have a quiz in Algebra which should be a snap and I am aiming for the 100 that I so narrowly missed last time. I got a letter from Wallace yesterday and his draft board did the same mine did and he is going to ' Arkansas U. In a way I pity him. He was always the one to talk about how much he missed girls and now he says that his chemistry class contains only 3 boys and dozens of girls. I don't think I could even think of passing in that kind of atmosphere. A senior in my outfit got knocked out playing speedball this afternoon in P.E. He was sent to the hospital but I think he is okay. Just knocked up a bit. There are no grades to report on since the last letter but its going to be an uphill battle in Descrip and Chemistry and if I don't make it, there goes eight hours. It's not a matter of time so much as it is a ' matter of having a quick thinking brain. If you remember what I told you about the algebra, you will understand. I know it just like clockwork now. I was always that way and it is sure a handicap, because I make grades as I go through a subject which hurt but by the time I am through with it, I understand it to perfection. Enough about the frailties of the human mind. Another serious incident occurred in the battery today which with its results go to show why the Coast is considered on the Campus as the best outfit. A very good friend of mine who occupies the room right below me received some pictures of his fiancee in the mail. A "stinkbomber" (Chem warfare) made some very needless and very dirty remarks about the girl. My friend is a fish and the stink bomber was a sophomore so he told him to go easy to which the boy ' for no apparent reason added more insults. The fish knocked him cold with one blow and was told to report to the Commandants Office by a passing senior. He came back and explained the situation to our first sergeant and captain who promptly told him to disregard all orders and that they would back him up if ' there was any trouble. This is a fine battery and what might be termed a waiter's battery. About one out of three boys are waiters. About 7 are out for athletic sports and the rest who aren't officers, etc are the scum who ruin our reputation. ' It looks like our poor boys are taking a pretty bad licking in North Africa right at present. Also it looks like the Russians might have the Germans on the run as the gains they are making are not the minor gains of last winter. Time sure is passing in a hurry. Here is nearly a month of this four months gone and I haven't even been to Bryan in all that time and furthermore see no reason for going there before the end of school. I guess you all are awful busy now and I hope it has rained although from the looks of thins here, I doubt it. We haven't had more than a mist since before mid term. I guess I had better close and send this on as I must study because I have an English paper, an Algebra quiz and an M.E. letter quiz coming up tommorrow. 39 Love, Junior , Dearest Chatter, 1 Well, the kettle has done gone and called the pot blackie and promptly got stewed in it's own juice. I know what you mean by busy, beautiful, and it ain't play. First to cuss and discuss your last letter. Since that dinner is already over with, it probably won't do any good but here is my advice about sphagetti as an old rancher of my aquaintance once put it; quote - "Anybody is a (censored) fool to be caught eating sphagetti but if you ever get in that shape, just think of the poor Chinaman and his chopsticks and thank the Lord"--unquote. ' I didn't know George had taken that next to last fatal step. Tell him it was nice hearing about him anyway. I don't know whether you know what the definition of courtship is or not but here is one. 'A boy r chasing after a girl till she catches him.' Corny, isn't it? I don't know where you got the idea that my dreams are nightmares. Back home we would call , them 'fillies' (western or ranch for girl) because when an Aggie dreams it is usually on the feminine side and definitely the side that don't eat hay. I've done gone and disgraced myself and gotten a crew haircut. My hair kept getting in my way in ' athletic's but I have fairly caught it from the sophomores. Seems that I unknowingly usurped a sacred privilege and I may yet end up quite bald. I met Wilton Ferrell and another boy from Reagan in the dressing rooms yesterday. i hey sure were big bruisers and I hope our football team gets them. ' Well, as the sailor stationed at a WAVES training school described his spare time--Oceans of love and a kiss on every wave, Flywheel (definitely not allergic to brunettes, especially morons) (NO DATE) College Station, Texas ' Dear Grandma and Grandpa, Well, I guess you thought I was dead and I just about am. I told mother to write concerning the contents of my last letter to you and I suppose she had. Things have been happening awfully fast around here and I don't hardly have time to get my breath. I moved in with the battery in a dorm and caught a little physical hazing, but that is all in the past for the present. I am room orderly for the battery captain and his roommate who live right across the hall ' from me and I have one big 16X12 room all to myself as my roommate of 1 week quit the battery after the hazing we got. 2 other fish quit also. I am out for the track team (1/2 mile run and up) but as yet I have made little headway because I have to compete with the upperclassmen who are older than I am. Even though I don't get a place on the a~ team, I will really get in good shape for dear old Uncle Sam in June. I think I will make good grades this time as I have all the time in the world that I want to study and a lot of it is enforced so if I don't make them it will be because I am just too dumb. ' Guess I had better close even though this is an awful short letter and I have an awful lot to say, but I have too study chemistry. Love, Junior. P.S. Will write more later when I get a little spare time because I hate short letters. , February 25, '43 Mountain Home, Texas Tuesday night My dear Son - Well I've neglected you again but haven't been too well and Pete and I have been a little down hearted but this afternoon heard Upton Close (don't know how to spell.) explode about Stahling etc. and we laughed until we cried. He may get his wings clipped but what he said was true. We also heard the speech Walter Winchell got put back to active dutyfor. Texas is really getting the pressure just now. Most everyone is feeding the last of their protein feed and no more is allowed to be sold to us. Coke Stevenson talked to Washington and tried to get them to 40 turn loose some of their stockpiles o of it but the last I heard he had gotten no results. We still have no rain and the ' live oak leaves are shedding. Tonight our news from the front lines is better for which we are very thankful. Poor kids in Africa - wish I couldput my arms around them and bring them home. Three times our boys have been slaughtered for the want of equipment while we were sending everything we put out practically to Russia. ' You dont want to hear anymore of this so I'll tell you about your Pipe Creek (member his Papa came from Pipe Creek.) lamb, well she has plenty of sense anyway. We have the nannies & kids and half a dozen sheep in the field. The lamb is the only one in there so it gets a little kid started up the rut and stars it to the other end of the field, keeps heading it offso it can't come back to its 'mama'. All this trouble because it wants a play fella. It's sure fat. I'm sorry your grades are not too good. (some of them) Be sure and try to make it if you can because it might help you to get Offer Training or something good where you go in the army. You know what I told you about politics, well you may have to be careful because I have never seen the pressure put on quite so heavy as the New Dealers are now so you may have to be a little tolerant. I haven't heard from Chas Lee since he went back, eight days today but he doesn't write often and too he 1 was on the shipping list so he may have left there right after he went back. I do wish he would write me more often but guess he never will, however he promised to. Did I tell you Thomas Dee is getting gas to go to and from school in a car they bought him. Sure a bad example for ranchmen to set - but guess no one expects any better of a titty baby like him. He c,rted far his jugat ttt and his mama would cry if she had to leave the Papa so believe you me it was areal problem. Oh me! Oh my! What a cal I am tonight but I've felt rubbed the wrong way for several days so had to write sometime. Daddy chops plows johnson grass roots and spades in the garden. Thru it all he is terribly sore. Do you have a room if so who, and what about him? Do you like the Captain? Be sure and keep your room clean because I think that shows pretty much about a persons character. Did I tell you Dale, Allie Burton and I think all those reserves have been called up. Allie was taking the same course you are and think a Junior or Senior. Guess they are fixing to takeover most of the colleges. Say Chas ' Lee said that the tests were not so hard to get into the intellegence department for mail censoring etc as an officer and he thought you would be good at that. Did I tell you he changed back to a mechanic because for the bomb site he would have to be guarded and a lot of red tape he didn't want. It's almost eleven and I'm so sleepy I can hardly follow these lines. Junior take care of your birth certificate and sugar book when you get it. Mother Ree March V43 College Station, Texas ' Dear Folks, Just a note to chronicle the events of the past few days. As I sit here writing a huge set of amplifiers in the dome of the Academic building has been giving ' a Sunday evening concert. A lot of dreamy music mixed with the Field Artillery and Air Corps songs, and the 4 different Aggie songs, etc. It can be heard all over the 5,000 acres of campus. Just a note about my class work as it stands. I maybe passed my Descrip letter quiz and now I've 1 got to work hard on chemistry to see if I can't pass that quiz. Incidentally I made a 100 on my Mechanical Engineering letter quiz which is some better than the 49 that I started the last semester off with. My average in it is now 95 and I haven't missed a whole problem in several weeks. It is mostly about horsepower, etc. but maybe there is still a little of the mechanical sense in me. I'm missing the free show this afternoon because a freshman went to sleep after mess this morning and rest of us pay the penalty. I don't care, because I guess I can spend the time better otherwise. It looks like rain here this afternoon and frankly I hope it does. We had an inter squad track meet yesterday and it nearly killed me. I had about 15 minutes of diabolical exercise right after dinner and it sure did tell in my running. There were four boys in my 880 yard run (1/2 mile) and I only took second. The time was very slow - 2 minutes and 25 seconds. The winners time was 2:18. We had a basketball game with Rice last night and although we yelled ourselves hoarse and the boys played themselves silly we just couldn't whip them. 41 saw Edna Real over here this weekend. Rumor has it that she had a date with Dickie Haas, the ' little football star from Corpus Christi. Quite a number of girls in here with a Corps Dance this Saturday i and today since there was a corps dance Saturday night. ' 3 of the boys got drunk last night, and I do mean drunk. One came in my room about twelve after I had been asleep for a couple hours and wanted to know what time it was. He was making 45 degree angles with the floor as he went out. He was plenty sick this morning too, and I oughta know cause he lives right next door. I guess that is about all the important things that have happened and I must study. Love, Junior March 2, 1943 , Postman - if not delivered on the fifth day...H--I on the sixth. r Dearest Chatter, t Well, I have a little time but no suitable stationary, so hear goes. We're sitting here spending a quite evening (just match fights and water). I Guess you want to know kinda what's been going on around here. To begin with - there has been schol. This afternoon I went swimming - and found that I was very much out of practice. Then I went out ' on the track and ran the fastest two miles I ever ran. I'm feeling fust slightly tired tonight. We've begun to get our sophomore privileges now. Every time when I stop to think diat tiuz" Ulu freshman year is nearly over, I darned near yell. , Incidentally, I darned near came down there yesterday morning to take a Navy V12 exam (physical). I passed the mental up here okay but I understand that the colorblindness would have knocked me out down there. I will be down around the 20th of May however for induction into the army. Then they will probably send me back up here. I have already sent in a request for induction and will go in on the next bunch. Guess you all will have a grand time at the camp this summer but you'll have to make friends with some of the dozens of Naval Air Cadets at Schreiner because the rest of the old bunch is gone. Well it is now Friday night and I am still trying to finish this letter. I got so much water thrown on ' me last night that I couldn't continue. Nothing more has happened. We won a ball game from theteasippers this afternoon-11 to 8. If we win the one tommorrow we have the Southwest Conference championship. Guess that's all. There just ain't no more. See you in May. Love, Flywheel March S, '43 , Mountain Home, Texas Tuesday night Dear Junior - The radio is going but maybe I can get my mind on this enough to get a few words. We get so tired and I can hardly stay awake with so little coffee. Pete and I really lean on the spading fork and hoe. Today is sure cold terribly bad to be out in, the dust is so deep in the pens and the wind so high out of the north, seems to freeze your ' bones and beats your eyes out with dry manure and tresh. I sure dread this month as we have had no rain, stuff is pretty weak and I believe the wind will blow it down. The lambs look good but they are getting down. Maybe it will rain. There's thirteen registered kids and they seem to be getting along alright. The outside dont took so good. All , billies are sheared and alright. The other day we got off about noon and thought we would get a lot of things done that we wanted to do, wanted to get our income straightened out. Mr Lochte couldn't see us but we got a load of feed and a lot of other things done. It was after dark when we got home and never in your life did you see such a barnyard mixture. ' Gwendoline didn't come in that morning so we put her in the shoot pen with a lot of hay after we hunted her up in the big pasture. Well I wired all the gates but she horned the solid door going from the shed to trap open and got out into the trap with the boys, guess they tore the fence down in the corner because it was down and she had gotten into the big pasture and Prince y, Anna and Princesses' calves were out. So far as we know though no real damage was done however Teeter is the one we are uneasy about. One of the hogs got out and we chased it around and around the pen for half an hour and finally it saw the gate or just happened to head that direction. We thought the goats were alright but it was pretty cool and the next day found out a fool had been born and sick so we ' tried hard but lost it. Then we couldn't get anymore meal and I had changed feed on Beauty and she was sick. Well 42 you know how these Spring storms gather, well it all seemed to hit us like a swift hail storm. That's all over now though and we are ready to take on more. We will try to go to town Saturday and get our Income Tax made out. Don will stay here and see about things. Have I told you that Daddy has to go to Court the 151h. We dont dare think what we are going to do. Maybe he will get off if not Don will have to stay out of school. ' Wed, night - I'm so sorry but didn't get this finished and know you wont know whats wrong and you are so good to me. Please don't count letters on me for I sure enjoy yours and I'll write as often as I possibly can. Chas Lee worries me. I finally heard from Chas Lee and he was at Randolph, dont know when he will leave there, said he had been in the Hospital for a week but didn't say if he was out or even better but I imagine he was out & better. He never writes anything much. I'm so afraid he will miss going to school and so many of the boys are learning something. Junior I don't know what I did with your pictures (2) I sent you one of each and I dont know if they are ' here, thought maybe you took them back you. 1 just wanted to know as I was trying to get them straightened out. We killed a hog this afternoon so guess we will eat for a few days. We have two left. I'll be glad when they are gone because we sure need the pen. Saw Lorraine and Mary Ellen and they wanted your address but I remembered what I got you into the last time so I didn 't give it to them. They are both very pretty. I can't stay awake any longer so will have to stop. Oh yes I had the little poem we like so well printed so you can carry it in your billfold. ' Your own Mother Ree. P.S. Your grades sure sound good. I'm so proud of you. God bless McArthur. Just heard about his victory. If they don't hold him down he'll win before next election. March 7, 43 College Station, Texas ' (Written on Texas A&M College embossed stationery) Dear Folks, Just for a change, I will write you all on some good paper with a fountain pen. I'll bet if you check back you will find that I haven't written this way in a coon's age. I think I mentioned the Air Corps (1,200 strong) which moved in. I understand that they are going to send 600 Army Engineers here to take courses. Tuesday we received an order to move 3 to a room ' which is awfully crowded and everybody had gotten nearly moved when an order came through to move back. There were sure some disgusted boys chasing around here. However, I understand that the order to move is effective tommorrow so I guess my little one room paradise will be no more. ' I have been taking Letter Quizes right and left this week and as yet have gotten but one result which was the 100 on M.E. I had a daily quiz in Bull Text on which I made 92. 1 guess the next letter or even perhaps this one before I get through with it will contain a lot of news bout the grades. I must stop now and study for I have Chemistry tommorrow. Well here it is Saturday and I have grieviously neglected your letter. It made me rather ashamed of myself when I received your wonderful letter this morning. Really though, there has been so much happening that I don't have time to think. I have moved in with Charlie Anderson and Ervin Bilderback, both grand guys. They are also members of the track team and Bilderback is top notch while I can beat Anderson. You'd be surprised how much I know about what is going on back home by reading the paper. For instance I saw where the Pete Allisons from Kerrville had spent last Sunday with you. I wasn't even aware that you were aquainted with the city lawyer. You mentioned your loss of track of the pictures of me. I only brought one back with me at midterm so the rest are bound to be there somewhere. You also mentioned Mary Ellen and Lorraine and I guess you did the right thing because I really don't have time to write or get entangled even though they are grand girls. There is an awful wind blowing here today and I don't know when it will stop. Every tine I think of it, I think of what you are going through. 43 you know how these Spring storms gather, well it all seemed to hit us like a swift hail storm. That's all over now though and we are ready to take on more. We will try to go to town Saturday and get our Income Tax made out. Don will stay here and see about things. Have I told you that Daddy has to go to Court the 15'h. We dont dare think what we are going to do. Maybe he will get off if not Don will have to stay out of school. ' Wed night - I'm so sorry but didn't get this finished and know you wont know whats wrong and you are so good to me. Please don't count letters on me for I sure enjoy yours and I'll write as often as I possibly can. Chas Lee worries me. Ifinally heard from Chas Lee and he was at Randolph, dont know when he will leave there, said he ' had been in the Hospital for a week but didn't say if he was out or even better but I imagine he was out & better. He never writes anything much. I'm so afraid he will miss going to school and so many of the boys are learning something. Junior I don't know what I did with your pictures (2) I sent you one of each and I dont know if they are ' here, thought maybe you took them back you. I just wanted to know as I was trying to get them straightened out. We killed a hog this afternoon so guess we will eat for a few days. We have two left. I'll be glad when they are gone because we sure need the pen. Saw Lorraine and Mary Ellen and they wanted your address but I remembered what I got you into the last time so I didn 't give it to them. They are both very pretty. I can't stay awake any longer so will have to stop. Oh yes I had the little poem we like so well printed so you can carry it in your billfold. Your own Mother Ree. P.S. Your grades sure sound good. I'm so proud of you. God bless McArthur. Just heard about his victory. If they don't hold him down he'll win before next election. March 7, '43 College Station, Texas ' (Written on Texas A&M College embossed stationery) Dear Folks, ' Just for a change, I will write you all on some good paper with a fountain pen. I'll bet if you check back you will find that I haven't written this way in a coon's age. I think I mentioned the Air Corps (1,200 strong) which moved in. I understand that they are going to send 600 Army Engineers here to take courses. Tuesday we received an order to move 3 to a room ' which is awfully crowded and everybody had gotten nearly moved when an order came through to move back. There were sure some disgusted boys chasing around here. However, I understand that the order to move is effective tommorrow so I guess my little one room paradise will be no more. ' I have been taking Letter Quizes right and left this week and as yet have gotten but one result which was the 100 on M.E. I had a daily quiz in Bull Text on which I made 92. 1 guess the next letter or even perhaps this one before I get through with it will contain a lot of news bout the grades. I must stop now and study for I have ' Chemistry tommorrow. Well here it is Saturday and I have grieviously neglected your letter. It made me rather ashamed of myself when I received your wonderful letter this morning. Really though, there has been so much happening that I don't have time to think. I have moved in with Charlie Anderson and Ervin Bilderback, both grand guys. They are also members of the track team and Bilderback is top notch while I can beat Anderson. You'd be surprised how much I know about what is going on back home by reading the paper. ' For instance I saw where the Pete Allisons from Kerrville had spent last Sunday with you. I wasn't even aware that you were aquainted with the city lawyer. You mentioned your loss of track of the pictures of me. I only brought one back with me at midterm so the rest are bound to be there somewhere. You also mentioned Mary Ellen and Lorraine and I guess you did the right thing because I really don't have time to write or get entangled even though they are grand girls. There is an awful wind blowing here today and I don't know when it will stop. Every tine I think of it, I think of what you are going through. ' 43 I , More about my grades which really aren't so good and I am fighting to keep my head above water. I made an 80 on my chemistry Letter quiz which rather dissapointed me as I had hoped to do better. I got a weekly set of problems back in M.E. and had a 100 which brings my average up to. ' My ears are slightly aching this afternoon, too much wind I guess. I hope Charles Lee is alright; I just don't understand what is the matter with him. There are rumors chasing around that we are going to get whipped with a board this afternoon. All of the Seniors are gone and the sophomores have pretty free rein. I take an Algebra letter quiz Monday which is the last letter quiz to be taken. The rest of them are taken and I am shakily awaiting results. The Air Corps really drills beautiful - long full squads and evenly matched in height. They ' apparently are well settled and I understand that a large proportion are former Aggies. The boys are holding a bull session in the room now but I have about run out of interesting material so I guess it is about time to quit. Ran two miles yesterday, but don't guess I will run much today because of the wind. , Pete, by golly, I'll bet I can tell you what kind of lamb that is that I have. If it is as mother says from that large white topped buck from Pipe Creek - nuff said!!! Love, Junior ' March 10, 43 College Station, Texas ' ( Ed. Note: A postcard with campus picture of Mess Hall) Dear Folks - Did you get the telegram? German measles - in hospital 3 days - no running until Monday - little studying. I got out this morning - doing fine although my classes are all wrecked. Love to all - Junior. Letter in about a week. March 10, 1943 Post Card ' Dearest Chatter, Sorry, no letter--German measles. I was in the hospital until this morning. Three days. Little studying--no writing--no running. I hope I never see soup again. As ever, Clarence P. S. Letter when eyes are stronger. t March 11, 1943 Just a line-- Aggie style Dearest Chatter, guess you got the card and it contained the literal truth. I've been getting letters right and left and ' can't answer them cause of the strain that measles puts on your eyes. I had a very tiresome time of it at the hospital. We told each other dirty jokes until everybody ran out and then we waited from one meal the the next. The nurses must have been nearly crazy by the time ' we got through with them. We did everything from shaking the trermometers down to bribing the negro porters. Then for pastime we prshed each other's beds out in the hall. I went back over this morning to get a heat treatment on my shins which are pretty sore (shin splints from track). They had a de-icer technician in there that would sure pass the test. I just lay there ' and watched her and something was sure cooking. I found out later it ws my leg which she had blistered. George may be sent down here as all the bunch of air corps here now is from Sheppard Field. I'll be glad when this semester is up. I'll be 19 shortly and I'm a'raring to go. I guess I had better quit as my eyes are very weak. Just Flywheel 44 ' ' March 13, '43 College Station, Texas Dear Folks, I will write just a note as my eyes don't feel too good tonight. I got into the hospital Sunday morning. I had a kernel under my ear as well as others elsewhere around my head and wanted to get something to put on them. I dropped by the hospital on my way to church and the doctor promptly signed me up in the hospital. I languished therefor three days before he let me out. I never could see any breaking out and the only noticeable effects from the darned things were this ease of strain to the eyes. ' There is practically an epedemic of the german measles here now and also a lot of mumps. One of my "old ladies" is gone to Laredo today to compete in the Border Olympics tommorrow. The other one is as mean as ever. There wan an awful tear on today. Nearly everybody got a board used on them. Somehow I ' escaped. Guess I am just lucky or the Juniors and Seniors like me. Tuesday's Batl says that Engineering students will be deferred upon request but I think I will go ahead and get into it at the end of this semester. ' Letter from Grandma today says that Vernon Merritt died of heart failure. Any gossip? My eyes are bothering me considerable so I had better quit for the night. Love, Junior ' P.S. - Sorry no envelopes. Written Thursday. I am mailing this Saturday morning. I ought to be kicked. March 11, '43 I Mountain Home, Texas Sunday ' Dear Junior - I just have a few minutes to write. I've been been drunk all day, my head going round in circles, me too, for that matter. Guess I'll feel better tomorrow, just a sinus trouble I think from taking the last norther too much. Well we haven't gotten that rain yet. Still each time we have had prospects seems like it mists a little more. ' Sure been a good many years since we have been in this shape, but it may rain soon and you know how fast the green stuff comes when it does. We intended to go to town Sat. but it was too cold, below freezing. Guess we will go in the morning. Wed. Morn - So sorry I didn't get this finished but I've been sick and am yet, but better. I felt terribly bad but we needed to go to town so we went in Mon. and I've sure paid. Dont know what is wrong but dont worry. I'll go to a doctor this afternoon if I'm not better, acts like a toxic poisin from my kidney but some others have had a lot the same so guess it will wear off. Don't think I've slept more than four hours in the last three days. Did I tell you David is getting married and buying a ranch lord know if he's going back or not (to China). We got an invitation to the wedding and reception but we don't go to anything since the war is on. I rode to town with Lucey Mae and she said she and Thomas are going to A&M this weekend. Lots of people are going everywhere. You know we have gas but the money spent on it should be spent more wisely. We are very proud of our A sticker. Vernon Merrit died Sunday morning with a heart attack. Grandma and all of them went to the services but we didn't go. ' We have had no rain and things are really looking bad but we have very promising clouds today so it may turn loose most any time. My dear I can't write more I'm so weak and I have to get around someway and help. Think I'll feel more ' like writing you in a few days. We know nothing more about Chas Lee as he has not written but one letter in three weeks. Guess we will have to forget him as he cares so little for us. God will bless you for being so thoughtful. Your own Mother Ree. 1 P.S. Why didn't you tell me? A little bird told me you had been to see Virginia. Of course I tried to act as if I knew all about it. Hope you had a nice time. OK as long as not serious. 45 March 13, '43 Mountain Home, Texas Thursday , Dear Junior - At last we heard from Chas Lee and he is at Sheppard Field and I suppose is all right. Said he had just , gotten there went upon a pullman and had a good time. Said they were assigned to a combat squadron on B26s the fastest bombers in the world. Didn't know just what type of work he would have. His address is -Pvt. Charles L. Leinweber 18,157, 7,948 Barracks 884, 317`h Tech. School Squad. Sheppard Field, Texas. I am feeling better today. Dont know whats been wrong unless it is a toxic poisin, from my kidney. I may have to go to a doctor yet but I hope not. Sure suffered for a few days but am just weak now. I'm up most of the time and think tomorrow I may go along as usual. Daddy has to leave Monday and I sure have to be OK Hope he doesn't get caught on any cases. The clouds look good this afternoon. Looks like you might stick your finger through one and it would pour ' down but nothing doing so far. Sure hope you pass in your grades. You sure made some good ones. If you have your grades and you 'vc failed and have to quit, see ifyou can find Lucy Mae and Thomas and maybe you can get a ride home with them. , They are going up there this weekend. Daddy has hone to the Harbison this afternoon to take Dollie and put another one or two over A little grade heiffer is out today and suppose she has a calf but I don't feel like seeing about her. , Junior, Virginia and Evelyn (peach trees) are sure fast fellas. They were in full bloom when the last cold spell came and it froze all the blooms however there may be a few more blooms. The other trees are not blooming yet. I must stop now as I'm not too strong. If you come home now or later dont forget about your sugar ration book, bedding etc. Pack what you have extra in a box and ship home. Sure hope you get by OK and then you can finish when you come back. If you need more money be sure and let me know. Your own Mother Ree. ' March 18, '43 College Station, Texas , Dear Folks, Well, I guess you think I am dead and I darned near am. I had a relapse and had to go through 4 more days in that darned hospital. I just broke out in spots again and this time they itched like the devil which sure bothered me. Got out this morning and I feel fine. I never ran any fever this time and my pulse rate was around 45 most of the time which is way below normal. That means I am in fine shape. I sure was sorry to here that you are sick, Mother, and me flat of my back and unable to write for fear of sending a measle along with the letter. I don't suppose it rained because it didn't here. Well I am so darned far behind in my studies that I don't know whether I can catch up in some of them or not. I missed two full weeks of Engineering Drawing and I was having a time in it anyway. About the only think I did when I got out last Wednesday was to take my algebra A quiz on which I made 92. Sure disgusted me because I wanted a 100 so bad. That gives me a B average in Algebra and I was hoping for an A. All of the contract men (Juniors and Seniors) are reporting for duty next week. They will be ' inducted straight into the army and sent back here for school at $50 per. I understand that they are going to wear G. I. instead of serge, although they have their choice. That bunch includes Rusty Peters who is going to Camp Beauregard Louisianna for induction. ' Say, all of the boys here in the Air Corps are from Sheppard Field and they definitely don't like the place. I will write Charles as soon as I get the time. I noticed an announcement in the Batl which I am sending along. It may be the spot I've been looking for as I have been waiting for some kind of an openning for me as a Naval Officer. Had a letter from Grandma Harper and she seemed to think that you all were terribly worried about the big brother. Don't worry so darned much! He's practically grown now and if he messes up his life a little he has brains enough to straighten it out. Nothing much you can say or do will help. We are having a Final Review Saturday and it is scheduled as the last Aggie Review of the war. A. and M. is nearly gone for the duration. 46 ' ' You mentioned something about my Denton trip in one of your last letters. I suppose you saw Virginia. Nothing serious. I wanted to see the place and went up on five bucks which Grandma Leinweber gave me for Christmas. I must close now. Take care of yourselves. Love Junior P.S. Couldn't find a Batl with that article in it so I will explain. The Navy has opened up a new program for college boys; V-12. This carries a monthly pay ratio and a probationary commission in the Navy, Marines, or Coast Guard. (Ensign in the Navy or Coast Guard or Shavetail in the marines.) This would mean leaving A. and M. and I am going to investigate it thoroughly. Junior. ' March 19, '43 Mountain Home, Texas 1 Dear Junior - Well I'm lots better now but do believe I have Spring Fever today. It's so hot guess we are going to get a real norther. I believe the stock looks better, there's some small green stuff coming up and let's hope it doevn 't g- hit No rain, looked like we might get a drop or two this morning but it's gone now. The buds are coming too. I sure hope nothing happens but I'm afraid that Hell's goin to be poppin for your Mom and Pop. There's very few kids this year and lots of lambs but most people have no range and if they feed, the ewes wont claim them and if they ' dont feed they starve. I dont know yet you ours are going to do. We start lambing and kidding the bunch at Harbison on the 25`x'. Lots of nannies didn't breed and others lost theirs. There's going to be several calves soon. Daddy went to the Harbison to see about White Ears and found her with a real pretty calf. All the calves now are marked so pretty. ' Do you know I've never gotten your telegram - I've wondered about your grades but suppose they will send them before long. I know they (your studies) are hard but I hope somehow you can finish this year. I thought when I wrote again I'd be able to write a long letter but can't think of any thing but one of those ' 'hard time' epistles of mine. Let me see I forgot to tell you that Daddy got off Monday and had to go back today. I do hope he can come home because he wants to shear the 22"d I'm sending a bill to you that came sometime ago and I forgot to send it. Get it straightened out. Oh yes a 1 bill came foryour church dues for five dollars and I thought you had paid it. Maybe you can pay it when you get in the army or when you sell some wool. Did I tell you Aunt Veda has had a stroke. She writes like she must be losing her mind. Frank will have to put her in a Hospital there in Dallas. Poor kid I feel so sorry for him. We never see a car out here but the planes are going all the time. They almost hit the tops of the trees this morning and one is roaring by now. Daddy has almost finished the plowing in the field. He took the fenders off of the wheels and he looks rather modern going around in circles. He hasn 't finished spading the garden but I have planted the potatoes and onions. I want to get some soil and plant my tomato seed this afternoon. Didn't get any coffee and I'm so sleepy and cant think. ' Your own Mother Ree. P.S. You must not have had German measles or you would breakout. You may still have it in your system. I hope you don't have to run too much getting hot -wont do you any good. Better get shades for your eyes. (Fri. morning) Daddy got caught on a case - dont know how long it will last. He came home last night and will ' until they turn the case over to them. Gee how I'd love to have a man. Ha ha! ' March 24, '43 College Station, Texas Dear Folks - Just a hasty note about what is going on up here and I really shouldn't be writing it because I have some heavy quizes tommorrow. I'm sorry I haven't gotten to write sooner but I have been picking up the loose ends and trying to patch them together. You'll need have no worries about me flunking out although , 47 I have taken an awful beating from the measles. I had a good chance of passing all my hours but now I ' will flunk Descriptive Geometry and possibly Chemistry at mid-term. Of course I will probably raise or lower all my grades as the case may be by the end of the term. This Engineering course is sure a honey. None of this silver platter stuff like the Agriculture courses. Now for a little local news - I got a little whipping from a contract junior this afternoon due to the fact that he was leaving for induction. A regular army major and various sergeants are scheduled to move ' in in this ramp and this floor which is the bottom one. It may mean another move for me or it may mean that I will be one of the boys who will be skating on thin ice as it were. Below is a set up of the floor and my position as rumored. (Diagram shows "my room", bath room, Majors room (rumor), hall, door, and Hot Spot.) ' I ran 3 hard half miles this afternoon. You know, the way I figure it my physical condition is darned near as important as a college course and in fact we are getting credit and grade points for one hour. It will help just as much when I get in to be in top notch physical shape s it will to have a working knowledge of M.E. for instance. ' Well, I guess I had better quit this for tonight as it is about time for taps and I must have those prescious 7'/z hours of sleep. Guess I had better mail this too although it is awful short becau,r- you all will be worried. ' Love, Junior ' March 28,'43 College Station, Texas Dear Folks, , Just another note - seems like I am never caught up on my work now. I got behind and it doesn't seem like I'll ever catch up. I may be passing just 9 hrs when the grades come out next week, however I have already begun pulling 5 hrs up and will probably get 14 hours out of the semester which means I will be flunking Descriptive Geometry which I just don't understand. I will have from 10 to 16 grade points at ' mid term and possibly more at the end of the semester. Nothing much has been happening but those confounded deer had better be careful how they step if I ever get home during deer season again. We had rifle marksmanship tests on our last drill day. ' All the other boys had had a weeks practice while I was in the hospital. I took the rifle (a 22. with weight, action, sight, etc. like a 30.06) and placed 10 shots in the bullseye at fifty feet approximately as it is pictured below for a perfect score on the prone shots. (Note: drawing shows target w/ all shots in bullseye or on edge of it). That's not bad for fifty feet and I was one of three out of the 50 in the group who did that. ' It was the first dealings 1 had ever had with peep sights aside from the one on the 250 that kicked me in the eye way back when. Well it's been over two months since I was home and it'll be nearly as long before I am home again. Sunday is my birthday and I'll be 19. Seems like the months go by in endless procession. I'm getting a little stale I guess. I haven't even been to Bryan since mid-term. I got a good whipping with a walnut board from a sophomore the other day for no reason in the world other than to satiate his desire to practice for the fun of the thing. The system of beating is to give a ' series of warmup licks until the victim says he is ready - then 3 hard licks in quick succession. It sure gives a warm if not very pleasant sensation. The sophomores rarely bleed at me anymore. They have about decided that they like me I think. We have a track meet up here tomorrow. I may run and I may not. It is against Rice Institute. I'm in track just like everything else - good but not good enough. Maybe someday I'll excel in something. Then I'll be happy. We had a wonderful rain over here a couple of days ago and the trees are leafing out. I hope you , got the same but sure hope it didn't catch any goats. I've got to write the grandparents this weekend. I've neglected writing something awful because of the measles and their aftermath. I saw the cadet colonel (Mellins) back today and he had the illest fitting G.I's and the closest cropped hair you ever saw. I wonder if he's going to kick Uncle Sammy out of the school for giving him a burrhead. Our Juniors and Seniors will be back in a day or two - all in snappy G.I's. There's really nothing to add but I will delay this till tommorrow night and then mail it. Well, got a good letter from Charles Lee today. Also got your telegram which kinda scared me. I was over at the track meet and one of the fish came over and told me about it. At first it struck me as 48 ' queer (I was expecting bad news) but then when I thought how much rain means and no rain in months I ' could just picture you all. Happy as larks. More about Charles Lee. He says that he will start school soon for an engineer (with a commission as a reward possibly if he is in upper ten percent.) He is a P.F.C. technically and will get his stripes when he starts school. He says he has written you twice sence he got a letter from you. Maybe ' there's a slipup in the mail. I quote him on Evelyn, "As Evelyn and I are, I haven't written her in 5 months and I don't expect to anytime soon. I don't know why we especially broke up, unless we were so different. She's a nice gal though." Unquote. I'm getting a little disgusted and a little homesick but I can took it and I'll be darned if I ain't gonna dish it out this last half of the semester. I broke a watch crystal today and splurged myself to a new shirt and I am feeling a little more light- hearted. Guess it will go away in time. I really don't know any more. Love Junior. March 28, '43 Mountain Home, Texas The C L Leinweber's Ranch Sunday. S: 00 P.M. Dear Mr. Leinweber - Since you are nineteen you are entitled to the handle of Mr. Have been busy all day just now getting where I can spend a few minutes with you. Today I tried to look back nineteen year and remember the different things that happened. All through the months before you were born you were mine alone, I knew the soft beat ofyour little heart -your every move your warm little body depending on me for your very existence. Then the day you were born you was such a pretty baby so fat such long sweeping eyelashes and dimples but no girl. For several hours I resented it so but then you snuggled so close and wrapped your tiny fingers around mine I was glad it was you, a beX. At times I have thought I really wanted a girl but as the years have gone by I'm glad I have boys, fraid I ' wouldn't understand a girl. You remember how I leaned on your shoulder at the table and you'd pat my head, finally when I got too heavy you'd grunt a little and I knew it was time to give you a rest. When I was so sick and my body grew weaker and yours stronger I realize now the way I depended on you. When I was suffering so you would never leave me far and ask me every little bit ifyou could get me a drink etc. Your ambitions and all have been a lot like I had at your age and I think it hurt me more to know you couldn't go to college than any other one thing. Knowing my children could not have their chance made me almost hate the ranch but I saw noway to remedy it. You would have very likely been a senior now. Let us hope that some day you can be. You have grown into a fine young man an individual of strong character and whatever you do, do not let the army make you bitter if you can help it. We have really been having heck. Now trying to dig out of the last spell. We had a wonderful rain three inches most all went in the ground. Of course the ewes will not pick up in time to save near all the lambs but there will be some and we won't lose too many ewes. Daddy is going to have a pretty good kid crop and they are doing fine here. The registered goats were not doing like they should last fall if you remember so I think twenty kids will ' cover the bunch. I hope we will drench this year when they need it. Most goats are doing bad. The Mexican said that Daddies goats at the Harbison was the fattest he has seen. Cattle are fine. I am sending you a dollar to get something with and if you need more money be sure and let me know. We went to town, and rushed right out for feed but I took time to send you a telegram as I had sent nothing. Wanted to ' say happy birthday but it's against the law so had to word it different. You told me you sent me a telegram but never told me what about. They had no account of it there so you had better go to the office and see why it wasn't sent on. Maybe you gave Mountain Home and it would have to go Kerrville and then phone it on out. If you had the address right. I thought you was telling me you were in the hospital Junior don't run too much ifyou are not over the measles good - that's probably the reason you had trouble. Here's a little bit of Motherly advice: rather straight I guess but anyway let me tell you not to fool with mumps when you the symptoms or think you have just lay around on the bed, don't exert yourself at all because if 1 you have trouble with it you will be a mutton. Clyde Merrit, Grace's brother - a man between his thirties and forties is about dead with mumps. Don't know why but it was so serious they called for his people to come. ' 49 I have to plant garden next week and do a lot of other things. We won't take stuff off of feed for a week yet ' and how glad I'll be. It's sure been a task. Daddy & Don went to the Harbison today to get the kids straight. They had 20 yesterday. Don stayed with ' them while we went to town and got feed. Poor Daddy is sure tired. Yesterday a man offered him $25.00 cash an acre for his place and think he's in the notion to sell. If you boys were here we might sell it and get one more conveniently situated. ' Don't guess I've told it all but went to sleep on it and Don is ready to go. Don't worry about us. Got a letter from Chas Lee said he had been in the hospital, acute indigestion. Poor kid he's having a hard time. I'll send his letter to you next time. With a Mother's Love Ree. March 31, 1943 Dearest Chatter, This place is a letter writing establishment tonight. One of my "old ladies" is writing to his girl friend back in his Michigan home. I guess I should have said fiancee. We've been kidding him about t using 3 pages to tell her that he loves her. He's a grand guy and the coach called him Yankee so damyankee he is. You mentioned George and the fact that he was at Shepard Field (I believe). It he is there, that is ' where my brother is. It's an awful place, I here. Well, my hair is going by the shears again. The Juniors and Seniors came back from their induction into the Army as B.A.P.s with the darnedest G.I. haircuts I ever saw. They issued an edict calling for total cutting of the hair in the battery. I failed to comply and got a good beating with a board with ' a promise of more which is prompting me to get a burrhead. Alright, the darned old Owls whipped us in our track meet, but it was only because our top men were away getting sworn into the Army. ' You've probably heard a lot about Reveille, our mascot. The poor old dog is getting up in years and spends her daylight hours in my hole. Her spot is the middle of the floor and nobody disturbs her. If there is a movement in the hall she barks and threatens to tear the intruders to death (but no teeth), even to Major Breland of the CAC. ' Well, I'm on the move again, this time to the 3rd floor as the new privates in Uncle Sam's Army are going to occupy my room. Guess I had better quit and get my 7 1/2 hours of sleep as the bugle will blow in a little while. Guess I'll getaway from this place in June for about 10 days. Maybe I'll be able to sleep then. ' Dreamily, Flywheel (Ed. Note: Envelope has cartoon on front w/ three G.I's in a jeep, flying over a hill with one wheel falling off - the , driver is saying, "Watch this neat 3-point landing!") April 1, '43 College Station, Texas Dear Folks, ' Just a word in between study periods. It is 10 oclock and I have an hour and a half before Taps. We aren't (freshmen) allowed to go to bed before Taps. I have the usual Chemistry tommorrow and am ' studying hard to bring it up as I will be flunking it when the grades come out, thanks to the hospital, etc. You will get my grades early next week and they wont be good, although I am bringing them up as fast as I can. Well, I'm on the move again. I don't know where we are moving but I imagine it will be to the top , stoop (3rd floor) of this or another ramp in the hall. I sure hate to move because I have gotten pretty well settled and it isn't any easy job to move. When the juniors and seniors came back from their induction into the army they had the prettiest G.I. haircuts you ever saw. They promptly issued an edict ordering us to have ours done the same way. It took me a good beating and a threatening of demerits to get mine wrecked again. Some of the sophomores are still holding out and I imagine they will end up all the worse for their trouble. What hurt the most was the fact that I spent .50 for one Saturday and had to spend another .50 today to get it trimmed a little more. I told the barber to take off as little as possible to make it look as if he had taken off an awful lot. 50 , 1 ' I guess everything is just beginning to turn slightly green there by now. It is Y getting simply beautiful here. Of course the trees are only slightly budded out but they will be in full leaf in 3 weeks time. I sure miss the black jacks and spanish oaks as they have the prettiest green leaves of any of the trees in the spring. You mentioned the Mexican's opinion on the rotundity of the goats. Have you one hired or is he ' Schreiner's "mejicano". You mentioned a dollar in your letter. Thought I might mention that it didn't show up. Guess you forgot to put it in. I don't get this about it being against the law to send birthday greetings. Incidentally the telegram I attempted to send while I was in the hospital never got out of the hospital. I have been over the measles for a coon's age and it's just a month and twenty before I get home again and into whatever is waiting next. I here the food as well as everything else is bad at Sheppard Field. Perhaps that is why Charles ' Lee got indigestion. I watched Rusty Peters get his curly locks bobbed this morning and Wheeler Mosty is in G. Is and Billy Morriss is still hanging on. I don't anything much else interesting except a little something I picked up in Chemistry. The ' brilliant diamond and the flaky graphite are both pure carbon. It just goes to show how small the difference is between the magnificent and the insignificant, the brilliant and the dull, love and hate, or peace and war. ' You know, Mother, I get your old drowsy spells now but'it's just from pure lack of sleep. Fight now, Charlie and Bill are both dozing away in their chairs and I still have 45 minutes to go before bed. Well my last birthday was spent at the Harbison, this one was spent in comparitive quiet over here. Where will the next one be spent? Tokyo? Berlin? North Africa? A college? Or in a 6X6X3 hole in the ground? Only time can tell and time is flying. Love Junior. P.S. Would be longer but I must study. ' April S, '43 Mountain Home, Texas ' C. L. Leinweber's Ranch. "In the Heart of the Hills " Sunday ' Dear Junior - For one time I'm sitting down in the middle of the day to write you a letter, usually I try to write at night and cant even think, needless to say I may go to sleep in a few minutes as we only have one cup of coffee and the ' strong influence of that has been gone for several hours. Did I tell you I finally framed your pictures along with your Daddy's and have them where you all are smiling at me all day. You've been gone longer this time than usual and I'm beginning to want to see you bad but old boy we will have to keep our chin up for in this time of back-boneless people someone must use the ever sensible horse sense. I, too, wonder where all of us will be a year from now, and while we are wondering suppose you try to visualize ten years from now, unless we have become a christian nation again I'm afraid God will now favor us as ' always which of course is the thing that has made us a great nation. A Godless nation will fall and as History repeats its self many times along this line we need nothing else to convince us. The Klein boys have anew dog, seems to be pretty good. They hunt every weekend. Week before last they ' went over to the Y.Oand they ran a wildcat but didn't get it (panther.) Mr. Snow came out with his pack of dogs but didn't get it. A plane fell over there this week - killed two boys and hurt two. I got a letter form Mary Louise wanted to know what was wrong that you didn't write, felt like writing back and explain how little in common we have. She wanted a picture but didn't think David would especially like the nationality but just decided the best thing would be to be "too busy" to write. All but one of the grade cows have had calves but one cow, all heiJJ`ers but one, they are sure pretty perfectly marked and such pretty heads, and straight backs. Eight of the registered Boothe cows have calves three heiffers (Louise, Stanway 12`h and Gwendoline) You should see Paulines calf it's a real picture. Sweetie Nettie will calf before long. You won 't know the bulls they are sure pretty. The goats look good now. Since I took them over 1 persuaded Daddy to let me feed them so they'd come in and they sure needed it. I am giving them souy (don't ' 51 know how to spell it), bean cake, 41 % protein and they just gobble gobble and it's gone. We will have to clip the , kids in the next few days. One nannie came in last night and left hers out. I've been watching them so close so guess I'll turn her our first and see if she will go to it this morning. Daddy has lost about 10% of his nannies with ' bloodpoison again. Think he's about in the humor to sell them all and run muttons over there. He says the kids are real pretty though, has ninety some where now. Suppose you saw in the paper where Junior Priour is going to marry Bertha Real and I believe the May Harman that works at Lehmanns's one of the Baskin boys. ' I saw Herman Sainger in town the other day and he said the two older Kincaid boys were already in the army and the little one has a birthday soon and would be inducted right away, just as soon as school is out. I sure feel sorryfor those little fellows just barely eighteen. I still get furious when I seeable bodied men trotting round ' flirting with the soldiers sweethearts and wives and then sending young boys to do their fighting for them. We have lost all the hope we ever had though, maybe our nation is slated to go down as I said. The red buds and plum blossoms are very pretty now and the leaves are fully out on most trees. The blooms on the liveoaks are fairly pushing the old dead leaves off and on the flatplaces is a mat ofshort green grass. ' Thanks to God for the rain. Would have saved a lot if it had come a little sooner. There's a big loss in ewes and lambs but of course will get by with some. Wish I could have fed you boys sheep but had nowhere to put them to get them in to eat. Guess we can take afresh start because when you can't sell them for more than 2.50 isn't mach ' lost one way or the other and certainly no gain on them -just a way to pass the time off with work. Have been hearing from Chas Lee real often lately. and haven't had time to write to him mw h ,fir,- glad when he's out of that place however he complains very little. I'm afraid he's not going to get much out of school - says a lot of the teachers are from nineteen on up and g Lr1s. (More communist free love I guess.) I wish ' women would stay at home until it's necessaryfor them to go. (Aren't I bitter though) Must stop now. Mother is very proud of any thing you do and I think you have done fine to get by as long as you have to have been out of school so long. Stop running so much it's sapping your strength. Get a box of , Vimsons and take. Mother Ree April 6, '43 ' College Station, Texas Dear Folks, ' Seems like there is never anything to say anymore but here goes with all the little prittle and prattle. , The boys are sitting here discussing things in general and as usual it is hard to think. Lot of "pipples" here today, from around the country - mostly Air Corps wives. Also saw Edna Real here today with Dickie Haas - the little speed merchant footballer from Corpus Christi. She has had dates with him every few months for the last year. I guess Dale is definitely busted up with her. I guess you will have gotten my grades by the time you read this. I am passing about 11 hours and 20 grade points as compared to the 12 and twelve I passed last semester. I will be able to pass chemistry though by the end of the semester as I was hurt awfully in that by the stay in the hospital. They had a big dance here last night in a grove of cedars out next to the railroad station. Darned ' band had an amplifier and it bothered my sleep even though it was a quarter of a mile off across the parade ground. I believe I sent you a postcard of Law and Puryear halls and you probably saw the space around them. They are huge L shaped dorms hooked close to form a V with a sunken park in between. , In front is the main parade ground of the old area where the final reviews are held. Law and Puryear are the first buildings on the Esplanade which is one of the two main official entrances. The Esplanade comes down to the main campus from the Railway Station. Don't guess I can explain it as a person would have to see it to understand. ' I went to all the church services today as usual. They have asked me to take the program at the young peoples meeting next week. It is something that a freshman seldom gets the chance to do. I certainly enjoy the meeting there. The pastor is the number 1 minister here and teaches bible in the , college. Among the Presbyterian boys I've made friends with is Jack Orrick who is Sergeant Major of the Corps (highest junior rank) and would neccesarily be Cadet Colonel next year. He is a grand guy and would make a fine Cadet Colonel. I have another $44 maintenance fee (the last) coming up on the 8th. I sent a request in for a ' statement from the bank. I am not quite sure but I think I have enough to last. 52 ' 1 ' Everything is certainly beautiful around here. The trees are so green and budding and life is indeed wonderful, if dull. I went swimming today and nearly drownded myself on general principles. We are going back into khakis Wednesday and we are sure glad for wools get plenty hot after the cool days are over. I wrote Charles Lee today and I've got to write Grandma Leinweber if I get the time. Right at present I am out of stationary. ' I took the Navy V12 test - don't know yet how I came out and don't know whether I'll follow through on it or not if I can. Guess I'll hold up production on this letter until tommorrow and see if something else of interest doesn't pop up. ' It is now Monday night and nothing important has happened. No hard lessons today and I did an easy 1 % miles in track and a hard quarter mile. Guess I had better sign off as I can always find something to study. It is 8:45 and I will probably study Bull Text and Chemistry until 10:30. Love Junior April 8, 43 ' College Station, Texas Dear Folks, Just a note to explain the enclosed. It looks like a good bet to continue my education and prepare myself for service too if I can make it. I doubt if I can but it won't do any harm to try. The enclosed form is necessary and the openings are limited so please rush as soon as possible. There's nothing much happening. I got my bank notice and I believe I am going to make the ' grade in the money department. There was a mild rain this morning and it is stormy and rainy. Need a bible for preperation on my program for Sunday night but guess I can borrow one. I've got to close now as have a million and one things to do. Love, Junior i April ]7, '43 Mountain Home, Texas The Ranch Thursday f Dear Junior - Looks like it might rain tonight. Daddy has most of the fieldplanted in Sudan. He will finish tomorrow I think. We sure need to mark lambs and Daddy put eleven more goats in that should be sheared. There's so many ' things to do just don't know which way to jump. Me, I've washed ironed worked in the garden and took time off to cook doughnuts. We may run short of sugar but I was hungryfor something sweet. Don was sure thrilled when he came but I told him to lay off, they were no good, had holes in them. News isn't good from McArthur tonight. They have asked so many times for help and finally today they've promised help but let us hope that it will get there in time so they will not make another alamo as they did in the Phillipines and Pearl Harbor through pure neglect. ' I heard a very interesting program over Town Hall on whether the voting age should be lowered or not debated on by four young people high school students. They were sure good, it would be hard to have judged who made the most real zood points. ' We have been catching what lambs come in here. So far we have marked four of yours, 3 ewes and one mutton. Don't know how they are going to turn out. The sheep are so covered with those sheep ticks or flies. Guess we will have to build a vat at each place and dip constantly. I wanted to do something about it a year or so ago but Daddy kept saying he would have to dip but didn't do it. They were even on the goats. It's just one of those new things that show up. You know I've been thinking about your studies. Maybe you had better ease off on the athletics a little and as the fellow says really bear down on those two subjects. I noticed that you had your chemistry grouped in a four 1 hour period. Was that necessary? Sure hurt bad when you miss that day and it is a very essential subject in what you are taking. I've thought about how cross the man was and wondered if you had done anything you shouldn't because it would really be against you in getting in this work. Then again maybe that even though you get in it 53 might still bee too hard. Didyou hear from the other I hope there is something you can do that you like. May said ' they put C.L. in the medical corps. Guess he will carry pots. Chas. Lee says that the most of the young boys have to K.P. all the time up there and said they were getting bitter over it. ' Heard that Floyd Bierschwale sold out $27.50 an acre. Their oldest boy has been taken and is in Colorado or Ariz. Been in about a month studying metereology (guess that's it) must pertain to being a navigator. Poor old Harmon the football player seems to be lost for good. I believe Chas Lee maybe going to get off about the 20`h of May. I wrote him when you would be home and maybe he can make it then. Wouldn't that be grand. About that ' time we will have afresh supply of gas stamps too. My dear I must stop and write to Chas. Lee. He is so good to write now. Seems to like his school. Your own Mother Ree. ' April 22, '43 Mountain Home, Texas t Wednesday Dear Junior - ' Sure wish I had you here now. I'm raking and cleaning below the yard. Sure looks nice but [could use a lift now and then. Don sometimes helps me carry it off but Daddy is too busy. We feel like celebrating this afternoon. He has just finished planting the field in Sudan and is brushing it ' off. I guess it's the first time it was ever in such good shape and all planted. If it makes two good crops he said he would have five hundred bales. Dont you know the stock will enjoy it next winter. I'm so sorry the boys drink so bad now but seems that they are that way all over the world. That's the reason why we will not win the peace even if we win the war. There's so few real christians anymore and too many ' pressure groups. People are not really happy doing those things but once they start the habit ofsin, one calls for another each time a little worse until they seem to have no conscience at all. Our leaders need to about face and I believe the people would because I'm sure they are getting tired of it and have found out its no thrill after all but we lack good leadership. I read your book of Amos and it may be a lot that way. Now we may be getting a chastisement for our sins. In our church we dance, drink go to cocktail parties participate in free love etc. The only thing we can do is to feel sorryfor those who do not have the willpower to think and do for themselves, and live our own individual lives. I wouldn't take a million dollars for the feeling it gives me to be able to walk down the street ' and look God and man in the face with no feeling of a guilty conscience, in other words, `all's well with the world and me. 'I'm so proud you have not given into drinking and I do hope you never do. Be sure and don't mention the subject to other boys because they naturally want everyone to do it and they resent it ifyou dont - will make them , dislike you. Think I would have let the boy lay out there until he came to, sometimes it does them good. Don made 99 on his math final. Don't know what he is making on everything else. If he is really making his grades and she is not giving them to him, they will really come in handy next year when he gets to go to school. Did I tell you Sweetie has a nice little heiffer calf, well marked etc. Do wish you could see them. Down here where Daddy has cut out there's usually a dozen just running and kicking their heels up. Double Domino will have a calf in a few days. Her calf from last year must weigh about 900 pounds. He is sure pretty. Anna's calf is really pretty. Pauline's is the prettiest of all though. ' Thursday Morn - I'm waiting for the fire to get hot to make biscuits so I'd better sign this off as we want to go to town. There's so many things to see about I want to go early. We are out of salt and bull feed. I want to get yourpicture frames today if I can find them. Can't get much in Kerrville. We have heard nothing from your papers , (Army). I too am anxious just about all I think about. Heard over the Radio yesterday the University students will go on as soldiers - makes no dif what course they are taking. Ree. April 23, '43 College Station Dear Folks, Just another note to let you know what is going on. I have been very incapacitated by a good case of poison ivy lately. Haven't been able to do anything and have been going to the hospital taking , shots. I am much better today though and hope to be back on duty by Monday or maybe sooner. 54 ' Nothing has been happening up here. We had a good rain about a week ago but it is all gone now. It gets much hotter here than it does at home. It is rarely below a 100 degrees in the daytime. The food is good and there is plenty of it. However, the water is awful and there is nothing that I will enjoy quite so much as some of that good old home water. We had a little accident in our battalion yesterday. A detail was out working on a commando course and were using dynamite. They set three sticks off and one of them didn't explode. A boy hit the detonator with his pick and was blown in two. A little bad, and careless, gut those things will happen. We're also having a number of casualties from these Northern boys who aren't used to the heat. Can't think of much more so guess I'll quit and write more about our training later when we get ' started. Love Junior ' (NO DATE) College Station, Texas Dear Folks, Well I got the Navy Okay on the quiz I took but I'm not reporting as you all didn't seem to appreciate the idea. I don't know whether I'll make the Army or not and I don't especially give a darn. If make it, fine and dandy. If I don't, I'd just about as soon get into it active. I have education (after a fashion) and military training and I believe I am prepared. Looks like the old movie of A. and M. is coming around. Don't know when they'll have the world premeire. They're already turning on the big buildup lights. I am sending one to you. ' Say Mother, get ready to kick me all over the place because I misplaced that darned birth certificate. I wish you would get a duplicate and keep it. I thought I would have some grades to report but I haven't. I will find out on them later. Bill and Charlie and I have been discussing the problems and everything connected with marriage in the world today. Bill is 19 and is engaged to a girl up north. He is in the E.R.C. and is expecting to be in the army in a few days. You'd be surprised when it is threshed out just at the depressed feeling it gives you. I think Bill was a little the worse for the wear. Guess I had better close now as it is getting dark. I'm sorry the letters aren't long lately but I am studying pretty hard these days - must keep the old nose to the grindstone. Love, Junior ' April '43 College Station, Texas Dear Folks, Just a note to let you know that everything is all right. There's nothing much going on except routine work, and Lord knows there's plenty of that. I am biting in with tooth and nail and am trying to hold my own as well as bring it up a little. No matter what you undertake, whether it is a college course or a race or a job, the last half is always the hardest. A person tends to grow tired or careless and then when the harm is done it is too late. They've shipped out some of the Air Corps and shipped in some more. Only 29 days to go. This Sunday is Easter Sunday. It'll be the first Easter I have spent away from you all. The 7`h is Mother's Day. We had a yell practice on San Jacinto Day and they had Aggie rallies all over the world. Maybe you heard the program over the radio. ' There has been no report as yet on the army or Navy programs. I doubt if I can make them. I would just about as soon get in and try for O.C.S. anyway. I made a 90 and a 100 in Bull text quizes Tuesday. I believe I can raise my grade in that. You know I guess I had better close now because I have three quizes tomorrow. One in every class except Chem lecture. Indeed, it has been that way for the last week or so. I guess they figure, the more quizes they give the better we'll learn it. Love, Junior ' 55 April 29, '43 , Mountain Home, Texas The C.L. Leinweber Ranch ' Wednesday Morning Dear Junior - Daddy is going to town today so I've gotten up at five to write to you. I'm so tired and not ever one minute ' to do anything, reason for no letter. My arm is stiff and sure makes a mess of writing but maybe you can read it. Washed all day yesterday, didn't get to wash last week so was a big one. Don will finish school today and I wont have to have afresh suit each day for him which will really be a lift. ' I hope you got to go to church Easter Sunday. I missed it and sure have loved to have been at church although I did listen to them all day. Dr. Hill's was especially good. I sure needed your assistance for Easter j because I really got drunk. We dipped registered goats all Saturday afternoon. Put the old bath tub out there and ' Daddy built a little platform for them to drain but Don and I had to squeeze most of it off, the sun was so hot guess it baked it in, but I didn't notice the odor of the black leaf forty much guess it was there though because about twelve oclock I woke up so sick could just see goat head going round and round. I got better about noon. We were so tired didn't go anywhere, rested on the bed and hour or so which was a real treat for us. ' They are shearing at Grandma's. Sure is a mess. Most shearers left the country because they wouldn't pay them 20 cents for shearing. Think the C.I.O. must be trying to organize. The ranchmen told them thvI.r c oo,ln pay more than fourteen which is terribly high. Benito has three negros and some little kids. Daddy helped over there and he says they sure are cutting them up. He is going to shear these here but don't know what he will do with ' the Harbison bunch. Again I say we could sure use you boys here and couldn't you make money. Well old Double Domino checked in with a bull calf, more white on its neck than the last one and white up on one leg ha~6vay. I sure wanted a he ffer. What ruined the fun of everything though was the last grade heiffer ' had a beautiful calf (bull) but a red neck. The others were marked so well. The other day Pierce Hoggitt had a man Dara Bible (don't know how to spell) who offered me $1000 for six grade cows and calves and one bull. Guess I was silly not to take it but the tax would be about $250 and just thought I'd keep them. We think cattle and sheep ' will drop soon. In the farm papers they seem to think the scarcity of meat has been planned to cause enough dissatisfaction among the people so they will demand meat from South America. Naturally you know what they will do to us. They told over the radio that they had shipped 30% of our meat to Russia which was bad management if we have to ship it in here. They could leave ours here and buy from South America and ship on lease lend if it's ' necessary. It's all a mess and til we come back to God it just won't be any better. Daddy sold the wool for 42 cents & no commission freight or shrinkage to Frank Montague at Jim's. The Government took it over Sat. night so a lot rushed down and contracted. Schreinerpaid 2'/ cents more but we 1 didn't know it until later. You know the big warehousemen just invited the fellows they wanted and went to Washington and asked the Government to take it over, thinking they would put in the clause that it must be delivered to the warehouses on the railroad and those men would get a commission which plan would automatically take it out of the hands of men like Jim. The way it looks now seems as if it will move thru the same channels so the game , didn't work after all. At least 90% of the growers didn't want it taken over because those bureaus don't know enough to turn anything over to. Don't know what you will do but let us hope that whatever happens it will be best for you under the ' circumstances. Thomas and Lucy Mae went over to A&M (they said) to keep Billie from enlisting. They said he wanted to go on into the Marines now. You know what I'd do if I had it in my power, there wouldn't be any fighting abroad especially for the Jews ' who have denied our Christ and Russia who has denied both Christ and God. They are no better than Germany herself. They can do what they wish though if they just wouldn't allow them to come over here and run us because you know a Godless nation will fall as it always has in History. My dear I'm rambling along again and putting things on your shoulders when you already have your load t and it's up to us at home to clean up and if we do not the lives will be sacrificed in vain. I'm like Madame Chiang Ki Chek. I am worried about civilization. Donis still making A's. So jar has made about 90 on tests. , Sterling and Eileen have an Easter present. A baby girl born Easter morning. Must and please forgive me for not writing more often. Your Mother Ree 1 56 ' May 4, '43 College Station, Texas Dear Folks, ' Thought I'd better catch up on the writing while I have time. Won't be able to write again before Thursday. Well, let's see - looking back over the past weekend, I find that we had a review. The darned thing was pulled off under about 2 hours of 96 degree temperature. We had to wear the little "go to hell" t (overseas) caps. The boys were falling out of the ranks like flies. You know parade rest and attention can fix a fellow up in the heat. The poor sailors from the north were having an especially hard time of it. They were in their snow white uniforms and when they hit the dust, they actually bounced. Nobody would pay any attention to them until a mate or coxswain would come along and give instructions to carry him off. Luckily no one in my battery passed out but the battallion next to us lost 3. Nothing serious, you know - just fainting. I went to the usual church services yesterday. Incidentally you mentioned the Easter services. ' The one I enjoyed most was the early morning services on the grass under tall trees in the prettiest part of the grounds. Incidentally, can you furnish me any information on Charles. I haven't heard from him in a coon's ' age. , I don't know what in the world I'm going to do with these roommates of mine. The crazy fools won't let me study and they won't quit when I ask them to. I was sitting here tonight trying to write this letter and they kept throwing water on me. I kept telling Bill to quit and he wouldn't so we proceeded to throw waste cans full at each other. In the process everything got wet. I hate it because I can't study when I want to and it throws a cog in my studies. Well anyway there's only three more weeks to go. Things are awful dry down here and it is getting pretty hot especially to be wearing ties. Guess I had better close this now because I'm boiling mad and I can't write straight. One of these nights Bill and I ' are going to tangle and one of us is going to get hurt. This stuff can't go on indefinitely and there is no place to move. Guess I understand why Carol had to change roommates now. I was brought up in too much of the right kind of home I guess. I just can't see any way but the fair and considerate way and I ' don't know how to contend with the unfair and inconsiderate one. Guess I had better quit now as I have to study Bull-text if I can, for after all - "Life is real, life is earnest, and death is not the goal." I'll write again Friday if I can get the time. Love, Junior May 4, '43 Mountain Home, Texas "Home" Monday, May 3 ' Dear Junior - Got your letter saying you have been accepted for special training. 1 jumped up and down and hollered and as usual cried a little for joy. Guess it was one of the few red letter days in my life. It may not be the best thing ' foryou but atpresent it seems to be and again I thank God every little bit when I think how good he is to us. Both of my sons so far from me, both of them taking special training and both still love their God. I'm such a fortunate mother to have you for a son. I used to wonder if when you boys stood alone you would be strong enough to make your way. Daddy and I had taken the load off your shoulders so much to try to make up for the poverty you had to ' endure because of depressions debts, etc. but now I know that you are going to do your best and that's all anyone can do. I'm so happy for you. You didn't say if you will be there after the 20`h, if it is Aeronautical Engineering, when you might be home ' etc. Do you need your birth certificate? I got a copy the last time I was in town and let me know at once if you must have it. Don't worry about Mother's Day and you can't be home. I too have had to be away from my Mother on Mother's Day and it has been a great disappointment but somehow when we meet them with a smile we learn we are ' no longer a baby. My dear I would give most anything to have all my boys together but we will think of each other all day and when I realize so many Mothers will never have their sons again I think how grateful I should be that ' S7 1 you are alive. I tell you Saturday afternoon, or anytime for that matter, go to the Library and if they have the May ' McCalls read Eighteen to Twenty'. I thought it very good not exactly our case but somewhat similar. Donis waiting to mail this. We are shearing and dipping and I'll have to tie while he is gone. ' Curly Ree has a y pretty bull. Lots of kisses for you and more next time. Chas Lee is fine. Your Mother Ree. t May 8, '43 College Station, Texas ' On back of envelope: All my love on Mother's Day - There is nothing greater to give. Dear Folks, Well, here it is Thursday and just a little over two weeks to go. This is written as a special , Mother's Day letter. I started to get a card but you know commercialized greetings are a very poor expression of how a person feels. When I think of what you all have gone through and what you are going through it kinda makes me ashamed that I have done so little. You know, Mother, when all is said and ' done there is a place in a fellows heart for his mother which no one else - not even a sweetheart - can fill. Take a little time off Sunday and we will engage in some of this stuff known as mental telepathy 1 miss you all pretty badly and I guess that after this semester, I may not see you for a long time. As far as I known now things are very indefinite concerning between semesters. To all ' appearances I will be inducted on the 20`h. After that I don't know whether I will receive Army pay or whether I will get a vacation or not. It's all very vague. I had planned to sell the books, perishables, etc. but I will need them if I continue on in school. I ' have skimped through and have enough to finish the semester but I will probably need some for between then and my first army check. I don't have enough for expenses home now because I won't be able to sell any stuff. My assets are $6.84 with nothing left to pay. There's nothing new going on around here. Got a letter from Charles. Answered it last night. I ' don't have anything to report on grades as I have taken no tests lately although I have one tommorrow. Guess I had better close now as I have so much to do. Wish I could be home Sunday but some things just can't be. ' Love Junior May 11, '43 , College Station, Texas Dear Folks, An awful lot has been happening around here lately - so here goes. Well first an apology for what was supposed to be a Mother's Day letter. After checking back on the mail delivery, etc. I am inclined to believe that the letter didn't get there until Monday. I imagine that you spent the day at Bandera - anyway Grandma was expecting you. I started to send a telegram to Bandera but decided that the chances were ' against you being there. You don't know what a swell feeling it gave me to wear a red flower for the poor boys with white looked so blue and for that matter few boys are here who have lost their mothers. Money and influence, etc. are just missing. ' It has rained twice in the last few days over here - the most recent one being this morning. It poured down but everything is dry tonight (hot sun). We have competition drill.tommorrow to decide which is the best Battery of Coast as far as drilling is concerned. ' I was taken on a party Saturday night by the two sophomores next door. $1.50 steaks in Bryan with pie a la mode and all the trimmings (including beer in which I wasn't included). Then a show - everything on them, of course. That is what is known as a room orderly party. Incidentally, when you hear beer, etc. mentioned, have no fear for there is no pressure whatsoever and no reason for drinking it. In , fact the boy who would be first sergeant next year if we keep on in Batteries does not drink. I have never touched a drop and therefore it is not hard to refrain from it. Bill and Charlie went to Houston this last weekend to see the Conference Track meet which we , won for the first time in 13 years. They brought back a quart of sherry which they and the sophomores finished off in short order last night. Bill drank on an empty stomach and he got silly drunk. We laughed 58 ' until we nearly died. I laid a talcum line out on the floor and he tried to walk it. There was plenty more ' including a fine hangover but enough said. Nothing to report on grades - a test in algebra which isn't graded yet. This doggoned Army Specialized training junk is in a holy mess. I've got permission to go see the adjutant (Colonel Bennett) about it tommorrow. I believe I will hold this letter until I get news of it - until tommorrow then I must sign off. Well, I saw the Colonel and apparently things will go as planned. I will go in too Bryan Thursday and make a final check with the Draft Board. Must go to mess so will write more later. Love, Junior May 13, '43 College Station, Texas Dear Folks, Well, guess 1 am slightly behind again but things have been rather previous lately. Of course I ' wrote about the Navy Test. I was feeling kinda low because I didn't take advantage of it. Yesterday I got a slip asking me to report to the adjutant's office at my first vacant period. I thought - Oh, hell, what have I done now? I went over and reported to the colonel with a snappy salute and was informed that ! hr1'1 been ' accepted for Specialized Training. I went in to the Draft Board in Bryan this afternoon and got my call number transferred over here. I will be sent to Houston on the 20th of May to be inducted and I'm darned glad to be getting in. The next time you see me, I will be a private in Uncle Sam's Army. Seems like I just can't find much that would interest you any more. For one thing though we are ' dropping handles (Mr. and Fish on the names) and bid fair to get the majority of our privileges in a few days. There is a battery meeting in 20 minutes and since they are comparitively rare we aren't sure what to expect but we have an idea that it concerns our privileges. There is no releif that I have known which ' will compare I beleive with the knowledge that the freshman year is nearly over. It has been trying and yet it has developed a control of temper which nothing else could perhaps do. I'm thankful that I had the background of home raising and the ability to take it where so many others failed. I guess its because only the stronghearted are left that Aggieland is what it is. We're having a review Saturday for the "bull" (commandant) who has received a Distinguished Service Medal for his duties in Labrador before he was transferred down here. I hate a reveiw although they must undoubtedly be pretty and awe-inspiring to the onlooker. ' I went swimming this afternoon and then had to run two miles. I ran it faster than I ever ran it in my life but it sure hurt. I know I'm going to receive a very reproving if not blistering reproof about that birth certificate but I guess I deserve it. You know, I was always bad about losing things. Absentmindedness, I guess. Don't know which side of the family it comes from but I have a sneaking idea it just grew like Topsy. I must quit now and go to the Battery meeting. Well, the Battery meeting turned out to be a dud. Just instructions about the review Saturday. I can't think of anything else of interest so I'll close and get some studying done. Incidentally there are just about 24 more days left before the end of the semester. ' Love, Junior ' May 15, '43 College Station, Texas Dear Folks, t Well, I've got a little time to write tonight. Haven't heard from you in quite a while. Guess there'll be a letter in the mail box in the morning. Not much to report except that I will be shipped to Houston Thursday morning at 7:30. What ' happens then I don't know. I'm going to sell what I don't need and pack the rest an ship it home. I'm going to be so darned busy with tests, etc. that I won't know what is going on. There's a big Senior Ring Dance tonight and we have gotten all of our priviliges. Guess I'll add more in the morning before I mail this but right now I must quit. ' Well here it is morning and nothing else has happened. I went over to the Dean's office and talked to him and filed application to have my grades counted as of Wednesday. Incidentally I have my last test on Wednesday. I'm going to be so darned busy from now on out that it will be pitiful. I got a nice ' 59 long letter from Grandma Leinweber this morning and it included the news that you hurt your foot Pete. , Be careful or you won't be able to run if a Jap gets after you. Guess I should talk though because I have a sprained knee (torn ligaments) and it is paining me some. It's a reinjury of an old pull which I got last fall. ' Well, 1 must close as I really have nothing else to add, except Love Junior May 18, '43 , Mountain Home, Texas The C.L. Leinweber Ranch ' Monday Afternoon My Dear Son - I'm writing you this, my last letter, while you are still mine and still my little box. ' Before I have time to write you again you will belong to Uncle Sam and automatically the years will be spanned making you a grown man. I cannot tell you how low I am in spirits still in another I urn Higher shun I hu ~c ever been to know I have the sons you and Chas Lee are. You know I have never wanted war but now that we have , it we must work and fight our way out. I know you too detest war but you have the advantage of lots of other boys. First you was never reallti, a baby and you assumed responsibility very young when you always looked after Chas. Lee's welfare. Then in your ' own way you took loads from your parents shoulders, advanced fast in school, graduating early for your years. In working on the ranch a few years slipped, then when you entered college for the first time in your life you could be with boys your age. In the Army you will also be with boys of your age. Some of the little fellows are younger than yourself and have had no college. You are so fortunate to get special training and my prayers have surely been , answered. Your temptations will be many but never lose sight of God because that is the only really happiness. Self respect and honesty cannot be bought with money and never let them slip for a mere weak moment. ' Are you sure your papers, request or something has been sent in from there? They said they were waiting to hear from up there but maybe that will be after you are sworn in. Let me know at once how you are, where etc. Be sure and let us know how you are shipping your things home and be sure you get everything. Take care of the suitcase and if you don't need it send it too. If the package is too large guess you will have to express it and let us ' know ifyou do as we can lookfor it. Let us know when you come home and we will meet you in Kerrville. Haven't had the car out since we were up there. Say Katherine understood Dr. Hill to say that David was to be your Commanding Officer at A&M but Jim ' and Velma said he was stationed in Florida with Lindberg. Sure would have a fine fella overyou ifyou had David. Daddy, Don & I went to Kerrville Saturday, rushed in in a mist of rain, with a load of wool. Your sheep brought $39 and something. I sent the check and hope you get it in time to help. Thought it ought to tide you over for a while. ' We dipped the cows and put most of them back in the Harbison. Wanted to roundup some more sheep but it is so damp to shear. We are afraid of worm cases. Daddy is plastering a wall today. Think I would sure be happy if I can get that room finished. ' Say Junior I wanted to cook you a nice cake for your birthday but didn't have sugar and thought I would bake it so you could have a last minute party but we wont have enough sugar to last. If they will give it to you get your ration book and I'll turn it inhere. If you get to come home we can use the sugar. Hope you get a little vacation before you start in. ' I must stop as Don wants to go to the mailbox so cant say all I wanted to. My dear I want you to make a good soldier and I know you will. I have never known what it is to love my country as much as I do now. I have too much of my pioneer blood racing thru my veins and as long as I live, ' America, the way our forefathers handed it down to us, each man living by the sweat of his brow, tired, but happy and honorable and with a self respect that no man could deny him is the way I want it. This heritage being handed down from father to son will someday be the right thing again. For these principles you boys must fight and at , home we will hold them up as only areal American can. I will close my dear with the thought and prayer with faith that God takes care of those who love him. Your own Mother. 60 , P.S. Wish you would set-em-up or something to the boy who ran after you for us when we were up there. It has t worried me so because we didn't go in the grounds in the car but we stood there so absent minded and let that poor boy run over there. Wasn't that dumb. I'll pay you back when you come home. ' ARMED FORCES INDUCTION STATION 232 Old City Hall Building Houston, Texas ' NOTICE You are now a soldier in the Army of the United States! Congratulations! At your request you have been transferred to ' the Enlisted Reserve Corps for seven days. You are directed to report at the Reception Center in accordance with orders received by you. If you have not received a notice from your Local Board telling you of the hour and place of assembly at least forty eight hours in advance of the date shown on your orders, contact your Local Board immediately. Strict compliance with ' these instructions is required. BAGGAGE i After your arrival at the Reception Center you will be issued a complete set of toilet articles, including shaving equipment, toothbrush and comb, and all necessary items of clothing. It is essential that you refrain from taking extra civilian clothing, hand luggage, trunks, radios, etc., to the Reception Center due to the limited facilities for checking and safeguarding ' them. Cooperate by taking with you only small articles which can be carried in your pockets. Keith W, Edwards, Captain, Infantry Commanding No Date Tell the rest of the girls hello Dear Chatter, ' Hi gal--long time no hear. (Until a coupla days ago). A little information--this buck private is at home waiting call to active duty. I was inducted down Houston way on the 20th of last month. They treated us like fatted calves ready for the slaughter. A bunch of us Aggies who were enlisting in special work of one kind and another were sent down with the ordinary draftees. We had a lot of fun getting out in front and marching them down the street. Had a stiff physical and a hundred and one silly questions--also a hundred and one silly answers. Then they swore us in and a WAAC told us to get our womenfolks to enlist and she nearly blew a fuse--poor girl. I guess she had probably lectured men before and maybe ' refused some and told them off but never in such quantity. It's been raining like hell out here and I've been running around in the mud and mire all morning. Kinda reminds me of dear old Aggieland. H'ain't been doing much but riding and shearing sheep and the ' other usual ranch activities The riding hard kinda cramped my style and like to have cramped something else. I felt like all of the upperclassmen in the old Battery had gotten mad at me at once. Well must quit and go to work. Hasta to vista, Flywheel ' June 23, 1943 i' STRICTLY PRIVATE (well maybe) Hiya Chatter, The prodigal hath not returned. I been as busy as a cat on a tin roof just working hard to keep outa work. Also my gasoline stamps have one with the wind or something. Well that's Y 9 9 life,-Now you have them---now you don't. ' 61 1 Before I forget, tell the rest hello. This will probably go the rounds though, if I know anything about ' girls and I think I do after having tried to pull the wool over one's eyes for a big part of the last five years. I guess they could see through my clothes though where I had gotten the lambs fleece and the wolf showed ' through. I went over to Camp Wood Sunday and saw one of my cousins (It's the truth--she's a first cousin). Blond, blue eyed, dimpled and very pretty even at 13. 1 guess beauty of body and face just runs in the family. I wouldn't be conceited--Oh no. t I found out that Sheilds is rooming with Lloyd Spencer. Well as the old saying goes--"Wolves of a pack run together". Guess you are having a grand time and little me out of the picture. Now ain't that too bad. ' Some days later--------------- Bet you didn't know it snowed in June! Well, it must cause I've certainly been snowed under with work lately. I'm heading for Wichita Falls in the morning to see my bud. His girl jilted him last fall and she just got married so I imagine a little cheer from home will help him. Oh, well--love 'em and leave 'em. ' That's why there's bachelors--guys get crossed in love. The poor married guy is double-crossed in love though. Must close and go to work. Always, Flywheel ' P.S. Nest ce pas? July '43 Fort Sam Houston, Texas Dear Folks, , Well, I'm in now and have gone through the initial stages. My address is on the back of the letter. I'll be here probably until next Wednesday and then Maxey. I just have a few minutes to write this. We have all the food we can eat. Incidentally, I am in the Dodd Field Reception Center at Fort Sam. The place is lousy with Aggies. All of our Coast Artillery Seniors who have been here since school let out shipped out today for Officers Candidate School. Then there are jillions of other Aggies here. Must get up at five in the morning. So long for now because I'm tired and have a little headache. Love Junior 1 July 17, '43 Pvt. Clarence L. Leinweber Jr. ' Company B Reception Center Fort Sam Houston, Texas Dear Folks, r Well, I guess you think I have forgotten you again but really I haven't. It's just that our training has speeded up and become quite a bit stiffer. ' We have finished most of the preliminary stuff and are starting out on tactics. The training we are getting is definitely even in this basic training. They keep telling us that most of us will end up as officers. I hope that is true. So far we have shot everything from a 30.06 on up and down including a .45 pistol. I think we are going on another night tactical march Monday night and as usual I will have a flank ' guard position which is responsible but also means that I have to crash through brush and weeds while the rest of the outfit marches on the road. It is raining in a slow drizzle tonight and has been for the last 24 hours. It doesn't bother me but a ' number of the boys have colds. It will be a little tough tommorrow night if it is still wet. I guess I better quit now because I must go to bed and nothing happens here that would really interest you. Love Junior t 1 62 t ' July '43 Pvt. Clarence L. Leinweber Jr. ' Company A 142" AST Bn. North Camp Hood, Texas ' Dear Folks, Well, just a note to bring you up to times. I don't remember just how much I told you about the Camp but suffice to say that it is the largest in the U.S. and I guess in the world. I got a typhoid and a tetanus shot Monday and it played hell with me. I thought I was coming down with flu but apparently it was the typhoid. I feel pretty good now except for a cough. None of your mail or Virginia's has ever reached me yet and I am just a slight bit lonesome. ' A note about my future. I will have 13 weeks of basic infantry training here. Then I will go to a star unit for from 5 to 30 days. There I will be assigned to a school. The maximum of college will be 18 months unless I request or am transferred to O.C.S. Now for some stuff, I wish you would send me - ' fountain pen - one that will write. brown shoes Any available shorts ' My khaki cap - the one I sent back If anything should happen to you all - go to the Red Cross first and have them contact my captain. He is a fine guy even if he is a damnyankee. Must close now - more later. Love, Junior ' July 19, 1943 ' Pvt. Company B Fort Sam Houston, TX Dodd Field Reception Center (A "GI" production line) ' Dearest Chatter, Any resemblance between this and a buck private's letter is purely coincidental. I forgot my pen-- in fact, I musta been behind the door when the brains wuz passed out. I've been here three days now and I'm rapidly building up seniority over the rawer recruits. I got a ' G.I. haircut that is really a honey. They gave me a lick and a promise and I look like an egg. Used to be when I was at Aggieland that I hated awfully to wear the little "go-to-hell"caps but now I know why they make us wear them. It's to cover up our nakedness. ' Haven't been doing a darned thing and the army motto is "hurry up and wait". I'll beleive it! They put us out on a rock picking up detail yesterday and we worked like the devil doing nothing. Some of the boys got K.P. the first thing though. I'll probably ship out of here some time next week for Camp Maxey at Paris. That's just 2 leap ' and a kick in the seat of the pants from Oklahoma and Arkansas. Gotta quit now lest I lose out on any of this super charged "Bull" session. Love and it ain't G.I. "Pvt." Leinweber July 20, '43 Pvt. C.L. Leinweber Jr. - U.S. Army ' Company'B' Reception Center Fort Sam Houston, Texas ' (Postcard w/ pic of soldier waving from porthole - caption above: "SO WE'LL MEET AGAIN" - caption below: "BUY MORE WAR BONDS") Dear Folks - Just a not to let you know I am okay. Took classification test today and was interviewed for trade placement. (general reference). Don't know what I made. Please send a fountain pen. It might bounce if I ship but do anyway. Love, Junior 63 1 July 23, '43 ' Fort Sam Houston, Texas Dear Folks, Well, here it is Thursday and I still have no letters from anybody. I've been here an entire week ' too. I imagine that there is a mail mixup somewhere. I don't know where it is. If you get this please answer at the address on the back (it is correct). I may ship but, again, I may not. Well to kinda recap the important happenings of the last few days, Tuesday I got a smallpox vaccination and one typhoid shot. The typhoid sure made my arm sore. I went on 24 hours of guard duty yesterday and got off at four this afternoon - 2 hours walking and 4 hrs off. It was hell. We couldn't take our clothes off even when off duty. I haven't gotten any K.P. yet although if we don't ship, I am expecting ` I went into town Tuesday night and saw Aunt Ede and Kathleen and some of the Gordon Harper family including "Pooch" who got his call, effective Monday. I can't think of much else and this is a recreation hall pen staff and scratches like the very devil. , I'll get you to ship a good pen to me when I get to a permanent station. Love Junior July 27, '43 ' North Camp Hood, Texas Dear Folks, ' There's been a good bit happening lately so here goes. Friday night we had a night march. I, being in the first squad, was a flank guard. We marched out to the concentration camp and I was 50 yards our in the brush and weeds on the outside of the second , platoon. I hit a stream on the way out and on the way in and jumped it without falling in. I tripped over 3 different trampled down barbed wire fences. Then I went lengthwise down a loose strand and ripped my pant. I got caught once in a heavy stand of post oak sprouts and when I got out the company had made a sharp right turn and I had to double time for two hundred yards to catch up. All this in a light pack (about ' 20 Ibs) and 9 Ibs of rifle. I believe I am gaining more weight because the shirts I have from home are nice and tight now. I got $26.75 in pay Friday I'm sending home $4. Here's what I want you to get that I can't get at ' the PX's here. First - get 5 pair of close knit wool socks - then, get my watch a band (leather). With what is left over get undershirts and shorts. Mostly undershirts. Be careful because I'm on a strict budget. Pack the watch between the clothes and insure it. 1 walked guard for 2 hours last night from 6:30 to 8:30. 1 was supposed to have guarded the , boundaries of the W.A.C. area but the corporal got mixed up on his post areas and I ended up on an improvised post. We go on the range tommorrow and I'm going to do my best to shoot a good score. It's going to ' be rather tiresome I know but I believe I can shoot a good score. Can't think of much to say except that for once I didn't get gigged for what somebody else did this week. Love Junior. August 2, '43 North Camp Hood, Texas ' Dear Folks, Well, I got the fountain pen but it don't work very well. I'm sure sorry because you must have paid quite a bit for it. I just wanted one of the old ones around the house which would write. ' Well, I am now fixed up proper. I have a helluva case of poison ivy. I just didn't happen to see it before it got me. They sent a bunch of us out to clear brush and I was working like the devil as usual. I was rolling a pile of freshly cut brush in for burning and somebody had cut some ivy and it was mixed up in that. I'm sitting on my bunk covered with calomine lotion. Damn the infantry! I'll be through with it in 13 ' weeks though, I guess. 64 ' I'm going to write in pencil. I have to keep up a constant pressure on this thing to get it to write at all. Just had mail call and got a letter from Grandma and Grandpa Harper. Well, this is the first and the Camp Meeting will be on this week. It'll be the first one I have missed. I'll kinda miss the talks with the people even if there was dirty dealings going on. Our Battallion still isn't full so our training can't start. We had a good rain but it's getting hot again. I think I'll stop now ' and write more later because it's kinda uncomfortable writing with this ivy. Love Junior. ' August 4, '43 North Camp Hood Texas Dear Folks, Well, I'm sitting outside of the dispensary waiting to be shipped to the hospital. They tried to ship me yesterday but I talked them out of it. They're shipping me today anyway. My right arm is a mess and I have to write with my wrist. I feel fine though and sure regret missing the training which I am missing. ' I was on quarters yesterday and just laid around. There is really nothing to write about. Nothing is happening to us except routine. Guess I'll stop now and write more when I get to the hospital. Well, they took me to the hospital and I waited around for two or three hours and they finally gave ' me an ivy shot (serum). I've got to go out and take one every day for four or five days. No duty for me until I am well. I've been in 19 days today and it seems like forever. We have a wonderful set of officers and the boys are all grand. Everyguy in the outfit has an I.Q. of over 115. 1 seem so much older than the boys here though. Most are just 18 with a very few in their twenties. The northern boys spend half their time cussing Texas or saying "Jesus Christ" or "Christ Almighty." It gets monotonous. They still call me "Tex". Guess it runs in the family. Must quit as writing makes me sweat and that is bad for the ivy. Don't worry, I am getting okay now. Love Junior August 6, '43 North Camp Hood, Texas (written on Fort Sam Houston, Texas stationery - the eagle insignia is crossed out with a handwritten arrow pointing at it with this note: The good old days) Dear Folks, Just another note to keep you informed after a fashion as to what is happening to this erring son. My poison ivy is much better although the Doc (1st Looie) is still confining me to quarters and seems downright pessimistic about my chances of going on duty Monday. Today mad a full week that I have made sick call. I'm getting downright tired of it. I have felt fine all through it except that I itched something awful. The bottom of my right arm looked like somebody had taken a blowtorch and cooked it for about 15 minutes. If you haven't shipped those clothes by the time you get this, send any excess khakis and ' Virginia's picture. We get all the laundry we want done for $1.50 a month and have to pay it whether we use the privilege or not. This camp is noted for it's training casualties and our battalion was the unlucky one day before yesterday. A detail (Company B) was blasting out a commando course and 1 of three sticks of dynamite ' did not go off. A boy hit it with his pick and was blown all to hell. Another boy was blinded and died last night. Another boy on the post was blown up by some dynamite, I understand. Most of it is gross carelessness. ' I am paying the bill at A and M but it will only leave me about 75 cents for haircuts, hair oil, etc. I don't think I can make it. I'll try. There don't seem to be an awful lot to tell. This is my 22"d day in the army and 1 still haven't started basic. The Battalion is now full and basic will start Monday. We won't get to a Star unit before the last of November. That seems a long time in the future, doesn't it? Can't seem to think of anything else interesting enough to chronicle so I'll quit and try to drop a note to Grandma Leinweber. Love, Junior ' 65 August 6, 1943 , Pvt. CLL Company A North Camp Hood, TX Tank Destroyer Center Dearest Chatter, Well, you probably think that I have been lost and that is about the truth. They suddenly decided ' that we were of nore use to us at Fort Sam and shipped us up here. (Something is wrong with this damned fountain pen). They say that this is the largest camp in the U.S. and I've seen too much of it already. Right now I , wish I had a hotel with a thousand rooms and that I was asleep in everyone of them. I've learned a lot of G.I. slang too which I thought I knew for instance--A.W.O.L. means "a wolf on the loose". P.F.C. means ' "praying for corporal". Incidentally, this place would make a wolf out of a lamb. There are about 10 girls or maybe I should say women (not counting the shapeless WAC's) who have crossed my line of vision in ' the last week. I caught a stinging scorpion today and gave it to the First Looie who is a bug "bug He, put it in a bottle with 3 black widow spiders and created a free show for the officers for several minutes. ' Guess I had better sign off cause I'm going to break this fountain pen on the wall. Until the tomorrow, Leinweber August 9, '43 ' North Camp Hood, Texas Dear Folks, ' Just a lot of time and nothing to do so I'll write you another note since all it costs me is the stationary. I got a Mountain Sun yesterday. I guess you sent it. Sure had a lot of news in it. For instance - Bonnie Lea's baby. I didn't even know a thing about it. I also saw where "Chatter" McNeill was going to sing tonight at the Camp Meeting. I'd like to hear her - she has a beautiful voice. We still haven't started our basic and it has started a round of wild rumors about shipping and stuff. I wish we would go right straight to College like the Navy VI 2's do. I'm going to give my preference ' for college work in Texas, Washington, and California in that order. Somehow or another this sitting around is getting me down. I have too much leisure time. My ivy is perfectly alright now except for some scar tissue on my right arm. I'll be back at work tommorrow. We ' won't be doing anything though. Wish we would. Love, Junior P.S. Send word of Charles Lee. I'm definitely disgusted with Virginia. As one of my fellow G.I.'s wisdom puts it "I want a gal who is ' both beautiful and dumb. Beautiful, so I'll love her; dumb so she'll love me." Looks like I pick 'em smart. It's a queer thing about the boys here. They all seem so much younger than me with, of course, a few exceptions. Maybe it is because they are from the North. Also they can ask the dumbest questions of ' any bunch I ever heard to have an I.Q. of 115 or over. It's of special interest that a large amount of the boys here were drafted. Then they were assigned to ASTP because of superior mental powers. However, here, and in like units is gathered the pride of America's young brain power. Whether it will produce is a matter of blood and sweat, the will to win and undying courage. I hope I have them. I know I have them. We have run afoul of some of the cadets from The Citadel. They are know-it-alls and think ' nothing of telling anybody from a General down that he doesn't know what he is talking about. The Aggies just stand back and let them show their ignorance. There are only two here but they are enough! Must quit now. More later. Love Junior. P.S. More details about the Billy and the reference to putting him in some auction. 66 ' 1 ' August 7, '43 ' North Camp Hood, Texas Dear Folks, I wrote you yesterday but I have just jillions of spare time. We get up at 5:45 and go to mess. ' Weekdays, we work nine hours except Wednesday when we work 8. Saturdays, we get off at noon unless we happen to be unlucky enough to catch a fatigue detail. Of course we get off all day Sunday unless we draw K.P. My poison ivy is drying up like the soil out in the pasture. I went back on duty this morning after ' being off 8 days and promptly drew the awful job of sweeping officers barracks. They are certainly sloppy. There was one clean barracks but the rest were a mess. Add items to send if this catches the package - shower shoes. 1 It is awful hot here today and we are just sitting around trying to suffer in silence. These Northern boys sure do gripe about the weather. Saw in the Express where Willis Carlisle (Tivy'37) was killed over Hamburg Germany. If you can, I wish you would send me all of your available back copies of the Mountain Sun. I haven't gotten a letter in 3 days in which time I have written 8 letters. I know you don't have time to write but (Ed. Note: rest of letter missing) August 10, '43 North Camp Hood, Texas Dear Folks, I'll start a note tonight and I may finish it and I may not. I'm perfectly all right now and went through some pretty tough drilling this morning. They got us up at 5:25. We ate at six and at seven we formed and marched to the drill field at 7:30 with rifles, cartridge belts, canteens, and bayonets. We had dismounted drill and physical exercise for about 3 hours during which time the boys fell out pretty bad. It doesn't bother me much thanks to the track, etc. You see, I knew what was coming last winter and followed my instincts in building up my body. ' It's paying dividends now. Then we had a half hour of military courtesy and came back for dinner. We were sure happy when they turned us loose this afternoon. We just lay around on our bunks and tried to keep from ' sweating to death. I'm on K.P. tommorrow from 5 A.M. to 1 P.M. The boys here all just love to go on K.P. It's an easy detail and you get choice tit-bits to eat. Got the box and sure was glad to get the stuff. This is a good pen. Please send clothes hangers ' - also Virginia's picture. I have another but it's just a snapshot. I feel fine and am comparatively happy. Love Junior August 13, '43 North Camp Hood, Texas Dear Folks, Don't know just where to begin but suffice to say that we all got a supplement pay of ten bucks this morning and it sure came in handy. I got your letter while I was standing in line for the pay. I needn't tell you that I was on less than a shoestring but I have run on less before. From here on out I'll have enough to go on. I'll answer some of your questions now. The way it looks from here, our basic starts Monday and lasts 13 weeks. Then we go to a Star unit here for up to a month before college so I'll probably not be shipped out of here. The top you can make on the I.Q's or General Classification tests is 163. For officer, you must have over 110. Charles's was 112. To get into AST you have to have over 115 and mine was well over that. How much? I don't know -They wouldn't tell me. There is nothing to worry about as far as I am concerned. I mean about me getting shipped or ' hurt. Understand? The army is treating my fine but of course there are certain things that rile me and all of them are not happening here. 67 I had 14 hours of K.P. yesterday and it certainly pooped me. We worked down 2 shifts of cooks ' and nearly all of the K.P.s before it was over. Nearly all of the boys are gone to Waco today. Our first pass weekend. Nothing to do in Waco as ' far as I can see. There is no chance of me getting over 50 miles from here. I'm enclosing Grandpa Harper's letter. His handwriting worries me. It's worse than ever before. Love Junior August 17, '43 North Camp Hood, Texas ' Dear Folks, E Well, thought I would let you know what is going on. Basic started today and it is going to be a tough grind I imagine. We stood Reveille at 5:30 and marched out for drill at seven. We marched back ' and were lectured by our AST Exec. Officer, Col. Bigelow. He talked about everything in general but hardly anything we didn't know. We then marched back to the drill field and listened to two hours of I lecturing on guard duty, nearly all of which I already knew. Most of what we learn is repeated until we get extremely bored with it. Yesterday I went to church and fiddled around the rest of the day. I guess things will pick up again now. We're off until 1900 this evening (7:00). 1 don't know what they are going to u„ tl,tl . It ~0 i exceedingly hot here today and I am sweating all over. I wrote a lot of letters Saturday and am now ahead ' of everybody again. Cain't seem to think of anything else to say but there's one incidental of no importance which is interesting. I am a member of the first squad, first platoon Company'A'. Hope I get that package today because I sure need coat hangers. Love Junior August 18, '43 ' North Camp Hood, Texas Dear Folks, Well, there really isn't anything to say but I'll write and tell you that I am alright. Our thirteen weeks of training finally started yesterday and so far we have struck it easy. We get up at 5:15 and have roll call at 5:30. Then comes breakfast and at seven we go out in the field for drill and lectures until 11. Yesterday we studied military courtesy and today we studied land mines and booby ' traps. We are off all afternoon until seven when we again go out and listen to lectures and take advantage of the cooler atmosphere. It has sure been hot for the last few days. Some of the boys were swearing that it was 136 degrees in the shade. Of course it wasn't, but it was above 110. ' I don't know whether I told you or not but we have a German prison camp here. The prisoners are from Germany's crack Afrika Corps. They are all muscular bronzed men and march beautifully in a long sweeping mechanical step. They whistle the melancholy German waltzes as they march and it is really ' something to watch. Guess I'd better quit now and write more some other day when I have more to write. I hope you are well and I certainly am. Love Junior August 19, '43 North Camp Hood, Texas Dear Folks, ' Well, seems as though you might be interested in a little note from me. There's really nothing to say though so I will just go ahead and tell a few of the little things. We studied First Aid and Health yesterday. This morning we studied Chemical Warfare and we have the afternoon off due to the fact that it is Wednesday. It is about six o'clock now. signed the payroll today. I understand that I will have somewhere around $30 coming after $18 of insurance and a war bond, etc. are taken out. 68 i I got the clothes and every one comes in handy but the prime articles were the clothes hangers. i There were just exactly enough. Did I send you the 2 dollars back? I said I was going too and I'll be darned if I can remember whether I put it in or not. I think I am caught up on writing everybody. I keep a list of when I write letters and when I receive them and it really works very well. I guess you are so busy now that you can't think. Wish I was there to i help shear those goats. Seems like I'm just wasting my time. I am learning very little that I don't already know but of course it will be different when we really get started. Love Junior i August 23, '43 North Camp Hood, Texas Dear Folks, Well, still nothing to write but I'll let you know that I am alright at the end of one week of basic. I i only have 12 to go now. We had inspection this morning and we had a beautiful floor in our barracks. We scrubbed it and rinsed it yesterday afternoon until it just couldn't be any whiter. One barracks was restricted to camp because theirs was in such a mess. Some of the boys in the second platoon will march, eat, sleep, etc. with their rifles for half of next week because they didn't have clean rifles. I can get a weekend pass to home now but being as how it would begin at noon Saturday and extend to 2400 hours Sunday (12 PM) I am not contemplating on taking it. I never have been homesick and never will be, I don't guess. I'm just no built that way. ' I really can't think of anything else interesting except that I am scheduled for K.P. again to do Monday. Since basic has started, they have cut down on the K.P. force and it is a harder job. Love Junior ' August 24, '43 North Camp Hood, Texas Dear Folks, I got the letter today and was some surprised that Charles Lee was leaving and didn't have my address. I wrote him a letter about a week ago immediately after I got his address. God only knows where he went. It was "her" and not "you". Nuff said. I've got K.P. this afternoon and I am quite disgusted. I would have to have afternoon K.P. instead i of morning when the outfit is going through dull routine. We are studying rifle positions and firing now - all of which, of course, I have had. I went to see a movie last night, the first since I have gotten in the army. A fella has to do something around here or he will go stir crazy. All I do is sit around or go to the PX and i waste my money. I make a practice of getting at least a pint of ice cream a day if they have it because we get very little milk in the mess hall. Wish I was there to help you shear but can't so you all will have to make out. War news is sure favorable, isn't it. Guess that's about all. Love Junior 1 69 it August 26, '43 North Camp Hood, Texas Dear Folks, ' Another note. Can't remember what has happened since I wrote you day before yesterday. I was on K.P. as I wrote and dadgum if I didn't peel potatoes until I had a headache. I got off after ten oclock and stumbled around in the dark until I got to bed. We've been marching out in full field packs lately. That is - 1 change of underwear 1 change of socks shelter half and tent pegs blanket meat can and eating utensils raincoat pack saddle Cartridge belt with canteen attached rifle and bayonet i helmet liner (plastic inner helmet) It is light unless we have to carry rations etc. which raises it pretty quick. I Saw this poem in a magazine and it struck me as being very funny. "The Lord gave us two ends to use, ' One to think with and one to sit with The war depends on which we choose, Heads we win, tails we loose." , This is Wednesday, our off day. I have all afternoon off and might go to Gatesville to see what it looks like. I've been here a month and haven't been off the post. We have been studying rifle marksmanship lately along with other subjects all of which are to say the least very boring. We've just got 11 '/2 weeks of basic to go now and I'll sure be glad when I get back , to college or O.C.S. or what have you? Guess I'll sign off now and shower and shave, Love Junior. August 30, 1943 Pvt. CLL North Camp Hood TX Miss Katherine McNeill Hermann Hospital Dear Chatter, Or should I write it Katy-did? I beleive that you like being pamperedthe amount of times you visit ' that hospital or is it a handsome young interne! Or maybe it's just a plain case of laziness. I'll bet they would get speedy results if they used a little carbon disulfide instead of hot water compresses. (Other wise known as "High Life".) A poem I saw which seemed funny. "The Lord gave us two ends to use, One to sit with and one to think with. The war depends on which we choose; Heads we win, tails we lose." We do a little bit of this and a little bit of that and really not much of anything. We get up at five and wander sleepily around for an hour or two. We go out at seven and study and drill until eleven when everybody runs over one another getting into the chow line. For the life of me I haven't found out why! After we get through we dump the leftovers in a G. I. can and they feed the pigs with it. That's where it should have gone in the first place! If I ever get back to A and M, I'm going to kiss the head cook in the middle of Sbisa Hall. Really though, I worked twice as hard on the ranch and the AST is the best and most opportunitive branch of the army. We just can't lose--I hope. We don't do too much in our off time but drink beer, play penny-ante poker and otherwise relax. Sometimes the pocketbook relaxes too. Also we tell jokes. I would write one or two but most are strictly G.I. We have one poor kid in the outfit who is a sleepwalker--talker and other wise. He fell out of a top bunk the other night and he literally , had the R.A. if you are familiar with that expression. Once I heard him turn over and say one word in his sleep, thus--Aaah-women ! And he went back to dreaming. That shows you how our minds run even in 70 our sleep. I've been on this post for five weeks and never been off. I'm going in to Gatesville this afternoon to look the town over and try to line up some aquaintances. I'm learning how to dance and it comes hard at my age. The sergeant says shave my moustache--poor guy, he's sure going to be disillusioned. After all they say camouflage is nine tenths of a defense. We have a little excitement everynow and then but mostly everything is run of the mill. For instance, a coupla guys made hamburger meat when a stick of dynamite blew up under them. I'm sure I will have a lot of fun along about 11 weeks from now when we go over the battle conditions course. Several guys have been killed by live machine gun bullets when they became terrorized and tried to run instead of crawling. Me? I'm going to beat an armadillo's record by 3 feet! Maybe more. Seems like I'm about run down like a spent phonograph so I better quit before you get tired and throw this in a waste can. While you're at it catch up on My sleep for me and I'll contribute spiritually some ' of the G.I. body beautiful they're building me. I'll bet you do wish you could change bodies with somebody at that! Hasta luego, Flywheel Chin up and stuff! August 31, '43 North Camp Hood, Texas ' Dear Folks, A resume of the happenings of the past few days. I went to Gatesville Saturday afternoon and saw the town. With all the soldiers it really isn't much. I went skating and swimming and played some ping-pong and otherwise wasted my time and money. It was a little diversion though. We had a little boxing yesterday evening and I got two good hits on the head and one accidental low punch. The other fellow (a friend) got a few good socks too. ' I stepped on the scales in Gatesville and was surprised to learn that I weighed 165 lbs. Maybe they'll take it off of me now, because we started our nine hour day again today. I can tell you now that we caught hell about 3 weeks back. So many of the Northern boys were falling out from the heat that we got special orders from the medical department to lay off of drill in the afternoon. It's cooler now but awfully hot today. Of course it doesn't bother me as far as passing out is concerned. I went to see "So Proudly We Hail". It is about the army nurses on Bataan and was about the most moving picture show I have ever seen. It was wonderful acting by Paulette Goddard, Claudette ' Colbert, and Veronica Lake. I don't know anything else so Love Junior. September 2, '43 North Camp Hood, Texas ' Dear Folks, The usual note. We got our steel helmets and a wool quilt yesterday. We're back at it again with full field packs. ' We went out this afternoon and pitched our pup tents and just had all our equipment laid out for inspection when along came a nice big shower and of all of the wet muddy cussing boys you ever saw, we were them. It rained around half an inch this afternoon in all - enough to lay the dust anyway. There are shelter I halves - muddy blankets and what have you spread all over this barracks. One thing though; it is cooler. Say mother, if you don't have enough money to send Don to school I can have my bond a month rescinded and send the money home for his board. Think it over - I mean it. Of course, if this is ever over and I come out alive, I would like to have a refund to finish college on. We had squad drill this morning and for the first time the squad leaders drilled the squads. I am not a squad leader because I am not high enough; but the corporal turned the squad over to me after a little bit. It is rather embarassing to drill boys who are of the same rank as you and some of whom you know know every bit as much about it as you. Must go now. Will write more later when I can say more. Love Junior. 1 71 Sept. 5. 1943 , 1028th T.E. S.S. Dodge City Airport, Kansas ' Dearest Folks, Well I have been working on the line for four days now and it sure feels good to get back out there again. These 26's are sure fine ships and I believe they are one of the safest in the air. In our squadron since they started flying they have flown fifteen thousand hours and had one accident and no one was hurt in it. We have the newest 26's out here and they are a whole lot safer than the old ones. They have a longer wingspan and newer and improved engines. We haven't had any trouble since I have been here. We get paid Friday and I shall sure be glad. Be sure and send Don to school because I am making enough to , pay his way if you can't. I am making a little better than seventy five a month now so I can afford to. An education means everything to a young man now. Drop me a line and let me know what you do with him so I'll know what to do. I got the letter you wrote to Sheppard but I haven't gotten any here. I sure want to see those pictures - you ' don't know how much they mean to me. I shall be back some day though and take up where I left off. I'm sure going to know how to appreciate the old ranch when I do get back. It sure means a lot to me. (Ed. Note: Letter ended with no signature (there may be a missing second page). Letter was from Charles Lee to Pete & Audrey. t September 6, '43 , North Camp Hood, Texas Dear Folks, This finds me at a rather disgusted stage. To begin with, the paper tells all about Charles Lee being moved but then it's all messed up and leaves it to the imagination as to where he has gone. Second - as usual, we collect brooms, etc.on Friday mornings so we can mop the floors Friday afternoon. Some so and so hid one under my mattress and the Company Commander pulled a surprise ' inspection - the first he has pulled. I got restricted for the weekend (the first time) along with about 1/3 of the company. It sure disgusts me, too. I wasn't going anywhere but it's the principal of the thing. We had Saturday inspection in the barracks this morning because of the mud. We have gotten about 2 inches of rain or more and I certainly hope you have gotten it there. We have finished Military Sanitation and First Aid and Interior Guard Duty now and we go into gas training (chamber) next week. Also, we start our hikes with one of 2 hours duration. We have at least 2 weeks of our basic off now and that leaves just a little less than three months to go. ' Spent the afternoon in the kitchen (it is now night) and didn't do anything but eat. Found out that the cooks had also been restricted. Nothing else to tell so I'll sign off. Must write all of the grandparents though Grandma Leinweber , owes me a letter. Love Junior September 6, '43 , North Camp Hood, Texas Dear Grandma and Grandpa, ' Gosh I'm sorry that I haven't written sooner but I've been busier than the traditional cat on the tin roof. We've been really working on our basic even though at that it is not as hard as the ranch work. I've been gaining weight and I don't know whether it is from laying around or the hardening up exercises. We go into the gas chambers tomorrow to learn how to act when in a gassed area. They give us tear gas and we take off our gas masks and get a good dose of it before we are through. It is perfectly harmless unless it is used too long. 72 We have been several good rains here lately and getting y I suppose that you are getting the same. I hope so anyway. You have no idea how it has cooled off and surprisingly enough the boys from up North are beginning to like the state. We really paid for the rain though; we got wet and muddy and like wise our rifles which of course have to be cleaned and oiled practically continuously. Really, I don't know anything to say except that someday, I'll be back and see you. In the Army ' you just wait. Love Junior ' September 8, '43 North Camp Hood, Texas Dear Folks, Still no letter. I guess you are terribly busy and no doubt you got some of the rain which we have been getting here. I guess you have to watch the goats awfully close seeing as how the forage is so bad. Well we went through gas yesteday morning. First, we went through a tear gas chamber. My ' squad - the first of the first platoon was first. We put our masks on and marched into the chamber single file - me being medium tall, third from end. We couldn't see the gas but it began to sting my ears and after about a minute, they mad us take our masks off. We took it for about thirty seconds and then we marched out single file with me too close too last. Wow! Tear gas does not hurt you in small doses. We aired out and then took our physical drill. Then we were marched into 5% solution of M1 or Lewisite, followed by chloropicrin. Not bad. Then they hit us with a concentrated dose of phosgene which smells like green corn. All the time of course we had our masks off. I took one whiff and held my greath and walked until I thought I was out of it. I took a deep breath and thought I would cough myself to death. Oh, me! Then we whiffed a 5% solution of mustard and rested a while. After that, we sat down and they lit smoke pots and layed down a smoke screen over the company. This went on for a minute or two and the kid in front of me yelled "gas". We kidded him until it hit us. We were sitting down and that tear gas persuades us to break all existing records in putting on gas masks. There was sure some muffled cussing going on concerning the officers who thought up that particular training trick. That was all for the gas. No ill effects but a lot of respect. Yesterday afternoon and today we studied rapid fire with the Enfield (Model 1917) rifles. This afternoon we took more practical work with the caliber .45 semi-automatic pistol. Later I knocked 3 down (field stripped) and cleaned them. I'm beginning to learn things now. I understand that we run the obstacle course tommorrow. I think I can do alright on it. Monday - according to schedule - we go on the ' range to fire the rifle for record - a thing that we have been waiting for for a long time. Have you got any word of Charles Lee? I'm still cussing that paper and Charles Lee just won't write me at all. ' Well, I don't know anything else to write that would be of interest. Oh yes, 1 am on K.P. again tommorrow afternoon. I just love to do it. It would be alright if that 8 hours was all the work we have to do in the day. It was really cool last night and the Northerners were kinda happy for the first time since they got here. Love Junior ' September 13, '43 North Camp Hood, Texas 1 Dear Folks, So sorry. I forgot the dinero so will include it in this. I got a letter from Charles Lee. Got your long letter today and was really glad to receive it although I understood fully why you hadn't written sooner. I also got one from Virginia. Everythings hokay now and shorts or no shorts I'd like ' to see her. I haven't seen a girl hardly in two months and that is awful, isn't it? Being as how this is just a supplementary note, I'll quit. Wish I was there although it is probably worse than here now. Love Junior 73 September '43 ' North Camp Hood, Texas Dear Folks, ' Seems as though you all should be wondering what has happened to me. Well it's a long story and it goes like this. Monday - and all range days - we got up at 4. We fired practice rounds Monday and Tuesday. ' Then Thursday we started firing for record. We fired 45 shots in the following manner. 200 yards sitting rapid fire 10 shots 200 yards prone rapid fire 10 shots ' 200 yards sitting slow fire 5 shots 200 yards standing slow fire 5 shots 200 yards kneeling slow fire 5 shots 300 yards prone slow fire 5 shots , 300 yards sitting slow fire 5 shots The slow fire targets looked like this: A hand-done drawing shows a 6'H X 4'W square with a round target: 8" center (worth 5 points), then a 4" band, a 3" band, and 2"outside the last circle That target or rather the eight inch bull is awfully small at 300 yards. Outside the bull is the four ' ring, etc. With a bullseye on everything, the highest possible is 225. 1 got 181 which is in the sharpshooter bracket. I get to wear one of those little dime store medals which you see on the marineu. Those deer had sure better keep their distance. We caught a big rain Thursday and my platoon was in ' the pits checking targets. When we hot back to where we had left our packs, we found that they were very wet and very muddy. We took out across country and it was muddy fields. I was squad leader of the fourth squad and ' marched behind the right guide. We hit a drainage ditch with about 18 inches of water and mud in it. We forded that (The ranks following the first were a little reluctant.) One boy fell out immediately and I had to carry his pack on in. Well, that's life. I'm in a rush but I'm all right and that is what this note is for chiefly. must go to bed and catch up on my sleep of which I have lost plenty. I understand we have another night problem Monday and it lasts until 11:30. So long and Good Night Junior ' September 22, '43 ' North Camp Hood, Texas Dear Folks, Just a note during our rest period at noon. I'm a little bit sleepy and tired today because I just got , 5 hours of sleep last night. We went out on a night problem and we were so messed up that we didn't know which end was up. To begin with we were in full field pack and it's a little heavy. Then to top things off the first platoon ' turned off the highway to follow Company B as per prearranged schedule and the second platoon - on which I was a flank guard - failed to turn. Then the third and fourth followed them. That left 12 flank guards from the first platoon with nothing to guard. We finally got everybody together and ran right into the 144`h Battallion which was pulling a sham battle or something. They were in dense - and I do mean , dense - post oak firing blanks, etc. I was trying to guard our flanks so I halted one and asked him what the he was doing. He did likewise and I don't think he ever did find out what was going on. By the time I got out of that mess I was on the end of the fourth platoon and had to doubletime to catch up. Then we halted and found that we had lost only 5 of our 16 guards. Everybody pitched pup tents and another boy and I had one nearly down in the pitch dark when the order to strike tents was given. We moved out - or what was left of us moved out - and came in through tear gas. Oh, for the life of a flank guard! We're going on the pistol range sometime tom morrow and I don't know just how long we are going to stay but we will shoot 25 record shots. I hope I make a good score. Guess I had better quit now as it is nearly time to fall in Have you ever gotten my war bond? Also did you ever get my insurance policy? Love Junior 74 1 September 27, '43 ' North Camp Hood, Texas Dear Folks, Okay, so I've forgotten you! Really, though, I didn't mean to. It's just that we've been working ' harder than ever. They have finally begun the hardening up processes and they kinda hit below the belt. We chase around the countryside in our packs and they don't feel so good after a few miles. I understand that we have another night problem coming up tommorrow night. I guess as usual that I will ' be a flank guard and flounder around in the brush. I took out yesterday on a round of the camp and ended up two miles away on 7th street. (This is 21St st.) I had my picture taken there at a dinky little photo studio. If it turns out any good I will send you one. I also ate a quart and a half of ice cream which I have found keeps a fellas eyes from feeling the ' strain. The milk which I got at A and M worked wonders in the long hours of study under a bright light without enough sleep. Here, I try to get at least a pint of cream a day so that my general physical well being is retained. So far I have been wonderfully successful. 1 There's really not much to say except how glad I am that there is but 2 months left on my basic training schedule here. They keep telling us that the big majority of us will eventually be officers and from general appearances this is what our basic is aimed at. Must quit now. Love Junior ' Sept. 27, 1943 North Camp Wood, TX Lost the hospital address. So Solly. Dear Chatter, Will you please forgive this erring private. You see I've been so busy entertaining all of the pretty girls around here that I just haven't had time to write. Well, a fella can dream can't he? Don't recollect just where I left off in my last letter but for that matter I am always off so it doesn't matter. ' I have been on the rifle range and I can tell you from experience that a 30:06 doesn't get you down and stomp you as some people would falsely have you beleive. That is, I don't think it does. For some reason my mind always went black before my back hit the ground so I couldn't say for sure. I finally ' got the system though. Everytime I pulled the trigger, I would give my shoulder a ten yard head start on the butt of the gun. Every night I would decide to donate my hamburgered shoulder the the meat shortage but they told me it wasn't worth more than 5c a pound so I gave it up and saved it for some girl to cry on. I did get a sharpshooter rating out of it though. ' Then they tried us on the .45 pistol. That was some better but they didn't have a big red barn to shoot at. I did pretty bad until they put a bobbing figure of a man in front of me. I hit that ten out of ten. They didn't know that I spent my life practicing on bill collectors! They're really putting us through here now. They'll get us out on the drill field and exercise us until everybody is cussing the army in general and the corporal in particular. I hope this doesn't reach you in that darned hospital because there are too many chances for a pretty girl to catch a poor unsuspecting intern. You know, I once heard courtship defined as a man chasing a girl until she caught him. How true! ' I just lost my proverbial pants in a poker game to the tune of a buck and a half which is big money for penny'ante. I'm leading a dessepated life, beleive me. You can't live a very dissepated life on fifty bucks a month though. I generally eat about a quart of ice cream a day though just to keep my weight in three figures. ' They're teaching us to use a bayonet now. I generally get so damned mad while that is going on that I'm going to see if the corporal can outrun fifteen inches of cold steel to the nearest guardhouse. So far they've taught us how to stick the other fellow but they haven't told us how to keep him from sticking. I 1 guess it's a case of getting there fustest with the mostest. They're also teaching us judo or, as it is better known in the army, dirty fighting. I'm sure glad they don't teach it to the girls! Then how would a guy get a gal in his arms? Guess I had better quit now because as the feller says, "Ellin you loaded fer bares an' you run outa ammunition, try again on some other frail (sp. I meant trail). Right now my mind is giving my conscience even odds that violence will prevail over diplomacy to get the guys playing poker off of my bed. As ever, Leinweber 75 October 4, '43 North Camp Hood, Texas Dear Folks, ' Well, I'm trying to write and listen to the football games. I got the package and you have no idea just how great my releif was to get the socks. I've been going on four pair ever since I got in the army and it's not exactly easy with the weather we've been , having. There's really not much I can tell you this afternoon and this is just a note. The 143rd Battallion shipped out today for all parts of the compass and we go before our Star board next Tuesday. However we aren't scheduled to finish our training before the 2P of November. ' I can't think of anything else to say and I know you will be dissappointed with this letter but I will try to write more next time. Love Junior October 8, '43 North Camp Hood, Texas , Dear Folks, Well it looks like I never get time to write you anymore, i've just got 15 minute, iiuw su I wai uy to rush through. They are working us pretty heavy now on one thing and another and then in our so called ' free time we work too. We received a speech from the ASTP-STAR board leiutenant and things sure look black. There are six school sessions of 3 months each - 3 basic and 3 advanced. During the basic you remain a buck , private. During the advanced we get a PFC rating. Not very appealing is it. If at any time we flunk out we revert back to the Army as infantry trained soldiers. Ow! It goes on and on from bad to worse and we can't do anything about it. This is just a note to let you know that I am alright and I must go. Love Junior October 19, 1943 Tank Destroyer Center Camp Hood, TX Dear Chatter, ' Just Think, while you lie there with time on your hands, I'm having a helluva time keeping the barest essentials in the element of time on my side. They work us till our tongues hang out and personally I'm beginning to worry about the tripping situation. , We finally found out that a good portion of us are not going to college: To narrow it down after this basic training I think there's a good portion of me that's not going to get to college. Right now they j have me scheduled for the second semester of college training poor me. That part of it is just as ' difficult as possible for me without actually flunking me out. They were moved to some extent by my I.Q. rating, I think, though for it stands at 144 out of 160, or just below the genuis rating. It's a commonly known fact though that there is only a hair breadth of dividing line between a genius and a fool and I'm kinda afraid I'm on the wrong side of the line. I'm sure a lot of people would agree. ' We've got this afternoon off, or so they say, but sooner or later they'll come through the barracks looking for K. Ps and other details. Then tonight we have a good 10 hour night problem. Wearily we'll drag back in the morning cussing the ASTP and the army in general. That's life though. , I'm just a little disgusted with the world this after noon because some so and so stole all of the money I had been saving up for a furlough. I had better not catch up with him though because there might not be enough left to court martial. Just being philosophical or something you don't have to worry about the girdle shortage with ' that plaster of Paris girdle you are sporting. In the same way, I don't have to worry about the sugar, meat, or for that matter any other rationing. I've been taking so many tests lately that my head is going around. The way I look at it I'm going to be in the infantry sooner or later so why torture me? 76 ' 1 Most of the Texas boys got a 2 day pass this weekend and went home. I think I will try it next ' week. I'll get my old thumb out of the mothballs and grease it up. Ought to be able to make it in time to spend a day at home which should soothe my sadly injured nerves some. Gotta quit now as I gotta write just scads of other girls well, anyway one or two and then I'm a gonna rest my ornery carcass on this bunk until it's time to "fall out" for the night march. ' Now don't sprain you cast or you'll come out in pretzels instead of French curves. After all, it isn't every girl who gets her figure molded to conformation. Always, Leinweber ' (private "snafu") October 25, '43 ' North Camp Hood, Texas Dear Folks, Well, I'm in bed again and it's Sunday morning, too. I won't get to church this morning because I ' go on guard at 11 1 will get off at 7. 1 was pretty sick Friday with an upset stomach. I had to come in from the field Friday morning as I was vomiting but I am alright now. I still don't know for sure what caused it. ' We've finished another week and now there are only 4 to go. Then - what? I'm sure I don't know but I'm certain we'll find out. It's awfully queer but there's really nothing to tell because this stuff is all routine and not very interesting that we are doing. Oh, I might add that we have been studying the 60 millimeter mortar and the light machine gun the last week. We will fire both on the range in the 11t week I believe. They are very interesting weapons and, I might add, very businesslike appearing. One thing about this though - we have plenty of brand new weapons for instruction which proves that there is no essential weapon shortage now. ' For instance we have one mortar for each four boys - the same with the machine guns. The Aggies got tied Saturday and we were a pretty sick bunch although that is just what we were expecting. There are many Minnesota boys in the barracks and the 49-6 shellacking from Michigan didn't set so well either. I gotta quit now and get dressed for guard. More later if anything interesting turns up. Love Junior ' October 28, '43 North Camp Hood, Texas ' Dear Folks, Well, here I am again. I've managed to get ahold of a typewriter again and I will elucidate on the goings on in the last few days which might interest you. We had a night problem last night and all we did was sit around and wait for third and fourth platoon boys to come around and try to get through our lines. It was kinda like capture the flag only it was to teach these city boys how to slip through the enemy lines without getting shot. It was really pitiful to watch them. We carried out our problem on about a section of land and there was a long ditch running ' directly up into our territory. It was dark as pitch and they were coming up that ditch like flys. Some of our boys were sitting at one end of the ditch collecting them and sending them into prison camp. I'll swear that some of these Devens boys act like they will never learn. I need that like I need a wooden leg. I hope I get out of this messenger job pretty soon because I have to shave and bathe and about everything else before I go to bed. I bet Charles is really taking it easy-----for that matter the Air Corpse never does any work. The boys around here say that they would rather be a buck private in the infantry than a full fledged colonel in the ASTP. I'm just killing time and telling you things that I can tell you personally later and anyway I have a good Zane Grey book to read while I am waiting for another half-mile run. I'll quit now before I get tired and go to sleep. Love Junior ' 77 (Ed. Note: second letter in the same envelope) i Dear Folks, ' You kinda caught me off base and right here and now I'm going to take the opportunity to bawl Charles Lee out with all available means. Look - I told you to write and let me know when and if you were going to get a furlough so that we could pull a twofold surprise play on Mother and Dad. What happens? You meekly wander home and the first thing I know about it is a letter from Mother forcing me to give away t all of my well laid plans. Okay - I am coming home and if everything works out okay I will hit Kerrville sometime late Friday as I have been planning for the last three weeks. I will have to head back Sunday morning early which will ' give me a day at home. Of course there might be a slip. Here are some of the causes and remedies. I will take a scheduled night hike Thursday instead of Friday. This has already been okayed by r the topkick. That will allow me to get off sometime after noon Friday. I will get as far as I can and if I fail to make connections I will phone Stehling's. You go on and see the game and if I'm not there by that time I will have phoned in. I'm sitting in Batallion HQ now acting as messenger boy and is it tiresome. Must quit Love Junior 1 November V43 North Camp Hood, Texas ' Dear Folks, I haven't got time for but a note as lights are out in a few minutes. To begin with - I got home (or rather to camp) okay at 2 AM. I had a heck of a good time as there were a bunch of T.U. girls from Kerrville and Comfort on the bus as well as several sailors in the V12 at T.U. One was an Aggie friend of mine from the Coast Artillery so we really had fun. I've been so busy on details since I got back that I don't know which end is up. Yesterday ' afternoon I was on a cleanup detail and didn't do anything. This morning I was on K.P. Tommorrow night I am on guard. That's life. Guess Charles Lee is gone now and you are lonesome as the devil again. I'm just counting the ' days until I get out of here and I count 15 more working days until basic is over. Gotta quit as I am still sleepy and that guard tommorrow night doesn't appeal to me Always Love, Junior November 8, '43 North Camp Hood, Texas Dear Folks, Guess I might as well get this letter written for it is the last one until probably next weekend. I go on the B.C. in the morning and there will be no chance to write. ' We've had a lot of fun this week but they nearly worked me to death. I think I wrote you Wednesday although I don't know. Thursday we went on the mortar range and shot away about $10 at a whack. I think the company wasted about $2,500 in one morning just practicing. This is Sunday morning and it is cold as the devil. One of those old overcast northers coming , down from the north pole. I'll certainly be glad when we get the next two weeks over and get in some good dorms. Somehow, I cain't think of anything to write - don't know why - guess I talked myself out when I ' was home. I gotta quit and roll a full field pack and I have an awful lot to do. When you talk to Grandma Leinweber tell her that I just can't find time to write her this weekend but I'll try next week. There's no especial news anyway. Love Junior ' 78 ' November 15, '43 North Camp Hood, Texas Dear Folks, Just time to write a note. I'm sending the money back and I certainly do thank you for the loan. I should send a money order but I'm sure it will get there okay. I'm okay but a little lame. The ligaments in my left foot are a little strained. I've got the 18 mile hike to bivouac in the morning and I don't know just how the foot'll take it but I guess okay. I'll be back ' Wednesday night. Love Junior. November 15, 43 North Camp Hood, Texas ' Dear Folks, Well, it finally looks like I have a little time to write you. We are working from dawn till dark now - even in our free time. There's really not much to tell and yet there is an awful lot to tell. I really had better just start in at the beginning and proceed from there. We took three more tests a few nights back which included the one I took at A and M and a math and a science test. Then yesterday we went to the star board and were interviewed. They took us alphabetically and the boys found out what they made on all their tests and found out if they were accepted for college training or not. Boys started coming out of there with a dejected look and "not satisfactory for college training" ringing in their ears. They even turned down one boy who had had three years of college. Naturally I was beginning to wonder what infantry camp I was going to. Well, they called my name and handed me my card of test scores. There heading the list was a big 144 on my General Classification test. I knew I was in then for here is what that means. 110 (and above) - eligible for O.C.S. 115 (and above) - eligible for ASTP 135 (and above) - eligible for West Point & Annanapolis 144 (my score) 150 (and above) - enius rating 1 160 -top score possible Well from then on out it was an argument between the interviewing leuitenant and myself as to whether or not I should go into the second term of basic. He finally won because I knew better than to ' argue too much so I've ended up scheduled for college B2 training. In B1, we get all our Algebra, Trig, chemistry, and physics. Here is why I wanted in 131 - my algebra was flunked and retaken; my trig was flunked and not retaken; 1 semester of chemistry was flunked and my physics is high school. I sure hate to miss that because I will have to work like the very devil and then the chances are that I will flunk out. Well, it's 9:30 and I'm still laying in bed. It's part laziness and partly because it is chilly outside. You asked how long I would be here. I can answer that pretty definitely by saying at least 3 weeks and scheduled for five. ' Also the leiutenant who interviewed me told me that I would have from a week to two weeks between the end of basic and the beginning of college to study in. Whether they will ship me first or whether I get a furlough in that time I do not know. You never can tell - it might surprise you! Guess I had better quit now because I have some more letters to catch up on including the I grandparents. Love Junior 79 November 20, '43 , North Camp Hood, Texas Dear Folks, ' It looks like I have seriously neglected you and I guess I have but I've been just a mite busy. Last Sunday we took out in a cold rain and marched 18 miles to bivouac. I had a cold and a bad foot but managed to get rid of the cold and the worst of the bad foot on bivouac. We stayed out until , Wednesday noon working night and day problems and then marched in in the afternoon. Today we finished training and had our final reveiw which didn't gripe me any at all. I'm really not sure as to just what is going to happen now but I believe we are going to take a post graduate course in , K.P. From the rumors that are floating around, we may not ship until after the first or even later. I'll let you know approximately when I will ship and where to if possible. I have K.P. tommorrow which gripes me no end. I haven't had it in a long time. , I'm like the Scotchman. My heart is in the Highlands a chasin' the deer. My heart is not here. I may get home before deer season is over. I really don't know. Dotta do. F Bye now. Love Junior P.S. - It was really to bad about Mrs. Billings, wasn't it? t November 23, 43 ' North Camp Hood, Texas Dear Folks, Just a note to let you know what is going on in the world. Now the latest news on the college , angle. Looks like none of this batallion will ship to college until the 10th of next month. Meanwhile we catch all of the available details. Yesterday, we (and I mean the whole camp) piled into trucks and migrated to south camp. We ' spent all day seeing a 5 minute air show. We backed up on a hill and the action took place about a half to one mile to our front. I will try to tell you what happened approximately. The first thing over were P39 Airocobras flying in pairs at about 300 feet as reconnasanse. There were about 3 pairs in all and they were going like bats out of hell. Then came medium level bombing with 500 lb demolition bombs from ' B26's. There were 18 of them flying in perfect formation escorted by P40s and they all dropped their bombs at once in a pattern. The earth rocked and it was beautiful if awe inspiring. Then there was strafing by P40 Warhawks, skip bombing by A20s ("Bostons" or "Havocs") and parachute bombing and smoke screen by the same and glide bombing by P40s. Also the A20s did some incendiary bombing. ' There was only one casualty in the whole procedure. That was an Army ambulance which collected 5-50 calibre machine gun bullets. The A20s were travelling in groups of 3 at very very low altitude and strafing as they come in on the parachute bombing run. One group was travelling too close behind the other and , started firing the 50 calibres in the nose at a too long range. They hit the mountain beside us catching the ambulance and setting fire to the grass with his tracers. Today we worked in the rifle pits for the officers who were firing carbines. Lights are about to go ' out so I gotta rush. I applied for a 3-day pass tonight and the topkick cussed me out so - I won't be home before I ship. G'night Love Junior. November 28, '43 ' North Camp Hood, Texas Postcard Dear Folks, Pittsburgh, PA and still going. We are having a little layover here before going on. We should , arrive at Northeastern College in Boston, Mass sometime tommorrow. I am well and very, very disgusted. Having wonderful time. My route - Dallas, Sherman, Denison, Muskogee, Parsons (Kansas) St. Louis, Dayton, Columbus and here. Might see New York. Love Junior ' Kill a buck for me 80 ' ~ December . , ,43 Boston, Massachusetts - Northeastern U. ASTU Dear Folks, I'm timing this so that if you go to the mailbox on Friday you will get it. You see I have to time ' everything that concerns you by adding 5 days to Boston time because that is how long it takes a letter to go either way. I know good and well that you will be lonesome on Christmas but I hardly believe that you will be quite as much so as Charles and I. It's good to have memories though and I certainly have plenty. The ' times when we were kids and didn't have responsibilities were the happy carefree days. Now we have to train to snuff the lives out of others so that another mother may weep instead of our own. It's a queer philosophy. ' Do you remember back in the days when Jeanne & Don were just toddlers and unable to figure out why Uncle Doll's face was so rough when they kissed Santa. Then was when we just always lived for Xmas Eve, after the Xmas tree so we could shoot our firecrackers. How we worked to get those musical tops to go and how Grandpa would always help us and get as much kick out of it as anybody! The times ' when Grandma (sly fox that she was) would figure out what someone was going to give her and then get fooled and the wonderful stories she could tell to little bug eyed boys who always wondered if they buried the poor cowboy in the song, "out on the lone prairie". How Aunt Doll and Aunt Til always got ' hayfever, and the popcorn balls that mother would make which they loved so much. Personally I think their reputation was built - to a large part on the ones we kids would snatch through the old door behind the tree. How we used to watch for hours to see Uncle Claud's car lights coming for then the Xmas tree wasn't far off. Do you remember how interested the kids were when Buddie first entered the picture and ' later how he enjoyed the cowboy get-up! Yes I have wonderful memories I don't think anybody ever could have as good a time as we do when we all get together at Christmas. I know you will all be thinking of us as we, will be thinking of you ' and I know you'll feel a little sad and lonely as we all did so many years back when another of us didn't show up for Xmas. Times change though and perhaps we'll be together again next year. I'm only 15 hrs. from home by plane you know. Eat my share of food and kiss everybody all around for me cause I'll be with you mentally anyway. Incidentally I'm OK and although the thermometer rarely goes above freezing it doesn't seem cold. We have a hospital section right in the building and Uncle Sam guards us very carefully cause he figures that we are all diamonds in the rough. It's his job to polish us up to be guiding lights. Merry Christmas ' Junior ' December 14, 1943 Boston, Mass Night and cold as hell ' Dear Chatter, Were you surprised! Yes the Army does strange things even to sending a Texan north for the winter. But you know that's the Army----always SNAFU. ' You know, I'm a mite sorry about not writing you. I'm really at fault, as you know because you brought it to my attention but really my dear, I've been so busy that I've actually met myself coming and going. Probably I'll go out and get good and drunk. NO--I didn't mean it. Massachusetts is really nice and I'm not kidding you. I went downtown the other day and I froze my ears three times before I could thaw them once. I am attending Northeastern College along with about 325 other hopefuls. It's a dinky little place set right in the middly of the literary part of Boston. In fact, it's so darn snooty that I am afraid that I might ' come out of here with a Haahvudd accent. Before we came up here we called them the Bahston Bahstards but since we got here, I have found that the people are very friendly. My courses?----JUST analytic geometry, history, English, physics, chemistry, and geography. Just for variation we have a lot of Military Science and P.E. We started today and it don't look too rough--at least, not as rough as we were expecting. After all we are just training to replace a WAC for active duty. 81 A little about my trip up here. We took out one dismal day about a week after Thanksgiving and ' came all the way up here like kings on sleepers. I got a rather permanent crook in my neck from trying to see the country at the government's expense. I saw St. louis, Indiannapolis, Columbus, Dayton, ' Pittsburgh, Phisadelphia, Newark, New York, New Haven, Providence, and here. I gotta go now for a 3 hour enforced study period and God knows I need it. Hasta luego, Tex December 27, '43 ' Boston, Massachusetts - Northeastern U. ASTU Dear Folks, ' Here it is Christmas night and what a sad day it has been. For some unknown reason I was very sick last night and couldn't hold anything on my stomach today which is a very sorry situation because they had from all accounts a wonderful dinner. I went down a while ago and got me some supper but , didn't have an appetite and didn't eat much. There's really not an awful lot to say. Everybody who wanted them got three day passes for Christmas. The school work is straightening out and getting easier. ' Guess I'll start over. I still felt too bad last night to continue with the letter so I just quit and went to bed. I got up this morning and went to church. Incidentally, it is the first time I have been to church since I have been up here. There are as far as I have been able to ascertain only about two Prc-Gbyten t . churches in all of Greater Boston. This one, The Church of the Covenant is on the small cathedral type and is really beautiful on the inside. It is a Congregational Church, (Presbyterian), whatever branch that is. I didn't much like it. The setting was funereal and dim and the minister was a stuffed shirt and the congregation was all over fifty. Such a contrast with our lively invigorating Southwestern churches. , Really there is nothing to say today except that you'll never know just how much I'd like to be back in Texas along about now. Love Junior 1 82 ' 1 9 4 4 f s Now OW0,40- ' ~ M II k i. Sh , ` A'X 1]F _ _ yK3•e,a ~ ~9 ~4 S e~ .b Kam" ki _ ! Y - U~ +r- l'i.''t~,. #EI•Y _55,x- January 1, 1944 Boston, Massachusetts Dear Chatter, New Year's Eve and what happens? We spend it beating our brains out on a slide rule. I'm not ' kidding you - we're all sitting around here like so many innocent babes studying our little physic books in unison. That is, all except a few happy boys who periodically come in and try to kiss my roommates and I. Kinda looks like they've had more than tea and beans to get drunk on. Incidentally - just for the record - it's spelt "trousseau" as any girl will know if she's planning on that step. (Your sp mark on the word in your letter) Well, New Year's Eve has come and gone and now it's late on New Year's day. We got by last night okay except for a broken door glass when one of my roomies tried to fit a boy's face for a size 11 GI shoe and missed. ' Concerning the cold weather. I think I wrote you what I thought about the Boston weather once before but here goes again. It's only fit for polar bears and Bostonions and the bears long ago migrated away from here so that only leaves the Bostonions who haven't got enough sense to migrate. They've ' got a little song up here - in fact it's the B.C. alma matter - which goes "For here men are men and their hearts are true." Their hearts may be true but for the life of me, I can't figure out how they can be men. We spend our lives inside like a hot-house plant and I haven't had a breath of good fresh air since I've been here ' and wouldn't know what a horse and rope looked like. Kinda need one too when one of these blondes gets all bug-eyed and mavericky and I cain't think of no other way to calm 'er down. Had a pretty good line just in my voice until some of these other GI wolves caught on and there was the awfullest epidemic ' of overaccented Southern drawls that you ever heard. Had the last laugh though when one imitation Texan ran into a real Texas girl and she promptly told him she'd never heard that accent before. That's life, though. I guess by the time this reaches you you will have had your check and you'll either be out of the ' bed or back in for the duration - Hoping for the best. Kinda disgusted with those Aggies for getting whipped - I don't get it. Wish I was back there along about now. Guess I better quit before supper and mail this so it'll reach you before next New Year. As always, Tex (Ed. Note: Chatter used the back of this letter for a shopping list) ' January 3, '44 Boston, Massachusetts - Northeastern U. ASTU (An English composition - the A- grade is circled with a note - "I Love English" - the teacher's comment ' is, "Well written but loses interest value by being rather over generalized) AS HEROES GO There was quiet determination and devil-may-care cockiness combined in that picked group of ' young Americans who assembled at Rangoon, Burma and Kunming, China in the fall of 1940. They were the cream of our fliers and theirs were the eyes that looked at and yet beyond, for here were the first to realize our mortal danger and here were the first who would give their lives for our freedom. ' In their shark-nosed "P-40"s and under the brilliant leadership of weather beaten General Claire Chennault, the Flying Tigers set about the David-Goliath task of "licking" the "yellow menace" in its own happy slaughtering grounds. And lick them they did, for in the short year that they fought they proved their superiority over the Jap so completely that no amount of other Japanese victories could save the lost "face". All through that flaming spring of 1941 the planes of the Rising Sun went hurtling into the green jungles of Burma and the barren wastes of China and the Chinese began to look upon the fliers as Gods in vivid contrast to the view of the Japanese fliers who looked upon them as American devils and lost all ' desire to die for the Emperor when they locked in squadron-to-squadron combat with the Tigers. Gods or devils, these were just the butcher, the baker, and the candlestick maker or the boy next door. There was "Scarsdale Jack" Newkirk who sent an unknown number of Japs to a flaming death before his family back in Scarsdale, New York, was notified of the squadron leader's death in a strafing ' mission. Too, there was "Tex" Hill, a preacher's son, whose last words to his mother before leaving for China were, "Don't worry, Mother, China's just as close to heaven as Texas". Perhaps his faith helped ' 83 him to pile up the then unequaled record which he brought back with him. Indeed, there are many stories ' of their heroism, for each of the hundred off were American boys with one thought in mind and that victory or death! We must never forget that these men would have given everything as some did ' that we might live in freedom. Truly, then, as heroes go, these have never been equaled for they provided the buffer that may have saved the United States. January 24, 1944 ' Boston, Mass. Dear Chatter, ' You'd be surprised at the time of day that I am writing this letter, so if it is a little disconnected lay it to the fact that four o'clock in the morning is an awful time to be forcing your brain to function. I happen to be on CQ tonight from 3 to 5. It's a sad life. , Don't guess you got any snow in Houston but they got more at home the other day than they have had up here all year. That's just one of the little vagaries of life which makes each day and indeed each year different. ' You haven't got a darned thing on my little brother now for the poor kid is flat of his back with a broken collarbone. I still don't know the details for my mother just dropped a hurried note. Guess he will be all right. Now for a little lowdown on the Boston nightlife. Another boy and I were double dating the other ' night to supper and none of us had ever eaten any Chinese food before. May I put in my two cents worth right now by saying that I don't think our friendship policy with China is reciprocal if they are going to poison us. They called the stuff chow mein, I believe. No doubt that is where the army phrase chow ' came from for you couldn't tell what you were eating there either. Still trying to skate on this ice but the way it looks now I am going to have to use a little diplomacy and work out a mutual assistance pact agreeable to both of my feet. I kinda pulled the wool over the eyes of the profs here I guess, for I made much better grades , than I did at A&M. Had a well filled out ABCD card though. Didn't get to finish the letter Friday night so I'll finish it this morning (Sunday). About that misspelled word in last edition of this novel. There is always the comeback that I did it ' on purpose just to see if you would pick it up. Honestly though, you caught me in one of the little vagaries of life. It's nearly the end of January and speaking strictly from a New Englander's viewpoint, the weather has been very mild. I'm speaking a little too soon though for purgatory (Boston) will probably be ' wearing long flannels 'fore the winter is over. Must go get my breakfast now--or should I say dinner? The morning after the night before. Oui, la, la! t As ever, Tex March 1, 1944 ' Boston, Massachusetts Dear Chatter, ' Well, the axe has fallen and amongst those who stuck their necks out was this unworthy correspondent. Specifically, the ASTP is being disbanded and I am waiting my shipping orders to the combat troops. You can't tell, I might end up at a P.O.E. before I realize what hit me. Nothing much going on up here but seems like I've got a fump on the rest of the boys. It isn't ' spring but my Texas background has started my mind to turning to thoughts of what a girl thinks about the year around. The pickings are a little poor up here but the quantity is superflous. In fact--this being leap year it is unsafe for a soldier to be alone on the streets after dark. These "wolverines' T , Three of us triple dated with some Brighton, Mass. (suburb) girls the other night and really had a time. A cop finally chased us home at 4 o'clock in the morning. I think he thought we were juveniles or delinquents or something. Yes, I have two brothers. The one you know is a flight engeneer in the Air Corps at Dodge City, ' Kansas now and is probably going overseas soon. The younger one is in the 8th grade in high school and is tending to be as tall as my older brother. You sounded a little discouraged and bitter in your last letter which is entirely unlike you. You are ' one of the most cheerful persons I ever met and I'm inclined to believe that you won't let this get you 84 , ' down. I once heard a preacher say that he knew a man who grieved because he had no shoes until he met a man who had no feet. There's a lot in it. They kinda took all of the fun out of the war for me when they said that there are no beauties on the mythically beautiful south sea islands. Guess I had better hope for France now and "Shoo she la fem" or "somepin". I gotta study now--why I don't know. Luck an Stuff, "Tex" Leinweber ' March 29, 1944 Somewhere in Tennessee ' Dear Chatter, I'm so tired I can hardly write and in fact there was a stretch when I was unable to write a letter for nearly two weeks because of the manuevers. They plucked us out of Boston one day and four days later we hit the mud and manuevers of Tennessee. We are now encamped, or maybe I should say floating outside of McMinnsville. We will be here until Wednesday when we will leave for Fort Jackson, S.C. Honestly, I wouldn't trade 1 square foot of Texas for a hundred gallons of Tennessee. Perhaps a bit about the manuevers would interest you. My division is the 26th or Yankee Division--the Massachusetts National Guards! Can you imagine that--a Texan in the Massachusetts National Guard. I am already at outs with everybody--it should be fun! We started the last manuever on Monday and Wednesday we crossed the flooded Cumberland. The Engineers were trying to bridge the river and their first two pontoons broke loose and went lazily whirling down the river. In the meantime they swamped two assault boats and a motorboat motor trying to get a bulldozer across the river. The bulldozer also went in the drink. To top it all, the enemy scattered ' my company and broke through to the river to destroy the bridge. Early nest morning I was captured and sent to a prisoner camp. The problem was over that day. Fort Jackson is a staging area for overseas and the YD is going over within 3 months all of which helps my morale a lot seeing as how I have always hated the infantry. I am up for a furlough sometime in t the next month and I'm hitting Texas with a bang. I guess I had better quit because I have to write my brother in order that he will write his biyearly letter. I hope you're up on stuff but if you aren't just think of the rest you're getting. ' As always, Leinweber April 6, '44 ' Fort Jackson, S.C. (return address show "Pvt Tex Leinweber") My Dearest Mother, ' I guess by the time you get this you will think that I have forgotten and don't care, but I have been on the range working as much as 20 hours a day for the last four days and I am so tired and sleepy now that I doubt if I can write an intelligent letter. ' Just a little news about what we have been doing. Monday we fired the machine gun and I came out with the best score in my company and an expert rating. The next day we fired the carbine and I got a sharpshooter rating out of it - about 200 shots with each of the above weapons. Yesterday and today I worked on targets and fired the M-1 some. I guess that we will go through the enfiltration course tommorrow and then march in. I'll sure be glad to get it over with. I got your letter about the pants just before we came out here and won't get to send them until I get back. Somehow, I started this out for a special Mother's Day letter but it ran into news - after all though, ' I guess that would be what you would appreciate most. When I get back into camp I will try to get you a present. I'm sorry, I'm so sleepy I can't write - I'll finish it later. Just wanted to tell you in a few words how much my mother means to me. My character, my heredity, my mentality; I owe to both of my parents. My ambition, my love of beautiful things, my faith in ' myself; I perhaps have gotten more from you. In a very small way, this is my way of telling you just how much it means to me to have parents and especially the type I have. At this season of the year people have seen fit to honor those who should be honored all the time - at least that is the way I look at it. ' Perhaps before another Mother's day rolls around I shall have been through hell and my outlook on life changed - if so, I pray to God that my Mother is here to help me. Remember what I have written in ' 85 this sleepy unconnected manner for, although words are but the ill fitting tools of fools, it is what is written , between the lines that counts. "My car hasn't got a motor", "It's a bloodin!"; the Calvert system; flu, chicken pox, measles, ' whooping cough, inumerable colds and the old kidney trouble; high school and all the troubles you both had; "I want to go to college but I can't sell my sheep". "It makes no difference, no matter what happens, a home will be waiting." Just a few memories of different situations. ' Love you with all my heart, Junior April 28, 1944 ' Fort Jackson, S.C. 26th Infantry Division Dear Chatter, , Just got your letter as I have been on furlough but was routed in through Memphis and Dallas so I didn't get by to see you. I would have really liked to have seen you. Guess I'm in a rut but somehow I can't get switched off into a joking vein. ' I'm so sleepy, I'm walking on my eyelids. I rode or I should say that I suffered for three nights on the train. Had some fun though. Two or three of us entertained a blonde "lady of the burlesque" who happened to be on the train. She wasn't very clever at the repartee though so we did most of the talking. , Trip was uneventful. Going home, I stopped over in Denton for a date. Walked into the Mess Hall and was the only boy in a group of 1500 girls. "Cherchez les femmes"---"Dod ie les femmes"M I surprised my family and they were even more surprised when Charles Lee (Brother) came in ' from Dodge City Kansas (where he is with the Air Corps) only three hours later. We ate fried chicken at one ranch and then we went home and slept and then we ate and then we went to my grandmother's ranch and we ate--and--I guess we just stuffed ourselves until we were ' nearly dead. What a life--all somebody would have had to do was to give me an honorable discharge and I would have known for sure that I was dreaming. Just to show you how things change, I walked into Pampell's Drug Store in Kerrville and gave a redhead my best line and finally found out what her name was. Was I embarassed--she was raised on a ' ranch just a few miles from ours and the last time I saw her, she was, figuratively speaking, in pigtails and short skirts. I walked into the high school to see my 14 year old "little" brother. He's taller than I am!! What a riot! ' Incidentally, I saw in the paper where a John McNeill was President of the Kerrville Presbyterian Young People. Does that happen to be you brother and is he going to S.I.? I'm going on the ranges again next week to fire the infantry weapons so I guess I'll be using horse and mule liniment on my shoulder again and be chasing around like a little dog dodging rocks. I really ' can't say that I appreciate the sore shoulders and puffed lips associated with a 30-06 rifle. Incidentally, your little poem about March winds leads me to reciprocate with one of the two mottos of the wolf. This is strictly for your protection in case you run into the type, which you probably will , as soon as you get those legs to working again. Quote--"Candy is dandy, but liquor is quicker"--unquote. The other is strictly for members of the profession and 'twould only be censored anyway. You and your jokes--so I'm in the infant-ry, am I? Alright, just so I don't grow up into a state of adult-ery. Incidentally, I am nearly grown now--I said last night as I threw away my baby rattle. Anyway, ' my mama says I can have dates when I'm 21. About the girls over here--I just hate these Southern Virginia Creepers. If you happen to know the flowering plant I am referring to, it is definitely the "clinging vine" type. I really thought I was in ' soldier's heaven when I hit Texas--guess they just don't grow as pretty any place else. About the men (which you are probably interested in more)--there "ain't none". They're all drafted "et cetera", except for the soldier boys here and the girls have an uncomfortable habit of interpreting our YD insignia for "Yankee Devils". ' Guess I had better go now cause you can plainly see my brains splattered all over this page. Here's to you--One of the few. "Bones-wahr" somepin' A fool TEX his signature ' P.S. I tried to mail this yesterday and it was returned along with most of the other letters the boys had written. Seems we now have to write our first names in the return address. Are we mad--why Postmaster General Walker would look like a baldheaded seive if our machine gun section could get ahold of him! 86 i May 17, 1944 Fort Jackson, S.C. t Dear Chatter, Brace yourself cause here comes some more of that old stuff. I just got your letter and being a very consistent correspondent, I will answer immediately. I don't remember just exactly when I wrote you last so I may overlap a little on an accounting of this G.I.'s efforts to keep from being restricted. I gave up a long time ago in trying to become a four star general. We were out on the ranges for a while shooting everything under the sun. I think they are trying to make Commando Kelly's out of all of us from the amount of weapons we had to fire. There's just one thing--if I ever get back on the ranch I'm going to make some deer respect me. I'll bet one would sure hop ' if I took a fifty calibre machine gun to him. The dear situation is something different though. I haven't yet learned how to cut down the muzzle blast when one gets mad, so I feel like digging a foxhole in the floor. The machine gun was a whiz though and I topped the company. I certainly hope I never have to use it as I did on those targets for it is certainly a horrible weapon. Also I fired the Garand rifle and I'm t afraid I'm a poor soldier for there wasn't the will and there wasn't the way and my shoulder was generally in full retreat. The carbine was also on my list and the rest of the time I spent in the pits pulling targets. Each guy would be out in the field in a hole by himself up to a distance of 500 yards from the firing point. i' Once firing stopped and everybody popped out of their holes like so many prairie dogs to sun on the banks. Suddenly firing started from another firing point and the recochets just cleared the boys heads. Everybody hit their holes head first--just like prairie dogs! Three of the boys were laying on their belly's behind one of the open pits where the other guys were working batteries of targets. Suddenly a ricochet came over and raised a grove across the--ah-- anterior portion of one of the boys. He yelled, "I'm shot"! He looked like his pappy had gotten after him with a wet roping rope and landed one good lick. Well, we got back in and fiddled around for a few days and then this morning we took out on a 9 mile hike in two hours with a full field pack. There was where we seperated the men from the boys. Me, I'm ready to seperate the men again! Talk about your sick and aching men, those were them. We lost two thirds of our strength before we came in and this little boy didn't think he was going to make it. It was awful to see the guys lying in the ditches with heat exhaustion and cramps. I don't guess I ever spent a more miserable two hours. And tommorrow night we take another one--- 25 miles in 8 hours! About the film and things in general. The PX's won't sell film at any of the places where I have been because of the fact that cameras are not allowed on most government posts but I beleive that film is obtainable in Columbia and I will try to get you some. Another thing along that line, little miss--I once asked for a picture or snapshot of you and you promised it to me but you know, I never got that picture. ' Nuff said. Don't think I'll ever forget any of the many things that happened that summer including the "God bless you" incident or the little ducking spree we took there one night or the ever so carefully planning Patty who wanted to be alone way up the river and lured me along. We listened to Sweety-face caterwauling until we decided to go back to the crowd. Por girl I'm afraid her plan didn't work. She thought she was the femme fatale or something. Yes, I'm sick and tired of this sugar and honey technique and my heart is in Texas far away. ' Incidentally, I don't get that last crack about toes curling when courting. Maybe I'm dense and can't catch the joke but I do wear shoes--leastways when I go courtin'--and that keeps them from curling. Now is the time for all good little children to be in bed--so--I'll thay me widdly pwayers and kwawl in me widdle bed. ' Yours not so obediently (obstinate) A Texas rebel in a Yankee din--Tex. P.S. The films are yours if I have to break a safety vault to get them. P.P.S. Went downtown this afternoon and cased the joint trying to get film. It is unobtainable at the PX's ' but I did manage to get two rolls of 116--it's precious so make the most of it. I'll send it as soon as I can get to the post office. "Longhorn" "Tex" etc. etc. Why do I always collect nicknames? ' 87 June 15, 1944 r Fort Jackson, S.C. Epistle to a convalescent adolescent. Dear Kathe, You know--I am interested in signs. There is lots in what each has to say. For instance there are ' the highway signs. There is one in a little town near Brenham which intrigues me. It says, quote "Drive slow and see our city, drive fast and see our jail," unquote! Then there's the one in West Texas--'This is God's country, don't drive like "h--I". Also the Texas signs SLOW-Soft shoulders and Dangerous curves, ' but over here the sign says simply "Keep off the shoulders, no parking." Editor's note--pardon my writing; I had an ancestor who was a baby and couldn't write very well. r Now he has a descendant who is a booby and can't write as well. Also the army's writing desks all look suspiciously like cots. ' ` Everybody here are acting like monkeys in a zoo. Wherever we go the boys are all scratching. It was even very noticeable in church in town the other morning. Chiggers--millions of them--timid ones, i viscous ones and just plain itchy ones. They hold court on me I think because it couldn't be that way with just a few plain families aboard. ' I gotta get my 7 hour ration of sleep now, more later. Another day, another buck sixty six and the war is closer to over. I saw the n. F with Bing Crosby--"Going My Way". To me it was beautiful and deeply moving. ' Some things impress me that way. A deftly written story, a beautiful, dreamy song, a quiet country scene--all move me deeply. You know it's a queer thing but when you hear God's country mentioned it is always in connection with the country. I guess it is there that, somehow, out under the open sky away from the meanness and trivialities and squalor of the city a person gets closer to Him. He has time to think. You possibly know what I mean if you have spent time in the open by yourself during the summers at Kerrville. Always in the songs of the range which are best known you will hear the haunting and sad melodies of the cowboys. Sometimes I wish I could run away and stay forever back there--an escape to childhood, as it were--and sanity! for the mad, chaotic world we live in today was not built for reason and love and beauty. I'm sorry, I was just feeling in a philosophical mood tonight. Sometimes I corral a poor hapless person and discuss things for hours! The next afternoon--Worked pretty hard on K.P. this morning and I'm getting a little break now. You know--all the jokes they tell about potatoes are true. I couldn't look a potato in the eye if I was going to have to peel it the next minute! Rumors are running thick and fast again and our training period is now ended. I don't know what is happening but something is bound to pop. Had a lot of fun the other night on a divisional problem. We marched 14 miles one morning and dug in a position for the battallion on a hill and periodically dived into our holes as "enemy" planes (P39's ' and B25's) came over. We pulled out of there and marched 8 miles to a bivouac area and dug trenches for protection against air attack. A sergeant dug his too close to mine and I had to move--was I bitter! Especially since it was 4 in the morning and the only other available spot was wet. Well, I was supposed to dig 18 inches but I struck water at one foot and I didn't try to dig for oil. Sometimes I'd like to strangle a sergeant or two with his own stripes. I always did contend that you could tell a polecat by his stripes. Until later, this is a Texas cowboy in a Yankee outfit hoping you can instruct him on diplomacy. As always, Tex ' CoG 101st Inf. ' Fort Jackson, S.C. June 26, 1944 Dear Chatter, ' This is a regular heat box nowadays but I guess Houston is about the same. We've plumb given up getting on the scales to weigh because as a guy stands on them the needle gradually goes down like a punctured balloon. ' I rather got away from it last weekend though for I got a three day pass and went down to the beach. It was heavenly and I really enjoyed it--especially the girls. When bathing suits look shorter men look longer. Do you remember that removable skirt which I was requested to throw on the dam one day at Kerrville. Very disconcerting! , 88 ' I sure hope you get to go to N.T.S.T.C. this fall although for my money your voice needs no training. Remember I once told you that it stood out like a ringing bell in any group. ' I do have some relatives in Houston. Let's see now--they would be children of my father's first cousin whose name I believe is Lincoln Leinweber. I beleive that there are two boys in the Air Corps-- both good looking and I believe, with very good Air Corps records. I think there are a couple of pretty girls ' in the family, too. I'm a little hazy on the subject. Our number one recreation around here is sleeping. At A and M. we called it Horizontal Engineering, Term I. Term II was an entirely different thing. In the Army we just call it pressing and beleive me that is a good term. ' We do love our bunks even if they are old, uncomfortable, unstable and have a bad habit of collapsing in the middle of the best dreams. From the time we hit them at night until the Harrassing Agent, M1, namely the sergeant yells,"Whattayasay, Let's go!" we are in the depths of bliss or something. ' One of the boys came back from the hospital this morning following an appendicitis operations. We manage to keep a couple of our platoon in with broken legs, operations and what have you. Also some just go up for a rest and to see the nurses. Looks like maybe you'll be sending letters across the ocean soon. We're apparently getting ' packed for the long awaited move. I'll be one that comes back though. Gotta go now and have a conference with the General about world policy. As ever, Leinweber CofG 101st Inf Fort Jackson, SC ' July 4, 1944 Dear Kathe, Another few days with the "One o'th woist" (101) Infantry. and what days! Maybe this writing looks queer but I just dipped my eyelashes in ink and every now and then I let them flutter a little instead of just drooping. -it's that bad. One of the boys fell in the coffee this morning at 4 A.M. with an epoleptic (spell) fit. I'm telling you we're all going crazy as bed bugs. I don't know whether it was the 3 hours of sleep or the food that got him. It may have been the slightly addled eggs, vintage 1935. 1 don't know. Any way the chiggers (my own private crop) are staging a burrowing-in strike for higher blood counts. The Lord help me if they call up your gnat air support. We were riding around on the big Sherman medium tanks again today and they're so hard I have callouses you know where. The worst part of it is that we can't turn in worn out parts for replacement. It's better than walking though--I'm telling you, I'm going to be entirely mechanized after this war. ' I'm sorry but I have no picture of myself with me and no recent picture whatsoever. It's like this little limerick that I picked up in the paper the other day. At beauty, I'm far from a star--There are others more handsome by far--But my face, I don't mind it--For I am behind it; It's the people out front that get the jar. ' I was planning on having one taken in the near future though and if I do I'll send you a copy. Our theatre, or rather, one of them, burnt down to the ground early this morning so I guess the movie situation will be a little bad from here on out. We needed an open air theatre anyway. ' We have a number of Italian "allies" here and they really absorb the jokes. They are in Engineer batallions and really resent a "viva I'Duce" thrown in their direction. I believe this outfit would greet a four star general with, "What is it? a bird." They have absolutely no fear of rank or gold braid and several platoon lieutenants have gone overseas rather than face the ' incessant heckling that this weapons platoon gives them. I certainly thank you for the picture. Now I have proof that I knew her when as the expression goes. It is in my foot locker but I'll have you know that my foot locker is free from rats--anyway, no self ' respecting rat would live in it. It's booby trapped. I'm about to run out of time, info, ink and consciousness and I gotta hit the field at 4 in the morning and I have guard tomorrow night so I guess I had better say me little pwayers and drop off to a reverie of a world free from sergeants yelling "whattayasay. Let's go" and chiggers and heat and honey ' voiced Virginia creepers (the clinging vine type to you). In their place would be the calls of the "whip poor will" and the butterflys and cool mountain streams and beautiful Texas pals. Well it's nice to dream anyway! ' In dreamland G'night, Tex ' 89 CofG 101st Inf Fort Jackson, SC July 11, 1944 Dear Kathie, ' It's Saturday and has been raining all day so I decided to set it aside for letter writing and believe me the old cramp is about to set in. ' The Carolina Chigger skirmishes have adjourned until Monday when we spend another twenty four hours in the field. We spent 4 hungry days in the field at the beginning of this week. We attacked on Tuesday morning under a heavy artillery barrage and then let the other two regiments sift through and carry further into the enemy positions. It is really an interesting experience on these problems and they ' try to make everything as real as possible without hurting somebody. One fellow got caught in a barrage of short rounds the other day and was diving head first for his foxhole when a shell splinter caught him in the leg. The pay off came when he was taken back to the aid station and--unnoticed--awaited his turn , amongst the simulated casualties. The long awaited date has now been set approximately and, according to our colonel, we are going to an active combat area so I guess we'll get into this thing finally. I'm witless this week (no catty remarks) so I'll have to send along a few of the little jokes, which ' the G.I.'s laugh at. Strictly uncensored stuff from Yank, the Army Newspaper and other army papers. Snafu is our favorite and we always like him for the situations are only too true. This place is like a hen bridge party only the boys make an art of their rumoring. You can sift out ' one rumor and five minutes later it is back with an entirely new slant and reportedly verified by somebody else. Pretty soon we hear that Hitler has just assumed command of the U.S. Armies and the Allies are in Berlin. Say--I heard that Eleanor was biting a watermelon through a net fence and the farmer mistook her teeth for a Jap's and ended her day with a seasoning of buckshot--Oh well! Bye now, Tex. Ed's. note There are several articles and cartoons included in the previous letter. ' CoG 101 st InS AP026 Fort Jackson, SC August 5, 1944 Dear Kathe, 1 Back to the days when our grandparents used the old lined paper to keep their writing straight. To make a long story short, somebody "borrowed" mine so I borrowed a Blue Ridge hillbilly pal's paper. They still write on this back in them thar hills. I'm a little tardy about writing but I'm backwards anyway. You know--don't know which end is up ' and can't tell front from back. You get that way after a few months in this outfit. For instance the other day another boy and I were running an obstacle course and ran head on into the general at the end of the course. Apparently we did it wrong for he asked us how long we had ' been with the outfit and if we had ever run that type of course before. Now the army is full of paradoxes-- sometimes you say the right thing at the right time and sometimes it's the wrong thing and again it's just the plain wrong thing at the wrong time. Well--we had never run this course before and decided that the right thing was the truth but we guessed wrong and the general called the regimental commander, who called the batallion commander, who called the company commander, who called the first sergeant who called our platoon lieutenant and told him to find out why we had never run the course. Our captain had to see the colonel and I wouldn't be surprised if the Chief of Staff hears about it--Move over Private Hargrove, private SNAFU Jr. is moving in. In the meantime the entire second army and I are laughing at them. I have just finished the tests for the Expert Infantry Badge which means among other things $5 a month on my pay. I now have enough non-combat medals to give me a decided droop to the left ' shoulder. It's queer though but I have never worn them. Someday I shall, I guess. We've just gotten in a lot of okarinas, tonettes, etc. to amuse ourselves with overseas. I can see where the casualty rate for old G company is going to be exceedingly high. Some of the boys just aren't ' musically inclined. I can't think of any prattle to rattle so I'll leave the unveiling of my ignorance to a night when the moon isn't so bright. It's pretty neat here tonight too. Reminds me of the days when I was a growing boy and had no worries. Hasta luego "shomisko moyo"??? WHAT???? Tex ' 90 CoG 101 Inf AP026 Fort Jackson, SC August 17, 1944 Dear Kathe, Did you ever get sent on a mission or some striped ink. Well, I have in my possession a pencil ' which, with a little bit of manipulation, will write in two different colors. Cute, huh? Did anybody ever throw old shoes at you? Well--they did at me--2000 pair more or less--mostly more. So help me, I feel sorry for a Tom Cat. We were collecting extras for turning in before shipping and I had to unload them from trucks. My next letter will probably be censored--and I don't mean because of bad language. you see I have a date with a mademoiselle from armintures and maybe later I'll see a few of the late supermen's superwomen. The herrenvolk have decided that they aren't quite so good. ' Speaking of okarinas--We were given several as well as various tonettes and other musical? instruments too --of the boys have been tootling them lately and one is going right now. Good for the morale?--Heaven forbid! It will probably embed the fighting--instinct into the outfit though although it will probably be used on our own troops. The boys are rather on edge and tend to be slightly touchy. ' Yeah, my mammy told me that I would be a cultured person someday too. Potato patches in my ears. My French is practically non-existant and my German is little better. I know "Ach du 1_. ieber Augustien" in German and various French tunes which you wouldn't know. Incidentally I had the "moyo" all figured out and was some curious to find out just whether you were calling me a name or not. You know--to an illiterate "mien schotsie" "mein stincot" (sp) could mean anything. ' No I don't wear medals often. I'm storing them away against the time when I run for President and stole the indiscriminate use of Treasury silver. What's "gismo"? @#^&$%* I'm hereby appointing you morale officer for this GI. With some of your letters you should be a comedian. The smart GI will go overseas equipped with chewing gum, lipstick, fingernail polish and face powder. Others are handsomer and need less bribery--I'm taking all I can carry! You should see us running around here every morning carrying about 150 Ibs of equipment. The ' air is simply . you see, that is what we will carry up the gangplank! Oh well, how else would we get to see gay Paree free! My one cell brain is about run down so I guess I go then go and when ya dotta do, ya dotta do. Cherchez les femmes! Love, Tex ' CoG 101 Inf AP026 c/o Postmaster New York, NY August 25, 1944 Somewhere in d Yankee Country Dear Kathe, Well congrats an' stuff. Seems like you've been taking life easy too long. What I couldn't do with a year's vacation. You should have turned the old shasis in for "I and I" (replacement or repair) a long time ago. The make and style were fine but the worksmanship was poor or something. ' The old censor now has me in his grasp and I am allowed to say lots of nothing. Now I don't have any excuse to talk about me so we'll talk about you chiefly henceforth which is more fun anyway. If you ever see one of these blankety blank letters you'll know that I talked too much. I'm sending a snapshot and a very poor one taken sometime back while I was still at my last ' post. The guys are two of my buddies and the expression on all of us are purely original--slightly Dali-ish. Guess it was the sun--it's a good excuse anyway. I had another GI haircut a while back--GI in this case means gruesome individual. With what ' nature gave me I need to be a camouflage expert or a hermit. As I lie here on my bunk, I glance up every now and then and watch the other poor guys struggling with their nouns and adjectives. We have just about decided that our standard letter formula should be---Hello, I am well, Goodbye---and even then we have to be careful. Oh-my aching head! The food is fine here. I'll take the food back at A and M anytime though--or better yet some of the ranch cooking--don't guess there's any that can beat it. Put your best foot forward and I hope you don't get a nose massaging in the deal. Get ' acquainted with the old tierra firma. I'll bet it was a cheap drunk the first time you stood up. Gotta go quick. As ever, Tex. 91 Sept 2, 1944 ' Somewhere on the seven seas Dear Folks, I've been rather putting off writing this letter but I find time rather heavy on my hands. My dateline is "somewhere on the seven seas" and that is about all censorship will allow to be told on that subject. I am perfectly well and did not get very seasick aside from feeling unsettled. The sea is absolutely ' beautiful with its ever changing whimsies of color - almost like a young girl with several concurrent boy friends. Sometimes in the afternoon the little flying fish play leapfrog in the powdery blue wake and the entire western horizon has a myriad of diamonds on every little crestlet. It's a little too fluid for me though and I would just as soon see a little solid Texas soil under me. I'm awfully sorry I missed the Camp Meeting. Do you know that makes two straight now and F pretty soon I am liable to be missing my second deer season in a row! Looks like an indefinite closed season on dear too - anyway the Americanus variety. , Don't worry about me. "Eda Bee's" grown now. I left my boyhood back there somewhere. I imagine when it has once left you will find it only in a parent's memory. I Say, Pete - three tries and you didn't make it, and I make the boat on my first try. How's that'? Oceans of love and a kiss on every wave , Tex, Junior Sept 4, 1944 1 Dear Folks, Just a note to let you know that everything is alright and I am okay. I try to write every two or , three days but difference in types of mail I use and in the necessary wartime postal troubles may make some letters far in between. We've been having trouble with our own mail recently and I have not as yet gotten any papers from home. ' Everybody is saving money - not of choice but of circumstances beyond our control. Barter with cigarettes is better than with invasion francs. A franc is now worth 1/10th of its value before the war. Makes a fellow have a deluding rich feeling with a coupla thousand francs or so. I should be salting away about fifty a month now. , Everybody seems to be getting ready to fall into formation so I had better rush this to get it off of my hands. We're having a little superficial excitement now and then to break monotony and are working pretty hard with little free time. ' Love ya Tex, Junior (Letter to Charles Lee) ' September '44 Somewhere in France Hello Feather Merchant, I hope this will catch up with you back in the good old U.S. I'm at present somewhere in France as Mother has probably informed you by now. , Much of the interesting things which I could tell you in case you come overseas must of necessity be censored by me. I came over on a converted luxury liner and was it converted! The sea was beautiful at times and then again at times it could get very ugly. Naturally I am in a section that has been fought over and I'll have lots to tell you after the war. , It seems like our stock is doing fine and paying quite a profit. I just got some letters from Mother on the subject. I'm sending home at least $35 a month in class E allotments now as I'll have a good bit of my own on hand when I get out. That's all I can write on this foolish letter - so Keep on flying Junior 92 Sept 9, 1944 Somewhere in France Dear Folks, It's a beautiful sunshiny day here in France and the weather has surprised most of us quite a bit. I am well. Nuff said on that point. ' I visited one of the more famous battle towns of this war the other day and the place is pretty well in a mess. A little red-headed girl, oblivious of her surroundings, or what may have happened to her family skipped by my side as I walked through the town. As she skipped she hummed a happy childish ' song. Maybe that's what is meant by the anesthesia of infancy! Incidentally beginning sometime after the end of next month you will receive $35 a month to put in the bank for me or do with as you see fit. Give Charles 15 or 20 for the leather jacket I lost. Love ya Tex, Junior War and Navy Departments Vmail service September 20, 1944 ' Kathe's comment on back of envelope: "Where men are men and girls are glad of it" Somewhere on top of Davy Jone's locker Dear Kathe, This travel weary soldier of Uncle Sam is no longer a land lubber. That doesn't necessarily make him a sea lover either or a lover at sea. To wit--we are sailing over the bounding (very literal) main with port of embarkation censored and port of debarkation unknown and blasphemed. I'm not seasick and the ' food comes twice a day and is lousy. Some of the hardier souls get four meals a day though--two down and two up, you know. The sea is really lovely and I could write poems and accolades or something about it but I must quit and write my lawyer about the length of a Vmail letter. ' As I once said--Oceans of love and a kiss on every wave. An agonized Aggie. Tex CoG 101 Inf AP026 ' September 17, 1944 Somewhere in France Dear Kathe, I have now become one of the travelled people. That's one nice thing about the Army--you see things that you would otherwise never see. I feel awfully dumb even the smallest children can carry on an intelligent conversation and I have trouble even compronaying the francais. They do a lot of grunting and whinnying and somehow it carries me back to the ranch. The first two words that I understood were cigarette and bon bon. Seems that most kids have a one track mind. The boys here do too because every little French kid was asked if he had any sisters and their age, etc. to the extent of the high school ability of the various amateur linguists. This is a beautiful farming country and is devoted largely to the production of apple cider and enough garden and dairy products for family use. The little rectangular fields are inclosed by ancient hedgerows and each is its' own spot of emerald green grass and winesap apple trees loaded with fruit. ' The villages are very quaint and each, no matter how small, has its mayor and church. Many of the churches and some of the houses date from before Renaissance. Quite a number of the churches were damaged in the battles that have raged in the hedgerows and villages here. I am going to take a shower tommorrow and it will be my first fresh water bath since I left the ' states I'm beginning to feel extremely dirty. Have you got your land legs yet? Bye for now, slightly befuddled, Tex 93 CoG 101 Inf AP026 , Somewhere in France September 29, 1944 (posted October 11) Dear Kathe, Everything is "cookoo". The rains come and the rains go and the sun stands intermittent guard over the green hills. The wind blows and sour little apples thump down onto tents and awake sleeping , GI's. Children sing and women wear black and the crosses stand row shadowing row and it's an ever varying number of miles between heaven and hell. Crazy? Yes, I think so too. I'm lying hear now rather halfway contemplating ways to avoid streneous exercise this afternoon. I was out most of the middle of the night so slept most of the morning but my eyes keep working like a bad window shade. It's a little cool here always and my bunky and I weave a cocoon every night and then he comes over on my side of the tent and sleeps with me and I'm not very religious for a few expended breaths. Comes the dawn and the bugler and we dress and a new day begins. Then we spend the entire morning ' pulling the vaudeville act of stripping of 5 or six layers of garments. I'm putting in a little invasion money which you may have not seen and will find interesting to show to your friends. We have a little French boy in the kitchen now and he is meeting everybody and recieving a scandalous supply of very bad French with ten jillion accents--mostly Yankee. I wouldn't hp ciarr'r;gPri f- see the younger generation of French grow up grammatically incorrect. Nest ce pas? This Rey del Camino must sign off until later so keep em slogging. As ever, Tex ' CoG 101st Inf AP026 ' Somewhere in France October 23, 1944 Dear Kathe, , I'm on the underground route to Berlin and boy is it dirty. I took off my shoes the other day (a novel experience--why they issue gas masks) and darned if I wasn't growing claws. Boy, all the dirt I dig up--I'd put Winchell to shame but Winchell uses Jergens lotion and Jergens would faint if he saw me. ' Over head is strictly one way for shrapnel and it's expedited I'm telling you. Haven't gotten a letter from you since the last one but guess I will have one when the next one gets here. Your mail comes here to Paris and sometimes it finds its way to the rear area and crawls up to tobacco juice distance of Adolph's boys by runner which runner is yours truly--the kid with the mud caked ' crawling edge. Saw in the papers where there is an acute shortage of men for you poor girls back in the states. Just think what happens when the remnants of Adolph's boys give up and the frauliens take stock. ' Anyway there's quite an acute shortage of girls up here. Don't ever let this stuff about liberation kisses and stuff kid you. That's strictly stuff for the casuals and 4F's who follow us. Sure wish I could see the old crowd again. Seems like you get with a group and then suddenly everything is split up and you never see most of them again. gotta quit, kid, I'm running out of uncensorable material and time. Until sometime, Flywheel November 3, 1944 (written Oct. 30) Somewhere in France Dear Kathe, ' I've gotjust a little time on a rather dark afternoon so I'll give you a running account of happennings here and I do mean running. First off--I got your veritable manuscript one night in the lines. I read in a blacked out foxhole by ' the light of a blacked out flashlight until I finished the first chapter and then I slept on it--literally. Battery gave out! I'm back in a rest area now--anyway that's what the army calls it. One of our replacements is a boy named Gerassi from the heights sector of the great city of Houston. ' This is a fine up-to-date area complete with all the modern inconveniences. I've just been down digging some of them. It's getting so awful dark now that I guess I will just have to postpone until tommorrow providing there is no incoming mail-namely artillery-tonight. ' Comes the blushing dawn and a continuance. 94 ' You know, I thought the Jerries goose was cooked but apparently he has none to cook. The other day a V of geese came honking down from swastikaland and tried to break across our lines. The Americans, always fun loving, even in time of stress, opened up with everything except machine guns. The Heinies--apparently hungrier than us--opened up with three machine guns, tracers included. An unversed listener would have thought that the great battle of was about to be written into the history books for the annoyance of posterity. It seems that in the stress of the moment the offended geese withdrew their forces without casualties. Another interesting thing is the rabbits. It seems every kid had a rabbit or two or three and even the rabbits had rabbits--gee, they just grew, like little Eva. Any way they were a rather hysterical bunch ' the other morning when certain of our units attacked. Careening around like derelict sailboats in a stiff breeze, they were literally guided by their top heavy ears. The cattle here--beautiful Holstien, Friesians--are being mangled by artillery. Some of them actually hit the ground with us when an artillery shell screams in. Maybe they're not such dumb animals. Oh, yees--about the french women. Being definitely a front liner, I am altogether inversed on the. subject. I would say though that they are just as friendly and just as warmhearted as they were 25 years ago when your father was here--ask him. For a treatise on the modern madomoiselle ask a casual, such as a Quartermaster Corpsman, or a glamour boy from the Air Corps. Any of the behind the lines 4F's should know. I do know that she has no lipstick, fingernail polish, corsets, etc. none of the modern traps for the unwary male. Thanks for the offer of go between shopper. I really appreciate it but my mother- has alp eddy 1 been informed as to this and that. No souvenirs around now that would interest you. If I get to a shopping town, I'll kinda look around and see what gives. Just discovered that this French ink is inclined to spread. Makes things rather sloppy. It's easy to keep a stiff upper lip as one of my uninformed kin cautioned--you see I have the beginnings of a swell handlebar. Just like a pointer dog, too, it stands straight out on the slightest whisper of a tossed grenade. ' I'm about through and must now leave for behind the lines harassing--by any other name, basic training. Maybe I should shoot myself--these rest areas!! A bientot Flywheel CoG 101st Inf Somewhere in France 1 Franksgiving Day 11/23/44 Dear Kathe, I just polished off a wonderful turkey dinner here at the front and I ain't mad at nobody. What a wonderful feeling. I guess only an American Army would feed us like that. I just got your Christmas present - a little bit of you. It went the rounds for it has been so long since the boys have seen a pretty girl's face-even in a picture-that it took a little edge off the nerves. ' Incidentally, while I am on the subject-remind me to renew our acquaintance. Very-vurry neat. Still on the same subject. I tried but simply could not get anything packaged to send to you for Xmas, so I sent word home to send you something. It may be tardy for mail from here seems to be arriving there irregularly. ' I've had more narrow squeaks in the ages-as it seems-of this drive. To list a few-a 150mm shell in the room with me and nothing but a powdered face and white clothes from plaster-lead hornets from a long range machine gun while I was 1000 yards out in no man's land carrying a stretcher with some other boys and alway's the 88's. I'll tell you all about it when I get back. Most of the funny things happen to other guys but they won't let me write about anything that concerns anybody but myself. Gets monotonous, doesn't it. This, incidentally, is some paper which the Boche saw fit to donate. It's one piece of paper to come out of Munich which is being put to good use. You know, all of us here are going to have to get recivilized when we get back. We're dirty and wouldn't know how to act in a clean American home if we had to. The French incidentally are an ' excessively dirty people. I thought I had had enough of the alphabet with the government agencies before I left the states but with C and K and D rations and D-days and H hours and god knows what all, I think it was a low point in history when the alphabet was made up. ' I must go to bed now--a real true straw bed with a roof over my head. Wouldn't be surprised if the roof fell in. Seems like it has for weeks now. As ever, Clarence ' 95 t 11/28/44 Somewhere in France Dear Folks, Seems like it has been some time since I wrote you, so now that I get a chance I will write a letter to you. I'm in pretty good shape, having a cold. It's getting pretty late in the year now and is getting slightly colder. Except for the rain, the climate is approximately the same as that at home. I wonder if you have moved yet. It takes so long for an exchange of letters to get through. I've had so many homes in my recent fighting that I don't think I would know what to do in a real home. No news so I guess I'll quit this note. ' Love ya Tex, Junior CoG 101st Inf AP026 December 11, 1944 (posted Dec. 17) Somewhere in France , Dear Kathe, Just a note to let you know that I am still out of circulation as for as the women in the states go. Still haven't got my diploma as a ghost, Class of 44 either. The old leap year is about over and it was a bad year for the gals, I'm afraid, your sister notwithstanding. Same old story I guess of him chasing her until she caught him. Gee, I hate to say it, but somebody has to fight the war on the home front. Right now there are only thirteen more looting days until Christmas. Of course that is a figure of speech but we like to joke about it. The Jerries booby trap every place, we take by leaving some of the Frenchy's 'rot gut' called calvados. It's a stuff which could be added to 180 proof alcohol to give it a little strength. It's really quite rugged for I have seen confirmed alcoholics roll their eyes the other way at the mention of another swig. ' Met a boy from home today and we really chewed the rag. We discussed everyone and everyplace we could think--gosh, it was nice. Day before yesterday I recieved one great big Christmas package from my grandmother. Amidst wolfish cries of delight from my fellow warriors, I settled down to do the tedious job of opening! Everything progressed smoothly until that moment when the stage was set and the final wrappers were drawn. With a carefully casual hand and a feeling of a sheep in a sausage grinder, I raised the last , remaining tissue. There--were four huge bars of sweetly scented bath soap and a washrag. Chagrin, sorrow for myself and pity for the boys, Ah, Woe! Now my problem, Miss Anthony, is how can my own grandmother do this to me and if so, why? Then there's the problem of telling her how I enjoyed it and how I needed it and all those little lies. Maybe, it's easier to fight the Jerries. I've got a date with a sleeping bag right now but I'm going to finish this tomorrow. Good night. Well, the bag I had the date with last night was pretty good--think I'll try the same tonight. There's a beautiful sun peeping over the rim of the hills this morning following a leaky night. Every now and then the hurried splatter of a German machine gun races into the distance. Somewhere below me ' the mortars cough and I'm glad I'm sitting on this side of the lines. I'm just like a little kid. I found a house with a complete book of crossword puzzles--in English. I wonder if my vocabulary is still such that I can work even a simple one. Alas, there are two model , airplane sets--whew! I must be gone now or forever I shall write nonsense which one shouldn't do or should one? I pick up lots of German stuff including songbooks, handbooks, armbands, an' stuff but I don't think you would be interested in it. I have not as yet gotten to any kind of shopping center. As , ever, Clarence 96 E ~ reme VIC. f M~. }t y C~31~YG`:1. ~.R4' P t J'f I" S I lv fir:, b- C.6 1 61 OP 4 Ild n1" neb ervau ''t f 1~ a: Hanu~ P± -14 0, U t11.4 a pp r dt~ ; "V`ChU , °ronh' e `i va • a axa up t act Nano, Y, ~aIITee i ©n nd a` r Can I Q,4 eC C L1x' ; 1 e N C"y n Mu ~h VWt, z `1 .ai-oR MILES L i 'ALY, A 7t NOVO T`IP 1 44 AAOR D a ttRotirbiich ( nc~ r of t } 1 Jan ~ . i o, rc en os ("LUXembi~r~ 3 Jan- Ma~~ 5 L t e rz% 7 Mar ~ bTovi n~ to viein~ty off' ~a~rb~rg 8 r_ .~..12 Mar Vicirii y of Saarbur-- 13 liar.: _:.2 Mar arri t , Neus adt 23° 2 j Mar Neustad tai Q~aerkieim Pear-~-- -2 CYo sed Rh j iv or at Opp.Or4iei '°irw~ 8 Mays Rte :Lvl: to C~echosl"araka t c~ri nin 46 , inic l _t' may~B~ ' Nar in Europe,,.- Off~.0 a~ 1 fl~'er. ReAment in: attack ' . • ± . Re invent '.mbvin: tc new aroa i ~X ~c.►~ X Ap, roxiit to boundary o t ~ trnz t'ed ;tees Dcctzpati~n } pane. ' Jan 5, 1945 Somewhere in Belgium Dear Folks, Well, I'm still alive and well even though the Jerries threw the kitchen sink this time. The weather ' is bitter and the resistance is bitter but maybe the war will be over soon. I got paid today and I guess I will be sending home some more money. I think they are jumping me to staff sergeant even though I don't want it. I would rather have been a plain runner. Well, it pays good anyway. I've been getting your letters quite frequently and there's nothing that helps the morale more. I still haven't gotten your package but I guess it will come sooner or later. I believe that I'll get a chance to write Grandma and Aunt Doll sooner or later - probably tomorrow but if I don't please thank Aunt Doll from the bottom of my heart for the War Bond. Don't know what I did to deserve it but I guess it'll sure come in handy when I get back. Just confirmed that I have been turned in as a staffy - oh well. It's bound to happen sooner or later if you last that long. We've got the Jerries headed back to Berlin again now so things are looking up ' again. More later Love ya I Tex, Junior S/Sgt C.L.Leinweber ' CoG 101 Inf January 6, 1945 (posted Jan. 15) Somewhere in Luxembourg 1 Dear Kathe, Somewhere in the last few hectic days was another otherwise undistinguished day which the Gregorian calendar has designated as Jan. 1st, or New Year's Day. There was no celebration here for ' one day follows the next and the only tin horns and tinsel and drunks to be seen or heard were the terrific 12 o'clock barrages and counter barrages churning the glistening milk white of the snow. The boys who had been so drunk with power were either knocked out or had terrific hangovers. I will never forget the Christmas week party which the Germans threw and which I attended uninvited. We finally broke it up but some we had to lay in the gutter and some are still wandering the streets in the darkest hour before the dawn. That's war and however it may seem, it's no party. Some of the boys are pretty burned up over the Christmas gifts they got. There was a boy today who got a pair of shower slippers and we don't get a bath from one month to the next! I wonder if the people back home think it is a picnic over here for the boys in the lines. You were wondering when I got P.F.C. That was back before what was a major event in the lives of the men of the YD.the battle of Moyenvic. Only a little french town but it was an important pivot point and bridgehead and my company was the spearhead on that morning back in November. I'm a staffy now and I got it through the process of elimination--not in the usual manner of a better man over inferiors but by being able to outlast the others. That also is war! ' The boys are starting a poker game right next to me so if my letter is disconnected-that's why. I still haven't gotten a pass to anywhere although I got to take a bath in Nancy and was through Metz several times. I was present at the surrender of the labyrinthian Fort Jean D'Arc outside of Metz. it is a historic old city and the surrender of that fort concluded the campaign which marked the first time in ' history that Metz had fallen by storm. Pardon my pencil but the pen is no good and somewhere along the line my good pen went awol. I'll charge it with desertion and shoot the guy who's carrying it. I'm still hunting one of these girls who kiss the soldiers. Frankly I was quite dissapointed--with France. A more serious vein because for some reason I can think of no jokes. the Infantry seldom jokes and it is rarer yet when you hear a song. The boys probably give more time to religion than ever before in all their lives. Sometimes there is nothing left to do but pray even though every moment practically is spent in conscious or subconscious prayer. You really realize what it is all about here. I must quit due to lack of light so keep your powder dry and your lipstick straight. As ever, Clarence 97 Jan 12, 45 , Somewhere in Luxembourg (Letter to the Grandparents Harper) Dear Folks, Here we come again from the Auld Countrie. This section reminds me an awful lot of the hilly New England country with its evergreen forests and snow covered hills. All of that makes it pretty but terribly bleak and cold to fight in. I had a nice Christmas for the front. We attacked Christmas Eve but on Christmas day we were holed up in houses holding a village and thanking God that we weren't amongst those whose parents would never again remember Christmas with joy. We had a nice dinner late in the afternoon. It was cold ' but included nearly all the essentials except dressing and pies. We were lucky indeed at that for the Germans were throwing a bangup Christmas party here and it was rather tough. Love ya Junior Jan 15, 45 ' Somewhere in Luxembourg Dear Folks, ' 'Scuse the paper, it's compliments of A. Hitler and Co. They're giving away most of their equipment because Murder and Mayhem Inc hasn't paid off so well and they are about to go out of business. Incidentally, could you manage to include a few airmail stamps every several letters. The ones you sent really came in handy but I have trouble handling the stamped envelopes I find. Generally I get , half my mail at times when it is impossible to answer immediately and the envelopes get in pretty sad shape. As I gaze at the war news today, I read things that have been apparent for some time. When prisoners surrender by the thousands something is wrong. I searched one guy with frozen hands who wanted to put his gloves on. A lot of sympathy we wasted on them after a few days in the winter line. I've had many narrow escapes naturally and I will tell you about all of them after the war. One lately I will never forget. 3 direct hits from screaming minnies - six barrelled rocket guns - knocked a , house down around my ears - just picked the roof up and threw it to one side. And all I got was a slight burn behind my left ear. There isn't much news so I'll wait until another day. ' Love ya Tex, Junior CoG 101 Inf ' January 15, 1945 Somewhere in Luxembourg Dear Kathe, Tis the ides of January and King Winter holds the not so quiet western front in his grip. There aren't any bugles but how I hate to get up in the morning. 9/10ths of the time 1 have about two bits worth , of ice in my moustache and what with living conditions I guess you could call my pedal extremities pickled pig's feet. I sent you some flowers by proxy but I guess they probably resembled the last roses of summer. They say roses for remembrance so it was American beauties--I hope--for an American beauty. ' Incidentally--a botanical fact on roses. They grow wild all over Lorraine. I imagine they are simply beautiful in summertime. I'm a little bit hindered in my digging now because the ground is all frozen. When I hear a shell coming you'd think there was a snowstorm in the making. I was in a woods the other day and an 88 dropped about 20 feet away. It nearly snowed me under and put a thatching over my hole. I was frozen up and burned up at the same time. The evergreen forest around me looked like a huge buzzsaw had cut them to peices. Artilleryman, spare that tree! , I've been with the outfit every day since we first hit the line months back. I'm proud of the record for it is rare in the outfit now. 98 Leap Year has passed and most of the gals back home didn't have anything to leap at. What a pity! Bout all we get over here when we wanta neck is a piece of chicken. What I wouldn't give to see some carefree American girls now. Oh-h baby. They're threatening to black me out now see goombye for now. Auf wiedersehen, Clarence Jan 13, 45 ' Somewhere in Lux Dear Folks, ' Well I got the other letter censored but somehow the mail clerk failed to pick it up so I will just add a note plus a money order. It's pretty chilly here now but I guess it won't get much worse for its the middle of January. Incidentally, check the Mountain Sun's address. They put APO 25 and I'm just now getting my ' September papers. There's not much to say. I rather think this battle of the bulge is the beginning of the end but how much sacrifice before the end, I don't know. ' Your mail is absolutely not censored and won't be. I've inquired but can't find the freckle faced kid's unit. That's about all for now. Love ya, ' Tex, Junior P.S. - Beg Pardon - I most certainly did get your package but I hardly knew what I was doing that night. More about that when I get home. Jan 17, 45 ' Dear Folks, We're looking through the haze now and wondering how far and how fast the Reds will go. To a layman it looks like maybe the beginning of the end. 1 While I'm thinking of it, I mailed home a very good paratroopers belt and a swastika belt buckle. I also included my Combat Infantryman's Badge. It may be a couple of months before the package arrives. I also mailed a money order for $30. I've been back resting for several days now and it is sure nice after the job which we recently did. ' I'm also next up for the Divisional rest camp which is a pretty nice deal. I'm about ready for it for I am the only one left in the platoon who has been at the front continuously from the time when we first came up. We all went out front and took pictures of the old section. Remember when I once named the men around the barracks at my last station. This is a new bunch and for some reason, I lead them. I ' can't get used to being called sergeant and somehow I feel so dreadfully inadequate. I guess it will wear off in time but for now I'm glad there are good men working with me - not under me. I guess things are getting rather chilly there now. How I would like to be there - even for a ' moment. Just to have the feel of home and love and security. I guess the guy that wrote Home Sweet Home was right and he was only a Consul and wasn't even bothered by war. I've really got to run and clean my weapon now else I might get gigged and sent back home for more training. While I think - I am perfectly well. I always like to include that so you won't worry. Love ya Tex, Junior i I i ' 99 Jan 19, 45 ' Somewhere in Luxembourg Dear Folks, I've really had a nice long rest here and its really bitter outside believe me. Snowing down in a wind which was really terrific for a while but now just floating in a soft gauze pattern onto the cold earth. We got a PX ration last night with 0-Henry's! and cookies and cigars - oh happy day! I'm hoping to go back to Divisional rest camp tommorrow. I hear that they have quite a set up back there and I'm sure to enjoy it. Gosh - don't know what to write about and I've got to run to a class - imagine! I'm well and feeling good. ' Love ya Tex, Junior Jan 23, 45 ' I Dear Folks, Well, I'm about as happy as if I were on my way back on the old (Note: Censor cut word out of ' letter!). I'm back at a big rest camp where nearly everything is free and there are actually beds! It feels rather queer after nearly 4 and'/2 months upfront with the boys as they came and went Thro11gh it q1! 1 was never evacuated and never had a pass. It was the only perfect record. I'll be here several days before rejoining the boys. Somehow I feel like a guardian to these young kids coming over from the States - and me an old man of some 20 winters! Its queer but I get a great kick out of the way the fresh from basic kids call me sarge. It's so queer up front where the first sarge is Mac and the officers are some of the gang. The Infantry is beginning to sing again and everywhere in the air is a sense of joy. How soon? I told you that I was going to send some pictures home, I believe. It may take some time for them to get there but they will. One of the boys found a fine German camera and I have it with me but there is , no film here - so - The Germans have a campaign ribbon for the battle of Stalingrad. One recent prisoner offered us his referring to it as his Frozen Meat Campaign Ribbon. We got quite a laugh out of it. A little about the setup here. I'm in the writing room with a radio playing. There are showers and , shows and meals on plates and a PX and no restrictions - what a setup! The boys are running around like kids in a toy factory. I'll write the grandparents tommorrow and just relax and I do mean relax! I guess kidding season will be around by the time you get this and for the life of me I can't figure ' out how you are going to swing it. Maybe I should get a discharge for essential ranch labor, huh? Now that part or most of it is behind me, I would take nothing in the world for the experiences and hardening I have gotten here. I can look the world in the face in the true traditions of our family. Remember the cottonseed cake jacket and the white lie about age last time, Pete. The infantry is still Queen of every ' battle, Pete, and I'm proud of it. Especially am I proud of the boys of my section, past and present. What an honor to have served with them. I'll see you soon - maybe not today but tommorrow or the day after. Manana. Oh, happy day. Goodbye for now Love ya Tex, Junior ' CoG Inf January 23, 45 ' Somewhere in France Dear Kathe, Imagine! I'm back of the lines a nice big comfortable ways at a rest camp. Actually it's just like dreamland and I feel like a kid in a toy shop. For a while there at the front I was beginning to feel like a fugitive from the law of averages. When the screaming meamies (rockets) come calling and not only knock on the door, but knock the house down--well! I just had a haircut by a pint sized French kid. He spoke no English--except where money was concerned--and I had been up front so long that I had forgotten my Normandy French, so I ended up with a Marcella and a smell like a fugitive from a skunk farm. 100 I walked into the mess hall and sat down to a meal--family style. I felt like a country hick at a big society banquet. Real China plates and real straight forward French waitresses. I guess I expected too much for one cussed me out in fluent French without a trace of an English accent. No--I just failed to carry my plate back to the wash room. You know, I lost the song book right after I got it and I can't find another. It seems the Germans aren't singing much nowadays. Actually the only thing I have sent back to the states is a nice leather paratrooper belt--sans paratrooper. He's back there somewhere. Some jerk was comparing the fighting in the bitter cold here to Valley Forge. I guess it's colder but somehow the comparison doesn't fit. I would sure like to be back there along the old Guadalupe with the sun blistering down on the skin and all the old gang around. Remember the carefree times. Roundabout reports by way of Jeanie say that you are attending college--nes cs pas. And what in the heck ever happened to Cliff? I saw Spencer when I was home on furlough but I've lost track of the rest of ' the boys. We'll get together and have a nice bull session tommorrow. You know--manana. I'm gonna put this chronicle sheet to bed and write more impressions tommorrow. Another day and another night and what a day of just nothing. A couple of us went downtown-- and I do mean down--today and looked the feminine population over. It made me rather selfconscious when they commented on my moustache from one end of town to the other. One hit my companion very squarely in the eye with a snowball. Yes they are very warm and friendly and very, very impulsive. We had a GI show last night which was really good--had one kid who burlesqued a burlesque dancer as only a boy can. He had the French girls blushing. Abbott and Costello in society this afternoon and always there is music. And again the news sounds good--even better here than over the radio. Can you imagine soldiers eating ice cream in the snow. We did it the other day--mixed snow with ' milk and sugar and pineapple and loved it. It was the first most of us had had since that undisclosed camp, back at the P.O. E. When there is a chance we're a little rough on the chicken population. Don't tell anybody but there has been some squawking about it too. ' Remember me to you until V-day and points thereafter--installment plan, letter to letter, anyway. As ever, Clarence CoG 101 Inf January 28, 1945 (mailed Feb. 5) somewhere in France ' Dear Kathe, Here begins the saga of a hapless GI paddlefoot. By that I mean that I will add as the days come and go. I hate to see em come but do I love to see em go! I've been scared out of so many of them that I ' don't think my age will ever catch up with me. honest, sometimes I thought that the Jerries had forgotten that a guy should get three score and ten. Maybe they thought that meant 70 bullets. The way they shoot, sometimes I think they are trying to hit me. I'm taking a little rest now and am billeted with some French people. we made them some ice ' cream today from snow and sugar and milk and chocolate and they nearly went crazy over it. They are very nice people with three daughters and a son. The oldest child, a daughter is about 15 and the others range from about 13 down. ' They were just playing a game similar to the American game of parchezi which rather took me back to my days as a boy in Texas. There were just enough of us to always have a foursome with my father at any game. Another day, another page. It's a great life while it lasts. We're having a great time trying to live ' like civilians again. I'm just like a mother to my boys--trying to convince them that they shouldn't scatter their equipment all over the house like they were still living in a foxhole. If they're real good today, I'll make the some fudge this afternoon. ' You'd be surprised if you heard our definition of the rank P.F.C.--or maybe you have. Anyway to us, it--our greatest ambition-means Poor Foolish Civilian. Just made contact with the cat, Mitzi, but Mitzi does not like the Americain soldat even to the point of being embarrassingly revoked. I guess she has Aryan blood and a super cat complex. She's got nine lives left that some of the supermen haven't. Another day, another payday. First thing you know, I'll be one of the upper scum. I'm saving well over a hundred a month. The only trouble is, if money talks, I'm afraid this will speak French. ' I had a nice conversation with the French family here last night. The old man and old lady speak French and German and just a smattering of English. the oldest girl speaks passing English. By means ' 101 of combined words, gymnastic gestures and various "compree's" and "understands" we carried on a ' halting discussion of the world. The girl studied to be a teacher but, as she puts it, teaching is for men--she has no "paschance" with the dunces. So ends this installment--No souvenirs of the Battle of the Bulge except a burned ear. As ever, Tex Jan 29 45 ' Somewhere in France I'm back having a nice rest now after telling the Jerries goodbye over around Wiltz. I presume you ' followed the Battle of the Bulge in the papers. That is something else I will tell you about when I get home. I'll never forget it and I know none of the rest who participated will - especially the Jerries. t I saw Luxembourg City the other day and I'm telling you the cities in the States will have to go far to compare with it for beauty. There appeared to be no slums and the houses are of stone plastered with a paint stucco mix. The roughness of the stucco is enhanced by the beautiful shades of grey and mauve and rose. There were electric lights and an air of pleasant happy living. It made me homesick just to look ' at it after too long a dose of the little towns of the rugged Ardennes. Just letting you know that I am well and in fine shape. Love ya ' Tex, Junior Jan 31, 45 ' Somewhere in France Dear Folks, , Payday has rolled around again and my little savings account is swelling by the month. I certainly will have plenty of use for it when I get home. Maybe I should get myself a new face - this one looks too old. My hairline is receding like yours did around 30, Pete. Won't I look funny bald? We had a nice little discussion with the French people in this home last night. The oldest daughter studied to be a schoolteacher but said that teaching was for men because she did not have the patience to teach. She speaks fluent German and French and passable, slow English. Her Mother and , Father know a few words and with our little French and German we had quite a time. The younger three could not join in but they listened wide-eyed. There was a January thaw recently and everything got nice and sloppy. I'm certainly glad that the Battle of the Bulge is over for that kind of weather is bad. In case you had wondered, the San Antonio ' boy is still around and in fine shape although we lost a mutual buddy recently. I wrote Don a letter telling him to send a box of chocolate candy every month from some of my money. He had offered to send some from his own money. I certainly did appreciate it. (Ed. Note: Last page missing) Feb 2, 45 ' Somewhere in France Dear Folks, ' And its a beeyootiful day here on the Western Front! Looks like war or no war, spring will come tripping north again this year. I guess its just a mid-winter thaw but is sure nice. I'm sending home another $80 realized from my first month as a sergeant. I keep all the money order stubs in case anything should happen. There should be one in the mail every month. I wish you ' would keep track of them by checking off the date of issue as each arrives. If one is missing I have the stub to redeem it with. After a good deal of persuasion, I finally made the boys some fudge candy last night. I had no recipe and the weather was damp so it didn't quite harden but gosh it was nice. Our French hosts, especially the children, got a lot of fun out of the process and really enjoyed the candy. 102 We are certainly enjoying this rest for it is the first real one for the outfit since we came over and it certainly is hard to believe that so many months have passed. Its been about 9 months, I guess since my ' last furlough. Das ist alles for today. More later. Love ya Tex, Junior Feb 3, 45 Somewhere in France Dear Folks, Just a little note to let you know that I am okay and still resting. What a Life! We received some commendation sheets this morning and, presuming that it is permissable to send them home, I am enclosing one. We were allowed to send the others concerning the Battle of Lorraine. 1 I took a look at some of the old Maginot line defenses today and they certainly look ineffective. Just a mess of concrete, ill-designed and without much thought to the requirements of a modern shattering, mechanized war. I must quit now for there is nothing to see. Love ya Tex, Junior Feb 9, 45 Somewhere in Germany ' Dear Folks, It's rather surprising but I am writing this at 3 o'clock in the morning. For some reason I just haven't been able to force myself to write - just wasn't in the writing mood the last several days. 1 Kathleen wrote me a letter bawling me out for not writing her and I promptly lost her address as I did also Aunt Nell's. I wish you would send the enclosed note on to Kathleen. More people are writing me now and gosh its nice to get them but what a job answering them and fighting a war too! As you probably see by the letterhead, I have finally made it into Germany. For months now we ' have been pushing and each time we got close there was always a tough spot some other place. Now I'm looking at the Siegfried Line at last. Everyday I take my field glasses and watch the smoke come out of the pillboxes out there. It's very interesting. Just doublechecking in case a letter is lost - I sent an $80 money order in my last letter. I keep the stubs in case one is lost. If you will keep a checklist of the dates of issue of all you cash I will be sure that all of them get there. That's all for tonight - I must get more sleep. Love ya Tex, Junior ' CoG 101 Inf February 10, 1945 Somewhere in Germany ' (swastika enclosed) Dear Kathe, ' Gosh, I finally made it and now I'm parked right out in Adolph's front yard. This Siegfried Line is just like a stone wall. They say no line of defense is stronger than its weakest point though and from the looks of things, the weakest point is the rear. i thought the same thing when I was a kid, too. I've been doing some cooking too but what I make shouldn't be fed to a daschund. No wonder they say the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. I'm putting in a little scrap of paper. It really doesn't mean much anymore but it was made in Germany. Somehow I just never could get around to hunting sovenirs. Out of all the chances I have had ' to get good German pistols, I have as yet to own one. I was always too busy to get one. The only souvenir I want is a whole skin and you can bet that I'll be prouder of that than all the others. ' 103 I just shaved and cleaned up here in our deluxe living quarters. We have no landlord troubles--in , fact, I haven't seen him since we got here. It's getting Spring again and always a young man's heart turns but over here we've pratically ' forgotten what women look like. That's a-w-w-ful! I'm awfully sorry about your college career. You probably didn't want to be a career woman anyway, did you? After all college only gives you a polish and teaches you to think, so they say. As ever, Tex t (Ed. Note: A letter to the folks from Charles Lee) Feb. 11, 1945 ' Dodge City, Kansas Dearest Folks, , Well I got your letter the other day and then your package yesterday and believe me we really did enjoy it. I was realy glad to hear that junior made Staff and it sure did make me proud. As far as his being in a more dangerous position, I don't think it is possible. Mom of course when you get this letter you will have already heard about this mornings crack up. It was sure a ' messy affair and believe me we were all sweating out each other because nobody knew what the plane was. We took off just as the report got to the tower and circled back to it. It looked like it had gone down at a 45 degree angle and started burning as soon as it hit the ground. It hit in a field and bounced maybe twenty feet and believe me that isn't very far at two or three hundred miles an hour. We have a bunch of new boys here that are cadets on exercise Q). They have been in the army two and three months. I have one of them working with me and he was up with me when we flew over the crack up. I think now that he has decided that flying isn't what it is cracked up to be. I may have some trouble getting him to go up and I sure , won't urge him to unless he sees fit. Lots of guys don't look at flying like we do that have been flying a long time here. I don't think that I will ever crack up but if I do it will be my time or it won't. If I don't get hurt well it just won't be my time. The plane I'm on has twenty one hundred and fifty hours on it and there is only two other planes on , the field that has more. I'm doing very well now and I guess I may get home by June. I'm in hopes that I can get back by then. We have gotten fifty new planes on the field now so it doesn't look like we will close very soon. All of the officers claim that we will be out of here inside of six months. I don't believe any of it until we are gone and I realy don't look for that. I don't know very much to write about so I will close now and write some more later. My last two letters to junior were to Pfc. So I guess I will get a bawling out from him. I haven't got a letter from him as yet and believe me I wish that he would write to me. Well until later I am, ' Your Loving Son, Charles Feb 12, 45 ' Somewhere in Germany Dear Folks, r This morning all of the birds were commencing to sing and everywhere the first we glimpses of spring seem to be in the air. I'm having a wonderful time now and boy am I resting! I got a wonderful package from you the other day - all chocolate and almonds. We had a great time and ate to our heart's content. They certainly are nice and all the boys enjoy them so when they come. You'll never know how much we appreciate the little things over here. Kathleen has started a writing campaign in earnest for I have gotten 3 letters in 4 days from her, most from around the middle of January. One was one of the most interesting letters I ever received. When I get an envelope I will send it to you for I know you will enjoy it. That's all for this page, I guess. Love ya Tex, Junior r r 104 1 ' Feb 18, 45 Somewhere in Germany Dear Folks, I'm just a little sleepy for I overslept and didn't get up until 2 P.M. I'm standing guard a good part ' of the night just to have a reception committee in case we have visitors. I'm enclosing a letter from Kathleen which you will enjoy, I hope. I can't think of too much to write myself. I've been working on bycicles around here lately and managed to throw together enough parts to ride in style. You'd think this was a pleasure resort so we're all happy as can be about it all. You know, I completely missed Valentine's Day all the way around until it was too late to worry about it. Gosh how the days do fly and February is a short month too. 1 I got a letter from Charles the other, too. I certainly hope that they keep him there even if it means that I have to go to another theatre for I am seasoned in combat by now. Bye, Love ya Tex, Junior Feb 26, 45 ' Somewhere in France Dear Folks, I got back to visit my French friends the other day and they were certainly glad to see me. I had ' been at an isolated post and was a little late in putting in an appearance. The boys said that the family checked each familiar face and when the 'sar-joant' failed to put in an appearance they wanted to know what happened. Although they speak German as a native dialect they don't use the German word ' feldwebel which means sergeant. They're certainly a nice little family. Just in case you were worried about the ship in the letters - I have been a little under the weather recently but I'm feeling much better now. I met a fellow named Major Dillingworth the other day. He taught at Schreiner Institute around the end of the twenties and was asking about the Deiterts - Milton and, I believe, Rita whom he said he used to date. I wonder how all of my friends that I know at Schreiner are now. Probably scattered all over the world! ' That's all for now. Love ya, Tex, Junior Feb 27, 45 Somewhere in France Dear Folks, I have refrained from writing you this news for fear that the censor might cut out just enough to let you worry over a trifle. You see, for the last few days I have been in the hospital with yellow jaundice but I am well on the road to recovery now. It's not any worse than a bad cold and only causes a loss of appetite and a feeling of general laziness. I guess I will miss payday so unless I write you different don't look for a money order this month. ' The care here is wonderful. They have access to practically unlimited supplies of the newer drugs which you can't get in civilian hospitals and on top of that, there are real honest to goodness American nurses. Oh, happy day! I lost all my address again so I'm still batting zero in the dark. Charles Lee's and Aunt Ede's and Aunt Nell's and Kathleen's - oh me! Love ya, Tex, Junior March 4, 45 Somewhere in France ' Dear Folks, Just a note to let you know that everything is wonderful. I'm being babied and pampered something awful and actually I feel much better than I felt at hardly anytime during the long bitter months past. (P.S. In case this arrives before the others, I have a slight case of yellow jaundice.) The nurses are wonderful - actual fresh, unspoiled American girls who parlay englis. Kinda ' 105 makes the gnawing feeling of lonesomeness deep down come up and sock a guy in the teeth. ' I'm looking for Spring to spread an emerald mask over the bare gray hills any day now. France at any clime or season is so different from the ranches and hills of Texas that I am constantly wondering what each new day holds in store. This is true for all of Western Europe this side of the Alps. , Love ya Tex, Junior March 6, 45 , Somewhere in the rear echelon Dear Folks, I'm still enjoying the effects of so called ill health. Don't you worry one bit because I feel fine and I'm just as mean as one of those big footed Percheron pests of yours. , We're isolationists though and we have a neat sign on our door to the effect that we must be steered clear of. It seems that jaundice is contagious or, as they put it, infectious. That leaves me with nothing to do and lots of time to do it in. I eat, sleep and read and if I can think of anything to write, I write letters. It's really an indolent life. ' I sure hated to miss this Spring back there. Although it is just beginning, naturally there is no chance to see it. This will make two lost Springs to add to the Christmases and Cowhcy Meetings and, football games in the crisp Autumn nights. Too many days away from that Hill Country Paradise back ' there in Texas. With luck I'll be there next year. Today our armies are fighting in the streets of Cologne - der Russ are at the back door of Berlin. Each day is a day sooner. We here at the front more than anybody in the World know what we are fighting for for we are the boys who see it. Others may give of their sweat and of their tears but ours is , the blood. Sometimes I wonder if those back there realize the price when the artillery shells are few and the Infantry goes it alone or how easy to say unconditional when it could have so easily been left unsaid. To catch a Tiger in a trap is an art - you mustn't let him know. The suave fluidity of the speaker's voices , may have sounded pretty and made the people cheer - but the fluid was blood. However, be that as it may, I guess many things are better left unsaid. I reckon its about time for me to take full advantage of these sheets again and get a full nights' sleep. I make my bed of a morning and it seems queer to put a hospital corner on a bunk after six months of savage, primitive life. , Love ya Tex, Junior March 9, 45 ' Somewhere in France Dear Folks, ' I reckon you have been getting fairly regular letters from me telling of my present whereabouts and condition. I feel wonderful and am getting the best of care so there is absolutely nothing to worry about. I'm indulging in a rest cure and a carefully guarded diet. We back here in the rear are in a very unsettled condition mentally. Day before yesterday the First Army crossed the Rhine and we are hungering for news. We spend the days sifting news and bits of truth from rumors in order to ascertain the whereabouts and health of our units. Basicly its rather like the ' Indian way of making friends "brothers of the blood." We have shed it together and when seperated we worry and hunger for word of one another. You have no idea how much I miss your letters. They ought to start catching up with me soon. ' There's always so much of home there that I can just make a mental picture of things. Whenever you get letters would you mind letting the Grandparents Harper read them. You see, I haven't received their address and I know you go see them every time you go to town. I wrote the other day but had to send it to Bandera and it'll be forever before they get it - if they do. ' Love ya Tex, Junior 106 ' March 11, 45 Somewhere in France Dear Folks, Its another near Spring day - seems like Spring stays just around the corner and you could drive it out in the open with one bright ray of sunshine. I know very little about French weather but I know that it's potentialities are tremendous especially where moisture is concerned. Last Fall, from the first of October to the middle of December was nothing but one long shower with an occasional cloudy breathing spell. I remember the morning before the jumpoff on November 8th - maybe I should say the night. It poured all night long and I was working on grenades and ration supplies all night. At 6 A.M. we jumped and we waded ankle, knee, and thigh deep in flooded flats. When the terrific interlocking bands of German machine gun fire came flickering out across the flats we just kept going. We were rarely dry from then on 1 all across the plains of Lorraine. Sleep was a luxury and mud was both mattress and blanket. The blizzards and snow of the Bulge have been described from practically every reporter's viewpoint so I need say little about the European winter. So much for the weather - its generally lousy! Had a look at my ichtheuric (or'sumpin') index this morning and it is back to normal. That's the thing that guages the severity of jaundice. We have a lot of fun teasing the nurses. A common -and devilish- trick is to talk to them while ' they are taking a pulse reading. We were discussing the French at one such recent session and the flustered nurse blurted out, "My mother was a Frenchman." I hardly think that she was very accurate on her pulse readings in our room that day. I've still lost all contact with a bunch of people who were writing me. Its all rather embarassing for instead of copying the addresses and carrying them in my wallet I was lazy and kept the envelopes. When I was sent back to the hospital, I lost them and I'm waiting for my mail to catch up with me. This is about all the rambling I can do on an empty mind so I'll give it a rest for a day or two. ' Love ya Tex, Junior P.S. - Although I was mixed up in the Bastogne deal, the 1015` you mistook apparently for mine was a division - the 101St Airborne. Mine is a Regiment of the 26tH 1 Mar 13, 45 ' Somewhere in France Dear Folks, It's a great time I'm having as far as eating, sleeping, and reading are concerned. They've finally let me out of isolation and I'm chasing around seeing what the rest of this little hospital world is like. Its quite a sensation to walk a hundred yards and after such a lazy life leg ache is common. I felt silly as hell getting carted around in a stretcher when I was perfectly able to navigate under my own steam. I went to a picture show this afternoon and really enjoyed it. Right in the middle of the show someone came in and called for a fellow named "Whitehead". Out stepped one of the blackest Negroes that I have ever seen. Everybody roared. I managed to get a haircut this morning and just staved of a "Beware - wild animals" sign. It was ' getting that bad! Good Night. Love ya Tex, Junior March 14, 45 Somewhere in France ' Dear Folks, This seems to be arriving at the point of regularity although there is actually nothing at all interesting happening here. We live in a secluded little world and the only thing to remind us of war is the ' uniforms and the radios. The guy in the bunk next to me has some kind of kidney trouble that is taking him back to the States - lucky guy. Incidentally, I've now earned my overseas stripe - over six months over here and nearly a year since I've been home. I have stars for 2 major campaigns now and rate a ' third. A lot has happened in an awful short time. 107 I was certainly taken aback this afternoon when retreat sounded. I was swinging along enjoying 1 the beautiful sunshine and it took about four bars of music for me to stop and come to a rather awkward salute. Rather out of practice for garrison life I am afraid. , I certainly hope everything is okay there - you see I've gotten no letters back here and the last I received was written about Jan 16. Love ya Tex, Junior , March 19, 45 Somewhere in France , Dear Folks, The days come and the days go and there's nothing especially exciting in any one of them. We , spend each one in a definite, fixed routine which seldom varies. I've had no mail now for nearly a month and I'm getting a little restless. I guess it'll either catch up with me soon or I'll get back to the company. ' I hope that Charles is still over there for I certainly don't want to see him get into it. One thing nice about it is the fact that if he does get over he will be comfortable in between flights. I can just see you working like beavers on preperations for shearing. I reckon there are plenty of pretty kids romping around the place now. How I love them! ' I'm getting so fat that the grease is just a simmering out of me. I hesitate to figure what I weigh but I know its over 170. That's not any good for a fighting weight. You just can't move fast enough. Love ya Tex, Junior March 22, 45 , Somewhere in France Dear Folks, It's a beeyootiful day here in France this morning with a nice warm sun beating down - the kind of ' spring sun that makes old people feel young again and young people homesick. One little thing marred the morning for I had to go see the 'vampire' with his bloodsucking apparatus. I'm actually getting needle shy - imagine! I've had so many stuck in me that I feel like a ' pincushion. Nearly a month back they punched some big ones in to feed glucose and plasma. Can you imagine that I, the sweets lover, should ever suffer from a lack of sugar? I'm suffering for a comb and that's no kidding. I left mine in a hospital robe back along the way and even the Red Cross can't replace it. I'll get one soon though. ' It seems rather encongruous to be sitting here listening to Bing Crosby singing "Swinging on a Star"- maybee I'm swinging on a star n,est ce pas? Love ya Tex, Junior March 26, 45 ' Somewhere in France Dear Folks, ' I'm back to feeling fit as a fiddle again and tip the scales at an even 170. Day after tomorrow I'll come legally of age. It's a funny phrase, isn't it? I've seen men fight and die horribly, like animals - more in a few short months than most people see in a lifetime. I've followed men and I've led men and now I've come of age. I can vote and hold office , to give voice to ideals for which they say we fight - when I get back. That getting back reminds me of the tremendous amount of perfectly good reading time and listening time being wasted by perfectly uninformed and uneducated persons in trying to describe what , the G.I.s over here are really fighting for. For humanity? Christianity? To make the world safe for democracy? No. What then? We're fighting for life itself and the chance to get home - to get out of the army. In accomplishing this we lay the groundwork for all the rest. It is for us then who have laid the groundwork with blood and sacrifice to raise the superstructure ' with intelligence and love - and a firm hand. We must not forget, or repeat, the blunders of 1918! We 108 1 must keep in mind that not necessarily Germany is the enemy. The enemy is the aggressor. If we are the aggressor, then we are our own worst enemy. I pray that we may always keep an eye to the right and ' extend a helping hand to the weak and oppressed. If we keep that in mind then we remain the greatest - and best - of nations. Bye now ' Love ya Tex, Junior ' March 30, 45 Somewhere in Germany Dear Folks, Tommorrow is Easter Sunday and here I am back in Germany. Naturally I have been cured of the jaundice and I got a nice long rest out of the deal. I was able to visit Donremy where Jean d' Arc was born and the ancient town of Vaucouleurs where Madame DuBarry was born. You know Dubarry wasn't a lady in the strictest sense of the word but she was one of the famous powers behind the throne. The country around there is not unlike the hills of Texas except for the fact that the beloved live ' oaks are missing. There are no rocks either. Donremy lies on the Meuse River and like most little French villages is a jewel of antiquity. It won't be long now but if the people back there only knew what victory has cost. The Fourth Armored got the Presidential Citation the other day and I don't guess there will ever be another outfit that ' deserves it more. We have worked with them nearly always since we have been over. The German prisoners refer to them as "Roosevelt's Butchers" and Hitler promised that they would never set foot on German soil. It's too bad for him that they did. ' I got me a new sub machine gun the other day. Someone else got my old one when I went to the hospital. I hope I never have to fire this one in combat. Hold things down there on the ranch - I haven't seen gay Paree yet. Love ya ' Tex, Junior ' CoG 101 Inf March 17, 1945 Somewhere in France Dear Kathe, It is now night time which in itself is not unusual for it happens every 24 hours but this one marks the passing of another St. Patrick's Day which in the eyes of the predominately Irish auld regiment was a great day. 'Tis many of the brau laddies who aren't around anymore. I've pretty near got the run of the joint now and manage to dodge any doctors or nurses with intent to do bodily harm. I don't think I exerted my personality enough though for I missed the trip to England. Rather looks like I'm on a one way trip back to the front. I've had a darn neat rest out of it ' though. I was out walking the other afternoon and walked right into retreat. It's been so long since I had heard it that it took about half of the call before I realized that I should come to attention and salute. Heard a nurse complaining recently that she had to sleep on a canvas cot. Gosh! 1 I heard or, rather, read today that the outfit was on the move again. Somehow I wish I was with them. In the last war they were known as the "Iron Batallion" and we've certainly kept up the tradition in this war. We have never given up a town in several bitter campaigns. ' Stock question and answer--- Doctor: And how are you feeling this morning Front Line Infantryman Patient: Awful. I ache here (there, or elsewhere). The orders for recuperation are rather strict--no wine or women for six months. That leaves only song-- oh, well! Also ether will be objectionable to the system so if we gets hurted we mustn' let the Surgeon put one over on us. I begin to understand now why they call it Sunny France. Last fall when the sun came out it ' made front page headlines and if it stayed out two days Patton would launch an offensive. These are really beautiful days though and there is a bright green tinge beginning to feather the hills. 109 i I might take a little time to mention the absolute beauty of Normandy as I saw it last fall. I've , never seen anything quite like it. Shimmering grass and loaded apple trees with hedges and contented cows--a veritable pastoral paradise. Here and there a quaint little gray village with a rust red roof. Much , of it's peasant atmosphere has been caught by de Maupassant in his stories. Doesn't look like I will ever get to Paris. I was next to go and then got sick. Guess I'll have to sweat it out again. Paree is really gay--so the boys say! , The news is coming on and I reckon now is as good a time to quit as any. Betcha I'm recuperating faster than you are--shall we race? Bye now As ever, Leinweber March 26, '45 , Somewhere in France Dear Folks, ' I'm back to feeling fit as a fiddle again and tip the scales at an even 170. ' Day after tomorrow I'll come legally of age. It's a funny phrase isn't it? I've seen men fight and die horribly, like animals-more in a few short months than most people see in a lifetime. I've followed men and I've led men and now I've come of age. I can vote and hold officc to give voice to ideals for which they say we fight-when I get back. ' That getting back reminds me of the tremendous amount of perfectly good reading time and listening time being wasted by perfectly uninformed and uneducated persons in trying to describe what the G.I.'s over here are really fighting for. For humanity? Christianity? to make the world safe for ' democracy? No. what then? We're fighting for life itself and the chance to get home-to get out of the army. In accomplishing this, we lay the groundwork for all the rest. It is for us then who have laid the groundwork with blood and sacrifice to raise the superstructure with intelligence and love-and a firm hand. We must not forget or repeat the blunders of 1918! We ' must keep in mind that not necessarily Germany is the enemy. The enemy is the aggressor. If we are the aggressor then we are our own worst enemy. I pray that we may always keep an eye to the right and a helping hand to the weak and oppressed. If we keep that in mind then we remain the greatest and best ' of nations. Bye now. Love ya, Tex Junior (Ed. Note: The following letter was written to Mrs. Salter at the Kerrville Mountain Sun.) ' Recently, we were privileged to see a letter from a Kerr County soldier on the battle line, which was a revelation and an inspiration. These courageous boys of Uncle Sam's who ride daily with the ' fourth Horseman are no longer the carefree boys who skipped and played at childish games, they are men grown old beyond their years. What are they thinking about? Upon the answer rests the future of this nation and the world. The answer can best be given by quoting the letter of a typical G.I. who went thru hell and hi-water with "Old ' plasma and Intestines" Patton's Third Army as it ripped thru Germany and beyond to Victory in Europe. His letter follows: The writer of those words is a genuine Kerr Countian, the son of a pioneer ranch family, who was promoted to a grade of Staff Sargeant for gallantry on the field of action. , When a fellow reads that kind of reasoning from a man of that stature it forces him to forget the petty things of life and the bitterness of a civilization in travail. It brings him to realize that God, is in His Heaven and all is right with the world. CoG 101 Inf March 31, 45 Somewhere in Germany , Dear Kathe, My days of leisure are over. I couldn't catch any more diseases and couldn't contrive to break ' any limbs so I kissed everyone goodbye (what a story) and they hauled me away. Over here they say'don't fraternize'. Well that's all right by me for being an aggie I don't like fraternities anyway. It's this sororizing (or something) that's bothering me. One of the guys at the hospital was put there by a beautiful basooka firing Hitler madchen. 110 ' I had occasion to visit Donremy, the town on the beautiful Meuse River, where Jean d'Arc was born if you remember the history I have forgotten. Seems she had a crush on the dauphin and had an angel carry the torch for her. I also saw Vaucouleurs where Madame Dubarry was born. You know DuBarry wasn't exactly a lady, Broadway notwithstanding. While there we rode the merry go round in a little carnival and shocked ' the French in general. Also exchanged jokes with a barmaid who spoke no English. We were on a par for I speak little French. I rode a 40 and 8 for a couple of hundred miles and they are exactly the same ones the boys used in the last war. The French must just be smaller than we are! ' I yam a man--legally--although I was beginning to think for a while that I would never get there. I was about the last of the old outfit. The way it looks now we are going to have to say we were with General Patton. If we say we were with the Third Army, people will say, "Oh, yes--the Third. But, where ' did they fight?". I haven't gotten mail in so long. I am worried--it just never caught up to the hospital. A lot can happen in a month and a half. So help me if I ever get home and hear a girl speak anything but good American I'll never talk to her again. All these Frenchies can say is "finis", partee", "cumsah" and "you crazee". I guess they can still hold me down on the farm for I haven't seen gay Paree. I came back to Luxembourg City the other day on pass. When I used to read about little ' Luxembourg in my geography I little knew how it would figure in my life. Contrary to popular belief the Battle of the Bulge was no necking party. Tha's all for now---Bye little 'un, "Tex" Leinweber ' CoG 101 Inf April 26, 1945 Somewhere in Germany ' Dear Kathe, This kind of day reminds me of lazy old summer days back home. I'm lying in a beautiful little park deep in Germany just letting the sun cook the winter out. ' The war is going well and as one boy said so significantly the other day, "Just look what's happening to Adolph's Germany now." I hope we catch him. der Fearer would meet a rather justifying end I am afraid. Our Division is known as the "White Savages" by the Wehrmacht and with good reason ' by now. There is a saying that he who giveth much recieveth much also. Maybe I am a little embittered but I'm seeing the Germans take back a good part of the things that they have done to other helpless nations in the past years. One rather amusing example was a house perched on a sharp corner on a ' main supply route. Tanks failing to get traction slid into the yard and knocked over a gate post. The family--plowhorse women made a major engineering problem out of the removal of the concrete and then very short sightedly smoothed the earth for another tank to wreck. One very pretty sixteen year old kept ' throwing icy glares in my direction as if I had done it. They are the type who do occasional sniping before meeting a disastrous end. Enough for the war. I keep wondering how you are and if you are going to be able to start school in the fall. You know it has been over a year now since I had a furlough. ' I reckon I'm too lazy to write more now so much won't pass the censor. Bye now, Leinweber ' April 2, 45 Somewhere in Germany ' Dear Folks, I'm in fine shape again and sitting in a replacement depot trying to get back to my outfit. Somehow my heart tells me that I want to be with the boys at the kill and yet my brain tells me that I've risked my neck enough in one lifetime. That, I know, is true of all the Joes here, the fellows who have met the German's best on many a battlefield and are waiting to go back. Indeed, it is a time of mixed emotions. We've fought so long and now that its near we hardly know what our feelings are. 111 The lights were faulty last night so it is now the night of the 3rd and all is still well. We have a little ' poets corner in our paper and some of it is pretty good. I'll include one which is all too true and explains why my letters are generally so dry. ' That's about all for the night so I'll hit the cot. Love ya Tex, Junior (Ed Note: Enclosed with previous letter is a newspaper clipping of a column entitled "PUPTENT POETS" with the following poem) t Very Dull Day What to write, just what to say... To tell the folks what's new today. Censorship often blocks the way. ' To what's in our hears, the answer's nay. The ruins of cities, the bestial war. ' The gaping children, weak and sore - There's all of this, and even more... But for the lack of things to say I'll write, "Nothing new - Very dull day." , Would they understand of each man's toil; Of our seething emotions brought to a boil; ' Of American blood reddening the soil? Can't really think of what to say, So it's, "Nothing new - Very dull day." Could I properly tell of the grime and the dirt; , Of bodies that sag, yet with minds alert; And of my soul, where I'm mortally hurt: , There's all of this, and more to say, But it's, "Nothing new - Very dull day." Shall I tell of the shells that just miss my head; ' Of my comrade's shirt, now sticky and red; Of the ghostlike melody of singing lead? In spite of this, I'll act gay, , And it's, "Nothing new - Very dull day." Should I write of the corpses on battle's lawn; And of the eerie stillness of the stillborn dawn; ' And of the rotten stench when the cold is gone: No! The proper thing to say Is, "Nothing new - very dull day." Back home, they shan't know - 1 perhaps they may, Of the fantastic price we've had , to pay. It's between the lines when we say, "There's nothing new - Very dull day." 112 April 9, 45 ' Somewhere in Germany Dear Folks, It's a beautiful clear day here in Germany. All the fruit trees are in full bloom and the hillsides are bright with lush fresh grass. The trees are just beginning to burst into life and soon the bleak, forbidding sentinels of the forest will hide the Ardennes Bulge in verdure. Sometimes now I wonder what it would look like on a peaceful Spring day. I know what the symetrical crosses in the forest glades around Luxembourg City look like. There are friends there. There's very little to do here as I said once before. We get a lot of fun watching the colored boys in a good crap game especially if they have slipped into town and gotten a little of the champagne to drink. ' There are few civilians in this area - most are old or very young but I have seen some teenage boys and girls. All are full of pep in comparison with the French. The girls are laughing, roundfaced and buxom - typically German. Inside are probably a heart and mind as poisoned as 13 years of Hitlerism could produce in an infant. The Hitler Jugend break under artillery but you can't use it on the madchen unless they are fighting in the line. I still haven't written the grandparents Harper in the belief that you will take my letters to town with you. I haven't of course, gotten the new address. By the time I get back I will probably start receiving ' uncomplimentary letters from all the people whose address I lost when I went to the hospital. I keep running into guys from the company back here. From them I keep fairly close track of the boys. We are in the 2"d Yankee Division now. Someone originated the saying as being true of the 3rd Army as a whole so it applies to our division also that there are 4 Divisions. How? Division I - fighting on the line Division II - in hospitals and Reinforcement Depots Division III - in the States and UK training ' Division IV - underground A little drastic but certainly true. I hope you can understand my hopeless babbling for I cannot coordinate my thoughts for some reason this afternoon. ' Bye now, Love ya, Tex, Junior ' Didn't get to mail this. Still okay on April 12" April 15, 45 ' Somewhere in Germany Dear Folks, ' I've finally gotten around to writing again. I'm still not back with my outfit so I still haven't gotten any mail. It is certainly getting tiresome day in and day out. I have recently had occasion to see the beautiful Rhine of song and story. I certainly understand why the scenic beauty of Germany is so famous. The large cities of course are practically piles of rubbish and some of the old castles on the Rhine have holes blown in them for, like the church steeples of France, they were used as observation towers. When the Germans choose to sacrifice historical relics for American lives we conclude the deal as quickly and cheaply as possible. One second of the past isn't worth any of these spring days. I am much worried about the future now and I imagine many of our Democratic friends are. I'd rather be scorched than burnt. I had heard much of the autobahnen systems of Germany as military transportation systems. After seeing them I cannot but marvel at their engineering. It's true that the clover leafs and other schemes were copied from our own superhighways but ours are only scattered stretches. Why could they do it? - slave labor. There are many refugees on the roads and most are happy French who give us the old V for ' Victory of the desolate early 40s. There are also many male Germans in civilian clothes without passes from the A.M.G. ' 113 I managed to get a shower yesterday and, although it was cold, it sure felt good. I had gotten into ' the habit of living like a human again while I was in the hospital. Gosh it would be nice just to be back in civilization once more. , Take care of yourself for a while and I'll be back. Love ya Tex, Junior 1 April 25, 45 Somewhere in Germany t Dear Folks, I'm still a casual and here I am nearly across Germany. The German countryside is absolutely ' beautiful, or maybe its just that Spring is everywhere now. I bought a shock proof luminous dialed watch the other day at the PX. The only trouble apparently was that it wasn't shock proof and it wouldn't run. I had to turn it in and get my money back My nice watch has long since succumbed with a broken crystal and they can not be replaced over here. t There is a sort of park here and it is quite pretty with elaborate fountains and pools with all the trimmings. The 'innocent' people love flowers almost as much as they love militarism. I wonder if their love isn't getting just a little bit shaken now. Still no letter. My outfit was in this town just a day before I got here but I got down there too late. Now I guess it will be several more days before I catch up. There ought to be plenty of back mail piled up for me. ' That's all for now from this tourist. Love ya Tex, Junior May 1, 45 Somewhere in Germany , Dear Folks, Its May Day here in the beautiful hills and I am once more with the old outfit. I haven't caught up with the mail clerk yet so I still haven't got mail. It looks like the war is nearly over except for the cleaning ' up. I have seen the blue Danube and didn't get any particular thrill out of it. I also managed to visit Bayreuth, the home of Wagner and saw the Hermitage Park. I don't think I would like this world travelling ' much even in peace time. There is nothing more to tell so goodbye for now. Love ya Tex, Junior ' May 6, 45 Somewhere in Germany Dear Folks, Maybe I'm talking too soon but it rather looks like I might have survived this conflict. Apparently at this date, most of all of Germany has collapsed. News here is scarce and interest is lacking for we have realized for months now that the end was in sight for resistance was slackening and the PW toll was increasing. There wasn't too much celebration to be witnessed here. In fact we have dived headlong into the paperwork which means garrison life. I had a nice long talk with Walt Bielstein last night and he is okay. A lot of old men are coming back now including, of course, myself. Although as we say "Lootin' is verbooten" I have collected some good heinie military stuff. I have a brand new Hungarian 38 special automatic. I might trade it for a P38 or a Luger but I rather doubt it. I also have the ceremonial dagger that belonged to the mayor of Passau. Its quite a nice piece of metal. 114 , When the mayor skipped town I became burgomeister as ranking non-com and we acted as infantry, Allied Military Government, Red Cross and Displaced Persons bureau. Maybe you think that wasn't a headache because we had our OP set up above a bakery and the people hadn't been out of their cellars for a week. I am sending a picture of myself taken at "Mairzy Doats" (Murphry-Dumkropf) in Luxembourg. It was taken just after the relief of the Battalion at Mons Schumann Crossroads where we cut and held the Southern supply route into the Bulge in one of the bitterest fights we ever fought for there our Division faced two German Infantry Divisions and 1 Panzer Division. I reckon you're awfully happy today for I imagine today is what they choose to call VE Day back home. Guess you will be a lot happier to receive this letter from me and know that I have pulled through okay. I'm hoping and praying that I can get home during the next six months but there are an awful lot of things that could prevent it. Bye now Love ya Tex, Junior ' CoG 101 Inf May 9, 45 Somewhere in Germany Dear Kathie, Somebody has circulated a rumor that the war is over and I believe that I am still all here. I think will power is still intact. That's the thing that keeps you out in front when your legs are shifting to reverse ' and your mind is already several miles to the rear. The boys weren't too much elated over the peace because it really was just a gradual slowing down of hostilities. The outfit has gained it's spurs and is one of the best divisions over here. We're ' waiting now to see if we go home or not. Recently I went into the town of Passau, Germany and occupied with my section and a squad of riflemen one suburb. Being ranking non-com I was burgomeister and head of Allied Military Government, Red Cross, and Misplaced Persons Bureau. What a life and I made the mistake of placing my command ' post above the local bakery. I've never seen so many civilians wanting something at one time and I've never seen so many womanly bribes! We've been taking a lot of pictures around here with captured German film. If any turn out right I ' will send you some. I had a lot of fun when I was coming back through the Replacement Centers watching the reactions of the Negro troops. One night we moved into a new area in the Thuringian Forest and about 11 o'clock a Heinie plane came over strafing the Autobahnen nearby. The colored soldiers knocked a ' half dozen tents down and one just ran plumb off bare footed. As I went to sleep I could hear a Negro, digging in and proclaiming in a high falsetto, "I'se been scrafed an' I'se been bombed an' jus' about, everthing an' Lawd, Ah don' wanna see it no moah". ' Tonight there are no blackouts and the electric lights actually work. I hear that tommorrow at noon we will know just what is going to happen to each division in the ETO. Most of the guys are happy artificially or naturally. Even most of these censored civilians seem happy and I suppose all their relatives in Chicago and New York and Milwawkee are happy. Now maybe the "rich" Americans will stop bothering ' the "poor" Germans. When we captured a town they celebrated by looting each other's houses. Bye sweet, Clarence ' May 18,45 Somewhere in Czechoslovakia ' Dear Folks, There have been beautiful hot days here in the rolling hills and forests of Ceskslovenska as the natives call it. I also saw part of Austria. I believe Bavaria has this beat though and maybe you think I am ' not having a time with this language. I really don't think you can win for I never saw enough civilians in France to learn the language and just as I had learned enough German to carry on a conversation we move to this town where no one speaks German. It may be censorable but I was in the town of Grafenau, Germany when the war ended. ' From all present indications as far as the point system goes I won't get home for quite a few months. I think I have enough points to stay in the army of occupation and perhaps won't have to go to the Pacific for quite some time, if at all, I hope! ' 115 We made contact with the Russkies and it was really something, I'm telling you. We were riding I , trucks on a dusty road and were caked white when we started meeting a Red Paratroop outfit. They were quite an outfit - completely unmechanized except for Lend Lease trucks and confiscated vehicles of every description. Most had dinky little horse drawn wagons and nearly all had close cropped hair. The standard toast is two water glasses of vodka drunk without coming uup for air and they drink them endlessly. The Sudetenland Germans are scared to death of them and rightly too I guess. All the fraus and frauleins from 12 to 50 made mass exoduses. I have gotten 3 letters from you from the 20th to 30th of April. I guess all of my packages are making the hospital rounds. Tell Marie I ought to give her a good spanking if I could and if Winona hasn't already done it. Hell, she isn't even dry behind the ears yet. Was it Johnny Reagan she married? ' Tell everybody hello for we have an envelope shortage and I'm in a lackadaizical mood anyway. I'm sorry I can't get to Berlin but a D man was the first American soldier there anyway. He was driving 2 newspapermen. Did I tell you how awfully proud we are of the Division. It has never failed in a mission. ' Keep yourselves well and I'll be home before I get into any more combat. That's about all for now - more later. Love ya Tex, Junior 1 CoG 101 Inf May 20, 1945 ' Somewhere in Czechoslovakia Dear Kathe, ' I finally made it back to my outfit and everyone was celebrating and had been for days. That was over a week before the war was over--my shaking arm still isn't in trim. I'm glad I'm not in politics with all those hands to shake. We made contact with the Russians and it was really some affair. With a Tovaritch here and a , Tovaritch there and the standard drink two glasses of vodka without coming up for air. They didn't seem to have any organization to their army though and officers were as plentiful as PFC's. We've been accorded wonderful receptions by the Czechs or "Cheskies" as they pronounce it. ' They give us everything they have it seems and the girls are more than cooperative. One setback is the language barrier for the Czech language, spoken correctly, sounds like a tobacco auctioneer with a mouth full of red pepper. I'm glad you're going to California on a pay for the trip basis. I'm telling you this free travel is no good. There are some things such as the round trip guarentees and authorized detours , which we boys would like to see ironed out. You queried as to my chances for a discharge--they are kaputt! I have nearly half enough, you see I have time in service and decorations and stuff but 1 haven't done anything towards the biggest point ' alottment of all--namely offsprings. Maybe I spent my furlough time wrong back home. Sure glad you passed that physical for I know what it means. They gave us one the other day too but it was cut and dried--everything was marked excellent beforehand. Japan, hyar we come. I think they are going to give us a little book "larning" pretty soon. What headaches some of us ' are going to have. Goodbye, good luck and take care, As ever, Tex May 23, 45 , CzechoSlovakia Dear Folks, ' Few of these letters will be censored now as company censorship has been stopped and the mail is only subject to a spot check by the base censor. I sent a letter to Grandma Leinweber briefly stating ' where I had been in this confounded country. I will send my next money order to Kerrville. There would be over $300 of it. I shall keep a good bit to carry with me just as insurance now that the war is over and my chances of getting knocked off are rather slim. You needn't send stamps anymore for I can now get all I want. There is, however, a shortage of stationery. I got two packages, the old style caramel candy with pecans that I love so much and the fruitcake. I sent a number of requests before I went to the hospital in answer to people writing and wanting to send ' my things but I haven't received any of them as yet. I heard a rumor about a temporary stop on packages being mailed from the States. 116 , Walt Bielstein is in the Communications system at Batallion. I have no idea what made you think he was in the Engineers. There's more big white ducks running around here than you ever saw and the women swing a mean scythe. The language is difficult and even no means yes so how in the hell is a common Joe going to get along. The people are all very friendly and the girls are cute - if plainly dressed but the first thing they want to see is your ring finger and the pictures in your wallet. Then if you happen to be single, you're on the market and if you look twice at a homely gal everybody is asking you if you are going to take her back to the states. Its a vicious circle and I'll be glad to get back to the States where they only marry for money and not to change nationalities. They're very busy organizing the Czech Republic now and as soon as that is done I guess we will move to Germany or Austria. I remember the day we came into this town - all of them had big new peeled pine poles with a little wisp on top strung with blue and white streamers. Just below this is the ' Red, White, Blue of the Republic of Czechoslovakia. All of the people are old friends now and we will rather hate to leave them. I must go cook breakfast now but I'll leave my love with this note and wish I could catch it before it gets there. A few months maybe. ' Love ya Tex, Junior ' May 24, 45 Near Lenice, Czechoslovakia 1 Dear Folks, Just another day here with our friends, the Czechs. Don't know how long I will be here but I do know that, if the point system is followed, I will go to the Pacific theater in several months. You see ' preference was given to men with children. If you will get ahold of a paper discussing the point system you will see that 85 points are needed for a discharge and I only have 41. A battle decoration only counts 5 points and a child counts 12. 1 do expect to get a month's furlough in the States though and by the time I get to the Pacific the war may well be on its way to completion. ' I'm afraid that I missed sending a Mother's Day letter but you know just how much I was thinking of you, Mother. I don't know when Father's Day is but I'll be thinking of it. I think Charles has only 30 points. Could you ask him to try and get me an Eversharp or ' Waterman's or Schaeffer pen at the PX. I doubt if he can but I certainly need a good pen. Love ya Tex, Junior ' (Ed. Note: This letter was written on the back of a letter sent to "Soldiers of the Third Army, Past and Present" dated 9 May 1945 by - typed name - G. S. Patton Jr, General. At the bottom it says "Reproduced Hq 26th Inf Div., 20 May 1945") ' CoG 101 Inf May 25, 1945 ' Uridzchec (or sumpin') Cheskyslovenska Dearest Kathe, ' Just got a nice long letter from you this morning and on top of that there were three packages. The letter was mine alone but the packages were community property. We ate chocolate bars until we couldn't eat anymore. I reckon we'll use some of the rest for barter and some we'll give the local sletchinas (gals). They nixt verstehe what you sprechen unless there is chocolate in the conversation. ' You know I reckon I was crawling out of that white bed about the same time that you were but I had a little physical inspiration from gals who could really speak English. Those poor gals ears must have burned all the time because a front line Joe during the slugfest days of the winter seldom even saw a ' woman and the language is colorful to say the least. Seems to me you're getting to be a singing troubadouress or sumpin. Why don't you telecast me a song. something nice and corny like "I'll be back in a year, Little Darling." That's about the way I feel now. You see, I've been in four major campaigns and have a citation for valor pending but I only have 51 ' of the 85 points that I need for a discharge. You see, the major action I slipped up on was the battle of the home front. One child counts 12 points and being a frustrated bachelor I will just have to spend 6 months overseas to make up for the 9 on the home front. ' 117 Some day, I'm going to have to get someone to teach me how to dance. These people go ' around and around in a circle and I can't even get started. Can your toes stand the strain someday? Speaking of your horse collection, I have a real live one which hasn't been ridden since I left and I don't know whether to take home a parachute or a pillow. He only seriously injured two men before I got him. Maybe that would be a good way to keep out of the Japanese fight. I'll send a little picture taken in the bulge. The town is "Mairzy Doats" (Murphry Dumkropf) in ' Luxembourg and the weather wasn't as cold that day as it looks but it was plenty cold there some days. The guys shown are about all that were left in the platoon at that time. I'm back with my same old command--turned down a platoon sergeants' rate to get the section back. ' We don't get much recreation here and the language barrier is awful. Even "no" means yes and that alone is a serious obstacle--it takes five seconds for your to realize that no is not negative. I hope by now you are not as mixed up as I am. I go out now and then and work in the fields with the people just for ' exercise. We also do a little swimming and I'm still as inexpert as ever. Every now and then we take a trip over into Sudetenland and look over the frauleins and the eating situation. They really cook a meal and sometimes some of us spend the night and visit. They are afraid of the Russians. ' I'll see ya one of these days and we'll discuss old acquaintances. As ever, Clarence May 26, 45 , Vrezdec, Czechoslovakia Dear Folks, ' I reckon it's time I wrote you a letter however long or short it may be. Somehow I'm in an awful homesick and letdown mood tonight so don't mind me if I kinda lean through the distance into the longingly remembered family circle around the old kerosene lamp and just have a good cry on someone's , shoulder. Maybe it's the letdown after the fight is over or something. They're giving out medals now and I rather understand why a hero is modest. It isn't modesty - it's just the realization that a fellow isn't worthy of the award when he thinks of the boys like Miller and ' Ziarko and Kadlec and Zimka and all the others who fought and died so bravely at our sides. Then when you look around and somehow God has seen fit to spare your life and the new men who saw none of the bloodshed and misery and seconds that were hours of agony see fit to award a medal, you think of the old buddies who gave their young lives and lie forgotten by all except a few. You take another look and , see medals issued on lies for the benefit of the five points for discharge to men who never saw the Upper Saar or the Bulge where men fell like ripe wheat in a summer hailstorm only it was winter and the hail was lethal and the harvest was death. And people wonder why heroes are modest and heroes wonder who , are heroes and who are cowards. So it will ever be when men are greedy and "love thy brother as thyself' is something some old duffer wrote in a book that is long since forgotten by too many. We spend our time here acting lazy and helping the people with their farm work. They keep their , cows in a barn all the time and haul feed in and manure out. I guess it's economical on everything except manual labor and they are happier to a far greater extent than their hustle bustle counterparts in the States. Today was Sunday and they all went out in the fields for some sort of a religious service - most t are Catholics and very devout. One of the boys shot a little 5 point buck this afternoon and I caught a few big fish in a lazy sort of way and life is just as boring as it can be. The weather is fine - if a little cloudy now and then. I must leave now so goodbye. ' Love ya Tex, Junior 118 , June 1, 1945 Vjezdec, Czechoslovakia (Letter written on back of a map of Germany w/ legend showing timeline of regiment movement.) Dear Folks, This is a map of what the regiment covered and if you just broaden it you have what the Division covered. My best friend whom I mentioned was T/Sgt Wallace Zymka from Baltimore, Maryland. I was ' much heartened to see Col. Lyons yesterday. He is one of the best officers I have ever had the pleasure to know and led his batallion from the front. I suppose it is permissable to say that he was wounded back in November and lost an eye and nearly lost an arm. The men would have done anything for him but as he said yesterday - there were only a few old faces which he could recognize. I'm well and feeling fine - guess there's not too much to write about so I'll just send this and go about my work. I've got to show a guy how to take a carbine trigger assembly apart. Happy Birthday, Mother Love ya Tex, Junior CoG 101 Inf June 7, 45 Vjezdc, Czechoslovakia Dearest Kathe, I'm kinda awake now so I'll see if I can write a line of patter about recent goins on. A discription of a typical day might be interesting. Yesterday began at 6:30 when I stretched, yawned, scratched my lice good morning and woke the boys. Human beings can certainly be uncomplimentary when they wake up. Then I took a trip over to the adjoining town of Vodice to get some fish hooks after breakfast. On the way back I got caught in one of these April (or maybe it was a June) showers which seem to be routine here. Anyway, don't let my kinfolks know but a drowned rat would probably pass for my first cousin. I think I made a mistake--try the next page. I never did like a two tone effect--especially faded ' blue and lighter. After eating chow a quiet hour of fishing was enjoyed by all meaning me and I won the first prize with six 1 to 2 pounders. The rest of the afternoon was rather gruesome. I might as well admit that I was never meant to be an icthyologic dissector. One of the girls cooked them and the sumptuous repast was enjoyed by all. I hope Webster enjoys this--meaning the 5 dollar words I seem to have been using up page. Last night I picked beautiful maraschino cherries and the girls made cherry pie. Not too good but ' filling. Some days I go swimming in the lake near here but I still can't swim. No fat and I sink like a log. We got in our duffel bags and it was the first time I had seen mine since just before the Battle of the Bulge (Ardennes). ' You mentioned that you had fenagled yourself into a temporary job and were pulling down a stray shilling or two. I guess you're in California now though. I'm doing okay too and salting away well over a 100 a month but it's an awful price when you consider that I and millions of others are losing out on ' absolutely the best part of our lives--19 to 21 in my case. Someday during the coming months I'll come around and see you and we'll see if we can't tear the town apart at the seams. I feel like it after a few months over here. Bye now--I've gotta go do a little soldat pratsovat (soldier's work) as I think I told you once before. ' Oceans of Love and a kiss on every wave "Tex" Leinweber ' CoG 101 Inf June 11, 45 Vjezdec, Czechoslovakia ' Dearest Kathe, I'm now in possession of two more long letters from over your way--one from February and one from the 31st of May. The February one made all the hospital rounds. 119 I think I told you before about the point system and how it effects yours truly--just like the morning after. I only have 51 points which means that I'll get another of those two way free tickets--the second half of which you use if you're lucky. ' I'm sorry I am not in Germany now and can not get ahold of any German music but I might be able to get some Chesky music if I ever go into Budaweis (Budovice). If you ever see Sgt. Bill Mauldin's Pulitzer Prize winning cartoon about "fresh, rested, American troops are bringing in thousands of hungry, battle-weary Heinies" you will know what I mean when I say that it was impossible for me to get much in , Germany. The rear echelon troops are the ones who are sending home all the perfume and stockings and stuff. They are also the ones who will wear the biggest medals and give with the biggest prevarications when this Infantry supported war is over. ' I do have a red-gold oak leaf bespeckled swastika armband which I took from the big shoes in the city of Passau where my outfit kicked him out--I being burgomeister, or its equivalent for 3 days until officers moved in--that I have been saving for you and will present it at your home in the not too distant future. I already have the date planned and I spend many hours turning over my brain cell to see what ' makes a guy day dream. I have a lecture tommorrow on the M3 sub machine gun and I must finish this and begin work on that. Congratulations on that February birthday even if I did learn about it late. For some reason I ' never asked you when yours was. Mine was the 28th of March and I'm now an old man of 21. At 18 you're just a grown up kid but what a cute kid. [(Here we pause in our program while the pen records d long whistle including trills and oblegettos (or something).] ' I had an idea that I was going to wash my clothes this afternoon but it sure looks cloudy. You know, its like they say--I'll make some woman a fine husband. I also swing a wicked iron and by wicked I mean that my clothes are constantly scorched. Oh well, I like a lot of heat anyway after this past winter. Until further notice (the next letter) I bid you a fond adeau and all kinds of sentimental stuff better said than written. Love ya, Tex Vjesdec, Czechoslovakia r June 12, 45 Dear Folks, ' IT just write you a note to let you know I am okay and there just absolutely isn't anything to write about. The old outfit rocks along with a number of ripples and that is about all. I'm sending $250 worth of money orders and keeping a good bit from my last several months pay ' -just in case. We had a class on the M3 sub-machine gun this morning which I taught and last night a couple of us walked two very pretty girls over to Lhenice where they would catch a bus for Budejovice where they ' live. Tonight I think I will go over to one of the other towns and visit some of my friends. It's the middle of June now and things should be awfully pretty there if there has been a little rain. Maybe I'll be back and be lucky enough to get to go to the Camp Meeting. Until then I reckon I had better quit but you can bet I see you in my day dreams. t Love ya Tex, Junior Vjezdec, Czechoslovakia ' June 22, 45 Dear Folks, ' A lot has been happening in the last few days and I have been slightly lax in writing. To begin with I signed up for one of these Army schools expecting to get college work but after making the trip to Netolice yesterday and finding that I could only take high school subjects, I decided to ' come back for I see no sense in reviewing high school subjects. I had a very nice time down there just looking around and bought some picture postcards of the town but proceeded to lose them immediately. This stationery is also from there and apparently either the fountain pen overfeeds or the paper is a ' blotter. I went swimming yesterday as I do every day when there are none of the big thunderclouds hanging around. I also got a letter from Grandma and Grandpa Harper and the paper is coming in nice and regular also. Everyone is wondering what is going to happen to us and as yet it is a closed book, ' 120 t however we do know that we are going to the Pacific and every day spent here is one less spent there so ' that our homecoming, even if delayed can be sweated out successfully. I bought some Czech music in Netolice for Kathe but could find none with words. At last reports she was the best soprano in Houston and she was planning to attend a Statewide amateur competition. Honestly she has a beautiful ringing voice that can be heard above any group. ' I hope you are well - Grandpa said you now had all kinds of farming equipment. Love ya Tex, Junior ' CoG 101 Inf June 22, 45 ' Vzezdec, Czechoslovakia Dearest Kathe, I don't know where you are just now but I reckon you should be home by the time this reaches ' there. I have just been in to Netolice which is the largest town near here and managed to get some Czeck piano music but could not find any with words. Maybe if I go into Germany sometime (which I ' doubt) I can get you some German sheet music. We are having some mighty peculiar weather here with cool temperate weather most of the time mixed with sudden rains. They had me all signed up for a GI school but I went truant along with nearly everyone else. ' Somehow or another I just don't feel like a student anymore especially in high school subjects. There was something which happened to me the other day which sounds like a joke out of an old 1900 style jokebook. I was pitching a baseball around with several boys and several girls and suddenly ' as I squatted for a low one there came the well known sound of ripping. Luckily there was on the spot tailoring for a rather embarassing six inch seam split. As I have probably mentioned before, we are on the edge of the Sudetenland facing the Russians and everytime the Russians come into the adjoining town girls start filtering through the woods and fields ' with a hunted look in their eyes. It's quite comical--everything from 9 to 90. 1 got two snapshots of you--very very nice. Won't you send me some of your beauty pills. I think the girls here need something that the girls in America have. ' I hope you had a good look at California for me. I've never seen it but after seeing a good bit of the rest of the world I still think it can't compare with Texas or Texas women. Love ya Tex ' Letter is SWAK - outmoded but eloquent ' Vjezdec, Czechoslovakia June 25, 45 (Addressed to Mr. & Mrs. Herman Harper) ' Dear Folks, Just another sleepy day here and it doesn't look like we are ever going to get back to the States. We definitely know that we are coming but the Lord only knows when. ' The political situation here in Czechoslovakia isn't the best in the world right now with the Communists backed by the Russian Armies trying to take over. Dr. Eduard Benes seems to be by far the popular man in the race though and I reckon he will win out in the long run. I went down to the city of Netolice the other day and rather looked things over. It is a pretty nice place and I bought this stationary and some other stuff. There was a big dance over in the next town last night and the Czech girls all got angry because the soldiers were dancing with German girls from the adjoining Sudetenland. Officially it is entirely illegal to fraternize with the Heinie women and I reckon ' some one is liable to get in Dutch over it if it continues. I go swimming every now and then and work a little in fields and every week we have a ten mile hike but otherwise there's not much in the way of something to do Guess I've about run out of suitable writing material so I'll quit. ' Love to you both, Junior ' 121 Vjezdec, Czechoslovakia, ' June 29, 45 Dear Folks, ' This is just another one of those days which follow each other but this one is cold, darn near necessitating coats even though it is nearly July. I caught a ride into Netolice today to recover my field glasses which I had left down there the t other day. Today is some kind of a holiday for the local yokels and they're all running around acting lazy. Every night we have a bang up game of volleyball and have an awful lot of fun at it. I think we are going to change CO's in a few days and maybe our platoon lieutenant will be , Company Commander. He is a wonderful guy and I can't say the same for the present one. I might say that of all the officers who came over with us, there is not a single one alive today. We have had and lost around 30 officers and for a while at Mon Schumann Crossroads we had no officers left in the 3 rifle companies and my friend Zimka - a tech sergeant - was in charge of the whole ' works. He had a Silver Star and a cluster when he was killed and he deserved at least a D.S.C. We had a big inspection of our weapons today and our machine guns were in fine shape. We have an extra pair and it sure makes it rough on the boys to be doing double work. t I have got my uniforms in a state of being pulled up to regulations. I work a beautiful cross stitch around the stripes and tried to teach a Czech girl how to do it. I'm afraid I'm going to look like a Mexican general when I come home with all kinds of junk cluttering up my uniform. Love ya ' Tex, Junior CoG 101 Inf ' June 30, 45 Vjezdec, Czechoslovakia Dearest Kathe, t I'm a'sittin' in the second story of our house looking out over the quiet village square (complete with a stream, angelus bell tower and a mess of bothersome geese). Roughly in the center and slightly to the left is a tall peeled pole with a now tattered Czech flag fluttering bravely in a faltering breeze. Across t the way is the Burgomeister's domo and next to it that of the town secretary whom they have because the Burgomeister can't write properly. I know how they do it back in the states (by telephone) but how gossip spreads around here is ' beyond me. One of the boys suggested that they must walk out in the yards and wave their arms. Anyway, howsomever they does it, I or none of the others can wiggle without they know where we went, why and what we did. It's all rather embarassing. We had a large parade in the town of Lhenice this morning and will have a larger one in Oberplan ' on the 4th of July. Kinda looks like I'm going to have to play hide and seek to find your new residence. I've got it all worked out to an exact science now though and can find a girls residence faster that a soldier can get a ' discharge. We have an inspiring game of volleyball every night and everyone is getting quite expert at it. Some of the more expert even take pleasure in bouncing a shot off a fellow's head. This sometimes causes the men to dig a quick fox hole. Then they have the nerve to say that they were helping the ' farmers plow their field. Even if worsted comes to worsted, we'll be wearing these woolen clothes in August. (That stinks [I smell it now]) I turned in my watch for an ordnance inspection yesterday. The dirty (censored) traded ' on me and the one I got back had a dirty canvas band. At ten minutes of washing time and the present price of labor I figure the cost me a few shillings. That's the Scotch on my Godmother's stepfather's side that is just now popping up. I understand Johnny Walker has some pretty good scotch on his side, too. Speaking of Scotch, I guess it's time to scotch these scotch stories and end this paragraph. ' If-my Hahvahd professor of English (ASIP) could only see how I murder the King's English now! Sometimes I wonder why they call it the King's English. Looks like they would have called it the Queen's English or maybe the women were just the powers behind the thrones in those days. That sound you just , heard was me diving for my bombproof shelter expecting an airborne "fire one for effect" letter. The jiggles you see on this letter or my seismographic recordings of an accordian, drums and guitar vibrating in good swingtime. Our section band and hep! 122 1 ' I hope you enjoy your stay in New Orleans and do go down and see Canal Street for me. Better yet go look in the mirror and send me a beautiful picture of what you see and so help me if you ever bob that hair I will personally see that you are shaved bald (or will 1). It can't be equalled anywhere. I have 51 points now and should get out in a year's time if I can just outlast the Japs. Ever and ever, Clarence ' Vjezdec, Czechoslovakia July 3, 1945 ' Dear Folks, Right now we're in the midst of a budding storm with wind and rain. Its as cold here as it is in ' March in the States and it rains or showers nearly every day. Darned funny weather. I think I will pop if I eat any more cherries. I have eaten more in the last month than I ever ate before in my life. They are the beautiful big maraschino cherries - larger than the bottled ones you buy in the States. ' I think I told you in my last letter that our platoon lieutenant had left us. He took command of E Company and he richly deserved it for he was the best lieutenant we ever had. We also have a new company commander and the Lord knows I hope he is better than the last one. ' I will send home an $80 money order in my next letter in addition to the $250 last month and then I will hold a month's pay in preparation for that train fare home. We don't know much about what is going on here. There are all kinds of rumors but once we move from here it will take approximately a month to get home and then there will be that old parade ' down Tremont St. in Boston which looks like a practical certainty. It can't be forever anyway and this is an awful lot better than going to the CBI immediately. Every division that goes home before us is one more to reach the CBI first. Love ya, Tex, Junior Vjezdec, Czechoslovakia July 5, 45 ' Dear Folks, First off I will answer a few questions put in your letter of the 21St of June. I think most have ' already been answered in my more recent letters. To begin with, I am almost certain of going to the Pacific by way of the States and every day which I spend over here is a day toward the end of the war with Japan so that even though it is terribly hard waiting here and I am pretty homesick, it is all for the best. Almost certainly I will get a 30 day ' furlough when I get home which to my guess will be sometime late in August. It will presumably take from six to nine months from the day I leave here until I go into action in the Pacific. You notice the nice line of this fountain pen. It is my new Eversharp which I won in the PX raffle. It is a $12.50 pen but at Army Discount it cost me $5.80. It certainly feels nice and is the first I have had ' since somebody misplaced my last one just after the initial jumpoff at Moyenvic, Lorraine. I have a very good Army Elgin watch which is Army issue for M.A. Section Sgts. I also have my own Bulova which, however, has a broken crystal. Thanks just the same on the watch deal. Please ' express my sorrow to Mr. Stehling - many brave men have died and many yet will die. It's awfully chilly here and we nearly froze on the fourth - going to the Regimental review which was about a twenty mile trip over some pretty rough mountains. We had a night problem last night and as a result I am in a very sleepy mood and scarce can write a sensible sentence. Bye now and hold the fort. Love ya Tex, Junior CoG 101 Inf Roundabout July 9, 45 ' Who-is-this, Bohemia Dearest Kathe, ' I don't know whether this will ever reach you or not what with the influx of different addresses. You explicitly defined it as 5812 in a letter and then on the next return address it was 5218. Here's hoping that the mental situation is better this sunny day in July. ' 123 Reporting on the local livestock situation--one of the heifers most prominent in local dairy circles ' has just given birth to twin babies. Both mother and babies are in fine shape and recieving visitors at the local barn. ' The other night there was a big fire in one of the adjoining towns and the fire departments for miles around gathered. With their shiny helmets they looked like something from a motion picture saga. I don't know when I will be back now as the situation looks rather doubtful. I'm like a starved dear during hunting season. Everyday I spend under cover is one more I spend with a whole skin. I can say ' this for the heinies--they have some darned poor shots in their army but that not withstanding, I don't want to see any Japs. I can certainly give them A for effort. I had a little job this morning trying to disassemble and assemble a German P38 pistol which I ' bought for my brother. The schenalins was where the whatcha-ma-callit should have been and just as I got that fixed I lost the doojigger and also my temper and the blasphemy ran rampant. All in all it was a trying experience coming under the heading of brotherly love. As things stand this afternoon (and it is afternoon!) I shouldn't be back before Thanksgiving. If ' they keep putting it off I will have gray whiskers when I do get back. I'm already drawing up to the sunny side of 22 and to me that is getting awful old. I went swimming this afternoon (the first time it has been warm enough in a couple of weeks). It ' just gives me goose pimples to think of October here. Ever since last winter I have been allergic to cold and the further south I manage to spend the rest of my life, the better I will like it. Incidentally, now that you mention it, how does ice cream taste? I haven't had any in nearly a year now. ' My section is all scattered now. 2 are going to play on the Prague radio and 1 is a lifeguard and 4 are in school and one is cooking and gosh that jus' about leaves me cooling my little doggies. With peace I have more headaches than a few, you can believe me! ' They say there is a manpower shortage or something but, you know, all the gals I know have gotten married. Are you a confirmed "young" maid or are you kinda waiting to see what the Army sends back, huh? I rather hope so. Have a good time on your trip and don't let them give ya any Confederate money. Lord knows, t they've given me everything. As ever, forever, Clarence Vjezdec, Czechoslovakia ' July 10, 45 Dear Folks, t Just a note to let you know that I am okay. There is really nothing else to write. I lost Charles' address again - seems I'm awful losing by nature but I guess I will get another letter from him in the near future. He asked me to get him a German pistol if I could "pick" one up. I got one for $65 - a P38 - and will bring it home if he wants it. They are highly prized by the Air Corps and I ' can get as much as a hundred to a hundred and fifty dollars for it from an Officer over here. Don't look for me now until late in the fall as things stand now. We keep reversing dates and maybe if I last it long enough I won't have to fight the Jap. ' I went swimming this afternoon for today was nice and warm after days of cold chilly weather. This is certainly a funny climate as I have observed a number of times. I would sure enjoy a package (Note: this sentence portion is circled!) if you could find anything to put in one and I'll attach a note just in case. , A couple of my boys are going to play over the Prague Radio to give the Czechs an idea of what American music consists of. They are pretty good and have been playing at a lot of dances around the countryside here. I must go now and I'll love you always. Love ya Tex, Junior Landkreis Hammelburg, Germany July 22, 45 ' Dear Folks, have now commenced my long voyage home and a couple of days back we pulled out of Czechoslovakia at 3 in the morning and rolled until 1 oclock the next morning pulling into a transitional ' camp dead tired and with our eyes nearly burned out. 124 ' Yesterday we pulled out and marched about 15 miles over here onto a bare hill in the Landkreis (county) of Cuchumburg or something. We pitched tents in a Regimental camp on the peak of a bare hill ' in parade formation. I'm sending the money order which I forgot in the last letter and also some pictures of me and others taken back in Vjezdec. Please keep all of the pictures I send home for me. I get so few and I want ' to share them all with you. As you probably read in the paper, the D is scheduled for October shipment but we hear it has been moved up a month and in the meantime we are moving closer to the P.O.E. Bye for now Love ya, Junior ' CoG 101 Inf July 25, 1945 Camp Boucher, Germany Dear Katje, I just managed to get ahold of the company's typewriter and after so long I am making all kinds of ' mistakes. My fingers have forgotten their basic training and want to argue every time I strike a key. If the words sound a slight bit guttural, it will be because the typewriter is German and has the Heinie U, A, and in its system and they keep popping up like flies in a Czech home. As you probably see by the letter head, we have moved back into Germany and are set up in a ' tent city about 50 miles east of Frankfurt am Main. (If you see a lot of mistakes on this page concerning the letters z and y, it will be because z is where y should be on this no good typewriter.) All in all it was a pretty rough ride from Czechoslovakia and quite a few were ready to holler "Uncle" if that would have ' worked. Some would have hollered for "Auntie" too providing she was reasonably young and pretty. I'm on the company training committee and that is a real goldbrick job--hallelujah! It's too hot to work. It is really strange what two hundred and some odd miles will do to the climate. They have been doing some detonating of dangerous Duestches Wehrmacht munitions around ' here and I am just beginning to wonder if there is anything to the ever so clever little joke about the returning soldier wanting to dig a foxhole in the backyard. I wouldn't swear to it but when the last one went up with a great big roar it seemed to me that I could see the look of worried concentration that ' bespeaks an experienced foxhole builder on the faces of my erstwhile comrades. The older ones are really experienced in that field too if you know what I mean. Speaking of fields I think that last sentence ranges in the field of corn. Or maybe after two sad attempts like that I should take to corn----- whiskey. I don't reckon there is any fraternization around here to worry the higher brass for we are way out in the middle of a great big barren place with nothing but little towns around and those patrolled with MP's and to far to walk anyway. It looks like our shipping date has been set up a little so that we may a on the high seas by the fifteenth of September. The general came around to see us yesterday and the colonels were just as excited as rookies taking their first drill commands from a two stripe general. I saw one colonel taking notes like a professional stenographer. It did my heart good because if those lieutenant colonels don't have a chip on ' thier (sic) shoulders they at least have a reasonable facsimile of a leaf and everything is not silver that shines. This mail clerk over here in the corner is going to have to get me a letter from you pretty soon or else. Besides he is disturbing my thoughts with his snoring. The Lord knows that I am having enough trouble already with the typewriter. You mentioned your baby sister's memory and I can only hope that yours is as good. After reviewing that last sentence, I had better explain myself. You mentioned your sister's memory of me. Until then, Clarence P.S. Just got a letter from you--did the base censor delete anything? Instead of a foxhole, I'm going to build a bomb shelter. Everything was nice today and then all creation broke loose about 3/4 of a ' mile away and the entire base of a German 150 mm shell land a few yards away. They're gonna hafta stop it or they won't have any troops left around here. CLL ' 125 Camp Boucher, Germany t 28 July 45 Dear Folks, , It is a rather coolish day here in the vicinity of Hamlingen, Germany but just now late in the afternoon the sun has managed to favor us with some warm beams. It is getting very dry and dusty and I had hoped for some rain to dampen things down a little. ' There is really not much going on of interest and we seem to be settling down to a steady grind of some two months of basic training although I am inclined to believe that we won't be here near that long. Our jeep drivers left for Paris today with our vehicles to turn them in for shipment to our fighting forces in , the Pacific area. Next week I will have to teach a couple of mornings on the light machine gun and assist in a couple of classes on the 60mm mortar. That will be the major part of a week's work unless something comes along to change my plans. Last night we walked a mile and a half to see the Information please show with John Kieran, , Franklin Adams, Beatrice Lillie, Reginald Gardner. It was a rather pleasant night although some of the boys didn't like that particular type of more or less highbrow entertainment. The old mental rating of the YD has certainly shown a big drop since last year with many of the ASTP boys being knocked off and t more or less uneducated Southern boys coming in as replacements. Last night I got chased off of the typewriter as there was more important work to be done so I will attempt to finish the job this morning which happens to be the 29th of July. Today is Sunday and we are having no training and just preparation for church services. , According to the training schedule we have nearly two months to go here in this camp but we will all be stark raving mad by the time that is over and done with. Last night they dedicated this camp to one of our Majors who was killed in the breakthrough , across Germany. Now he is dead and they pay homage to him. That is all too much the way with war. There is a decided tendency to forget the hardships of the individual soldier, his bravery and his longings and then when he is dead and gone to eulogize him and call him a hero. Haven't gotten any mail in quite a number of days but I am trusting to get some in the very near , future. With that I must stop pecking and sign and mail this epistle. Love ya, Tex, Junior Camp Boucher, Germany 30 July 45 ' Dear Folks, I just got a nice long letter from you and figured I would write you immediately as I had a little time. First off I shall answer questions you put in your last letter and make comments on other points which you brought up. I don't just exactly understand what is wrong, Mother as you said that you were only ill due to ' certain causes and then you left the impression that an operation might be necessary. I am hoping that you are feeling better now and that no such drastic measures are necessary. A you probably know by now from my last letters my division has already begun its first step in the trip to the States. Sometime in , the next few months we should be on the high seas and on our way home. I wrote and told you that I now have a fountain pen, I think. Anyway, I have a beauty of an Eversharp-the best you can get which I got a chance to buy in a raffle and I also now have a Government watch which I rate because of my job. My Bulova has a broken crystal as I wrote you and I will have it after the war is over and unless I get busted or something I will rate a GI watch until I am discharged. You know I am downright embarassed that I have been unable to get you any kind of souvenir at all. It seems that either the Czechs have stopped making face in that section of the country or something for none of the people had any in their homes and though I searched all of the stores in an effort to find some in Netolice, there didn't seem to be any to be had when I was back there in Bohemia. I must quit for the time being and run to get ready for retreat. Well here we go again and on a different typewriter and it is really stiff to the touch. ' It was nice of you to put me in print although I was scarcely expecting it when I wrote that letter. You were wondering what my ideas were it seemed from your recent letters at the time that I wrote that letter so I decided that I might give you some small idea by a letter. Needless to say I have matured and more or less stand on my own two feet as far as ideas go. They are strictly the ideas of the combat 126 , 1 soldier and are to be found in very few other places. I reckon that they have been tried by fire and although they may be unsound in spots they are essentually built on a foundation of blood and sorrow. ' Today I am in Charge of Quarters and must be in the CP most of the day. There is hardly anything going on and one day runs into the next with monotonous regularity. Regular training and I am about to go nutty working on two three and one half hour lectures and I'll be darned if I can figure out how ' I am going to manage it. 1 was playing ball yesterday afternoon and on running to catch a long fly ball managed to sprawl full length across a large shell hole in the middle of the ball diamond. It is a rather embarassing comedown to hit the dirt like that. In case you were a little bit mixed up by the heading I had on my last letter giving my location in Germany you will find the place between the towns of Hammelburg and Munenburg which are county seats about 60 miles due east of Frankfurt am Main. ' That seems to be about all so I will sign off until the next time that I write. (Ed. Note: No signature) CoG 101 Inf August 2, 1945 ' Camp Boucher, Germany My dear Kathe, The situation is all Snafu here tonight and most of the guys don't know whether to laugh or cry. ' Reason--We have just been informed that the Division has suddenly been changed from a redeployment to the Pacific status to an occupational status. There are various immediate results. The married men begin thinking of the terrific let-down that their wives are going to have and those of us with 50 to 70 ' points who had known that we were scheduled for the Pacific are now thrown into one of those in between states where a fellow tries to keep both ears to the ground and gets tromped on in the end. Of course there may be last minute changes again but we will probably leave for Salzburg, Austria and our occupational zone in a few days. From all I hear it is one of the most scenic spots in Europe being in the heart of the Austrian Tyrol. A world famed music festival is held there each year also. Much of the history of this war is tied up in the surrounding area with the Hitler retreats of Berchtesgaden and Ober Salzburg and Hitler's birthplace in the immediate vicinity. ' I'm afraid our casualties are going to mount too for I just noticed an entire truck load of skies (sic). I'm just a little bit afraid that I would we inclined to continue my ice skating practice of landing on the seat of my pants! Oh well, I guess snow is softer and I know good and well that my head is. Those embarassing moments. Today, I had to lecture to combat veterans for two hours on the ' machine gun. My first lecture - and did I have stage fright and then I realized that they weren't listening anyway so everyone was happy. Tommorrow (sic) I have four more straight hours of lecture - a lieutenant dumped it all right in my 1 lap when he left as advance detail to the new area. Our generator suddenly kicked out on us last night so this is the succeeding night and I have just learned that our regimental area will probably be in the vicinity of Reid, Austria east of a line from Passau to Salzburg. The advance elements of the Division which relieves (spelling?) us have arrived and they are plenty sad about the entire deal and who wouldn't be--one or two baths in two weeks and no laundry. I'm getting desperate. Pretty soon I am going to borrow a big water container from the kitchen, add soap, ' light a fire under it and jump in clothes and all. We got our weekly rations tonight - 6 bars good chocolate, 7 packs cigarettes, gum, soap, etc. Gosh, how I'd give them all for a quart of good ice cream for there's no telling when I'll get home now. Waiting impatiently, Clarence t 127 Camp Boucher, Germany ' August 3, 45 Dear Folks, , I guess as it looks now it will be some time before I see you again for our Division has suddenly been transferred to Army of Occupation and will leave in the next few days for the vicinity of Ried, Austria which is some 40 miles out of Passau and about 80 to 100 miles from the place we left a few weeks back. , Although your first reaction will be to be dissapointed, I know that after a moment's thought you will realize that it is much better that I stay here for there is always a chance that I might get hurt if I get tangled up with the Japs. It dissappoints me terrifically even though I know that it is all for the best. I'm glad that Charles finally got a break although it will quite possibly mean an overseas , assignment. You seemed some worried about him. Now let me tell you something - your worries are practically groundless and I will tell you why. First, he is in the Air Corps and in the ground crew at that! Being trained as a B29 crew chief, he will be several hundred miles to the rear and even now both ' Japan's Air Force and submarines are nearly extinct. I am sure that he will enjoy being able to say that he was overseas (if he goes) and the two of us can get together and tell you about darned near the entire world and I repeat and I have been in the thick ' of it in some of the fiercest fighting ever experienced by the U.S. Army, that he will be in hardly more than normal everyday civilian danger in performing his job over there. Back to Austria. I am on the advance party and will help to get our men into their billets back there. , I went up to the well and pumped myself a bath late this afternoon. It was pretty cold but how I enjoyed it. How I would like to get my clothes laundered and pressed now. I have completed my series of lectures on the machine gun and if I do say so myself after the ' initial stage fright I gave good lectures. I guess when I brag it is just because I know you must have something to feed the parential pride on. Our cooks are really on the ball. We had apple pie a la mode tonight and it was really prima. The first time in a year that I have had any real ice cream. We have a new mess sergeant and I believe it ' would not be overstating to say that our kitchen is the best in the Regiment. If you can get any film - which I doubt - take pictures there and send them here and also send me some and I will send some pictures to you. Our supply of German film is exhausted. I think of you night and day and I'll be there one of these days. Love ya Tex, Junior Bundorf, OestterReich , Aug. 8, 45 Dear Folks, Well, we are down here in Austria in a temporary position waiting for a couple of other outfits to move out before we move into our permanent zones for occupational duties. I know you cannot find this place on the map so I will just say that we are near Vocklasburg on the Salzburg highway and in the vicinity of the northern tip of Lake After (the After See) The trip down was anything but pleasant but I made it in a peep so it was not nearly so bad as if I had come in a large truck. The outfit is due to arrive late tonight and they will probably be dog tired for the trip is close to 300 miles and in convoy that is a dusty 18 to 24 hour ride. As I sit here I can see the snow covered peaks of the Austrian Tyrol off in the distance. They form from here a jagged, wild horizon line and I am resolved to go up there in the middle of them in the near future. , I was just playing with some of the kids here and finally had to turn tail and run for I had kids all over me and they were about to rip the buttons off of my shirt. I gave a kid a bar of soap and he scurried off to wash a set of my clothes for me and I should have them back this morning. I was really getting scurvy and there was just no way to wash clothes back , at the other joint. reckon that's all that is happening around here just now so I must sign off. Love ya, Tex, Junior CoG 101 I of , 128 ' August 9,'45 Biindorf, OestterReich ' My dearest Kathe, I'm trying to write on paper that has exactly the same effect as a blotter. I would hardly say that the custom is spreading but this ink certainly is and my pen is flying about like a chinaman's feet in front of an old West two gun man. This joint is about 20 miles northeast of Salzburg and the population is 100 normally so you can see what 200 soldiers do to the joint. ' Away in the distance about 20 miles or so you can see the jagged snow covered peaks of the Austrian Tyrol. From what I can see of them they are really beautiful. It's kinda raining today--just one of those "Rain, rain, go away and come again some other day" ' rains. Makes a guy restless and there's just absolutely nothing to do here. It will be about 3 weeks before we take over our actual occupational areas. Some of us got our good conduct medals yesterday. Heretofore all that we had been issued was the ribbon. We still have medals pending for bravery in action but they don't mean anything as I think I ' wrote once before. Pretty soon, I reckon you will be going to college and you're probably as excited as a bride on her wedding night about the whole thing. You've had to wait so long that you twice the enjoyment that comes ' from expecting something. "My bonnie lies over the ocean." As ever, Tex ' Kremsmunster, Austria 15 Aug 45 ' Dear Folks, I reckon we have moved into a more or less permanent position now for this is the area that the Division is scheduled to occupy. Although I have not seen a map of the area I believe we are somewhere about 20 miles SW of ' Linz, Austria. We are in a huge monastery overlooking the town and it is pretty nice although I would have rather have spent the time in the area we just left near Salzburg. They nearly worked me to death there thought for I was in direct charge of the living conditions in ' a camp of 320 people and I had in addition to keep track of another 750 living in housed throughout the area. It was pretty rough. It was really nice to hear that Japan had capitulated and I have an idea that is struck you in much the same manner that it hit us-----the darned thing just couldn't be over that quick. In a way it just confirmed what we had known for a good while, that we weren't going to the Pacific Theatre anyway. I guess we more or less got caught with our respective pants down at the last minute to be saddled with the army of occupation just when the war takes a notion to be over. There are rumors that the men with 50 or more points will be out in the next year and that includes me. At any rate when I do ' come home you and I both know that it will be to stay. Oh, happy day! I really don't know much to say except that if we don't get out of here or something doesn't start we will go stark raving mad. I got a letter from you last night, the first in a goodly number of days. Take care of yourselves for you know now that I will be home some time no matter how long it takes. Love you ' (Ed. Note: no signature) CoG 101 Inf ' 16 Aug 45 Kremsmunster, Austria ' Mein Schotzelein, May be you object to me using the German language now but somehow we over here seem to have absolutely no feeling in the matter except an accute feeling of revulsion for the average German man, former soldier or not. Most of the boys seem to have no feeling whatsoever about the women and ' perhaps it is caused in a large part by the hazardous conditions under which we have lived for so many months. After reading the various papers for the last few months, I have no doubts whatsoever as to just what the average American girl's ideas are on the matter of her husband or boy friend playing around with ' 129 the frauleins. I suppose that now that the war of the males is over if they should turn the females loose ' there would be a fight that would make a possum and cat fight look like a kindergarten squabble. We traveled down from the beautiful Tyrol in the vicinity of Salzburg and now we are sitting in a ' 7th Century monastery in the area SW of Linz. I was in charge of one of the trucks and we had to stop along the way, got lost, and arrived at the destination ahead of the company. We're in a high school building and the light and latrines don't work and the beds are so scarce that they are practically non- existent. ' It looks like the next trip that I get home will be that one just before the old discharge papers. That will be an extremely nice trip for I am about fed up with my jobs in the army. The last one was the handling of some one thousand displaced persons and believe me it was quite a job. I had to make a list t of all the people, where born, how old, and what nationality. That took an awful long time. Right now we are flat broke as all of our money has been taken up for changing into Austrian Schillings. As soon as we get that back, I am going to go and look around for some German music with words and music for you. For a while I thought that I was not going to get a chance to get any for it ' looked like we were heading straight across without any stops in Germany where we would be able to get a pass to a large town. I have to look around to get me another pipe too for my last one was broken in the scuffle somewhere. , Our duties here at present seem to be guard duty at least until the 11th Armored Division moves out and we are in sole charge of the area around here. Some of the older men in the company were drunk last night and bewailing the fact that a discharge seemed a good ways in the future for them. This insignificant person is not bewailing any facts and is darned glad that he is nearly sure of coming home at ' least some time. Most of the enjoyment of any of the things that happen in your life is in the planning and the expectation of them. If everything that we did in this life was done on the spur of the moment it would be a sad life indeed. , That is why I am deriving keen pleasure even from just the planning of what I will do when I get home. There are so many little things to do that somehow never seemed important before. I believe that I and every other returned soldier will know how to really enjoy America as it is. I know that there will be nothing like seeing a fresh young American girl again and be able to converse with one without having to ' use some foreign tongue. I know snatches of so many tongues now that I sometimes get mixed up and it sounds like the ancient Hebrews at the tower of Babel. CoG 101 Inf August 30, 45 KremsmUnster, Austria ' My dearest Kathe, Just an average day, radio going full blast and the sun shining through the old window just as it has shined on pretty days down through the centuries. I went to Berchtesgaden, Germany yesterday to look the joint over. We rode a train which must have formerly been on the milk route for it stopped at every little station. Finally we arrived in Berchtesgaden high in the Tyrol and looked a mile or so up to see the eagle's nest high atop a bare , mountain. We got on an old rundown bus and headed up on a cylinder and a prayer. Personally, I think we made it on the prayer. That driver must have had more faith than St. Peter on Gallilee. Somehow or another we got to OberSalzburg without acquiring wings and lyres and found that some naughty boys had messed the place up with bombs. Adolfs Berghof itself was burnt out and was rather plain except for the huge window in the reception or living room which framed one of the wildest and prettiest pictures which I have ever seen. I went down in Hitler's air raid shelter and found where someone had cornered someone else and tattooed the wall with bullets. The corridor in was zig-zag and at every zag was a slit for a ' machine gun. The eyrie, or eagle's nest, is way above the Berghof and consists of only a small stone house looking out over leagues of what would appear to be the top of the world with a lot of pitfalls in it. That is probably what Hitler overlooked when he came here to meditate. t A lot of old men with 79 and up points are leaving us Saturday. They have to keep on drafting the young men! They argue back home that it will be knocking them out of their chances to get started in life. What the do they think back there happened to many of us who fought the war and who can replace , us if none are drafted for this job of occupation. Keep a tight upper lip if they haze you and don't worry about soroities too much. Too often the social sororities are just societies of snobs. Having various kindred in Rice, you probably know that already though. Stay the same. Bye now, Tex Leinweber ' 130 ' Kremsmunster Austria 4, Sept, 45 Dear Folks, Well a good bit has happened in the last few days. Another boy and I went back to Vjezdec, Czechoslovakia the last three days in an effort to get a lot of films which we had left there for developing. We were walking down the street in Weis, Austria when I was brushed by a runaway team of horses. It was a narrow squeak but I didn't think much about it although women were screaming all over the place and looking at me with a "My, but that was close" look.. I guess that the war has left most of us with pretty ' steady nerves. The last I saw of the wagon was a snake trail around a corner. I guess they got the horses under control. We had to walk about 15 miles to get to Vjezdec - no transportation. The people were terribly glad to see us. I guess that we did a darned good job of cementing relations there. The Czechs are not by any means the easiest people in the world to get along with and the other Division is not getting along with the people too well - in fact they told them that we had all been killed in a train wreck - Why? I don't know. We walked out of town with our arms filled with cakes and eats. Please send 616 film - as much as possible and pay for it from my money. Don't send any Christmas packages except eats - sweets for there is a good chance that I might be home for a late Christmas. The last time I built your hopes prematurely so don't plan on anything for I am not sure of anything although things are pointing in that general direction. I now have 59 points and it may be 8 or 10 months before I get a discharge but I should be home sometime in the winter. Again I say that you should not build any false hopes and only take things as they come as I also must for you know you have Don and home and I have no one here. All I can do is wait and pass each day as it comes. I'm waiting until I see you again ' Love ya Tex, Junior CoG 101 Inf 6 Sept. 45 Kremsmunster, Austria Dearest Kathe, I've been getting more nice letters from you lately than I can keep up with. My life and the doings ' here are so uninteresting that to write of them seems like the composing of some dry old journal of travels. I think I wrote and told you of my visit to Berchtegaden where the people are so nice and docile, just like kittens with their claws sheathed. You know the sentiment--"Heil Hitler! Hitler is dead--or is he?" I went to Czechoslovakia the other day to get some films for the section and had a very interesting time. I was walking calmly down a street in the nearby town of Weis when a runaway team of horses came up from my rear and swiped said rear. I didn't have time to think of how dangerous the ' situation was until the women's screaming awakened me. We continued on uneventfully to Prachatice, Czechoslovakia and then had to walk all of the way into Lhenice (15 miles). The people were certainly glad to see us back there and we looked like a walking bakery shop when we left out. ' Incidentally, we were requested to leave town by members of the 94th Division who had also told all the people there that our entire unit was dead. Why? I don't know. We went horse riding the other afternoon and my sitting attachment took the worst beating it has ' gotten since the ice skating in Boston or make some of the ration parties downhill 310 back around Moyenvic, France (course that was under duress). As I told my parents so many times so I will tell you don't worry when you do not recieve (sic) letters in time from George for the Pacific is very wide--it says here in my widdle "geogaphy" book. There ' are many times when the mail system is messed up worse than the truth on a party line. I'm going down to Weis one of these days and get you some Heinie music. I don't think you got very far with that Czech music. Bye for now and don't get your algebraic symbols and musical diagrams mixed up. Yours, Tex 131 Kremsmunster, Austria 11 Sept 45 Dear Folks, , Its one of those misty rainy days in this country today and it reminds me so much of the days in late winter back home. As the situation stands now, I have enough points to avoid army of occupation but if they stop ' drafting 18 year olds, drop the age limit for older men, and let married men out, I'm liable to be marooned here for quite a while. Keep your fingers crossed though and I might be home by February. There are many rumors floating around but we have learned to discount them all and wait to see what happens. ' I am sending a picture of myself taken in Vjezdec and a photo of 10 or the twelve men in the section. Don't lose them for they are part of my picture collection. I am having prints made of 10 different snaps of the section in the "rat race" as it ended and then in Czechoslovakia. It will probably take a couple of months for me to get them back from the states. , I got a letter from Grandma Leinweber yesterday and a picture of their Fanmall tractor. The time passes more or less swiftly here and before we know it winter will be upon us. I have now been in the Army for 26 months and its been nearly 17 since I have been home - in 10 more months ' I will have a three year hitch in. How I hate it! Until I see you Love ya Tex, Junior ' CoG 101 Inf 26th (Yankee) Division ' 21 Sept 45 Kremsmunster, Austria My little Sweetheart (schatzelein), ' I think that that is the way that you spell it and you have probably found out what it means already. This incidentally is just a little way stop of two or three thousand people and a very large monastery. It is about 40 miles southwest of Linz. ' How do you like our new stationery. (Ed. note: a shield with X, sword in hand and semper paratus below. Headlined 1944*Northern France*The Rhineland*Ardennes*Central Europe*1945) Its awfully expensive and it makes me think that I am writing on parchment. The four names at the top are the campaigns that the Division fought in and I and a few others in the company are entitled to a star for ' having been with the Division in all four. The Regiment was in six campaigns in the last war including Chattieau (sic) Thierry, Toul, lie d'France, Meuse-Argonne, and Belleau Woods. We are very proud of the outfit. ' Tell Jean "Hello" for me and does she still have those devastating dimples? Don't you worry one bit for I shall make Denton a part of my itinerary and I won't get lost for, as an Aggie, I can assure you that I have been there before and can name the buildings in dormitory row at TSCW backwards and forwards. Of course I might have a little trouble with NTSTC but where there is a will there is a way. Oh well, , everything will be all right when the sun comes up in the West tonight. I hope you get this letter but if you don't let me know and I will send it by Pony Express if I can get to heaven and find Buffalo Bill. Maybe you think that I am crazy but they haven't done anything but put me in a straight jacket yet. These guys thought that they were going to take me away yesterday but I tore a leaf off of the calendar and fooled them. They took me off tomorrow. There doesn't seem to be any news, for it is all old so I will quit for the time being and copy from the pages of time, the impartia 1. , Here it is way along in another day and to be quite candid with you there have been two such days which have slipped by to be lost in the maize of history. It is raining a cold steady rain now and we don't know whether to expect floods or snow banks in the morning. It is well along in September and we , still aren't headed home. I don't know but what it would be real nice to forget about the time when we come home and just get on the phone when I get to the states and give you a real great big surprise. Yesterday I mailed you a little bit of the Passion of Paris and believe me, from what the boys say about it, there is plenty of passion to spare in gay Paree. I also included a little souvenir of the late, ' demented Hitler and hope it will make a nice streamer for your wall. You might dedicate it to The Texas University football team of about 1942 (check please) which like the Nazis flew high and forgot that if you think too much of yourself you reduce yourself to impotence. Any it is compliments of the Yankee Division with the unwilling assistance of the Mayor of Passau. , 132 I'm stopping now to take a little snack and am using the hunt and peck system so that my right hand will get some exercise. I can just see you worrying your pretty head over the trials and tribulations ' of higher education. Maybe some day soon I will join you in the path of knowledge. After a review of the preceding paragraph the copy of Webster on your desk is probably ever so slightly dog-eared. Well, all bad things the same as all good things must come to an end so I'll sign JOHN HENRY as you requested although heaven never blessed me with such a simple name. When you take a questionable name like Clarence, tack a Welsh Llewellyn in the middle, add The Germanic Leinweber on and then qualify it all with a junior, you have something. My only excuse is that I didn't do it and couldn't help it. Soon----------------John Henry Clarence Llewellyn Leinweber, Jr. CoG 101 Inf 1 14 Sept 45 Kremsmunster, Austria My Dearest Kathe, ' Nice and sunny and 1 had better get used to it for I'll be here for a good while it appears. How I would like to be back on the old college campus! We have a good life here and everything is copasetic or so some of the newer boys from the ' states say--the term hadn't come into general use when 1 left. You know, it's hard to believe but I have been overseas for 13 months now and pretty soon I guess I will be forgetting what the States are like--just to get behind the wheel of the old Buick again or the feel of a pair of slacks and a t-shirt and a good English speaking girl next my heart with long shining dark hair and a tinkly laugh. Oh-me. ' Had to go to chow before they threw it out--sometimes I wonder if it wouldn't be better if they did. Anyway, it is now a couple of days later and I am at Gmunden, Austria on the Traunsee for a 3 day period. Yesterday I went 8 miles up the lake on a pleasure cruiser to Ebensee and the 6000 feet up in the clouds by cable car to the Top of Mt. Feuerkogel. I think I should draw flight pay now because there wasn't even a parachute on the darned thing and there was only 2000 ft between me and my Maker. Did you ever feel that close to Him? I think that I could have spit on a man far below me in the road. The top was enclosed in clouds ' and some of the Austrians who came up with us were running around yodeling like turkey gobblers. When we got below the clouds we could see the beautiful Azure blue of the cold Traunsee nestled in its setting of granite mountains. Someday I will write you a long letter telling all about my visits around ' Austria. I am sending along a picture of myself taken at Grafenau Germany on V.E.Day. I had just shaved (the bottom half) and that was all that had a clean and orderly appearance. I had not had a bath in well over a month and many of the nights had slept in the clothes which I wear in the picture. ' Incidentally, I do smoke a pipe now and it serves a means to an end. I started smoking in combat in tense moments and reached a climax I guess at Mon Schumann crossroads in the Bulge on Jan. 4 or 5th. We were under terrific strain and the Company Commander and one platoon sergeant had cracked leaving the company demoralized and rapidly dwindling. I lay in my foxhole and took all my cigarettes j' and matches out and put them on the frozen ground beside me. Smoking chain fashion and counting 1 cigarette as ten minutes and 6 as an hour, I waited. Although a shell cut a tree down on top of me and covered me and cigarettes with a four inch blanket of snow, I was one of the four to come back with the Company when the Battallion was relieved that night. Many later rejoined us who had been evacuated with combat fatigue in a mild degree. Many didn't come back. I have managed to get hold of a small bottle of French perfume which I will send you soon along with German music please send me a new posed photo of yourself the next time you get one. The little ' leather folder, I have next my heart today as I had it all through combat and the pictures are quite ruined by combat grime. I send this with all due regards to you and will also send on request one cartridge MI for each annoying professor. ' Don't read this to your roommates (I haven't forgotten college life!) for I'm fresh out of jokes. Not enough points! As ever, Leinweber ' 133 CoG 101 Inf , Oct 7, 45 Kremsmunster, Austria , Dearest Kathe, Just recieved (sic) a ravishing picture of you and boy I spend half my time just stargazing. I suppose that unless something happened at the very last minute, you are now engaged in all the hustle , and bustle of freshman life. I'll send you along something which was very popular with frosh gals when I was back there. It's straight from paris although I know you can get exactly the same thing in the States. I also have some face powder by Jean patou which you, as a girl, probably know is one of the , best. I tried for some Chanel No. 5 but it is long since gone. All of which leads up to the fact that I have been in gay Paree for 3 days. (Gay for a price!) The trip was rugged but as a good correspondent I shall describe it en toto. We started off by going 80 miles around the chain of command to get to Linz which is 30 miles away. We stayed there for ' the night and took off in the morning for Salzburg in open top trucks getting throroughly (sic) drenched along the way. The airport at Salzburg was closed in with snow and clouds so we took off for Munich again in the rain and caught a s--I--o--w train to Paris. I spent a very enjoyable time there and saw all of , the famous sights and was very muchly disgusted with the French women. They were 'chic' to be sure but I prefer a fresh scrubbed casually dressed American girl to an overly groomed clothes horse. The hair do's are all swept very high in front--even as high as six inches and very few hats are vvorn in Paris this season. The tendency seems to be towards a business suit in the daytime or perhaps a full dress (one ' piece) with frills are rolls of cloth at the hips all somber colors for the fall season and augmented by shocking waves of atrocious perfume. I guess that as a fashion reporter I make a good infantry man. I failed to see the Folies Bergere while I was there mostly due to the fact that I did not want to and , besides as one of the Red Cross girls remarked about the reading of 'Forever Amber', "why spend my time on things that we all already know!" Here I sit with 59 points and the division is coming home in December with 60 pointers and above for discharge. Don't you have a nice white shoulder which I can cry on? ' Until later - I must run now. I think of you everyday even as your picture in the little blue folder next my heart was the only article for good luck that I retained all through the mud and blood and snow and death of combat--a guiding star. As ever, Tex , CoA 756 Tank Battalion October 14, 45 ' Linz, Austria My dearest Kathe, , The old nomad is on the loose again but this time it is quite involuntarily to say the least. You see, they took a sudden notion that my 59 points wasn't close enough to 60 to keep me in the unit which was mine all through 17 months of war and 4 campaigns. Anyway, be that as it may, I am now a platoon leader in a tank outfit and have 5 big tanks to take care of and I know absolutely nothing about them. I ' get me a crew of PW's and make them think that I was the best tanker Patton ever had. It certainly did hurt to leave the old outfit though and this outfit is terrible. They nearly work us to death with guard, in fact I am on guard now. We guard two big SS camps and it makes me so damed mad to see deutschistche mutters , coming around and trying to talk to their darling SS offsprings that I am inclined to be slightly abrupt about informing them that the stehenbleiben verboten (loitering forbidden) signs mean them. With the cold of another winter creeping up on us we don't forget that the SS Panzer Corps were opposing us there and , that except where the going was good, they made the poorer troops stay to the front while they remained in the rear and shot all who ran. We have a coal stove in the room here which we use to send smoke signals or so it seems for no matter which way you push the damper the place is always full of smoke. I think I will junk it and send it ' to Japan so they can start another of these little shindigs. I hope you are having a wonderful time taking a few x5 and y; and shaking them all up to make z. Then when you get through you will probably have the professor tell you that you could have worked it , much easier by using simple arithmetic. Or maybe you have mostly music--scales, physics and music history. A fella just brought in a long letter from you in which you gave me the lowdown on what goes on there in college. I'm afraid you are leaving me in the dark for I know as much about music as you know , about the engineering course I was taking. 134 We have a rough time over here with the language situation and I can say "I don't understand" in about a dozen languages. I pinched a gal the other day, Parisian style, and she used some Hungarian that was scarcely complimentary. Maybe we are getting the so called continental touch or something but the girls back home are going to think the boys go about wooing awful queer when we get home. There will be some who fit somewhere but at each extreme there will be those who are reserved and those who get their faces slapped. Incidentally, as a word of warning for any friends in the dorm who might have returning boy friends----they all kiss French style over here, so watch out! I'm sitting on my bunk beating my brain cell against the wall of knowledge and I know you have lessons to study so I will quit. Next letter will be a round the continent job or "a Texan sees how the other a lives". Today's prize comments at my wailing wall at the SS Lager (camp). 1. "But I haven't seen my brother in 4 years." a civilian brother 2. "He's never seen his child" an SSer's wife with baby 3. "1 have two aunts in Milwaukee" an SSer 4. "1 was in an administrative company (SS)" enemic superman Ya, ya. Machts nicht. Wer Kamraden. Sleep good, beautiful. That's why I can't bury my face in ' that glorious, incomparable hair of yours now. As ever, Tex ' (Ed. Note: Written on 10151 INFANTRY REGIMENT 26`h (YANKEE) DIVISION letterhead} Linz, Austria Oct 23 45 ' Dear Folks, Another day, another $4.15. That's about what it adds up to in this army of Repatriation or whatever it is we are involved in in this so called "liberated" country - Hitler's birthplace. We turned our tanks in the other day and I drove one of the medium Shermans. Had very little trouble except that I swerved once, narrowly missed a tree and nearly rolled over an embankment - next time I didn't wave at the girls! Then I got in one of the new light tanks with hydromatic drive and it drove just like a car back in the states. I always wanted to drive one of those battle buggies and I made the grade. ' It is getting colder here now in a damp way that forecasts much snow in the not too distant future. I'm batallion sergeant of the guard again all of which makes me very happy - ya, ya. Look for me sometime in the middle of the winter for I'm coming home if I have to swim that ' darned ocean. Bye now Love ya Tex, Junior 1 October 24, 1945 1 Linz, Austria My dearest Kathe, I'm on guard again but I guess that is better than being under guard. They say every cloud has a ' silver lining--for an optimist. One o' these ornery sons of army mules with chickens on his shoulders and in his blood decided that yores truly didn't fit into the scheme of things in the Yankee Division. I think it's a new fangled idea called divide and decimate or something. Anyway, they transferred me, bag, baggage and 59 points over ' to this here animated tin can outfit. Heck, I wuz as proud as one of these Paris heroes with his bronze star for meritorious service. I looked at that there big gun on one of them tanks an I thought--"Brother, this is fur me--here's me a weapon big enough to blow a man's head out from between his ears an' leave 'em a wigglin", but then the big shoes ordered all of our tanks to be turned in. Wal, I'd never ridden one of them things before but I reckoned as how I'd fork her and let 'er buck. Everything was going all right after I'd swung her around a few times and got the feel of the reins so we headed down the road. I made the mistake of waving at a fraternizable fraulein and I'll be darned if I can figure what happened, but all of a sudden my tank veered to the right, just missed a tree, an' I was just able to haul her back in the road--boy, where there's soft shoulders for a car there just ain't no shoulders for a tank. Anyways, 1 looked back and I reckon that tree was purty scared cause it'd shaken off all of it's ' leaves. I guess if I'd a been Apollo, my fig leaf woulda been some messed up too. ' 135 I hope alla yore friends is okay an' ain't fallen fer any of them perfessor fellers. Allus did say too t much book larnin' didn't do no one no good, and I reckon them fellers is too all fired smart un worldly for any pore little freshmen gals. ' I shore wish I could import a little of thet Texas sunshine but efen they keep me here a mite longer I figure to have the situation licked. I guess about all a feller would have to do is eliminate the hula hula wiggle in the earth so that it is constantly under the sun. Me and Al--that's Einstein--are a workin' on it but I figure I'm gonna hafta get his hair cut to get the weight off his mind before we get it solved. you , see, he's still a messin' around with some theory about relativity an I figure we gotta leave relatives, especially mothers in law, out of it if we wanta succeed. I promised you in my last letter that I would write a somewhat detailed account of my travelings t around Europe and in so doing I will leave as much of the war out as is possible. It's quite a few kilometres from the beautiful hedgrowed fields of Normandy to the flat plains of the central Danube and a year of time, and more, and six countries have intervened but I was there and now I am here. t We sailed from the famous 42nd Street pier at the Port of New York on the 27th of August aboard the former Italian liner Saturnia and after a very unmomentious voyage over tranquil waters one morning found ourselves standing off the Port of Cherbourg with a glimpse of the towering hills covered with a , lattice work of hedgerows and apple orchards and matted with beautiful emerald green grass in the distance. The people, we found upon disembarking, were essentially the same as the peasant folk of de Mauppasant's short stories. They lived for life and required little. The kids were well fed and actually rosy cheeked. By that I do not mean just a light flush. They had the red of hard cider in their cheeks and even , a Southern gal using rouge couldn't bring about a blush to compare. We stayed in Normandy for a month with the ancient Norman churches and the myriads of bees resembling our yellow jackets which were everywhere and in everything. , When we moved out we went by way of St. Lo to Jontainebleau and camped for a day in the famous forest there. From there we went through Versailles and bypassed Paris. Moving into the Muerthe et Moselle valleys northeast of Nancy. The entire area is famous for its wines and there were many apples and pears in the Area. It was a rolling farmland with wine vineyards on the hills too steep to ' form and beautiful herds of Holstein cattle wandering amongst their own dead. we crossed the upper end of the saar near Saar Union with its coal and factories before pulling back to the fortress city of Metz and by describing it as a fortress city I am quite exact for everything is built around the forts, some old and , some new which completely circle the city. Possibly the most famous landmark is the Deustches Tor or German Tower dating from ancient days and a pride of the Germans, for many of the soldiers we killed in Lorraine had picture postcards of it. From there we went to Luxembourg and parked one night right beside a border marker on the ' Belgian Luxembourg border. Luxembourg is rugged and forested for nearly all of it is contained in the infamous Ardennes Foret. We saw the land in war but I think I am safe in saying that the standard of living in Luxembourg is the highest in Europe with, perhaps, the exception of Switzerland and that the ' average house in Luxembourg City would put many in America to shame. I saw little of Belgium with the exception of the compact little city of Arlon. After the snow of the Luxembourg hills, we moved Southeast to Germany in the ruined city of Saarlautern where dozens of people are still killed every week by mines. The area is industrial with much farming back from the river a ways. There I became ill with hepatitis (yellow jaundice) which I believe was a result of the terrible food and living conditions of the Bulge. I went back to a holding station at Boulay and then to Thionville where I caught a train to the station hospital at Commercy France. The month there was very pleasant and when I left I went to a replacement depot at Vaucouleurs, the birthplace of the famous madame DuBarry. I don't remember if she was supposed to have been pretty or not but I did not see a single pretty woman in that entire quaint old town. Close by was the village of Domremy where Jean d'Arc was born and raised. it is set like a jewel in green pasture lands on the banks of the lazy Meuse River and it takes very little day dreaming to see Joan still minding her sheep by the riverside. Back through Nancy and Metz and Thionville to Trier, Germany in the ageless 40 and 8s still carrying their little boxed in "40 hommes et 8 cheveaux" as a challenge to the endurance of 2 generations , of Americans. Trier was once a famed wine center and some very good champagne fermented in its dark cellars. Situated at the bend of the Moselle River as it swings to the Rhine and the sea, it was the supply , point for Von Runstedt's winter offensive and is mute testimony to the effectiveness of our radar equipped heavy bombers. From Trier I went down through the ruggedly beautiful hills of the Rhenish Palatinate to the Rhine at Bingen and along its bank to Mainz. I need hardly pause in saying that both cities are no more. The t 136 , worst I have ever seen and, except that the rubble is higher, would compare with the pictures of Hiroshima which you have seen. The castles on the Rhine are still there with now and then a gaping hole left by an observation post hunting tank. Future generations will but look back upon them as something more of interest in these ever aged towers to man's endless wars. ' We crossed the river at Mainz where it was 300 yds across-- it looked further-- and got on a Reichsautobahnen leading into Frankfurt-am-Main. The autobahnens are the same as our super highways and are developed into a very fine system of all concrete roads with beautiful architecture on the bridges. We followed this one into the province of Thuringia and stayed a while in the Thuringian forest. From there we went to the old city of Bayreuth where Wagner's home is and where the Wagnerian music festivals are held. I may be mistaken, but I think that the main building at the music park is burned down. I saw a beautiful building facing a huge fountain there in ruins. From Bayreuth we went to Cham and swung into the Danube valley at Deggendorf and I was much disgusted to find the Danube not blue but muddy as are all other large rivers. we more or less hugged the danube into the City of Passau at the junction of the Inns and the Danube and from there we ' went back to guard Corps at Grafenau, Germany where the war ended for us. Leaving Grafenau, we motored through the towering hills and passes of Czechoslovakia's disloyal Sudetenland and linked up with the russians near Budweis (Budejovice). That was quite a ' meeting with big Russians, slant eyed Russians and officers (one per soldier it seemed) running all over the area hollering "Tovarisch" and bringing out the vodka. After a while I became convinced that they ran around on vodka tike one of our cars runs on gasoline. Certainly, they did not have much to eat. nowhere was there organization and I got the feeling that this horde was unstoppable when food ran out ' in one area and that was why the Russian pushes came every 4 months or so. They were all like little kids and instead of a more peaceful way of celebrating they would shoot up a town with there submachine pistols, or yours, if they could borrow it. We finally got disentangled and back into the quiet Czech countryside. It was spring and they loaded us down with flowers as we moved into our little village of Vjesdec. The fields were full of new green shoots and when we left it was harvest time. To describe the proud, racialistic Czechs and there way of life would take a book, but I need hardly say that I came to love and respect them more than any ' nation which I visited. Many were the people who were up to see us off at 3 o'clock the night we left and later when I returned, I was unable to carry all the cookies they would have given me. Leaving Bohemia, we went back through Passau and swung up the flat Danube valley to the rail center of Regensburg. From there we took off across the rolling evergreen hills of northern Bavaria to Nuremburg and there we saw the Nuremburg Sportspalast where Hitler used to rant. The city itself is in ruins but before the war was famed as a center of toy manufacturing and wood craft of all types. Continuing on we went through Augsburg and Wurtemburg and ended up near Hammelburg about 30 ' miles east of Frankfurt. this was still the rolling evergreen hills of southern Germany and when we took off again to be Army of Occupation in Austria it was back over the route we had come to Passau and then into Austria. I woke up the next morning to see the Austrian Tyrol or Totesgeberge shining, all granite and snow,,in the morning skies. We were about 20 miles from Salzburg. A week later we went down country to the monastery town of Krimsmunster and there we stayed until I was transferred over here the other day. I found occasion to go to Hitler's retreat at Berchtesgaden and found the scenery up in there ' absolutely beautiful with towering mountains and green valleys with here and there a shimmering sapphire lake in a granite setting. For all of it's beauty though, I will take Gmunden on the Traun See with Mt. Traunstein soaring up from the lakeside. There at Ebensee, I went to the top of Mt. Feuerkogel on a cable car. I was much dissapointed for the top was wreathed in clouds and clouds resemble nothing but ' moving fog. The crazy Austrians were running around up there yodeling like fools and I felt darned silly walking around up there, too. I have also seen Grossman's See, St. wolfgang's see where King Leopold of the Belgians stayed and many of the other lesser lakes. Bad Ischl, the summer home of the old ' Austrian Emperors lies on the glacial stream above the Traun See and would resemble a glorified rambling town in the Allegehnies. My trip to Paris was something which I had been waiting for ever since I landed way back in September and when I finally took it, it was a little rugged with cold and rain. I spent quite a bit of time in ' Munich but did not get to go to the Munich beer hall where so much history was made. I saw Augsburg, Karlsruhe and crossed the Rhine at the French's beloved city of Strassburg. Paris is fast and Paris is money grabbing and Paris is overrated--and, well, Paris is Paris. With ' it's Arc d' Triomphe to an army which is no longer mighty and it's fashion centers which are no longer the best in the world, Paris and france, is living in a bygone age. My opinion of the french is of a race of weaklings and a terrible example of what the United States will be if we continue our high living, money 137 grabbing tactics and our internal squabbles. To use an expression which is old, the french couldn't fight , their way out of a paper bag before the war and they can't fight their way out now. Coming back in a plane, we could see way in the distance, the Swiss and French Alps and ' probably part of Italy. We spent the night in Salzburg after a ride from Munich in the snow. I have been in Salzburg a number of times but was unable to make it to the Salzburger Musikspiel or festival which as you probably know was famous all over the world. You also probably have read that Alois Lang, who plays Christ in ' the Oberramagau Passion Play, was a Nazi. When I take that trip home, I hope that it is the last long trip I ever make. I hope it doesn't take you as long to read this as it took me to write it. ' Now Miss Anthony, my problem is this. I am a displaced person and neither the war Department nor the VNNRA can help me. Do you have a pot bellied old senator on your date book or maybe just an old general? Moaning in the gloaming, always, Tex Leinweber (Editor's Note: This epistle was 26 pages long!) , {Written on 101St INFANTRY REGIMENT 26th (YANKEE) DIVISION letterhead} , Linz, Austria October 27, 45 Dear Folks, ' Just another day and I am charge of quarters for the night. There is too much work around here but I guess that it keeps a man from going stir crazy. I get guard about every third or fourth day. ' I went up to Kremsmunster the other day to see if I could get some wine for the company. I was armed with a slip authorizing the purchase for the Divisional supply office but when I arrived there, I was informed that it was impossible to buy any due to the fact that the new batallion commander deemed the supply in the cellars too low and wanted to save it for the men in the batallion occupying the area. I ' phoned Division and was informed that they were so very sorry but if they had known the supply was short they would never have given my officer the authorization slip. They further informed me that, though 1 had come more than thirty miles with a government two and a half ton truck, I still could not have the mere 55 litres ---quarts--- that I wanted. I tell you this just to show you how messed up this army is. ' There is no wonder that men in the States are getting out now with a disgraceful number of points while the men who fought and slugged it our here on the battle fronts are left with the bone that there are simply not enough ships to transport them home. , Our truck was stolen last night and as of yet we have been unable to track it down. Every night our service company has a vehicle stolen by some pleasure seeking GI but theirs are always found the next morning. I guess it will turn up in a few days. I hope that you are not too despondent over the loss of some of the stock as it appears in your , last two letters. I learned in the snows of Luxembourg that no matter how much you are called upon to go through, even though it may be beyond the limit of ordinary human indurance and weaker men crack through no fault of their own, life is sweet and you must be happy every minute of it if just in the , realization that this minute has come and you are still amongst the living. Although a person is broken and tired and it seems just impossible to force himself on for the next minute, the realization that any moment may be his last makes him realize just how much life with all its troubles is worth. How much? A few sheep or goats? A months pay? The married life that some give up so easily and that some will never have? Yes all this and more. How many are those who lie now neath the mud of Lorraine and the snow heavy branches of the Ardennes who would not give their all to once again have that thing called the breath of life? How many have I seen lying in their holes waving limbs in the air in the hope of being ' wounded and evacuated? Yes, despite everything, life is valued more than all of our material possesions in one. Please don't be angry with me for writing so for I know only too well what you are up against and I am only trying to tell you in my inadept way what I learned in the hardest school that any man is ever ' asked to attend. I love the two of you with every bit of my heart and soul and to have you so discouraged tears into me. If you are still downhearted when you get this go down and get John to show you the last letter ' which I wrote him. I doubt if he show it to so many people as he did the one before. Love always, Tex, Junior 138 1 (Ed. Note: Written on 10151 INFANTRY REGIMENT 26`h (YANKEE) DIVISION letterhead} Linz, Austria 1 Nov. 45 Dear Folks, ' Not much happening. I had guard the other day and was relieved early due to the fact that they decided to change their guard system. The old outfit pulled out for home on the 29`h and I sure did hate to see them go - of course most of the men in the unit had been transferred in from other units. This unit filled out its change of address cards yesterday and I was given my choice of seperation centers this morning and naturally chose Fort Sa Houston, y Y with this outfit, I will be all set. ' m Texas. Now if I can only maneuver to sta I saw the picture "The Story of G.I. Joe" (Ernie Pyle's book), and it came as close as any I have seen in the capturing of the feelings of the combat infantry on the line. It was a solemn bunch of men who walked out of that theatre, I can assure you. If you ever get a chance to see the film, see it! The critical score was just lowered and if I were in the States now I would stand within 1 point of a discharge. ' When I come home I'll look like a hero, even if I'm not, with two rows of ribbons, and a presidential unit citation, and the Croix de Guerre with 2 clusters which includes the furreget and two loops. ' Love ya, Tex, Junior ' Regensburg, Germany Nov 8, 45 ' Dear Folks, A few of us are on detached service from The Outfit guarding DP's (displaced persons) up here and back. I think I have told you about this place before but I'll tell you again. The city is on the upper Danube and is a very important rail center. It was the subject in the famous Regensburg-Schweinfurt air ' raid back in 43 which cost us so heavily in 4 engine bombers. The place was defended with terrific concentrations of flak for it was here that the majority of the produce of the entire Danube Delta, which includes most of all the Balkans, was unloaded from the river boats and loaded on freight cars for its trip ' to the German war effort. There is a fairly large cathedral in the town and it appears to be not seriously damaged. All of the old Yankee is cleared out of Austria now and my heart is a'pining for home more than ever. We'll be home someday though. ' It's raining a cold windy drizzle tonight here and there may be a snowfall soon. I sure hate to see that snow come for, as I have said before, I have a hatred for cold weather. The 83`d Infantry Division relieved the YD in Austria and many of the boys just set tight and transferred to the companies which relieved the YD. These were the boys with the points below 55. ' Hunting season - wish I could have made it. Love ya i Tex, Junior CoA 756 Tank Bn. ' Nov. 14, 45 Linz, Austria Dearest Kathe, I hope you can read German script or maybe you are a cryptologist, schatz. (Ed. note: the next bit is upside down and mirrored----of course you will figure this out in no time even if I did write it upside down.) The above being totally irrevelant, don't spend over a second or two on it, for I just thought I would relax your mind from your studies. Mail is probably an entirely new experience for you now. You have suddenly been weaned from the family life and your circle of lifelong friends, and your only contact is the mail box. Now'fess up - 1 'll ' bet you make at least two trips a day (I did) to the mail box. If I was in the States now,--if--I could be discharged and have 9 points to spare. Next March I will be 22--I should have been out of college by now and my field is already out-distanced and I have 139 forgotten most of it leaving me hanging ever so slightly in midair. The present era of rocket propulsion ' and atomic power was the future which I had pointed for in my schooling since I was 15, but I missed the boat by 3 years and now it seems too late to catch up. ' As I look out over the Danube there is a light cover of snow on the hills in the distance. As I told you once before, the Blue Danube is not BLUE. I am afraid that will sadly disillusion some of your girl friends. I remember how excited I was for 50 miles before we hit the Danube, and then when I saw that famous river at Deggendorf, it was a sluggish, muddy stream flowing between levees. ' Traun Gemunden See at the foot of the Totesgeberge is a truly blue lake though and the prettiest spot in Europe that I have seen. I would like to see the Isle of Capri but don't guess that I will. The Cot d'Or --spelling?--, as the Riviera is known in France, has little that I wish to see. ' There has been a slight wet snow intermittently since the beginning of last week. Some time later, in fact, very much later- --the 16th. I wasn't in the mood for letter writing the other day and when I am that way, you might just as well hit me over the head with something good and destructive for the amount of letter writing that I can do. I just got off of guard duty yesterday and I am , beginning to dread it the same as a 24 hour session with the dentist. Now I am duty noncom for the company so I have a little time to put my aimless thoughts on paper. Did you ever hear the expression to blow one's top used? That is exactly what I did the other ' morning when one of these kraut kids came and asked me if I wanted to buy some coal for my stove. I went to great lengths discussing his antecedents in German and then asked him where he got the coal in the first place seeing as how there is a serious shortage of coal in Austria at the moment. It turned out that he was trying to sell me our own coal off of one of our own trucks which was not yet unloaded. I'm ' getting baldheaded as you will be able to see in a few months and these little problems of life are most trying. We are scheduled to leave here on the 10th of next month but after all that has happened to us in , the past I am inclined to have just a few doubts. They came out with a new discharge system today which is a direct affirmation of the policy of the War Department and the people back home to forget the part played by the combat soldier in the winning of this war. The new system does not effect me as I have enough points or enough time in to get out in any circumstance if I can just get that boat home but the principle is what hurts. Every consideration should be given to the man who was at the front doing the actual fighting. Those civilians between 19 and 26 who were so essential in war industries during the war are no longer essential and can do a good job of occupation--at 50 dollars per. And those men who spent all of their time in noncombat duty while in the army can vert easily wait while the one man in eight ' from the front lines is out. I have been in all three categories and know which duty was the most precious. Don't mind me--I'm practicing to be a stump speaker when I get home. Are the sophomorons bothering you poor freshmen any? Theirs is just an educated ignorance. , Wait until you get to be a senior. You will think the world is your apple but the darned thing is rotten and you have really forgotten 90% of what they tried to teach you. Keep the home fires burning, I want to get scorched when I come back. Practically as ever, Tex Lienweber P.S. Cain't even write my own name. ' Linz, Austria ' Nov 17, 45 Dear Folks, I am terribly homesick today notwithstanding the fact that we have gotten official confirmation that , our date for leaving Austria and heading along the long path back has been set up from the 10`h of December to the 3rd. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for there are so many things that can happen to keep a fellow from making it. If everything goes all right though, we should be leaving here by the time ' that you get this letter. As I repeat in every letter there is absolutely nothing going on and we pull guard with the same old monotonous regularity. I am on CQ now which you probably pulled when you were in the army, Pete. Maybe you called it company duty noncom in your day. I am the flunky who runs all of the little errands , for the first sergeant for today. Today the sun shined after weeks of disheartening weather and although it went back behind the clouds again almost immediately, it helped our morale quite a bit. There has been quite a lot of damp ' snow in the last few weeks and a little has stuck. Soon it will be with us to stay for the winter and it is already on the tops of the taller hills even here along the Danube. The towering Tyrol to the southwest is already covered with snow. Thanksgiving is just around the corner and Christmas should be peeking through the snow on the , calendar soon afterwards. There is no hope that I can make it home by Christmas but we can sure have 140 ' a lot of fun in January just being together. I should be out of the Army within a month after I get home for I am eligible for discharge now and have 9 points to spare. We are scheduled to get one and one half t pounds of turkey for Thanksgiving and I think that I will take a pair of scales along and weigh mine and if I don't get enough, I will grab the first German PW I catch and cut his throat if he is eating turkey. They feed the prisoners who work in our kitchen better than they do us. ' The topkick just gave me some typing to do so I must close. The most useful course that I took in high school was my typing. Love yo, Tex, Junior ' P.S. Didn't get to mail this and it is now the 19`h and everything is okay. Ettlingen, Germany Dec 12, 45 Dear Folks, ' I have written two letters to you before this one and failed to send either due to moving but now I am uncertain as to what to do so I will send one ahead. I am with the 334th Regiment of the 84`h (Railsplitter) Division about 5 miles out of Karlsruhe, ' Germany near the Rhine. The 100`h Division was scheduled to leave out tomorrow for the port but their outfit was quarantined due to an outbreak of scabies and we were alerted to take their place but now they are back on the original date. That left us scheduled to leave around the 17th but now the 82nd Airborne gets ' priority over everyone even though they have many low pointers. They are to be Army Strategic Reserve in the States but I think someone has pull somewhere. Look for me when you see me. Love ya, Tex, Junior CoA 334th Inf ' Dec. 12, 45 Ettlingen, Germany ' Dear Kathe, The rolling stone isn't gathering much moss lately. (I bathe regularly). I rolled across Austria and Germany in a luxurious Army Pullman train, complete with a stove and straw on the floors. Of course it is a little uncomfortable to have somebody sleeping on top of you but I can assure you that it had all the ' modern 40 and 8 accommodations. As always when a part of as army moves there were the frauleins crying and there were probably a few temporarily broken hearts--certainly there wasn't anything else to break about the typical fraulein. We're all mixed up here. The entire battallion was absorbed into the 334th Regiment of the 84th Division. One day we're leaving tomorrow and then tomorrow is yesterday and we didn't leave yesterday but mahana maybe we go and today is the 12th and yesterday was the 11th and there are 12 more shopping days to Christmas and 19 more shipping days in December and O Lordy, we're so tired of ' waiting. We were supposed to replace the 100th Division which had been quarantined with scabies and then they came off quarantine and then we were to follow them but along comes the 82nd Airborne with a lot of low pointers and they get priority over everyone. ' You should be intensely happy that you aren't a boy and a soldier and if you ever even look crosseyed at a Regular army soldier or officer, your mama should tan your panties. I personally am going to find the deepest cave I can on the ranch and just hide there forever. (Maybe). ' I hope you got the Parisienne face powder--although I had no fancy Christmas paper and no sentiments enclosed. I had planned to have some flowers sent but that also went haywire so anyway Merry Christmas even though this will probably reach you after your return from vacation. As ever, Leinweber P.S. I'm not wacky--just slightly addled. CLL 141 CoA334th Inf t Dec. 21, 45 Ettlingen, Germany Dearest Kathe, Just finished cleaning up my room--I still think I'll make some woman a good husband. Don't look now but my mama said I shouldn't go out with strange women. That would leave me out for I am a ' disciple of Adam and consider all of them strange. A couple of us climbed about 3000 feet of mountain day before yesterday and searched all over tarnation for a good Christmas tree. We finally had to take a middling fair tree and now we have it fairly ' well decorated. Oh, well, Christmas is Christmas anywhere you are. It's just that you enjoy it more in some places than others. And yet there will be some in the States whose faces will be wreathed in smiles and in whose hearts there will be the feeling of hopelessness that only Father Time can erase by the coming of tomorrow. I have seen running brooks babbling and singing their little trills as they glide to the ' sea but sometimes I wonder when I feel low if sometimes the streams aren't sobbing sotly from having to leave the spring of their birth and grow larger and older day by day. I knew a soldier once--he would have been the life of a stag party back home--I reckon he was the life of the party up there last year, if you could call it a party. When we felt the lowest he would act the t most cheerful and, so help me, we couldn't tell if he was acting or not but one day we were alone in the Ardennes and he confided to me that he expected to be killed. I was happy as could be when he was wounded and evacuated a few days later. , I don't know whether the wolves or the wolverines are worse around here. I headed down the street last night and there were more strollingfrauleins than soldiers. This is a predatory world and I'll be darned if the nation isn't going to be a land of valkyries and the Wagnerian theme of women warriors and gotterdammerung will come true. There is nothing so lonely as a girl alone and there are about 3 girls per , civilian man in Germany which brings the girls to strolling in town at nights in search of companionship. I visit quite a lot in the German homes and try to build up friendship and understanding although these were the very indescribables who backed the Heinie soldier at the front. Sometimes they whip out ' the old saw of sechs jahres krieg (six years war) to explain away a lack of clothes or something. To this I always whip out the famous (or infamous) quotation of Hitler, "Give me 5 years and I guarantee that you will not know Deustchland." I have an awful time writing German although I can speak a basic German pretty well now. I can ' hardly carry on a one word conversation with the Poles now for my basic Slav is slipping from my mind. I guess that you will be heading for home tomorrow and I'll give you ten to one that right now you're so excited that you can't talk straight. , I'm going to have to get re-acquainted with my family, and especially my older brother whom I have seen only once in 32 years. i can remember that he was a big devil, blond stubborn, and now, at 23, as yet unmarried. My younger brother is no longer my little brother although I am a fraction under 6 feet, for he is taller than I. 1 should be in Fort Sam Houston for discharge on Jan 15th and I'm cming with , the 84th Division. Auf wiedersehen, schatzig. Leinweber P.S. to save trouble above--so long sweetheart) 142 ~ 1 9 4 6 h, w Iota ~/tr „ x i t X14^ T Tr~~r l," Ilk- 1; t S r i , iA A t x v S r qs r ANII - i. r ~ F _ a bi. I '4 I ggg Y r C 1 _ Clarence L. Leinweber, Jr. Jan 24, 46 Camp Fannin, Texas Dear Kathie, ' Been a long time since I wrote my last letter and there has been a lot of water under the ship oops-- the bridge! We took a flying (15mph) trip across France to what was the Port of Le Havre and put up at the modern hostelry known as Camp Phillip Morriss. It's equipped complete with air cooled tents and a lack of stoves. On top of that they gave us a flu shot just to make everyone happy. I'm broken of the cigarette habit even to the thought of them for I'll never forget that place. Well that wasn't so bad--but then we got on a ship called the Tufts Victory and headed out into the wintry Atlantic. The second night out we had 75 mile and hour gales. I lay on my bunk and every now and then "Tully" would lay over and moan like she was just as sick as I was which wasutterly impossible. I just lay there and thought "Oh, Mama! Where is your wandering boy tonight?" The next morning was more of the same and about the 3rd day I began to get my sea legs and be as ' contented as a victim on a "black ivory" trader. We had another big blow on the 7th day out and lost some of our life rafts--no doubt some one reported us sunk! This time I was all ready though and when meal time came repaired to the mess hall where a sumpuous (sic) repast awaited the hardy. I hung onto the railing and got my ' dry cereal, mild, etc. Then I was poured across the mess hall to a table, Setting my food down, I took my utensils out and reached for the spot where it had been but alas and alack there it was just sliding into position in front of the guy two places up the line! His, meantime, had hit the restraining ledge and cascaded over the guy at the next table. Each time mine came by, I managed to get a bite and finally got a partial meal. Then I ' started out of the mess hall and sat down on the usual spot but much harder and quicker than usual, allowing my mess gear the chance to fly up and drain it's scraps on me. I AM A LAND LUBBER! It took us eleven days and we sailed past the oldlady one night and left her standing there carrying her ' torch. She gave us a cold shoulder and a stony glance so I guess we're even. Course we just had to get to New York the day before the coldest day of the winter! Now I'll be a poor bewildered civilian tomorrow afternoon and I'm getting sunburned in January. Bewilderdly yours Mr. (well almost) Leinweber Post script (with emphasis on the post) I got so mixed up in a welcome home affair that I didn't get this mailed at all, so I'll add more. I have that little slip of paper and am sitting here in the dining room at the ranch. It doesn't look like much and it's gotten in pretty bad shape since both of us boys were gone but it's home. I had to ride buses all night to get home because a chuckleheaded gal at Fannin sold about ten of us tickets and failed to tell us that we caught our bus in Tyler. I hope she is not a representative of what the typical American girl is like today. To say I was browned off is putting it mild. That's all for now. As ever, Flywheel ' 3 Feb, 46 Mountain Home, Texas ' Dear Kathe, I feel something like the figure in the painting "The Man with the Hoe" and the description in the "Ode to the Man with the Hoe" would fit quite properly too. To put it mildly, I am TIRED. A year of the plush life of a non-commissioned officer in a peacetime army gave me muscles of butter and I'll bet my hands were as white and soft as the average girl's a week ago. The day of reckoning has come and am I working. I haven't had a date with an American girl in some- 22 years as yet and from the looks of the female situation around here, I won't. They all got married off or just disappeared and is there trouble! One little ranch gal married a durned furriner and being as how she is an only child, her parents are trying to teach him ranching. The last report I had, his horse went one way and he went t'a other and' I reckon he was jarred up some. Love is not a primrose path. ' I started this thing a couple of nights back but yesterday we had to attend the funeral of a great uncle and when day's work is done and supper is eaten, I only have an hour or so before supper (oops) bedtime. From the track my brain was following then, I would rather eat than sleep, wouldn't I? I had to ride with a gal from San Antone last night in my Grandmother's car. The only time she closed ' her mouth was when she was shaping b's and m's. you've read of perpetual motion with interest I know. Well, she started out with nothing in her head and ended up the same way. I detest scatter brained women--and admire smart ones. ' 143 Sure would like to see you--thinking of ways andmeans but can't seem to see my way clear until , spring. I put in about a 10 hour day now with just time off for meals from dawn to dark and the early spring work is just beginning. Today Dad (We call him Pete) and I trimmed live oak trees so the angora goats could eat the leaves , and corded the wood which sells at $3 a cord. That kept us busy until eleven o'clock. Then I cleared rocks from the area to the rear of the garden until dinner. Meantime my older brother Charles had fed cattle and other stock. (The younger brother, Don, is in town in school) at 1 o'clock Charles and I took some cattle to our ' Harbison pasture and we drove to the Harbison well (windmill) with Dad who picked us up in the pick-up truck. Then we chopped 25 cedar posts and brought them back to a fence we are building. Then I hauled more rocks and helped Mother set the supper table and tomorrow begins at six o'clock in the morning. One of my jaw teeth is coming apart in little peices (sic) and I am about scared silly for I have never in ' my life been to a dentist for treatment. Ah, woe! I feel no pain now, but--oh, doctor! I got the letter and pictures of all you other members of the Westminster dead-enders and I must say gal that you get better looking by the picture. (November letter). I do love girls in white wool sweaters and , then there was one of you and Elizabeth and Jeannie and you looking pretty as a picture even in a coat and cutting your eyes around like a kid who's just been in some mischief and weshes someone would find out. I'd forgotten that look in three years. Well I'm talking like an old bachelor in his second childhood so I better slow down to wolf speed. , I was busy and couldn't get to town so had Dad get you some candy but there is none here in the pretty heart shaped boxes. Had meant to send you a photo for Valentine's but coulrin'f find a to NJy Zo that must wait, As ever, Clarence Feb. 13, '46 Mountain Home, Texas Dear Kathe, Uh huh! Now I've got the tables turned on you. Used to be over there I couldn't ever get time to write ' because of other shall we say appointments and now I have lots of time and you are slaving over books (or, are ya?) Well anyway, to proceed, (am I in a rut) I am sitting at the table in this livable old shack we call home and scribbling ya some nothin's. 'Twas another hard day at the office, dear, but I have dishpan hands or ' something. Makes me feel good to get some hard muscle on again, too. The guy who said the army makes a man of you was just plain tetched or something. Speaking of being tetched, my older bud, Charles, is that way about a Yankee nurse from Connecticutt (crossed out) Conn. (am I slipping!) There is only two things standing twixt and tween. She doesn't want to live on a ranch and he doesn't want to leave. Who is weakening, I don't know. I think I'll go back to A. and M. in the fall and try to pick up where I left off. I have 4 years of free college coming and will probably use it. this government and all of its free giving of money it doesn't have , though has me pu_lenty worried. I had enough saved up to put me through but money won't be worth anything if this keeps up. $32.50 for an oldtime shoddy 12 buck suit which I can't find to buy anyway. Honestly, I hate to start a nudist colony most specially in the wintertime but that's the bare facts. ' Anyway, IF I can get clothes and can get a spare day or two or three and if I can persuade my mother that she should visit her aunt in Weatherford so I can bring the car I'll see ya sometime soon. I sho' would like to see ya honey chile and I will if I have to hitch hike. I put in all of the above explanations as precautions learned as a boy here on the ranch when it cost a buck for gasoline to town and any number of things including ' stock buyers and mud could louse up a 40 mile trip for a date. Life for a teenager on a ranch is hectic. I keep wandering from the subject but you know unless you retouched some photos are something the years have sure treated you beautifully. Incidentally, it has been near three years instead of two since I saw you--remember? Summer of 43. Are you going to spend a hot summer in school are do you have other plans? Just checking up you know. Your Clarence. 1 144 March 2, 46 Mountain Home ' Dear Kathe, Hyar comes one comes right atcha. I just love to use ungrammattical grammar, don't you. Reminds me of a Harvard grad I had as an English prof in Boston. He tried to teach me Yankee and I tried to speak Texan. He wouldn't compromise and I didn't care and he gave me A's on my themes and B's on my grammar. Irrelevant, huh? Okay, we'll try a new tack- Waxing poetic, this is the time of the year that I love most out here in the Hill Country. The trees are just beginning to tinge with green and all the little animals are being born and birds are fust beginning to think of feathering their nests. The wasps come down out of the attic and get in Pete's (Dad's) bed-- The folks (Mother and Dad) are gone to town today and we're on our own. I cooked dinner with the ' exception of biscuits which Charles cooked and I threw together some cookies for I have an inveterate sweet tooth. Don being out from town for the weekend, we threw him on KP and the majority were happy. I haven't been to town in a couple of weeks but think I shall go to San Antone Monday and see what I can do about some clothes. My sole town clothes are still a set of khakis. ' I expect to be in uniform again shortly and I'm dead serious for we are rushing headlong for a war with Russia if not with Russia's misguided fools in this country. No country can enter a war with all the losses of equipment and manpower and call the high wages earned by the bloodsuckers, prosperity. It is a false ' prosperity and if this country don't wake up we will find that communism is totalitarianism. I, myself, have absolutely no inhibitions about killing a rabble rouser in cold blood and if this country is communized the ranch people will have to be exterminated for for every commissar who appears in this country around here there will be bullets. ' I haven't been able to ride my little pony yet for I had an outbreak of imtitigo which I apparently caught in one of the camps while I was being discharged and I had to eat off the mantel so to speak. Can't think of much else except an old joke you've probably heard--In the spring a young man's heart turns to what a girl has been thinking of all year. you know--torrid days and torrid ways. Bye now and more ' later, Your Leinweber ' April 3, 46 Mountain Home Dear Kathe, ' I keep watching the mail box but there hasn't been a letter from you since the pony express stopped running. Gosh--even if you lost your right hand in a clothing closet accident (someone else's closet), you could still scribble baby style with your left hand. Perhaps a pointed suggestion to cease corresponding is being overlooked but somehow I feel that some other reason has caused the stoppage of figures of speech. Ranching has no union hours in the early spring and the parents both were in critical condition from overwork when my brother and I returned home. Two months and 15 pounds have only made a dent in three ' years of back work. Perhaps my reasons for delaying a visit were mistaken for excuses. I am very sorry if they were. Clarence ' April 13, 46 Mountain Home Dear Kathe, Don brought your letter in from the mailbox Friday and I was certainly happy to recieve it. In fact the livability around here has gone up several points. ' Dad has been pretty sick lately and we have been very worried about him. Seems (according to the sawbones) that he is suffering from exhaustion and worry. Probably just a nervous let down after the years of work and strain. He was running 102 degrees if fever for a few days but now he is a few degrees below normal. We here have been working with the sheep and marking the lambs. There is more blood and gore now than I have seen in a number of days. ' 145 We had a big dinner last night with my grandmother and great aunt and 2 or three cousins. My mother said grace and thanked the Lord for those of us there who were alive. She got pretty peeved when we laughed at the phrasing of the blessing. While I was reading your letter I couldn't figure what "procrastinate" meant and somehow got it mixed ' up with "prevaricate" and knew that didn't fit. Gosh, lady, don't use them thar big words on me-- I'm just a country boy at mind. Had planned on coming up the week after Easter and now things look unsettled with the old man sick. ' You see what I mean about uncertain conditions on a ranch. It is certainly no life for young people or old people either. Just people in between with strong backs. You must feel pretty proud and happy to be singing a solo in your freshman year. I still regret it so much that you were ill at the time you were to sing for the Cowboy Camp Meeting. People come from all over ' Texas to that. All the best, Clarence May 9, 1946 , Mountain Home Dear Kathe, ' Couldn't find time so I finally decided to make time for a visit up your direction. I've been working so much and having so little fun here that a sleepy old bear in his den wouldn't compare "Cr Orcuchincos. I know that you are so tied up with dates and exams and stuff that you probably haven't got time but do , you reckon you could get me a date for the weekend of the 18th and 19th. The gal should be a brunette with a nice voice and in the freshman class. I loathe sophomorons (PS later - very undiplomatic- you will be one next year--then I change my mind!) Seriously though if you aren't tied up with final activities let me know im mejutly such stuff as dorm , name, etc. I would leave here early Saturday morning and arrive there in the afternoon. As I remember the joint, there is little or less to do--2 movies and a bowling alley. You know the ground so you will have to draw plans, , with the exception (please!) of a dinner with all your pals. I went to Tessie Wonce and the girl made up a special table with ten of her special friends and I was the only guy in the joint with some 1000 girls. Bull in a china shop? Well, maybe, but I thought it was more like a worm in a botanical garden. I don't know where you go swimming if you are allowed to but we might have an afternoon with the , chiggers and ants, if you like, Sunday. I'll have the car so it will afford as many as 3 extra couples. 'Course, as I said, you plan it. Anything goes except above banquet and dancing which I cannot. If this doesn't fit in with your plans let me know posthaste and I will change plans until you return to , Houston. We're building a 25,000 gallon water tank at a new well we have in another pasture. Sure is a job. Think we can qualify as bona fide members of the WPA pick and shovel breakers society. We went to see one of our neighbors down the road about 20 miles the other night. The daughter and only child has just given birth to a heir. She used to be the scrawny little pigtail specialist on "Ain't love g-a-r-r- and" when I was on my first dates. Time marches on!!! Her father had just turned a pickup over and scattered hound dogs all over the Guadalupe Valley. Maybe grandparenthood is worse than the first hand experience. ' I saw Rev and Mrs. Cunningham in town the other night at a church social. Sure was nice although we didn't get time to talk very much. No wonder Jeannie is waiting for her house. In this time of housing shortage a new home should make Jeannie's devastating dimples just dimple. (No word of expression.) I'll be waiting at the highway by the mailbox for your reply. Your Clarence R.S.V.P. but quick! May 24, 1946 Mountain Home Dear Kathe, I rather expected that the date which I had picked would not work out due to the fact that it was so ' near the end of the school year but it was the only one I could pick and then at the expense of family objections. we'll have to wait and see what works out at a later date. Most certainly I didn't want you to break any previous dates because that is certainly bad for the popularity of the girl concerned. Most boys would write finis to the acquaintance as for as dates go when a girl breaks a date to go with another. 146 ' I can't possibly come up the 1st of June as that is in the middle of our sheep shearing period in which a third of our annual income is tied up. We may start on the 25th if the spear grass starts shedding or on the 1st if not but I'll be working--Sundays included--on the 1st. Maybe later "things'I jes nachally gravtate" as the darkies say. Must run and load sand now for we are working on this tank today and must get it finished in the next week. Today is Sunday and we are pretty tired here for we were on a 450 mile business jaunt yesterday that began at four o'clock in the morning yesterday and ended at 2 this morning. One thing nice about this place, a person has plenty of privacy. I have a beautiful suntan or perhaps char is the word for I do much of my work in gym shorts. Again I scribble that it is too bad things didn't work out for the past weekend but I hope that our paths will cross in the near future, Clarence P.S. I withheld this letter from the mail until today (Friday) in the hope that something would turn up which would allow me to come up but the situation is unchanged. CLL PPS. Tell Jeannie that I haven't time to get a graduation present there so I will present it upon her return to Kerrville. also CLL i June 11, 46 Mountain Home Dear Kathe, I went by to see Jeannie the other day and we spent a couple of very pleasant hours just a'making chin music. I think we discussed anything and everybody. More skeletons rattled in powder closets and reputations were callously tossed about. I'm a telling ya we had a regular hen Pest. I got your letter the other day and seems that about all I got out of the deal was a backache. I must have missed a wonderful time. I most certainly would have brought you back to Kerrville--in fact I would have arranged for a fanfare of trumpets and a police escort even if I had had to go 90 per to pick them up. I spent that time saving about $12 per day in shearring costs and untold losses due to shearing cuts in the sheep it probably wasn't worth it, as I look back now. Every night I would come in and rub some horse and mule linement on my back. The Army was never ' like that! We said, "Oh, my aching back" but we were only joking. Jeannie seemed to be pretty sure that you were coming up for a visit yesterday and I've been on pins and needles ever since just a'hopin'. I shall go to the mailbox tonight and see if'tis so. I shall mail this then to the Cunningham residence and knock off work early on Thursday and hie myself off to town. Otherwise if ' there is no word in the mailbox this will come to Houston for reading. Sure hope youcan take a vacation but then you may have to build up a supply of moola for next year. I paid my way through my year at Aggieland and now have a 4 year scholarship paid up. (Guess how!) ' I hear the pickup truck coming which means that yours truly must be on his way to the sweatshop and earn his salt. Your Flywheel PS. (written at mailbox) apparently Jeannie was hoping and not knowing--in fact she did say that they were kind'a looking for you. We hayed while the sun shined today--am I tired! ' I hope 5218 Chenervert is right for I can't remember if that number is your college or home number. CLL June 15, 1946 Mountain Home Dear Kathe, Today is a regular day I reckon but as I sat on the lawn a little while ago I couldn't help but grow a little nostalgic as I watched that beautiful summer moon rise above the hills down the hollow. The whip-poor-wills are calling and the katydids are a' chirping, but what Katy did and why poor @ill should be whipped is a matter of conjecture. I was just thinking that if you had come up we could have been watching it together. It has been many a moon you know. there were harvest moons and cold winter moons and some were moons of death and ' some of joy but no matter what man contrives the moon comes and goes looking serenely down upon everything. Don't you feel like you need just a little vacation including the next full moon. I repeat--it's been an awful longing time. 147 You know we have a pair of cats here to keep the place free of rats and it is, too, but in doing so, we get fleas. Then we declare war on the fleas and what a war! The fleas try to divide and conquer--at least we feel that way when one parts our skin. When they get too bad we just sit back and say, "Let uspray". Charles is going to town tomorrow to take a load of wool and I am going along for the ride for it gets ' pretty lonesome out here. It seems queer with all the peace of the wide spaces here in God's own cathedral that a person would go "stir-crazy" without mixing in the world's troubles. When I was in Czechoslovakia, I used to show the people there your picture (as soldiers will the world , over) and tell them how many kilometres you lived from me. They were amazed for only a few of them make a trip that far in a lifetime but to me there it seemed such a short way when I was an ocean away but now--it seems far to me, too. I'm waiting developments now and if you don't come up this way, I'll be down to see you in a month-again more or less than. Your Clarence ' July 1, 1946 ' Mountain Home Dear Kathe, I got your letter last night and it was very welcome. I had a manuscript ready to send to you and have decided to censor most of it. It's very seldom that I do that--generally a letter is perused for writing errors and then sent regardless of content written on the spur of the moment. I reckon though that letters are serious things and can easily be taken the wrong way with no explanations possible. My brother is a wolf in a trap - engaged- but I think he is on a letter for letter basis-"you write me and I'll write you and if you don't I'll pile up on the bed and cry and maybe tomorrow or the next day-or the next-a letter will come and if it doesn't-my pride-and stuff.' You know the old story. I think their evgagement is headed for a return of the rock. Dad and I were clearing some land the other day and I happened to disturb a cicada. Said bug sounded just like a rattlesnake to this non acrobatic individual and I managed to do a 2 way split 4 feet off the ground waving a double edgedaxe in one hand and uttering a strangled war whoop. , I wish you could have come up here. I'm sure it would have been good for my health. Since you can't though I desire very much to come down there. All of the essential jobs are over now and I can come one time as good as another. Since you work nights except Saturday and Sunday that would be best. Its your city and I don't know what goes on there so you name the date and we'll have a visit. Let me know at least a week in ' advance of plans. Mother and Dad and I went to San Antone day before yesterday to sell a load of cattle. We made $100 over what was offered here at the ranch so the trip was very profitable. There was a girl second cousin of mine there at my aunt's house. She is a sophomore (next year) at T.U. and an outrageous flirt. when I was , at A. and M. we used to correspond until she persisted in including mail from all her bobby sox friends. Yesterday we three boys went to town and messed around. Nothing interesting going on. Shorts are up, midriffs are bare and morals are down. , Explanations are due on the mess this (or any of my letters) is in. A radio program going full blast in one ear and out the other--finding nothing and losing nothing. You are complaining or rejoicing on your girlish figure--my comment quote, "Too much avoirdupois, L'amour do pause", unquote. Neither an awful armful or a skinny ninny is too popular as far as dates go. Me, I like that posed by Hurley of Hollywood effect which you achieved on the back steps of your dorm. (One of the snaps you sent). I have been trying to buy a camera but when I get one it will be a cheap one. That's all they sell and I can't even find one of them now. ' You lift your finger and beckon and I'll be there. As always, Clarence July 9, 46 Mountain Home Dear Kathe, ' I'm getting plastered every day! What a life. I got your letter last night and I will get there or bust.-- Incidentally taking one thing at a time, I had better explain that plaster statement before proceeding further. We are still working on that water tank, seems like a life work, doesn't it! Dish pan hands? but definitely. (Isn't it fun to murder the King's English? --ooh teacher! my punctuation). My grandmother took us all to the rodeo , on the 4th and we had quite a time. 148 ' MY grandmother went up for an airplane ride (she's about 75) and immediately upon landing wanted to trade her horse and saddle in on an airplane. My father's two sisters and my cousins Jean (the blond 16 year ' old with ravishing dimples) and Bud Priddy all went up for the first time. Charles then went up with the pilot, a friend of ours, who joined the RCAF in 1940 and they pulled a long Chinese takeoff (one wheel). The women raised the roof. ' Saturday, Dad, Don, and I took Aunt Tillie and Jean Ellen and Bud home to Camp Wood and we fished most of the night without catching anything. We went swimming too and Jean nearly drowned me as well as knocking off half my shin skin on a ledge. I have a round scar about the size of a bullet hole on my leg caused by an over ambitious heat treatment while I was running track at Aggieland. Jean asked me what ' caused it and I told her that was where I had been shot. "Ummm", she said, and then "Did you REALLY?" I laughed myself sick on that one. We came back Sunday afternoon and Charles and I immediately went to town on the invitation of Mrs. ' Cunningham to a little young people's get together. Bob and Liz were there but Jean is in El Paso. I kipt looking around just expecting to see you walk in with Pat any moment with those flowered "mother and daughter" dresses. Remember? All of the young people there this year are Austin College students. ' Now, as to the visit. I will probably go to town tommorrow and telegraph about the tickets for the mail situation here (as I have oft said) stinks. I reckon I shall come by bus and train for I distrust my driving in Houston and taxis and buses and drive yourself should take care of any situation. Like you, I can hardly wait-- the months have sure slid by since I got back and it seems like things have been a series of ifs, ands, buts, becauses, and maybes. Seems like hard luck has been dogging my social tracks so if I sprain a little finger or something between now and then don't be surprised. Your Clarence WESTERN UNION July 10, 1946 ' Kerrville, Texas Can do purchase Saturday night tickets letter follows wireless kisses=Clarence. July 16, 1946 Mountain Home My dearest, It has been thirty seven hours and forty minutes since I saw you except for my dreams--night and day. there are so many things I should have told you while I was there and things which even now I can only dream ' about. I had developed a frustration complex since I got back due to the perhaps exaggerated sense of duty which kept me pinned to the ranch for those five long months. Remember how you told me my heart was pounding the other night as I held you close. It is pounding even so now as I write this. I wish that I could have spoken of the emotions which I felt (and feel now) during ' the past weekend but as I told you, I have four long years of study and work before me and no salary. Just to ,be near you on every possible occasion must suffice for now. I missed my bus the other night and didn't get any sleep until last night but the sleeplessness was ' negligible compared tot he precious moments which it purchased. May I enter my plea again that you come to Kerrville if any possible chance arises. I feel so keenly that it seems queer that I do not invite you to my home for a visit but, Chatter, as I said, the acommodations are not up to par. I shall be at Denton as many weekends as I can afford, I can assure you and I would like to ' request a standing date for one of the football games with either TCU or SMU--whichever is the Corps trip. To thank you for the hospitality of your home is something which I will show in another way. I had a most wonderful time. It was probably embarassing for me to want to defray at least partially the cost of the ' show tickets but, Kathe, I can't ever impose myself upon people. Maybe it is a failing but it's something I've been taught from childhood. Each day is a day nearer. I love you, Clarence ' 149 July 30, 1946 1 Mountain Home (forwarded to Westminster Encampment c/o Jean Cunningham) ' Dearest Kathe, Folks around here are saying every now and then that some feller named Einstein (that's "one beer" in German) has advanced a theory of relativity. Now I don't know much about it but I reckon I'll advance one of ' my own and say that the worst thing about relativity is that there's too derned many of 'em. You see we had a big get together of the Divide section of the family las night. There are three sisters- in-law here whose families pretty well populate this section on the country. One is my cowgirl grandmother ' and the others are my great aunts. There were brothers and sisters and mothers and fathers and first, second, and third degree warts--oops--I meant cousins! There were Baptists and Methodists and Presbyterians (mostly) and a Catholic and an atheist or two, Democrats and Republicans and a Communist. In short there were in-laws and out-laws and just plain varmints. , I'm so tired this Sunday morning that I could crawl right back in bed. I love kids and kids love me but I was carrying one or two or three or four around all night long--just hanging on like those Houston mosquitoes. There are so many things which I have thought about since I visited you that I would like to tell and ask ' you that I can't hardly wait to see you again. I was in town last Sunday and had a talk with Reverend and Mrs. Cunningham. They told me about Jeannie and Paul and it seems too bad to me. From all that I have heard, Jeannie is pretty well broken up over it. It's just something which she will have to work out for herself. Bob had gone to drive Liz and her ' mother back to Taft so I guess the old faithfuls are still happy. Mrs. Cunningham said they might be married when Liz graduates. It is quite a problem that most of the young college people face today with the girls two or three years ahead of the boys and ready to marry while the boyfriends have to finish their college yet. ' This is the second time you have threatened to come up to Kerrville (your last letter) and each time I wear the road out to the mail box. I'm going to send you a telepathic spanking if you don't make good on some of your threats of coming. It just plumb ruins my working ability everytime for I daydream at work and then when your plans fall through I mope for days. ' I have talked of you to my parents so much that I feel that you are acquainted and I certainly want you to meet them and see the old homestead and if you care to ride, I'll guarentee you that I can give you a sore time. All the young bucks around here are dating for the Camp Meeting and I was just hoping that you would come when your mother comes--if she does. I love you, Clarence No date ' Mountain Home Dearest Kathe, ' Today's lecture is on the yaller jacket an' thar ain't no more ornery critter. I wuz a'choppin' out in the home pasture this afternoon and one jus' kep a'botherin' mean' finally he got caught twixt my arm an' my ribs an' I went sky high. Now I reckon the moral of the story is, 'don't dtust nobody whut keeps persterin' ya despite repeated brushoffs. Ya better sqush him afore ya get stung. ' I swar it's so hot here now that I run around like an old potlicker hound with my tongue hangin' out. The thermometer read 105 in the shade yesterday and today wasn't no better. I suppose I had better cease and desist with the half hearted vernacular before I ruin my letter entirely. I sent one to town today which I wrote Sunday, so I'll start another to take some of the thoughts off my mind. I ' believe a lot in telepathy so you must be thinking of me for I'm continually losing track of my work for that reason. 'No letter yesterday, dear' to paraphrase a song so I guess Jeannie isn't home. Ah well, I'm still ' counting on your mother coming to the conference on the ninth and, if she comes, that you will come with her. That's two strikes against us already, isn't it? I can't help remembering the beautiful way your voice rang out in church that Sunday. Made me feel (like the old feller says) just like I was wearing a big, flower in my buttonhole. It's grand but I liked it best when ' I woke you with the phone call and it broke on the low notes from sleep grogginess. Just another memory I have. Can't seem to figure how I forgot that you were a lefty though and for some reason plumb forgot to notice if you kissed left handed. I wonder why? ' I had better quit that rambling before you throw the letter and me both in the trash can. 150 ' l ' Well, I quit writing last night and this is today if you know what I mean. I robbed a pair of bee trees this morning and it was sure hard work. I had a mask and gloves but the bees didn't bother me on the first tree. ' The second one was quite something else again. 1 sawed the tree in a couple of places and then started to split out and the minute that hole was opened there were bees all over me. I walked off and they followed me a hundred yards just trying to show me how much they hated me for busting up their happy home. I had Charles check my covering and started back for the tree. One was sitting in the hole and he took off like a screaming meem ie--wheeeee-eeee-OOOH --and made a one point crash against the net just in front of my eyes. (PS. They stung twice through heavy clothing) Did you ever taste wild honey fresh in the comb? There are so many of the wild carefree things of my ' life which you would enjoy. Yours to take, Clarence PS yes, this is yet another day, Thursday to be prezact. Not according to Hoyle or Webster, either ' August 2, 1946 Wednesday Mountain Home ' My dearest, I just have time to dash you a note and get it off by my uncle. Got your letter today and I guess you got mine likewise. I'll try to deal with news an stuff in my next Pony Express job. These are the pics and they only show to go ya. I got two sheets and may get more (I sincerely hope!) ' Jeannie is thinking of playing nursemaid to some kids up on the river. This is to serve the purpose of a filler in between meals of larger more tasty morsels of gossip. Nearly all my love an that's no gossip, Clarence ' August 26, 1946 Wednesday Mountain Home ' My dearest, Today has been every bit of twenty four hours long and the fact that the folks took the car to town did not help me one bit. From what you had told me I presume that you are gong back Houston way today. Thus the reality is forced to the background and the dreams wander in from behind the curtains to take up their incessant parade of memories and glorified pageantry of future. I've been thinking along the lines of that NTSC-A&M game and will inquire into the situation more ' when I arrive at Aggieland. Yesterday and the day before were hard days and we just about cleaned up the goats in this pasture. I don't know who took the worst licking. We got the hair off the goats and they removed the youthful apringiness from our backs leaving us bent and broken old men. That sounds terrible, doesn't it? Don't worry ' though. I am still as swainful a youth as was ever besmeared with 'Batchelor's Carnation'--or was it 'coronation'? You spoiled Mother. She was so delighted with the way you fixed her hair that se wanted a permanent ' appointment! Can't forget that veiled beauty trick you pulled in the restaurant. I fain would honor you with the position of wife number one in my budding harem. Remind me to have my agents contact your father as to the price in cents or hush-hush beef (Price Ceilings again, ya know). I never did find my razor blades. I believe one of you must have swiped them to further the disillusion of hairless legs! oh, the poor disillusioned male!!! I had better stop for a while before I scald myself with the hot water ' Thursday night--- Chatter, I am so worried that I can hardly think straight. Mother came back from town and told me of seeing you there and that you were having trouble with your mouth. It sounded terribly like gingevitis or trench mouth which I had during the war and which the doctors told me was cured a long time ago. ' Please let me know immediately for I am quite worried about it and feel sure that whatever you have was contracted from me. Chatter, you should have accepted Mother's offer as a gift from me if the bills for medicine ran your finances low. ' 151 I'm blundering around in my own inimitable way and I guess I'll put my foot in it before I'm through, but ' what I'm trying to say, sweetheart, is that unknowingly I may have given you what you have. whether or no--all day I have felt like I was dropping pans of peach cobbler. That's how worried I am. ' Well, my darling bother, Charles, ran off to town today (Sunday) while I was at the Harbison place and I didn't get this letter mailed so I reckon I'll have to make a special trip to the mailbox tomorrow to try and aim this Cupid's arrow at your heart. We are nearly through with shearing and I must get to town some time this week. I will see how the t pictures turned out then. I miss you so much Chatter that it seems like there is no way to express it. Everytime the urge gets too strong I run and write a note in this diary. If each little word could but express my love, my sense of loneliness when not with you; then I would be satisfied but as ever I can not be satisfied with what my pen writes. It can only write as the hand that guides it and not in the erratic way that my heart would guide it. I love you, Clarence August 31, 1946 Mountain Home ' My Darling, We finally settled the problem of whether today is Thursday or Friday--it being Thursday. It has been showering off and on for the last two days with the volume of a perfume atomizer. All this , hasn't bothered the goats yet but keeps us in a constant state of anxiety for fear that they will get an overdose of rain. We (Pete and 1) walked until 8:30 tonight trying to find 7 goats which are out but without success. The folks lost 200 last fall and at 5 to 6 dollars a whack that ain't hay. ' Of course you have the pictures by now with some of my very ill-timed spot impressions of mugs and mugging. I wish that one of Jeannie rolling the cigarette were a little plainer. You tell Ann she had better stay out of the dirty clothes or she will be another Dorothy Thompson or Louella Parsons-just dragging out the dirt. , Saturday--Mother and Dad are going to town to take the mohair today, although it is still drizzling, so I will put a finis to this letter. Before I forget--after the 8th, write me at General Delivery in College Station until you get my box ' number. You mentioned something about my mother being worried when ou last saw her and wondered what the reason was. To make it short and to the point; there is an overstrong family bond here which was greatly strengthened by the dangers which I underwent overseas. Now that the two of us have returned safe to the ' fold this has developed into what might be called possessive jealousy, a subconscious tendency to try mentally to return us to the protection needing status of children. There is also, on my part, an extreme lack of patience which is probably deplorable, but I do like to t choose what clothes I wear; to wear what I want when I want; to cease being referred to in public as the child, etc. I won't necessarily be a Communist because I go back to college and I should be able to formulate ideas of my own without having them censored. Darling, I love my parents very deeply but I have found no painless formula for letting them know that I , consider myself able to make my own decisions. Weaning, whether from breast or from home is the more painful to both parties in direct proportion to the affection of the parties concerned- and it hurts both equally. You asked and I answered as nearly as I can rationalize the problem in my own mind. There are many, many places where I fail to measure up and my mother can probably tell you more than anyone. These ' faults I do not defend but must continually wage war against. I love you, Chatter and to me that is most important of all. that I love you must be sufficient for now. That, as I understood it, was a tacit agreement. Love, Clarence Sept. 2, 46 Mountain Home ' Hello, Darling, I'm talking your way again, bringing you the latest nothings from my life. I leave for A&M next Sunday ' and I guess we will cross paths 'twixt and 'tween here and there. Sure wish I could see you now--as when don't I? Back to Aggieland--the new fish are leaving today so the professors can get a head start of a week over the disturbing and deteriorating influence of those naughty old upperclassmen. I hear they have ex- 152 ' servicemen completely isolated like lepers or something. They would be just too much for those simple unworldly kids. Also I hear that Walton Hall and the field Artillery Promenade where some of our proudest traditions were exercised is aflutter with diapers! I bet they have a maternity ward in the hospital!! It will certainly be very disconcerting to walk out of the big Sbisa Mess Hall, calmly wiping the cream off our whiskers and ' chewing on a cigar as we wait for friend 'fish' to bring our mail back from the North Gate Post Office, only to have such a view materialize in front of our erstwhile Aggie faces! I saw in the paper where A&M and Rice are going to have the best teams in the conference--anyway the writer says that. I'm afraid to inquire into the possibilities of your seeing that NTSC game because you ' might take pity on the mangled remains of one of your players and develop an affair. Our bees swarmed this morning and tiger kitty went out to where they were hanging on a limb. He proceeded to swat the swaying mass to see what made it hum, I guess. I last saw him strolling away from ' there and as he strolled he would lift a paw and daintily shake it as if he were walking across a field of molasses. I have seen cows act approximately the same way as they reached to shake hands over a milk bucket. You talked a lot of Lou in your letter which I recieved last night. As I remember she was the youngest ' of the suite mates, was she not? Incidentally, Jeannie is in a rather bad condition. Don't intimate to her that I wrote you about it but yesterday Mother saw her in town and Jeannie had lasted only two days with the brats she was to mind. The Doc said she was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. She made some irrational statement to Mother about considering herself to be a failure at everything she undertook--love, jobs, etc. Maybe Paul had his reasons but he seems to need a good horsewhipping for what he did to that girl! Charles is going to town this afternoon so that will give me an oportunity to wing this to you. It also may occupy Jeannie's time. That philandering brother of mine is about to fall in love for the umpteenth time. Some poor gal is going to get him to the altar some day! Incidentally, I have to beat Pete to the mailbox practically to get those letters without the Jr. on them. ' That's all the nonsense for now. I'm listening to the first football game of the season, now. Seems early, doesn't it? I love you, Clarence ' Tuesday, Sept 3, 46 Mountain Home My Darling, ' Thunder showers, the man said! He should have had his head examined; preferably with a sledgehammer for a scalpel. I took the entire inch and a half and my little charges did the same. I didn't lose any though. They knew where the shed was but still they didn't come in so I discussed their antecedents with them and even discussed their present condition and consigned them to the future. I guess if they had known what my slangry words were all about they would have had both ears sticking straight out and shining a burning red. Fully 2, and maybe : of the work on an Edward's plateau ranch is due to the Angora goat--all the expensive net fences, and sheds, and the baby like care that must be given after shearing. Chatter, there was one old fellow out here who finally got tired of trying to raise them and kicked the last one's retreating territory on the truck. Turning aside, he told a crony quite emphatically, "Goats, the lousy, little white . If another one sets foot on my place, , he'll do it a 'runnin'! My grandfather and uncle are up today sawing wood. They were quite surprised to find the ground so wet as it had not rained in Kerrville. I reckon that's all the news until today, schatzie, and as the folks (Grandpa and Unk) are going to town ' I shall mail it. It's been 16 days now since I saw you a half month, 1/1680 part of the four score and ten! Darling, sometimes think of that piece of me which is planted in your heart--grafted and sealed with a kiss. Sweet ' nothings are not in my line for I like to write sweet somethings but the days are just as long for me as they were ever for Keats. When I sometimes fret at the seeming waste of time I needs must stop and realize that each day is not one more apart but one more nearer the day when we shall be together. I love you, Clarence ' 153 Sept. 5, 1946 t Mountain Home My dearest Chatter, t Well, Darling, I am going to town tomorrow to complete my arrangements for my return to Aggieland. I'm telling ya, I'm expecting that old infantry Band to be drawn up in front of the Aggieland Inn playing "Hail the Conquering Hero". ' That was a rhetorical wonder which I recieved last night. I had more fun reading it than I've had since a delayed action firecracker got in my old maiden school teacher's desk. I know just what you are going through in your packing. Mine is all over the bed, also. I know that I ' will have to shoo Mother off before I finish packing for I must have my stuff just where I can put my hands on it. Mr. Cunningham says he wishes Bob would marry and settle down. Seems the prodigal Bob went to Taft to the wedding and forgot to come home. Jeannie says Ann Paice went too, and Liz might have gotten worried and either hitched him up or at least put blinders on him! can you imagine anyone accusing Bob of , being unsettled? I keep thinking of the way you looked the last time I saw you. I wish I had a good picture of you like that. I guess the pic on the steps at Denton is the nearest to it. Not for me, you know, for a photo-tri- dimensional- is engraved in my mind. Just one to show to guys and kinda loosen my hat band like you would a belt after a banquet. Lest you forget, I'm keeping the pressure on, not forcing the issue, but letting you know that I'm thinking of you and I love you, Clarence Texas A&M 9/22/46 Dear Folks, Things are kinda rocking along as usual. We had a little football game over here the other day and I have had a cold. , I got your letter but it failed to tell me what happened to my typewriter. I presume they could not fill the order. Please send my Combat Infantry Badge and ribbons from the box where my scout stuff is. Seems we must wear them to show the Corps that we belong to a Vet company taking military science. ' Kathe was coming down to the game Saturday but at the last moment she had a little trouble and is getting heat treatments on the osteo this weekend. We were worried about it when the girls were out at the ranch. She didn't know what it was but it seems that a little bit of the poison from her back has finally worked through to the wall of the abdomen. She said it would be worked out with heat pads and good as new in a few ' days. Nothing more to tell. I just got back from Young People's Meeting and must study a little before going to bed. Love ya, Junior ' Texas A&M ' 10/11/46 Dear Folks, It is Saturday today and I am waiting to listen to the game this afternoon. My old lady took out for San , Antone so I am quite alone. There is a crazy roomful of guys across the hall who have a sign up which says: ' McPhee, McQuary & McTaggert Investigators Shadowing, Snooping, Snitching and Snoring Marriage Surveillances If your wife wanders, we'll watch her! , Cartoons in "Esquire" We Case explained Cheap any joint , McTaggert was one of our chief Counter Intelligence Corps Operators and captured Julius Streicher, Von Friediburg, the Hungarian Government, and lesser luminaries. We have quite a time talking German. 154 ' I went up to see Chatter last weekend and we had a very nice time. She is singing alto in the A Capella choir and is quite a popular young lady. She is in good health now after allowing some accumulated ' material to drain from her hip. I never did hear what the story was on that typewriter. I hope you are all well. Love ya, Junior ' Texas A&M 11/11/46 ' Dear Folks, I'm terribly ashamed of myself for not having written sooner and there are really no good excuses. There has been much which has happened since I wrote last. I went up for the SMU game in Dallas Saturday. We left Friday afternoon and were halfway there before I realized that I had left my ticket back here. Just outside of Ennis we ran into a big milk cow at about sixty mph and wrecked the '42 Buick. The cow went one way and we went the other but now one was hurt for Jim held the car steady and we stopped on the left 1 shoulder without overturning. It was sure a big cow and we saw her too late to dodge as it was just dusk and she was a dark brown color. She belonged to a Negro family and the Negro woman had let her out on that very crowded highway. She had a rope in her hand and said, "I jes couldn ketch that of cow." I had been leaning against the door and managed to sway away from it just before the cows hips bashed it in about 4 inches. The window was up, too, and I would certainly have been sprayed with manure if it hadn't been as the whole side was covered. The game was very exciting and I have never seen two more perfect touchdown passes than the two ' which we had called back. I passed all my courses with no grade less than 76 but was quite peeved at the outcome of my Chemistry for which I had a 96 on my major quiz and only got a B rating at the semester - for that matter there were no A's and only 2 other B's in the class. Hasn't there been a queer Autumn though? One flood after another all over the State and it seems that it rains perpetually here. I'll be home the weekend of the 30~h (Thanksgiving). I will most probably see the game in Austin as I ' figure we have a fair chance of beating them. There's not much more to say and I have a major quiz in physics tomorrow and it is my major stumbling block. You take it easy and don't any of you get any sicker. Love ya, Junior From A&M, post war ' Probably November Dear Folks, I hope everything is straightened out now and Pete is back in shape. I'm sorry I kidded you about the ' arm, Pete, don't look like I'm much of a doctor does it. I see where it is raining and cold all over Texas and it is certainly that way here. We got a terrific rain Sunday afternoon and Sunday night. I've really been working. I have been saddled with this stewardship campaign and it is certainly rugged. The members of my committee have been having quizzes and I had over 400 of those letter to get out with the help of the church secretary. I went into town with Jim yesterday and we saw a show and I bought myself a brilliant silk tie. First silk I have seen since pre war in ties. Time is flying pretty fast and my time is scheduled right through to Thanksgiving - Dallas this weekend with Jim and Ned Tankersley of San Antone, and the Rice game and a Church program which I must prepare ' and give the next weekend and the weekend after that is Kathe and the Presbyterian Students' Association meeting. I'm really busy and I'm holding a B average. Love ya, Junior ' 155 Nov. 22, 1946 Texas A&M My Dearest, ' Sometimes you are so impractical that I could spank you. How in the dickens am I supposed to write a sonnet (i.e. love version), I quote, "to me and for me", unquote. This aforementioned poem to be handed in to your prof-or is it?-as a work of your hand when even Elizabeth Barrett Browning wrote her famous sonnets , to a man. It just isn't done that way, darling, unless the lady in person happens to be what the phsychiatrists consider an interesting case. Anyway, I hope you won't be sorry when you recieve my efforts which are at present only complimated or is complicated the word? I checked a book of sonnets out this afternoon but I ' have seven hours of classes tommorrow, two major quizzes, 2 hours work registering P.S.A. delegates, one banquet, and, if possible, a very hirsute tonsorial effort. Saturday-P.S.A. and Chem Lab and Sunday ditto PSA. Monday is a major chem quizs and if I'm still alive Tuesday is the night of the bonfire which leads up to a fight in Austin Wednesday night. Somewhere in between I will have to eat and sleep and study physics. don't , get the idea that this is a hard luck story because it is! Couldn't you be happy with a nasty old limerick, or something? I'm only trying to be funny, darling, but I warn you-the last time I wrote poetry (aside from that three line note one the ribbon) waw when I was a child , prodigy of six writing about birds and bees, and flowers n' stuff. I recieved a letter from Charles this afternoon and he said that he and Jeannie are engaged now with the date for June. I don't know whether it has been announced or not and he hastened to inform me that Jeannie had recieved a letter referring to'rumors'. Please keep it under your hat for I might not be supposed to write of it. Jeannie might want it kept secret for a while-I don't know any details. If he was supposed to keep it quiet we might cause a fuss but I just wanted you to know all that I knew of the outcome of my (or our) matchmaking. That just about makes the outlaws complete, doesn't it? Of course ours will take some time to consummate and I begrudge every moment and even at this early date I observe those three years with a jaundiced and frustrated eye. All my love, Clarence Nov. 25, 1946 Texas A&M My beloved, ' It's all over now but the sleeping and I am so tired! I'm sure I shan't write a coherent letter but this is the only chance which I shall have for I must plunge into study for that Chem Quiz tomorrow. , The meeting was a huge success (I think) and I believe that the others felt the same way. We had about 140 delegates from 18 schools and Mr. Copeland (Denton USA) gave a very fine address-also Dr. Blake White from the University. Poor Evelyn-she asked me to show her around the campus and I had to ' turn her down for I had too much work to do. After you wrote and said that you weren't coming, I plunged right in and did all I could to help. I talked with Mr. Shannon, Mrs. Cunningham and John Henry Juengermann from the church there.-Never had much time to see anybody really. Bob(?) Tucker was there from A and I and many others of our very casual mutual acquaintances. ' We elected Tom Gould of A&M to succeed Margaret Medberry (split personality Margaret-College Station brat-T.U. student) as president of the group. Probably John Henry can tell you more about that although I have not seen him around since sometime Saturday. ' The entire Corps is working overtime to get the bonfire finished by Tuesday night. it's a huge thing already with a tractor crane lifting huge logs and everything under the sun up there. Of course there is the usual amount of man power on hand and horses, trucks, tractors, and even for a while some of the P.S.A. girls who were giving name, rank, and serial numbers right and left. I think that group of girls had a big time. The dissappointing thing about it all was the fact that you weren't here and I hoped until the last that you would come down with Mrs. Cunningham and go back to Dallas Saturday with her. Darling, it seems like ages since I saw you last, since I held you in my arms, and ages are such a long time-LOOK-1 don't care where you are or what you are doing the weekend after Thanksgiving, I'll be there! I love you so much, , Clarence 156 November 26, 1946 ' Texas A&M Darling, I just have time for a note-maybe after Thanksgiving I will have time once more for those long chatty ' letters. I am including your sonnet-and regardless of purpose-it does have as much of my heart in it as can be bludgeoned into five foot lines. I cain't write poetry and don't intend to do much more of it but I will do anything once for you. Perhaps my love for you could best be put forth in blank verse for the constriction in the ' set structure of a sonnet leaves thoughts aching for release when only platitudinous generalities seep through-leaves love's ageless call to mourn within this soul of mine and forever stumble at the bar in best toe kicking, country boy style. ' Look into your heart and if you can love me as much as I love you then the phrases are read when there are no words and words are useless in a harmony that denies their use. I love you ever, Clarence November 22, 1946 (postmarked the 26'") Denton, TX ' My darling, I just returned from a big day in big D. and I'm telling you-I'se kinds tired! Got to relax a while and then go to the pep rally. Tomorrow's game is supposed to be quite a big thing. LouElla is spending the week-end up here & is attending the game with us. If you remember, Lou was my 1 favorite suite (sweet, too) mate. She has graduated & is now teaching 5`h grade in San Angelo-her home. Darling at first we were going to have only one day for Thanksgiving but ever since the students put up such a stink about it and sent around a petition-got 3,000 names to sign it-the holidays were extended. Thus our holidays are from Wed. til Mon. I will remain here & catch up on back work & sleep-and whle you shoot the buck I will make several bucks by working. Xmas shop lifting has to be done soon so all the money I can make will do me great. You can always rely on me to be able to understand what you say in your letters if the words are new to me I only consuly Webster & then add them to my vocabulary. And the way, the many ways, you tell me that you love me 1 thrill me beyond words. I love you! I was extremely sorry to hear about your father being in ill health. And I want you to have a wonderful Thanksgiving-I'll be thinking about you and your family. What a wonderful family it is too! Give them my best & fondest regards for I love 'em all. However, I am a little more partial to one-namely, yqu! Nov. 25, 1946 I saw Aunt Hilda today at noon & also Dorothy Hall and they all are quite fond of you. By the way, I am, too! And Aunt Hilda told me Evelyn was there. Why, no one at home told me she was going and so when I heard that I almost fell outta me saddle oxfords! Why don't people tell me these things. Darlink, I hope you took good care of her. Of course you'll tell me something if I ask you-it may sound silly but here goes! Has Evelyn lost any weight since the last time you saw her? She has been under doctor's care and everytime I write & ask about her at home they politely ignore me. From the way Aunt Hilda discribed her she must have lost quite a bit. I think she wants to supprize me-but gee whiz! Mom sent me some pics the other day and David is 3 in taller than Doff and Doff is a coupla inches taller than me so I guess that makes me a shrimp, doesn't it! IT see all this for myself at Xmas. Darling I must run go get a bite to eat so I will say as they say in France. Ali river, Love, Chatter 12/11/46 Texas A&M My darling Kathe, There has been so much happening that I hardly know where to begin, but I had best start by telling ' you that I wrote another letter to you and forgot to send it to town with Don and, worst of all, forgot it this morning so you will probably recieve it when the folks can get around to mailing it. Pete got a big buck (10 points) Thanksgiving afternoon and we kidded him unmercifully about it's small size (it was actually very large). I didn't have the fortitude then to pull the trigger on a little 8 pointer which I ' lined up in my sights Saturday. He was only 90 yards away and I walked away and left him grazing peacefully. We had a very nice weekend and Jeannie was out there all the time. We had big 42 sessions at night and Charles and Jean whipped all of us repeatedly the first night but Pete and I shellacked them the next night ' for 4 out of 5. We (and most of all-1) missed you in the group. Do you think we can beat them in a game? ' 157 I was assaulted and batteried-in other words we had a fight and I got a big charge out of it-in Austin. 1 My face is back to normal. Don't think the worst-it was no drunken brawl just a friendly argument between a couple of us and a number of "Tea-sippers" over a sign snatching episode. Jeannie and I are laying Christmas , plans which 1 am to present to you the next time I see you, which will be this weekend, unless you are on your deathbed! Where will you be and what will you be doing and am 1 welcome! RSVP-PDQ Sweetheart, as usual, these apparently stolen moments chatting with you must end. I say apparently , for appearances are decieving and what good is my drudgery if you are not the ultimate goal of my life? I love you ever, Clarence Nov. 30, 1946 (postmarked Dec. 2 typewritten) Denton, TX My darling Clarence, , I should have written you while your were at home to let your family know that I love you enogh to write, but I got so involved in work that you know the resuds. I did send you a reasonable facsimilie of yers truly that 1 hoped you'd receive in good order. If I couldn't be near you in the flesh, then I could grin at you via photo. And now maybe you won't paddle me since this was in your box upon your return, huh????? Hon, I always knew you were a writer and after reading such a perfect example I car.'? he wrnnr xf,'i would not turn in to a prof a work of yours that means as much to me as that one does. Would that I could express my love for , you in such a manner. There is just the three of us left on the second floor of Marquis, that being Ruth, Little Bit, and me. We have been having a marvelo us time. All the boys eat over here for the first two days and now beginning today we go over to , Chilton Hall, the boys dorm for our meals. Ain't that heaven for you!!!! We had turkey and all the trimmings for Thanksgiving, and we have had steak and such stuff we've often dreamed about. In Jeans last letter she made it clear that she wanted me to spend the last few days of my Xmas vacation at the C- ham residence. It sounds like a very good idea to me, however I will have to see what me family has to say about it. There is a little matter of finances and what to do with Geo. & family and Nellie & family-both families that I have not seen in a coon's age. I know I would have a much better time with you and Jean and Charles in Kerrville recapturing some of the bliss we knew this summer, whereas in Houston there will be a lot of confusion at the McNeill domocile. Jean told me I could not refuse the invitation-so Mr. Anthony what do I do now???? It seems that Elizabeth will be there too. Well, I have to go prepare myself for dinner so will you excuse me. Love and later more, Chatter PS I will be looking forward to your visit this next weekend. Ruth's birthday is ' the 7 h so you will arrive on a day of great celebration. Let me know all the details concerning the time you will arrive & etc. 12/3/46 Texas A&M My darling Chatter, i I would like to clear up a matter which I overlooked in my last letter. You asked if Evelyn was still as plump as when I last saw her. I could discern no difference although she may be losing some weight. I have not gotten that photo yet although it may be in tommorrow's mail. I presume that you sent it , here. I shall be in Denton sometime Saturday afternoon and I will phone you immediately upon my arrival. We have lots to discuss if I can remember what they are when I see you but most concern Christmas plans. We had a rather amusing note read to us in English the other day. It was from a group of students of TSCW and congratulated one of the boys for being such a wolf as to get himself put on the blacklist at that school. It was a leading note to say the least and we got a big kick out of it. Seems the guy was one of a group caught in a drunken party in a hotel room by Tessie officials. The girls were kicked out of school. ' Peace-football season is over-blessed peace!!! Heard some sophomore insulting a fish about his home town of Harper, Texas. I dressed the sophomore down and I don't guess he knows why yet. You see the joint wuz named after my maternal , greatgrandpap. 158 ' I tried to get some soap today at the exchange store and the girl told me that she had some shaving soap which I could use as an emergency substitute but no bath soap. I'll soon be ready for the spring planting if this keeps up. I'll see you this weekend unless purgatory and Noah's flood stop me. Maybe I can act platonic this time but it will be a strain-Love n' stuff, lovely, Clarence PS-Read this over and it's so dry that there is ' nothing for the imagination to feed on. I promise to do better next time. Dec. 4, 1946 ' Kerrville, TX My darling Kathe, ' I shall write you a letter if I can keep this pen from flooding long enough. We are huddled around a roaring fire in fact the room temp is 88°. All the temperature is Jeannie and Charles' idea. Jeannie is spending the holidays with us. I had my sights trained on a little eight point buck this morning and wouldn't pull the trigger because Pete went down to the field and killed a big ten pointer Thanksgiving afternoon. It was certainly a beauty but we have been kidding him about it and I told him that I would either get a larger one or one with more points. Everyone just said to tell you howdy and that they sure are missing you. Needless to say that goes in duplicate for me. they tell me that I should tell you how I look. I got in a little scrimmage in Austin with some TU boys. We were guarding a sign (another boy and 1) during midnight yell practice and fifteen are so guys decided to take the sign down. We had a rather hectic time of it before the rest of the Corps and the police arrived. I got a bloodied nose, two skinned ears and a mouse over one eye but as the saying goes you shoulda seen the other guys cause my right wrist is slightly sprained. Jeannie is wearing a big diamond and is entirely changed-(it seems to me) although just what the change is I couldn't say-something intangible. We have been discussing Christmas plans and Jeannie and I will probably be down (how I don't know) and bring you back. It seems Jeannie and you have plans-those I don't know in their entirety. We'll discuss things more thoroughly when I see you. It seems that I am always making plans to see you and evern the best laid plans of mice and men, etc. Please write without delay and tell me where you will be next weekend and 1 what you will be doing. We've got into a big bull session and are pulling out all the family dirt and I'm sure you would enjoy this session. It's quite interesting. I might as well quit for there is too much going on to write coherently. All my love and I wish above all that you were here, Clarence Dec. 5, 1946 Denton, TX Dearest one, This weekend can't come too soon to suit me. I'm just all excited! I'll be waiting for the call. By the way, I sent you my photo in the drape to your home on Thurs. Ths.giving Day & it went Special Delivery. So by all means you should have gotten it before you left home-Maybe it arrived after you left-ask your family about it! If it got lost then, I will be simply furious! I wanted it to arrive there when you would be at home with the family & by doing so it would make me present among the group-but it seems as though my scheme failed. I did so want you to have the picture for your own pin-up collection. Look into it will ya, and ask your family about it. Little Bit was telling me that the Singing Cadets will be here in Denton (TSCW) on Saturday night-suppose we could hear them. Course the joint will be loaded with Tessie's but I beleive I can hold my own. Tonight the College Players are giving their production of "And So Goodby". The same as "the Cock-eyed Miracle" on the screen today. I am going tonight with my sweet lil roommates-Love, Chatter (sorry it had to be short) ' 12/10/46 Texas A&M My darling Kathe, The weekend is over and we are apart again-physically, at least. I rather gathered my thoughts together for a quiz today and hope I succeeded. You see, I pulled a mental faux pas and waited at the wrong ' place in Dallas for my ride which saw me booting myself all the way down country after dark (hitching). I ' 159 arrived here at 2 AM with an 8 o'clocker on tap. I just kinda slept through classes on Monday morning with my , eyes open. I caught a ride from Mexia to Groebeck with a State representative and that old codger could talk a leg ' off a kangaroo. He was all steamed up about Dos Passos' "U.S.A." and you could just tell he had savored every literary morsel before wiping his chin whiskers with the bib of false righteousness and beginning his condemnation. (I'm joking, of course.) I left my leather gloves in his car-durn it! (That's another indication of my mental condition.!) , Our newspaper just came in and it seems that the bonfire for the TU game cost some $4,000 dollars in trees from the AH pastures (Animal Husbandry to a music major) alone. With about 100 trees that is $40 per which seems terribly steep. some smartie immediately theorized that there are some 14 millions worth on the ' 8,000 acres of college grounds here in Brazos county. It's lots easier to estimate than to collect! You know what this part of Santa's homogeneous person is going to bring (or send) you but I still wish I could have carried my wishes through. I knew that the silver was not in the best sense of etiquette but I wanted to make sure. That would have been so much more a symbol of my love-of my dreams. Generally, , though, dreams must take the back seat for reality. Some joker turned some firecrackers loose last night and everyone went up in the air and came down a rarin' and the typical A. and M. college sounds are drifting over through the night air. I mean, of course, the sound of a properly inscribed educator holding an extracurricular session. (Editor's note: Here there is a drawing of a paddle with The Spirit (of Aggieland) inscribed on it.) I must dive into a short story now with my flaps up (my ears closed, I mean). You take care of my gal now and don't let her get laryngitis singing opera. She'll never again sing as ' she once sang an old Irish Lullaby-or will she? Remember? I'd never heard it sung so and don't expect to ever again unless she sings it. Can I love you too much? I have an idea what you meant and I'm sorry if it makes you unhappy but, darling, ' look at the bright side of things. Clarence I know 1 could never love you too much, no matter what , the future brings, for all my love is scarce worthy but as I once said my all is the ultimate that ' I can offer and that you have. I love you. Clarence 12/11/46 Texas A&M My darling, I'm sending you part of a letter which I recieved this morning from Mother and explains the picture. I'm in high spirits tonight. I made 96 on a Descriptive Geometry Quiz and made pretty good on a physics quiz yesterday and I just completed a vignette for English which I consider to be pretty good. ' There was a terrific rain here this afternoon and we were both gone. When I came back the window was open and the room was practically floating. They haven't fired that cannon yet but for the last two mornings a full fledged Drum and Bugle Corps has gone under the window at 5:30 AM. It would wake the dead. Darling the more I think about it the more I believe that you should visit with your folks during the holidays-of course that is up to you and you make the plans. I can come there (If there is room or I can get a hotel room)-or Jean and I can bring you back to the Hill Country. You figure it out. I have to be back for , classes at 8 o'clock on the 2cd of January. My midterm recess is from the 23`d to the 27`h of January. you figure out what you would like to do best and I can fit any plan within those limits. I love you, Clarence (part of Mother's message) Say I want to confess something. The nicest big pkg. came here for you marked photograph and from Chatter. It was torn some anyway and I wanted to see it. Daddy told me not to open it but I couldn't see any harm in it. The thrill of seeing it will take all the abuse you give me for doing so away for 160 as the teenage says 'it's out of this world!' It's beautiful. I guess she thought she would be here in picture if not in person for Thanksgiving because she mailed it to get here then. It was sent special delivery, stamped all over but they sent it to Clarence Hyde's box twice and Mrs. Hyde sent it back to the box everytme and the mail carrier wouldn't straighten it out so she took it back to Mrs. Estes then we got it here. The wrapper was damaged but the picture was perfectly alright. I thought I'd mail it to you but about the same time I got a note saying you was going up to see her so I thought you would see one up there and I was afraid something would happen to it if it started out again so you can get it Xmas. Say Aunt Dollie drew names for us to buy for Xmas and she got Jeanne Priddy for you. That's all you buy for but get Grandma something and Grandma & grandpa Harper. They didn't set a price limit use your ' own judgment-but don't forget it. I imagine two dollars will be enough. I must stop so bye. Mother Dec. 11, 1946 Denton, TX 1 Dearest one, I have been a busy lil bee ever since you left and I've only got a few minutes to write this in. The Jr. Mary Ardens are having their pictures taken tonight & since I am one that means me too. It's the annual picture. And ' immediately after that I have to check the Fine Arts program. Uninsky, the great pianist, from New York Concert Stage is performing. He is supposed to be the second best pianist in the U.S. today. I'll let you know if he is after I hear him. (ha!) Ruth and I are going to a Seated Formal Tea in honor of the Jr. Mary Ardens Monday night. What it really is is a formal dinner. So we're gonna play like we're Misses Got-rocks! The concert Sunday afternoon was very good, however, I hated telling you "so long for a while" so soon. Which reminds me I never did give you that small picture, which reminds me to ask you if you have heard anything from the family concerning the big picture. I have written Jean concerning the plans so I hope we can work something out. Nellie & Vic arrive home the same night I do & so does Geo. & Myrta just think of all the commotion. Oh well! I have to go make ready for the shooting so I stop for now! 1 Dec. 13, 1946 Your mother's letter thrilled me to pieces I'm so glad she looked at it. (Well go ahead & call me conceited!) I love you! Anyhow I'm glad the picture was not lost, for it had me worried. It will just be another few days before you see it. Maybe you'll like it too, huh? ' If I intend to mail this I had better call it quits. Love you always, Chatter 12/13/46 Texas A&M My darling, I was studying chemistry for a seven o'clock quiz in the morning and got to thinking of you so much that I just couldn't study anymore. It seems to me that sometimes the whole world is conspiring to keep us apart and when I then rise up to fight off the things which are conspiring, I find that there are no weapons except the passive ones and faith, hope, and love seem so ineffective. I get so disjusted because I can't say what 1 mean-the aching desire which is in me and can find no outlet in plausible expression. That's why I ridiculed poetry-it wasn't the poetry-it was the fact that no words could cover the feeling which has been growing in me for the long years since I was a boy and first heard your tinkling laugh in a warm summer evening. no words can express the disgust at stumbling inanities I exhibit when I'm with you. Why must a man ever be subservient to a feeling of inadequacy when he is with the girl who means more to him thaan all the rest of the world combined? these things, I have pondered many times during a long period of time and it seems there is no answer. I set myself aside and try to analyze the thing and there is no analysis. Love is a terrible thing, awe inspiring in its' potentialities. It covers everything mental, everything physical, and everything of the soul- every ambition, prayer, and hope. It's a whispered song breathed in the summer air, a lock of hair, flashing dark eyes, a letter and a memory in the mud and squalor that is death which keeps a man going in order that he may place something worthy before a woman's eyes-a clean record. it's a breath of perfume in the autumn air, a soul searching kiss of two who should ever be as one. It is all of these and yet, darling,--how can I express it? 161 77 Could I love you too much? Never! Even though you loved someone else there is no bar which would prevent my loving you. There are other reasons which probably prompted the statement which has bothered me so but you know as well as I that physical things are only obstacles which can be overcome-or detoured. ' If things of that sort bother you, let me share the burden-please. Think about the things I told you this summer about that. Think long and hard. I don't say things of importance on the spur of the moment and I don't like to bounce around a subject which is best met head on. If we cain't whip osteomilitis between the two of us-then we can at least reach a firm footing on the subject. I know that it is impossible for me to support , you in a happy home for three years yet but in the meantime if you worry yourself to death then what is there for me to plan for. I'm hoping that was why you made that statement, sweetheart, for the potentialities of any other frighten me. If it was, though, again I could just lay you over my knee. You know what I mean. I know , that it is fine to go into things with your eyes open-but your mature mind must be open, too. I'm not chiding and I'm no psychiatrist-I love you and I would be your lover and husband-God and Kathe McNeill permitting. I hear that chemistry calling and though formulas can never compare with figures and dreams must e'er fade into reality, need I say. I love you ver' much. Clarence , 12/16/46 Texas A&M , My darling Kathe, Well, what do ya know just 9 more days to Christmas and only 5 more days of classes and only one ' quiz for this bookworm. Christmas is a wonderful season, isn't it? We used to have such a terribly nice time when Charles and I were kids. Now there are no children in the family. I guess it's up to Charles and Jean and cousin Jean Ellen and whichever guy she chooses-17 and she'll never reach 21 single. I made 96 on my last Physics quiz and as I have reiterated time and again I spend nearly as much time thinking of that stuff as I do of you! We had a big game of touch football yesterday afternoon and I spent half the time blocking a big 200 pounder. I'm sorer than a steer that's been run through a meat grinder. That's all whut's fit ta' print now so I , will sojourn until later. 12/17/46 1 just got a note from Mother which can best be explained by sending it to you. I figure that you already have your plans made and will want to see Nellie and George as soon as possible so I will say nothing one way or the other but please send this back by the next mail so I will know what is in store for the next two , weeks. I love you, Your Clarence P.S. If you did decide to visit a couple of days (I know you couldn't be held longer) I------- uh-might see fit to buy your ticket (or reimburse rather) in case your Dad would think you an extravagant gal. I know this letter and Jean's probably knock your plans into a "cocked hat" but it would be ' terribly nice to see you three troubadears together again with Charles, Bob, and yours truly. Clarence Dec. 15, 1946 (Included in last letter) Mountain Home, TX Dear Junior, We are OK and I have about five minutes to write. Here's what I'm going to tell you. It's a mess but maybe you can understand it. First we will have Xmas dinner at Grandma's for sure. you get a present for Jean Priddy (as I've already told you). Now here's how things stand with the young people's group. Bob meets Liz in San Antonio Saturday night. she will leave before Xmas so maybe if Kathe can come here and on home afterward you kids could be together. You could call Kathe. (Jean has already written her.) and find out if she can come or wants to. If so she can get in touch with Liz at Sherman and come with her to San Antonio where all of you might get together and may be Daddy would let Chas. Lee have the card to meet you. See ifKathe can stay til after Xmas. It would be so nice for her to beat Grandma's for dinner as jean P. and Eddie and Chas Lee and Jean C. will be there. Now you might let us know or Jean some way so we could meet you. Love, Mother P.S. If Kathe is to beat Grandma's and you get her a present you put it on the tree therefor her if you can. 162 ' Dec. 18, 1946 Denton, TX ' My darling, As much as I would love to do what your mother suggested I can't, for I sent my clothes home a day ahead of time; therefore I have nothing to wear. (I'd rather not make a spectacle of me self!). And as things are, Nellie & Vic expect me to be there upon their arrival. It is awfully hard to disappoint you but darling I am sure you understand. I love you and would like to be with you on Xmas. this will be your first Xmas with your family in several years and the same with me; therefore I just couldn't take away from ours at the McNeill domicile to add to yours. If I could only be two ' places at once!!! You will be in my heart whether I'm there or at home. You will have me there in the photo you haven't seen, and every time you glance at it you can interpret the gleam in my eyes as saying "I love you, Clarence". I will do my utmost to figure out a way to spend a part of my holidays at the ranch. Had I not sent my bags off 5 ' hrs. before your letter arrived I would have changed my plans but what's done is done? Tell your mother how I appreciate her invitation, and thoughtfulness that went with it. you have a wonderful mother and I love her very much-but I love you the mostest. Today Ruth & I got two big boxes of candy & stuff from Little Bit's mom & pop. And we have certainly enjoyed ourselves immensely. Then Ruth & I & Little Bit exchanged gifts-I got a beautiful white scarf and bottle of perfume-the kind you sniffed Saturday night when I was talking to you. I hope you like it! Well, I must tuck meself into bed so I can dream of you. With all my love, Chatter WADEMAN'S Flowers for the living 3106 Main St. Houston Holiday Greetings Clarence Leinweber, Jr. WADEMAN'S Flowers for the living Ditto aforementioned sentiments Your Clarence (Kerrville) 1 Dec. 31, 1946 (postmarked Jan 3, 1947) Texas A&M My beloved Kathe, It seems even now as I sit here writing this letter that I am holding you in my arms and breathing the fragrance of your hair. Waiting once more to taste the nectar of your lips and knowing that the one I am holding is all woman and that we are but one waiting for fulfillment under God and our own obligations to one ' another. I know that I have never spent a happier time than the last few days and only hope to spend happier times when we needs must never part apart again. Honestly, darling, it was perfect from the first joking with mistletoe until the preview of the post nuptial morning in that darling chenille robe. That father of yours is a card, Chatter, and I know where your flare for talking comes from. I hope he knows that he won't be losing a daughter but that he will be gaining a son when we are married. I hope that I will never disappoint him. 1 It is snowing here in fitful, sleety gusts and the cold is the kind that creeps into my bones and brings back memories in a manner all too realistic for me. I may go hunting this afternoon but it is pretty cold and I doubt if it is worth it. Chatter, the folks are planning a trip to Amarillo on the 23rd to a Hereford sale and I don't know just r how our embryo plans can be carried out. I hope that something can be worked out though. Charles had a cyst worked on under his chin and will have it removed some time next week. It had suddenly flared up and given him a good deal of trouble. As I understand it, 1 am to be best man and you are to be the singer at the wedding of your future brother-in-law and sister-in-law. There isn't much else to tell but plenty of time to tell it so I might as well cease putting my musings ' down on paper and go ahead at a rapid pace in my mind. There is so much that I dream about which is entirely impractical but it's nice to dream anyway. I love you, Clarence ' 163 Y I o ~ ( 1 1 7 tit ~ h 9 3 ) F , F 1 V,l s4 S ~ I L_" G. - vu.~3•. aFF. 1tilM1 .il.-3 ~h ct< lzsf'.1 N"MR f ) ~ ~ X F*}y p nor k Yr-. t v90 lIUOER ~ r i ' Jan. 4, 1947 Denton, TX ' Dearest one, Well, here I am! back at the ole institution and ready for what may come. My trip up here was one of the most beautiful trips I have ever made up to Denton. The snow covered countryside was beautiful-sorta reminded me of picture Xmas cards-like those that Mom got. As we went further north it became more picturesque for it had melted with the sun rays striking the ice it made a glittering sight. It is been perfectly frigid ever since I stepped off the train. ' New Jersey was never like this! By the way, what is "Grandlady's" address. I want to write her and thank her for the powder. I know her name but not the address so be sure & tell me in your next epistle. I wrote your Mom soon after you left, but then I guess you read it too. Ruth & Little Bit have dates & I am setting on a non-heating ratiator trying to keep warm. Got a good mind to go perk some coffee. So will you excuse me! The coffee was good so here I am again. Was Jean terribly peeved at me when you returned! I certainly hope not for I want her to accept my presence in the last of this month. Did you mention anything to her about it. I am going to in my next letter & see how it coincides with her schedule. Darling, I must make ready for dreamland so will you wait for me in my dreams. Love you, Chatter. Jan.S, 1947 A.&M. College of Texas My Darling, I put your picture by my desk tonight and it drew them like honey bees to a flower. Even ' Reverend Anderson dropped in and had a comment upon where my heart was. You probably know where the sensitive part of it is for you commented upon the redness of my face that day in Houston. You see, when I am with you the part which is yours is then rejoined and the result is a quickening of the blood in my veins, a tingling realization of the nearness of you that blocks out nearly everything else. What you ' do to me woman, you'll never really know! I'm sorry I haven't written more but I was snowbound, country bound, and travelling. I couldn't get out till Thursday noon and the buses missed connections so that I finally got in here at 5 A.M. Friday morning with no sleep. I made seven hours of classes Friday beginning at seven and ending at 5 and this morning I (plus the of lady) failed to awake for our 7 o'clock class. I went on the dead sleepy run and mixed chemicals but couldn't arrive at a caffein synthetic. I got back to the dorm and lighted a cigar-laid it down, then picked it up-one burned tongue! Ah, me! Such is the life of an Engineering student. ' I think I shall be exempt from all of my finals except Physics due to good grades but I don't know yet. That prospective trip of the folks to Amarillo has messed the plans up but I shall await developments. As soon as you can get the time of your final quiz let me know. I just gazed at your likeness for inspiration and the inspiration it gave was to dream so I shall go ' to bed and hope for a letter early in the morning. See you in my loveliest dreams. Clarence Jan. 7, 1947 Texas A&M Well, darling-draw up a boudoir chair or any old convenient bed and let's talk. First off, you wanted to know my Grandmother's address-Mrs. Charles Leinweber-Mountain Home, Texas. Simple, Hain't it? we show no favoritism out there everyone has the same address. I should be studying but I haven't got the drapes arranged for this picture yet and it is a distracting influence!!! Make way for an overdose of ego-ergo-The guys who went to Nashville said a number of my hasty acquaintances from TU (girls, can you imagine!) had asked why I didn't come. Then a newly wed from Alabama said her sister was very disgusted upon her leaving to return home that I had paid my pre- nuptial visit before the sister could get her lipstick on in the morning. Poor girl, little did she know that I carry a picture yardstick in my mind by which all girls are measured and that these literary capers are in the best small boy somersault and big boy muscle stressing style to impress the girl who will ever ' supersede all others in my thoughts. I believe I shall have only one final exam as I am (I believe) in the upper 1/4 in all classes except physics. That test will be on Monday (the 20th) I believe. Of course I have to maintain a high standard on 1 165 my remaining major quizzes. I don't know just what plans can be arranged with the folks gone on the 23rd ' & 24th but something will work out. it wouldn't be in the right social light for you and I to be at the ranch alone, you know-(a joke -exceedingly flat). ' Give Ruth and Lil Bit my affectionate regards-you know, throw a pillow or something at them in a roommately sort of way. Your own, Clarence Jan. 9, 1947 t Texas A&M My darling Kathe, , You know, I just did the most puppy-loviesh thing. I was sitting here smoking and studying your picture and I suddenly got the urge to look at the entire collection (too small) and I went rummaging through one container and another till I had assembled them all and then I just sat and 'mooned' for a ' while. Did you know that there are only about 881 days until we graduate (if I can pick up a few hours and don't fail anything). Barring unforeseen happenings we can be married at least by the end of June in 1949. That date seems forlorn but its the verb conjugate that counts. , Right now, I am compounding a mental index of mannerisms and measurements, moods and moments the little things that are you and the little things you say as when I excite your motor sensuary nerves and the like. Little things like that, darling, that tide over the long hours of concentrati^n and loneliness-not for people, or excitement, or friends (which I have) but for you and all that you mean. I include a merry chuckle at myself on glancing back at the way this letter-and all my recent letters-begins. i go so long and then I have to write a note to you-no matter what I am doing-to let off steam so that I can study. Does that sound foolish? That's why I laughed but it's true--. This can never replace a hug, or a kiss, or the bliss of your presence but I hope that it does not fail as an ambassador, an offspring of my very heart, keeping loving relations and shepherding that which we have pledged. Nearer each day. I love you, Clarence Jan. 12, 1947 Denton, TX My dearest one, , I got a very nice letter from Jean-full of big plans for the holidays and now I don't know what to do. since you will be going home and your parents will not be there it makes things kinds hard. For what you you & Charles , do for transportation & etc. back & forth to Kerrville. It will make an awfull expense for you two. Ruth isn't going home during the holidays so I would be just sas content to remain up here. Dr. Bain wants me to work for him & I could make twice as much as 1 spend. Tell me what I should do, will ya? I have been unhappy all day for last night one of my castles tumbled to the ground. You see, a person who ' I like very much & lives right across the hall, came in as high as a kite & having to odor of a skunk. Since her roommates weren't here she came in a plopped down on my bed. She was disgustingly drunk & extremely silly. Well I was knocked for a loop. I guess I shouldn't let it bother me, but I can't help the way I am. (Yet I'd rather be like me than anyone I know.) We didn't get to bed until 1:45 for the Delta Chi's had their formal last night & all of em came down to our room at 12:30 to tell us about it. I went to SS & church feeling pretty low & sleepy-for you see the gal who got drunk was one who went with me Thurs. nite to choir practice & was going to sing Sunday. But Sunday I was alone & every one asked me ' about her-all I could say is that she said she would be here. Oh well, I guess that's life for you! I have just waked up from a 3 hour snooze. And I just had to write you for I knew l could tell you all my troubles. And now I feel a lot better. I must prepare myself for the Young People's meeting. As much as I hate to do it I'll close. Love you more every day, Chatter Jan. 14, 1947 w A.&M. College of Texas My darling Kathe, Here is about how the situation stacks up now. The plans will have to be scrapped for I must register Thursday and Friday between semesters. I am being forced to move into a veteran company in the Corps so I will change roommates. I am ' coming up there this Saturday for a talk and I hope you can spare a couple of hours Saturday night. My 166 ' next semester's roommate will be with me and he has a date with a harp major at North Texas. I can't remember her name. I will have only one final quiz and that, Monday in physics and then I am off until Thursday But I cain't help it if my schedule is messed up. You sounded like a very disillusioned gal in your last letter. That is entirely understandable and I had the same feeling of revulsion when I first had to attend to a thoroughly soused friend. Naturally, it lowers them in your estimation and if the individual is a girl, as in this case, the situation is much worse. Undoubtedly there was a boy who got her drunk and it has been my observation over a number of years that few men get girls drunk just to see how silly they act. Men are primitive in instincts and probably, in the case of her escort, weak in character. You are a grown woman though and no doubt have rationalized to the point that, while not overlooking the episode, you can at least accept it as one of the vagaries of human nature. you probably wonder what that free verse was all about. I'll explain sometime. I love you, darling, Clarence ' Jan. 15, 1947 Denton, TX My darling, Never have I been so scared in all my life! Honestly hon, I tremble at the thought of exams. I took half of one of my theory (Music 231) tonight and I just out & out flunked it. I am afraid! I have never flunked before and it sure is hurting my pride thinking that I might. I'm scared silly! I just can't fail, Clarence. And the only one that can help me is I! I really shouldn't have company this week-end for with all the studying I have to do-but maybe if I saws you my mind would clear up a bit. Your letter of verse sure has put my mind in a flutter. I don't know how you do it but you do it! You know how to say what you want to say & you say it so beautifully. I stumble around with words and say nothing ...A lot of nothing. ' Mon. night I had a very nice thing happen to me-I was just dying to hear Ezio Pinza sing over at "Tessy" but not bad enough to pay $2.40. 1 had given up all thoughts of going and was doing a big size job of ironing when in flies Marg with a ticket & says "here". I was so surprised that I didn't beleive it was true. Sure nuffl she told me that one of the members of the library staff had her season ticket and wouldn't be able to attend & she hated to see it ' go to waste so Marg mentioned my wanting to go. Result-I got the ticket and went free for nothing. Pinza is the best basso of the Metro and well worth my taking out time to hear him. I think I was most fortunate about getting to go. Guess luck was with me! In the Music School we pre-registered today so therefore I will only have to sign up for English when we ' register for next term. I was awfully disappointed to know that our schedules do not coincide. I have abandoned all hope of my going anywhere during the holidays. I will remain here and work. And at the same time console my nerve racked brain. A very down hearted Chatter Will see you Saturday-I need a nice shoulder like yours to cry on! Jan. 21, 1947 A&M College of Texas My dearest one, ' "Dust thou art and to dust returneth." That's about the way I feel when I return from a visit. what driving mechanism makes a man take a five hundred mile journey for a six your journey? (Speaking of yours truly, the impotent) You know, I am going to have to break down your reserve and marry you in one of your weaker moments. I spend half my spare time ( and some that isn't) thinking of you and the rest thinking of us. I have to revise my standards from day to day and some times I find myself wondering if better judgement will always triumph. And then I wonder just what is better judgement in the long run and if I can compete ' with distance and coeducational schools and the biological instinct and my own inabilities to present my feelings in a way that will win yours. This thought I must place before you, Chatter. We could be married practically anytime after this summer with sufficient money-barring unforeseen troubles-to carry us modestly. This step should never be taken until the things which you gave up-college life, playing the ' field, music study, girlhood, etc.-would not be regarded as sacrifices. I myself, have long since ceased to play the field-guess when-and it has slowly come to me that instead of laying down mandates as to who, what, when, where, and how, I should say how, who and what and leave the when and where to you. Kitten, I love you so much that it seems I am forever thinking of you and us and building nightmares ' for myself without you. 167 I wrote Jeannie and explained things and I know she will understand. I would have liked to tell ' you that I would pay your way out of work this week-but, darling, somehow I look upon that saved up money as ours and we cain't squander too much of it-no matter how enjoyable a time we might have. I have just been elected as the President of our A&M Presbyterian League and that is going to take a , terrible lot of work if it is done properly-it only runs for a semester-halleluhiah! Seriously though, it is a hard job and an honor. You be thinking of ways means and times to visit our campus and I'll think of times for visiting up there. I just cain't seem to ever get a chance to turn my voice loose up there-the place is like Times Square on New Year's Eve. Speaking of voice-I never did get a chance to more than intimate just how much I liked your dress. It was chic and sexy-or was that you? Frankly, I believe that you did something for that dress! , I saw a Kilroy candy bar today-1 oz for 10¢--the shysters! Ever your loving present, part of your past and all of your future, Clarence Jan. 26, 1947 , A&M College of Texas My darling Kathe, , I'm sitting in a dimly lighted room all alone listening to an orchestra playing "I i. rwsn vn , fcr Sentimental Reasons" and just thinking of you. Quite an interesting pastime, too. I get better with , practice. In short, I am at home and the folks are in Amarillo, Charles is in Uvalde and Don is in town and you are way up there in Denton. Darling, this place is a wreck. That ice was the worst in the memory of any living person in this , neck of the woods. Majestic liveoaks, weathering the storms of summer and winter for decade after decade are stripped and toppled and the countryside looked so much like the aftermath of a barrage that I was nearly forced to look for the shellholes. In some places all that is left is tall quaint trunks stretching ' scarred fingers to the sky and around the bases, the shed limbs. I can't describe just what this Divide looks like. I know it is a good thing that we called off our gathering for no one else was planning on coming and the situation was definitely snafu! , In case you wondered, I did pass that physics and got a C which left me with 18 hours and 36 grade points-an exact B average-good for modern times. Maybe I can support you after all! I ate dinner with Dale and Edna Priour (you met them this summer) and don't look now but I think , they are expecting. Don't cry at my funeral but did you ever see a dead sitting duck-1 mean a guy who forgot to duck? I was firing the 22 this afternoon and something happened on the fourth round. The thing backfired and kicked powder smoke in my face. Nothing broke (luckily) and the bullet is still jammed in ' the barrel. Close them pearly gates Lawd, I ain't ready yet! Remember the goal of fifty for our three family get together I was telling you about. Well, they threw a stork party for two cousins today. Looks like the addition of Jean will be superflous so I guess Charles can drop plans now, huh! Bill took off for Houston Wednesday and he has interests in Georgia and Austin so that makes him quite a Casanova, doesn't it? He is a grand guy and we picked each other expressly for roommates when we had to change. , I must close this letter as always, Kitten, for you must never forget I love you, Clarence January 29, 1947 Denton, TX Dearest one, Well, I guess I deserve one of those blank verse letters again after your not hearing from me in such a long while. I have been in a perfect dither ever since you left here. Getting my grades were enough to scare me outta my wits. I made three C's, two B's and 3 A's. That's a B average however I am not at all satisfied with the work I did. This semester I will really have to settle down and , study. And besides that I have taken another job. It will not take up any of my time except the time of Thurs. and Sundays that I already use for the same purpose. You see, I have accepted the job as contralto soloist at the Presbyterian U.S.A. where I will sing during three Sun. services and be paid the sum total of 12 dollars a month., which isn't at all bad. I will not be attending the U.S. church except for the Young Peoples meeting. I will be siging 168 ' in a paid quartet like that of the First Pres. in Houston, only it will be with kids that I know. It will fill my Sunday up completely and make it hard for me to have visitors on Sunday for I will be in Church for the 9 & 12 o'clock services plus the 7:30 service. I told Mr. Trickey that I would try it out for six weeks and see if I liked it, then if I didn't I would recommend another Alto. what do you think about it???? It is what I really want to do with my music and I figure that this will be a good experiment with it. I will mean blockin g the traffic of your visits. I started a letter to you three times last week and got as far as a page and a half on each one and was interrupted so that I never completed one of them. I am here by myself now and I am determined to finish this or burst. Clarence, Hon, I am scared too death to say anything definite about future plans-for I am sorta ]eerie ' about such. All plans that I have ever made a mile ahead of time it seems that something always manages to prevent such. I have been disappointed in too many important things (to me) to say anything yet. Please understand, darling. As usual I don't know what to say. It used to be that I could express my self in the way I that I wanted to, now I don't know how I can express myself. Everything I try to write on paper seems so trite for it never sounds the way I want it to. I just don't know what's tha matter with me. Well, before I tear myself all apart I will end this paragraph. I registered today and my schedule's in a mess. My classes are sprinkled all through the day, however the ' only thing that looks good is my Sat.-I only have an 8 o'clock on that day. I will be working a good 12 hours a week in the office at 50¢ per the hour. so see I will be well occupied. I am taking a hard course in English under a hard prof and a nice course of Government, so there too!!!!!!!!! ' I haven't heard from Jean since I wrote her. Did you see while you were at home. I was so surprised to hear from you at home-I didn't know that you had decided to go home. How about telling me more about the trip home. and about Charles and Jean. My clothes need a little ironing job done on them so I best tear myself away for a spell. Gotta make a good impression on my teachers tomorrow, ya know. Your future, Chatter Jan. 31, 1947 A&M College of Texas My darling Kathe ' Once again, to use an archaic phrase, I take pen in hand and, facing the face on the dormitory wall, (oh-oh-scuse, please) attempt to convey my love to you. First things first-your letter. I think it is just grand that you have achieved the first major step in what you have set as your goal. Don't cut me completely out though, huh? I arranged my Saturday classes so that I have none (what am I saying?) and you sing 3 out of 4 Sundays. I'm carrying twenty hours and trying to take the lead in rejuvenating this Presbyterian League here so I don't have much time, either. Darling, don't you worry your pretty head about the stuff I wrote in that letter. I figured that you knew all the details but I had to let you know that when you make the decision it will be the greatest day of my live. I want you so very much. Oh, shucks! You know what I mean. I'm not consciously rushing you just keeping a fresh proposal in front of you. I've expressed this a dozen times before but you don't know how I pray for everything to turn out all right. We have an old guy named "coffee-pot" Cofer for the present English course and several of us ' disagreed with him today. What happened was too long and involved to jot down here but you could practically here grades dropping all over the room. He is the destructive kind of prof who stifles the evolution of thinking on the part of the student. There is only one way, and that is his way! You have probably read in the paper of the furor which is going on down here. Our beloved president told the leaders of the Senior class that the welfare of the students at A&M was no concern of his-that that is what he had a Dean of Men and Commandant for. The Commandant, a West Pointer, is a grand guy but Gibb Gilchrist is wrecking this college. I had a pleasant surprise upon my return to find that I had recieved an A in Military Science which is a 3 hour course. That gave me 3 A's 2 B's and a C which was just short of distinguishing (honor roll at other schools) I'm quite happy about it as it was far better than I had hoped to do when I came back, if you remember. There is not much to say about the trip home-the folks were at Amarillo most of the time and John dated Lucille (the schoolteacher) and other than that and my lonesomeness there is little to say. Think of me once in a while huh? Cause I love you ver' much, Clarence ' 169 Feb. 3 1946 (actually 47) Denton, TX My darling, ' Well, here I am! Late as usual with an epistle-however, I will enclose a reasonable fascimilie of yours truly. It was taken one Sunday afternoon by Vic during the holidays. Nellie sent it in her last letter. It is very good of both of us I think-especially of Nellie. Now that I am used to this new schedule I like it-at first I thought it would be tough but I was wrong. And my quartet job is perfect-I have a solo for this Sunday-so see hon, it just what I've been wanting. Love ya! Your lil school is really in the "noose" these days-news, that is. By the way, how are you managing to , take 24 hrs. isn't that pretty stiff. I'm taking full 19 hrs. and it ain't easy. My Eng. prof. is a good but very hard character. I will have too work hard and we're required to hand in 2 book reports-you know what's coming next. Do you still have those that I read? huh? They would be of a great help to me. Course now, you don't haf to if you don't want too! , Ruth & Little-bit annoyed me greatly tonight. I went to sleep at 6:30 & wanted to sleep for a coupla hours & they knew it. My eyes were tired & I was going to have to read a big Eng. assignment so I wanted to rest them Well, what did they do but start making noise talking to some gals way down the hall. Then they sat on the bed opposite mine & commenced to stare & make comments about me as to how I looked when I slept. Course, they , hauled out the ole line about looking like a sleeping beauty--& with such a silly remark one can't help but smile- then that was the end of it-it was impossible to return to my nap. Love dem' kids! Don't knob v, Lai I wuulu ,u without 'em. ' Well hon, g'night and sweet dreams-for I must see if I can start where I left off. Love you, Chatter Feb. 7 1947 A&M College of Texas My darling, Life can be so skunky, can't it? Now take a cow just because she doesn't back her ears and bray like a jackass, men see fit to term her contented and give glorification to her milk, presumably because it isn't curdled from fear and inhibitions. It is my opinion that many days can be long and that of the long ones a Saturday free from the usual routine and devoid of replacement values is the longest. ' The remaining Saturdays of this spring shall serve as concrete examples if they follow the pattern of their predecessor. Did you ever see a bridge resting on one bank-an engineering impossibility? Presumably, you ' never will but if you just did it would furnish quite a bit of food for thought. In short, it would make the subject very interesting. Why?-you get the satisfaction of your own interpretation while still realizing that there is a great possibility that you are wrong. Also it is something unusual. Did you ever get a letter written backwards all the way? Perhaps it doesn't mean that the writer ' loves you but it does mean that he or she thinks enough of you to go to some trouble to capture your interest. That's enough phlo-philos-philo-- -oh-OH-1 just looked the word up and philo meaning love and sophy meaning deciet makes the original Greek "deciever in love" ( more or less) so I had best abandon that tack. Ah, me? Singing is joy and science is analytical and ne'er the twain shall meet or shall they? Now the question arises before the house. Should I send this letter? I think so-they say , marriage is based on understanding and since that is the basis or the end to which I am working (where have you heard that before?) you should know the whimsies, etc. that attack your intended lover. One last thought-each moment in life is precious-I love you, Clarence I got a letter from you this morning before mailing that other letter (so-called) so I shall append it a wee bit. Kitten, that is the only good full smiling picture of you that I have ever jus' two of the clan(destine) McNeills. I love one of em like a sister-that other one though! Speaking of sleeping beauties an' stuff you tell the roommates that, in my expert judgement, I concur enthusiastically with the exception that Sleeping Beauty's hair was long and golden or was that Rapunsel? , I'm sorry, I didn't mean to misinform you for I am only taking 20 hours. With labs etc. I have 28 hours of class work weekly. Not really hard but hard for me. Gotta run to chow and then a church party-hope it turns out all right. I love ya ver much Clarence. , 170 ' Feb. 9, 1947 A&M College of Texas My darling Kathe, Well, Kitten, rear back and brace yourself for a shock that'ss jar you right out of your sneakers. I met your Uncle Will today and your Aunt (well, anyway, Uncle Will's wife) and Clarence and wife from North Carolina. I took a sudden notion to buy some clothes so I hied myself off to the scalpers and bought a dude outfit what you'll be ashamed to be seen with. Anyway, I called up your folks and then went out to visit for a little while-was accused of playing hands with Ann and had my picture taken (presumably for blackmail) with Evelyn and Dorothy in what Dorothy considered a very compromising position-Dorothy's idea of it of course. People are always trying to strew my love path with thumb tacks-I wonder why? Evelyn and the Carolina McNeill's blew in from Nueva Laredo while I was there. They were in a hilarious condition due to the customs inspection. seems someone dips snuff and the customs inspector sniffed of the bag (open) to see if it was narcotics. They say he was attacked by a fit of coughing and sneezing such as was never seen there before. Just shows to go ya' what happens when you put your 1 nose--. Today's 64 dollar question-Dorothy out of the clear blue sky said she was studying sonnets and did I write sonnets and Evelyn nearly laughed her fool head off. why? Incidentally, shenanigans or no ' shenanigans, I will send you those three papers I had. I'm tired, darling, but I had a whale of a time with that family of yours-I don't know where David was. We looked at the pictures Vic took over Christmas and I could have just run off with that one of you which sits on the piano-the one you gave your folks for Christmas. Good night, Kitten fill in spaces and file for reference. Your Clarence ' Feb. 11, 47 Denton, TX Dearest one, So glad you went to Houston! I got tickled pink over your letter-her name is Aunt Addie-I sorta thought by now she would have given up her dippin' but it seems not. It used to always disgust me to see her dip when I was a little one spending summers on their farm. Now I think it is extremely funny since the incident you spoke of. Clarence, could you come up on the Sat. of the 22nd-it's like this ya see, I am going to Ft. worth on Sunday to hear Jose Iturbi & his sister in concert. However, on Sat. I am out of class from 9 on & the day is all mine. Sunday morn I have a 9 o'clock church service to sing for-and from 10 to 11 I have free (I usually attend Sun School but if you were there we could go eat breakfast at the "Y" club) Then I would have to return for the 11 o'clock service. Immediately after the 11 o'clock service Ruth & I make a bee-line for the bus. That means you would have to leave be before the 11 service. Could we do such plans as that-will it be worth it to you. I am a bizzy lil bee. Got a funeral to sing for on Wed. & Friday night Ruth is playing for Darlene's 1 wedding & I am singing-"Always" & "Because" That's going from one extreme to the other isn't it? Funerals- weddings!!!! This Fri. night Ernst Hoffman, is coming up from Houston to direct us singing the Bach B minor Mass that ' we will be doing in Houston Mar. 8. On that very same night we (a cappella) broadcast with the Houston Symphony at 6. So you will be able to tune us in. You'd better! Well, hon, I must put a stop to this and write the family. With all my love, Chatter Feb. 13 1947 Texas A&M College News paper article-Apparently some Aggies didn't appreciate being awakened by the boom of the 75mm. cannon in the New Area. When the crew went to fire the gun Monday morning, the breech block was missing. Who did it? No one could guess. Maybe some tired veteran, who hated to be reminded of ' his military experiences. Maybe some sullen senior, still smarting over being campused for three weekends. Loss of the breech block was not taken lightly by the military department. The cannon is government property, and it was pointed out that tampering with such property is a federal offense, and ' no joke. The military department hopes that the block will be returned as quietly as it was taken. No replacements are available. STOLEN The breech block of the saluting gun in the dormitory area has disappeared. Breech blocks do not disappear by themselves-somebody took it. This gun is 171 Government property, and it is requested that the breech block be returned. G.S. Meloy, JR., Colonel, , Infantry Commandant. My darling, , Speaking of singing at funerals and weddings 'n stuff brings a thought to my mind-I give you official permission to kiss the groom at my wedding! Wouldn't you like that? Again speaking of public gatherings-1 have attended two receptions in the past week and my , smile has frozen in place and my little finger-the aiming stake for a (te a)-bacle when you're nervous- is so stiff that I can't shave without punching myself in the eye. Am I exaggerating? The first was for church dignitaries (I like that word) and was given at the president's home. I got to hobnob with all of the wheels and BTO-OOX3's (ask any G.I.). You'd be surprised how much a starched shirt and a wing collar , will do for most any fool! The other was a Presbyterian church reception (this is Religious Emphasis) week, here). According to the best authorities a professor's wife has a double jointed tongue-kinda mounted in the , middle so it will work either way. If you step in and bridge the conversation at one end the other end starts wagging twice as fast to catch up. Anyway, I know why professor's are absent-minded! Don't get me wrong-I was kidding for I like women who are not afraid to discuss a topic which they know something about. ' As things stand now, I should be able to come up there on the 22cd. I'll let you know more later. I went over to the pool to go swimming the other day and found that the au natural was no longer in vogue. Shades of Neptune! Now we even have to wear a rubber cap while swimming. ' I hope you got the flowers. I hate to send them when I can't choose them carefully cause some people are dishonest. Anyway, darling, its the thoughts that go with them that count. I've gotta run to class now so keep your powder dry an I might come see you if I can get the time. Love ya, Clarence ' Feb. 14, 1947 , R.L. Selby & Sons Florists Denton, TX To my Valentine: Ever only a substitute for my Heart when I'm afar. Remember I love you, Clarence February 16, 1947 Denton, TX ' My darling, Both the wedding and the funeral went off beautifully. What with your flowers arriving only a coupla hours before I sang it made me so happy that I sang the best I have ever sung. See what you do to me! Clarence the roses are beautiful & what they do to our room is amaqing. Looks like a different place all together. Darlene gave Ruth & I each a bottle of Woodhue & now we smell beautifully. Nothing like us "stinking pretty" alike. ' Mom sent me a big box of stuff including a birthday gift which, of course, I couldn't wait to open. It was a pair of nylons & 3 beautiful white slips. Then a box of cookies and some other things I asked her to send. Next week comes a chocolate cake! The other day in Gov. 204 the funniest thing happened. A bird got caught in the room and couldn't get out. ' well it so happens that the room has a lot of pipes overhead and the lil bird insisted upon sitting on such. You should have seen us shift positions when the bird lighted directly overhead-it was extremely funny even the prof got a keck out of it. ya know, chickens may be going up in prices but birds are still dropping a little!!! This last week has been an extremely full one-every min. something has been happening. Mom sent me a whole gang of pictures-she showed 'em all to you I beleive. I'm so proud of'em-I've been showing 'em off to everyone. Ya know I don't beleive any one realizes how perfect their family is until they're not home very much. I know I have found it to be so. Darling, I have to go to Y.P. now so I must run. Love you ' more each day, Chatter. 1 172 i ' Feb. 18, 1947 Texas A&M College ' Chatter dear, I really haven't got time to write this cause I have a major physics quiz tomorrow but I'm a doodin' it anyways. You spoiled all my fun by writing of your birthday-I hadn't forgotten-in fact I have kept a constant check just to make sure. Anyway, Kitten, we'll celebrate it a little prematurely, huh? I plan to ride the Sunbeam to Dallas Friday night and lay over there. I shall be in Denton around 10 on Saturday morning and if the weather is balmy we could perhaps go strolling in the parks-or the Tessie golf course or sumpin' and just relax our weary brains from our studies. I can think of no better way. However if something else presents itself, I am certainly malleable to most any plan. Bill has ' Saturday morning classes so extended trips are curtailed for him this semester. If you like and Ruth or Lil' Bit can ensnare their men in something we'll make it a foursome, etc. Nothing unusual is happening here. I can't even play a good game of horseshoes. I think I would do better if I would tack the horse onto them-might be rough on the horse, though! I think I got the bird-oops-I mean the point! (reference-your last letter) We had an inspection last Saturday morning and more brass was crowded into this room than I have ever seen in the army! You know this isn't getting that physics crammed-you better be prepared, they say a good engineer loves his slide rule more than he does his wife. Love yo ver much, Clarence 2/25/47 Texas A&M College My darling Kathe, ' My little wild red bud is still struggling bravely to bloom, albeit a little bit discouraged. This little cold spell has sure turned the coat collars up and, to here the guys griping, you would think we were at the South Pole with Admiral Byrd. ' Bill has been moaning ever since I got back because he had a major quiz in calculus one day and made a 100 on it but the very next day the prof threw him a daily and he flunked it. I hope you had a grand time in Fort Worth-1 also hope Lil Bit enjoyed her trip down here-cause she might help induce you to come sometime-open date! Did she date a (fish) Harris from Kaufman-1 ' believe he is in C field artillery? Another open invitation, Kitten,--if you like and it can be arranged-would you visit with me at the ranch when Charles and Jean are married. Course you will be in the house party-if they can get all of you gals in that little house at the Encampment. I don't know just what the arrangements are. A'rushing to class I go- Bill is very busily developing pictures and speaking of such things as grain and overdevelopment and intensifying. As they say in the Army, I find it hard to get the overall picture. ' You know, I just have two major quizes tomorrow and 8 hrs of class. Does it sound like I am forever having major quizes? Well, I am! Pucker up and I'll send a kiss and a hug along with this guaranteed not to raise the thermal index (ie. puritanic complacency). Your Clarence March 2, 1947 Texas A&M College My darling Kathe, ' A lot of water has gone under the bridge since I was up there. Maybe I should say that that water has gone on the floor and on the various beds of ye old Aggieland. It all began this way. Thursday morning we woke up and found the floor floating---and I ain't kidding. We practically had to put on swim trunks to go to chow. Some joker had come up in the middle of the night when anyone except an Aggie fish would be in bed and had taken the tops of the faucets in our orderly room. What happened made the stairs look like Lover's Leap during a particularly tearful parting. The water hit the ceiling with such force that the whitewash on the ceiling was washed loose and ' after the floor dried we found that it was a sickly mixture of brown and white. We got a broom batallion out and got a majority of it swept down the stairs and into the first Veteran companie's rooms. The howling and moaning that went on down there would remind you of a nest of hornets that has just been hit with a 173 stick We had to explain to them of course that the water had to go somewhere and that the force of a gravity seemed to be the only logical answer. You know, some of those people thought that we should have done it some other way! , The next day we were in the mess hall eating in our usual Aggie manner and one of our veteran company buddies happened to throw a piece of "gunwadding" (bread) at one of his acquaintances on another table and it landed near the company commander's place. This 19 year old buttoneer came running over and started berating our boy and our boy gave him a typical Army answer to the effect that ' he could go to and stay put. The cadet captain promptly gave him two tours of duty on the Punishment Ring or "bullring" We got mighty hot in the collar about that and our company officers were talking about going over to B Engineers and meeting this guy and his fellow seniors and taking a board along just to , see that the meeting was a success. Most of us are of earlier classes than the present senior class but since we are all together we don't have cadet commissions. Friday night Bill and I Were nominated to proceed to Dorm 8 on or about 0400 hours (4AM) for the purpose of drownding out Cadet Captain Mannas and returning without casualties. Bill made the preliminary reconnaisance and we performed the , mission. Later reports proved that we had hit the wrong objective though and had succeeded in getting the first sergeant's roommate exceedingly wet. This set off a chain reaction which threatened to souse their whole company. We have had an exceedinly good weekend as far as athletic events go for we beat both TCU and , SMU at basketball and Kansas State and Texas at swimming and our rifle team has lost only to West Point. Major Cook requested that I fire some with the team to see if I could get proficient enough to make the grade as a member. ' As I have told you there is a policy here of vacating a dormitory so that visiting girls can have some place to stay on the campus at a reasonable rate to the escorts. Next week is the Junior Ball and it so happens that our dorm is to be cleared. That goes from Friday noon till Sunday noon. I don't know where I shall go but I most certainly shall have to go there. Comes a part most difficult to say. Down through the dreary letterless days, I have had to consider the fact that things aren't what they should be. I don't like to act childish, Kitten, but indications are that I might be forcing my attentions where they are no longer in the best of taste. Don't play with me, ' Chatter. I love you, Clarence March 4, 1947 , Denton, TX Dearest one, ' I'll remind you to beat me up sometime-Clarence, I don't know whats wrong with me. I sit down to write and everything seems so stupid that in the little time I have for writing, I just throw up my hands & quit. On top of that everything has happened in the last week. First of all Ruth got the mumps & has been in the hospital since last Wed; I had two major quizes besides rehearsals every night; then Mrs. Reavley came up Friday night & stayed with ' Ruth until Sunday. Of course I took care of Mrs. Reavley & did millions of little things for Ruth. The time I like best for writing-Sunday-was spent in a cold auditorium rehearsing "Faust". Next day, I had a terrific headache plus fever that acted like good symtoms of flu; however, I took good care of me & result-I am healthy & happy. , There is an epidemic of flu & mumps on our campus & the hospital is so full that they are sending all new cases straight home. I had been staying up too late studying this past week & losing some much needed sleep. Dr. Bain returned from the big convention in Lt. Louis & he has kept me busy at the office. He bawled me out for not bawling out the faculty members! However, he still "loves" me & vice versa! , Clarence, I do not play around with people's feelings! I'm just me & I can't help it. I don't want to hurt people cause I do not like being hurt myself. You see, I have been hurt several times; however in different manners and I don't like it one little bit. Therefore, I would ask for another helping nor do I care to hurt someone dear to me. Love, Chatter We leave for Houston on Thurs at 1. March 8, 1947 , Texas A&M College Dear Chatter, Spring is sprung, the grass is rizzing and all's snafu with the world. I mean, with everyting on the ' wrong side of the ledger, why be unhappy. If you have a minor setback, then tis all the more reason to overlook it as a minor episode. One of the boys moved next door to the dorm which we live in and Just happened to be spying on ' the girl in our company commander's room (she didn't draw the shades). 174 She and her roommate spent a whole hour reading Ted's mail. Steve told Ted and Ted raised the roof. He said that he hoped that the girls got more enjoyment out of it than he did. You see, he had his girl ' down to the dance last week and after about one hour of dancing on the first night she told him that after the weekend was over they were splitting up. He said that there was a train leaving in two hours and she might as well take it. The Aggies aren't having much luck lately, are they? Then there is the saga of the fireplugs. Every morning we wake up and these chameleon plugs are a different color. Seems that the freshmen are out every night painting them their own organizational colors. It is a good thing that the poor dogs have no sense of color. Also there is the saga of the sleepy moron. A few nights pack just after I had settled down to a nice night's slumber, I was awakened by the lights being flashed on. I looked up to see a cousin whom I had not seen in some 7 years. He had to introduce himself for I couldn't remember his name and then I tried to introduce him to Bill and I couldn't remember Bill's name. I finally told the old lady to introduce himself. He did but the next morning he could remember nothing of the episode for he promptly went back to sleep again. This cousin is an Exie from the class of 38 and spent the war as a major in the Pentagon Building in Washington. He really has a good job in the research department of the Humble Oil Company. They say that there is anything in the Bible from short stories to blasphemy. I was looking through yesterday in a rather contemplative browsing mood and found the Song of Solomon. A little further along I found 1:Cor:13:11 & 12. What lies ahead is eternity. What lies behind is surity. What abides now is futility. Two strikes rings the alarm. ' The third is neer the charm. Your Clarence ' Mar. 14, 1947 Denton, TX Dearest Clarence, ' I told you on the phone that I would write you from Houston-it's quite evident that I didn't. I didn't have time to breathe while in Houston. I was forever in rehearsal or running all over town with the choir in our bus. And now since I got back I am all out of sorts. Exhaustion plus a crooked hip from osteo. I have felt like writing no one-so I didn't-however, I just couldn't make you unhappy anylonger. I haven't written the family since I have been back either. First two days we were back-Mon & Tues I remained in bed & now every min. I'm not in class I jump back in bed. It is nothing for you to worry about for this happened at least five or six times last year. I had been thanking my lucky stars that I hadn't had any trouble as I last year. but traveling from Houston all Sun. night to Denton didn't help matters for I hot cramped up from sitting so long. Well enough of my "crookedness"! I had a good time while in Houston. Friday night Mom fed 10 + me & Evelyn hot cross buns & a big meal. Dad had a big time pulling all his "cornies" and the kids just loved him. Sure was glad to get you call while at home-should have seen the looks on my family's faces. Ruth got ' out of the hospital Sat. & her mother spent from Thurs. to Sun. with her here. She slept in my lil' place. Sure is good to have her back around here again. In another week we go over to Dallas to sing the Brahms Requiem with the Symphony. That means a trip over on Fri. night for rehearsal & then again on Sun. I'm not riding a bus this time for I'm going with Dr. Bain. ' Nothing like comfort. The food around this joint is so horrible that I'm about to starve to death. Tonight Wilma, Zina & I went to the southern Hotel & got some good food. There are more cases of flu around this place that it ain't funny. Looks like they would feed us well. Sorry your box remained empty for so long. I am most undependable when it comes to writing. Love you, Chatter 175 March 17, 1947 ' Texas A&M College Enclosed note: Bouldin and Leinweber We really enjoyed staying in your room. Thanks a million! Elise ' & Mary NOW WAIT I CAN EXPLAIN EVERYTHING. My dearest, ' I should send you some DDT to use on those bugs!-and Ruth-mumps at her age! I just got back from watching the intramural boxing finalists beat each other's brains out-college boys, too. I think they were all Animal Husbandry majors though-they must have been. "Coffee pot ' Cofer" would flunk me if he could see this indiscriminate use of dashes. A couple of us are going down to Galveston next weekend and look the place over. I guess we'll all get killed if we don't graduate first. There will be Silver Taps in 15 minutes for a boy who was killed in Austin over the weekend-car wreck! We lose more good hitchhikers that way. , I managed to grab one of the applications for a date with an Aggie which went out over the State last fall. The Post Office Department subsequently banned them as obscene, et cetera. You'll probably get a laugh out of the stuff on them, I did! I got a big buzz out of the way some gals had filled them out, , too. Some were embarrassing and some were embarrassed. or something. Every guy in this outfit is an amateur camara fiend, I believe, and so naturally I have been posed-amateurishly. I won't say anything about the model-people who live in glass houses shc'.,!dn't throw stones through the walls. ' I'm feeling pretty good this morning-managed to fool nearly all my profs. It's my magnetic personal ity-pat, pat. We have our Spring vacation at Easter time. We get off Wednesday and that really makes things , nice. Love you, Clarence March 26, 1947 , Mountain Home, TX Dear Kathy, Please forgive the long delay in writing. Enjoyed your letter so much and thought I would get to have you , down on the mid-term holidays but Clarence hadplanned a business trip to Amarillo so we could not be at home but the last day or two of it, however Jean was disappointed that you did not get to come to her house and spend the latter part out here if we got home in time. Speaking of Jean, she seems very happy, incidentally Charles is, 'out of this world' and we've learned to love Jean more each time we are with her. I hope for her sake, the wedding will be a very nice one. She said she had not heard from you to know ifyou would be able to make the event, to sing. I hope you can find it convenient to be here and you will reallyfit in from both sides of the family. Come to think of it, I always thought you and , Clarence Jr. helped shove cupid along in this particular love affair-so it's up to you two to help finish it. Ifyou do get to come I will be expecting you to visit with us if it's possible. Junior writes that the days between the first and sexth of June are the only ones you have available. I , wonder if the sixth would be OK with you or will you be on your way. Bob/s date is after the sixth or maybe he can be here the sixth. I was interested on that date just thought Jean might decide on it because it is my birthday. Would be the most wonderful birthday present I've ever had, a daughter, I've never wanted anything so much as that. Jean is planning to go to Houston Easter and if she does you will see her and get your dates straightened out. , Saw your brother in town the other day and he showed me some very good pictures of the DAM-SEI. Rather odd for a preachers family to have that name. Anyway 1 enjoyed looking at them. He had just gotten them from you. , Got Junior's Grades from the College yesterday and they were super. I'm afraid he is taking too many subjects and studying too hard. He's grownig up though, has a birthday day after tomorrow and is twentythree. In some ways he seems much older tome. Certainly he has no symtoms of being 'Mother's little boy'. I was ironnig the other afternoon and happened to hear your choir while in Houston. It was very pretty but ' so many voices do not carry so well as just one over the radio. I wish there's was some way that I could have heard it there. We took Jean & Don down to shop Saturday and Clarence enjoyed seeing 'Oklahoma'. Must stop. Lots of ' love, Mrs. Audrey Leinweber 176 ' March 30, 1947 Houston, TX My dear Clarence, I am now at home & have been since last Tuesday. I came home on doctor's orders from school. On Wed. I went out to the hospital to see Dr. Smith & to have x-rays made. I wound up spending 2'/s hours over there. Thirty min. of which I spent on the operating table. My'bugs' decided to attack me in the left hip so they did a thorough job of doing it. I am walking around with an inch & '/2 incision in my side with drainage. I took only a local for the operation; therefore, I watched what was going on, besides joking with my doc and noticing the internes! More fun! I got all my assignments in advance so that I will not be behind when I return after the Easter holidays. Meanwhile, I will remain at home, write an 8 page theme and read my ever-loving English--+ a new novel. I have enough to keep me well occupied for a while. Last Thurs. night the church choir had a chain supper. I was easily talked into going and had a wonderful steak dinner. Then I practiced with the choir (nothing like a bus man's holiday!) and so I sang with them this morning. I also sang a solo for the Men's Bible Class this morning. Next Sunday, I am booked for Judge Bayle's class. ' Dr. Smith introduced me to his doc friends & interenes as his "Metropolitan Uproar Singer"-he got the biggest kick outta saying that. Course, I loved it all! I'm sorry I let the dust gather in your mail box but I'm just sorry that way. If I had written any sooner I ' would have only told you what a rotten bag of bones I am, and you wouldn't have liked that. Say that was quite a pin-up picture you sent me. I like it very mucho. Shall I whistle now or later? Since I have been home Dorothy has been out for several "teas"! You should see her-hoity-toy! Never have I seen such glamour! (Right now she is modeling hats-gotta settle on one for she is going to a tea this ' afternoon) Heaven help us! I heard from Jean the other day and she is trying to set the date to suit everyone. I have definitely decided to go to summer school. I have made the loan that I thought necessary. John wouldn't hear of me borrowing from ' any outside sources; so he said he wanted to make me the loan. So now I have no finicial problems to worry about-I still have both of my jobs. I am quite happy about it all. Evelyn takes voice from the director of I` Ch. choir, Paul Pettings; so at her Fri. lesson I prissed up there with her (at her request-she wanted me to hear her sing). It turned out that we talked, she sang several pieces then ' he, Paul, requested that I sing some for him. Well, I obliged and had a good time singing for him. Again he told me that he had a job for me as soloist when the new church was completed. However I will have a''/2 year to finish in school. At least, I know I have the kind of job I want waiting for me! Well, hon, guess I'll hang my close on this line-Just "buggy" but love you, Chatter PS Hon, I just got the sweetest letter from your mom-and in it she mentioned a birthday. It seems that one Clarence was 23 just a day ago. Why doesn't some one tell me these things! "Happy belated birthday" darling-one of these times I'll be up on the events. Love you, Chatter April 6, 1947 Texas A&M College My dearest one, I told you I was absentminded! I guess I proved it to your family. I could say that I used that as an excuse to make the phone call and, though it isn't true, I did spend two whole class hours after discovering my error in looking forward to hearing your voice-a mite sleepy-weren't you? I hope you are back in school now, Kitten. You said the other night that it made a girl feel nice to be wanted. I couldn't tell you then that I wanted you so much that it hurt to mention it. I couldn't help thinking this week, with all the happy planning, that except for the war and stuff it might be us.-Yes, I know-the bugs. they offer quite a problem to be sure but I keep hoping that you are placing too much emphasis on something that can be circumvented in one way or another. Anyway, I love you, and not those durned parasites. ' This space reserved for thought upon a very important ritual forgotten Tuesday night. ' You best save my reputation before it is too late. I was getting a cup of coffee in Fredericksburg Thursday morning with a buddy and girl came in carrying a baby. She sat down on the stool next to me 177 and the kid poked a chubby little finger in my face and said "Da-da?" I made some ignorant remark like t "you can't pin anything on me". Red sails in the sunset 3 cars slammed on their brakes outside my face was so red! , Darling, I must study-I spent 4 full hours on the way back just dreaming-marriages, honeymoons, and all the et cetera till death do us part. She's a right pretty girl, too. I'm an awful lucky guy I guess but I keep worrying for fear I am just blowing soap bubbles. I even worried about who could sing competently at the wedding. Still dreaming, your Clarence ' 4/10/47 ' Texas A&M College My darling Kathe, I'll start one of these diary jobs because there just isn't enough to fill a letter tonight unless I start telling you how much I love you and that must wait until they put more potent words in the English language. Returning to the subject of absentmindedness-we're all that way down here. That's what ' physics does to a person. Bill wanted to call home the other night and borrowed a $5 bill from me. The Company Commander, Ted Goldman, and the two of us were talking. Pretty soon Bill got ready to leave and couldn't find the bill. We finally raked it out of the waste basket where it had been tossed in a neat wad! Later Bill came back fuming because all 3 of us had forgotten that there was a phone strike on even ' though we are avid newspaper readers. The company was entered in a swim meet tonight and I think we placed last in everything-all work and no play makes Jack a weak boy (to paraphrase). We had a silly rifle drill this afternoon and it sure got some of us rather tired and disgusted-however, I am not going to let colorblindness put me up in the lines again if I can help it. Kitten, the leaders of the little people in this world are ignorant and another war is shaping up as sure as I write this letter. 4/13/47 Another entry ( and the last for this letter) , Stan Kenton's band, No. 1 in the nation is playing for a dance here tonight but the weather is lousy and the lack of girls is even worse! We were nearly ready for noon chow today when girls started streaming around the mess hall. , There must have been about 300 of them and our dorm was in an uproar. They were a bit young but there were some nice young teachers with them and the addresses went around admirably. Seems there was a meeting of high school Home Ec gals from this district. They made many an old fogey feel young again. Course now, I'm not classifying myself as an old fogey cause you make me feel extremely youthful-I've already suppressed my natural tendencies so much for the benefit of society that I have ingrowing claws-and sometimes I howl at the moon-darling, I'm just naturally going to swell up and bust from pent-up emotions if we don't get married at the soonest plausible date.-I said I wouldn't press the issue but I wrote that and I won't apologize neither. Must I have the "moon and the stars" to offer ' before you make up your mind? You are my constellations. I can take a twinkle from your eye, or a letter, or a loving kiss-though 'tis true that 'twould be far more effective between man and wife,--and from each of these I can build a whole new world, a structure of life so dainty that a scowl or a word might blow , it away. Yes, kitten, sometimes those worlds change and there is despair in my dreams for I am there but the dream is not, or you are there and I am not. I have told you, darling, that I cannot put these thoughts into words when I am with you. Why is it so? My heart aches that I can not pour out the last measure of devotion, that words must suffice and, when words fail, that the sense of happiness at your nearness is the barrier to speech. My red rose blossoms the prettiest in the moonlight and, though no artist has ever painted that dark bud on the verge of blossoming, I carry the entire gallery in my heart. Dream with me, sweetheart, your own (for the taking) ' Clarence April 13, 1947 , Denton, TX Dear Clarence, I wrote you while you were at home but you didn't mention getting a letter. I got back here and immediately my teachers decided that we needed some tests to keep us up on things. Since I have been back I have dropped one of my subjects on the advice of Dr. Bain-this way I will be sure to keep up a good average. You see I will be going on tour on the 28's and won't be back until just before dead week, and the class I dropped was one that ' you needed to be there every time for there is no homework or outside work that could be done. I have missed too 178 ' much already and with this tour coming up it would be just too much ! I was taking 19 hours plus working 3 hours every day. So now I will be taking 16 hours. Yesterday was a beautiful day and so Little Bit and I put on our bathing suits and went out on the roof (the kitchen roof is right outside our window) and we took the best sun baths. I am no longer lilly white-thank goodness. When I got back from the holidays, Little-bit looked all worried about you and 1. It seems that she was told by Ann (her gal friend at Tessy) that Harris told her that it was all over between you and 1. Now ain't that something?????? How did all that come about, huh??????? Ruth and Little-bit are all excited about this week, for the Spring Dorm Dance is this Thurs. night. Chatter ' ain't going. I've got too many things to do before I go on tour. Right now I had better get ready to go to church, it is about time. So I must close and don my bonnet. Love you much, Chatter ' 4/14/47 Texas A&M College ' My own darling Kathe, It ain't true, so help me. I've been framed and you should know it! Just to make sure I am going ' down and get a padlock for my tongue. I called Fish Harris over today at noon to verify what I thought I had told him. He repeated just what I thought I had told him and that was said one day as we met coming back from the post office as I remember. Seems that I hadn't gotten a letter from you for about ten days and he asked me about you and I said (practically quote) "I don't know. She must have thrown me over for I haven't had but one letter in the last three weeks." Just an ordinary gossip conversation with no spreading meant. So help me, I don't even know Ann and how it got to her, or rather why it got to her I shall never know. Anyway, you can follow the cycle of a rumor as it came back to me entirely distorted ' and I hope you included it as a joke. Now here is an item of gossip that should not get to Lil Bit-well don't distort it! Harris had a gal down to the stan Kenton dance this past weekend who was a killer. A cute little thing with flaming red hair-the reddest I believe that I have ever seen. If that passed around to three or four persons he would ' probably be married to the gal with several little freckled face kids running around already! Winter had returned here as it doubtless has up there. Maybe it will warm up in a few days. Darling, I didn't get that letter while I was home. It is that doggoned pony express that works out there. Never expect your letters to get there at the time that you expect them to. Yes, I read the Last sentence to and the construction and wording is lousy. That is all for now darling, but if i didn't have to think so much of our future, I would think of you all the time. I will probably go to Houston next Saturday to get a suit for the wedding. ' All my love to capture all of yours 4/19/47 Texas A&M College ' My darling Kathe, I have a little time this Saturday morning and I shall, therefore, write you a little letter. I am going down to Houston in a little while to get a suit. I guess I should have gone to Dallas to get it but it is a "fur" piece and no doubt, you would be very busy. This is the weekend of the Cotton Ball and the campus is crowded with women-very nice, too. I was sitting in the mess hall last night and one guy brought his gal by just as I was pouring a glass of milk. Well, naturally my head followed the lines of least resistance and I found that I had poured half of the ' bottle of milk on the table. No kidding, these guys go absolutely nuts on dance weekends when there are girls around. We marched to chow this morning at seven and there were three couples standing in full evening dress watching us march in. Undoubtedly they had had no sleep the entire night before. My old roommate from 1943, Bill Bilderbeck, is off for the Kansas State relays this weekend. He runs a 440 on the mile relay team which set a new record at the Texas Relays this spring and is aiming at the mark at the Kansas Relays. The guy is running with two pieces of shrapnel in his legs which he picked up in the Phillipines with a signal jump outfit. 1 ' 179 Well, darling, there are only 43 more days until the end of school here and the last week of that , should be pretty easy for me since, as things stand now, I hhall not have to take but one or two finals. I'm sorry that you had to drop that course, but as things looked, you were killing yourself getting ' through school as soon as possible for some reason. It isn't worth it, Chatter. All my love, Clarence 4/19/47 ' Texas A&M College , My dearest Kathe, Here I is, a little bit tired but still kicking. I was in Houston today getting some clothes and they really set me back. I got a suit and another sport coat the which of which there is no whicher. Wait until ' you see it. Gotta spruce up the old carcass to go courtin' with the only girl who will ever mean anything in my life. I went out to your house and had a big visit with all our family present, to wit: the Mr. & Mrs., Ev, ' Fuzz, Ann, George and Myrta, and fleta Nell. I got on the bus dowtown and there was Fuzz. We promptly had a big bull session. she was wanting to know all about Don but was quite disappointed when it turned out that he was not a big athletic hero. I think she is about ripe for a big romance at Don's expense if we can just arrange the meeting. Aren't I awful? Ann was just a slight bit more precocious than usual. This time it took the form of repeating everything I said immediately after I said it. She was very intent on mentioning the amount of collected dust on the smoke collector over the stove. I mentioned that it probably was the woodshed for her as soon as I was gone, but she promptly imformed me that it was already the doghouse for me for mentioning the woodshed. She also asked me why I came by when I knew that you were not home and I had to tell her that I was laying the foundation for future plans. I could have told her that I get a big kick out of just visiting with your folks when I am in Houston. , Your pop took off for Livingston whise I was there and Evelyn and I had a big discussion on our relative college careers. I was hitching back but after getting a 35 mile and hour ride to Waller, and nearly being gassed by the motor fumes, I took a bus. Had a cute blonde seatmate who is a graduate of Sam Houston and is ' stenographer for the chest Specialist at Hermann Sons. We discussed everything from the disadvantages of trying to take a doctor away from his doctor wife to the detrimantal effect new marriage has on a student's grades. Her brother is a newlywed here at A&M. Kitten, you don't know how much I miss you on these long Saturday nights. I could of course lengthen that to include all of the time but you know that and Saturday's are the worst of all. How long it seems before I shall be able to hold you one night and know that each and every night after that you will be in my arms again. ' Your mother brought out the pictures which were made Easter and though you are by far the most sophisticated in the group, there was not one good picture of you which is something unusual. The best one was of your mother and John. And those sex appeal pictures of John. Oh, me! ' I must sign off, sweetheart, so this is goodnight. I'll remember in my dreams something you said as I was about to go to bed the last time I was there at your home. Don't be angry. I'm only remembering it in my dreams because I love you so very much. Your Clarence April 25, 1947 Denton, TX My dear Clzrence, Well here I am at work without the boss and his secretary around, so I will commence with what little I know to tell in the form of a letter. I heard from Jean the other day and now I will be dressed in a formal attire like Liz and the other gal. I will be in emerald green. (I'm still kinda green, ya know.) I'm sorry to say that Ruth will not play in the wedding. She has decided that she will not have enough time before she goes to Penn. if she goes to Kerrvihe first. 'I ime to spend ' with her family and friends. I don't know what has gotten into Ruth but it has. She and I aren't rooming together next year. I think it will be best. I still love her but I just can't see our living together again. She needs to take on more responsibility and so her share of the work. She is going to room with Zookie (my gal friend from Houston). Zookie will be a good roommate for her; however, what Ruth wants is for someone to 'make over' her and Zookie t will do it. I won't. I guess I'm not silly enough. Besides that I am hardly at home. I go there to sleep, and eat-I 180 ' have given up trying to study there so I go to the library when not rehearsing or working. Therefore I am never company to anyone. What a life!!! I have had some nice six weeks' finals and think I did pretty well on them. Bout time I did good on something. Our opera goes on stage this Monday night so that means plenty rehearsals for the rest of this week and then some. It really is going to be a knocked out performance. We have been having soooo much fun working on it that it just seems like the natural thing to do. Mary McCormic told us to act natural so we just do that very thing. I must close now and really go and do some work. Love and Later more, Chatter April 29, 47 A&M College of Texas ' My darling, There are a maze of tunnels under these dorms which carry steam pipes and electric conduits. Saturday night we found out who had been floating the dormitory and after much exploring of the tunnels ' we paid a visit to the boys. We haven't been bothered since. The old lady has invited me up to Oklahoma for a visit after summerecamp is over and I may take him up on it. I cannot make either term of summer school because the camp comes right in the middle of the summer. I hate to hear about you and Ruth having a disagreement, but sometimes those things just happen. I guess it is just what the Continentals call "I'temperament" which is supposed to be common to people with artistic abilities. Again-there are philosophers (and that means students of love) who say that there are only two things which will make women disagree and one is money. I shall probably be in Dallas this weekend and would like to come up and see you on Sunday if you will be in town. I imagine that you will be out giving one of those opera performances though. Well, back to my slipstick and the fourth of my five major quizzes in physics. I love you, Clarence May 8, 1947 Texas A&M My dearest Kathe, The days are flying now-so fast that it would seem that a person would scarce have time to catch his breath. It seems like only yesterday that I was up there for a few minutes. I am sorry if I was just a little bitter, it seems that you never have any time for me anymore. I could be flippant about that but I won't. It is a very serious matter and so help me, I'm on a limb. This weekend is Mother's Day, of course, and little me will be sitting right here studying. I think ' Mother and the Cunningham's and maybe Pete are going over to Uvalde on Mother's Day to do a little feathering on the nest. Marriage is a great institution or should I mispell it and say mirage. We had a church picnic here last night. We had quite a bit of fun and afterwards several of us went down to Navasota for a coke, etc. I didn't know the guy who was driving very well and did he turn ' out! 'All he talked about was how much money he had. I think the girl got her fill. Most certainly she should have. Hooray! I passed my physics quiz! That reminds me of a paraphrase of the twenty third psalm ' which I read and which you too have probably read. Mr. Ward is my teacher, I shall not pass. He maketh me to prove dense equations, he leadeth me to expose my ignorance before the class. He maketh me draw figures on the board for my grade's sake. yea, though I study till morning I shall gain no favor. The experiments bother me and the laws ' sorely trouble me. He prepareth my quizzes in the presence of mine enemies, he giveth me a low mark, my work runneth over me. Surely zero will follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the physics class forever. That is all the nonsense for now, darling, and I shall send this with another thought. I love you, Clarence ' 181 May 16, 1947 ' Denton, TX Dear Clarence, I have started to write you several times, but I have never managed to finish one whole letter to my liking. I was left in a horrible mood, when you left and I remained in it for some time after. However, the tour took it out of me for I had no time for thinking and that was good. Everynight we returned to Denton and it was in the wee hours ' of the morning 3 & 4 o'clock. All the next day we slept until we were to board the bus for the next trip. What a wonderful way to exist. I guess I will never understand so many things for example; why you love me. Maybe it is not for me to ' figure out. It puzzles me though. (I know I have said this a million and one times). Wednesday night Mary McCormic gave a recital with all her pupils in it and of course yers trully was there. The whole recital was very good. I wore my new yellow organdy evening dress. It sure is pretty. After the recital she gave a reception in the Mary Arden Lodge and we danced with all the lil Willies. I had a very nice time. ' Certainly was releived when the thing was over for up until the time of the performance I had not sung my words straight through without making many blundering mistakes. It was the German song that was giving me so much trouble, I could not for the life of me say them as fast as I was supposed to without getting tongue-tied. I practiced it , all the time I was taking a shower. I practically shook the sides of the shower. Now that that is over I have to begin preparing for my exams. I only have three hard ones, Mus. 242, Eng. 231 and Gov. 204. But that is enough to scare me silly. Ruth got a letter from Jean that said she was in mourning since Ruth could not play. I had mailed a letter to ' her that morning and it was a good long one. Will she ever be surprised. My boss is coming in now so I had better call it a day. Love and later more. Chatter May 20, 1947 1 open my English book and this falls out to my surprise!!! The pool is open now & everytime that I have the opportunity I get myself down there. Already I have ' cultivated quite a lil tan. I have been lilly-white long enough. And the exercise is doing wonders-a gal's gotta have some strength! I guess it's just a well that I don't apologize for I'm liable to do it again. Loveeeee, , Chatter May 21, 1947 , Texas A&M Dear Chatter, I recieved a letter from Mother the other day and it seems that she wants to know when they can expect you and also me. I would appreciate it very much if you could write and tell me when you will arrive in Kerrville so that whatever arrangements they are making can be carried out. We are having our annual Federal Inspection here and us little soldier boys had to pile out of bed ' at six this morning to have a practice inspection before classes. I was still asleep when we fell out to go to chow and had to take the company in. I don't know how we managed to get there without error. The ice was kinda broken though when the inspecting officer came around and took a look at my rifle. It ' seems that the Garand rifle is notably recalcitrant and many persons get what is referred to as an M1 thumb. Well, this particular rifle which they wished upon me is also defective and they won't give me another so that my thumb is blue already. This officer pulled the bolt back and promptly let it slam forward upon his thumb. He was really very calm. He said, "Well, it was a good thumb anyway." Bill and , I like to have laughed ourselves to death when he walked out of the room. I flunked my last calculus quiz which knocked me out of an A probably and also forces me to take the final. My quizzes begin Saturday and end next Friday. I shall have to take three or four this time. , Bill and I were in Austin over the weekend. We had quite a time and Sunday night we went to Young Peoples at the First Church. Their feminine president (a cute brunette) got up to introduce me and before she was through she had said to bring another buddy next time. Bill was next to me of course and after everyone roared, she added a "too". That must be all for now, Kitten. Love, Clarence 182 1 June 10 h, 1947 Denton, TX t Dear Clarence, I arrived home safe but not sound. Boy was my seat tired. The train wasn't crowded at all this trip & I had ' a whole seat to my self; therefore, I could just lounge around & make myself at home. I walked into the dorm & got the surprise of me life. In my absence the dorm changed into an old ladies home-honestly every old maid school teacher & her aunt is living in this place. Gosh, it's comical! Walking barrels, animated bean poles, and what have you parade up and down these halls now. ' I spent most of the morning registering and straightening out my stuff & classes, and scheduleing my work. What a day! My first class is from 8 to 9:20 and the next period I will be in the library studying. My second class is at 11 to 12:20-History. I work 2 hours in the afternoon-so see, bizzy, bizzy! I must read about four chapters in my history & get caught up. I'm just three days behind everyone! I certainly did enjoy the times I spent at your home & I want you to know so. Sorry I wasn't staying in Kerrville lovger. Thanks to you for the wonderful time. Love Chatter Note the change of Box number Box 5171 June 14, 1947 ' Kerrville, TX Dear Kathe, I don't know why I should start a letter with hollering about my back but the thing is plumb out of joint I'm sure. We have been hitting the shearing all during the past week. We take off about daylight and drag in after dark so bone tired we just eat and fall in bed. We are going to take a drive over to Uvalde Sunday to see the newlyweds. They came by Tuesday but Pete and I were at the Harbison. They just fiddled around in this general area. Seems that ' that is the really smart way to spend the time required to get used to each other as husband and wife. I'm rambling I know and I should be in bed but I doubt if I would have time to finish this in the morning. My typewriter is still broken and I shall have to take it apat to find out what is wrong. It is entirely irrelevant of course but the gal in the yellow dress at Point Inn the other day was Camille Kotlarich, the secretary of the Brazos Presbytery. That bothered me that I didn't remember her ' name. You certainly surprised the folks the other night when we came in. Seems that exactly the same situation prevailed to the bed and kiss when Jean and Charles told the folks of their engagement. They were quite dissapointed-hint! I tried to knock some jackrabbits out with rocks yesterday but the best I could do was to pin one's ears back and he sure took off. I'm afraid my throwing arm is off. It is raining today but we are heading for Uvalde in a few minutes (this is Sunday). Bye now Love, Clarence June 16, 1947 ' Denton, TX Dear Clarence, I guess you have been busy with the sheep shearing and such for I have not heard from you. However, I ' will be real sweet like and write you a letter anyhow! I just heard a bundle of bad news. Dr. Bain has resigned as Dean of Music School to become head of the Music School at University of Indiana. That just kills me. I guess you are glad though-you always wished that something would happen like that. I don't know what will happen to N.T. Music School now for we have lost 5 of our best faculty members to larger institutions. A Dr. Evans is to replace him in the fall. I have been working like a little dog trying my best to catch up with all that I missed. Today, I spent the majority of my time in the library since it is a free day. Rest of the time I spent at the typewriter. Had to type up the notes I took and then do some of my B.A. typing. I would like very much to go over to the recreation park to the show but I have a His. test tomorrow that I had better study some more for. Sometimes I wish I had a brain! I won't know what to do with my time now that I will be caught up. Guess I'll have to think of something. I' When will you be leaving for camp? It will be pretty soon won't it? ' 183 Since I have been back I heard from Little bit, Ruth & Zookie-but nothing form me family or such. However, Tues. is the regular day I hear from home. Dad wrote to send me a check & stated that sorta expected me to come by home but I had told them my plans. Guess maybe I should have gone home-I'm kinda planning on ' going home some weekend. Love, Chatter June 24, 1947 i t CoB Rotc Summer Camp Fort Hood, TX Dear Kathe, ' Did you ever hear of the little guy who jumped from the frying pan into the fire-that's me. We had not quite finished the sheep shearing when I left but we certainly did work hard enough at it. I was so tired when I would get home that I could just get out to the tank for a swim and then fall into bed. Did you ever try touching your toes all day? Oh, my aching back! ' Doubtless you will notice that my address is on the letter. I think we may get off for about 8 days for the 4th of July period. This is certainly a go around-I'm as busy as an old hound dog scratching for fleas. ' Speaking of dogs, Klein's got into our sheep in the Harbison pasture and I managed to get 3 hounds with our old single shot twenty two and wounded the little female collie which was leading them. One hound got away unharmed and Klein's said they were going to kill the others but they had not by the time I left. There is no place in ranch country for a band of sheep killing dogs. They had killed one $10 t ewe at least and we caught them baying another while she fought them off with every trick she knew. We get up a 5:10 AM and Taps is at 11 PM. The days are jam packed but I guess it will be worth the work and trouble. It's queer to most people why I and many of the other veterans here are taking this training but I believe wholeheartedly in preparedness as the only possibility of prolonging the peace and in preparing myself for life-whatever may come. I shall know the rudiments of dancing by the time this summer is over. So little time for so many things. Bill had a big time in Virginia and we went into Temple last night. That guy has connections in , more places! It seems that Mary Ellen Kuhlmann-the florist's daughter and Aaron Juurius have up quite a case. I think you mentioned knowing him and his mother. Charles went with Mary Ellen during the war some. She is a very nice and cute girl. Seems I made her quite angry when I got back. I saw her on the street in town one day and talked to her and she told her mother I treated her just like a little girl. I wasn't aware of it but she was very disgusted. Do I habitually act that way? ' There is nothing more for now. Love, Clarence July 1, 1947 Denton, TX Dear Clarence, ' I was glad to hear from you to know the new address. I figured that you would be too tired when you got in from the shed to write; so I wrote anyway. Well, it looks as though our holidays do not co-inside again. For the college kids voted to get off the 5 - Tues which is the 8 h I think. That means we will have classes on the 4`h & then head out for our homes. But there , is a hitch there-I'm not going home but to Litle Bit's for my holidays. Dad didn't think that I should run home for such a short time & I was simply furious with him. For all the time I was in Kerrville he kept hoping and expecting that I would drop in for a visit. Now when I wanted to come t home he says that they talked it over and decided it would be best if I remained here. He sent me the money for the ticket and told me to use my own judgment. Well I know good and well what he wants and expects me to do. So I'm not going home. I won't say that I'm not unhappy for I am. Therefore, I am going to see Little Bit. I did so want to go home & I may yet! ' You seem to be leading quite a life of leisure there at camp. Just how long will it convene. I didn't know that Bill was going to camp too. Yesterday, I bought some beautiful material and sat right down & made me a pretty dress since I had the ' day off. I just love those Mondays, when I can do exactly what I want to do. Well, guess I had better close and get to loafin! Love, Chatter 184 i ' July 1, 1947 Fort Hood, TX ' Dear Kathe, Don't look now but I am writing this from the prone or horizontal engineering position. I hope you ' got my address in my last letter if you recieved it. These people are going plumb crazy with the heat or something. Everyday they get a little rougher on us and pretty soon I guess we will just start daydreaming about sleep. Honestly we have to get up at 4:30 in the morning which is just 45 minutes earlier than usual but is still early. ' Then they come out today with a new training list which sends three men to the mess hall after duty each day to recieve instruction in "mess hall management and affairs." We all got a big buzz out of that. ' We fire rifles on the range tomorrow and all the men needing padding against continued rifle fire headed for the PX to get the standard padding. I don't know who was the more embarassed, the sales ladies or the guys. Anyway they are very effective. Bill is in Temple tonight but I just had to get some sleep. They have a jillion student nurses there at the four big clinics and Bill has grabbed one. We wear our ribbons around here after Retreat and the 2nd Armored outfit doesn't quite know what to do about this situation. They had the prior conception that we were all just kids and when 3/4 of us ' turn out to be veterans with more service than most of them they are rather disconcerted. I will see if the Army Postal Service can lose this one. As ever, Clarence ' July 6, 1947 Kerrville, TX Dear Kathe, I'm back home for the 4th and as usual had to side Grandma into the rodeo last night. I was sure tired and slept through until dinner today I had had a minimum of sleep for the past week. I hope you have a big time at Lil Bit's home. ' We have been firing on the range this past week and as usual that M1 packs quite a wallop. I could go into details about how sore my cheek is but I feel it enough to say that "Country" Higgin's--one of our first string footballers has a nice shiner. Sone of us who were expert shots in the Army are coaching and we have to lay on the ejecting side of the rifle and I have a nice burn where one of the hot shells ' came in my fatigue jacket with me. I can come up there next weekend-I believe-and if you like. I expect that I shall head back for camp tomorrow afternoon and dive into the work there. As ' some joker once said-"there is so much to do and so little time to do it. As ever, Clarence I July 9, 1947 ' Denton, TX Dear Clarence, ' I don't think that it would be possible for me to have company this weekend. For I have to sing for the veterans in the Vet Hospital in McKinney, and Mu Phi, EAI, & Phi Mu are having a big dance after which is a big party for Dr. Bain "going away" and to top all-Exams begin Monday. Therefore, I had better not have company. Mr. Traster asked me if I would sing two weeks ago and I agreed-so I can't tell him no now-can I? ' The second six weeks period begins on the 17`h so you see we hardly have a breathing spell. After all my stewing I went home. You see, coupla days after I sent my hot letter John mailed me two reservations & a ticket & of course, I could not let it go to waste, could I? I had a wonderful time while I was there cause I could do just exactly what I wanted too. Dad and I had some very nice talks-best we have ever had and the most interesting. Dad had to leave on Sat afternoon for Lufkin and he returned late Sunday night. He was scheduled to go on Fri & return on Mon. but it seems I sorta pleasantly interrupted his plans. He was pleased pink when I came home. I knewhe would be but I was disappointed that he didn't do what I asked him to do the first time ' I wrote concerning my coming home. I won't go home now again until Aug, which will be the end of summer school. I am in History now & about to be bored to tears-therefore, I thought I would make use of my time and ' write. That is quite the life that you and Bill are leading. More power to you. ' 185 While I was home I had my eyes worked on & as of now I have four eyes. Boy, I didn't know how much I ' had been missing! I have to wear them in class & when reading or such as that-not all the time-however, it wouldn't hurt me at all to wear them constantly until I strengthen my eyes again. It is sort of a nusiance trying to keep up with my glasses but I guess it will soon become a habit & I won't have to run back to get em each time. Maybe I should get a new brain for this one I now have. Am going to the student recital tonight & check all lil Music Majors present and then sit through the program to see that they stay there. Afterwards, I am going out to the Recreation Club for the all college dance and ' let Willie waltz me around a coupla times! I wish there was time for you to come up over the weekend but as you see its gonna be a full one. Maybe some other weekend, Yes? Love and later, more, Chatter 1 July 17, 1947 Camp Hood, TX ' Dear Chatter, I'm back again with little words of cheer-or "it could be worse". That could be the title of an ROTC Cadets lament. ' First my troubles-I have poison ivy and I'm taking yea shots for it. I told you I was just a pin cushion! Seems I didn't watch close enough on a little patrol problem the other morning and when I saw this particularly offensive little plant I had already stepped in it. ' We were out on a mortar demonstration day before yesterday and seems some fool instructor set us down in the center of a bumble bee den. They didn't like the crowded condition and pretty well spread us out in a very little time. A good many men can now give you the nomenclature of a Bumble Bee, M1. One poor guy who couldn't move fast enough got stung seven times. I ran off a ways and one of them ' insisted on dive bombing me. He would circle and come zooming in. I finally discouraged him with a fresh cedar branch. That was more training than we bargained for. This is one of the hottest places in the State. I could let that statement stand but my clothes are a t better testimonial with white sweat rime covering them. Some jokers are listening to a whale of a prize fight so I might as well cease and add to the audience. I hope you are holding up in the heat and study. I'll hit it next summer. Love, Clarence 1 July 28, 1947 Denton, TX Dear Clarence, t I guess I am just a hopeless case. I have been in such a despondent mood for the last coupla weeks. Everything that could ever happen has happened in that length of time and then some. I just wish that there was one , hole big enough to hold me and all my troubles. I have tried drowning them in the pool every afternoon from 2 to 3:20 but it doesn't work. I do manage to forget my troubles and have a good time in class-but it ain't easy. The last coupla class periods I haven't been able to go in so I decorated the side of the pool dressed in my ' swim suit. If we don't go in we are supposed to take sunbaths. Right now I am so dark that if I get any darker they are going to make me move to the other side of the tracks! I will be a Life Saver and Instructor when I complete the course. May be that I will take a job around Kerrville in some of those summer camps next summer. I would kinda like that. ' I got a very nice letter from Jean the other day and all seems to be well with them. Say, when you were down there was the house all painted on the outside and everything all fixed up? Jean has never said anything about it being completed-she did mention making curtains and hanging them for the finishing touches on the inside. ' What with all the nice things she received she couldn't help but have the inside looking like a doll house. Jean has so much...... she is loved and she loves that means so much in my estimation. Say, how is that poison stuff getting along? Did I ever tell you what a mess Dorothy was in when I went home for those little days of July. She was covered with poison ivy from head to foot and I don't think there was an inch that wasn't blessed by the stuff. Poor lil ole gal had quite a time with it for just the day before she realized that she had it she was out in the sun for some time and got a nice red complexion, therefore, when the poison began to pop out all over Doff was quite hot about it all. Besides that it hurt her dignity! Knowing Doff you will understand ' that. However, that is all over with now and she is off the a conference at Palacios, David, too, for a week or more. That leaves only Mom and Evelyn and Ann at home. Evelyn will have completed her job by the 14`x' of Aug. and then a friend and she will take off for La. in the friend's car. the friend wants to visit New Orleans for a week and some. Evelyn will go with her and then on over to Covington to stay with George and Myrta and the babe. A ' vacation will ge good for the lil ole gal. She will be back in Houston about the time of the month that I will put in 186 ' my arrival for my couPla weeks at home between terms. I don't care so terribly much about going home for there is not much going on and I am afraid I will get bored with my self. Lately I have been such a bore up here with myself ' that I could pass out. And I used to think that I got along so well with myself. Somehow or other I have just got to get things straightened in my mind or I will go nuts! It isn't the heat that bothers me; it's is a worried mind! Well, as the little boy said when he sat on the black of ice, "My tale is told!!!" Love and later more, ' July 30, 1947 Camp Hood, Texas ' Dear Kathe, I'm finally whittled down to size again with a weight of around 160. 1 would not recommend this ' method of reducing. We just came in from a nice big grind in the field with the hard ground to sleep on and those old rations to eat again. No less than 4 guys cut their hands bad on the key opened cans. I led one of the squads in an attack problem this morning and I was so sweaty that those heavy ' fatigue clothes were ringing wet. Ah well! It is over on Saturday and I will be home until the beginning of school. The camp meeting begins next Sunday. I do hope Charles and Jean are able to come. They were supposed to come to a meeting of the Divide Kleins and Leinwebers but they didn't show. I guess they were too tired. That, incidentally was held last weekend and we had a whale of a time. We put a screaming bomb on Conrad and Louise Klein's car and the results were too funny to describe. The three kids went every which way. Cornelia has a fresh small pox vaccination on her arm ' and her brother R.G. broke his arm a month or so back and still had it in a cast but they're still as mean as usual. Kathe, I don't think they have the place painted yet because they just haven't got the money. If they still haven't gotten it painted by Christmas one of their presents will be a paint job. Is Pat at Kerrville? One of the girls in town told me she was counselling at one of the camps, she thought. Some of us were on patrol last night on bivouac and made off with rifles from C companie's guards who were asleep. Everyone in that company nearly went crazy and now they are mad at us. Thas all fur now, Clarence ' Sept. 4, 1947 Kerrville, TX ' Dear Chatter, Gosh, when you decided to end it, you really put a dot at the end of the episode. I guess you have lots of something or another on your mind so I won't bother you too long with this note. Cain't we be friends though and you drop me a note now and then just to keep track of each other?? ' Bob, Liz, Pat and I went over to valde Sunday and I stayed over and worked till today helping them out to get the place in shape. Honestly, I think someone spent a lifetime of concentrated collection of junk! I spent two of the hottest days I ever saw finishing up their sewer system and now they have all ' of the modern conveniences. Jeannie really has the inside of the uptake but (as I said) the outside is a mess. Jean had a bunch of young cauliflowers in a box which she would put in the window every afternoon. Naturally, they would bend towards the sun and she would turn the box around to try and keep the stems straight! Poor cauliflowers-frustration complexes and nervous breakdowns! There is an undertaker in San Antone who says, "When you come to the end of your rope just tie a knot and hang on". As ever, Clarence ' September 7, 1947 Houston, TX Dear Clarence, I am so thoroughly ashamed of myself, and have such a terrible conscience about not writing you that I ' hardly know how to begin this epistle. I didn't write simply because I didn't know what to say. Thank you ever so much for coming thru as you did. I don't ever want to lose your friendship, Clarence, and you can bet your life that I 187 will continue to write you as long as you want me to. You and your family mean a whole lot to me, I am sorry, very ' sorry, that I could not see my way to be part of it. Right now I am in such a big mix-up that I don't know which end is up. This past week I have been through all kind of interviews and what-have-you, all in order that I may make a loan. I know right now what you ' are thinking, for we went through this several times, didn't we? The stipulations for the loan are not as bad as I thought they would be; however, it will all be shifted on Pop's shoulders if I should do anything drastic. (Which I don't plan to do for a coupla years anyhow!) (And then at that I don't even have any plans; so I guess there is really ' nothing for me to worry about.) That's life. Lately I have been spending most of my time in the dentist's chair, having the front teeth fixed and preparing them for a major operation during the Xmas Holidays. Besides that I had a nice lil jaw tooth extracted- pretty soon I will have nothing! ' Besides all the above that I have mentioned doing the two weeks home I have proven my self still educated in the culinary art and in the sewing field. The family is still living and I have a coupla of new things to wear in my wardrobe. Still have a coupla things in the making, which I hope to have done in the next week before I leave for t Denton on the 15''. Never thought I would be called upon to do a radio broadcast-but there is a first time for everything and last week was the first time! Saturday I spent most of my afternoon down at the station rehearsing and then today I did my stuff. Quite an experience! ' Say, is Pat still in Kerrville? I owe that lil gal a letter, too, so she informed John but I really think it is the other way around. I intend to write her after I finish this one to you. When does school start for you at A & M? All the kids here at home begin their schools tomorrow. Ann has been getting her things ready for the last week or so and is raring to go. She surely is a lil mutt-golly of all the things that she can come out with. The other day I asked her if she were taking her piano lessons during the summer, and the answer was no. But when I asked her if she were going to start taking them when school started she replied, "I'll worry about that when the time comes, for it is no use for me to worry about it now!" And she was ' so serious when she said it, too. Evelyn took off like a sage hen the other night for La. to see George and Myrta. She had planned to leave tonight but when George called Friday evening while we were eating he told her to catch a bus that night. So I packed her bag while she flitted about here and there all a-flutter and we managed to get her off on the 10 o'clock bus-much to her amazement. She was allowing two days to pack in' however, I showed her how it could be done in 20 minutes. She won't be back until after I have left for me lil destination. Golly bum, here I've almost written a book! Clarence, do let me hear from you, and thanks ever so much ' for being so wonderful. Just confused, Chatter Give my regards to Pete and your Mom! Texas A&M , 9/17/47 (embossed stationary: DHL) t Dear Ma & Pa, just a note to let you know my physical, mental, and financial condition. As yet, I have yet to find anyone and ' anything I dislike here at A&M; Even an occassional upper classman that just happens through. The weather up here is awful hot. You just perspire altime. I had to borrow $50.00 from junior and here's why. $93.50 Tuition, Board, etc, etc $6.75 overalls ' $2.40 socks $1.35 T shirt $1.15 tooth past & hair oil $13.95 slide rule & supplies $8.55 books $4.10 pen & pencil 4.00 altering of uniform ' $135.65 Your Son, Donald ' 188 ' Texas A&M Sept. 19, 1947 Dear Chatter, I jumped right into the middle of school again and I won't elaborate all of my troubles because you probably have some of the same. I'm taking twenty hours again and Bill is taking twenty two. Bill is Company Commander and I am Executive Officer for this outfit and we have moved so much we feel like something out of the "Grapes of Wrath". We have a corner room but it is like Grand Central on Saturday night-everyone has something to find out about or just something! (OVER-Be Patriotic-conserve paper & stamps) I heard a great big rumor today from one of my buddies-concerns your engagement or approaching engagement to some guy. I could not assimilate that with the information in your last letter. 6Quien sabe? If you aren't, I would like very much to squire you to the TCU game in Fort Worth on the eighteenth of October. Dr. Bain is gone-poor guy-and if the date is doubtful-I might entice you with boots and buttons if all else is no go--. ' Don is down here at the Bryan Field Annex. I sure hope he makes it. My box number is 5713-it won't be empty if you don't write but your letters-in a friendly way- are still at the top of my all time hit parade. I'm a little hoarse tonight from drilling the company this afternoon. I don't reckon I have met enough yell practices lately to get it in command shape again. You mentioned a major operation that you had to get your teeth prepared for. Are you going to wear a plate or is it something more serious that you and the bugs are argueing over? My grade point ratio is a'hurtin' so I'll sign thirty until some latter as ever at the end of the line Clarence. Sept. 28, 1947 Denton, TX ' Dear Clarence, I was entending to answer your letter before this but I haven't quite recovered from the shock of "my engagement". Say, would you find out who I am supposedly engaged to for I would like to know and so would the poor unfortunate fella. Boy, people are really fixing me up, but good. By the way, do I know the fella who informed you as to such? Tell me, will ya, huh? Clarence, believe me, you would hear it straight from me. I still have a heart, ya know. This first week or so of school has been very full for me. Besides holding down my towo old jobs (the ones I had last year & this past summer) I have inherited another job and on the side, I attend classes-18 hours worth. I find my self quite "bizzy" at times. Especially right now, while I am trying to organize things and get some sort of regularity to my school & working schedule. I'm in the a cappella choir this year (again) and was made general flunkie to the new director. He is a young fella, single, and a former graduate of N.T. & Westeminster Choir. He is following right in Dr. Bain's footsteps. And doing a good job of it too. We go on tour during the first two weeks of December. Therefore, I can easily accept your invite to the TCU game. The very thought of it just thrills me pink, so consider yourself booked for that day. Course, I'll have to come back from Ft. Worth that night so that I would be here for the 2 church services. It would be safer here in Denton than in Ft. Worth-the night after the game. It is an afternoon game, isn't it? Golly bum, it is growing late & I have a 1000 word theme to copy over so best I get to it, don't you think? Just plain ole, Chatter Thursday, Oct. 1, 1947 ' Texas A&M Dear Chatter, It is high time that I got on the ball and directed a mite of correspondence up your way. Your ' letter this morning was an added load on my conscience. As you seem to know I phoned you on my way up to Norman. I thought at the time that you might be talking in your sleep it was so early. I am prone to do that at times. ' Eleven hundred miles, much sunburn, and two luscious dates later we arrived back at old Aggieland. We went to Bills home in Muskogee after the game arriving at 2:30 Sunday morning. Never 189 the less we showed our haggard faces at Sunday School and church and went home with dinner dates. I ' got frustration complexes from my desire to howl. Some of these Okies are Okay. Now is the time for a note on the weather. The long drouth has just been broken by a nice little , shower which fell in the last hour. Yours truly has been engaging in athletics for the glory of old V-2. We have not lost a contest yet but next week we start football and as I play center You can just call me hamburger. We won our first Regimental Parade, too. Too much wine, women song, and tobacco are sure wrecking my wind. I ' thought I would never get through a basketball game yesterday. I have inquired around and I doubt if I will be able to get a room in Fort Worth. All reservations are taken up and I will have to try to get one which has been cancelled or something. , I must run to class now so I will finish this later. I have now eaten dinner and just shaved to keep from looking from like a tramp. I proceeded to nearly skin myself in the process. It takes a lot of fortitude to shave every day. Looking back over the last few paragraphs, one could very reasonably come to the conclusion that there were too many references to the first person singular. There is not a doubt that the person reaching such a conclusion would be right. Speaking of you-are you in this Madrigal Chorus or whatsomeever it is from NTSC which will perform down here? In case you decide not to write for a while-pul-leeze let me know when and where you will arrive in Fort Worth. Perhaps I seem a little overly stringent but it is rough if I don't get that infr) in time. As ever Clarence rsNP October 6, 1947 t Denton, TX Dear Clarence, You can imagine my surprised expression when I answered the phone so early in the morning to hear a big he'man's voice on the other end of the wire. Course I should have recognized your voice but golly I just didn't even suspect that the voice belonged to you. I was thrilled too death & only sorry that I couldn't run down to see you. But Clarence, I had cut the class two times before unintentionally of course (just plum forgot about it!) and I was ' afraid of what would happen. Do you see what I mean? Next time give me warning, will ya & I'll have out the welcome mat & everything! It's been every bit of 4 months since I last saw you. My how tempus fugits! Gosh, I have had a nice but bizzy time since I have been up here. Slaving away, and just having a rip- roaring time. I spend from 8 in the morning to 6 at night (with time out for dinner, of course) everyday over at the Music Hall. When I'm not in class, I am either working or practicing or at the Corner (which is very seldom). It is terrible on MWF when I have to meet a one o'clock class for invariably I fall asleep with my pencil poised in writing position. Marvin thinks it is amazing how anyone can sleep so and still take notes-for, so help me, every time I ' wake up I have something on my notepaper that is a reasonable facsimile to writing. Course I can't read it but golly think of the impression I make on the teacher! (I ain't saying what kind!) I hate to bring this to a close note but I have to get rid of these bags under my eyes before I see you again! Every night after 11 a bull session is held in this arena & sleep is hard to find! Always just, Chatter ' October 11, 1947 Denton, TX Dear Clarence, I will get a little of the load off your mind by telling you that I have a place to stay while I am in Ft. Worth of the game. It so happens that the gal across the hall, Jean Kenzy, is from Ft. Worth and she has invited me to stay at her home. Course there is a catch in it. Do you suppose that you could get dates for three cute gals. I will guarantee that they are good bets in any man's language. The have very nice personalities and are not bad looking at all; however they are not beauty contestant winners or any thing like that. There names are Sue Nell Walker, Jean Kinzy, and Betty Bird. If you can or can't do it will you let me know right away. I will be able to stay with her anyway, but it was suggested that I inquire. How about it huh????????????? 1 190 ' I have been working all morning and I am kinda tired. Since this is Saturday I am going to catch up on some of the sleep that I have neglected to get this past week. Then I will be all bright and stuff when you see me. Last night one of the gals down the hall had a birthday and we had her birthday party in my room. Course that meant that I didn't get to bed untill one of the wee hours of the night. You can't imagine how much I want to see you! And how mad I am at my self now that I didn't go ahead and cut that class for the third time. I guess I had better bring this to a close now and get it in the mail. So don't worry about a place for me to stay. Always, Chatter 4013 Linden-71294 Jean's address and phone in Ft. Worth. Oct. 14, 1947 Texas A&M Dear Chatter, I'll try to explain a little better what I tried to put over in the phone call last night. I managed to collect one date signed and sealed but better, I could not do. ' When the Aggies take their annual Corps Trip to Dallas or Fort Worth, the TSCW girls also get a little freedom and go en masse to the game with student tickets. In other words it is a joint Corps trip if you want to call their orgainzation a corps. It is rather difficult to get tickets for dates down here as a result because all of those alloted (sp) tickets are sold at Tessieland. Consequently most of the boys who can not wrangle dates whom they know wait until they get to the city in question to get dates. Naturally they get tickets with the girls or, if you want to put it that way, they kill two birds with one stone. I might still have gotten more takers, but some of the guys are negotiating at the present time and I might fill the ' bill be Saturday morning if your friends could collect some tickets from two-percenting Tessies. One guy said that he would like to have a date for the night after the game but that he would be slightly indisposed (polluted) at the game. It is hard to strike a bargain with these babes (wolves) in the woods. ' This gets quite amusing since I have a date with Pat for the Turkey Day game and she also asked me to find a date for her roommate. I think I can find a chink in Bill's armor for that one. Frank M. Smith is the guy whom I grabbed. Vital statistics are as follows: 22 years of age 5'8" in height Company athletic officer I went to bed on the wrong side last night and got up on the wrong side this morning or so Bill and I decided. Anyway I was blowing my top, and mostly about that dance Friday night. Come to think of it, I don't believe that you have ever come into contact with my temper, have you? I try to keep a tight rein on it. Look Kitten, see if you cain't make it over in time for the Parade Saturday morning. I think that it is about 9 or 9:30. 1 sure do hate it that you will not be over for midnight yell practice. It is a lot of fun. "S"all for now. Study a little, glamour-gal, and don't throw me these lines about no popularity. Love you, Clarence Oct. 15, 1947 Denton, TX Dear Clarence, You don't know how flabbergasted I was when I got this buzz in the middle of my hair rolling. I just throws on any old thing and makes a bee-line down stairs through all the good night departures-looking like a freak. But it was worth it. You needn't worry too much about the dates or the gals. Jean was thinking more about Sat. after the game rather than for the game itself. As it is so far, I will leave on the 9:50 bus from Denton-arriving in Ft. Worth about 11. So will you be there to meet lil me? I won't have to bother about a bag for Jean will bring that on with her. So it will be just you and I going to the game. Jean has a 11 o'clock class that is going to be impossible to miss-the old buzzard is giving them a quiz. So I guess you will have to put up with me until after the game and then we can ' go out to her house. I certainly am looking forward to all this! I'm getting excited already. Jean and Betty dragged me over to the library with them tonight and so help me, I would have never come had it not been that I owed the institution 8 cents on a book! I just don't like libraries-they're too quiet & people ' stare so. This afternoon amidst my bizzy day I attended a rush tea for the Senior Mary Ardens. I had to dress up fit to kill before I went to a cappella-and of course I was several minutes late-unintentionly-and every one dropped ' 191 their teeth and asked me where the funeral was! I was dressed all in black with the exception of white gloves. Did I ' ever feel silly! I always feel so selfconscious dressed up around this place cause it is so conspicious! Last night Mu Phi had their rush function for prospective members and it was quite the formal thing. Course I had a sweet roommate that pressed my dress for me while I was slowing away over at the music hall. I would never have made it if it had not been for B.K. Tonight I stayed home and pressed one of my other formals. The Mu Phi's are giving a formal recital Oct. 15 and I am going to yodel a ditty. Then there is going to be some good numbers on the program. You mentioned in your letter that it sounded so full of the first person! I just finished reading the first 3 pages of the epistle & it sounds as though I can't see any further than the nose on my face-and that's a fer piece! However, I don't intend for it to sound that way. , Well, they're nudging me to come on so I guess I had better bring this to a close & drop it in the box on my way home. Love, Chatter I will see you at the bus Sat. morning-yes? I can't make it in time for the parade for which I am sorry. 1 Oct. 15, 1947 Denton, TX Dear Clarence, , Well, here comes another change but I think you will like it. Jean & 1 are leaving for Ft Worth on n IatP afternoon bus-don't know zackly which one yet-but we will be at her place by 8 at least on Friday night. Then we can all go to the yell practice-how does that sound to you? In case you don't remember the address is 4013 Linden-phone 71294 and we will be there! I have decided not to give a hoot about the Mu Phi dance. Now see how you rate? This is just a quicky so I will close now-love, Chatter ' P.S. Does Frank have a car or does anyone you know have such. Jean's folks have one but she doesn't or has never asked for the car and since she doesn't know you all and neither do her folks it wouldn't be easy to ask'em at a time like this! Right! Love, Chatter Oct. 16, 1947 , Texas A&M , Dear Chatter, I reckon this note will be the last in the current series. I'll clear up arrangements as far as is possible and see you in Fort Worth Friday night. ' I am leaving fere for Dallas at 3 tomorrow (Friday) and I should be in Fort Worth by sometime between 8 and 10. Frank will probably be a little bit later but he should be there in time for the midnight yell practice in front of the Texas Hotel. I don't know how we can get in with a guy with a car so we will probably have to take taxis and ' buses. I think I told you that I had a new Buick on order but it will probably be sometime next Spring before it comes in so that doesn't alleviate the present shortage. I had two major quizzes scheduled for Wednesday but the fools in the classes voted to have them ' on Friday. for the life of me, I can't figure why. We had a football game yesterday (intramural) and our team came out with various casualties including a black eye, a skinned lip, a slightly ruined Adam's apple and various assorted bruises and abrasions but yours truly got out of it with only a little soreness in the muscles. Gotta run now but I'll be seeing you Friday night and I'll phone as soon as I get into town and Frank and I will arrange so that he can get in touch with us if he is not there in time to pick Jean up at her home. In that case we will escort her downtown and pick him up when he gets in town. Love, Clarence Oct. 22, 1947 Denton, TX Dear Clarence, It was bright and early when I left Ft. Worth after a very nice weekend with you. I woke up at 5:30, ' without an alarm, and Mrs. Kinzy got up and fixed Mr. Kinzy & myself some coffee & toast. They insisted on taking me to the bus. Well, I got here with a coupla minutes to spare-and I used them to run out to the dorm- changed into something else & ate breakfast. I was running pretty close on the schedule! Got to church and surprisingly enough I didn't go to sleep in the first service. At 10 all of us in the quartet went for a cup of coffee. , And in the second service I didn't even nod my head! Mr. Copeland preached a very fine sermon; so my thoughts 192 didn't have a chance to wander. Came home & stood in line for dinner--(by then, I was wishing I could stand on my head-me feel ain't used to high heels for too long of a time!) The dinner was delicious but my bed was more ' inviting. I washed my hair, took a shower and then jumped between the "kivers". I awoke 4 hours later to a cracking sound-it sound as though a monkey was eating peanuts-no monkey, but it was my roommate eating the peanuts you bought at the game. I had plum forgotten to eat em or feed 'em to you during the game. Just goes to show you how much smart I've got. Pat wanted to go eat some supper; so about an half hour later when I had gotten presentable, we went out to dinner. Pat didn't go to church that morning and she asked if I would go with her. We went to the Pres. USA and for a change I sat out in the congregation. Monday, I had a whopper of a test in my Mus. 472 course which I didn't do to hot on. And that night I was initiated into the senior Mary Ardens. After which Martha talked me into going to the show-"Nightmare Alley"- which was just up my alley. Even though the show was sorta peculiar-I enjoyed it immensely. 1 The other night when I told you good-night, Clarence, I told you I had a very nice time and that I was so glad that I had come. I meant every word of it. When I said it, you gave me one of the strangest looks as though you thought I was just saying it and you said something which I did not hear because the taxi drove up. Then again earlier in the evening you stated that you were "sorta fidgety" during the show and you never did tell me what was bothering you-the other gals & their dates interrupted. I wish that they had delayed their arrival. Clarence, what was it, huh? I have always told you that I'd try to understand. I couldn't quite figure it out. I had a very wonderful time over the weekend and I'm extremely glad that I went over Friday. I am only sorry that I could not stay over Sunday for maybe we could have gotten in a nice long visit for I feel that we were sorta cheated on that score! My nose has been poked into treasurer's books for the last two nights. Seems as though the Pres. of the National is coming to look at the books-sooooo Chatter's been adding things up! Well this is it until the next time! Always, Chatter 1 October 22, 1947 ' Texas A&M Dear Chatter, I just got your letter and it made me downright ashamed of myself that I had not written sooner. Like you, I have had a terrible lot to do since I got back. Our Aero prof threw us a major quiz yesterday and flunked his entire class, I think, for no one finished the thing. I'm sorry if 1 left some ideas in your head about things. I thought that I had told you why I was fidgety in the show. You see, when I don't get enough sleep and drink too much coffee I can't sit still. It seems like something inside of my legs would jump right out and run away if I didn't move them. Too much work strain and the thought of squandering hours which should be spent on education, I guess. How I enjoyed them though! The other is all tied up with my inability to pick up the art of dancing. There is something else there, too, which I can't explain but it has something to do with the lost years. How can I explain it to you when I don't understand it myself. I did have a grand time, though. I got a beautiful homemade comforter from Mother yesterday and a box of candy which didn't last very long, I am sorry to say. I've been firing on the rifle team regularly and have gotten back into shape quite easily. I am, in fact, already doing better than I did last year. We kept trying to get a match with the TSCW team but we did not even so much as get a letter of acknowledgement from them. You should see the cripples hobbling around here. Football and basketball have been decimating the ranks. We are winning more games than we are losing by far which makes me very happy for I love to play all kinds of sports and if you win a hard fought game you get a lot of pleasure out of it. You get pleasure out of playing in a losing one too, if you have a competitive spirit. (Why did I put that in the second person singular?) Did you ever see more atrocious use of the English lavhuage and a typewriter than is shown in this letter? ' Bill has a date for the game this weekend and he has gotten permission to miss the Corps march into the stadium so I will have to take the company in. You see, at home games the entire Corp marches into the stadium and around the oval track to their positions in the stands. It is something else about Aggieland that I like. Did you hear about the Connecticutt (sp?) Yankee who was slightly inebriated at the yell practice. He went weaving throught the crowd hunting for just one civilized human being and when last seen was heading for the yell leaders platform to excersise his right of free speech. 1 193 Some of the guys were raising you know what in the dorm last night after I had gone to bed and t Bill was out to the show. I was just about asleep when it started so I did not get up to stop it. Very shortly A TACTICAL OFFICER poked his head in the door and turned on the lights. I feigned sleep which was entirely easy so he turned around and took off. I would probably have been chewed royally if I had been up for not keeping law and order. Goodbye for now, Kitten, As ever Clarence November 17, 1947 ' Denton, TX Dear Clarence, Well, I guess Rice beat the tar out of you all, didn't they? I sure do wish I had been home so that I could have seen that game. However, we had a nice lil game here at NT which was our home-coming game. Our boys really did a fine job, for I guess you know we beat the tar out of the University of Houston. That just did my lil ' heart good. John said that he was sure that our team would mow them into the ground and they did just that. The Home-coming activities were quite thick for the week-end and we got out of our Saturday classes in order to participate in some of them. Never have I seen so many peoples in Denton at one time. The Westminister Choir from Princeton was here last week and our a cappella choir gave them quite a reception after the concert. Jane and Xina, and I made sandwiches all afternoon and had the time of our lives trying to figure out how many sandwiches 90 people would eat. You see, our choir went to the concert ctre >cd formal and all sat together in a body in the center of the auditorium. Then after the concert we were to sing for them-so we had to run go jump into our choir robes and park ourselves on the stage. All the audience was supposed to leave but half of them got wind as to what was going to take place so half stayed. (The others didn't know what they were going to miss) Well, the W. Choir think that we are quite the stuff-just like we think we are. There are 40 , members in their choir and the same amount in ours, so when we all got over to the Mary Arden Lodge we had quite a house full of hungry people. And I mean them foriegners really put away the food. I made all the coffee which was simply buckets full. It was good they said, and they weren't just being polite either. Because they all gave a concert the following night which is only proof of the pudding. , You're going to the Turkey Day game with Pat aren't you? When you see her give her my best and tell her that the A cappella choir is due to come down there sometime-when I do not know. But one of the regents of NT lives there and has invited us down there to sing. I surely wish I could see that gal before then but I know good and well that is an impossibility. I am not going home for the holidays for we are going on Tour on the 1" day of December. I need those holidays to get things ready in and get a little ahead on my studies. I can't afford to get behind very much. Say, did you go to the show that a group of our students put on there at A&M some weeks ago? I meant to , write you and tell you all about that deal before it went down there, but I am about as much help as a broken neck, and as intelligent as a beetle. It was a very good show, and if you missed it you really missed something. Especially the Dipsy Doodlers. They're my favorites. Most of the kids in the Troup are from the Music Dept. Corn, Swing, , Classic, Pretty gals, we've got 'em all. You remember the two gals that Helmut and McKinney were with at the TCU game. Well, the other Sunday I sang a solo at the 11 o'clock service at the First Christian Church and who should be in the choir but just those two gals. Both of them remembered me and was quite surprised that I should turn up there. They are very , nice lil gals as far as I know them. Neither of them knew just why I was there until I got up to sing and then they said that I charmed them. Denton is a small world after all. Just, Chatter November 24, 1947 Denton, TX Dear Clarence, I came home tonight all tired from 4'/2 hours worth of rehearsal and a gal hollers at me in the hall & says "come here". It seems that she had been down in my room talking to my roommate and all of a sudden she saw your picture! Well she said, "I know that boy, I know I saw him this week end" and immediately B.K. said "That's Chatter's Clarence"-Then Frankie got real excited and hoped that I would get home soon.-sure nuf, come 9 oclock (my bed time) I came in. Right off I knew that it was you that she saw if it was a PSA Conf. & the guy was in uniform from A&M. She was quite impressed by your talk-and if I know you, I know you did a good job. I did not know anything about the convention. I wish I had of. I did absolutely nothing all day Saturday (we had a holiday since we were playing E.T.)--did a general house cleaning of the room, & washed some clothes and polished all my shoes. I knocked my self out trying to find something to do. Sunday went to church, all three times,--I know of no church I love better than that one. Come to think of it, Mr. Copeland is marryin' off one of me ' gal friends-I'm singing for it.-Tomorrow night. 194 I Put in my student affil-the other Sunday & it made me feel so good & Mr. Copeland was quite proud of me. He, Mr. C., was in Houston several weeks ago at a ministers meeting & who did he meet but my pop. He likes my pop! So do I. Gosh, Clarence, I just had to write you! When Frankie said she saw you I just wished so much then that I could have said that I knew you would be there. Course I didn't know beforehand but just as soon as she mentioned the name Clarence, I knew without doubt that it was you. I'm proud of you and I want you to know it. We have just about rehearsed our ears off with our choir repertoire but its in shape & we looked the dickens-surely glad the holidays give us time to rest up. Course I'll be using that time trying to get ahead on assignments. What a life--& I love it! Wrote Jean the biggest ole fat letter-I know she'll be surprised to get it. I know that she's about so mad at me that she could put holes in my tooth paste tube! I am going to make my self improve on this letter writing situation. You just wait and see-that is, if you don't mind. I don't guess you would be interested in the mailing list of our itinerary, (I think Webster would approve of that spelling!) would you? Golly-bum this has turned out of be a long one, hasn't it! Oh, but I just get to tell you a "funny" that happened the other night to us in concert at Grapevine. Well we were singing "Shenadoah" which is an Indian song with a Fred Waring arrangement. It has a baritone solo in it and Bill got sorta flustered and got his words crossed and instead of singing "An' so he left her broken-hearted" he said "and so he left her hind departed"-well those of us that heard his mistake just had to giggle under our breath while we hummed-but brother, it wasn't easy! I thought Mrs. McKinley would just burst before we finished the piece-thank goodness it was near the end when he made the mistake! Poor boy, has never gotten over the razzin' we gave him yet. Now every time we sing the song we either hold our breath at that place or grin up a fog. I'm telling you I wanted to laugh a big ha-ha that night so bad that it hurt. Love, Chatter ' December 2, 1947 Texas A&M ' Dear Chatter, Well, the long holidays are over and it is back to study for this lil guy. We had quite a time with Charles and Jean and Mr. & Mrs. Cunningham and Grandmother Leinweber and Aunt Dolly, the day after ' Thanksgiving-which reminds me, we won't talk about that football score. Charles got a nice buck and I missed my turkeys 3 times-ah-woe! ,Country Higgins-one of our first string ends was just in and we were kidding him about getting acquainted with his wife again now that football season is over. We got quite a big buzz out of the whole ' deal. Incidentally, remind your roommate that I am not, quote "Chatter's Clarence", unquote. I do not belong to any girl, nor shall I until that girl shall also belong to me. ' I have had a visitor lately in the form of a community chest cold. I have contributed liberally of my patience and energy. You got off on your trip before I could find time to write and get that list of addresses. I reckon you would have sent it anyway if you had wished. Perhaps someone will forward this to you. I am giving you a blanket invitation to visit at the ranch during Christmas holidays-this extends for any or all of the time and as an added inducement, Jean and Charles will be over Christmas Eve at least. Think it over, II' will ya? One of the guys met his Monday morning class this morning and Bill left his wallet down the hall and another guy got engaged to a TU woman and can't see straight. You can tell it was a typical long weekend for the Aggies. Let me know where you was, huh? Love, Clarence Dec. 21, 1947 Kerrville, TX f Dear Chatter, I just have time to write you a note before we take off for town and a Christmas Pageant. Bill ' came home with me and we laid a trap line. I kept kidding him about skinning a skunk if we caught one and after 4 ringtail cats and one coon's toe-there was a skunk. I shot it and Bill renigged, so to keep peace in the family I decided not to skin it. Bill is going home tomorrow and I expect he'll be glad to get ' away because I carted him all over the country on horse foot and otherwise. 1 195 Kitten, the invitation was blanket for any or all of the season. Just let us know where to meet you ' and the length is up to you. If Charles and Jean can't come back, I shall take you down to Uvalde. Hokay? I go back for the 5th, too, so plans fit there. The place is a mess but that you should know. These notes have been hurried for I must run and bathe. Love, Clarence Dec. 30, 1947 ' Mountain Home, TX My beloved Kathe, In this my last letter of a batchelor's year (day after tomorrow is leap year) I don't think I will be very witty, Chatter. Rather I would write you a letter of thanks, a letter of apology, a letter of yearning, a letter of love. 1 My thanks go to you for your patience with me when my jealousy of every shared moment of your time became apparent. You to6k a period of vacation and made it a period of joy-a period of disquieted happiness which can only be consummated in one way. Darling, I want to explain on one thing which hurt your feelings at the time. I was unable to explain further because Mother went off on a tangent. Rowena was quite disappointed when she found that you were in town. I had told her that I would have a guest possibly but I didn't think you would be here at the time of the program. I shouldn't have to tell you that I love your voice-(to speak in part). Kitten, I believe you have an apology coming in that I went a little far with you last night. Of that I am not ashamed because my intentions as a lover are honorable. I thought I might solve what to me is an enigma and now I am more confused than ever. What you said was "Oh, Clarence. You'll never love me." If I wounded your feelings I would as soon lose my chances forever as to hesitate in apologizing. , Why must circumstances keep us lawfully apart when we want each other in marriage? Kitten, I am all mixed up. Are you deliberately playing a "now you have me, now you have me not" game? Or are you using me as a base of operations? These are the problems which have nearly , driven me wild this past fall. The first I can understand if you only would not accent it so much. The second I must reject because you are you and you could not have said what you did when I became too possessive last night and still play that game. Darling, you wrote me once that you could never become a member of the family(?) after I had written asking for friendship if nothing else was within my grasp. That was before the Fort Worth trip. Last night you said that you could not understand why I had not taken you in my arms (as I yearned with all my heart to do) and expressed my love in Fort Worth and here on the ranch. When we come together with ' such meshing of thought and soul it cannot be brotherly and sisterly affection, Kitten-it cannot! I am afraid that my control might slip and it might offend you greatly and hurt my self respect, although my love would not be altered. I have come to the conclusion that it would be much easier to forget you entirely than to live with ' you and yet without you. Therefore, don't expect me ever again to act as just a friend-it's impossible. You and I should both be near enough our goal next Christmas to be able to make tentative decisions. That decision must be yours-mine is made with the exception of plans. Happy New Year, darling, and I hope that you will give much thought to us through the New Year. , All my love, Clarence 1 1 196 1 9 4 8 fixl 3~;, r;• I~ # w Will r,. 61~ I' r ' J iP~ z~ . k v.. q, eY1 t k;kl al. -fig 5 Evl, 3$ 4 i January 5, 1948 Denton, TX My dearest, A new year and so far all I have brought you is a worried mind. I am in hopes of brightening up that mind by telling you something that makes me feel very wonderful to tell. First, Clarence, let me tell you that I am not playing a game, not when a coupla hearts are involved. And another thing-when you became a lil possessive that night I said what I did without thinking that you would misconstrue-you see I used the word "love" when I should ' have said "respect". Darling, I know that your intentions as a lover are honorable that is one of the reasons that I love you so terribly much. And I do Clarence-ever so much! If you will promise to love, honor, obey and wash dishes (I hate to wash, however, I'm plenty good at wiping!) and I'll be yours. I wanted to tell you all the time that I was there with you but the words just never came out. I don't want you to apologize for anything that you have done that you thought that "wounded my feelings". You see, Clarence, I know that you love me-which to me means everything. I want your love and in return I give you mine. And I don't want any brotherly & sisterly affection either, hon! (Be kinda crowded with all my brothers and sisters mixed up in it!) Like you, I think that both of us ' should be near enough our goal that by next Christmas a tentative decision be made known. And all through this year I shall think of nothing but us. John has improved somewhat but he is awfully cruel & biting in his attitude toward dad. I sorta hated to come back up here knowing that John was not entirely well. All I can do here in Denton is pray. He has Just got to snap out of it! I must close and pound on the portals of dreamland. Your Kitten loves you, I love you, Chatter 1 January 7, 1948 Texas A&M My darling Chatter, You have placed a terrible responsibility on me but, darling, that was what I have been hoping and praying for for quite some time now, remember? That was absolutely the best letter I have ever recieved and doggoned if it won't help me quite a bit in planning my work and preparing to fulfill that responsibility. Don't get too hopeful though cause in the process of furnishing us with the family bread I doubt if I will have time to wash more than the supper dishes and I do hate a housewife who allows them to pile up from meal to meal-so there! We may never be well fixed but I think that I have enough body and mind to keep us from want. If worst comes to worst you can sing at funerals, etc. for our meals (you'd probably make more than I will). I guess that again I am being presumptuous but then I have built quite a few air castles since 1 got your letter. You would never commit yourself before so I was never sure of my footing. I trust that you ' will never allow me to get too sure. Guess I'm going in circles but then what do you expect. I can't think of much else for sure and I know 1948 is going to be a long year-any way it has an extra day! Be careful, Kitten, cause though I shouldn't say it, a bad recurrence of those bugs would set us back some more-fern it. That we cain't allow, can we? Bill just came in and says to give you all his love. I don't believe him but then there'tis. Bill came back with Rosalieitis. ' Sweetheart, I just must sign, seal and consign this note now cause I gotta study. These profs have a bunch of things they call books filled with all kinds of number doodles. They say if you don't doodle like the books doodle the numbers on the backs of your papers get smaller and finally you get an ' alphabetic letter of the 5th position. Such is life at A&M. All my love (need I say more), Your Clarence January 11, 1948 Denton, TX My dearest one; Just got back from my trip to Wichita Falls a few hours ago. I had quite a rushed day-sang at both 9 & 11 1 o'clock service & had to be on the bus at 12:30 with my lil ole' bag containing my robe. I made it O.K. but I had to ignore the dinner hour for I did have time. Didn't hurt me, though. I just ate a big supper at the College Cafe & now I feel fine. We gave a very good concert & had a receptive audience. we were all in a silly mood so we just cut up and acted silly all the time we were on the road. That's the end of this terms work in the a cappella choir. I! , 197 i Next week we will be spending most of our time in Dallas working with the Symphony. If you pick up a ' Dallas Morning News some time you will read about us on the "Arts" page. We'll most likely be tom apart by ole "fattie" Rosinfield the critic. Some times he likes us-and sometimes he doesn't. Don't ever worry about my "bugs", Clarence? I would never let them stand in the way of "our" happiness. It wouldn't be fair to me or to you either. And you can bet your life that I will take care of myself. You see I think a lot of me-not in a conceited way but in a proud self assured way. And maybe there is a lil fear mixed in, for I don't ' care to take many risks when I know my "bugs" may become involved. Do I make sense? Anyhow, I love you and don't worry about getting "too sure" of yourself. Jan. 13 I thought I would get this off in the mail the other day but--------- John Charles Thomas" concert was very good last night. Course taking everything into consideration, you , know he's a man in his late 50's however, he still has a splendid voice-it wasn't as flexible as it used to be, nor is his range as wide-but his fallen chest is tremendous! Dorati of the Dallas Sympathy Orchestra was here yesterday & now today at 12:30 we are going to pay him , a visit in Dallas. Guess I had better tell you again that I love you & close. I love you, Chatter 1/14/48 Wednesday the hub of the week ' Texas A&M My darling Kathe, I'm going to drop you one of those quickies so don't be too disappointed when it only runs a couple of pages. Don sent me some pictures and I'll forward a set to you. I was quite disappointed in the way they ' turned out. They just couldn't show how adorable you were in that getup. You know about the only chance I get to see you is when you are dressed up and though I have pictures of you in sweaters and skirts, I have never once seen you in a "college go to the drugstore" layout. I love you just the same though-what an understatement. Bill and I are in the midst of our last hurdles before the big leaps the ones that scatter brains all over the place or break the boxes they came in. Bill says to "give you his love-all of it, well most of it- some of it." He was undecided and I told him I couldn't reciprocate with Rosalie even though she did enclose a cute little note. Poor gal-her high school paper in a personality writeup said that she had an ambition to pop bubble gum so I had Bill take her a piece. He is slightly involved-the first chink in his armor. Out of all of my acquaintances Bill is one of the few really true friends 1 have. My Aero is improving by leaps and if I make it I might get a chance at Langley Field, Virginia, amongst other places. It is one of the major experimental points in the U.S. Kitten, I've just got to quit using our time this way and turn to my studies. The present is wonderful but the future is a field of roses-even roses have thorns and each one of them is labeled purchasing power and sublabeled happiness, security, and love. I love you with all my heart darling, Clarence January 16, 1948 Denton, TX Dearest one, Well, just a coupla more trips to Dallas & one to Ft. Worth and we will be through with our concert season. Remember the "funny" I told you that happened to one of our soloist & his lyrics---well, here's another good one that happened to the tenor soloist. Only thing is it happened in rehearsal, thank goodness-In the St. Matthew's ' Passion, which is the story of the crucifixion, there is a line that goes "And they smote Him and cut off his right ear!" Our imported tenor says "And so they smote him & cut off his rear!" Mr. Dorati got so tickled that the rehearsal was disrupted for about 5 or more minutes. All of us were just tickled to the bones, and every time he tried to rehearse that one spot always got a hearty giggle from Mr. Dorati. Then last night in the performance he looked at the chorus & just gave us the biggest grin when that passage was being sung. Beleive me, more funny things happen to the lyrics of pieces! We have to stand during all the performance & me lil ole' arches have fallen about 50 times-sure wish I ' could stand on my head and sing. Would save a lot of wear & tear on me feet! I sometimes wonder what I'm gonna do about my exams-I don't know anything-I sure do know a lot of nothing. I honestly have been to Dallas more with the choir than I have been attending my classes. Thank goodness all my classes are in the music hall! 198 i I got a big kick out of those pictures you sent, hon. Speaking of pictures. Penny took a lot of flash shots of me & all the rest of the "Macs" which are very good. She is now on her way to California & Nellie's & Vic's. Penny is going to find her self a job out there and settle down. I hope that some man finds her out there-for she deserves the best. I've never known anyone like her. Clarence darling, does your family know how I feel about you? Course, everyone has a pretty good idea since I went out to the ranch, I guess. Your family is tops, that is, next to mine! What your Mom said to Mrs. Moore that night just thrilled me something wonderfully. A future with you couldn't be anything but wonderful. Jan. 20, 1948 I thought I would get this in the mail before now-but as you can plainly see, I failed! I'm just about exhausted-we have been to Dallas so many times that I could just croak. That's what I sound like I'm doing when I try to sing. I've really had a big time but it sure does show-I started out carrying one bag, other than myself, now I am carrying a coupla under the eyes. You'll still love me if I look like an ole bag, won't ya, huh? ' Sam, our regular bus driver is on vacation and now we have a celebrity as our chauffeur-you've heard of "take it away, Leon!" Well, that's who we have! For 7 years he played a "speedy" steel guitar with the "Light Crust Doughboys". He said after 7 years he couldn't take that kinda life anymore! So now he's a bus driver! While he was driving, he would sing under his breath-it wasn't exactly our type of music! I have to feed me lil ole mugg now and get my self over to the music hall and in the bus for Dallas-we'll be there from 1 til 4. Then tomorrow we spend the whole day. Maybe after this week I'll be able to talk about something else. This is all I have on the brain except for the fact that I know how much I love you. An' I only say it cause it's true. Chatter January 22, 1948 Texas A&M My darling Chatter, I just recieved your letter and I 'spect I better write you one right now because my quizzes begin in the morning and from there on until Wednesday-it is rough. I kept trying to find something about the Dallas Symphony in the morning News but we missed our Sunday editions down here and I could find nothing except a hellacious price tag for the Concert in one of the other editions. You referred to one of them thar bus drivers. have him sing "Ole Rattler" for you! It's all the rage I down here now. In fact the hill-billy singer next door goes into spasms every time he hears it. Sweetheart, you wondered if the family knew about us. They know only that you are the one I want above all others. I wrote them that things were fairly well ironed out after Christmas-other than that would have to have your permission-and Mother cain't keep a secret! I think I told you that I didn't ' believe in long engagements-it takes too much out of a young person's life. I'm ready to settle down and don't have too much time to run around but a year and a half could get awfully boring to you. See what I mean? let's don't make it official unless you just want to-all reasons considered. I certainly wouldn't want to step out on my fiance nor would I want her dating promiscuously other than me. Jeanie also is in the know-from both sides I gather. She has been my confidante since I came back from overseas and before she met Charles. Kitten, some of the guys are getting desperate down here. I'll enclose a slipping or two as evidence. So help me, you never heard all of the moaning and groaning that goes on when finals time rolls around. And then there are always.the poor jokers who are flunking Lovemaking 101 and the ones who are trying to transfer their grade points to some other school where their current flame happens to ' be. Then there is our Bridge Society for the Flunking of Failing Students (Non incorperated and Nonsensical). Bill was assigning new men to a half floor upstairs and the other company commander's roommate assigned some of their men to our rooms. Boiling point Bouldin he was known as in them days. So help me, I thought he would go right though the ceiling. Beer call was attended more strongly than usual last night I think. Sounded like quite a bunch went out of the dorm. Crying in the stuff no doubt. I was dreaming about us so that represents wasted time in case you were wondering. I cain't afford to do too much of it but it sure is enjoyable. I cain't afford to flunk any more courses-I just cain't do it. Not when the penalty is four months of time. Oceans of love and a kiss on every wave. Remember? Your, Clarence 1 ~ 199 North Texas State January 23, 1948 My darling, , Oh how I wish you were here sitting beside me-it would be so much easier to talk to you. I could use a strong shoulder like yours. I got a letter from Dad and it was the first word I've had from home since I have been back. I have been extremely worried about John and it's beginning to show for someone has mentioned that I don't , smile so much as usual and that I looked like I had a worried mind. And sure nuf, I do. I haven't ever mentioned John's illness to anyone here and don't intend to. Anyhow, Dad told me that he had taken John to all the psychiatrists that Houston had to offer and each one advised the same thing. Consquently, John is now in a , sanitorium for a 90 day treatment. Hohn had put on his shoulders all the family burdens-physically he was strong enough but mentally, it was too heavy. I know what ever was done was the right thing. I was so thankful that he never became violent-he was watched too closely. Dad says that now Mom has perked up a bit-that releives my mind quite a bit. Mother was held down so much by John's presence that she was becoming someone else in her , personality. Mother can't stand too much strain on her nerves either. Dorothy graduates tonight from San Jac. and becomes a woman of the world. She has a nice fat job waiting for her so she is all set until she begins at Austin College in Sept. I think all this will be good for the lil , squirt. If you have a coupla days off why don't you run down to see my family. They'd love it! I wouldn't even mind if you took any of my 3 sisters out! I know Mother would love to have you for she is quite fond of you. She and I had a wonderful talk the afternoon before I left. It would please me if you did go down for it wouls surta be like tasting a bit of home if you were to write me some of the inside dope on the family! Tomorrow exams begin, so I will have a lot to worry about during the next week. I love you more every day. Chatter Texas A&M , January 25, 1948 My darling Kathi, For some inexplicable reason I have been wanting to phone you all day just to hear the sound of your voice. I guess I probably won't cause I might catch you in the midst of some dense studying. , I've finished all except two of my finals-I didn't exempt but one and one that I didn't exempt had a 93 2/3 average. I'm pretty close to the line on two of my courses and could have flunked one of them. I resolve to study harder during the rest of my school work. I'm going to shoot for a solid B and + average-2 grade point ratio or better next semester. That is plenty rough at this school and very few men in the school of Engineering keep it up. Poor Bill flunked Calculus-he says. He has never flunked a course in his life before. I shall probably go home Tuesday afternoon and come back Friday morning to register. I may ' chase down to Houston Saturday or Sunday though it would seem a bit presumptuous since you aren't there making a special trip, I mean. That may seem silly to you but it is something that has been instilled in me from childhood. Chatter, I was planning to surprise you and show up on Valentine's Day but I decided against it because they may have a big dance or something scheduled and of course I would embarass you if you had a date by showing up unannounced. Would it be okay or would some other weekend do just as well???? I'm just a sitting here looking right straight at the mess hall and it's about that time so 1 'spect I'd best get dressed and put a pair of track shoes and elbow guards on. We aren't making meal formations during finals and it's every glutton for himself. Being in a woman's dorm and eating in the dining room there I doubt if you know just what I mean. Love you always. Clarence Texas A&M January 29, 1948 My darling Kathe, I just dropped a thank you note to your family so I reckon 1 better not sleep before I write you a longy or I might not sleep so well cause I'm going to try to go home early in the morning after I register. I was going home yesterday but the roads were iced up that way and I took the time to chase down and say howdy to your folks. I thought that you might like the little present of a phone call from your home. We tried to get through at night but the lines were out so the call went through in the morning. I'm sorry we got you out of bed but I just love to hear your voice when you are sleepy! 200 i Your folks were all in fine shape with the exception of course of John. Your father had little to say aside from discussing background, etc. and mentioning that John was taking a month's rest. So you know as much as I can tell you there. Evelyn was cramming for finals and David was quite interested in his muscles and Athletics. Dorothy was quite put out and she and your Mother were working like beavers to get her a formal for some shindig Saturday night. she was planning to wear the one of yours that they sent up. Ann-the cute trick-was quite taken back. Your Father got her as she came home from school and brought her in to introduce her to Elmer Crabtree, a relative from Carolina. She nearly had fit when she saw it was me. That kid is suddenly growing-or so it seems-no crossed eyes and she just seems to be at the turning point. Maybe I'm wrong, but I believe you'll have another young lady in the family before you know it. Your father and I had quite a few long talks-some about you-some about me-some about theology and some about life in general. The ones about you and me were the most important, darling, and although they were more or less in generalizations I thought them very important. He has a slightly different feeling of family life from that which I have been brought up with. The man, the leader in the ' home-the wife the helpmeet (or helpmatey-etc. Another thing he intimated more or less was a feeling of respect and treasuring of our friendship on your part. Although these must be present in both parties if a marriage is to be successful there are other ingredients joy of being together, mutual sexual attraction and mutual interests. I There is nothing I regret more than acting like a fool when you were at home, Christmas. Darling, if I could, I expect I would hold you in my arms the rest of my life. Each wasted minute is a crime and I am too given to impatience. These months of enforced waiting are some of the hardest of my life and yet I cannot but say for you to have your fling before you settle down. Kitten, I must go to bed now for I have much to do tomorrow-One little thought to leave with you. You are my all, my life, my love Clarence North Texas State February 6, 1948 My darling Clarence, This all the stationery available but I'm sure you won't mind this. I feel horrible about not having written you before this. You see it was like this-I was encountered by six big ole' bears and held captive for a week! It ' almost seemed as big as that for I will begin from the beginning and you can figure it out from there. Thurs. after you were so sweet an' called I had 2 major exams and then choir practice and a party following. Friday I had two more exams and Dr. Hodgson was running around like mad trying to find me. Sure nuf I was in an exam. You see, Jewel, the secretary, had resigned at the first of the week and no one knew what was going on in the office but me. He wanted the kids to pre-register on Fri. again-so I worked up until five that afternoon. He wanted me to work Sat. but that day was already full for me. Saturday found me traveling with B.K. and Peggy and Jimmie (Peg's husband) to Ft. Worth. In Ft. Worth we were met by Sam, the groom, and his stooges, Carroll Lloyd, A.J. and Dick and Joe in two cars. All of us went with Sam & the other 4 guys followed. No one cared to go with them because they wanted to consume a coupla pints. they all drink like fishes so they got along o.k. I am so thankful that you don't like that kinda stuff for I think it is all so ugly. They were quite gay when we all stopped for dinner & they promised that they would sober up the other half of the way. And sure nuff by the time we arrived they were quite themselves again. After we were there for a few minutes the things really began to buzz. I went to the church immedialety to rehearse with the organist. Afterwards we went to the home where we were to stay. Mrs. Pace, a widow, in a luxiourous home kept us and we were treated like royalty. Even had maid service!!! Had to hurry and dress for the rehearsal dinner and such. Joe came by for us & off we went. Our Mrs. Pace's sister-in-law was having the dinner. Boy of all the good food! Had pink ice cream slippers for dessert. Never thought I'd be eating shoes! The rehearsal went just like all rehearsals go-every body putting in 2¢ worth of comment. The music part of the wedding was stupendous! (ha! ha!) I just love to sing for weddings for they give me such inspiration! After the rehearsal we all we out to this "joint"-all the drinks were on the house with additional ones brought by the fellas themselves. Every one got quite gay, with the exception of Peg and "yours truly". I had just as good a time as any of them & felt better about it the next day too. We didn't get home until quite late. There was a coffee at our house the next morning at 9"30 so we three gals got to sleep a coupla minutes longer than the rest. Mrs. Pace asked me if I would sing a coupla light numbers-so I obliged with "I love you truly" and "Always"-Mrs. Pace at the ' piano. When 10:45 rolled around Hugh & Baba, Sue's brother & wife asked if anyone would like to go to church. I wanted to but I didn't say yes until AJ said to me in whispered tones that he would go if I would go. so just the four 201 of us out of a bridal party of 16 went to church. And who should we sit by but none other than that big hunk of man ' John Kimbrough, himself. Think how little I felt standing beside him. He also came to the wedding. There was another coffee at 3 in Stamford, a lil town 15 miles down the road. So all of us made that , occasion. Stuffed ourselves again, jabbered for a social hour and then left. Got a few minutes rest before the wedding at Mrs. Pace's. The church was packed and there was standing room only. I'm telling you-the whole town was out. Never in the history of the church had it seen so many people on a Sunday night. It was a strictly formal wedding and it was simply beautiful. The Wair's are very well-to-do and nothing was too good for Sue. She gave each of the girls in the party a strand of Richelieu pearls. They are so pretty & something that I have been wanting for a long time. A big reception in the Wair home after the wedding & they served every bit of 150 guests, not including all the relatives, (Of which there were scores!) Hugh & Baba & I drove back that night for we all had to be back in Denton the next day. I had to register kids all day from 8-5. The next day was dedicated to freshman-I worked again from 8-5. Next day between work , & attend classes. Thurs. same thing until I checked in at the hospital at 12 am and there I remained until 2 this afternoon. So you see its been one mad rush. I'm afraid hon, that the weekend of the 4"' is taken up with another wedding-this time in Ardmore, Okla. The girl asked me several months ago if I would sing & the other day she told me the date. I'm awfully sorry hon-I ' love you! Mr. Trickey was not very happy last night when I did not show up for choir practice. It couldn't be helped though! I have a solo Sunday morning at both services so he should be satisfied. I was so thrilled when you called from my house. Mom wrote me a nice big fat letter telling all about your visit. It seems that Ann is stealing my thunder all the way round. Sunday she sang for Judge Boyles' class cause Doff wanted to save her voice. And Judge fell in love with her too! Can't you just see her standing up there and singing! Gosh how I love that kid! and you too! , Must tell you I love you and "get out" I love you, Chatter Texas A&M February 7, 1948 My darling Kathe, I haven't gotten a letter from you in some time so I rather figured that your last one must have gotten lost in the shuffle. I don't know just how you are getting along but I suppose you are okay or maybe just preoccupied. , This weather the past three weeks has been enough to make a Texan go to California and disown Texas! Right now it is so foggy that I have to use the light to write this letter at 10 in the morning. Kitten, I'm sorry I asked you about that date for Valentine's Day when I phoned you-forget it. I know you probably had something planned already and I was being a little too presumptuous. Guess what-A&M won it's first basketball game in conference play last night. The T.S.C.W. modern choir was also here for a concert and left this morning at 9 for Seguin. They are on a tour something like the ones you take. I am the unlucky recipient of two student profs in 6 classes. One seems to be pretty good but the other one is shaping up rather badly. I am only taking 18 hours this time. I just couldn't learn enough last time. I suppose you know that Charles was made a Deacon in the church at Uvalde. Jeanie is quite esthatic about it. Cousin Jean Ellen (the blonde) is expecting in the late spring. The kid is 18. The folks were just getting over bad colds and the old man went in for Grand Jury service last Monday-that about covers the local color. I'm really going to have to twist to finish by June of next year. I have about 69 hrs to go and sumer school will take care of 10-1 hope. there are a lot of labs left and about 30 and 31 class hrs in my senior year. That is bad. If I flunk a single course, I will have to go to Summer school next year to finish up. There is nothing new on the horizon-not even abrainstorm-so that's all isn't it? Love you, Clarence 202 ' i Denton, TX ' February 9, 1948 My darling Clarence, This won't be a long epistle but it will be an informative one. You see, Mary Brown, the gal next door has a fiance going to A&M, who comes up quite frequently on weekends. He has a nice maroon Chevy (I believe). He likes to bring fellows up to Denton-so I'll give you the info & you can contact him. Don Williams, is his title and he lives in Dorm 14, Room 103. 1 think he charges $6 bucks for round-trip. It may be worth your while to contact ' him. Course, this weekend of the 14`h is out but the following week is quite free! And besides that I'll about have put another year on my age. That's a more important occasion than Valentines Day! I love you! Got a long newsy letter from Pop today. No word has been received from John. The hospital told Dad not for anyone to write John because it would only bring his mind back to family worries and that's what they want to keep his mind free of I do hope that he will overcome all this within the 3 months he is supposed to remain there. From the way Dad writes it seems that he has been under the weather-that isn't much like Dad for he's always so spry-course he has a lot more worries on his mind. He's quite impatient when he's not feeling well- which isn't good. I was informed by Pop that Mom now has a new Kelvinator-thrills me no end! Now we can have some good homemade ice cream in the future! All my profs have got the funny idea of clamping down on us this semester. Therefore, it looks as though I will have to work hard and study. I got some pretty good grades this past semester and I don't know intend to let this semester go by without some hard wok put forth. I am taking 18 hrs. working 3 hrs a day and practicing at least a couple every day. Love you, Chatter Texas A&M February 9, 1948 My dearest One, You had best trim your flaps cause there is stormy weather a brewing. I enjoy letters from you immensely but I certainly dislike getting letters written from the hospital. Look, my little rose amongst the thorns, how many times have I told you that an education isn't everything? Some of the smartest people I have ever known were only partially literate in the way we accept it. You know your capabilities and limitations and no matter how much you need the money you should contain yourself within that limit. An ' employer who orders or begs and cajoles you into doing more is worthless to you and the world. I'm afraid this letter is going to be mostly lectures and ideas 'cause there is so little which I do here which would interest you. I often wonder of our wedding-building air castles-and I wonder if it would be any different from the others. You see every time I have associated you with a wedding in the past it has been with a feeling of disappointment or unhappiness. I think I have never been quite so wretched in my own self as I was at Charles's and Jean's wedding. One thing certain, when I do lead you to the altar this soloist stuff is taking a vacation for the night as far as you are concerned and any singing you do will be to a one person audience-I dare say much more appreciative, too. I do envy those couples who have you to sing at their weddings, sweetheart. I'll always remember one night when you sang Laura Laura La. And you are quite right about Ann. she and I are old buddies-I don't see how anyone could be but captivated by her. I believe she likes me very much cause I have quite a time keeping her from crawling all over me. I do love kids and she is about the epitome of childhood. The other night I was at a basketball game and this little 3 year old shaver took up with me (must ' be my homely face). He wanted to know about my buttons and then he saw my crossed rifles and wanted to know what they were and when I had told him, he wanted to know if they would shoot! I looked around a couple of minutes later and he was laid out sound asleep on his mother's lap. Incidentally, I have been to both Stamford and Haskell. The Stampede is held at Stamford each year and is one of the truly old time cowboy reunions-nearly all are dead now. Kitten, so help me, if that "mean 'ol' slave driver" tries to overwork you again set your pretty'lil foot down, but hard! If this rain keeps up I am going to change my major to marine engineering. I'm sure disappointed about Valentine's. Looked every place and couldn't figure anywhere I would rather be than with you no matter whether it was a mansion or a shack. (preferably "a little home for two or three or more" to steal a phrase, though). ' Chow time is in the offing though and I must feed the body as well as the heart. Think real hard and save a choice moment or two for us, will ya, huh? All my love, my darling, Clarence ' 203 Denton, TX , February 11, 1948 My wonderful dreamer, ' I have been working on Mu Phi's books and since I have straightened them out, I will write you and tell you all that is on my little mind. And that which is within my heart. First of all darling I won't let anyone overwork me! I was in the hospital because of "bugs" just a slight flareup in my left ankle (ole scar). I'm disgusted with the hospital (even though I am their pet) for I caught a horrible cold the night and day that I spent there. Course the cold didn't help any at all when I sang a solo at both services Sunday morning. Both the cold and the "bugs" are leaving me-so I am about back to normal. I just love your lectures-I love you too!! I didn't mind it at all-I needed it and I'd rather it come from you than anyone else I know. Hon, I won't let my education get the best of me. You see, I want to belong to you! 1, too, often wonder of our wedding. Course, ours will be different! Hon, I may always have been the singer in wedding but at least they can't say concerning me-always a bridesmaid never a bride".-cause I just sing and get a bird's eye view of the wedding. I was thinking that maybe I could sing at my own wedding! (Over your dead body-I guess) I love you! Seriously though, I don't know or haven't even thought about a singer. I have thought about the bride. Clarence, what type of wedding do you like? Anything or any kind will scare me! , However, I have always wanted a big wedding-a semiformal. By the time that we marry the First Pres. Church Houston will be completed. There is to be a large sanctuary and then a chapel built in duplicate of the large edifice. That would be ideal, I think, for the kind of wedding I would like. I know you're thinking about all that Jean went through-but darling, that's all a part of it. I think some girls miss so much when they miss all the showers, parties, brain-racking and planning and the taxing of one's patience. It's all a good test on one's make-up. Heaven's, I wouldn't miss it for the world! I'll only marry once and that will be to you and I want it to be just as wonderful as you are! I remember how unhappy you were at Jean's wedding-in fact, I don't believe I will ever forget! Everytime I sing at a wedding I do a little dreaming too. For I always place you in the grooms spot & pretend that it is me in the beautiful white dress approaching the altar. Someday that dream will materialize but until then I will , just dream on. Here's a bit of news. The other day I was talking with one of the lil gals in the laundry room and she said she was from Graham. So's immediately I asked her if she knew Conray Harper and she said "why yes, & he's been going to NT all this past year"-well sir, I about dropped my teeth. Yesterday, I got a walk in one of my classes so Ruth & I headed for the corner! We were waiting for a booth in Hamilton's and I noticed this brown eyed fellow staring at me. He turned away when he saw that I had been conscious of his stares. However, I saw who it was & I said Conroy Harper-then he knew it was me. So he sat in the booth with Ruth & I & we just hashed over all sorts of things. Harper is married and has a Iii gal of 9 months. How do you like that! He asked about Gandy and you and all the kids. Said he was out hunting during the deer season & saw you all's mailbox & he wondered about you! Now he's all in the know concerning people that we knew in Kerrville. He's still a Sophomore although he's gone to school now for about 6 semesters worth! He plans to finish his work at OU after this semester. His wife is ' attending school here too-didn't ask what happened to the kid! I had a coupla unexpected quizes today that I did not relish in the least. These profs will get funny ideas! I have only one course that isn't to my liking-it's a theory course. I'd give anything if I could get out of the course! , But it's required! I'll just have to suffer thru it so that I can get a degree! I hope! I got a newsy letter from Mom & she seems to be herself again. She's so thrilled over the Kelvinator she's just like a kid with a new toy. How I love that lady! And you! Denton had a coupla days of sunshine after weeks of messy weather and now it is getting as cold as the , Artie. We're to have the coldest wave we've had yet! Sure is hard on a person to keep up with this weather. I'm about to get disgusted! It's about time for vespers so best I close. But first let me tell you about yesterday. Sr. Mary Ardens had , their rush tea and I was asked to work in the kitchen (they thought I was the homely type)! So I made the Russian Tea. And so help me they all claim that it was the best tea they have ever drunk. See I haven't lost my touch in the kitchen! All the other gals were dressed in formals but I had on just my school clothes plus an apron. The House Presidents Club is giving a Valentine Tea on Friday. I won't be caught in the kitchen this time for I'm the president of Marquis Hall. Well darling, I tell you again, I love you & later more, Chatter 204 , i Texas A&M ' February 13, 1948 My beloved Chatter, It is now Friday afternoon, the 13~h and I have survived so far. I know you won't get this until you come back but, anyway, it will be there waiting for you. I had planned to send you a box of candy but couldn't find what I wanted and decided to put it in on your birthday. You are entirely sweet enough already. I was glancing over a list of form telegrams on the bulletin board and there was this little concoction which I just couldn't resist (its the devil in me!)---so, that explains the telegram. I got quite a buzz out of it and figured you would too. Some of the guys are a little lit right now and two sober ones were running around with two other ' guy's dates a little bit ago. No-----they were looking for the tardy swains. That last letter took me down for the count-not only was it a masterpiece of turning my heart to jelly-but, darling, it was the third in the last week which has (I'm afraid) gotten my face so shining that I ' am afraid the guys are going to start saying I was in on that pint. Here goes yours truly with pen and paper editting, commenting, and drooling. I'll bet you slayed them with a deeper torchy version of a hymn last Sunday when you had your cold. This place will never be a boys school again-I'm afraid. You see we have had some ice, too and this morning I nearly fell flat in the standard sitting position. Just lost my cap and made a rather caustic comment to my buddy about getting bruised. I looked up and there was a girl walking right toward me. Was I embarassed! Why don't you tell me these things?-I didn't know you were a "wheel". (President, etc.) I'll have to shine my boots especially nice for you. Wouldn't do it for nobody else-or does the uniform give people a black eye? Some of the guys say that TC is very inhospitable to Aggies this year. I can took ' it.--can you? Darling, this wedding deal is always the groom's concession to the bride. I will carry through just for you on any type you plan but if I pass out and fall on my face I won't be responsible! Seriously, the chapel sounds okay. One of the guys here had a very serious affair with a TU girl last fall-engaged and everything- for six weeks, and then about the first of this year he decided he no longer loved her. We all razzed him for she was a nice kid and it hurt her pretty bad. She sent him a Valentine the other day that was a 1 peach! On the outside was a little skunk all dressed up and fetching offering a heart-in the other hand was a glass of whiskey. The caption? To a Man of Di-Stink-shun. On the inside was written-"Here's mud in your eye, you bum." Subtle, what? I'll come up next Saturday, probably in the afternoon so roll out the welcome mat and keep a ' chaperon close. I'm kidding you, you know, but darling when I'm near you I forget nearly everything but the desire to hold you tight just kinda wishing that it didn't have to end. There isn't a terrible lot left to say except that there will be a number of girls here this weekend for the Sophomore Ball and Valentine's Dance which begins the Social Season. There will be a dance every weekend nearly from now on. I tied the highest rifle score made yet this season Wednesday. It wasn't fired in any match though-durn it! IT write you a little more later, Kitten.-Got your letter at noon just flat spoiled my one o'clock class in "Resistance of Materials." Bout all I got out of it was that human flesh is weak. The prof didn't even say that- You would look beautiful in white-frame your hair with lace if you must but don't cover it- remember, I watch you come down the aisle. Cain't help it just seem to love you, Clarence ' February 13, 1948 Western Union ' To the one who is still my sweetheart after all th1se years. All my love, Clarence 205 Denton, TX February 15, 1948 My darling, 1 To the strains of "The Spirit of Aggieland", 1 sit me down to write my Aggie. Mary Brown's Aggie Don brought a Valentine to B.K. from a fellow Aggie named Jack. The record is about worn out now though, however, it ' sounds good to me. Anytime, for it makes me think of you. When I think of the future I always think in plural-linking you and I. It's a wonderful feeling to know that you belong to someone, isn't it? And I know of no one that I had rather belong to. I have so much pleasure, in dreaming of a life with you. I love you, Clarence. And I want you to be one of the best engineers that ever came out , of A&M. For I know some day I'll be more proud than I am of you now. You have all the potentialities of an executive, which I know is one of your goals. One day you mentioned your desire to be two things-first, a good aeronautical engineer & secondly, an executive. My, one and only, desire is to be a good wife to you and for you. 1 There is a popular song that reminds me of you and how you talk-it's called "A Fellow Needs a Girl". Listen real closely to the lyrics sometime and see what I mean! Golly, when I think how long a year and some is-but why should I complain? It would be worth waiting for for any length of time. I love you. ' Say hon, this ole gal got a raise in salary! How'm I doin'? Yesterday afternoon, (Sat) I didn't have anything to do so I worked in the office. I had to go over to the Music Hall for a panelitic meeting with the Dean. Therefore, since I was already there I just stayed. Got a lot of work done with very few interruptions. During the days of the week when I work I have to answer a jillion and one questions; consequently it was a pleasure to work in peaceful conditions. Last Fri. I was in the President's Tea and I did all the serving of the tea. Dean Bentley said I made a perfect hostess. I'm only getting into practice so that when you are an executive your wife will be the perfect hostess at our , home. Oh how I want you to be proud of me. Mind if I tell you that I love you again. Fessor' said last night on the Stage Show that the Singing Cadets would be here next week. Clarence, do contact Don sometime this week and come down with him next weekend. This vicinity will be swarming with fellow Aggies and so why not you be one of them! Don wears his civies every time he comes down-you can do , what ever you like for I love you just the same. I have had the bug in me to go out & buy me a new dress and acessories all week and if I'm not careful it's gonna get the best of me. That's one reason why I was glad I worked Sat. for then I couldn't run down to Mutts or Russell's. I purchased for yours truly a black skirt which is rather snazzy. I needed it so I bought it. You just thrilled me to the toes by sending that telegram. Even though I didn't send you such, my sentiments were running in the same channel. With each letter I write a part of my heart goes inside. I only wish I could fit into the envelope-but these darn ole' big feet! And that glue would get in my hair! I guess I'll have to be , content with just hanging on this line-I love you, Chatter Texas A&M ' February 17, 1948 My beloved, You know, I never heard or paid too much attention to the lyrics of "A Fella Needs a Gal" being a rustic old Aggie. You will have to make it a Command Performance this weekend. I know that if the lyricist had a modicum of brains he could write some very good lyrics to that song. ' It is now night and I have been inquiring around about a ride from some of the boys in the Dorm who have cars. Seems they are all broke so I may ride with Don if his schedule fits mine. There will be 3 boys from this company in the Singing Cadet deal including Helmut. I hadn't thought you had paid too much attention to some of my pipe dreams but I guess I had better be careful in the sense that I cain't afford to allow myself to fall short of any goal in your eyes. My life for quite some time has been guided towards you as a goal, or rather our life together. It certainly won't be perfect but this you can be sure of, success is a hollow thing if the life of a ' family is forsaken. I will never let striving to get ahead supercede my family life. Knowing you and the turbulence of my heart when we are together, how could I? I could say I love you (as how many times, haven't 1?) and yet the mere saying cannot express how much the longing for our life together pervades my thoughts. Darling, you are an indispensable part of all my future, of our future. How can it hold anything in store if there is not the two of us and the world. Dreams can be made realities though if you strive toward them as a goal. ' Did that wedding fall through? You said you worked Saturday and you wrote the letter on Sunday so I kinda wondered if your girl friend called it off. 206 1 1 I'm sure you will make a wonderful hostess for I have seen the grace and self assurance with ' which you handle everything. You know, darling, "I have made quite a study of you, your background, and future through the years. Some of your beauties and fetching little habits and some of your vagaries and some of the things that don't match up-the things that make you a very desirable woman, albeit for some time contrary! If you have a phonograph (record player), I will send you the aggie songs in full. I reckon I had better study now for we cain't live on love-that has oft been proven. till I see you this weekend, I love you, Clarence Texas A&M February 24, 1948 My Beloved, Needless to say I had a grand time and the worst thing about the whole works was the leave taking. I am still worried about that silver, Kitten. I like that pattern alright but the only reason I got it was because I thought it was your pattern-it happens to be Jeannie's. I got a letter from Mother this morning. Remember, it will last your lifetime and it can be exchanged fairly easily if you would like me to. Remember Helmut's women troubles-here's some more dope. Their bus broke a spring in Dallas and we picked up Helmut and Harry Poiron (the tenor solo) and brought them back. Helmut was fishing around in his coat pocket and found a church program with a telephone number written on it in ' lipstick. Also he said he spent from 9 to 12 that Saturday night trying to tell Georgia that he wanted to break up with her. Poor gal-she said okay and asked him to send a letter back unopened which was in the mail. Only she will ever know just what was in that letter. I got a quiz back in Aero today which I was afraid I had flunked but I made 85 on it. I am really trying to make good grades this semester and from here on out. We have a definite goal, have we not? I would like to offer you the gold at Fort Knox or the diamonds of Kimberly, the rainbow over a foam flecked, sapphire sea or a wedding trip to the Tyrol but that I cain't do. I I have found, darling, that the only real happiness is in things that you can count in terms of your own industry and sacrifice and giving. Just so, the only real happiness we can have as a couple are in the things we do together, the things we acquire together and the things we give together. Love and contentment are more important than the riches of the ages. It is true that one should put everything into the quest for happiness for the other and it should be mutual. Money is a medium of exchange for living physically but no money can buy love. We can build a wonderful home darling-and by that I mean home is where the heart is. Wherever it may be and whether we own it or rent it we can be very happy just being together and-God ' willing-having our family. About this summer-darling, I told you to do whatever you think would make the time shorter. I guess that is a little selfish and I might have to go to summer school myself-not that I wouldn't marry you right now. As far as the money goes-up to a certain limit I can pay that and then you would owe the family fund--church singing or what have you. You figure that out-most any plan fits unless it overstrains the future and I love you anyway, durn it! Gotta study now so go way and leave me alone for a little. Love 'n stuff, Clarence 1 NTSTC February 26, 1948 Dearest One, No doubt you are plenty tired of me throwing Dr. Bain & his troup before your eyes but it can't last much ' longer. the suppy is bound to become exhausted-then I'll buy me some new fan dangle stuff. I played hookie this morning from work & a voice lesson-I just slept up until 20 minutes of my 11 'o'clock class-made it to class in plenty of time; took a lil ole' quiz and was out by 11:30. 1 had a terrible guilty ' conscience over it all-but I feel a lot better physically! Last night I ushered for a faculty recital (in evening clothes) and I was sure glad to get home & out of such hot stuff. This weather is about to get the best of me! So help me! This afternoon when I went to work Mr. McKinley wanted to know why I didn't show up for my voice lesson. I told him I was just sleeping up a sawmill storm & I just laughed. He just laughed and said "Yeah, I betcha!"-I wonder what he meant-he thinks I was down at the "corner" with some ole' boy! So he just winked ' 207 one of his twinkling eyes and said "O.K. we're even". (He stood me up one time at a lesson-sooooo turn about is ' fair play.) Poor Helmut! I feel sorry for him-that's what he gets for being so cute! Don't tell him I said so! ' Clarence hon, I wouldn't trade that silver for anything in the world. I love it (and you, too) and the more I look at it, the prettier it gets. So now will you stop worring your lil head about it. I love you! And that is the silver I want-I'm glad it's like Jean's. ' Tonight is choir practice night & if it hadn't of been for that I would be in Ft. Worth. Fessor' asked me if I wanted to go--course I did but I couldn't. Golly bum, I could have seen a free show & had a trip besides! Fessor said he'd let me know when they were going again & I could make that trip! I just love to do those kinda things. I guess I don't have to tell you how nuch I enjoyed last weekend. I made three attempts at writing but as , you know this is the first to die completed. Everyone up here that saw or met you thinks you are great! I do to but then I might be a lil one sided in my opinion. Love you. Just always loving you. Chatter 29 Feb, 48 Texas A&M My darling Chatter, The 5ch Sunday in February and it won't happen again until our 25`h year of marriage-can you imagine that. , I got a little lonesome so I decided that a little chat with you would help inmeasurably-so, here I is! It has been a rather dull weekend 'cepting for yesterday when a mess of us went to play tennis and came back with embarassed looks. The sun was sure nice. , I see where you have a Leap Year Week or something this week-you be mighty careful now and don't break my heart at this stage of the game. I'll probably be in Houston next weekend and Port Arthur the weekend after that. That means a , lot of extra study to get lessons up etc. We were in the show last night-"The Seventh Veil"-and James Mason, the actor made the comment that 'those who can put their ability to use, and those who cain't teach." Of course, that made a big hit with everyone and the laughter could probably be heard clear to the faculty council. ' There have been some beautiful warm days lately and Spring is pretty nearly here. I certainly wish it was so you could come out home sometime in the spring of the year. Those hills are simply beautiful. I would like too to take you hunting for daisies in the shin oak thickets and let you watch the , little white kid goats bouncing like popdorn on the rocks around the place. I love Spring! Write me soon will ya. That mailbox gets so dusty. All my love, Clarence March 70s 1948 ' Denton, Texas My darlin', I don't know whether these bloomin profs were workin'Ter me" or "agin me" this past week. Every one of them had the same perverted sense of humor! I even have a hangover quiz for Monday morning. Lot of good the ' Dutch week did me! Oh well, it will come again in another 4 years! So see all your worrying was for nothing. 1 Our performance of the Opera Rigoletto was given Thurs. nite and if I hadn't ushered it would have cost me $1.20-which I could not shell out for me-much less me and a date. See how economical I am! All I had to do was to dress up in an evening dress & look purty and hang out programs. As soon as they struck up the overture, I made a bee-line for the seat that someone had been saving for me. I ain't so dumb! Next week-end-or maybe I should say-next Sunday I will be in Houston-Denton again on Mon. morn. That is, of course, if mother nature does not disrupt things in her damp way! ' My prof, Dr. Jacques, who looks like a second edition of Hitler, (with buck teeth) became a father today for the first time--{he's about 40 or pretty close to it) so I am rather dubious as to whether I will have one of my classes tomorrow. It would be just like him to have the class! This is short but my love for you is "long"! I love you, Chatter ' 208 1 March 9, 1948 Texas A&M My darling Kathe, Batten down the hatches, it's a gonna storm a little-to wit, you are behind again in your letter writing, termite! Your folks told me you were in Austin this weekend. How should I know? Oh, well. I have been waiting for the latest from you before starting in with any news from here but I'll condescend to trouble you with this note. 1 The outfit was in Houston this weekend for a party at the Melody Lane (the old New Yorker) and I dropped by to see your folks and ate dinner with them Sunday. They are the same as usual-charming- 'cepting Ann. I took her a box of candy for her birthday and Ann was kinda worried about it as the second round started after dinner. I scolded her for climbing all over me--mildly-and she got a poker face and let me know she didn't like it. I think all was forgiven before I left though. We had quite a party and Bill and I didn't have to pour a single guy or gal into bed. Only one guy was slightly addled and he received a "Dear John" just before the party. There were over 115 there. We ' had a big track meet down here this afternoon-even if it did rain, and the team very roundly trounced Texas which did my heart good. There was a big inspection last Friday morning and I had everything spick and span even to my shoes but I threw them in the closet thinking I would arrange them in a few minutes after I had chased down to the gun room to see that everything was in order there. When I came back the inspecting officer was just coming out of the closet and my face was certainly red. I didn't get any gigs but I don't know what he thought about it. I was supposed to fall the company out for drill at 5 this afternoon and it rained-in the meantime, I was being belted with a few misnomers-what a life. Bill and I went to Marlin Friday night and visited a schoolteacher friend of ours. We rode up with a Mrs. Gloria Symington from the River Oaks section. She was quite the gal-negro chauffeur (you spell ' it) and all-Hockaday and the Continental tour, too! We were walking back to the bus station that night and a darkened car came rolling down the hill backwards. I ran and slammed the brakes on and Bill ran over to a house to let the owner know about it. The guy was so drunk he couldn't walk straight. Called us ' freshmen and said he had had six years at Baylor-don't see how Pat Neff kept him that long-must have been a backsliding Baptist preacher. I am going over to Port Arthur this weekend to visit my Aunt and Uncle and then I shall settle down until the mid semester and Easter. ' Nuff said fur now'ceptin' I love you. Clarence ' March 9, 1948 Denton, TX My darling, Today I had a nice trip! One of our faculty members mother-in-law pass on this week and I was asked to get up a quartet to sing for it. So my friends were asked and I included myself and Ruthie at the piano. We made a good team. John Dolch drove us over to Wills Point where the funeral was. We had a good time going for everyone was in a good mood. We sang beautifully and they insisted that we eat before we left-you couldn't refuse them- the hospitality was so genuine. So we ate a very delicious meal before we hit the road again. Had an interesting trip home for we got into some big conversations-intellectual & constructive. John is a very intelligent person. Runs in in his family, I think, for his dad is prof of psychology at the University of Ill. It's nice to know smart people- that's why I love you so! I got a letter from Mom telling me of your visit! they sure do like your lil "drop in" visits. I'll be home next weekend for a "drop in" visit & to spend the night. I wish that I could have gone to Austin so that I could have brought home some news of John-but no soap! I know that Mom would be so much happier. This is short I know-but I have to iron a blouse for tomorrow and I'm sorta weary from the travel. Love you more & more, Chatter 1 209 March 17, 1948 , Texas A&M My Darling, ' I'm rather lonesome this afternoon-guess I am thinking of how long it will be until we see each other again. The visit in Houston was so short but so nice. I was quite shocked when I got the letter from Mother telling of Pat's death just couldn't believe it for a second or two. Seems like it was all so unness(c)ec(s)ary (sp). I guess the Lord plans those things though and we have no cause to question. That's the first of the "gruesome foursome" to lose the battle. Seems queer-none of us boys were killed in battle. , I'm going to be a good little boy and study this weekend-gotta support you-snaggle teeth (toothless, that is!!!) and all. You probably noticed my shocked expression on the phone. I was just thinking what a mess that would make of a "lover's" kiss. ("French", to be correct). Cain't afford that- , you're the only gal I ever had that could make my blood pressure 'n stuff rise that way. Darn it-someday we shall finish that symphony and we shall be as happy as two kids in a peppermint candy playground Just you and I, Kitten-and then the world. I need you more than I will ever need anyone-and Lord knows I need somebody-a stabilizing influence for my dejected periods and a lover and companion-the ' person I love-for the happy times. I shall leave next Thursday for home and come back Monday the 29`h. We may shear goats while I am there. If we do my poor back is going to take a beating. I hope we do though cause it will give the , folks a definite lift. I think your visit gave your folks a definite lift. They were certainly as happy as could be while I was there. Your father seemed to be quite forlorn when I was there the week before. I just happened to think that you probably got all dolled up in the new look when you bought your , clothes. Did you get a Spring outfit? I want to see it the very next time I come up but please don't go formal on me-Somebody said clothes make the woman but you make the clothes-subtly. (Poor Webster) (Daddy tried to spell this three times ed.) Sometimes I think I should go back and take my grammar school work over. I spell worse each day. Gotta study my differential equations now. I may not be able to differentiate x and y-but, brother, can I differentiate between F's and A's. A's are my collector items but somehow I usually end up ' with third rate junk in grades- 'Snuff foolishness 'les' meditate-All my love, darling Clarence March 20, 1948 Denton, TX My darling, ' Your visit in Houston was just what I needed. You lil mutt, surprising me! but what a nice surprise. Mother & I had just gotten in from deflating Pop's purse when you called. I was glad you called for I was wondering if you had heard. I had heard the night after the concert-for when I got home mom gave me a letter that had come a coupla days before I got there. The letter was from Cliff Gandy & it contained the whole clipping of the accident. I still can hardly realize that Pat met death. Life's that way! Cliff wrote a nice letter & told me what he has been doing in the last three years-going to A&I & he will ' graduate in Animal Husbandry this May. He has been engaged & they broke it-considering it best for both of them concerned. It's sorta funny how everyone of our lil Kerrville bunch is coming into the picture. First Conray Harper, Cliff-now who next! You're in the picture all the time-1 love you. I had a wonderful time while I was in Houston-Sam took us out to the San Jac Monument and we spent ' practically the whole afternoon out there. Came back & all of us went to the show; when we got home Mom had some Hot Cross Buns waiting for us. Next day I went down and saw them off on the bus & I met Mom & we spent the day in town. I didn't buy an Easter outfit but I did get a coupla summer cottons & such. And some pretty "unmentionables". Also got some pretty lil red shoes! You'll be seeing them someday. Everything happened to us on the trip back to Denton. First we broke a spring on the front left wheel- then we had a flat on the same wheel (we would have been head first in a creek had it not been for Sam being such a good driver-he really had a struggle. So from Lufkin on we had to take it slow. When we hit Dallas the gears , refused to shift. So we went to the Dixie Bus Barn and just made it. The mechanic tried to drive the bus on in & when he did the spring just broke half in to & plopped down on the front wheel. So we loaded all junk on another bus-a good one! and made our way home to Denton by 8 o'clock! ' I thought I had cut all kinda classes but I didn't get one cut for the whole two days. Aren't I lucky! Now I can cut again sometime. It's fun playing "hooky" that way. Love you more every day! Chatter 210 March 21, 1948 ' Texas A&M My darling Kathe, I shall begin a note to you tonight (Friday) and when I shall finish it, I don't know. I haven't got enough news to make a good letter and though I could write a "song of Solomon", I am scarce poet enough to tell you how much I dream of you. Sometimes I wake up in class to find a hand waving in front of my face-just seeing if the glassy stare is permanent. I won't live until we are together-with no need ' to part for such long weeks. Things seem so complicated, Kitten, but remember that the two of us mean more to each other than the rest of the world put together. Let's not let anything cost us more of our young lives than we have planned on already- Some joker put an Arthur Murray advertisement on my door-the bum! Sometime you ought to let me tromp on your toes a little-I'm very self-conscious but with you I couldn't be. We've got a big weekend down here with the annual Sports Day and the Junior Prom and an All College dance. Lots of "new look" on the campus and high school hopefuls galore wondering if they ' should brave Aggieland or not. Lot's of TSCW hopefuls, too-with their Mama's wondering the same thing!! Wish you were home with me this next weekend-we could revel in the ranch springtime. Hope you have a grand time at Jane's home. She reminds me so much of one of the thin cousins (Louise). I'll bet she is just as full of the devil, too. Goodnight, darling, time to sleep. Well here I am again, Sunday morning, and Bill just came in waving a letter from you which I got quite a large charge out of. Mind's in the wrong channel I guess but really the sequence in that letter was intriguing. I quote, "-----a coupla cottons & such. And some pretty "unmentionables". Also got some pretty red shoes! You'll be seeing 'em someday.", unquote. I love you Kitten! Last night was rather disappointing since the Aggie Swim Team lost the Conference meet. The track team won in the Fort Worth meet in both University and Freshmen contests however. I ran into Sam Hill yesterday for the first time down here. He is college Chaplain now and resides here on the campus. ' I've still got a quiz or two before I go home Easter-then it is midterm and the homestretch and it is so easy to lower grades and so hard to raise them. I have one all important one in Differential Equations Thursday morning. I can fill a page full of unrecognizable hen tracks in a few minutes now. Boy, am I good! I get low grades in the course though-Prof must not like the color of my lead pencil. Love you always, Clarence March 30, 1948 Denton Darling, ' I guess you are now saying "Oh, my aching back" as the result of your holidays. Or did you all shear the sheep. I'll never forget last summer how much it made me want to cry for the lil ole sheep when you were shearing 'em. Golly, it hurt me worse than it hurt them I'm sure! However, you're as gentle as a lamb-I don't know why it touched me so. I love you.! ' Hon, I didn't for get your birthday-its just that things didn't pan out right. And it looks like I'll be a shade late-however you once expressed your desire for such so maybe you'll think it is worth waiting for. I love you! I had a wonderful time in Abilene. The Collins are a wonderful family. I hope people think the same of ' my family as I felt towards them. Mr. & Mrs. Collins have been married for 32 years and have 6 grown kids (Jane is the baby) and they are as much in love now as they must have been when they were first married. That's the way I want our marriage to be. I'm sure it will be just that way with both of us working toward the same goal. Say, I even blushed and broke out into laughter when I read my "intriguing sequence"! Honey, you're so cute! From now on I had better re-read every thing a coupla times! Some day I'll learn. Next weekend we, the acappella choir, is going down to Austin for a coupla days. Haven't had a vacation in a long time! ha! I have been working too hard I guess! Love you. We had a big ole' dust storm here today & I & everything else is gritty & grimy-so best I go clean up a bit and make for the hay! I love you, Chatter I I 211 4/1/48 t Texas A&M My beloved Kathe, , Well! It was about time I got that letter. I've been boiling for about two days now trying to decide whether to tell you off for utterly forgetting my birthday or whether to let it slide and mark it down in ' the Book of Knowledge. You didn't know that I was making a profound study of you, did you? all the little things that add up and all those that don't add up. It's just because I love you so much! I'm not sure what that present will be but I think I have only mentioned one thing that I wanted in the way of a gift. Give it a big smile! , I recieved two pair of the loudest socks I have ever seen from Merry Berry for my birthday. Boy, they shout! Don't worry, in case I had never told you she is a schoolteacher friend of Bill's and mine who ran the Temple USO this summer and she's 30 or older. A grand woman. t Now about my trip home-I sheared goats and got a cramp in my leg. I chopped brush and got blisters on my hands. I also had a birthday with a three tiered cake and 24 candles. Both Grandma Leinweber and Aunt Tillie Priddy brought more cakes. The candies were all around the cake on all three tiers but I managed to get them all out and the wish had something to do with the summer of "49. 1 also helped to pull the sue rods in the Harbison mill (wind, that is) and get the thing to pumping again. Along with that was a journey to the snake dens in the Harbison. I killed 4-two of them were , huge and one had 12 rattles (segments). Kinda cool today but everything is getting nice and green. Kinda turns my heart- Be a good little girl and get out of there as soon as you can 'cause I love you Clarence April 4, 1948 , Texas A&M Dearest One, 'Tis another beautiful spring day here at old Aggieland and I'm thinking most of you! Yan- whew-Can you imagine that? Looks like a work of scrambled letters, doesn't it? , We just finished a little extemporaneous song fest by some of the world's greatest comtemporary off key artists-also some who didn't know better-Helmut in particular. From my vantage point I can view the fruits of indolence--guys strolling back and forth on the drill ring this fine Saturday afternoon. I sure would hate to spend it that way so I wouldn't have to clean my ' room up some mornings. Can you believe that there are only some eight weeks of active school work left in this semester and then a glorious period of a week are so when we can be together-hope, hope, hope, hint! ' We-some of us-went to a ball game yesterday with TU which we lost by the discouraging score of 5 to 4. Bobby Lane pitched for TU and I would have liked nothing better than to see one of our boys knock one down that blonde egotist's throat. One of these days I ought to break loose and come up and see you. I want to bad enough and all ' you would have to do would be to wiggle your little finger-I'll see you within a month anyway. I love you and just cain't help wanting to be with you all the time. Does that seem natural, or am I an escapist "ur sumpin"-from grades, that is. , The Texas relays are going to be on in a little bit and I hope that I may hear some of them. Shucks-if I had thought twice, 1 would have dated you for this afternoon in Austin. You are (or were) there aren't (or weren't) you! As the stage door johnny said when they closed the door to the ladies dressing room-All goods ' thins must come to a close, Love you, Clarence April 9, 1948 Denton, TX Darling, I haven't forgotten you even if it does seem that way. I have had a hard time on this last tour. We were in Austin, San Marcos and Wharton, and was it hot. I got all fouled up in Austin for I didn't get to see John or his Doc. or anything. Now I have to write home , such & they were so in hopes that I would have some news for them. I did have time enough to call Dr. Simpson but he was too busy to talk then-I talked to the nurse & she said the doctor had just given John a shock treatment 212 1 and he wouldn't be able to see me even if I did go out there. He has had a relapse and the treatments are being given him again. I told the nurse that I would be out there Tues. morning to talk with Dr. Simpson. Well, after I got back tto the church where we were to sing Mr. McKinley announced that we leaving a 9 rather than at 1 o'clock as planned. I couldn't refuse to go--! I tried to call out at the hospital before I left but I didn't succeed! I feel rather bad about it all but it is something I can't help. I hate for this to be so short & sad but I can't write anymore right now. Will write again tonight. Love you, Chatter ' April 12, 1948 Texas A&M My darling, I believe that I shall just begin with first things first and go right through. The first bit of humorous gossip concerns my roommate and his women. It seems that after the Christmas holidays he came back all lit up about a girl in Muskogee named Rosalie (the one I had a blind date with when I was up there). He had a picture and everything and was even doing his best to get her elected as Regimental Duchess for the Cotton Ball. Over Easter, he went to Tennessee to see a girl friend of his who is going to school in Rome, Georgia. When he came back he was all aglow. A few days later, I noticed that Rosalie's picture was missing from his desk. I asked him about it and he said, "Oh. Rosalie is cute but she's kinda young." (She's 18, a high school senior.) Just from observing my roommate, I think love has entered his life at long last. L'amour------- The other day I made an 80 on an Aero quiz and since the class average was 75 the prof said we could take an optional booster quiz in place of that one if we wished. That was my mistake. I took it because an 80 is a C and I hoped to boost my grades. That baldheaded through a curve at us that broke every man's spirit. I hope it got back to him and I hope his ears are burning. ' I set the alarm for five o'clock that morning and moved it over under my bunk (the lower one). We usually leave the thing on the dresser and Bill hit's the floor from his top bed and has the thing turned off before it can hit three times. Well when it went off that morning I leaned out to turn it off and got clipped ' by Bill's descending sole (foot, that is). He made it to the dresser and then I turned it off-Bill would make a good preacher. j We had Silver Taps the other night for a guy who shot himself. He was a graduating Senior, too.- --Engineer---you might know. ' I recieved your letter this morning and you sounded so forlorn that I thought I just had to at least talk to you and come up there if possible. Darling, I could perhaps go over and see John if it would do any good and if they would let me in but I don't know for he might resent my coming. People are queer when they have a nervous breakdown like that. We'll talk it over. ' Next weekend is the Cotton Ball vut I would rather see you than see all the hustle and bustle of the No 1 all college weekend. Just think-if I had had time enough you would be here next weekend. Either you have to teach me or I have to spend some money for lessons before the Ring Dance next ' year. That you must not miss. I just might have to make a trip home on business next weekend but that is just an off chance. I will definitely confirm my visit along the middle of the week. Cain't miss seeing you any chance I get. Kitten do you realize that the best years of our young lives are seemingly being wasted apart. A quartet of us played tennis this afternoon and is my face red. Luckily I most never blister just get red and then turn blacker. I am enclosing a little parody which you might post on your bulletin board or hang on the wall or ' whatever you have. It describes your future husband pretty well-please let your heart overrule your mind though cause I love you Clarence April 12, 1948 Denton, TX ' Darling, I have been disappointed many times and never have I let any of them get me down. Therefore, my trip to Austin was not a complete disappointment. I don't beleive it would do any good for anyone to go there to see John, for I know that they would not let you or anyone see him. He is taking shock treatments and noone but the nurse ' and the doctors are with him. I don't let things bother me for long-I can't afford to. I was tickled to death to hear your voice over the phone on Saturday morning. There I was sitting in Dr. Hodgson's office with my feet on the FLOOR talking to you-mah man!!! I was a wee bit late to that quiz but in 213 that class it doesn't matter. There are about 50 of us in the class and we have the time of our life. There I sit in the , violin section--used to playa violin but now I just fiddle around! All the kids in the class are screw-balls just like me and so you know that we have a good time. I made pretty good on the quiz, I think. I will know definitely ' tomorrow when I go to class. You do just whatever you want to about this weekend. This past Sunday afternoon I had to "recept" at a reception for Ann Shands' recital. And brother, I never saw so many faculty members at any vocal recital-course It , could be that her dad is the coach here in Basketball and she is as pretty as a picture and has a voice just a lovely. I had a nice time of it all. Dressed up in me long pink dress and had a pretty corsage and all that sort of rot. Good refreshments ! I find that it is just about my bedtime and I must get the required amount to keep me young. Love you, , Chatter 4/14/48 Texas A&M My darling, There is nothing like a warm April morning to make you feel lethargic and in the mood, is there? These profs are getting me out of my lethargy tomorrow with three quizzes though. Man-they ' just couldn't make it much roughter. Speaking shop-[ now know where the phrase, "It's all Greek to me" came from. We were deriving an equation the other day and they threw in everything except Omega. I think they were afraid to use that last letter for fear someone might be able to decipher Sanskrit letters. You sound like the typical busy little bee. Guess I had better come and see you this weekend before social functions and final exams tie me down. I will arrive in Denton sometime Saturday evening (afternoon) kitten-still afoot. Wipe yoah lipstick off honeychile-I'm a aimin' to say howdy-a month is a long time, darling and we had such a short time in Houston. ' You shold have seen this sad example of future husbandhood yesterday, darling. We have an Intramural Track meet coming up in two or three weeks so a coupla of us went over to run around the track a little. We fiddled around for a while and then took off at a merry lope for a half mile. I was as sick as a dog from exhaustion and my buddy wasn't much better. You might say that too much study makes a ' physical wreck of a man. Kitten, I am getting an Honor Military Graduate rating. We had a big Corps review the other day and they handed out scrolls duly signed by the Major General at Fourth Army. This entitles me to entrance into the army as an officer on a par with a West Point graduate. Would you like to be an army ' wife? I didn't think so. For the time being, Kitten, I shall bid you adieu in hopes of seeing you not later than 4 on Saturday (I hope). Love you, Clarence ' April 19, 1948 Texas A&M , My darling, One more day of classes gone and I didn't learn a single solitary thing-Just sat and dreamed! ' Darling, I have a patch of skin about an inch long and a half inch wide missing on that heel of mine. Put's me on the sick, lame, and lazy gang with the accent on the last two. I am waddling around this morning like a seasick duck on a nest of thumb tacks. Just call me "Fadder-wing." I had a cricket which I caught this morning and kept in a match box. He didn't look like his , character was sterling though, so I decided to let him go. Nothing but the best will do, you know. My international information system is backfinring on me. Now they are telling me what I am doing. ' Some of the guys saw us going into Jimmie's and another one saw me in Hearne coming back and one of your gals on your floor was checking up on me by way of the guy next door at the Cotton Ball. Things can get awfully complicated! I got in at about 10 last night.-Good rides and everything. , Thinking back over the weekend, I believe there are very few times when I have ever seen you prettier. It's a shame that old joker had to boot us off of the rear entrance but you don't break enough rules when you are with me as it is. Sometimes life must be lived explicitly by rules but then there are ' times when it is fun to break a few so long as there are no serious consequences. Thas all for now-there just ain't no mo. Love you with all my heart. Clarence 214 r April 21, 1948 r Denton, TX Dearest one, I did it again! I don't know what's wrong with me-maybe it's spring fever'er something but I just can't settle down to study, write or anything. Guess this just isn't my kinda atmosphere. I finally got word from the family concerning John and they say he is quite himself-his memory is coming back by degrees and that is speech is quite normal. He weighs a good 180 which dad says is mostly "fat"-but with ' a lil exercise & work he'll soon trim it down. I was asked the other day by one of me gal friends if I would sing for her wedding on June P & I am thinking about accepting it for our dates don't coincide during the between term period-so I just as well do something. I can go home later. Or have you figured anything out yet? Let me know definitely before I tell her. r The wedding will be here in Denton at the TSCW Chapel in the Woods. Say, who is this that is keeping up with me? You have aroused my curiosity something terrible. I don't mind though for it makes things quite interesting. I have a class in about 10 minutes so I guess I had better say adieu fer now. Love you, Chatter May 7, 1948 Denton, TX Dear Clarence, r This have been a busy time for me. It seems as though everything has piled up at once. Term themes, concerts and work-boy, I am going in circles. I guess you have been doing the same since you haven't heard from me. Sunday we, the choir, go to Wichita Falls to sing a concert with the Symphony. We're doing part of the Verdi Requiem and where in Dallas they supplied us with Metropolitan Opera singers we are supplying our own. (I j am not one of them) However, I am singing on May 17 with the Women's Choir as an assisting soloist with harp accompaniment. Isn't that angelic??? It seems that one of my profs wants me the rest of the class) to hand in a 2,000 word research theme- ' ' the course is Mus 472 (Church Music) And of course, the theme has to pertain to some phase of church music. Therefore, I have spent a good deal of my time reading and taking notes. It's funny but I like to write themes-I don't tell people around here that I do for I'm afraid I would have a few requests. Turn about is fair play-and boy am I getting results! Seriously, though, I have written home twice since last Tues. & I have gotten no response whatever! In the past I have always gotten a letter from Mom on Tues. & now for the last three Tues. I have not had a word. I did receive one letter from Dad in that period of time, but that isn't like Mom's letter. ' I would like to ask so many things about John in my letters, but I know that he reads everything I write home; therefore, I would gain nothing. Course I want the family to know I'm interested but how can I do it and it not be too obvious to John. I have not neglected my writing home for I know how Mom gets when she doesn't hear ' from any of her brats. Things are happening around here fast and furiously! Yesterday, our president of the college announced his resignation. As yet noone knows who will succeed him. "There will be some changes made!" Duty (such as classes) calls me so I must harken to the sound of the lull. Love you, Chatter r 5/12/48 r Texas A&M Dear Chatter, Just another Spring day with lots of work to do. We have been quite busy down here with exams ' and one thing or another. I went to see (or to hear) the Madrigal singers the other day and they were excellent. It's a shame that there was only a small audience, but then, A and M has never claimed to be a cultural center. ' If it isn't the Mendellian Law or the breeding characteristics of swine it is the kinematic viscosity of a perfect fluid in restricted stream flow-if you get what I mean. Charles Nelson and Ira Schranz and Ruth Schoenfeld and E.C. Richards were excellent to my taste. Charlie will carry any audience and Ruth's contralto was beautiful. I'm sorry but I can't stand a r yodelling female or a hurt dog and a high soprano does things to my nerves when she starts a-hah-hah- ha-HA!!ing. 215 The folks were down the past weekend for Mother's Day and we had a big banquet for the ' company's guests. I think they had a swell time and mother looked just wonderful in an off white linen suit with high neck and matching gloves, purse and felt hat with a parabolic dip to the front and a few little , flowers around the side. Saturday night I went to a dance and did my best with a halty rhythm. Someday, I shall be a good dancer. --Hasn't it been unusually cool the past few days? Seems almost like March again and then there are always the meal formations in the rain and everyone getting wet and not giving a particular. Saturday was Engineer day (also agrriculture) on the campus and all the departments had displays for visiting parents. One of my buddies was Master of ceremonies at a duck bath. Seems they , had two innocent little ducks which they would let swim around a tank. When the propler audience was gathered they would drop a little aerosol in the tank. Results-two thoroughly wet ducks. It wasn't too effective because the ducks had to be dried after each ducking and their preening efficiency didn't allow , their use too often. Also they had a nervous breakdown apiece-complete loss of self confidence. I was also intrigued by the old ping pong air jet trick (or law) where a ping pong ball floats on a compressed air jet-has something to do with the adverse pressure gradients (yes, I understand it). Thas all for now. Love Clarence May 17, 1948 ' Texas A&M My darling Chatter, I suspect that you must have been in Wichita Falls this weekend, or was it last? I think you wrote , something about it. This was the weekend of the Senior Ring Dance here and a big event it was too? The banquet before the dance was sold out weeks ahead of time and there were 1700 there. It has been a terribly ' long time since I have seen more girls on the campus. I got disgusted Saturday morning and went to Houston to see the Southwest Conference Track meet. I shall try to chronicle events for you so you can join in in spirit anyway. I went out to your house at what I thought was after dinner and John came chasing off of the ' porch to meet me. I walked in and ran smack into Fleta Nell and the rest of the clan McNeill with the exception of George who was downtown at the Star Engraving plant and David who was working. (Also the California branch-who, of course, were not there). The little one (Mary Beth) was sleeping flat of her little tummy with her face pressed straight into the sheet. They assured me she wouldn't smother. (Must have had a nose in the back of her head.) We had dinner (I drank some tea) and John and I went to the track meet. We walked over and back and had quite a time at the meet which the Aggies won rather handily. ' Chatter, I had a lot of time to talk to John and listen to him and he never rambled into a make believe world. He still has grandiose dreams and if he keeps on the same track long enough he sometimes starts bragging too much again. Every now and then he will catch himself and he told me several times that he had been talking too much. He is going out to Dr. Warwick's farm and spending a , lot of time helping out there. He started to unfold several plans to me for making a lot of money quick but he kept coming back to to the fact that he had had too much opportunity and had overstrained himself. He realizes perfectly that he must rest and get straightened out and said that he might start school in ' January but probably would not. He is definitely interested in working the excess fat off (about 15 pounds) but he is abiding by orders to do it slowly. In short, Kitten, he seemed perfectly lucid and on the way to recovery. He is just mixed up yet and unless something happens he should iron it out. ' Fleta Nell is a little angel and you never saw a prouder papa or one who could handle a kid better. He never raises his voice and she trusts his decisions completely. If George said that too much sugar in tea was bad, then that was enough for Fleta Nell. Myrta had a sick headache but was better when I left. ' To straighten their visit out-the rail strike threaghtened to block shipment of some all important High school graduation programs so George rushed over in person to get them. He doesn't look too well and was dead tired. (Oh my-the hot cross buns-they were wonderful-see what you mean) Dorothy and Evelyn went to a wedding and reception Saturday night. There isn't much more ' gossip to think about-your Mom and Dad were in fine fettle-Mistress Ann growing like a weed. 216 Darling, I guess all June plans are off because even if the car came in now, I couldn't drive it fast enough to cover the territory. I get my commission the night of the P and Final Review is at 4:30 PM on the 4 . I must go home sometime in those 3 days but I would like to see you too-if you would like (and you'd best or so help me you'll still get that spanking). Let me know what your plans are-huh-Can you come to the ranch? Must you stay there? Are you going home? I love you ver' much Clarence ' May 25, 1948 Texas A&M My darling Kathe, ' I guess most of the guys didn't go anywhere this weekend because a busload of highschoolers (mixed) just alighted right here by the end of our dorm and the guys nearly went crazy. I wasn't averse to looking myself since they loitered for a while right under my window. Just gotta keep my eyes in trim, you ' know. As always, I wish I could have spent more time with you (Theme, and everything notwithstanding). I live and work through the weary weeks for each visit that brings us nearer a certain date. Remember the three year limit we talked about. There are nearly two gone now and one to go. Let's not extend that limit-our young lives are precious. I got hold of an excerpt from 'Peace of Mind' today. I think I shall check out the entire book and read it in the near future. The excerpt was in Reader's Digest and concerned monogamous marriage. ' There was a big barbecue at the Bryan Country Club last night for Spring athletes. I recieved my letter for the Rifle Team. We were quite well fed. Joyce had written Harold that she wasn't sure she would come. We presumed that you had talked to her since she wrote. Anyway-whether she comes or not-you be sure and come on by on ' your way. I'll promise to walk your legs off and let you stand in the broiling sun as I make my last trip around the old Parade Ground. The chow will be terrible and the scenery is huge if not colorful but all in all I think you will have a nice time. I have been wanting to have you down for quite some time just to ' show you off-its been a long time of waiting. I recieved one quiz back from Friday with a 92 and didn't do so good on the one yesterday (Mon.). I did okay on the one this morning and the last one is tommorrow. My finals begin on Monday next. I recieved a card from Mother this morning. My Aunt and Uncle from Port Arthur and the Grandparents Harper went with them to Garner Park and on to see Charles and Jean-didn't say how they were. A rattlesnake bit one of our prize heiffers. She may get well. I thought that I had killed all of them ' at the dens Easter but there are always some which get away. I killed two which were huge-weighing about 15 Ibx and 5' or more in length. Not much more to tell so by All my love Clarence P.S. Pardon my borrowed envelope please. May 31, 1948 Denton, TX Dear Clarence - I will be singing at the wedding Thurs. nite and come Fri morning I will board the Sunbeam and ' will arrive in College Station around 12. You see about the exact time, will ya so I just won't be standing there. If this does not coincide with A&M's plans then let me know by return mail. I haven't bought my ticket yet for I have to do that in Dallas. Looking forward to seeing the Final Review-Here's a pessimistic thought-what will you or I do if it rains-{we're having some rather stinky looking weather here now. I have two exams today so I must run-My two hardest ones, too. Wish me luck! Love, Chatter I got a letter from John & he is leaving for camp Stewart on the 4a' to be a counsler again. 1 June 1, 1948 ' Texas A&M Dear Chatter, I'm in the same fix you were in when you wrote. I have my two most dubious quizzes tommorrow. I have an 84 average in one and and 82+ in the other so they are very important in my scheme of things. My eyes have been strained all this week which makes it doubly tough. 217 Plans sound okay, darling-and don't you worry about rain. If necessary I can always borrow you a raincoat and I've never seen a young couple yet that couldn't find something to do in case of rain. Harold said that Joyce wasn't coming-mother troubles, I reckon. We are baaad, bad boys. It is a shame that you will miss John-seems almost as if you should have gone home with me- but the folks are busy and I knew you wanted to see your parents. I must stop cause there is a whale of lot of studying to do Love, Clarence ' June 12, 1948 Texas A&M , My darling Chatter, The first week of summer school is now an accomplished fact. It begins to appear that I shall not , be able to see you until after the first of next month. I could come up next weekend if you would like although it would probably not fit into the plan of things. You know what I mean. Darling, are you going down to Bob and Liz's wedding? It is on the 24th as you probably know. I am going to have to cut some classes and be an usher for the event. Twould be nice if you could get , down but it is a long way. I am sending the pictures along although the guy apparently did not develop one. I can't figure which one it was. I am drawing some support from your picture which I have setting on top of my desk and grades be hanged. Twould be nice to have another one to sit beside it. The folks were all well although the land is getting terribly dry. I got my hand into the shearing the morning before I left and peeled off 20 head. Got a lot of needle grass in my hands for my efforts and nearly 4 dollars at the prevailing rate of exchange. It all comes in handy. ' I finally found out what I made on the rest of my grades and I posted a solid B average. I still haven't hit that distinguished student rating but someday maybe I shall. I would certainly have liked to see you this weekend although I saw ou only last weekend. Seems so long ago now doesn't it? THE DEVIS WITH IT***I'LL POST THIS ONE MYSELF&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& June 17, 1948 ' Denton, TX Dear Clarence, ' Monday, I thought taht perhaps I could catch up on all that I put off Saturday & Sunday, but no! I spent the morning in the office & I'm glad now that I did. You see, I step out of the office and when I came back I sat down at my desk & there I was working. Dr. Hodgson was having a talk with some prospective student. Well after a while ' they came out and who should I be staring straight in the face but Nancy Ruth Simmons. How do you like that! We both just hollered. (Dr. Hodgson was going to be nice & introduce us but when he saw such carryings on he just gawked!) So then Nancy & I had a brief conference. Mostly a case of digging up the Kerrville bones. She hadn't heard about Pat's death & that shocked her quite a bit. She asked about you, Cliff & all the kids. Nancy will begin ' as a Freshman beginning in the Fall--can't you just see the excitement for me! Nancy has her hair bobbed and looks very good. She's still a "big" girl. All these past years she has been working as a bookkeeper in the 2nd National Bank there in Houston. Small world, isn't it. ' I have had 4 quizes this week already and I have another on Sat. I'm not suffering, though. Sang at a funeral yesterday and made a coupla bucks. Gosh, and to think this month is only a half over. Mother wrote & Said that Aunt Grace & Uncle Buell would be there around the first of next week and that George & his family would arrive a little after that. And will remain at home until the 3`d of July. Therefore, I will make a trip home for I haven't seen Geo. & M. & the little ones in over a year or so. Well, guess I had better call it a day. Love, Chatter June 19, 1948 ' Texas A&M My Darling, ' Lo and Behold! There was a letter in my box this morning which is an unusual event not counting the rest of my fan mail and all these things addressed rather pointlessly to POST OFFICE BOX HOLDER. ' I even got one from a Catholic priest in San Antonio who was raffling off an Oldsmobile and Spanish dinners to rebuild his church school which had "fallen into a state of grave disrepair during my service as 218 a chaplain in the Army." That one was addressed to me as S/Sgt yours truly and began Dear Enlisted Reservist. I reckon the only thing that will take me off of the reserve ranks at the Organized Reserve HQ is for some one to send in my certificate of demise or whatever they give the relieved widow when I croak. Say, are you going to be down to that wedding or not? You just said that you were going home for this week sometime. I am leaving out of here by thumb early Wednesday morning before I get my ' mail. This joint is dead as only AUM can get on a weekend and a summer weekend at that. My roomate is gone and the suitemates are gone also. The roomate's name is Clarence also and we call ' each other Echo or had I told you? I recieved a letter from Bill the other day and he was squawking about the heat in Georgia. I promptly fired one back at him telling about the cool Gulf breezes which flow through this room all the time. I also mentioned the 75 pieces of feminine pulchritude which are absorbing the old Aggie spirit here ' this summer ( the Batallion says they are here). I have been swimming quite a bit at night in our indoor pool and doing nothing much more than wasting my time. This confounded swimming coach has a bunch of the locals training them up for the amateur swimming meets which are held roung and about. He took one of the girls last night and I thought that he was going to drown her. First he timed her on half a dozen speed laps and then he would talk to her while she rested and then he went in the pool with her and held her ankles while she paddled away from him. She was so tired that she could hardly kick 12 laps against the board. Did they do that to ' you last summer when you were taking swimming? I shall see you either at the wedding or this weekend in Houston. No, I know that the house will be crowded. All my love, Clarence June 20, 1948 Denton, TX ' Dear Clarence, I will be going home this next weekend for George arrives there with his family that day-26 `~-and he will be there at home until the 3`d of July. Therefore, that will be the best time for me to take out time to visit with him. Aunt Grace & that bunch are due in sometime this week. Wish I could just take the whole week off but I know better. You had better represent us in the wedding of Eliz & Bob in good style. Wish I could see the wedding- explain to all the kids for me, will ya. No, I can't say that I was treated the way that you stated when I was taking my swimming course. Consquently, I am still in one piece. Our water carnival is to be in the latter part of July-Mr. Slack, coach, has asked me to participate and I am seriously contemplating doing so. I can do all that water ballet stuff. What do you think about it? It will take a lot of my time working out but then who knows-I may become another mermaid'er somethin'. so that this may reach you before Wed. I will close now and send this poor excuse on its merry way-Love, Chatter July 1, 1948 Denton, TX My darling Clarence, ' I came to work a few minutes early so that I could type off a letter to you. I wrote last week stating what I was going to do but nothing turned out like I wrote you. It seems that George was not getting in until too late for me to spend any kind of week-end at home. (I had quizzes on Sat and on Tues) Therefore, I could not afford to go and just take off a few extra days, even though I would have like to. George will be there this week-end, but I will not ' try to go home-I have quizzes the same way regularily, in fact, I have a test every other day in Music History, and to top it all all the readings are from outside sources (that's why I spend so much time in the library. I have just gotta make a good grade in this course. At least that is what I am working for. I thought that by now I would have a letter from you telling of all the happenings at the Cunningham- Thorington wedding. I know it must have been something. Someday I will know what it is all like. Dad stated in a card that you called out home. My, you surely do get around! From the way he talked it was during the middle of the week-what are you doing running around during the middle of the week? (That doesn't demand an answer, only one of my remarks!) I have the solo Sunday morning in church for the communion service; therefore there is no choir rehearsal tonight. Now I can go spend another night in the library! Oh, joy!!!!! 219 Every afternoon between 1:30 and 2:30 1 am down at the pool giving the muscles a work-out and the brain 1 a rest. Yesterday while I was down there Mr. Slack, the swimming coach, asked me if I would let him time me on some of my strokes. Very reluctantly I did so. I know that if I get interested in competitive swimming that it will be ' hard to pull out of it. I made a coupla records which made me feel good, but that is as far as I will go with it. The meets are in the afternoons from 4 to 5; so, see, I have to work from 3 to 5 and that is that. However, I did promise Mr. Slack that I would be in the Water Carnival-hat I do want to do. We will rehearse from 6 to 7 in the evenings; t consquently, it will not conflict with anything. Well the time has come for me to open the office for business-soooooooooo I must put an end to all this. Love Chatter Later-after receiving your letter! [Ed's note - letter below] It would do me no good to tell you that I am sorry-I had no idea that you would be in Houston. I called Dad long distance and tried to find out some info , on Thurs. nite-he mentioned nothing concerning a note to you on a telegraph! In fact he didn't know anything about Geo. & etc. He told me he would telegraph me if Geo. was coming in time for me to see him. Geo. came but I heard nothing so I could not write you concerning my plans for I knew nothing and heard nothing. And further t more I don't owe Jean a letter-I wrote her at least 2 weeks ago-and that's not a figment of my imagination! Your lil cat Chatter July 2, 1948 , Texas A&M My darling, ' Still some misunderstanding-these letters! I wrote you in my next to last letter that I would drop into Houston Sunday if you came down. I came through Houston Friday morning after your father had talked to you. ' This note should arrive by tommorrow noon. I would like very much to come up there tomorrow. I have wanted for a long time to catch up on Omar and Freud, etc. if that library has to have you. If that is inconvenient send me a telegram collect as soon as you get this to E2, Walton Hall. It must be here ' before noon. (Sat.)-If you don't get this in time and I make the trip and find you busy then we will chastise me-okay, huh. Quiz in umpty ump minutes, All my love darling, Clarence July 1948 ' Texas A&M Dear Kathe, know you probably have been wanting to hear about the wedding. I had intended to tel you all about it last weekend but as luck would have it I phoned up your home as I came back through Houston. Your father said that you probably would not come down until this weekend. I told him to have you telegraph me collect if you came in. No telegram Sunday and no letter letting me know that you weren't coming. I could have made a useless trip to Houston as far as information from you was concerned. Kitten, that was thoughtless! I've been so mad I could chew nails'cause it is just one indication of ' something which is happening that I don't understand. My birthday since March, for instance, and letter's to Jean. You owe her one and she is quite miffed about it. (She could have forgotten one from you). Liz and Bob had a beautiful wedding in the little wooden Taft church-the thing was full to overflowing. I got in Wednesday at 3 and we fiddled around and had a salad supper at the church just a few friends, the singer, the organist, and the wedding party. The singer was Dorothy Boykin, a music major from Taft and Austin College and also hooked in the family ties in some sort of cousin or cousin's cousin ' relationship-nice voice-I'm still prejudiced though. Had lots of comparison too. She sang "Through the Years", "At Dawning", and the "Lord's Prayer". That night we had the rehearsal, and I needn't discuss the rehearsal-you should know them by now. We had trouble working out a method for Bob to kneel without folding up like a weary accordion. I slept with the groom that night and we had quite a time getting to sleep. Before we did I managed to drop a cigarette under me and burnt my trying to get up and get it off the sheet. Somehow we got to sleep about 1 and then up early for pfeakfast (per Mary and Helen)-very good. ' Rode Bob all day and had dinner (noon) downtown in a private dining room-Liz's grandmother was more fun than a stack of monkeys-[ know where Liz got her's now. We made a trip to Corpus (Charles, C, Frances C, Bob, Liz and 1) for the cake which came from Frances' mother in Georgia. ' The hazing stepped up in the afternoon and we began to get worried about the fact that Charles and Jean had not arrived. Charles C. and I made another trip to Corpus to pick up the flowers and stuff. 220 ' Mother and Dad of all people showed up in the Buick with Charles and Jean and Mr. Cunningham who is not well and had planned to stay home. Mrs. C came down on the bus. Well, you could have knocked t me over with a Leinweber! (Mr. C. has had a skin cancer on his neck but they seem to have gotten that but he has heart trouble too-not at all well). We had the wedding and it all went according to plan-Bob and Liz both spoke up in quietly loud voices and Bob's had a definite quaver to it. It was so hot I nearly lost my toupee and perspiration was at flood level on my neck collar. The reception was crowded and mostly Charles Lee and I just stayed out of the way. I waited until the last and then drank so much punch I should have died. Bobbie Prine (Paryne?) from Austin ' College and Taft served the punch-one of my buddy's from the P.S.A. That girl (Liz) got some beautiful presents. There were everbit as many as there were for Jean and Liz had several sets of antique silver (1 complete). ' I didn't quite notice what the bride wore though it was white satin with a long train. The groom wore a dazed grin. I didn't hardly get a chance to talk to the folks before they took off for home again-big rain out there. Bob and Liz headed for Con Cun amongst other places. I think that is supposed to be the heart of their honeymoon there. I had to ride all night and flunked a quiz but I wouldn't have missed it for anything. I don't have ' anything planned for this weekend but guess it will work out. No more till next time, Love, Clarence July 8, 1948 Texas A&M My darling Chatter, ' I keep telling you, woman, you better marry me and save my live-temporarily, anyway, (the life, that is). The car I was in went in a ditch at about 65 in the rain coming back. The driver had managed to nearly stop it and as it was it just careened up in the air, hung there a moment, and then dropped back down. It's a funny thing-I have been watching my reactions since the war and this time as the time we ran into the cow in '46-1 was not scared-at the time or afterwards. It worries me-it's not normal and sometime it could put others beside myself in danger. I am enclosing a clipping from yesterday's paper. It's just another instance of what I have been telling you. This joint will drive you to the T.U. Annex. (The State Eleomosynary Institution across the highway and one mile from Texus U. proper). There is another count-the moral-don't worry me too far!-------in case you didn't know I am only kidding. These grasshoppers are sure indulgent-they don't mind coming in the room with my well ' seasoned socks and pipe. There is an overabundance on the lawn right outside the door and they mistake my bald head for a landing field in the glaring light of the 9 oclock oil. About those glasses-I wanted to get some of the winged type with mirror lenses but the stores were all closed (not to mention my pocketbook). Maybe it is better-they might have made you so glamorous that I would have had more competition than the male component of NTSC as at present. Let me know how much time you are working the weekend of the 17~h. I doubt if we can work ' anything out so it may be better for me to come up the following weekend. Your loving, Clarence 7/12/48 ' Texas A&M My lovely One, ' Just got to thinking of you too much. In case you are worried the illusion is to Homer's Penelope, the weaver of a cloth of time who wove a fabric fine to use as a line while the suitors did dine of roast pigs (swine) and wine ---duH! Which way'd they go George??? Pretty please-if you still have the others-send me a copy. Cross my heart I won't send them to ' another-they are yours dedication, inspiration, meaning and all. Just heard one of the guys say that the Democrats were meeting today to confirm the fact that he was going to vote Republican this year. ' There are 300 firemen on the campus for a short course-quite a mixture of lurid fire engine red in the vehicles. I looked out this morning to see them gathered all over the area in front of Sbisa Mess Hall. I mused as to what would happen if someone yelled "fire". The roommate resignedly said, ' 221 "Probably an awful lot of administration and very little water". (This is a Fire Marshal and Building ' Inspector course). When I left last week you said, "Be a good little boy". Et tu, Brute-[ have few temptations- ' Remember-I love you Clarence P.S. Got a buzz out of this poem-I showed it to one of the guys who is well up on his poetry. He was trying to quote me the English poet who wrote it. I had to show him my notes and reworks before he would believe it was mine CLL July 15, 1948 Denton, TX My dear Clarence, I got a card from John just yesterday stating that we was coming by here for a few days on his way home. t Therefore, I think it best that there be just the two of us to visit during the time he is here. As you remember, I have not seen him since January-so I think it best that it be just John & I together this weekend. Don't you think that its best? The Aquacade went over justgreat & now all the fellas in the band & Fessa-call me the "water prima t donna"-more people were surprised that it was me all that sorta stuff-(some of my talents I keep hidden!) I was an Indian Princess-in a brief outfit--& did a water ballet solo & swim. In the circus act I was a panther-dress in clinging black jersey from my head to my feet. Lisa and Jeanneane were the other two black panthers. We were ' transported from the sidelines to the pool in a huge red cage carried by four blackamoors. We had the time of our lives! Then we went through a act with a tap dancer, our trainer, and each time she cracked the whip we did some sort of stunt. The whole show was a big success & money was made hand over foot! Now I can swim for pleasure once , more- Had one final exam this morning-Tomorrow I have my last music history test for this semester. I made a 92 on the last one. Gosh! ' Must close if you are to get this in time. Love, Chatter July 20, 1948 Blue Tuesday Texas A&M My Darling, ' I have been meaning to write for several days but, as you would say, tempus has just kept fugiting. (I've done a little procrastinating, too). I met my first classes this morning and they promise to be outstandingly dull. The guy next to me slept through nearly all of the 7 to 9 Thermodynamics class-very soundly, too. On top of that, the VA ' gave me the wrong card for a speech book and by the time I got that changed there weren't any left. Don't worry about last weekend, Kitten. I couldn't come anyway. I had two 3 hour quizzes Saturday from 7 to 2 in the afternoon and I was dog tired. I hope you had a good time while John was there. It is a shame you couldn't have seen George while he was in Houston. The family is just growing up and spreading out and someday you will be gone from the family fold, too. just the natural scheme of things. We have a Methodist youth conference here this week-about 500, mostly girls. I'm getting that ' pent up feeling that makes me run to the window every time I hear one giggle. I expect that I had best come up there this weekend lest I get the A&M blues. Course, you know, its not that I'm just coming to see you or anything like that. It's just that I've got to get away from here-there-that will pay you back for saying "Uh-uh" in answer to a query concerning the state of your affections the last time I was there. ' If it won't work post your letter not later than Friday morning, early. The last one got here in time. Helmut's back. He spent the entire morning perched in front of the Academic Building talking to a blonde. ' Darling, that is all for today. I'll see you this weekend so keep yourself real pretty just for me- (shouldn't be hard) Love 'n stuff Clarence 1 1 222 ' August 3, 1948 ' Denton, TX Dearest one, I have been so busy trying to figure my family out that I'm afraid I have neglected you something awful. ' I'm sorry, truly I am. I got a letter from Dad stating that John was remaining in Kerrville on an invitation from Big Jim Delaney. Don't know when he will be home for he is enjoying being a vagabond too much. I think it is good for him. This way maybe he can figure out a few things for himself. ' Personally, I think it is Dad that needs a good talking to for now he writes that Dorothy came home from work (or rather he had to go after her) and he said that she was not easy in her mind & that she was quite restless. So now she has quit work for a while. Clarence, what in heck fire is wrong???? I am quite sure I know down deep inside me but some how I can't see any way out without stomping on someone's feet real hard. Next time I see you I ' will tell you my solution & the basis I put it on. Dad-gum-it anyhow! Seems as though Ann tried to wring her arm out in the washing machine-but thanks to her quick judgment she snapped the release & reversed the wringer. No ill results, I don't believe. I have a chance to go home this weekend in a car & I think I am going to take it. As far as I know we will take off on Friday & return Monday. The following week-end I will be here for I am scheduled to sing a solo. (This week & the next I am chirping at weddings. I get more experience in seeing how its done more than anyone I know!) Evelyn will be leaving on the 29`h of Aug and I get out on the 27`h. Therefore this opportunity to go home I can not afford to pass up. And too, I can talk with Dorothy. Got peeved at Dr. Hibberd the other day-cause all of us studied our Mus. History like mad & he didn't show up for our test. Now I have a test this morning-however it is not over that material-it is over the next ' reading list that I read yesterday morning and again last night in the library. Penny Coffey invited a gang of us over to her house yesterday afternoon for some homemade freezer ice cream. Talk about good-I am still suffering from the amount that I absorbed. Besides the ice cream-we just had a feast. Afterwards we put on a regular show-you see they live in Brazil for several years & she has all sorts of ' stuff like castanets, sticks, shakes and guitar. Well, we just went South American for a while. Had more fun! Her lil brother (18) played & sang some for us. Some of these real sad but delightful S.A. love songs. Sure did hate to leave & return to the library. What a drag! Must close now-Love, Chatter i August 4, '48 ' Texas A&M My darling Kitten, To paraphrase Marie Antoinette, "if they have no water, then let them drink beer." I am referring ' of course to the squabbles between the City of Denton and NTSC. What a press agent TC has-that school is in the Morning News more than SMU! I got back exceedingly tired and sleepy last weekend (the 25'h) but got an A on that English ' speech Monday morning. I recieved another on the next one but only got a B+ on the one this morning. now hold a monopoly on 2 out of 3 of the A's the prof has given on 35 speeches. I just tell you this so you can be happy at my little triumphs as I am at yours. People have told me that I have a golden speaking voice, full of emotion 'n stuff. I wish my knees could understand that that quivering is emotion! ' I went home this weekend and saw Charles and Jean. We had the Leinweber-Klein get together. Most of those fifty or more I tried to introduce you to were there. We had a grand time. Jeannie and Charles had the contest for the young bachelors and she had made some bright red drawers (cotton-sex unknown) and had cut a hole in each one. The boys had to patch these with a polkadot peice of material. I asked Jeannie for the best patched pair to send to you but she never did give them to me. Then there was a contest to see who could say the most good things about his wife in 30 seconds. I (as unofficial MC) announced the contest as a session of the Kerr County Lyers Club. You would be surprised but nearly everyone started off by saying that his wife got up every morning and built the fire and cooked breakfast-some then bogged down. After years of married life that seemed to have been the most important thing-I wonder. ' Don had gotten one of these little gadgets which you put in the palm of your hand and which vibrates during a handshake. They had waited for me to get to town so I could try it on Jean Mays-the girl who works in the dry goods department at Schreiners. She nearly beat my arm off. We had a lot of fun greeting each newly arriving family with it at the party. ' Sunday was the first day of the Camp Meeting and we all went down and promptly got rained out. It rained 2'/2 inches in a matter of a half hour or less. Pete had to run me to San Antone so I could get out of the rain to hitchhike. ' 223 Darling, I believe I am thinking the same thing you are about things which you wrote me though I , am not sure. There seems to be quite a bit of evidence to back it up. I can think of several reason's for the girl quitting her job but none stack up against her personality as I know her. Talk to you more when I ' see you, huh? I should imagine that I would be very out of place this weekend and I had halfway planned to go home to the Camp Meeting again. Couldn't quite make out what you were saying by defining your time ' activities this weekend and next-but from my vantage I think it best to remain out of shouting range. Have a good time, Kitten, and write and tell me about it. All my love, Clarence August 8, 1948 ' Denton, TX My darling Clarence, ' Well, here I am at home, and what an experience. It would not do for me to try to start telling you all that is in my heart or that is on my mind in this epistle. I will save it for next week-end when I hope that you will pay me a visit. (That is what I was trying to tell you in my last letter.) ' This is one of the notices that I read in the Presbyterian Church Edition. And I quote "For special music Sunday (last) we had a young guest sing for us, Miss Ann McNeill, aged nine, who looked very lovely in her pale blue satin. Her song was a hymn, 'Tell Me the Story or Jesus', which she sang softly and sweetly. She found the ' high notes a bit difficult, but with true artistry took them cautiously in perfect pitch. Mrs. George Schuler played for her at the piano. Thank you, Ann, and we hope that you may sing for us again so on!" (Ann said that it was not satin-it was taffeta, but that's a man for you.) Now how do you like that? Boy how that kid gets around! Surely do have a lot of competition around this place. But how I love it all. , I gave the family a pleasant surprise by coming home. I wrote them during the first of the week however, I failed to mention that I even thought about coming home-I must have mentioned it to you..(so help me I told somebody!!!!) Anyhow, Maryann Frank was driving down to Beaumont, passing through Houston, to pick her boy- ' friend, and she asked if I would like to go home. Course I am noone to refuse such an opportunity, so here I am. We drove home Friday afternoon, leaving denton around 2 and arriving here at 9. Quite a trip-there was a fella from Beaumont along with us and he, Oliver, promised to fix any flats or to pull us out of the ditch if the need occur. However, we had no trouble whatsoever. I will be here until 2 tomorrow, and then we will make our merry way t back to Denton and to my Music History. Isn't that thrilling????? Just got up from the table and I ate some of the most delicious chicken that I have eaten since the last time. And the last time was when I dined with five fellas from A.&M. I am especially proud of one of those fellas. Darling, I once told you that I knew that you didn't have to worry about that Speech class, and now from what you ' have told me, I am positive. Let your knees shake-mine do sometimes when I am singing-it makes good harmony. Keep up the good work, hon, for I am betting on you. In the little while that I have been home, I have done every thing from walking a coupla miles to standing ' on my head and whistleing Dixie at the same time. What a family! Dad has been preaching in Beaumont for the last 2 or 3 Sundays' so he is not at home today. All of us trudged off to Sunday School and Church this morning to the new and beautiful First Presbyterian Church. It is just wonderful.. Pretty soon the congregation will move into the main sanctuary for the services-right now they are using the Gym. Judge Boyles's class meets in the Chapel ' and it is the class that Mom attends: so I went to that class with her, as her guest. Judge was tickled to death and wanted to know if I were going to sing-but it just so happened that I did not have any music with me, nor had I been asked to sing cause no one knew that I was in town-so I said that I was "just visiting". You should see that ' Chapel. Clarence, it is just ideal. The evening service is going to be held there tonight and Evelyn is to do the honors with a solo. After church we will walk over to the park and hear the concert in the park by the Houston Symphony, which will be the last concert for this season. The house is now silenced by Sunday afternoon slumber, and just seeing them stretched out here and there t is making me feel like I need some of the same. Course this typewriter sounds like a combine machine running through the house every time I press a key, which is giving me a conscience that says for me to SHUT UP. Consquently, I shall obey. Always your Chatter 224 1 1 August 10, 1948 ' Texas A&M My darling Kathe, Now that Ann has soloed, only the male section is left. The family would make quite a choir if you ' girls could only pick a few good tenors and basses. It was me whom you wrote about your trip home, instead of your family. I also wrote you about going home instead of risking a trip to Houston-I think. I came back and mooned through class Monday ' morning and about halfway through Theermo I decided to call you up in case you were going to be around Monday afternoon. Passing thought-that chapel had better be ideal! Kitten, I would certainly like to see you and talk to you because I have been doing some rather deep thinking (for me) and have arrived at some tentative conclusions which are rather disquieting to me. t I shall give you a brief outline and let you follow my trend of thought. What happened the last time I was up there opened my eyes. Certainly few men can court girls without an acceptance and a little help from the girl. That leaves only an offensive odor-excuse my frankness-perhaps of the breath or a conscious ' or unconscious effort on your part to restrain our impulses. I can understand why, for the male counterpart is fully as disturbing. I feel that it should be best for me to stay here this weekend and next not only because of my studies but for some of these other reasons. Darling, you know how much I love you. To be so near and yet so far is slightly less than unbearable. Let's wait a little and compare notes. ' shall we. However, if there is something special which you wish me to come for, can do. I have been copying "Peace of Mind" on that car deal. I shan't and cain't pay extra so sooner or later they say everything comes to him who waits. The last Sunday of the Camp Meeting was excellent-good food, good sermons, pretty girls, and a swimming party in the afternoon. I got a buzz out of one of the girls, Sarah Frances Calhoun, the Methodist preacher's daughter. She is as cute a little brunette as you ever saw. Uh, uh. It's you I love, remember. A bunch of us were getting cokes at one of the groceries near Mountain Home. Somehow ' we were discussing how essential humans were or something. Sarah Frances popped up, "Nobody's ever missed me" Her sister said "Why, Sarah Frances" with just that certain naughty intonation. We nearly died laughing. There is nothing else new-lot's that's happened thou gh-frinstance I love you Clarence 1 August 12, 1948 ' Denton, TX Dearest, I often wish that I could scribble as well as you. You're pretty darn good in my estimation. Several times ' you have asked me to send you some of the others that you have written-I will do it as soon as I start packing for some of your letters of last year are in the basement in my trunk and some are in the attic at home. I have every letter you have ever written me-tied in bundles-arranged chronological order. Don't think taht I am ignoring your asking. Its funny how when you're away from home your family takes on a picture of perfection in your mind and heart-and they really aren't. If I could only do something sensible-crying wouldn't help, although I have felt like it many times in this last week. In my last letter, before I went home, I said I knew the root of the whole trouble. ' That "root" has been trampled on so much in my absence and has become so worn by the beating that its taken, I could not utter one word of reproach. You see, since last Thrus. 2 weeks ago Doff has been a lil gal with a misconception so great that it has almost been proven to be problem for the psychologists or psychiatrist. She is just ' on the wrong mental track. Not at all like John's case, for John was running away-Dorothy is seeking. In a way she is running away from realities. She is extremely over consciencious in her religion & takes everything- sermons that are preached to stir the thoughts of those who are weak-and applies them to herself. She has always been the lil self righteous gal but never as bad as this. She was fired from her job because she began to judge and t condemn those with whom she worked for being lax in their Christian principles. When I went home I knew nothing of the trouble that they were having. However, I always walk into things-such as home-with my eyes open. It did not take me long to detect something wrong-especially when I ' saw Dorothy. Clarence, she is a wow! just as pretty as can be in the face and in the body. She has given her self a self analysis-and for the first time she says that she has realized all the talents that God has given her and she intends to use them now for Him-she claims that noone had ever before told her of her talents-good gracious Clarence, can't you see how far off she is. I did my best while I was home! She also claims that she never realized ' how pretty she is-nor why people never really loved her, especially her family! To me our family is one of the most closely knitted families that I know of. She believes that we have all been wicked & did not show our love enough in outward appearances, and that she is going to right it all by herself with the power & wisdom of God! ' 225 Personally, I think she is indulging in a big case of self pity-and for no reason at all. My popped in visit did her some good and I sorta set her off straight. And she seemed to be improving by the time I left. Laws ah mercy, ' Clarence, suggest something that I could do. You're real smart-~I love you!). I have decided to write her & then maybe she will be convinced that I love her. (I certainly will have to improve-I bet that's what you're thinkin', isn't it?) Pardon me while I jump to me feet. Someone just began playing the Aggie War Hymn & the Spirit of ' Aggieland. Ole Chatter really pulled a bona the other day in the office. A future North Texan and her parents came in the office and wanted to see Dean Hodgson. I went in to tell Dr. H. & I said, "There is a student and her prospective ' parents wishing to see you!" Dr. H. caught the misplaced adjective & both of us just hee-hawed! He said "why Chatter you'd better have a seat-I didn't know!" It was good 3 or 4 minutes before I could walk out of the office with a straight face and ask to people to "come in". Now every time Dr. H. sees me he just grins with a knowing look. Heavens, what will I do next! ' The approaching week is full of all sorts of wedding activities for me. I am singing for Lavon Buster's (you don't know her) wedding. Monday there is a breakfast. Tues. a shower; Wed., the rehearsal and dinner; Thurs. the wedding-all this and Music History, too! (Made 92 on my last quiz.-Got one to take this morning & it isn't going to be so good, I have that feeling. ' Clarence hon, Charles did have polio-both legs. However, slowly & surely he is regaining the use of his legs. He is up & about in a wheel chair. He can pull his left leg up and down-hasn't control of the muscles yet- lifting will come in time. The reight leg is not that flexible yet-he can only move his foot just a little. He is in ' excellent spirits-nothing will ever get him down. On the phone you asked me to write-so how is this for a renewed start! Almost turned out to be a book! As yet I won't be able to make any big promising plans concerning those days I have off. I want to go to ' the ranch-more than anything-for that is really the only time we're ever together with just ourselves. I do hope that Jean & Charles will be around. Mom is going to Kerrville for the conference this next week and is leaving things in Dorothy's hands. The responsibility will be good for Doff for it will take her mind off herself. She will accept it as a way through which ' she can prove herself as loving and kind toward her family. Before I make any definite plans I want to feel sure that Doff is back on the right track. The doctors have advised that she not enter Rice in the fall-Dad has not had the heart nor the courage to tell her-we all hope she will be alright. Part of her trouble is that she has misconstrued what a college girl is. You should have heard some of the lectures that I received from her on glamour, manners & ' begaivor, and on being a Virtous Woman (as the scripture says). She is striving to be just that--& to be perfect! A martyr, in other words. Darling, I'm glad I'm me! Dumb, goony, and very happy-knowing that I have you. Always just plain me! ' Chatter August 15, 1948 ' Texas A&M My darling Kathe, ' Yeah, that was a veritable book. Sorry I haven't got enough knowledge in my one little brain to equal it. This has certainly been a lonesome weekend but I have gotten a little studying done-imagine that. I have been reading "Peace of Mind" for a book report and also in search for the answer to ' Dorothy's problems. I never cease to marvel at Liebmann's choice of words and the magnificent poetry in prose that characterizes his writing. To have an analytical mind like his must be wonderful. Thanks for the praise on my poor efforts at poetry. You will notice perhaps the same theme ' running through all of the sonnets (I am sending the only other one I have)-a theme which seems to leak out. I hadn't noticed it too much until I reread them (the two I have). I remember the other was concerned with my inept ability to put words into the molds built by my thoughts. (There was a line or two anyway). ' Just as this thought is one of those which I have been unable to reconcile, so John and Dorothy and even yourself are troubled by different things. In the case of your family, a family so blessed by talent and beauty, it seems to have taken the form of proving things to one another and to the world. As I have ' told you before, it is something that I, as a relative outsider cannot see. Dorothy longed so long to be pretty that when she has reached a mature age she still cannot assure herself that she is a beautiful young woman. It apparently has taken the form of a malignant Narcissism-a love and yet a condemnation of self-a seeking for perfection without the realization that perfection is unattainable. ' I have noticed in yourself, in your intimate actions and thoughts, an insecurity which I cannot understand even though I can see the roots of the trouble. Once you told me that you had never been 226 ' ' very popular with the boys-referring to Nellie as a prototype of a popular girl. Again, you said that you just had to finish college to prove something to your father. I have run into the same thing every now and ' then-a conscious (or unconscious) striving to bring other men into your orbit while you were with me. It makes me so doggoned mad sometimes that I could chew nails. You are probably hopping mad right now, darling, and your brain is screaming bloody murder, "Why that jealous nitwit". Don't take me ' wrong-I am just thinking on paper, Kitten. I'm trying to say that I have had everything proven to me-to live without you would be procrastination. You must certainly know your abilities, your beauty, as you must also know your shortcomings. So, indeed, do I know mine (many and plaguing though they are). Each of us is able to analize and control our efforts to improve but Dorothy must be shown-how is the ' question She must be informed that none of us are perfect. Through striving we can obtain a degree of perfection but if we strive too hard we tear down the righteous castle we have built. We cannot condemn others lest we condemn ourselves. "Peace of Mind" might help her to untangle her ideals but it might ' hurt. Certainly she should not undertake it alone with her present ideals. See what a mess I have made on paper, darling. Let's talk about it when we have lot's of time to think and a tree to sit under. Two weeks to go and then it will be over for a short 15 days-fefteen for team, farmer's fight, and ' call it a semester (uh-night!) Gosh I hate to worry about problem's especially other people's (got enough of my own). Don't you worry too much-Dorothy is young and impressionistic and still pliable. She'll be okay with a little ' temperance and love of the right guy. Love you, Clarence Aug. 19, 1948 ' Denton, TX My dear, ' Oh what these weddings do to me! Lavon, has gotten everything under the sun to begin a new life with. she & James will both settle down in Friar (sp) (it's south of San Antonio) where they will both teach in the high school-he will teach Spanish and she will teach English. Lavon is a brilliant girl & has made many good friends among the faculty but never had time for chums among the students, although she was president of several ' organizations & editor of the Chat. Last night was the rehearsal & rehearsal dinner-what a meal! It was a garden dinner served in the moonlight. We ate at the Wilken's place-a beautiful home on the top of a hill-all outside of town by it's lonesome looking over the town of Denton. What a setting? ' When the presents were passed out I received a beautiful pair of pink moonstone ear bobs. I will wear them tonight with my long pink dress. I get to doll up for a change! I should be thinking about my music history test tomorrow & get my mind off weddings. ' It seems that I did write a book last time-however, I didn't want to talk to anyone else but you-so-----. I do hope that Doff will "straighten up & fly right". I would hate so see her deprived of attending college this fall, after she has put heart & soul into it. (and her mind) They say "the truth hurts" but the truth you uttered didn't. I have known it for so long. Clarence, don't try "to figure me out" just keep on loving me? ' Hon, I was in the office the other day talking to Dr. Hodgson and he says that I will have to begin my year as a career woman on the V of Sept. That means I will have about 4 or 5 days at home. There will be weekends during the time that I have to remain here & I am planning on taking off one & going down to Kerrville-or rather-you know where! A few extra days will be added on for sport! You see, Dr. Hodgson is going to Seattle & points west & someone has to remain here in the office to take care of the mail & I have to learn the filings & straighten things up for my office term. That will take a coupla days for Nan has had no system at all. I just hope that I will be the good secretary. ' I have a million & one things to do today-so best I had get started. I am anxious to hear from home-I haven't since I have been back. Mom is in Kerrville & will be for a few more days-she really needed the rest. Love that woman! Love you too. Chatter I have been using Arlene's ballpoint-messy ain't it-you should see me! ' August 20, 1948 Texas A&M ' My darling Kathe, When I first got your letter this morning, I was sick and I am referring to the sickness of the heart. t I have been planning so with all of my heart for our vacation that it just hit me a little hard that things had gone the way that they had. I reread the letter, however, and saw the addition of a few days for sport which perked me up a little. 227 Be sure and let me know just when and how you are going home. I shall have to register for the ' fall term on Saturday, the 281', and I will have to come back on Monday, the 131h. Salvage all the time which you can spare for the trip to the ranch and it will have to be governed by the dates which I put in ' above. I want to see you so bad that I am about to blow my top but that wouldn't do any good would it? Are you still coming by here on your way home and could I come down there for a night before I go on out home? These are some of the thoughts which I have been mulling over. It sure is rough to ' stay here but I had to put the brakes on my going for our own good. It wouldn't do much good to be married and starve to death, would it? My roommate said that the thermometer hit a high of 104 yesterday-that is getting hot and it appears to be even hotter today. The nights are beginning to get cooler after 10 o'clock, though. ' I finished up my Seminar this morning with a bull session. That is about all that it is. The course is a discussion course led by the students on current topics of interest in their major fields. My talks have been on supersonic difficulties and the one this morning was on the problems arising in the development ' and utilization of an atomic aircraft engine. I also gave my report on Peace of Mind this morning and it was quite good if I do say so myself. (A) I drew quite bitter criticism from the prof however on my method of gaining interest. I slammed my ring hand down on the table with a loud bang and said, "This concerns you". He said that that did not jibe ' with the title of the book-the loud noise that is. No more foolishment, darling, and I do love you very, vvery, much. In face all my love Clarence August 23, 1948 ' Texas A&M My dearest, ' It is another scorching day and now there are only two to go. I looked at a thermometer a little bit ago and it was 98 already and it was only noon. Just call me half baked. ' I have been running around trying to get lined up for a room for this fall but have no definite luck as yet. It is not the same procedure as it has been in the corps where rooms are assigned to each individual. Of course last year when Bill assigned the rooms, we got our pick. The rooms in this dorm are the most individualistic ones I have ever seen. There is no rhyme nor reason to any of them and none ' are alike, I don't believe. I have one more speech to give tomorrow and a thermo letter quiz tomorrow. Then Thursday, I have the thermo final. If I fail that it could very well mean the first summer semester next year. I am ' actually working against such odds as to be almost insurmountable. Something is bound to turn up which will mean that extra six weeks but it does no good to contemplate it. Helmut got that batallion commander's job and will wear two diamonds on his shoulder this fall. It will be a pleasure to hear that bass voice boom out, "BA-TAL-YOAN-N-N------- TINSH-HUT!" t Kitten, I am really awfully glad that you got that job. It should help tide over the money situation and keep you occupied for the next year. I am also sorry that I put up objections to the apartment idea. Twas just my jealousy or possessiveness popping up again where it had no right to be. I presumed since you would not clarify your position that it had to do with more frequent or longer dates with someone else t and that thought was just a mite hard to swallow. Really, I have to keep telling myself that since you are not wearing my ring, I have no just claims on you except our verbal ones and those are not restraning on either of us, though they are n me as part of my own makeup. I shall cut this short and mail it now, so all my love, Clarence Aug. 24, 1948 ' Denton, TX Dearest, ' I'm not in a very gay mood for I just left a Music History test that disgusted me quite thoroughly. However, I shall not take it out on you. (I wonder if Dr. Hibberd likes arsenic sodas?) Clarence, hon, why don't you go down to Houston this week-I am leaving here Friday at noon for home. I have a ride all the way to my front door; therefore, I will be home sooner than I had anticipated. I haven't seen Don ' since that day in the lounge & I can't seem to get him by phone-so that trip to A&M is out. I'm terribly sorry, you see, I kinda like having you "show me off'. There is another year for the both of us, though. Evelyn is leaving on the 25th (tomorrow) consquently, I will not see her now until the Xmas holidays. She ' wrote me & told me that Doff was getting better for it seems that a little love has flown her way. I hope to see a change in her when I return. 228 When I see you I will be able to plan for the trip down to the ranch. The Labor Day weekend is about the ' only one that seems any where near the time that I could take off'-with a coupla days added. I have a wedding to sing at on the nite of the 2"d (or the Yd) (I don't remember which right this moment-but just as soon as it is over I could board the night train for Austin. That's about how it would have to work. I bet you really scar(r)ed (sp) the profs furniture with that ring. Maybe you can spout some of this wisdom ' in Doffs way. She could use it. Me, too. Must close, in "shorts" but not for long. Love, Chatter ' Aug. 25, 1948 Texas A&M ' My darling, I know just how you felt when you wrote that last letter. I went to the post office immediately after taking my thermo final and I was thinking about arsenic cocktails too. I don't know if I made the grade or ' not but I feel deep inside of me that I flunked the course. Tommorrow will tell the tail. I have to have it before I can take two senior courses which follow one after the other and each is a prerequisite for the other. Kitten, I have from now until Saturday morning off and then I must register at 8. 1 think that I shall ' come down there and arrive shortly after dinner on Saturday. I will stay until Sunday afternoon and then go on to the ranch. If this does not fit plans send me a wire collect after you arrive Friday night. My room is E-2 Walton Hall. I was going out to play some tennis this afternoon but a pretty good wind and rainstorm has just ' blown up so I don't know how I am going to occupy muself for the next day and a half. This place can get terribly boring if you have no studying to do and I am feeling in a good vegetating mood now as the professors say. ' Incidentally the deal for that farm finally fell through-there apparently were extenuating circumstances which I shall tell you about later. I expect that Pete is quite cut up about it but it would have meant that he would have been in debt until the day he died, I am sure. Football season is about to roll around again, and I have a date for two of the games with you- the one in Dallas and any of the games here which you wish to attend. From here we can go to Houston so you can kill two birds with one stone. That tennis game is definitely off cause it is raining cats and dogs outside now. I am going to close this letter with a hurried period and write the folks as to when to expect me at ' the ranch. Love ya'ver'much Clarence ' August 31, 1948 Mountain Home, TX t My darling Chatter, There is enough noise going on for me to make an awful mess of this letter. Aunt Tillie McNeally who is Grandmother Leinweber's sister is here and Grandma and Aunt Doll were over yesterday. I have just about recuperated from my trip home and what a debacle that was. I took off from your home and walked to the corner to catch a Mcgregor bus but when the bus came another pulled up beside it and I just thought that one had had motor trouble, so I got on the nearest one. After two blocks I found that it was a Naval hospital bus and didn't even go near to town. I ' got off and caught a Riverside to town and walked about six blocks to the old Washington line only to find that it had moved to Prairie Street. By the time that I had finally gotten to the edge of town it was five o'clock. I caught a slow ride to Katy and then a very dirty oil field roughneck's car to Columbus. That was alll as far as the hitchhiking was concerned. I finally had to catch a bus to San Antonio and put up there ' for the night. The folks had been in town to meet me of course so they ended up going to the show and then on home. I sure slept well last night however even though these home beds are strange after so long away. 1 229 The more I think about it, the more worried I get about whether we will get your letter in time to ' pick you up or not. I presume that it will be The night of the third but I shall not go over unless I get a letter because it is an awful rough trip. If for some reason your letter does not get here in time and I am ' not at the depot to meet you, get you a room in the hotel and sleep until the bus pulls out in the morning and I shall pay for it. I can think of no other way to solve the problem in case something does not pan out. ' The old man is about ready to pull out for town so 1 shall have to close this and get it into an envelope to mail. All my love, Clarence September 1, 1948 t Denton, TX Mr. Clarence L. Leinweber ' Mountain Home, TX My darling Clarence, ' What a heading, course by the title you can tell just what I have been doing all this morning. There was just loads of mail for me to get out-gee, all this stuff almost scares me. However, it will all wear off, I hope. I am really having the time of my life playing big shot. But now down to business, I called the train schedules and here they are: Leave Denton 9 p.m. and arrive in Austin 4:55 a.m. Now here is the way that situation would work. The wedding is on the night of the 3rd and at 8 p.m., which means that the wedding would take every bit of 30 min. I will be dress in formal attire and will have to change back into traveling clothes, therefore, I will need at least a coupla minutes. And then there is the possibility ' of my missing the train. I do want to be all in one piece when I see you so I think it best that I follow this schedule. There is a morning train that leaves at 7:20 am that I could catch which would put me in Austin at 2:19 pm and that way it would not make you have to travel so early in the morning and both of us would be wide awake enough to t know just what was going on. Don't you think that that is the best plan. I will have to come back Wednesday night, I think. You see, Dr. Hodgson may call and I have to be here. I sent him some real important mail this morning and I expect to hear from him concerning this. I got your letter in the morning mail; and this is the fastest answer that I can give you. If there are any ' changes I will let you know just as soon as I can. However, I do not think that there will be any. You just be there to meet me on the 2:19 train on Sept. 4. There is a lot of correspondence that I have to get out so I must close for now. Love, Chatter Katherine , McNeill, Secretary School of Music September 8, 1948 ' Denton, TX My darling, ' It was a good thing that I did come back when I did for you shold see the work that piled up in just that length of time. And too, there was a fella of some importance that prissed into the office today that I had to converse with. Although I could have stood some more loving, I guess it is all for the best. I love you! I have typed so much today that I could not see any reason why I could not type just one more letter ' anyway. So see, you do rate-even if you did tell me what you did about not writing before Monday. I just couldn't wait. I will have to wait in writing to your mother for I am at wits end. I am going to write her though and tell her my thanks toward such a wonderful time there at the ranch. You will never know just how wonderful it was. That was the closest I have ever come to Heaven. And it was all in your doing. ' I feel my bones beginning to creak and my hands refuse to speed rapidly across this infernal machine and hit the right keys; so I will call it a hard day at the office and let it go at that. I got in this morning at 9:45 and as soon as I got home I cooked me some breakfast and made for the office. ' It was just pouring down rain when we got to Denton: therefore, when I stepped from the train I was thoroughly awaken by a few drops on my drousy little head. As soon as I get home I am going to cook me some dinner and then pile up in the bed-to awaken when-I don't know. I could use it. Love you a whole house full, Chatter t 230 ' Thursday, September 9, 1948 Mountain Home, TX Dearest one, Really, my heart is so full that I don't know just what to say or how to say it. I had such a ' wonderful time that I might indeed say that it was the best four days of my life so far. I hope that our little time together meant as much to you as it did to me and I feel somehow that it did. I hate to face that extra few months after so long a time of waiting but if it is for the best, then I ' guess it can be and must be stood. The fly in the ointment of course is the possibility that I shall be unable to get a leave from a distant job for a wedding in October. There is certainly plenty of time to work out the details of things pertaining to showers and guests from this section. When I came back from taking you to town, I was so dejected and had such a let down feeling ' that Mother said she thought that we had had a disagreement or something. How far from the truth that was. I think perhaps that we understand each other a little better than we ever have before. Yesterday we hit the bailing again and it was a rough old job until a shower hit and we had to quit ' about 4:30. It rained a little during the night and the sky is overcast and threaghtening now and we are hoping for more rain. I imagine that you aare feeling a little better this morning after a good night's sleep. I hate to make those long all night train trips. Kitten, be thinking about the first football weekend at old Aggieland. I don't know just when it ' comes but it is sometime in October-I think the fourth weekend. I would just love for you to come down then or anytime that you can manage to get there. Once before I had asked you down to a football weekend and force of circumstances kept you from keeping the date. I hope that you can make it the next time. ' Dream with me for a while, Darling, and perhaps our dreams will come true just as we dream them and each little thought will be concrete realization. Certainly, there can be no other to mean half as much to me as you and all of my plans and hopes are built with a future with you and all of my plans and hopes are built with a future with you as the foundation. Everything which I do has no meaning if it is not ' the yearning for your appreciation and pride in my little accomplishments-even as I love to tell people of yours and glory in your successes-because in my mind I am not me and you are not you but each of us is we. From the bottom of my heart, Clarence P. S. sorry about the lack of a fountain pen but I must add this not (Sept. 101h) since Don brought in your letter yesterday. Quick service wasn't it. Don is going t to the San Antonio Thomas Jefferson and Tivy game tonight with Barney Jr. and I didn't get an invite so I guess I will stay here though I would love to go. He will mail this (I hope) and it is the first chance I have ' gotten to post it. P.P.S. I love you darling. Sept. 14, 1948 Texas A&M My darling Chatter, Boy, did I short out my wires. I thought that school did not start until today and that registration ' was yesterday and when I arrived, I found that yours truly was mistaken and had missed the first day of school. Such is life with the morons. Bill had been here for a couple of days and guess what? He has already given his girl a ring and ' they plan to be married next June. I have never met her but she must be a grand girl for Bill to go head over heels. As I am to try to be a part of the wedding party, I will have to try to figure a way to get to Columbia, Tennessee next June. ' Now, I wouldn't hint at a honeymoon or anything but if I should happen to get a job back east or something it would make such a moneysaving trip, etc. Don't take me too seriously because the bride always sets the date and I am fully cognizant of everything that enters into the deal but------------waiting is agony. I don't believe that there would ever be a possible chance that I would forget our wedding ' anniversary if I look back at it with the intensity that I look forward to it with. I was standing talking to one of my buddies this morning and there was a light touch on my shoulder and I turned around to find a nice looking blonde staring me in the face and being very friendly ' indeed. I checked mentally through my black date books and could come up with no blonde of that description. However, lest the story drag, it was an acquaintance of mine from the PSA meetings named (formerly) Margie Dawson who had married one of my Aggie buddies unbeknownst to me. She remembered me very well indeed but I had to be prompted. I get so embarassed when I forget a name ' like that but those kids from the PSA are always catching me unprepared and I am always forgetting their names. ' 231 This is the last year, Kitten, and I can hardly believe that it has started. This is going to be a very ' rough semester of work and then if I get by it okay, I float. That first football game here is against TCU on the 16`h of October. Can do? The PSA meeting t is coming up at SMU about the last weekend before Thanksgiving or somewhere in there and I would like to see you there for part of the meeting at least---just to squire you around and show them that there are some might pretty preacher's daughters and also the reason for my not making any dates at the meeting last year. All my love, Darling Clarence ' September 15, 1948 ' Denton, TX Dearest Clarence, Well, I got a call from the Boss the other day, yesterday to be exact, and he said that he would be home , today around 4 o'clock in the afternoon. I do hope that he won't come straight to the office, although the place is laden with work for him to take care of. That would mean that my hours of the day would have to stretch into the late afternoon or evening, and I do not relish the idea. Course that is the wrong attitude to take, but I am sure that ' the work could wait until morning. Oh well, you know that I will do what I am asked to do; so why do I sit here moaning and groaning. Darling, I have taken the apartment and will have it for the whole year. I think that it will be hie best plan. I have my own private telephone now and in case you ever think of calling me it is 1753x. I love you. The times ' when you come to see me will not be spent in walking around all evening; such as we have done in the past, and only to have those lil times that we did sit down interrupted by various rules and regulators. I know that I feel a lot better about the whole situation, and I am sure that it will not prove anymore expensive than living in a dorm. , Clarence, I play a straight and honest game; so you can believe me when I say that there will be no foul play on my part while I am living in the apartment. You once hinted that there were reasons why you thought I was renting an apartment, but I know now that that was only a lil green eyed monster playing with your heart, and you mind. You see, Clarence, I love you and only you, and I don't lead others on in the meantime. Well, I guess that is enough of t that. This afternoon early I am going to have to completely remove all my things from the Dorm and into the apartment. Jody has her car and she is going to help me save on the amount of sore backs. There is just my clothes ' and stuff like that there to move out. Gotta do it soon or Mrs. Timblin will have me moved out on the street. The dorms will be opened to the students tomorrow after the noon hour. How did all your classes work out this time? Did you get what you wanted and when you wanted it? And how is the old lady or have you seen Bill yet? Tell me how many girls it is this time. t There is work that has to be done and I must get to it. Love you a whole house full, Chatter Thursday the 161h, 1948 ' Texas A&M My darling, ' I had rather aimed to write you this morning but decided to wait on the off chance that I might recieve a letter from you and just look what happened. One of those priceless bits of cheer in a labarynthian day is here on the desk beside me. You have no idea how they help me to meet the world ' and my profs with a smile. Yea-even in the face of Saturday morning labs and quizzes which bring the old grade point race out into the open. That Saturday morning lab is in materials and methods of airplane construction. Sounds interesting doesn't it? My other courses-in case you can make head or tails-are Internal Combustion t Engines, Advanced Aircraft Structures, Principles of Electric Engines, Advanced Aerodynamics and Wind Tunnel Laboratory. Give up? That is not the entire story either. I have only 18 hours of work but there are 15 hours of lab to meet which means beaucoup reports. I have only 18 hours of work next semester ' to graduate so if I don't fail anything, I am sitting pretty-or should I say we? I am truly glad about the apartment, Kitten, and I can assure you that it did not take much thinking on my part to realize that I was being a little bit foolish about the whole thing. Most certainly I am jealous, or perhaps a better word is possessive. If you meant nothing to me then what you did would mean ' nothing to me. There is nothing neurotic in that. It is only when we show our own insecurity and go crazy mad over things which could mean nothing that there is cause for worry. I hardly believe that either of us is the type that would shoot the first Fuller brush man that we caught knocking on the door or tear the hair out of the first secretary who made a business trip with the husband. I imagine that we both have enough ' faith in the other to realize such a thing would not need happen in the first place. 232 t 1 I recieved my 1948 Longhorn today and there are simply dozens of pictures of our outfit in the ' thing. There are several of me and no doubt next year there will even be one of you. It will furnish an interesting bit of relaxation for us when you are down here the next time?. That refers to the last letter which you had not recieved at the time you wrote yours and the reference to the TCU game. Bill said to give you all of his love but I rather imagine that he is being facetious or shallow one ' because of the apparent connections of a transplanted boy from Texas and a certain girl from Tennessee.-one Marlena Smith. In any case-all my love-Clarence ' September 19, 1948 Texas A&M ' My dearest, I am just sitting here puffing rather lazily on my pip but my mind is two hundred and fifty miles away. Don't let it wander too much, will you? I need it back come tomorrow morning. Isn't it wonderful ' just to relax and dream of the future-or being basically fundamental-to have a future to dream about. The first week has come and gone and these profs are actually scaring me to death, not by assignments, but by the very lack of them. I have not as yet had a single homework problem assigned. It leaves a fellow wondering where his next quiz is coming from. That Saturday morning lab is taught by the ' head of the aero department and he said that as a general rule there would be more lab than theory in it which means that instead of four lab hours on Saturday morning, I shall probably only have to meet two of theory and that will mean better arrival times in Denton. ' Speaking of Denton, would it be permissible if I came up two weekends from now? It is still tentative on my part and depends on how my work begins to pile up by then. I am going to have to write a terrific amount of reports and I may have a stockpile of them to get out by then. I guess the Lord gave me the patience of a cow brute or something for I don't Know how any person could miss another as I miss you and still not go off of their trolly. My life seems to be a period of longing from one visit to the next and as we say in the army the control factor is rather difficult. There are a bunch of jokers in my room now who are putting numbers in the furniture and to see ' that Bill or I don't run away with the double beds. I had planned to furnish one of our bedrooms (ours) with one of these over and under bunk deals. Wouldn't that have been nice? We got a buzz out of Charles and Jean when they would come to visit over home. Mother would put them in that bedroom with the double beds and they would either both sleep in one bed or they would pull the beds over together. ' I am going to stop this letter and send it to you while it is still yearning-and before I run out of paper. Take care of yourself darling and get very, very tired of that secretary job. You know why I say that. All of my love, Clarence ' Sept. 22, 1948 Texas A&M ' My darling Kitten, The roommate says that he can sleep through anything so I hauled out my typewriter and will pound out a letter for you. As you can see it begins to look like I couldn't hit a single right key. Haven't heard much from you in a few days and no letter from the folks in all the time which I have been back. (I rather build up a dream world all of my own and sometimes I wake up and find that I have forgotten to study or similar foolish things.) Dangling thought. I don't know what it means either? ' I am doing a little instructing to keep my commission good and active and for various other reasons which I am sure I could never explain to you through the medium of ink and paper. There is nothing lucrative about it in the way of folding money. I am going to assist with the rifle team and we held our organizing meeting tonight with about forty men in attendance. We are still hoping to get a match with TSCW. We tried for the last two years but all the reply we managed to recieve was one perfumed letter. Before the war these matches between the two schools were yearly events. Darling, I am out of luck. I have the head of my department for two of my courses. So far I am ' okay but I don't know what kind of quizzes he gives. If he runs true to head of department form he should throw some lulus just to show the other profs how to flunk them. ' 233 Coach Stiteler has asked that we change the War Hymn to leave out the references to TU except in the TU game itself. He says that It points the boys unduly to that game all during the season and tends to make them forget their other games. That is a lot of hooey. What would you think of the War Hymn ' without "goodbye to Texas University" in it? Bill is beginning to crawl into bed now so I guess that the time has come to bid you a sleepy good night and telepath a great yearning kiss and a whisper in your ear over the miles. Goodnight, darling ' Clarence September 25, 1948 , Texas A&M My dearest one, , I was about to send out a lost, strayed, or stolen bulletin on you but all is forgiven. Honestly, Kitten, I live from visit to visit and from letter to letter. I expect you are being kept pretty busy now though and I understand. I am just being a little bit critical. As you would say, it is only because I love you. We had a nice little fire here the other night. It was about 4:30 in the morning and I had just ' awakened on a mosquito fighting detail when the big siren in the center of the campus sounded off. Half asleep as I was, I nearly hit the ceiling thinking it was a big mosquito. The engines came rumbling out past Walton so I poked my head out the window and there not one hundred and fifty yards away one of , the North Gate establishments was on fire. Several of us chased over and fiddled around helping the volunteer fire department handle the hoses. I made the mistake of getting under the drain and nearly got parboiled. The roof was of tin and they were pouring water on it-thence into the drain. Sure wrecked a lot of records and quite a few radio sets and player combinations-24,000 worth. ' Last night I went over to Brenham to a football game with another of the fellows-had a date but she was no competition. She is a very pretty scatterbrained blonde which made me realize all the more that I adore brunettes as a whole and most especially in particular. I love you. The poor old Aggies got trounced again-this time by Texas Tech. I give up. I had asked you t down to the TCU game but apparantly you forgot for you failed to mention it but I had my answer in your letter anyway since you said that you were going to sing at Arlene's wedding on the 16`h. Tell her that I am sacrificing a lot for her wedding. ' You mentioned in your letter that you would like for me to come up in a couple of weekends. Since that was written on Friday, I don't know whether you meant this next weekend or the one after. This coming weekend was the one which I had in mind. Do you realize that it has been a whole month since we will have seen each other. If, however, you meant the weekend after next, okay. Please , elucidate. I must make plans to get my work up ahead of time. Darling, I don't know what to say about Dorothy. It seems as if nothing goes righ, does it? Someone must have disagreed rather violently with some of her convictions up there. ' I had not known of L.M.s suicide. What happened to that group of ours? Think back over our acquaintances, etc. Seems like we have had more than our share of the troubles doesn't it? It is time that I got ready for church so I guess this is the end of the letter. I, of course will write again before next weekend but let me know how to find my way to your apartment. If next weekend just ' won't do holler and we will delay. All my love, Clarence Sept. 28, 1948 Denton, TX My dear one, ' Hon, I'm awfully glad that lil blondes don't surpass me in your eyes! Heavens, what ever would I do if they did! You have good judgment hon & I'm proud of it--& you too. I have been busy & nights find me crawling into bed early-have to get up before 7 every morning so that I will have time to fix me breakfast & take a bath or iron something if the need be. Just so that I get to the office before the boss does. Sure do like my boss, but you're the only boss that I really want. Hon, it's a life time job & together I think we can make the most of it. Too bad that the lil Farmers got beaten so-maybe they should start pickin' cotton-(no offense!) I guess , you saw or heard how our lil eagles really fowled the Randolph players. The score was one of those fantastic things in our favor. Course, we were beaten in our first game. I'm certainly sorry that all this cool weather blew in, for I am not prepared-my wardrobe is a little on the , breezy side-my ankles show! So you may see a new outfit when I see you. Hon, you always remark about my new things & admire them. Yet of course you wonder how I manage to afford them. I figure things this way. 234 1 Clothes, if you buy them with a good conventional, yet stylish taste, are a wonderful investment. I allot myself so much a month to invest in such. I had much rather put the money into something material than to spend it foolishly on myself at the "Comer" or on a show. Beginning with this month's salary I will put aside $30 repayment of the $300 loan. I can have the loan repaid by the end of my working term. Course, I have other sources other than my salary. So darling, see I'll manage to come out even & free of debt when I become all yours. And also, a well dress woman that you can be proud to escort. Love you. I've learned how to budget & yet not be tight. Say, Bill really does have it bad, doesn't he? Hon, I want you to come up this weekend if it fits your plans. It certainly will fit mine? Sorry about the ' scarcity of correspondence-truly unintentional I assure you. I haven't had word from the family concerning Doff yet, but I expect to hear in Mom's regular Tuesday edition of McNeill doings. Hope & pray that there won't have to be a long period of treatment. I must close, Love you a whole house full, Chatter Nothing like expensive stationery to write your lover ' on! See how I save! I love you! ' Sept 28, 1948 Denton, TX Darling ' I wish that you could see me now. Sitting here in the candlelight I write you words of love! Why candlelight??? It seems that Nan neglected to pay the light bill! Therefore, I suffer the consquences. The only thing is-the bills are all in Miss DeLong's name--& Nan's neglence makes mud out of the name with her creditors. I just ' had to laugh over the no light deal for it was really funny! You see, I came home & flipped the switch & nothing happened so naturally I figured that the light bulb had burned out-however when I tried the radio & etc. I was assured of my sneaking feeling. I wasn't a bit surprised for just before 8 as I was leaving the apt. the phone rang-it was the telephone company asking if there would be someone here so that they could remove the phone! Well, I ' knew I had given the bills to Nan & knowing how scatterbrained she was, I knew just what had happened. Course the telephone company was furious & I was left that way too. I brought the problem to Dr. Hodgson & he knew the fellow-head man of the company-and they talked it over & managed to save it for me. The bill was simply out- rageous that Nan had run up. She lives in Dallas & must have called home several times a week. So after that I wasn't too surprised about the lights-Immediately I tried the water & the gas-they work! So here I sit in my Iii Tommie coat writing with this atroacious (sp?) pencil & on this horrible paper. (All I could find in the dark.) I love you! ' Hon, I have a faculty that I have to be at from 5 to 7 at Dr. Hodgson's house-so that all the faculty can know me (as Dr. Hodgson says) but all of them know me already! Oh well. I don't think that would corrupt any plans of ours, do you? You usually leave sometime before 5-so that would give me time to do any dolling up that might be necessary. ' Golly hon, it has been almost a month since last I saw you. Although I have been extremely busy, I have not failed to realize what time it is or anything that pertains to time. You see, I love you. The lights should go on again before your visit, I hope. Although it is a little more cozy this way! (What would Dr. Imogene Bentley say?) !I , Got another full day ahead of me tomorrow. Love you a whole house full, Chatter When Ann was very young she used to terminate her love in that quantity & I have always thought it a cute expression-however, I use it as a play on words towards a future with you. 1 September 29, 1948 ' Texas A&M My darling Kitten, I get such a buzz out of your letters and my heart just gives a jitterbug when I get an especially ' sweet one. I could hardly walk straight this morning. You missed one highly important point though-I still don't know where you live. I think I have your telephone number and I can chase you down from that. I think that I shall be leaving here at 10 Saturday which should put me in up there by 3 or 4. If I ' get the ride which I am expecting, I should be in Denton until Sunday at 7. Harold Pittard is coming up to see Joyce this weekend, also. I can hardly wait. Do you realize that it has been nearly a month since I saw you last. At that rate I shan't see you more than a dozen times until we are married. Don't you think we should get to know ' one another better? After all seven years is not so long. ----------Don't you dare take me seriously. ' 235 I have just come back from a little hamburger supper at Rev. Anderson's. We had a very t enjoyable time. Reminds me of church affairs-try to beg off for that PSA meeting. May I have the intense pleasure of squiring you around if your work will allow? Last year all that I could do was the ask ' the Dentonites of you in such a manner as to inform them that I was very very muchly interested in your future. There is an invading army of crickets out side of my door now and I am afraid that I rather ' shocked a couple of guys coming by the door a while ago with a very vituperative remark as to the crickets questionable ancestry. As I remember, they swarmed or whatever they do last year about this time. You should see me bright and early two mornings a week in uniform and bars drilling ' sophomores. At least I have the voice for it. I am sending you an advertisement concerning one of your friends which might interest you. She is becoming quite active in the Kiwanis circuit, etc. here now. ' Darling, I have other than sugar reports to write so there is no time better than now to start. I will see you Saturday, my darling wife to be. All my life, my love-Clarence October 5, 1948 ' Texas A&M My dearest one, ' I had hoped to write last night but there was just too much to do and Bill went to bed so I could not use the typewriter without disturbing him. My longhand is atrocious as you should well know. We were definitely in luck on the way back. The worst thing always about the coming back is the , leavetaking-you know how I keep putting it off a minute at a time. After all another few weeks or a month is a long time of our lives. Anyway it was 5 before we started out and we had not gotten out to the underpass before we were picked up and taken to the College Station side of Dallas. From there we , caught a ride to Hearne in a few minutes and then in to the college. We got here at 10:30 which is excellent time for hitchhiking. My head was fair stopped up with a cold yesterday and I am afraid that you are in the throes of the thing now. I should have better sense I guess but who could hold a beautiful flower in his hands and ' not pluck a red petal or two and sip of the nectar? It was really a very nice weekend and the next time purloin a few records and we will see if I could ever make a dancing partner for you. Don't you think that you should finish up real quick and accept all the offers which I have made so ' that you could labor over the typing of my reports. I am sure that I need a secretary nearly as bad as Dr. Hodgson. On top of that you could cook me my meals, etc., etc., etc. I would not be able to afford the salary which you are now collecting but as they say in the army, I would pay you in kind. This typewriter is not the ultra ultra type. It is one of the antique variety which are so hard to find nowadays-none of this , noiseless business. It is a real, unsurpassed noisy typewriter. This allows a modification of the old hunt- and-peck-and-cuss system. I received a note from Mother and she said that the electricity was on in the house now. I can just see them-they have been without things for so long. , I have filled up a page with loving thoughts, if you are good at reading between the lines so I shall stop and go feed the inner man. All my love, Clarence Oct. 8, 1948 , Denton, TX My darling, , Sleep hangs heavy on the "shutters", but I cannot wait any longer before I write you. Here it is a whole week gone by & I haven't told you that I love you. , A long letter from mother informed me as to Doffs status. She had a set-back which is quite normal according to her doctor, and now she is improving. Since there is only Ann & David at home, Mom has a lot of time-time that needs to be occupied by letters and love. Even though I have neglected you some, honey, I have supplied Mom with some light moments. Love that lil woman! For one who gave so many existence & life, we t have given her more than her share of heartaches. But that all seems to come with life & its little vagaries. This weekend will be heavy with activities-beginning tomorrow--. Mu Phi's are having a "wennie" roast out at the Country Club House. Saturday I catch up on my sleep & all the gang comes over for supper. (It's ' wonderful inviting all of 'ern over for then I save on groceries-for they supply their own-I ain't so dumb, am I honey? See then I eat with them. Just me and Popeye's friend, Wimpy. 236 1 There is a fellow on the radio telling hunters (deer hunters) how not to get lost while they are hunting, and ' what to do in case they do. Seems that many Nimrods were lost last year and had to be rescued by the game wardens. Case you're interested in not getting lost while you are hunting this season just let me know & I will reiterate. If you do planto get lost let me know, I want to get lost with you! I love you. I got off the track in the last paragraph. Anyway, Sunday, Mu Phi's are having a breakfast and the ' prospective pledges & I will get to attend for I had Xina to substitute for me & Jane substituted for Xina. Get it! So the 9 o'clock service will still go on (as if it wouldn't)! Got a letter from Rex today & he & Jimmie Rodgers are going to pick me up & take me to Canyon-then I ' will fly back! It is just next weekend that the great event occurs! Says he's getting rather tremulous. Honey you won't do anything like that, now would you??? I love you. Must dream of you now so I will pull the curtain on this daydream & begin anew in the moming. Love you a whole house full, Chatter October 8, 1948 ' Texas A&M My dearest, It would seem that I have been a little lax in my writing for the last few days but really I have had so much to do that all the spare time that I had was just for thoughts of you. It has been nearly a whole week now since I last started up to see you and by the time that this reaches you it will have been nearly one fifty second part of the last year since we were in each others arms. I have been rather mulling over some premature plans about the weekend of the 23rd. If ' circumstances permit it may be that you could meet me in Dallas and we could spend the evening at the fair. I think it closes on the 24th. That would be the only chance for me to escort you to the fair and I am sure we could have a grand time if everything turns out okay. ' This part of the letter is beginning one whole day later----Your lover ran into a verbal impasse yesterday and decided that this old machine would not compose as he wished it to. Bill brought your letter in this morning and I nearly died laughing about the lost hunter part. It was ' really very, very clever. I wouldn't mind in the least in being lost if you were quite certain in wanting to be lost too-but my, what would people say? Did you know that there was never but one whom I really wanted and that I have been hunting for years, searching and finding and rejecting another place, another girl, another language-and then I found you and the stalking, so to speak, began. It has been a long involved process but I hope the grail is found and the hunter returneths by next year. In short, I love you, and I wouldn't in the least mind having your scalp around my tepee. I had better get my mind on more mundane matters before I get into a studiously non-studious day dreaming mood for sure. Did you know that the football experts have rated A&M below Hardin- Simmons and even NTSC-blow of blows. There have been four final results reported so far in the Southwest Conference team games and just so many upsets. Rice which is an underdog is still trailing and we do not play until tonight. If Rice and A&M wins that will make a clean sweep. Bye now beautiful, ' there is a leinweber in your future. your Clarence October 11, 1948 Denton, TX Dear one, I see that you have been caught in one of those whirling weeks that I am continually being caught in! See how it is honey. Those premature plans concerning the fair sound great to me. I have never been to the Texas State Fair even though I have been here in Denton for 3 years. (Don't know what in the heck is wrong with this pen!) Think ' about it more, will you? I'll help you carry out all the plans-but gladly! Honey, glad you liked the dissertation on Nimrods. I got real tickled listening to the man on the radio spurt off about hunting. Shows you that I can listen to the radio and write you all at once. What that proves I do not ' know! Take or leave it. This is not much of a letter but it conveys a few of my thoughts and all of my sentiments. I love you. There's a McNeill in your future, (so there, too!) Chatter ' 237 October 14, 1948 , Texas A&M My darling, ' The top of the morning to you, my dear. Tis a grand morning here at the old station and my thumbs are not operating so well. In fact, I just got out of bed not so many minutes back. Alright so I am ' a sleepy head. It always takes until ten o'clock or a good looking brunette to wake me up. Since there are no brunettes around here except on the used market I don't wake up until 10. That little takeoff from "There is a Ford in your future" brings to my mind the warning for you that you won't be investing in a big shiny 12 cylinder model that has lots of glamour and gives very little , efficiency in return. I was going to carry that on but I relented so I'll tell you about my prompter which I have made and posted over my desk. It is a card on which I have all of my quiz grades. At the top are these words, , "Time is an irreversible process-So are these grades-Don't waste time". It takes an ingineer to appreciate the full meaning of those words. I shall write you more next week about the trip to the Fair. Here are some tentative plans as I see them shaping up. If you are absolutely sure that you can make it, please reserve me a room at the t Southern Hotel (without bath)-I ain't proud and I can use the public bath for the extra half buck. We can come back to Denton after the fair so that you will be able to sing in the choir the next morning. In order for us to have some time there, you should meet me in Dallas about 2 to 3 in the afternoon. It you will ' write me again before about Monday letting me know your possibilities along this line, I will then make final plans and let you know where to meet me, etc. Sounds complicated, doesn't it? Bill is rushing me to go to the post office darling, so this is a stopgap to forever. All my love, Clarence , Official Taken Out by Blocker Time out for the Umpire! That was the cry which momentarily stopped the football game in Baton ' Rouge Saturday night, much to the amusement of the spectators and the radio audience. Harry Taylor of TCU, the headlinesman, was bowled over and out by an Aggie blocker during a running play. Taylor dodged the first man, but the second caught him in the solar plexus for the out. ' While the stands howled, Aggie Trainer Blaine Rideout hastened to the official's aid. Another out was almost scored after the game when a hurried Aggie nearly emasculated himself when he got tangled up in a picket fence. Rideout also patched him up. Turn about fair play was the Louisiana school's motto Friday night as they held a midnight yell ' practice in front of the Aggies' hotel. Many of the Cadets trying to sleep in the lobby after a long trip complained of the noise nuisance.-(Ed. note Not sure what paper this was taken from) October 19, 1948 ' Denton, TX Dear Clarence, You're not going to like this but I'm afraid that this is the way it will have to be. I am having to move on Saturday and on Sunday I will have to work in the office so I can get Dr. Hodgson off on his Madrigal Tour. I did not foresee all this or I wouldn't have let us make plans-cven tentative. It wouldn't be wise for you to come up either-for I wouldn't be around to see you. Honey, I am awfully sorry-1 love you! I am moving into a private home-Dr. Ola Johnston, the biology professor. She & I will be the only ones there in the home. I think I will like it. It's at 1801 W. Mulberry-just two blocks in back of Marquis. I will have kitchen privileges-for breakfast. All the other meals I shall take out. The arrangement suits me fine & I like her. She will very seldom be home just like me! It will be just a place to lay my head at night for I am seldom therein the daytime. Sony I can't write more but is almost 8 and time for me to start my day at the office. Love me and don't be too disappointed honey-I love you Chatter 238 Oct 20, 1948 ' Texas A&M My darling Chatter, I just got back from the phone call and honestly I have been the bluest person in a coupla dozen states. The call helped but not too much. Seems like it had just started when the operator ' said the time was up. Don't let me unburden too many of my troubles but, darling, sometimes I just feel that I love you so much and the future is so dim that even a prophet couldn't foretell what was going to happen. Here is the setup as is-The Arkansas game is here on the weekend of the 30th and the Rice ' game is two weeks before Thanksgiving (r about the 13th of November). The P.S.A. meets in Dallas on that weekend with our group scheduled to give a discussion or something. I have tentatively wiggled out of that because, though I could forego a football game, I couldn't possibly forego a date with you ' (meaning the Rice game). You take your pick-the information is all up above, I believe. I would just love to see you down here for the Arkansas game if you can come. This weekend is going to be truly lost-(lacking the whiskey- You didn't mention a thing about Arlene's wedding-though I guess Rex is a truly happy man now. Must be wonderful to know that you have a fine girl for a wife and have many years of fulfillment to look forward too. Though I stated that from a masculine viewpoint, it goes both ways). The SMU weekend (before the Rice game) which is the Dallas Corps trip is a command ' performance-don't care how bad we get beat because I will be expecting it. HINT-if you don't show, so help me, I'll date a Tessie. One of the boys from Uvalde was telling me Charles is going to Uvalde Junior College and ' studying Agronomy- I'm yawning in my sleep, Kitten, and that would never do-might'swaller one of these mosquitos so it's g'night-sleep tight. All my love, Clarence ' Oct 27, 1948 Denton, TX ' Darling, I guess I'll never be able to keep you happy all the time. I certainly wished that the weekend would have turned out the way we wanted it, but it didn't. And on top of that, I didn't write you enough to make up for it. I do ' love you and want you to know it. I am all moved and quite satisfied with the adjustments. Just in case I haven't given you the address-it is 1801 W. Mulberry and the phone is 1151. Besides having to work Saturday I had to go to Dallas with Mr. McKinley and see Mr. Darati about the cuts ' in the Messiah, which we are performing in Dallas on Dec. 5, (1 think). Sunday afternoon I spent in the office, too. Monday morning the Madrigal Singers were all ready to leave-and that they did at 9:10. They will be gone until the P of November. And believe me, I have enough work to keep me busy until that day. ' Sunday night I cooked a farewell supper to the apartment and invited Jane, Ruth, and Xina over to help devour the food. They did a dam good job of it-even if I did cook the stuff. Maybe it will be good enough cookin' for you too someday. I love you. It's about time for me to go to work; so I will just have to close. Love you a whole house full, Chatter Got a cute letter from the ole' married lady, Arline, and she sent me a clipping of the wedding. October 29, 1948 Texas A&M Dear Chatter, Thanks an awful lot for letting me know whether you were coming down here for the Arkansas ' game this weekend. If that sounds a little childish and sarcastic (and it does) then it has reason to. I talked to you over the phone and was very explicit in my letter about the choice between the Arkansas and Rice weekends. I waited ever since Monday expecting to get word yes or no or maybe and then ' today when I get your letter there was not even a casual mention of the thing. Certainly, I could understand your not being able to come-but why not tell me? That leaves the corps trip this weekend and the Rice game which you have not mentioned. I am going to be in Dallas this weekend (the 61h) and I am being pressed to take part in the program at the PSA the weekend after that (the Rice game weekend). That is only natural since I am Vice President of this group and in charge of programs. You see, there are many things which are interrupted so that I can be with you and if they mean so little as to not command an answer, then I am wasting our time. ' 239 I am going to put this bluntly and let you answer it. I will be in Dallas the weekend of the 6`h and I ' want a date with you as a first choice (you know that)-and you know why. If the date doesn't mean anything to you or you can't come, let me know by Monday. This should reach there by Saturday to give ' you time. Let me have a tentative decision on the Rice deal too. As ever, Clarence P.S. I love you Kitten October 29`h, 1948 t Denton, TX Dear Clarence, So far as I can remember I have never answered you as to which weekend I will be able to come to A&M. As things stand now, and since this the weekend of the 30`h, I will be there on the weekend of the Rice game. That ' will be about the right time for me to go home too. Honey, is the Rice game at home or is it at Kyle Field. You didn't state which it was. I don't relish the idea of pulling you away from the PSA for I know what it means to you. Golly. We will do just what you want to about the whole affair. I got a letter from the lil married lady of two weeks, and she is as happy as can be. She has every thing ' now. Her wedding was very simple but it was very beautiful. (and inspiring) I love you. Looks like there is no alternative-I will just have to beat a Tessie out of a date. I will be in Dallas that day and you can take me to the game. Where will I meet you and all of that sort of stuff? Write me the full details so ' that I won't get lost. We have a game here at our field with Trinity University. I haven't seen one of our ball games yet. For some reason I just don't have the spirit in me. Ever since I moved out of the apartment I don't care to eat very much. It is kinda lonely sitting at a table with only a one-eyed egg staring you in the face. Now don't get me wrong, I am not one of these lonely people-I ' just don't like to getout and hunt for a meal-and then eat it all by my lonesome. I eat most of the noon meals at the dormitory with the girls. It is getting about the time that I should open the office for work hours. Love, Chatter t Oct. 30, 1948 Denton, TX t My dear unhappy one, I love you! Although I answered all the questions in my red letter, I feel so ashamed that I just have to ' write you again, Honey. I didn't mean to let the questions go unanswered. I read the letter carefully and put it in my desk drawer and there it remained. i saw it this morning and it dawned on me that I hadn't answered your questions. Therefore, I addressed my first letter of the day to you-and this afternoon when I got yours out of the box I already felt like such a mean, thoughtless person. Your letter convinced me even more so. Golly Clarence, I didn't do it , intentionally. How many days will you be in Dallas with the PSA group? Doesn't it begin on Friday and continue through Sunday? I told Mr. Gordon Collier about you & to be on the look out for you-but I will be there to , introduce you to him myself. But then if you there on Friday you'd meet him before I see you. If I handle my boss right I may be able to get Saturday off-it's worth trying! Honey, don't be too mad at me! I love you and I don't mean to preturb (ain't got a Webster's handy-so if that's mispelled, well-chalk it up to illiteracy!) you! i certainly do have a lot to tell you when I see you. It's been a long time hasn't it? And it's all on account of ' me! Honey, you've wondered why.-Well, J just didn't have any money for fare. Course, I know what you're thinkin-and you know me! Dorothy has her 18`h birthday on the 9`h, David will be 17 on the 4`n, and Evelyn will be 21 on the 5`h. How's that for a month of birthdays. Dorothy is on my mind so much these days. Mom is allowed to visit her on Tues. and Sunday. Therefore, I get a report on her progress once a week. I want to go home so bad that it hurts. But I can't until the weekend of the Rice game. I spend a lot of time thinking about us-in fact, almost all of my time. By the time you & I become "one" , you will know all my faults but I'm awfully nice too, aren't I, honey? I love you! It has begun to rain and I am getting rather sleepy listening to the pitter-pat. (Some day you and I will be hearing other kinds of pitter-pat). ' Love you a whole house full, Chatter P.S. Darling, I love you! 240 ' r October 31, 1948 ' Texas A&M My dearest one, I am sitting here smoking up a storm. Perhaps I should be writing a sequel to "Smoke Gets in ' Your Eyes". Anyway this pipe is stoked up to maximum efficiency and a letter is heading your way. I recieved your letter before church this morning and promptly canceled for sure any plans for my attending the PSA. In effect, they were told that it was believed that my future with a certain preacher's ' daughter would bode more good than the spiritual uplift to be achieved at the convention. The Rice game is here on the 13`n Don't worry about not having any spirit for the games this year. I can give you the name of another very easily. Every one knows that we haven't a ghost of a chance against SMU so there shouldn't be any bad feeling after the game. This is important so file this letter for reference.-I don't imatine that you will be able to come down Friday night and I might not get in there until late, so you come down when you can get off on Saturday. Darling, would you reserve me a room at the Southern for Saturday night and as I said before I am not proud and can use the community bath to save a nickel or two. There would be very little sense in us hanging around until all hours in Dallas when Denton is not too far off to spend the night. Let me know when you will arrive and we will meet in the lobby of the Baker Hotel. (at that time) As you surmised, you did beat a Tessie out of a date-you don't here me hollering one bit. I told you in my last letter about the reasons. Kitten, I love you so much that sometimes it does hurt. Incidentally, Bob is the No. 1 Engineering Senior at Rice-picture in the Post and everything. ' Charles is taking Agronomy at Uvalde and plans to come over here next Fall as one of my Uvalde buddies informs me. What next? All my love, Clarence Oct. 31, 1948 Denton, TX ' My darling, Here we are ushering October out & welcoming November. My, how time flies. I was sitting at the dresser brushing my hair and I noticed even more grey hairs than when I last counted them. Since I have been so naughty to you, I been wondering if I give you as many grey hairs as I do me! I love ' you! Today I spend a quiet afternoon away from my abode. Ruth & Xina were in Dallas-so Jane and I just lounged around the dorm & then decided to go to the show. We had heard such a peculiar radio program which left us feeling rather dumbfounded we thought we would liven up our minds a bit by a comedy. The play that we heard was John Galsworthy's play, "Justice"-an hour's dramatization by the University Players, and it starred Nigel Bruce. Did you happen to hear it? Every Sunday beginning at 1:30 the players present an outstanding play or novel.-a very good program. Next week they are presenting the "Arrowsmith". Course, we will be in Dallas then ' and the time will be quite occupied with other doings. Dr. Johnston was telling me tonight that she would have to be gone this next weekend. She's going to visit her sister in Midland. Therefore, I will have this whole big house by my lonesome! That is the time I'm not in ' Dallas. I will have to be here on Sunday morning for the services for I have my solo to sing this Sunday. Consquently, I would have to catch a late bus out of Dallas Sat. night. There's no other way. How much will you be obligated on Sunday? Could you come to Denton with me & then both of us return to Dallas 'er something, huh? You could hear me sing if you did. And ya know how I like to sing for you! ' I have been making out financial reports all evening. Got a meeting Monday night-Sr. Mary Arden-and I haf to make a report. Tues. night, Mu Phi & I do likewise. Golly, whata life. All this money that goes through my little white hands-and none to call me own! Figures will be passing through my mind all night. Are you even bothered with that-course your figures would have more shape to 'em. (Say like me, for example-I hope!) Better ' not let any of these "second choice" things go tramping through your dreams. I love you! And I only say it cause it's true, I love you Chatter i 241 Nov. 3, 1948 " Denton, TX Darling, I will meet you at 12:30 in the lobby of the Baker Hotel. If I am not there then wait for me. Ther is a 12:40 bus that leaves Denton-that I will take if I don't catch a ride before then. It is the closest one after the 9:50 bus. , Any how, honey, I'll be there. I reserved a room for you in the Southern-for Saturday night. So that is all taken care of for you. Glad to hear about all the achievements of the "out-laws",--mighty proud of them-I am! Love you a whole houseful Chatter , Nov. 9, 1948 Texas A&M My darling Kathe, I hate to write with this messy pen but I suppose if you didn't get a letter in longhand now and then you would figure that I had forgotten how to write. How can I say in so many words that I had a grand time. I admit that I was a nervous wreck before you finally showed up. I still can't figure out why I didn't hear them paging me. Saw in the paper this morning where the Heart of the Hills Inn burned to the ground--$100,000. Darling, don't you worry your head about things that happen when we are together after long periods apart. It is much better that they come as they do, though it puts a terrific strain on me. You can perhaps understand better why I keep bothering you to set a date or approximate date and all the time I realize that the job I get will have a lot to do with that decision. Though I will our union with all my heart and soul, I know as you must also that our happiness must be built on firm ground to last a life time. We can wait---- I have a class in a few minutes so I had better stop with this short note and hope you will remember that so much more is unsaid. Darling, I love you so much, Clarence Nov. 9, 1948 ' Denton, TX My darling, Today has been a big one! And to start things off right-I overslept! Course that didn't bother me since I am my own boss. This was the only morning that Dr. Hodgson ever beat me there--& I had to be an hour & late for him to do that! Oh well! This afternoon I smiled at the "birdie" for my Yucca comer. I will see the proofs on Tuesday. I just know they're gonna be beautomus (if Dr. Hodgson can make up words, so can I!!) Tonight we had a chorus rehearsal of the Kodaly "Psalmus Hungaricus", which lasted for an hour. From ' that I went to a Mu Phi Meeting. After that Ruth, Jane, Xina & Patsi McConnell & I hopped a "goose" and journeyed to the radio station KDNT. There we heckled all the kids we knew on the 9 o'clock program and Sue & the Quintones dedicated a tune to lil ole me. Sue & the Dipsy Doodlers & a coupla football boys have a 45 min. program every Tues night and they just ' love audiences! The program is a scream! We all had a howling good time. Marvin Solley was guest singer tonight-remember him? Dr. Johnston got in about 7 o'clock Sunday evening. She was sorry that she had missed you but she said ' she knew that you would be this way again soon. Clarence, tell me, is the Rice game an afternoon game or is it a night game? If it is an afternoon game, then I cannot possibly make it. If it is an evening game, it might be defferent. Dr. Hodgson has an important meeting & I have to see that he has all his wits about him before he leaves. For the last 3 Saturdays I have left the office early ' and made my way to Dallas. Heavens! (as he would say) I know that it won't put you in good with the Dallas group for P.S.A. Tell me what you think, honey? I would have to ask off for Monday too; cause I would certainly want to Sar ~nrattnrn~ ozint~ ; vvwiLi'.Si-~ts-.nls~tr. .^~1~•~hsiny; ~ ~-mri`.viir.' The way things look now I won't be home until after Thanksgiving. I guess I will live through it. It will be a struggle (ha!) but ole' Chatter will come through. I love you! It is getting nigh on to the hour of midnite; so I must close and send my love-would send me, but those darn envelopes aren't big enough fer me feet! Love you a whole house full! Chatter ' 242 ' November 11, 1948 ' Texas A&M My darling, I am terribly disappointed and you know that but sometimes we have to take the good with the t bad. The game is an afternoon one and you said that you could not possibly make that so I shan't send a telegram. I guess that we had about all the football that we could handle at Dallas last weekend, and too, I would be afraid that all the time you would be rooting for Rice and that would make a very unsavory ' impression on all of our neighbors. Don't look but this typewriter is on the blink-cussing and pecking won't help any more. I have a card here from Liz asking us to drop by and see them after the game (assuming we were ' going on to Houston). We worked all afternoon putting fiber board around our wind tunnel to cut down the noise. It was done in our regular lab time. I was sure trying to get out of that dirty job-told the prof that I was not a member of the carpenter's union, but that did not help. I told one of the other profs that if I had meant to ' be an acoustics engineer, I would have studied it. I was only joking, of course. Tell Miss Johnson that I am looking forward to making her acquaintance-but not too long- though I am afraid that we haven't got much biologically in common .------NO-1 was only kidding. I am going to see the pictures of the SMU game in a few minutes and see if I couldn't possibly ' squeeze another touchdown out of that team. Wray Whittaker was in here the other night and he had more wire than teeth in his mouth. He got a broken jaw out of the deal before we arrived in the stadium. THINK-eleven months to go-Maximum-Don't ever think that I want you as a wife for any ' single one of the basic human drives. It took me four whole years to fall in love with you, all of you and I don't think that a lifetime could do anything but strengthen that feeling-mentally, physically, and spiritually. By now, Kitten. Some other time, Huh? Your loving future, Clarence PS It is raining (Thursday night) so maybe everything is for the best. November 14, 1948 t Texas A&M My darling, I don't expect it would be too hard for you to understand if I said that I would certainly like to have ' you here beside me tonight. I am just a bit lonesome and Had rather planned to be with you this weekend. The Freshman team played the Rice Blue Bolts in Houston yesterday afternoon and some of us piled in a car and went down to see the game. The Fish won even if the Varsity did lose to the Owls in a ' rather miserable mud game here today. We won't say anything about the game since the taste still lingers even after a little vis a vis rationalization. We ate a snack in Bill William's place and Bob and Liz were in there eating so they invited me out ' for supper after the game. They have a very nice little apartment in the housing project known as the San Felipe Courts. All of that you probably know. I dropped by your home just after the game and spent a little time. Your Dad was up in the attic working on the electric wiring system and consequently the doorbell and the lights weren't working but I could here Ann sounding off so I went around to the back. They were in fine shape, though your father looked just a little bit drawn. Butch and Ann were the only ones home and I failed to ask of John and no one mentioned him as I thought of it afterwards. He was not there for supper which they were preparing ' to eat as I left, so I have been a little worried. They said that Dorothy was coming along in fine shape but did not mention when they were expecting to let her out of the hospital. I believe that you have your wires crossed just a little on the visiting hours. I think you Mother said Tuesday and Saturday. I made a point to ask about the weekend time and that day is definitely Saturday. It might not be a bad idea to get that ' straightened out before you go down. My preliminary grades are out, Kitten, and though they are not good they are not bad. I am getting a little stale from too long a stretch of study and Christmas will certainly be a welcome windfall. ' You do what you are planning to do about Christmas and I will try to fit my plans accordingly. There is a little farfetched thought in the wind which might have to come about next year. If none of the job offers pan out here at the Placement Office, and my car should come in I might make a tour of the plants on the west coast next summer. The chances are very few but if I did I just might take a couple or three t passengers along. I certainly want the best job opportunity which I am fitted for and the west coast does offer some very lucrative chances. That is definitely just a passing thought which has been flitting around in my brain. If you plan a trip Christmas don't let that slight and far away chance deter you. t 243 Here I was just planning to write a few words on the back to finish the letter and a whole half page comes out. Saving paper like this will give you the idea that I am more Scotch than you are, Darling. There is really nothing more to say that you haven't gotten by mental telepathy or intuition-the calendar ' next year only has 365 days to choose from and you had most certainly better choose one! Reminds me of the half lit guy at the game today who said that the Aggies had their lean years and then they had their fat ones. Unconsciously he had stumbled onto one of those two way phrases. Bald and gray will be bad ' enough, Kitten, but fat, fat, bald and gray would be too much. I love you, Darling Clarence P. S. Ran out of envelopes this Saturday night and had to fold this thing every which way to get it into one of my small ones. CLL November 17, 1948 Denton, TX ' This will be probably the only time that I will have to write you today; so best I had take advantage of it. That was a wonderful letter that you wrote me and I love you all the more. I am glad that you got me straight on the visiting days for now that makes life a bit cheerier. I will ' probably go home after our concert on Friday night and spend the rest of the time, which is just two days, at home. I sure will have to make the most of the time. Too bad about that game. Almost glad that I wasn't there to see you-all beaten so. There are no bas ' feelings about it on either side though. I was feeling rather chipper until I had a bawling out from the boss over something he did himself. But of course I will have to accept the blame, especially since his memory is about as good as a turtle's. It has just ruined my whole day. I wish that I didn't let things like that bother me, but what else can I do. At times he can be one of ' the most thoughtless persons I know, and then again at times, he can be just as sweet and kind as anything. But most of the time he just doesn't stop to think twice before he says a big mouthful. (Had to jerk this out of the machine) November 18, 1948 Denton, TX ' Dear Clarence: I am sitting here in Dr. Hodgson's office while he is in opera rehearsal, and I am determined to get a letter off to you before this day is over. I am enclosing the one I started a day or so ago to let you know that I did make a ' effort to write. This week has been a maddening one-as you can partly see from the typed portion. This weekend Dr. Hodgson has to attend a musicologist meeting. He is rather disgusted about it all for he didn't want to go. All of the ' old students will be flying in and out of here on Saturday morning for it is our Homecoming day-the game is versus E.T. You should see what some of their fellas look like that are here on our campus "visiting"-I use the word lightly! They are a sight. East Texas has several of our Trojan Fraternity men under their control. I have to work Saturday-8-12 as usual to welcome all the exe's of the music dept. Love that stuf ! (Truth ' is that I dislike it very much!) Oh well, I can't always have things the way I would like 'em. I must go back out front & put on my charming office smile. I love you a whole house full. Chatter 20 November 1948 Texas A&M My darling Kathe, ' I was quite amused by your account of the bawling out which your boss gave you. You see, I had nearly the same thing happen to me last year in one of my shop classes. I was trying to turn a thread on ' a metal cylinder and asked some assistance from the prof. He set the machine up for me and walked off. I promptly turned the lathe on and started to run the threads-the durned thing stripped all the threads which I had already put on. He came right back and told me how dumb I was (in so many words) for trying to chase the threads with that kind of setting. What can you do, Darling? ' Bill and I were just casting aspersions back and forth. He crawled in bed and I told him that I would be a few more minutes on this letter and he said that I should know that he was quite capable of going to sleep sitting up. All of which led to more comments and 1 finally told him to go to bed so that I ' could sick my mosquitos on him. I had to go to the bus to meet Dr. Goodykuntz (Assembly Young 244 People's chief) tonight and escort him to the Inn. He has been making a cook's tour of all the schools in ' the synod. We had a very exciting football game here this afternoon. The Texas freshmen featuring the great Byron "Santone" Townsend came over to play their poor little cousins. Their line outweighed ours by 20 Ibs per man but when the debris and fat was cleared away the Fish were on the long end of a 14-0 ' score. It did my heart good for it was the first time I had ever seen an Aggie football team beat a Sip outfit. Our boys were playing practically without the services of Glenn Lippman, The Galloping Ghost of the Gulf Coast who is sometimes called Little Moses since he is supposed to lead the Aggies out of the ' football wilderness. He had a badly sprained ankle and could not run very effectively. Our boys just couldn't be beat though and they nearly ran the Sips out of the stadium. In case you are worried about all of this sports raving, I hope you get used to it. I don't know a darned thing about the classics and I'm sure you are equally uninformed about the engineering side so ' what are we going to talk about on our honeymoon and immediately thereafter if we don't know our sports. I am being entirely facetious of course, Kitten. Just ran out of paper but not out of love, Clarence Goodnight, Darling ' November 26, 1948 Denton, TX Dear Clarence, Here I sit at the typewriter. It seems that the boss had wild ideas about me warming the swivel chair in ' back of my desk. Therefore I am here with my teeth chattering and making all kinds of noise. There is no heat in the building; consquently, you won't catch me here for any lengh of time. I don't know what has gotten into that man lately. He has some funny ideas about my Xmas Holidays too. However, he will be in Chicago at the time and I will do what I darn please. So there too! ' Yesterday was a wonderful day. Did you go to the game? I heard it and I just got so excited. It didn't bother my eating for I was feeding the face when the game was on the air and I didn't miss my mouth more than every other bite. I am really proud of the lil Aggies, hon. And I love you. Marvin and Laura invited me over to a ' big Thanksgiving dinner. They made it a foursome-a friend of Marvin's. Laura is a good lil cook and we ate until we could hold no more. Later around four, Russ, Marvin's friend, had to go to work. He is the manager of the bowling alley here in Denton. He asked us to come down later and work off some of the meal that we had eaten by bowling on the the house. So around six we went down and bowled. Laura was such a weakling that she could not even pick up one of the balls. Course, ole muscle-bound Chatter could. We bowled five lines and I got better all the time. Thought sure that I would be plenty sore this morning but I am not. Amazing, isn't it? Sure did help work down some of the dinner that I ate. Russ closed the alley around 8:30 and we then went to the show. Saw a picture that was really good,,. "Roadhouse". Honey, every time I am with someone else I realize how much more I love you. ' Maybe that sounds funny to you, but I don't know what I would do without you. They say that absence makes the heart grow fonder, but just how fonder can I get. Love you a whole house full. Honey, did you have a pretty date for the game? Marvin's parents and his sister and brother-in-law went to the game. It is the first game that his mom and pop has seen in the way of college games. I am surely glad that it was such a good game. Golly. Everyone I know is always talking about what a fine team A & M is going to have next year. Hope that we will be some where around to see some of the games next year. My fingers are so conld that I cannot type without making an awful lot of mistakes. Don't know if it is worth trying to stay here on not. I thought that I would write you before I did anything else, for if I didn't do it now I would just keep saying that I would and things would never materialize. But now you have it in printed form, and I hope that it is readable. I shall not take the time to proof read it. Love you a whole house full. Chatter 30 November, 1948 Texas A&M My darling, I presume that I am one of the most foolish mortals alive but we have a car now. We dropped by ' to ask about the club coupe and he had this convertible sitting out there on the floor. He told us that there was little hope of getting one in before next March or April, so I asked him how much the canvas top was. I went in over my head, I know, and I have about as much reason to have a convertible as a sheep does to have a tail. It sure is a pretty little thing though Kitten. 1 got everyting straightened out and started back with it last night. There is a governor on it for the first 1000 miles so my speed was just about 30 miles an hour. Took just about 8 hours at least to get ' 245 over here. Likewise it will take me 8 hours to get up there this weekend. I should be in there by 8 , Saturday evening anyway. I am afraid that I can't add anything green to that question about my date to the TU game. She t was a very pretty little brunette with hair which reminds me very much of yours. Her eyes are brown and have a very merry little twinkle to them. She seems to be a little scatterbrained and materialistic but she sure is a cute kid. I am afraid that I did not have too much fun with her at the game though. Physically, ' she was a couple of hundred miles away. SO THERE------- I got a nice little buck on Saturday morning and put him on cold storage. If I get a chance to come down Houston way during the holidays I shall bring some venison. I expect that you will about have your plans thought out by this weekend. t Charles is making better grades than I am-what do you know? They were over during the holidays but he failed to get a buck though he shot at two. Jeannie was talking about wanting to come up to the homecoming so but not having the money. That is a very good picture of what you must expect in ' your life with me for the first little while at least. I shan't paint beautiful false faces for the picture of our immediate future. All that I can offer is love and ambition-to which you must offer alike love and encouragement and understanding. In my book those more than all the money in the world are the ingredients of true happiness. All my love, my darling Clarence ' December 1, 1948 ' Denton, TX My darling Clarence: I was thrilled to death to hear your voice over the phone, but at first, I couldn't understand why you would ' be calling from the town of Kerrville. I had just gone into Dr. Hodgson's office when the phone rang and being secretary I natcherly picked up the phone and said "Music School", but the operator wanted just me. And then I knew who it was. Course, I didn't know the reason for the call until after I talked with you. I am overjoyed over the ' fact that we finally have a car, even if it is an ole convertible. Honey, we can get what we want later. I was so thrilled that I just beamed all day and had to tell just everyone. And too, that day, my new suit arrived that I had ottenat Neiman-Marcus. So honey, we surely will all be dolled up. I am quite anxious to see you this weekend for I have a lot on my mind, which I do not care to write in a ' letter. On Saturday afternoon the Grand Chorus will be rehearsing in Dallas until 4:30 in the afternoon. Then on Sunday, we will sing the Kodaly "Psalmus Hungaricus" on the regular subscription concert series. Could you meet me in Dallas at the Friar Park Auditorium a little after 4:30, if not I could wait for you down town or something like ' that. Tell me so that I can make plans. Sunday will be just a regular Sunday with the services in the morning and an extra concert in the afternoon. I beleive that I can get you a ticket for the concert, that is if you think you can sit through it. Or if you had to leave early I could say goodbye to you before that concert and you would not be on the road all night betting back to College Station. ' I didn't tell you that I went home over the phone for I did not care for Dr. Hodgson to know. You see, I came to work over here on Friday morning and there was not one bit of heat in the building all day. Well, I worked anyhow and I caught the nicest cold that one could ask for. On Friday night we were to sing in Dallas for a teacher's convention and so we did. However, at the dinner table I was eating with the Dipsy Doodlers and they mentioned , that they would be leaving for Galveston right after the concert in Dallas that night. So I immediately said, would there be room for me to go to Houston with them. And being the sweet boys that they are, they said "yes". I was just tickled purple. I asked Mr. McKinley if he would hold the bus for about five minutes while I ran home and threw some things in a bag. So that I did. And after the concert I was on my merry way home. I did not have time to call Dr. Hodgson, and anyway, I didn't appreciate his not coming to work that day when he told me that he would. I got home real late and everyone was surprised as the dickens to see me. Dorothy is home and is getting along fairly well. Dad told me how Ann had announced your arrival last time when you popped in. She is pretty smart, isn't she? All the fellas got a big kick out of her. You see, they were going back on Sunday so they said that they would stop by and pick me up. So then I told them to come in time for dinner. I cooked one of the best dinners that I have ' ever tried my hand at. They surely did like it. Well, since they were such entertainers, Dad wanted them to perform. As a special "requisition" they sang "The Preacher and the Bear". I thought that Dad would split his sides. Course that just got them started. Well, it was about 2 when we were on the road for Denton. It was about 9 when we pulled up in front of the house. , I like to keep in practice on my culinary art whenever I go home just to be sure that I will know something and we won't have to live off of love for the first ten years of our lives. Your future culinary artist, Chatter 246 ' Dec. 2, 1948 Texas A&M (postcard) My darling, My governed speed is about 30 so I should be able to just squeeze in there by 4:30 or 5 (Fair ' Park)-If I am not there by 5 and there is no place to be comfortable chase down to the Baker Hotel lobby and I will pick you up there. See you Saturday-can't make that Sunday concert, I don't believe (double negative). Love you Clarence ' December 7, 1948 Texas A&M ' My Darling, I suppose that you have been in a bit of a turmoil answering questions and stuff about the conveyance of last weekend. It is rather as I wrote the parents, I think. The car is a dream but the debt is a nightmare. Anyway we have a car and a very nice one. Now about how to pay for it. I am madly interviewing men this week with three on the list. The two you saw were from Douglas with plants at Santa Monica, El Segundo, and Long Beach-all practically within the city limits of Los Angeles. They are offering $275 per month as starting wages but the cost of living is very high out there. I do not know what the Boeing man out of Seattle, Wash. will be offering. Chance Vought in Dallas is offering $268 per month and the setup looks very nice. All of these are the prices they will pay for the men whom they offer jobs. They might not even offer me a job. I will ' probably be lucky to get one job offer from the three of them. We pause now for affection presentation-I LOVE YOU, Kitten. Many of the guys in the class are very definite about not wanting to leave Texas. As far as I am concerned, I will go anywhere in the US where it appears that my career will profit. When I do take a job whether it be in Texas, California, Washington, Virginia, or any other state, I will have to do the choosing and ask you to go to that state and a new home with me. Most certainly we won't be near either of our homes so we shan't be troubled by loving and well meaning parents. We will achieve the bumps and bruises of life's practical knowledge the hard remembrance way. You know, darling, we have managed to kick our seperate ways through school so I imagine that we are starting our life with more knowledge than many oodle brained couples. ' I have just about decided against my better judgement to come up there after you if you plan to come to the ranch from Dallas. You should let me know by not later than next Wednesday if I am to line up riders for the trip up. Of course I understand that the whole deal depends upon developments. Let me know when you can. ' They say a person can't live without brains and a heart but then-that is living on love-Didn't have any brains and lost my heart-Such a nice feeling tho to Love yo' Clarence ' December 7, 1948 Denton, TX Dearest one, What a day! It took me all morning to get all my 99 kids off to Dallas for tonight's performance of "Carmen" at Fair Park! And that number did not include my 2 bosses! (which were my biggest problems). And besides all that, I had promised to go to McKinney and sing for the Vets in the hospital there. Therefore, by the time ' that 5:30 came around I was not to joyous about going-I did go and I had a wonderful time. They kinda liked me & I got a big kick out of making them happy. Just Nannette & I went with several members of the Lion's Club- they furnish the boys some coffee & cookies in the Rec Hall. We made the rounds of five wards (two dark ones & 3 ' white ones.) and 2 Rec. Halls-one of each. The darkies certainly were a good audience-ole Nannette beat out some "boggie" which really made some of them set up & take notice. One patient reached down by the side of his bed, picked up one of his slippers and tapped out a soft shoe routine. He was a bed ridden patient so he had the ' slipper on his hand, not on his foot. We did some pieces that the fellas requested-that is if both of us knew'em. But after all was said and done, I felt better than if I had just gone home to bed. I have thought about you all day wondering how the interview came out with the Douglas Aircraft. I'm betting on you honey-for your future is my future. ' Boy more people asked me this week how I rated such a guy as you-course, I told them the best story that I could think of at the moment. And don't think that they didn't notice that car. When I think of the car, it just ' 247 reminds me that one of your desires or dreams has materialized and that a future for "us" is in the making. I love you! No doubt you made it back to Aggieland OK-course, everytime you hit the road back my mind will be with you even more-guess it's cause I love you. Today was Ruth's birthday and Jane, Xina and I presented her with a satin position for her bed. She was so surprised! I didn't get in on the party because of this other engagement but I shared in it. She's every bit of 19 now! , (I was young once!) (But you love me, don't ya, huh?) It's about 12-1 haven't run out of words nor will I ever run out of love for you-I must get my forty winks! Love you a whole house full! Chatter Sunday Dec. 12,'48 Texas A&M ' My beloved Kathe, I have neglected you terribly for the past week but things were coming rather fast and furious with me having to get dressed up in a monkey suit ever so often to go and interview a fellow. I have ' interviewed three. I think that I told you in my letter about the ones I was planning to see. I don't know if they will offer me a job or not and won't know until around the middle of April. I did check to see about returning from far away for an October wedding and it is permissible but there will be no pay during the absentee period. We can discuss that more next spring after I decide what I am going to do. The Douglas man seemed to be very interested and I would be in the El Segundo plant if I went out there. It is about 18 miles southwest of the heart of L.A. I recieved a letter from Mother today and she wanted you to come to be there on Christmas Eve. ' It could be arranged and we could go to your home on Christmas Day. Unless things are okay though, I expect that it would be a good idea if I did not visit with you this Christmas. You understand. I hope to get word from you before Wednesday as to whether I should meet you in Dallas or Austin or not at all. ' Just whatever you deem best on the visit home, Darling. I have just about skidded over the worst of this semester except for the finals and it has been a rough one. Just think though ---5'/z months to go. Then a whole lifetime however long or short with you. There is not much to say about the life here. It goes on from day to day and from quiz to quiz. ' We had an Institute of Aeronautical Sciences meeting Friday night and the word got around that there was to be no quiz in the Saturday morning course. Reputedly it came straight from the department head, Mr. Brush, who teaches the course. I went home and went to bed along with probably a lot of the other ' boys. Saturday morning and we have a beautiful quiz. Ah, woe. Kitten, I have other reports besides these sugar reports and they must be compiled. All my love, Clarence December 14, 1948 Denton, TX Darling, I went over to the office to re-read your last letter so that I could finish writing the letter I was trying so to write and while I was over there Dr. H. walked in. Course he inquired as to what I was doing & I told him that I had , to see what you had written in order that I could give you some specific answer. Well then & there I touched to soft spot of his heart and we talked things over. And darling guess who won! He thought that there would be 50 some odd things that I should get done so he commenced to name them & one by one I informed him that it had already been done. Consquently, he looked at me in amazement and said "well you have a ride home don't you?" and I said ' "sure". Then he began to think of the things that I would have to do when I came back right after Xmas-which totals up to nothing-but I told him I'd come back some time before the Xmas week was up. Darling, do you think you could put up with me for a week? I would like very much to stay over for Xmas ' Eve. However, I won't be too definite on that for it is so liable to fluxuate. I realize more and more the decisions that I make tend to make my family happy rather than think of "our" happiness. would I seem inconsiderate toward my family and selfish for my own happiness, if I did not spend the majority of time with them. Darling, I love you and I want to be with you! Is that being selfish? Evelyn will be home and I think that she would understand, don't , you? And hon, I do want you to come home with me for at least a day. I'll need you Clarence. I love you! A gang just sang Xmas carols outside my window-sort made me think of Xmas (ha!). A very proper & fitting setting for this letter! ' I hope that you went ahead and planned for the rides, and that everything is alright. I hope that I haven't seemed too unreasonable. Love you a whole house full! Chatter 248 ' December 15, 1948 (Written on the 13"i) Denton, TX My darling: I am having to work on Dr. Hodgson to let me off-therefore, would it be possible that I wire you or tell ' you so that you could know by Wednesday. Heaven only knows that I wouldn't mind if you went against you better judgment and came up after me. I love you. Honey if you do come, would you mind coming back to Denton for the night. It will be cheaper and you can get a good night's sleep and bright and early we could strike out for your ' home. Otherwise you would be worn completely out by the time we got there. If this is, you think, to much to ask of you don't mind saying so. I love you and I will understand. I know of nothing I'd like better than driving down home with you. I have a few packages to go down with me for the folks. I am almost sure that I can talk him (Dr. H.) into letting me off-I had much rather get off early and come 1 back early than to go home just a coupla days before and come back on the 3`d. The first way I can be with you and then go home and help them have a nice Xmas. (It's gonna take a lot, but I'm willing and able!) I told Dad what you said about the buck & turkey-he sure did take it all in! Thinks you are the man for me! (ha!) Oh well, you've ' heard that line before, haven't you, hon? The other way would make it awful hard for me to get out to the ranch and to spend any decent amount of time at home. Why, do I always have to scrape for time. I'll be so glad when we will be together for the rest of our lives. Hon, you mentioned every thing from the east coast to the west coast! Well, let me tell you this, hon, it does not matter to me in which state you will be located. I just want to be with you no matter where it is. You and I think very much on the same lines concerning a life together-therefore, what you decide will be my decision too. I love you a whole house full! ' My noon hour consists of %s eating time & '/2 shopping time. I have just about completed the list, with the exception of Evelyn & Dad. I believe Evelyn is coming home. Aunt G. & Uncle B. have given her a round trip ticket home for Xmas. She was going to stay with them in Norfolk during the holiday season, that is, until they heard of mom's illness. By the way, the latest reports are that she is getting better. I surely do hope so! Remember last Xmas, John was ill then! I have tickets for you to attend the Messiah that nite in Dallas-it will be well worth you ear ache! I love you. (Just well learn to endure it.) ' I hope to let you know definite word as soon as possible. If you don't get anything in the mail by Wed noon-please call me that nite. (I will reimburse you for the call if the calling is necessary, cause I'm the one that causing all the trouble.) I've gotta get Dr. Hodgson "on the ball" "carpet" or what have you. Love, Chatter ' Thursday evening, Dec. 16, 1948 Texas A&M My darling Chatter, I recieved your letters just a few minutes ago and I was so mad that I could have worked from Washington down on the Post Office Department. The first one was missent to Houston though of course ' you had it addressed properly. I owe you an apology, darling, cause I was rather disgusted that I had not received at least confirmation. They were both so sweet, too. I shall be up there and carry out the plan as you outlined it in your last letter though I shouldn't. You see, the car is supposed to have an overhaul after the first one thousand miles and it now has about ' 850 on it with over 600 more on this trip before I can get it in the shop to have the checkup. Machines need care and oiling, Kitten. That is why I was rather reticent about the trip. Your plans sound wonderful, though we will discuss them more when we are together. ' I am not doing so good on my grades though I study to beat the band. My brain just seems to have gone completely stale. Too much concentrated analytical study, I suppose. I just hope that nothing keeps me from getting out of here in the spring. I don't think I can stand too much more of this waiting. This letter must get in the mail quick so I shall mail it right now.---Love you, Clarence Dec. 29, 1948 ' Houston, TX My Darling, Life can be beautiful! (as the ole sad soap opera says!) Hon everything is just perfect-Mom has ' completely snapped out of it and she is looking just as pretty as ever. She's sorry now that she didn't take you upon the jaunt in your "bronze wagon". Right after you and "Smithie" left she just brightened up, but her teeth in, and was so happy. We talked about a few things and straightened out a few of her mingled thoughts. This morning she ' 249 got up cheerie and bright and dressed up and helped me with some of the things that needed to be done. Oh honey , she is her own sweet self again and now I can leave this afternoon feeling that everything is alright again. All the little lady needed was some love, laughter and the right kind of attention. And I think that she received that while ' you were here with me-and the outside attention of "Smithie". LI wish you were here so that I could just love you a whole house full! I do anyway-but I can't squeeze you and tell you through a letter. I told John that I would include a word for him. He is going to K-ville tomorrow and said he would meet t you as planned. I must close now so that John can take this with him to mail. Love you with all the love that I possess. Chatter December 30, 1948 Mountain Home, TX , My darling Chatter, suppose that you are back in Denton this morning and sitting at the typewriter, or working about the office. It was a wonderful vacation wasn't it? From the start to the finish everything turned out so ' nice. Kitten, I am sorry that I was in such a mood the night before I left and hurt you. You know that I was under quite a bit of strain all during the time that you were around. That was part of it and the rest is that I just get moods like that and for the life of me I could not snap out of that one before the harm was done. I would like to quote some things that the folks said this morning that might interest you. They started cooking talk and I picked out some of the more juicy morsels for your consumption. Mother , mentioned the ham you cooked and Pete chimed in with "Boy, I'm telling you, that ham was simply delicious." Mother continued, "She's really a wonderful cook. I watched her working on nearly everything she fixed and her fingers are so long and deft. Her hands will sure look nice with a diamond on one- those slender fingers, etc." Needless to say I seconded all of it and sat back with a rather smug expression on my face and informed them that you turned my stomach er r r that is , you found the way to my stomach and that turned the trick--I love you. Mother is talking again as I try to write this letter which will probably acount for mispells and other ' errors. she was just drying the pitcher which you gave her and said that she thought she had made more fuss over it than she had over here watch. My hands are getting so numb that I find it difficult to refrain from making mistakes such as the ' one which you see in this sentence (one?). I wrote your mother this morning and I hope that she will understand. That was a very nice Christmas present wasn't it? Charles failed to get a deer and I may try to get one for him today and tomorrrow. They certainly ' could use the meat. Oh, just an afterthought-I indeed just thought of it. The Massey girl did not come-she stayed home to study her chemistry and her father and brother were over here last night just visiting. We sat around and discussed old times and had quite a time of it. , That must be all for this edition of the letters of the lovelorn. A happy and married new year. Love you, Clarence December 30, 1948 , Denton, TX My darling, ' What a hair-raising experience I had in trying to catch a train! Whew! I still breathe a sigh of relief. It was this-a-way. I called for a cab at 3:50 so that I would be sure to allow them ample time to get me to the station to , purchase my ticket. The train leaves at 5. Well, I sat in the living room, chatted with the folks, and etc. waiting for the cab. 4:30 rolls around still "no cab", 4:35, 4:40 so by 4:411 began to get sorta excited. I just sat & stared at the family! Then Dad thought "well, maybe I had better talk to them"-that he did. So at 4:46 a lil ole English Ford pulls up out front with a taxi insignia. I say ole boy, I was sure nuf glad that it came in miniature form for we just , squeezed thru the late afternoon traffic-many close shaves, I'm telling you. I got to the station with 4 minutes to spare. Bought my ticket, handed the guy at the gate my bags (a conductor, mind you--) I said "please", smiled prettily at him, and I hastened 4 cars up the track and just as I stepped on the train, we began to slowly move along. , 250 A few minutes later, after I was seated, that is, the conductor came in with my bags. He was awfully nice. ' There wasn't a Red Cap to be seen when I needed one so badly; so he helped a lady in distress. I was just shaking all over for the first few minutes of the trip. I don't even care to go through all that again. I love you. I was talking to Riley, a clerk in our post office, and I was telling him about Nimrods & etc. just to pass the time of day and this is what he told me about a couple deer that he knew. One day the buck said to the doe, "I think ' I'll go out and try to make some "dough". The doe thought a moment and then she replied, "Wait & I'll go with you and we'll make a coupla bucks!") What a story! My trip to the post office was too fruitful. Riley had to give me a cardboard box to take all the mail up the hill to the office. I sorted mail for an hour and a half. 6 packages & 85 ' Xmas cards for the Hodgson's. All the rest was office correspondence, bulletins, magazines & what not! I had a gay ole time. Gosh honey I just feel so wonderful now that everything at home is fine and dandy. Now let's just hope that it stays that way. Thanks a million darlin' for all that you did towards the change. I wish that I could have 1 stayed around home just to be sure that everything stays alright for a while. Sure did miss having you around that last day. I know I neglected you something horribly part of the time but there was nothing that I could have done. You have my heart, soul, and mind with you all the time even if you don't realize it. I'm just a shell until the two of us become "one". Love you a whole house full of little Leinwebers, Chatter 1 ' 251 4>:s't tq~ f s Szv 2W ~a~ r. ~ a ~f yy a ~t v $rY ~t N y ~ t f Twl 4 v C' a, ..na' s' ' b"xh 3'x`7! xas Y` bCZ'h'` `4 z gkL4sfi~J 4 f pe `n'.j n s7 > i I74, V +L'w'7 a"', 1 E.. ,i tt WIN 11171~1")~ r 4 +~Fy^¢~p t ii tr S~, F>$ µY y i it vr'!"!:'i Wr.- ~+.W'. y,~'~q'; vkGw +'Fk 1 ~sgY°trr.,+t• !vMy;E"YM ,y ~ ✓ q k i e ~ R b , 5 ti~ Y 4r to wL;4 s"' t ys~fYS°~ v. _ _ `r ` fan. T wr a*' -~f~ >w .,a - "a°fa~s ¢t ~ ar ;j4~ ii,~i~t~'}~~< ~ s. ~•.ZY \ ~~ti~~f'ri rtt,~~,,~ uyi Ir ;'f ~"3 ' x ~ r' ~ •~'L-s'+ ~ ~y" p„w tr t~♦ti~* l iR`„ -rT ~`~`F ~~i ri al "1~~~;~ fy.~i° ar►" ya ~ . r,X~',~►y~rd ~ a~'~~ ar•►-~ ` `,,,rr~ ~1~s~~ 1 9 4 9 1 1 January 1, 1949 ' Denton, TX Dear Pete and Lil Audrey, I want to thank you both for all that you have done towards helping me end the ole year '48 in the right ' way. First of all, let me thank you for something that you two did many long years ago-you had a son, Clarence by name. Thanks! Foremost in my mind is the resolution that I have made for'49-a resolution which involves that son's future for the new years to come. It is something that Clarence has been working on, and something that ' I will be working on for a long time, in fact, two life times-Clarence's and mine. For during this year I am going to become a member of your family. I can't always be a guest or an outsider, can 1, Pete? Although there is no visible sign of an engagement, the know tying is the main attraction for the year. The car morgaged the sparkling future of my left hand, but I think its worth it. Having the car makes it possible for us to be together more and that ' just suits me fine. I wanted yqu to know just how I felt towards that wonderful boy of yours. I will not make an official announcement until the ring has been placed on the left hand. Pete, that was awfully sweet what you said in the kitchen that night-you can rest assured that I'll have you two over to dinner just as much as possible. However, you may have to come a long way for it if any of the West Coast jobs come through, but you're welcome anytime, anywhere! I am not particular about what part of these United States Clarence will accept a job in. I only want him to be happy and content with the location of his or their choice. I can adjust my self to any situation. Yesterday I went to Dallas with my landlady and her sister, and while I wasn't with them they purchased me a spoon, which they presented to me after we returned home. Now wasn't that nice? It will fill up one of the blank spaces in the silver chest! That siesta robe surely does come in handy on these cold rites. Thanks a lot. No wonder Clarence is so ' wonderful-he is a part of two of the most wonderful people that I know. There's a daughter in your future! Kathy ' Mother was her ole self again when I left for Denton; life is all rosy again! January 1, 1949 ' Midnight (Dec. 1) Denton, TX ' Dearest one, This will be a big year for the two of us, won't it. Gosh, it just can't be too long, can it? I love you a whole house full darling. My resolution is that that love will materialize into its amount of measurement. Course, that will all come in time. ' Today, Miss Ola, and her sister, and I all went to Dallas. And there we did a bit of shopping. I was in Neiman's & I ran into "Little-bit" & her mother. They insisted on me eating with them--& I did. Little bit was just up from an appendectomy and a tonsilectomy all at the same once. She caught the 2:30 bus home and Mrs. Fogleman & I did some more shopping. That is, I helped her buy a new coat. I was the critic or buying consultant in something. We had a lot of fun running around. She had to catch a 4 o'clock bus & I was to meet Dr. Ola & Miss Joe the parking lot at that time; so we parted company & I met the ladies. We were back in Denton a little after five. And ya know what, honey, Dr. Ola bought me a spoon! Isn't that wonderful. I told her that we would ' invite her over for dessert sometime so that she could use the soon-that is, in case we don't have anymore. Tonight the three of us went over to the Bradshaw's, across the street, and we played Liverpool Rummy. Later we were served refreshments. Gosh its nice to have good friends. ' Honey, Dr. Ola is quite fond of you. Guess you & I both have her fooled. But isn't it wonderful! I guess you were overwhelmed when you received so many letters in such a short time-at least it made your trip to the p.o. worth its while. I hope that Bill is still smiling-now that he has returned from the hills of Tenn. ' I wrote your parents tonight. I knew they couldn't possibly receive the letter before you left. I didn't want you to know what I said to them anyway. So there. (It might have given you the big head.) I love you. Honey, the wells may run dry, but my love for you will never die. (as the song goes) I love you, Chatter ' Darling, I told your family that I would be a member, not a guest, any longer, before the year is up. OK? M ' 253 January 1, 1949 , Denton, TX My darling, , Your sugar report came just after I finished a hard (ha!) day at the office. I love you. It has made me beam all day-Dr. H. said that I looked kinda different. I guess when you're happy you do sorta look different. And darling, I am happy. Listen hon, don't think anything of what happened that night-I had forgotten all about it , until you mentioned it in the letter. Things-moods-or what have you are bound to come up when we are together like that. It sure did help releive some of the tension that I had stored up in me. All of it was happiness, and relief from Mother's recovery. Golly, I feel like a new person. Mom looked wonderful the day I left-now I ' hope that she stays that way. Darling, this lil Kitten knows now when not to tease-she will only purr, and show her claws whenever it is absolutely necessary. Don't think that I will let one of your Iii moods ever do any serious damage to our love. Those are some of the lil things that I will help you overcome & I will learn to understand your makings better that , way. I love you! Jan. 2, 1949 1 wrote Nellie a ten page letter and asked her all sorts of things. Inquired about apts. & living conditions , and all that sort of thing. You don't know it mut Mrs. Sanders, Nellie's in-lawed mother, has wanted to design and make my wedding dress ever since I told Nellie & Vic about you. How do you like that? huh? Golly, I'm just too lucky. I have you & all the love in the world for you and from you. What more could I ask for. These last few days I have been daydreaming something awful. They're not fantastic dreams either; they're dreams that will become realities, some during this year, others in years to come. I love you. It just tickled me pink to read those excerpts from the kitchen chatter. Pete is my second love, I guess you know that. I wrote them a nice long letter & in case you want to read it-ask'em to mail it to you. I told them that ' it was my resolution for the year "to become a member of the family" and no longer be a "guest" or an "outsider". I also told them that the information I gave them was just for them, and that I would make an official announcement when I received the ring. Course, I know the word won't remain in your immediate family for long, but I did want them to know. I love you a whole house full. Did you mind that I told them-they have known your intentions all , along but I had never expressed mine to them. I sang a solo this morning in church-and I almost didn't sound like me-it was real pretty! Wish you could have been out there in the congregation. , There are a few things that I must do in the office-so I think I'll go over there for about an hour. We're singing in Ft. Worth tomorrow night & on Wednesday afternoon we will record for RCA Red Seal Records with the Dallas Symphony. So see, this week begins with a bang. Love, Chatter Jan. 3, 1949 , Texas A&M My darling Kathe, This is the year, 1949, when my love letter writing is scheduled to cease. Through the years you will get a few from one reason or another but from this year forward we will say it with actions rather than words. I have been thinking-maybe it would be better to wait until 1950 and then we could keep track of the years so much better but then maybe there will be other things to remember from 1950, quien sabe? I have been over keeping the rifle range open tonight. There were 3 hours of class this morning ' and I had 2 quizzes assigned and the only reason the other one didn't was because he got started talking a mile a minute and never thought of it. That was a grand mailbox full this morning with two letters from you and airmails from Boeing and Douglas telling me to get closer to graduation and they would think about me. [us] there was also a check ($75) and a bank statement from the local misery (sound your 1) ($80 on hand). See, I don't starve for a while. Bill pulled in at noon and was quite bushed-got his ring back and is quite blue. I may bring him , up one of the next times I come. Would you get him a date if I did? I picked John up as per schedule along with three of my Kerr County buddies. The taller Peters boy) We pulled in here about 10 pm last night. John said he really had a grand time in Kerrville. , Certainly, he had a rough time of it with Lou in Houston. It was really a wonderful Christmas, wasn't it? Just seems that for once everthing seems to have gone near perfect. Before I write this sentence-I love every word of your letters (and you) and am poking fun at you just to hear you laugh across the miles. Remember you wrote "Love you a whole , housefull of Ill L s". You know the story about the old woman who set some hens and then told her 254 ' neighbors about all the fried chicken and eggs she was going to have (though she had no rooster) and what the neighbors told her. After studying the project, specifications and man hours involved, I believe ' as an engineer that I would like very much to take on the job. You may be surprised but I made a couple of resolutions, too. I've been resolute pretty long I guess and my will power is about to give out, (though Mother will tell you I have more than is reasonable). R1 = BS degree R2 = Marriage sentence ' Darling, you know it was okay for you to write the folks that you would be a member of the family and I can tell you right now that you fit as close in that family as a french swim suit. You keep your sense of humor and ability to take a ribbing and you are in. All I heard about when I got back was ' something or another you had done while you were there. (complements - all) A person would think that they were marrying you instead of me. And Pete meant what he said in the kitchen that day about helping if he could. Charles didn't get his buck so I killed one for him on N Y eve (last day of the season) and we put it in the refrigerator to freeze. They can sure use the meat. Kitten, it is getting late and I must sleep a little and dream a little- The foundations for that house were (and are) a labor of love. Clarence P.S. Proof read this but could quite correct that misplaced modifier at the top of the page-oh English prof-where art thou? 1/7/49 College Station, TX (Mrs. Clarence Leinweber, Jr. she wrote on envelope above her address) (Back of envelope has Mrs. Katherine Leinweber, Mrs. C. L. Leinweber) ' My darling Kathe I am a little blue today for no apparent reason-I wish I were coming up there this weekend but duty bids me stay here. We had an Electrical Engineering quiz today and everybody thinks they flunked the quiz. It was so bad that everyone was asking who was going to take the course under what profs next semester and a still, quiet voice (or sumpin!) asking who was going to take that profs place after he was shot. ' I've got three reports to write up this weekend and a lot of studying to do. That should keep me pretty well occupied-the finals start in just two weeks. j I was driving along the other day and a little birdie tried to come through the window shield with the boy in the front seat with me. Sure did hit it a solid lick but nothing broke. ' I might come up next weekend (it all depends on how the reports and stuff line up) but don't count on it very much. I will give you ample warning if I do decide to come. Probably it will be midterm before 1 get up there. When the guys would ask me if I had a good Christmas, I would tell them that I ' was sick most of the time and then wait a few seconds for effects and say "love sickness" and that isn't far from the truth either. It has gotten to the point where though I know it isn't good to see you too often, it is much worse not too. It is entering that last and fatal stage (to bachelorhood) where a fellow dreams away in class despite his best attentions to be a good scholar and where a very good letter or inattentiveness brings the same results. I love you ver' moch! Gather the far flung clans; Let all be of good cheer! ' Aye, and publish the bans, For this is the appointed year. ' Eds. (CLL) Note-There was a bumper crop of corn in Texas this year. All my love, Clarence January 9, 1949 ' Denton, TX Darling, I started off the year rather well, but as you have found out of late-it slowed down somewhat. Which of ' course is due to my endless days at the office. Things didn't slack up at all. The most thrilling thing of the week was recording for R.C.A. Victor-it almost wore us down to a single note but we made an album that we can be 255 proud of (I can tell our kids & grandkids that I once recorded for R.C.A. Victor Red Seal Records!) Guess maybe ' you have read about it. If not, read the enclosed clipping. Ain't we something? Golly, but things are happening fast-on Tues. I will begin pre-registering all of the 500 little darling ' music majors. And what a job that's gonna be! Honey, I am so proud of you that I just beam every time I think about you. And to think that I love you & you love me! I felt sure that you would be offered jobs by the companies that interviewed you; even if I have never "talked shop" with you, I know that you know your "beans". I have all the confidence in the world in you-as a ' man of knowledge in his field, and as a future husband. I love you! I would like for you to come up next weekend-that is, if you have completed all your assigned work. I know what you mean about seeing & not seeing each other. By the way, when does your semester end, etc. Exams , begin here on the 25`x' - 3ls`-the 1s` - 4" of February is mid-semester holidays. That will sorta give you an idea of the situation. I have been counting money tonight until I'm up in my ears in the stuff. Nothing like having to make two treasurer reports in one week! Good thing I can count & that I'm honest! t I hope to hear from Nellie sometime this week-maybe she can give me a few encouraging words. I asked her about their vacation time & about the things which we discussed about living conditions in Calif. Nellie wrote Dad a long letter of Dec. 30, which he sent to me; however, at the time she knew nothing of Mom's recovery. ' Consquently her letter wasn't the most cheerful one I'll ever read. Mother wrote me one of her big fat letters, and now I'm sure that all is well with the little lady. My heart is ten times tighter now that I know she's alright. I must close & get the ole' 40 winks-Love you, a whole house full, Chatter ' 11 Jan 48 (means 49 - ed.) ' Texas A&M Dearest one, Though the decision was hard to make, I expect I had best not come up this weekend. There is , too much to do that means too much to both of us. Seems like ages since I saw you just two weeks ago tomorrow. This has been rather a frantic week with left over work but I am just about up with the pack by , now. I was a very good little boy yesterday hitting both church services and young people's too. I still think of how absolutely adorable you were in the skirt and blouse and anklets. I may make you mad but, by golly I have the strength of my convictions to tell you so again. I'm only saying that I loved the effect-please dress that way on our casual dates, darling (the informals, I mean). You make ' an elegant lady in a suit and will make a grand addition to my harem in the role of hostess, etc. Then there are the times when I like a carefree young girl (a picture which you perfected over Christmas, though I know you were far from carefree at the ranch before we found Christmas complete later). When you get to be a matron, I won't expect anklets anymore but you do have beautifully rounded ' calves and the anklets do add something. Should I say-pure sex-I'm only human. (I hope) Should I put another wall on my doghouse and comment that I was familiar with your attire before-always chic, sometimes pretty and sometimes strikingly beautiful, but always well groomed and ' ladylike in public. In public with me, only in your eyes and some of your actions could I find that which I write about-you were just downright cute in that getup. I love you, Kitten! Guess I better retire into the prefabricated house and eat my Gro-Pup. Did you ever see such a jumbled mess of trying to put something into words. ' In a few minutes I am going over to the rifle range to spend a couple of hours on the coaching of the young Kay-dets. News Flash! A&M rocked by announcement of Naval ROTC unit. Rumors that Senior boots will have black bell topped counterparts and special off campus Sou'westers for Navy Ay- ' gies. Ditto rumors of intra service intermural clashes. President Bolton denies Brazos to be bought for A&M Pearl Harbor. Commodore Brassbound says "Don't give up the grade points, men." Bye now Love yo' Clarence t January 13, 1949 Denton, TX ' My darling; I wish that it were so that you could see your way to coming up this weekend, but if circumstances make it so that you can't then it will have to be alright with me. I Love You! I got a very interesting letter from Nellie and ' Vic that I would like to talk over with you, but that can wait until you do have a chance to come to Denton. I 256 would send it on to you but I am afraid that I could not see the expression on your face when you read parts of it, and that I would like very much. It wasn't just a letter. It turned out to be a book. Remind me to show it to you ' when you do come, will ya? It is way past the hours of working time, but here I sit. This has been quite a day, and I still have to go to choir practice at the church. But to me that is a form of relaxing. We have been preregistering students for the last ' three or four days, and I have been standing on my ear for just that long. Saturday will be the end of that, thank goodness. I surely am getting ahead of time schedules on this birthday business. Today I was in town at noon and saw the cutest lil dress that looked just like little Ann; so I got it for her. Course her birthday is not until the 13"' of ' March, but I knew if I did not get the dress that it would be gone by then. Golly ain't I smart? I wonder what I am going to buy myself for my birthday? I've been looking but I can't decide. Oh well, I have plenty of time. Honey, I don't mind your telling me that I am cute anytime, anywhere, or anyhow, when I am dressed in socks and that sort of get up. I guess I would act the same way if you told me I looked cute in a french bathing suit. It's just me! I would love to wear socks every day, but I do not think that the proper place for them is in the office when I am supposed to be dignified. (ha!) Socks are worn around here for all campus functions, such as classes and more classes, but when it comes to dates you very seldom see the girls wearing socks. I wear hose because I ' have gotten so used to them and because I feel more stylish, since the shoes I wear call for hose and not socks. I very seldom wear the little brown and white shoes that I wore out on the ranch for the very reason that I don't like hose with oxfords. See how it all works, honey? I love you. And on our next casual date I will wear soxs and the ' little brown and white shoes. So there. Love me? I must close and be on my merry way to choir practice, but first to get something to eat. Love you a whole house full, Chatter 13 Jan', '49 Texas A&M ' My darling Kathe, As regards the recordings for Victor-I'll bet you did have a grand time-I'll also bet our children (look who's counting) will have a much harder time picking your voice out of that congregation than I ' once had in a quiet physics lab so long ago-sure was hard to concentrate. Boy, you sure gave my ego a boost-now I wish someone would give my grade points a boost. You see-I have no job offers-only routine letters saying that they will let me know if they have an ' opening next April. Don't you dare tell Nellie we are coming to California-we might and that is all-and Vic's and Nellie's estimation of me would drop considerably if I get an ability buildup which I can't live up to. Our exams begin on Saturday the 22nd and are over the next Thursday. I shall probably come ' up on Friday and stay over until Sunday-you will be busy part of the time but I shall manage. I get the old one-two punch in the morning with a quiz in Internal Combustion Engines at 9 and one in Advanced Aircraft Structures at 10. If I survive that I can survive anything. Wish me luck. I have a letter from you Mother which I shall attempt to forward to you if I don't forget it. (You pulled one of my stunts in your last letter and failed to inclose a clipping mentioned in the letter.) Darling today is January the 13th and not especially important except that it is another day past and another day forward. You'll look beautiful in white. I've painted that picture so many times ' Got my airplane designed (What a farce!) It is really quite prodiguous (sp?) and exceeded all specifications maybe I should go into production. C. Llewellyn Leinweber Jr. Incorporated-How does that sound? I thought so-No more time, Kitten, except to send that telepathic kiss across the miles. Would ' be so nice to have you fiddling around the room as I study for those quizzes. I will be very, very frank and tell you I would be better off married as far as my grades go-yearning instead of learning, you know. All my love, darling Clarence (Enclosed in last letter) December 30, 1948 ' Dear Mrs. McNeill-and the whole family, Some old fussbudget way back in history decreed that one of these bread and butter letters should be adressed to the lady of the house but I might just as well put in salutations for. the whole family since you will probably read it anyway. 257 It was really a nice Christmas, wasn't it? Somehow though, I am glad that it is over. Before another shall roll around I should be a married college graduate. It has been many a long year of waiting. ' After all the fuss and bother about the sack which I brought the deer in, I ran off and forgot it. If you will send it to me or to Mr. John Hill at Ingram, Texas I will pay you the postage the next time that I see you. My address here as you know is just Mountain Home, Texas. Incidentally, there is a certain person who is going riding with me the next time that I come to ' Houston. The car is certainly nice and I can go anywhere I please now within the limits of my bankroll which is extinct. I am going to stop and drop Chatter a note since the folks are going to town today and I have a , chance to mail the letters. All of my wishes to you and yours for a very happy new year. As ever, Clarence January 17, 1949 Denton, TX Dearest one, , While you sit and study I shall attempt (that is if this confounded pen holds out) to send enough "sugar reports", as you call them, to make a slight deviation in your day's program. Goodness only Im..mvr !hat I wish 1 were there to "bother" you-or as you put it "to fiddle around the room as you study for those quizzes." I love you! , Honey, I know you're smart-you love me, don't you!-that's showing some of your brilliance right there. (Love you a whole house full) I used to think "gosh he's dumb for loving me", and then after cogitating for a year, or so, I decided that you were the smartest person I knew. Love you! Honey, I believe in giving your ego a boost. Note above paragraph!) You know, you and Vic would make a great team-he is a wonderful designer. You could do all the technical brain work and he could make pretty pictures from the results. Honey, do you know anything about what the Goodyear Company is doing in the Aerojet line. That is the company for whom Vic works & he seems to be quite the "fair haired boy" around there , due to some design of his. Doff sent me a box of cookies today-watch out waistline! You should have seen me pass them around in the office, consquesntly, I don't have so many to eat in the silence of my lonely room. I ain't so dumb! ' The other day Mr. McKinley came in the office & said that I had two solos in choir & that I had better start making my self present at choir to sing them. He must be hard up for altos! I still don't know if I will get to tour with the choir to Colorado Springs. Dr. Hodgson is afraid that the office will fall apart if I go & I'm afraid that I will fall apart if I don't go! What a mess! Dr. Hodgson & I have until late April to battle it out! , We will just be completing our exams on the 3151-therefore you can see where your visit will fit in. It will be a great relief to have you here--cause then I can relax me little nerves & be carefree & happy. Course, I may have to ignore you during parts of the day, but in the evenings you may have my undivided attention. , There is real fear in my heart when I go out in this horrible weather. All the sidewalks are coated with ice-and of course, I live on the hill. For the last two mornings I have scooted down the hill in safety. It is getting worse all the time & I would certainly hate to fall now that I have been conqueror of my bugs for over a year now & I would be perfectly content to have things that way. ' Darling, I am going to see if I can get you a place to stay so that your expenses won't be too great while you are here. Gotta make that money go a long way now, don't we? Love you ever so much, Chatter Jan. 17, 1949 ' Mountain Home, TX Dear Kathy, ' Your letter was so nice and of course it made us very happy. It merited an immediate answer but I have waited until I could find the time to write a real letter, and now I am at a loss how to say just what I want to. , Thought ofgoing down and see what Emily would sanction under the circumstances but decided to say it in my own way, just tell you how I think inside that head of mine. First, may I say that our son, who, incidentally has a great many ideas like ours, has used those same ideas, in selecting you, his one and only. For you are just the one we too would have picked. While I keep insisting you are not one of us yet, I know you have made a place all your own in our family circle. I hope that as the years go by, and you learn to know me better 1 can claim the place in your heart and life of Mother second only to your own. Please not a (Mother-in-law). ' You know this business of raising a son is wonderful and still it has it's limitations. A mother loves and nourishes him months longer than anyone else, just she and God. He is so tiny and helpless when she sees fit to 258 , show him the light of day. She learns early to protect him, with her life if necessary. For many years they live and ' breathe almost as one then in his early teens he begins to mature into a strong man and he is no longer Mama's Baby Boy, however the mother never really changes, while she admires the strong man her son has become, she is always ready to hover over and to protect her own, and so long as she lives anything that happens to her son to make him happy or sad, is multiplied ten fold in the mother's heart. There comes a day, when the mother turns over the long vigil over her son to the young and stronger woman of his choice, his wife. I have watched Junior's love for you gradually grow until it is a must for him. He, simply does not exist when he has a doubt of your love for him. Many times my heart has ached for him when he was not sure of your love. I did not blame you because love is the one thing that money or the command of humans cannot control. I believe now you are sure of yourself ' and I know you two will be very happy. May I say, as one woman to another, Junior is a very Special Guy. He is one of the most determined persons I have ever known (unless it could be his Daddy). There have been veryfew problems in life that he has not conquered. It has taken many years to conquer the two greatest things in his life and yours, Kathy and his degree These two as you say are scheduledfor '49 so let us remember to ask God's guidance andProtection in ' this future for our family circle. Truely it will make us very happy to call you Our Daughter, we love you, Audrey ' & Clarence Leinweber Jan 19, 1949 ' Texas A&M My darling Chatter, Tis a great day. I am the recipient of a very, very fine little letter from a likewise gal. I only wish that today were next week but some of these profs just have to have a chance to flunk me. I won't tell you my specific troubles but I could use a soulder to brace against (and a luscious pair of lips). I believe that I shall be up Friday around noon (next week) and stay until Sunday night. It would be nice if you ' could arrange lodging-but, Kitten, as they used to say I wouldn't like to be beholden to strangers or casual acquaintances. I just finished turning in the estimated performance data for my four place business man's plane. It grosses at 3090 Ibs with an 800# payload and a range of 1900 miles. The service ceiling is 23,400' ' and the sea level rate of climb is around 16007min. The cruising speed is 183 mph; the maximum speed is 208 mph; and the takeoff speed is 65 mph. For a twin engine pusher prop plane of 250 horse that is quite phenomenal designing. See what I mean? Now I am so pleased with myself that I believe I shall turn down all job offers and let the manufacturer's beat a trail to my doorstep to pay for my knowledge by the word. Chatter, my dearest, I love every word of praise for me and your faith in me. It will take that and much more to pull me through some of the rough spots. Just to have you for a life partner can mean so ' much. The last paragraph is just a filler to pull the wool over your eyes as to my technical ability. How much sense you can make of it is problematical. The girls here in our office (Aero office) seem to pick it up pretty fast so maybe you can-you see I have found that you have brains as well as beauty-so ' there! To change the subject (though the last subject was you and I find that one very interesting)-I wrote you about a store which had burned down here at North Gate a while back. A gypsy has moved in lock, stock, cards, filth, and barrel. She is trying to tell fortunes but since there aren't any at Aggieland, ' she may leave in the barrel. Vaugh Monroe (Moon Maids, etc.) will be down here for a Military Ball on the 12~h of Feb. Since I am no longer Military I am restrained from attending but it should be nice. I've run out of paper, Darling, ' (time, too) so it's good night and sweet dreams. Love yo' Clarence Jan. 23, 1949 ' Texas A&M My darling Kathe, ' Happy Sunday. Today I can just relax and let my headache run it's course. I had the two finals I had been dreading yesterday and am I glad to have them over with. I figure I did okay on them. I have three more -1 each Tuesday through Thursday mornings. I would much prefer to have them in the afternoon for the brain just isn't up to an 8 o'clock final. recieved a long letter from Mother a while back which was quite interesting. If I hink I will bring it up. 259 This has been a very quiet week. Last spring there were all kinds of stories of forced locks and ' even one reported holdup of a negro Janitress (though I am inclined to doubt it). Seems like everyone has resigned himself to the "like taxes and death" attitude. ' I have my usual exam accoutrements which consist of a moustache and goatee. You see I haven't enough hair left on my head to pull when I get in one so I grow it on my chin. As things still stand, I shall be up on Friday-probably a little afternoon-you will be busy until 5 1 guess but I have a mission over at Tessie. Have to arrange a rifle match for the boys if I can. ' There isn't anything else to say, darling. You see all of that perfectly irrelevant material was just to fill in space so I could remind you that another month has slipped by and it is 4 months til June and 8 months to October-twice as long. See? ' There is another trivial little matter which I might mention, too, but it hardly seems necessary to inform you of my cardiacial symptoms so I won't-Just plain bashful-Hah! See you Friday Love yo' Clarence January 25, 1949 Denton, TX My dear Clarence, ' It is almost as cold as Alaska here in Denton. There is snow and ice everywhere! Al! do, in my little white rubber boots. I think you will like them for they make me look about 3 and a half years old. ' They surely do keep my feet dry in this kinda weather. I hope that the weather will clear up so that you will not be in the ice when you drive up to Denton cause that will really make me worry until you get here. I guess that you know that it is airright with me for you to go over to TSCW to spend the evening (wrong word) afternoon. I'll just have the evening free after 5 so what ou do before that time, with the exception of the noon hour, I don't have to know about. That is, unless you want to tell me all about it. However, I had much rather spend the evenings talking about us, I love you. ' This day has really been a trial-it seems that everyone had some complaint to register and I was the most logical one to hear them. I just got real preturbed, picked up my stuff, gave the ole "come on" call and whistle to Xina and Jane, and through the cold we trudged down to the "Comer" and just ran and played for a while. I gathered up my dignity and calmly ambled back to the office for another 3 gruelling hours. Now it is past quitting ' time and here I sit writing to you. I shall expect to see you or hear you call before 5 on Friday. Honey, nobody is staying in town so all my efforts for finding you a place have been in vain. Therefore, you will have to do something when you arrive. Find yourself a place to live. I'm sorry. I love you. Call me at the Music School-2080 Ex. 382. I will answer the phone saying Music Hall or Music School but it will be just lil ole me. Love you a whole house full, W.H. Hodgson (force of habit!!!!!) Guess who?! I really am in a dither! ' Jan-Feb, 1949 ' Texas A&M Dear Folks, I hadn't realized that it had been a week since I recieved your letter until I got it this morning and ' looked it over. I have been so busy just studying. I haven't been any further than Bryan since Xmas though I am planning to go to Denton this weekend. I should come home but I can't miss this chance to "press the suit" a little further. Lord knows, it took me enough worry and heartbreak to get the inside ' track. I am mentally spent this Sunday morning. I had my two hardest finals yesterday with a two hour break for lunch. 6 hours of deep thinking and fast work are an awful amount of brainwork. It has been very nasty here for quite a while with lots of rain. You should have gotten quite a bit , and it will do wonders in the spring. Next Monday and Tuesday I register for what I hope will be my last semester. I don't believe now that I am going to flunk anything though there may be two or three D's on the record. They aren't ' good but at least they will be passing. Cash the $100 check for I don't think I will need it until I get a job. I would like to consider that I owe you interest in the proportion that I agreed at the time of the loan. Of course, I would appreciate it if the note recieved consideration when you have the money. I believe that no more than a year's interest ' would be redeeming for the inconvenience I put you to on the short notice loan. Now I know that you are 260 O probably a little hurt that I won1t accept free gratis loans and let you pay 8/o interest but it is just ' something that I can't do. I appreciate it and I love you both for it but I must stand on my own feet now and besides you two must have some of the good things of life with the full realization that we have already been given a priceless heritage. Too, it wouldn't be fair to Charles and Don. I will be graduating in June, probably, but I want no graduation present for it would not be fair to them-see what I mean. Could I be any other way but fair and be Your son, Clarence P. S. Bill says HI! January 31, 1949 Texas A&M My darling Kathe, ' Your future is still in one piece but it is quite a travelworn piece. We did not arive in CS until 5:30 this morning and I am just about dead on my feet. We pulled out of Denton about 7:30 and got to Dallas just as Bill's bus pulled in from the north. Out of Dallas the going was pretty good until we got past Hillsboro and I was making about 45 or 50 ' most of the time on the straightaways but we hit a slick spot and everyone warmed up-needless to say. I managed to keep control and we slowed down to about 25. That car was doing acrobatics and Bill and Mac who were in the front seat had sworn to go under the dash if we started off the road. They never ' had time. The snow was terrible at Waco with at least a foot and probably more. Cars were abandoned everywhere. The mercury was set at -3° in Bryan this morning when we came through. I don't know if that is some kind of a record or not. The trip was quite humorous so I will tell you a little more if I remember the next time I write. Now I must sleep. ' We had a grand time even if it was cold, didn't we? Too sleepy, My Love, All my love, Clarence ' 2 Feb, '49 Texas A&M Beloved One, I am rested now so I will try to throw some of the funny lights on that jaunt we took. As you know we left Denton about 7:30 and made a very tortuous or fortuous way to Dallas where we picked up Bill who was fuming quietly away as he got off the bus just about the time we skidded in. Naturally it was ' plenty cold and the old long, tall boy nearly froze. We hit ice south of Hillsboro and that car was doing some pretty fancy twisting before I managed to pull it down to a rational speed. At each coffee stop Williamson (the tall kid) would run in and yank off his boots to warm up his feet. This was alright at the nice places along the road but at Waco the only place open was an obvious joint with a number of ' professional women around. He pulled off his boots there and was asked to put them on again- illusions of grandeur! A sergeant had run into a truck stopped in the middle of the road just out of Waco. He was sitting in the cafe. We informed him that two more cars were in the pileup when we came by. I'll ' bet he sweat blood. We piled in here at 5:30 A.M. and --4° temp-lowest on record just shows to go you that Aggies are fools or deep lovers one. That's all right-I'd make the trip again to be with you; I'll let you guess why! Registration was really messed up and I was able to register Monday instead of Tuesday since ' nearly no one was here. I only have 16 hours to go. I nearly dropped my false teeth to pull a letter from Pat out of the P.O. box, thanking me for various and sundry things. I referred it to Bill for future reference. He wrote her yesterday concerning a date the next time I come up. (The 121h) I doubt if we shall see each other again more than 8 or 10 times before we are married, Kitten, and it is about time we did some serious discussing and reading. I have read a number of books on the subject including the one used for the marriage course here but the best I have found from a frank and basic standpoint is "A Sane Sex Life" by a Dr. Long. You mentioned ' reading one: I don't remember if that was it or not but get a copy from one of the girls if you can find one. I'd like to discuss it with you one of these days to lay a better ground work for our life together. You see, Darling, I love you very much-so much so that no obstacle must block our happy life. Now and ' forever yours. Clarence 1 261 Feb 6, 1949 Texas A&M My dearest one, ' Herewith are enclosed several things, I hope. One being the five bucks I owe you and another being one of those things. Sometimes I critique them and find them rather good in an odd sort of way and then other times; perhaps when I have an excess of male hormones, I may think of them and ' wonder how any full grown man could write such a mess of tripe. It's funny though, Kitten, that even with effort I cain't put my thought into flowing prose when I am with you. I just say "I love you" and hope that that will cover so much I know not how to say. WRITE, DADGUMMIT! Tell Tommy that I will take him up when I come to Denton singly but that Bill is coming this week so we will get a room together. Two would be too much trouble. ' Hope that at the top didn't startle you-I know I will probably have one Tuesday morning at the latest. (Which is when you will get this, I think.) I'll see you Saturday about 5 or 6-I'll write again. Love you, Clarence February 8, 1949 Denton, TX ' My darling, Ever since you left I have not had one moment to call my own. I have never seen anything like it. And to ' beat it all I have had a 4 day old headache to go with it. I think that I have gotten rid of it but it's just 7 o'clock in the morning and my work has not begun. Last week after all the kids had gone home, Dr. Hodgson got the bug in him to "clean house" and make account of all his personal music & of the schools. Never have I seen so much stuff to sort & list. You know how ' he runs around-well, this was twice as bad as I have ever seen him. Sure glad that I am level headed and can keep my wits and patience about me. Then came the storm-Registration-and blew in all 500 of my individual personalized problems. ' Thanks goodness there were some friends who were coffee seekers-and I never refused an invitation to get away from it all. Yesterday I registered about 20 late students-those that just had to take the weekend off too. Bless their hearts! (And you know what I mean.! ' I guess I sound kinda bitter, don't I? Well I am, and I am sorry that I neglected you in the process. I love you. You will be up this weekend won't you or have I discouraged you by all my madness. You can easily cure ' all that by your presence. Love just you! I have read the book that you mentioned at two occasions. Once when I was 18-at the time of Nellie-s wedding-and the second time was before Arline's wedding. I advised Arline to read it & so did Rex. However, I think it would be good for both of us to read it together-and discuss it together. Love you a whole house full--! ' If I am going to get any breakfast before I go to the office I had better close. Love you darling, Chatter February 10, 1949 Denton, TX Dearest one, You write beautiful words when you are mad; however I'm not advocating that I will make a practice of it. Dr. H left town early this morning and won't be back for a couple of day, so believe you me, I'm going to run & play and be full of rum, vigor and all that other sort of stuff. Work as calmed down so that now I have to look for something to do. That life for you! , I told Tommy what you said. He still keeps apologizing for not thinking about his place last time you were here. The other night the Barter Theatre Troupe was here and gave a presentation on our Fine Arts Series. The "Arms and the Man", by Bernard Shaw was the production. It was a fine job & I thoroughly enjoyed it. I don't recall if you saw the Summertime Operetta production of "The Chocolate Soldier", but it is based on the Shaw play with some music thrown in. It's cute-no matter what dress it's in! I won't be working on the Saturday afternoon-so come over to the house for I'll be here piddling around. , 262 i This letter and the last have been written in the early morn-and when I hear the clank of the milk man I know that it is time for me to close. It's not one of those milkman affairs-it's just that it means-"time for ' breakfast". Course I have to hike a coupla blocks to work up an appetite, but any think for the sake of Clarence and beauty. The milk man is approaching. I love you a whole house full! Chatter P.S. Glad that Bill's coming-I'll warn the buses & trains! 1 Feb. 11, 1949 Mountain Home, TX ' A Valentine card to Kathy McNeill from Ree and Pete This time you are included with my children. I always send them a box of candy for Valentine. I missed you to ' help me. It is a bit dry as I made it the first pretty day and it had to wait. Love from us all, Leinweber's Feb. 14, 1949 ' Denton County Anxiety Bank Pay to Chatter McNeill 1 Rain check ...2nd raincheck no 4~h . Hopeful 14 Feb, '49 College Station, TX My Darling, We pulled into C.S. this morning at 12:30 and I was very tired but also very, very happy. I get a much bigger sense of contentment just holding you in my arms than going to any show or spectacle in ' the world. I suppose you know that, though. Hold your bob-they, or rather Charles, lied through his teeth when I finally got disgusted Christmas and asked him what right he had to call Jean "Mummy". He said there was absolutely nothing to it. Seems now that there will be a the-ild in the house next Christmas. In the late summer or fall-to ' quote Mother. Also quoting Mother: "I am mailing my sweethearts a box of candy for Valentine and hope it gets there in time. Of course you are on the list and am including Kathi. Hope you think to send Kathe ' something if not more than just a piece of chewing gum because women like to be thought of on these holidays." Unquote- Well, I sent you me, didn't I? I had planned all along to give you a box of candy but Mother;s word rather disconcerted me-two boxes, you know. All I could do and got so interested in just loving ' you that I nearly forgot. This is Valentine's Day-the day when lovers the world over, today, in day's past and day's to come traditionally pledge their love. I can do nothing more-nor add any rote to that which has already been said in a thousand and more tongues. Full many a man has been more adept with rhyme or reason, with thoughts and actions, with his and phrases though albeit the latter should roast. I can only express with all the intensity of every feeling that is, or has ever been, mine, my desires and hopes for the coming year on this Valentine's Day. I love you, Kitten, with all that is good in me-to the depth of my passion and to the breadth of my experience-yes, and to the fullness of our future. can offer you no tangible ivory palace on Fleecy clouds as a young girl may dream, but I can offer you a palace if you will but build it with me though the shining towers will be love gilded years and moats will be despair (they can be bridged) and the battlements will be ambition and sacrifice and will power-yes, and the trees will be laden with fruit. Will you plant that you may eat? Will you but sit enthroned that I may crown you with fulfillment? I love you, Clarence ' February 17, 1949 Denton, TX Dearest one, Well, I've got it coming to me! But I still loves you! I wrote your folks a nice letter several days ago and I began a letter to you-but that was as far as I got. This time I shan't fail. You were the cutest thing when you came tramping back with that box of candy. I was so thrilled and I wanted to hug & kiss you again before you left & by gum, you just took off before I could say or do anything. ' 263 Goodness, what you do to me! I kept your mother's box down at the office & that fixed it so that I wouldn't gain all those 5 inches at once. (I'm not so dumb!) Your box I still have-part of it, that is. I munch on it ever so often. The other day Lela Foster-you know--:we thank you Lela Foster for your beautiful bla-bla-bla"-the florist, sent me a beautiful pot of yellow jonquills over to the office cause she said I was so sweet to her. It was like this: she needed someone to entertain at a banquet (she called at 4:50 & the banquet was at 6:15) and so I got Lela an excellent pianist who "played for her supper." I always liked to sing for that sort of thing for they serve excellent meals. Therefore, the flowers were a very beautiful way of saying "thank you". , Today I walked into the office and to & behold my flowers were gone. Consquently I began to search the place feverishly. Dr. Hodgson was teaching an 8 o'clock and I couldn't ask him; so all during that hour I tried to figure out what happened to 'em. Finally Dr. H. came in the office & I asked him what happened to my flowers. ' Very sheepishly he said that he had taken them to use at a reception after the Chamber Music recital last night. Course, I was at the recital & he didn't say beans to me about wanting to use the flowers. Come to find out later- the reception was at his house, therefore my flowers will remain there til their dying day. I was really mad & hurt over it-guess maybe it's silly but it peeved me greatly & still does! The flowers made the office look so bright & t cheery & I liked that. I love you, hon-you won't take any flowers from me, ever, will you? Honey, I was in town today at noon & I saw some shoes that were advertised thus "to make you look cute t as a kitten"-1 thought they looked as cute as me so I got some. I love you! Arline & Rex will be here this weekend; therefore, it should pass swiftly & not be too long before the next one when you will be here. Be sure you listen in to Vaughn Monroe-I'm sure you would recognize my clappliI8 (ha!) I love you. ' You can bet your boots that I will be your valentine for the rest of our lives-course you had better ask me a new every Valentine's & twice every Sunday as long as we both shall live! So there-I love you a whole house full-Chatter February 22, 1949 Texas A&M t My darling, Sunday noon and I have been a real good guy (as per usual and gone to church. Bill organized ' a dinner and game party last night. I had a blind date and after dinner we played bridge. I got some of the prettiest hands I have ever seen. Made a little slam doubled and redoubled but not vulnerable- 2000 pts. You have been much on my mind as always. I cain't even brush you out on quizzes and it is ' especially difficult on True andFalse quizzes. Usually when you pop into mind I circle the T (unless I haven't gotten a letter) and consequently, if the statement is false you ruin my grade. See how you hurt my grades even on an objective type quiz. Guess it's because I love you. , I was quite startled a while ago (just after dinner) to have the special delivery man rap on my door and say he had some perishable goods for me. Seems perishables arriving on Sunday must be delivered to the door. Cost me a quarter. It was certainly sweet of Dorothy (your sis), and Bill and I and the dope across the hall enjoyed several. The dope (across the hall) ran out in the hallway and hollered "Hey! Does anybody in this ramp want any cookies? Luckily no one was home. You spoke of new shoes-seems as if I saw you with two pair last weekend that I had never seen you in and both as cute as could be. Maybe 1 am wrong but I think there were two. One black with ' angling stripe across the instep and one red with little split wing flap pull aids on the rear-right? Okay, I concede! I didn't notice the difference in your hair length so you proved your point. when it is clean and shiny it is about the prettiest I have ever seen. I have developed the habit of looking within now though and what I find or miss there is much more important-or should I say is important in a different way? I have an obnoxious steam lab report to write so I had better sign 30 and call it a love note. I love you, Clarence ' t 264 , i ' February 22, 1949 Denton, TX Dearest One: I have quite a time trying to write you so I will just take out time now and do so. One would have thought ' that my birthday was yesterday, for I received to packages in the mail. One was from Evelyn who sent me a jewlery box just like I wanted. Maybe that ole proverb is right; "things come to those who wait" or something like that. "Or if you wish long enough and wish strong enough you will come to know that wishing will make it so" as the song goes. how did she know that that was what I wanted. Golly aren't smart sisters wonderful? ' The second package was from Nellie, and it contained a spoon of our silver. Now we have three spoons plus the setting that you gave me. Isn't that fine? I'm going to buy me a birthday present which will be a knife or a fork, so that I can sorta even things up a bit. Can't eat everything with a spoon-not if I am going to serve peas. I love you. ' Next Sunday, Mu Phi is giving their Rush Function, which will be a breakfast in the El Sombrero. No, it will not be Mexican food. Although you are talked about in the Mu phi circles you are not invited for it is just for girls. I don't know yet if I am going to get to attend for that means that I will have to get a substitute for my quartet job, and the only available one is Xina, who will be in Texarkana for the weekend with Tommy giving part of her recital for some Women's Club. Consquently that leaves me without. I will hate to miss this for it will be the last big function, I think, before the dinner dance, which I will not be attending and you know why. So there, too. I love you. Maybe I can figure something out. ' You know, after thinking it all over, I have decided that I feel much better when I decide to make you happy than I do when I make myself happy. Does that make sense. I am looking forward to that dance with much eagerness. You know, I guess I had better start looking for some sort of rag to wear for the occasion' so that I will ' have it all paid for by the time the occasion arises. The gown will have to serve a two-fold purpose, 1) to sing my recital in and 2) to look pretty for you at the dance. I could give a coupla other reasons too, but I am sure that you have already thought of those. Silly boy. Oh how I love you. Tomorrow night we sing in Dallas with the Symphony Orchestra. We are performing the Brahms' "Song ' of Destiny", which is extremely beautiful. Tonight we rehearse here with Mr. Dorati and give him all we got. (You are what I want!) I love you, Chatter ' Feb. 24, 1949 Bank of Anxiety Town of Hope One rain check No. 3 - no more Clarence ' Feb. 24, 1949 Denton, TX ' (well, it ain't George Washington's birthday!) Dear Clarence: I suppose that this is going to be a rather funny request, but I would like for you to bring both of my ' pictures with you when you come up this weekend. Okay? Now don't forget. Last night the 100 voice choir sang with the Dallas Symphony, and while I was over there I lost all my keys and my money. Therefore today I am rather at a lost. I am hoping that they are still in a mud puddle when I ' call over to Dallas and ask Wilma about them. It was raining cats and dogs all day yesterday and I am sure that when I was running for Mr. McKinley's car, I must have dropped them in a poodle (puddle that is!) Course when I got home I did not have a key to let me in the house so I had to ring the doorbell for Dr. Ola at the lovely hour of 1 a.m. That hurt me more than losing all my money and the rest of my keys. ' Dr. Hodgson and I had a little spat the other day, but guess who won. I'll tell you all about it this weekend. Are you coming up and just bringing some of the fellas or is Bill coming with you too. I guess that I am kinda stingy, but I like it better when I have just you and noone else. There are such few times that we are together ' that I feel that we lose some of the precious moments when there are others with us. I told you that I finally heard from Evelyn and that she had sent me a birth-mas gift, didn't I? This stationery smells like I got it out of the moth balls, but I didn't. It came scented that way. Case you don't like it smelling up the place just tell me and I will send it to other destinations where a pine scent will be appreciated. (That is, it is supposed to be a pine scent; however, the pines that I know don't smell that way.) Dr. Hodgson has a eight o'clock every TTS; therefore, this lil rat always plays when the ole cat is away. Consquently, I keep the outside door locked until nine and then I open it for the peasants to bother me. Meanwhile, ' I do most of my corresponding, and I am not referring to the office type. I love you a whole housefull. Chatter ' 265 Feb. 28, 1949 Texas A&M Titles & Nonsense Dear Madame;:,-- Recently you received under the auspices of the National Heart-Balm Association a bouquet of roses for your desk signifying our motto that "it is better to remember than to have nothing to remember". t It is therefore with deepest regret that we must inform you that in sending you this mechanism for remembrance we failed to include all of the links. To be succinct it won't work without the inclosed article. The inclosed article is our own special gadget invented for us by the incomparable researcher, , Pat Pending. We call it the "distracting influence distractor". In applying this gadget it would be well to use the following procedure: 1. Romove from envelope t 2. Don't throw in wastebasket (Otherwise all guarantees void) 3. Obtain 2 strips of transparent cellulose acetate tape (Scotch) 4. Apply tape lengthwise along the long end of the card allowing an inch overhang at each ' end-one piece top and one bottom. 5. Face card on front of vase near top and press tape to vase. 6. Turn vase towards door (front) and place on desk. Note: We find it necessary to state that our field representative will check on proper installation. , (Editor's note: The item was a handmade card with Texas A&M decal and HANDS OFF printed on it) We hope that you will find that this brings the desired effect in lieu of other valuable and sentimental ' tokens. In remembrance, Monsieur Darling, ' The roses were the other part of your birthday gift. I hope you like them. I'm here safe, sound, tired, and very, very happy. Just to think that you will be mine is for the present sufficient. , Don't work too hard till I see you again and don't forget a radio for next time. I must be able to dance around the floor a couple of times at the ring dance without being self conscious. There is work to catch up on now, Kitten. All my love, Clarence March 1, 1949 (mailed March 3) Denton, TX , I THANK YOU CLARENCE LEINWEBER FOR YOUR BEAUTIFUL RED RED ROSES! My dear Clarence: , I guess you know that I got a big charge outta receiving those flowers. Here I was trying to carry on an intelligent conversation with Dean Harris (Dean of Administration) and a fella wanders in with a big box and blats out my name, and then he plops the box down in front of me. Goodness, I couldn't imagine what in the world until ' I thought about you and the story I told you about the other flowers that I once possessed. The roses look just beautiful setting on the files. Everyone notices them and I get a big kick out of telling them that you sent them to me. I love you. You can do some of the most unpredictable things at times. And I love it. Dr. Hodgson looks at them and has never said a word about them. Nor has he offered any information ' concerning the return of the potted plant. Mr. Appelman, my voice teacher, is giving a recital tonight. you would enjoy hearing this one for he has a beautiful low bass-cantante. Afterwards there is a reception of which I am in charge. Therefore, today will be ' quite a day from morning until night. This week is dutch week, and funny enough, I have no desire to take advantage of it. For the whole week the girls will be asking the boys for dates and make all the financial payments on a good time. It even goes as far as the girls calling for their date. ' It is time for the office doors to swing open and I am prepared for the day's battle. Love you a whole house-full, Chatter 266 March 4, 1949 Texas A&M My darling Kathe, I shall endeavor to accomplish the impossible and write you a short note on this incredibly ' disreputable and discrepit machine of mine. You fill in the bottom of each letter with the best imagination that you can muster. I am glad that you liked the flowers for the sending of them was one of those, as you call them, unpredictable things. You see Darling, so much of my life must be carefully planned even when I ' am with you that you sometimes never know what is planned and what is not. You have run head on into a couple of them once or twice which I failed to tell you about before hand such as the order not to change my clothes one day. I love you very much, Kitten, but so much of our present life is on a time table that I have to go out of my way sometimes to do something different. Sometimes the little things as I can afford them are spur of the moment thought and other times I sit up nights and dream right through classes thinking up things that would please you. I don't know too much about women and my life has been spent in a man's world so that I am as a harpist playing a guitar. I pluck a string of your emotions and listen for the note and if I get a discord, I pluck another until I can find the melody. The rifle team is coming up the weekend of the 12th. That is next weekend. Will you be there? If you are planning to go home I shall not come but if you will be in Denton I will come up with the team on Friday. The choice is entirely yours as I am not that interested in coming up to come with you not there and I can go down to Houston to see you a little while you are there if you are going down this coming weekend. You must let me know about this so tht the letter will arrive here by Tuesday-so that I can arrange for riders to Denton or Houston. That will mean mailing your letter Monday morning. That is about all that I can afford to write tonight, Kitten, lest I tell you how much I miss you and that would be impossible so I must just say that I love you very much with words and in the same manner (for the present anyway) Goodnight, Clarence March 5, 1949 Denton, TX My dearest one, Well, I did it. Today at noon I went downtown with Lila and Eadie and deposited our checks, then we ' went over to Kings Radio Shop, where Eadie's husband works, and there I bought a beautiful RCA Victor radio. It is a peach. Didn't cost too bloomin' much or anything like that. It is very nice and very economical. Now we won't have to consult Arthur Murray or any of his assistants. Dr. Ola left today for Lufkin and for her niece's wedding. Remember? Well, that has left me all alone in that big ole house. Therefore, the radio will be a comfort or something. March 4, 1949 I thought that I would get through with this so that I would get it into the mail, but my efforts failed me. I love you. Thursday night we had a hobo party for the rushees of Mu Phi. Boy, I really relaxed and had a good time. I didn't have to go to choir for I had asked that I be replaced by Xina for this Sunday so that I could attend the 8:30 breakfast that Mu Phi is having. I will sing at the 1 I o-clock service. Yesterday hardly seemed like Friday since I ' didn't go to choir practice the day before. Just threw my week completely off. Today after his 8 o'clock class, Dr. Hodgson is taking off for Dallas. Therefore, the prospects for work this morning look fine! And I am glad for I feel like the "last rose fo Summer". The roses that you sent me lasted until yesterday. I loved every moment of their life. Thank you again, ' hon. Love you more all the time. When I go home today I shall do a good cleaning job on the room, wash me little clothes, and then hop into bed for a spell. How is that for a Saturday menu? Love you a whole house full, Chatter ' March 6, 1949 Denton, TX Darling, You said that this would have to be in the mail by Monday morning-so here I sit on Sunday night writing ' you a letter. I couldn't depend on putting it off for an early morning letter for fear that I would disappoint you. I love you too much to disappoint you all the time. 267 Tonight Ruth, Jane and I went to eat at "Jimmie's". (By the way, Evelyn is to be married in the Lil Chapel next Monday night!) There we sat enjoying our meal and just as we were about to eat the tasty morsels in walks one of the music faculty members looking all kinda lonely. His wife has gone home for a week-therefore, we ' took pity on him & had him eat with us. John is one of the younger members of the faculty & is loads of fun. So while he wasn't entertaining us, we were being our cleverest. Honestly, I haven't laughed so hard in years. After that was over, we all went to the show. At least his wife can't say he was "two"-timing her while she was a way.- There were three of us! ' Say that's a pretty darn good picture of us. Both of us look halfway decent! I love you. In fact, hon, I don't even remember the picture being taken. Don was a "bizzy" boy that day-what with the wire recorder & a camera too! ' Darling you have read this far and as yet I have said nothing about this next weekend. About time I say something, yes? Hon, I will be here and will be looking for you on Friday. I will tell both Tommy's and you shall have a place to stay. Now don't go get a tourist cabin--we've got to economize! I love you! Our breakfast this morning was delicious-I even got a corsage out of the deal. Sho' did look pretty on , my blue suit--& I wore my new spring hat! (You'll like this one!!!) I didn't get home until late & meanwhile, Dr. Ola had returned from the niece's wedding. I'll hear all about it tomorrow, I know. And all the rest of the story of "why they should have waited". I love you, Chatter March 10, 1949 Texas A&M My darling Kathe, This will probably reach you a little late for which I am duly penitive but it couldn't be helped. I , won't be up until Saturday afternoon. The rifle team match is off for which I might paraphrase our illustrious President (U.S.) and call somebody some vile initials and leave off the first two. Briefly- excused absences were already in, dates not asked down for an important dance this weekend and half a dozen other things when we received a letter calling the whole thing off (Tuesday). I promptly phoned that plans had progressed too far to change for another date merely because this was stunt weekend and their team couldn't get all the practice it needed. They were out for blood, but good. she said she would fire me a telegram yesterday at two. I finally get one today at noon. No dice. There are now about a dozen Aggies who wonder if one Abbie Rutledge and team know just how much planning and sacrifice were thrown away by one woman administrator and some oodle headed team members. (They gave this weekend as an available date for us to choose from). Sorry, darling. Guess you'll hear a lot of my troubles as time goes by. This one just made me ' especially bitter because a bunch of nice guys were taken on a ride with no return ticket. Just a brush off and "see you some other time". If they do it will be in a warmer climate. This is Bill's birthday. His mother sent him a nice cake which we have been feasting on. Tell the assorted Tommys that I will pull in around 4:30 to 5 P.M. Saturday. Bill will be coming up with me this weekend but we will not let that interfere with us very much. I would like to see a show or what have you until after 10 and then tromp on your toes for over an hour. The Ring Dance is the third weekend in April and I might put a sign on you someday which would shy all ' except my best friends away from dancing with you. Therefore I must be able to show you a reasonably good time. That is all for time and words. The rest is understood. I love you. Clarence March 14,'49 Texas A&M ' My darling Kathe, Made it back safe and sound once again. This is now the seventh week for us and each one that goes by is one nearer to the last of my initial goals. The foundation will have been laid and I can ' commence my profession and my harem. Due to hazardous operating procedure and strict supervision I may never be able to increase the latter past the initial stage. Might get bogged down in a feeling of monoganic tranquillity as it were. Do you feel the same way? ' Tell T. & T. thanks again. I would offer a gratuity for linens, towels, and forbearance if I would not insult their hospitality. Just call me four eyes, too. I will have my glasses Thursday. Seems I have what I thought I had which is astigmatism. Guess the guy will give me stigmatic lens(es) or somepin! See, I aren't as smart ' as you thought I was but I try hard. 268 Bill kissed Pat good night (I know cause I heard it!) and then promptly walked out and nearly fell all over the fence on the Houston Hall lawn. Strictly biology. ' I thought I would go to Houston this weekend on a delayed business visit. I will probably drop around and see such members of your family as might be home. I must stop now and study, that is, if I can get my mind to the desk in front of me. These two ' pictures don't help any. All my love, Clarence March 16, 1949 ' Denton, TX Dearest one, ' Heaven only knows why we can't have beautiful weather like this when you are here. The clouds may darken in the sky, but never in this heart of mine, especially when it concerns you. We can make life beautiful together anytime, can't we? I love you. It is recital time on Music Hall Hill and all the peons are in the Auditorium including my flower-snitching ' boss. Therefore, I have an opportunity to write you on office time and stationery. I wrote Mom a nice long letter and now it is your turn. This is Religious Emphasis Week here on our campus and Jack Lewis (Reverend, that is), one of my old ' buddies at Kerrville, is conducting the lectures and seminars. He is drawing large crowds and is speaking to them in a very straight forward language concerning the problems that confront students on a college campus. Special emphasis is placed on the relationship between young students who are in love. The crowd is but a small percentage of the student body, however, after last night's talk I wouldn't be a bit surprised if the group didn't ' increase about three-fold. He is a wonderful speaker. They are using the Music Hall Auditorium for the evening talks. Therefore, I just remain here all day and all evening now. Between office hours and the hour of the talk, I make myself at home behind a hot piano. I can't waste any time. ' Jack Lewis is now connected with the University Presbyterian Church in Austin. He remembered me after all the years and we had a nice chat. I wish that I could attend some of the morning seminars that he is conducting, but that is out of the question. "Hamlet" will be here next week, and I am going to do my damest to see the production. It is now in the ' higher price bracket, but I think that it will be worth every bit of the green matter that I would put into it. I hear that things are coming to a close in the Music Hall Aud. so I must close. Love and later more. Chatter ' March 19, 1949 Denton, TX Dearest One Last night I went over to Sanger with the a cappella choir to sing. Even though I have not been to all the rehearsals I knew the music as well as the next person. Goodness only knows that I should have! We are wearing ' beautiful black faille gowns with a silver cord trim. They really are the thing when it comes to making all the girls look slim and all that sort of stuff. What with all the men in Tuxes we certainly do make a knocked-out looking bunch. I had one of the gowns made for me for I knew that I could be using it for other occasions. ' This month will really be a busy one, in fact, it already is. There are three tours that are leaving this month. At the first of the week, I sent off the Harp Ensemble. All those little angels and their harps are a pain in the neck. Sunday, the concerto tour will begin. Sr. Scionti and all his prize winning students will tour with a chamber orchestra beginning on Sunday and will return the following Sunday. The next group will be the a ' cappella choir. That trip is really going to foul me up. It seems that they will leave Denton on the 10. Now isn't that the day that you will be in Dallas? If it is, I will just cook up some wedding or something that I will have to attend ' (you know sing). I will not let you go to the ranch alone, especially when this is the last spring that we are liable to be here in this part of the country. I love you! I hope that you did go to Houston this week end and saw the folks. Honey, I don't know when in the world I will get to go home for a while. I must utilize every bit of the time of the Spring Holidays that our students ' are getting by practicing on my little voice and piano. I have got to give a good recital. Love you. Chatter t ' 269 March 20, 1949 ' Texas A&M My dearest, ' I went to Houston yesterday as planned and had quite a big time with your family. I shall try to recount. Your Mother was sewing some of John's shirts when I came in and your father was very busy making over the upstairs. He is blocking in the section of the attic where the water heater is as a ' bathroom using the lumber from the old piano shipping crate plus some extra. He plans to make a long narrow sitting room of the space across the hall and a kitchen of the first room at the end of the hall. Result-one blood blister and quite a bit of work. Your Mother was never livelier and was in wonderful ' spirits. Ann had been bicycle riding all afternoon. Butch came in from something or other and John was working till midnight so I didn't see him. Dorothy was at Livingston. all day with Jan Owen and a work party preparing the camp for the summer. She is still overweight but looked so much better. The "narrow look" between her eyes is gone and she just came in to change from jeans to street clothes ' before going out again with some of the church young people. Butch and Ann squabbled all afternoon over trifles. Think Ann and her exaggerating and center of attraction stuff get on David's nerves. I took all except Dorothy (she wasn't there at the time) on a tour of the River Oaks section and ' the Shamrock and back past the Naval Hospital (now a VA hospital). Your mother had a grand time and the azaleas and bridle wreath were simply beautiful. The little lady is a wonderful woman, Kitten, and there's not a one of her family that has gone bad morally. That is my idea of a really great achievement for a woman. ' I am going home this coming weekend to see the folks. It is about time-and your folks are quite dissappointed that you have been unable to make it home lately. I wore the blue green shirt today for the first time and is is class. ' Did I tell you there was a dance in Dallas the Wednesday night before Easter which you must attend with me-please Aero students. Tha's all fer now-Love yo', Clarence March 22, 1949 ' Denton, TX Dearest One: ' Well, the a cappella choir did itself up proud last night before an audience of 1800. We sang better than we have ever sung before, and the audience just raved about us. We started right on the dot of 8:15 for we wanted to hear the Oh's and Ah's when the curtains were parted. You see, we now wear beautiful black gowns and we ' didn't tell anyone about it so that it would be a suprise. And believe me, they certainly were surprized. You could hear the gasping all over the place. I was real proud of us. I haven't heard from home in quite some time, therefore, I hope that you found everything in tip-top shape. From what Mom wrote the last time, it seems that Doff is losing that excess weight now and is looking better all the time. Course I could really tell the difference if I went home and spent some time there. Goodness, but it has been a long time since I have been there in the bosom of the family. I sang a solo last Sunday, and it seemed to me that half the congregation was Aggies, all except you. The ' Singing Cadets were in town; they sang for the stage show the night before and had a concert in Ft. Worth Sunday afternoon. One of the fellas joined in and sang with our choir on Sunday morning. (His gal sings in the choir) (course, he didn't get to sit by her, but he did get a better seat to look at her.) Everyone said that I sang pretty so you can take it for what it is worth. Wish you could have been there. I love you. ' John wants me to fly down to Houston with him after the night we sing in Dallas, which is April I". It is a very tempting invitation, for we would be at home in no time. He has a friend at Rice that he wants to visit. Then you could drive over to Houston and we could be together. And I could be at home too. What do you think about ' that. I couldn't remain home for all the holidays that the rest of the students have but I could stay through Sunday. I could even drive back with you as far as College Station and catch the train from there, that is if there was room for me. (You would have riders, wouldn't you.) For the last two nights I have spent the night over at Marquis Hall with Jane. Ruth is gone with the ' concerto group and won't be back again until next Sunday. Jane doesn't like an empty room. So she asked me over to fill it up! I think Dr. Ola is getting kinda lonesome, so I will not make a habit of staying away from home. 270 ' Ya know what, hon, Dr. Ola went to the Presbyterian Church just to hear me sing. Now isn't that nice. She paided me some wonderful compliments and asked me why I didn't sing more. (I never do sing around the ' house when I know she is there. I don't want the neighbors to think that I am another Pat McConnell, er something.) However, on Saturdays when she is not there and I am alone with my little washing and ironing, I do sing. But not to the top of my voice. Heavens, I would run all the neighbors out. ' I must close for people will not stop banging on the door. Dad gum it. I keep it locked for the first hour every morning, and they just bang away and I just keep typing away. Love and later, Chatter ' March 23, 1949 Denton, TX ' Darling: How is my lil four eyed fella? I am so glad that you finally got some glasses. Now maybe your eyes will be clear & "the better to see me with." I love you a whole house full! If you can afford it, it would be nice for you to get some ground lens-sun glasses. Therefore, when traveling your eyes wouldn't become too tired. I am just dying for the night of the areo dance in Dallas. This will give us good practice for ring dance. Anxious to meet some of your areo-brethern too! Geuss I had better ask you if it is formal or what! You didn't mention what kind. Darlin' I love to go with you-anywhere! ' I am so happy for Xina & Tommy. You see he got a call from Little Rock today concerning his college teaching position & they have made him Head of the piano department! How do you like that? He will begin his teaching in Sept. Right now, he and Xina are walking on air. She will give her recital on Monday.... Should be an excellent one. ' Mother was quite pleased over your visit. She wrote a very nice long letter and complimented you very highly. Your description of the family was so perfect. I could easily see every bit of it. Never can tell what Dad will do next. ' I will be in Houston over the weekend of the 2"d. I shall have to be back in Denton on Monday. I hope that you will give your family my love & that I look forward to the Easter Holidays with much anxiety. I love you. Must close now & get some shut-eye. Chatter ' I went to see Hamlet this afternoon & I thoroughly enjoyed it immensly. Dr. Hodgson left the office around 4 for a meeting and I just took off and went to the five o'clock feature. (Student & faculty $1.00). So Jane and I went to the show-nothing like a bargain! I love you, Chatter ' March 24, 1949 Texas A&M I My darling Kathe, I received your letter this afternoon and since I am going home tomorrow, I decided that I had better answer it tonight. The idea sounds grand and your folks are wanting to see you very much. We could maybe take your Mother and Father and as many others as we could cram in for a Saturday afternoon picnic supper down Galveston way-or something like that. ' (One of the Aeros was just in for an hour long bull session, dadgummit!) Where was I. Oh, yes! I don't place John but I hope he is a competent flyer who doesn't show off when he gets a pretty girl in the plane. A private plane can be a lethal weapon. To put it bluntly, I wouldn't want to see anything happen to you. I wonder why? ' If anything should happen such as lousy weather and stuff which would prevent your going at the last minute-don't forget to send me a telegram. I won't be able to come down before 2 o'clock on Saturday. ' I ordered me a new suit today but I shan't have it before the ring dance so I am temporarily out of a summer suit. Sure poses a lot of problems. Study is calling, Darling, and this wasn't meant to be more than a note so it must suffice. Good night-(mentally (telepathy)) and sleep tight. Love you, Darling Clarence 1 271 March 26, 1949 Denton, TX Darling, ' I just realized that I want very much for you to get me the ticket for the Saturday night Ring Dance. If that can be arranged then I could still attend the last Mu Phi dinner dance that will be at my disposal. You see, the dinner dance comes on Friday, April 22. By going to the ring dance on Saturday I would not miss that day of work ' (thinking from Dr. Hodgson's view point) and I could go home for the rest of the weekend. (Sunday) Would there be any possible chance of your attending the Mu Phi dance with me? If you can't say yes, I will understand. It would be sorta crowding the week end for you. Think it over will you and let me know about it soon. ' Yesterday, Dr. Hodgson and Mr. McKinley went to Dallas for an all day meeting of the Texas Association of Music Schools; therefore, with the exception of the weather everything around here was mild. I got a chance to write Nellie and Vic. Remember the long letter that I got ages ago; well, that is the one that I was just getting around to answer. I answered it with three pages like this in typed form. Sent her a few articles and what have ' you. By the way, I am going to send you an article, a music bulletin, to be exact to let you see what I have to do as part of my job. I compiled the blooming thing and spent a lot of hours working on it, too. (One of the a cappella choir pictures that you waited so patiently for it to be taken is in this book.) ' I sent the clippings that you send me on to Nellie and asked the same question. If he does do all that or work with that sort of stuff, he must be pretty darn smart. But not as smart as my honey. I love you. It is getting near that time to open the office so will have to drop the conversation for the tialc beu;6. Love you a whole house full. Chatter ' March 29, 1949 Texas A&M , My Darling, Okay, I give up! Everytime I get a letter I go around licking my chops like a fat old tomcat after a profitable journey. There are very few greater joys in my life than those letters bring and one will be the discontinuance of them for a more permanent personal touch. I looked over the N.T. Bulletin and told Bill that I had made up my mind (see I haven't any) to take my Master in Music (or should that be mistress in the domestic sense). Anyway it is going to be in ' musical instrumentation. I am going to be instrumental in removing one secretary from the music school. Bill and I were home over the weekend and had a stuffing good time. Mother cooked a ham and bemoaned the fact that you weren't there to do it for her. They tell everybody that comes that you are a ' whopping good cook. 'Course I rather think so, too, but then my opinion don't count. No kidding, you would think that this was Spain or someplace and they had picked you out just for me sight unseen and were trying to convince me, the way they talk. I don't think anybody can be that perfect though I did have some pretty good standards to guide my heart. I just set my course with ' certain guideposts and took off and you trapped me. I love you so much, Kitten. We went down to Leakey and up the new Camp Wood road. The mountain laurel is a purple mass on the canyon sides and is absolutely beautiful. The odor is something more than sickening, , though. The whistle just blew and it is time for noon chow. I suppose that you are going to Houston this weekend and my time of arrival there of 2 pm Saturday and other stuff from my last letter still stands. I love you, Clarence ' April 4, 1949 ' Texas A&M My darling Kathe, I would most dearly enjoy being up there today just to watch you show off our engagement. I bet , that poor Dr. Hodgson gets precious little work or efficiency out of you today betwixt and between your admiring it and all of your friends (synonym for the whole music school) either admiring it or kidding you. The boys of course will kid you and the girls will be properly admiring or envious as the case may be. Before I go further, allow me to say Miss McNeill that your hand with that ring atop of the third finger left was about the most beautiful that I have seen in many a Sunday. The Tiffany setting was not complete nor beautiful until the ring was on a long artistically graceful finger. 272 ' Incidentally, if you will but take a dime and place it atop that glove and then cut around the pattern formed and hem with gold lace you will not have the trouble of one hand being covered and the ' other uncovered. I love you, Kitten. You know, I was in too much of a haze to show you that collection of pictures which I had brought from home to show you and your family. Maybe next time I shall remember. ' You must have made quite an impression upon the boy in the lounge for I have not seen a boy quite so flustered in quite a long time. You get me pretty mixed up sometimes, too. How in the world 1 am ever going to dance with you and keep my mind on the dancing, I don't know. I don't see how I can possibly make it up to that sorority dance though it is like pulling a heart ' string to say no. I would have to leave here Friday noon and that would mean cutting seven hours of important laboratory work which would put me far behind. If you cannot get one of the boys up there for a casual date let me know and I shall be there and classes be hanged. Wear my ring in any case. ' I got tickets for the Saturday night banquet and dance and the number on the ticket is 1 B. I was third in line and if they go through the ring like the tickets were bought, we should be either first or very close. There has been no published schedule for entering the ring but I think that the number means that we will be the first through the second ring. (they have just made a second replica of the ring to ' accomodate the large number of couples who will be going through). believe that I have covered everything which I set out to cover but it will probably be like the appreciation note for the truly beautiful belt and I have forgotten something. All my love, Darling Clarence April 6, 1949 ' Denton, TX My darling, ' My goodness but the time has flown by. I have been up in the clouds ever since I returned, and heaven only knows when I will return to dwell with mortals again. Darling, people have raved and raved about the ring and my being engaged. When I showed it to Dr. Hodgson, his only comments were "beautiful, just simply beautiful". I think he was afraid to ask when the other one would arrive. I was extremely surprised that he did not ' ask me when I was leaving. I have been real sweet to him and I assured him that I would let him know in plenty of time to secure the services of another secretary. All the rest of the professors tell me how bereaved they will be when I make my departure. They think that there is no one like me, and my answer to that is "That's what Clarence thinks too". Then some of them state ' that they don't ever remember seeing me with anyone around here and they can't quite make it out. Then I tell them my little story about you and A. & M., which makes them very happy, and life around the Music Hall goes merrily on. ' Dr. Ola was just thrilled plum pink. she just hugged me and all that sort of stuff and had to show me off to the neighbors. Goodness gracious how people do make a fuss over me now that I am an engaged woman. Gosh, but it is a wonderful feeling. I shall remember to do what you suggested about the glove for the left hand. I love you a whole house ' full. I always did lose my gloves when I carried them so now I will have an excuse not to ever wear them or carry them. Just how convenient can things get!!! Tonight I have to go to choir practice at the church and there I will get to show it to all the Tessies and tell ' them how I managed to catch an Aggie! Boy oh Boy!!!!! (Or rather how you managed to talk me into it.... I love you!!!!) I think that Mr. Trickey is rather peeved at me. I will only be singing down at the church one Sunday during this whole month and that will be on this coming Sunday. You know what is going to happen on the other ' two-I will be with you. Love that kinda stuff. I love you a whole housefull. Chatter Honey, I didn't mean to upset your friends soooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!! ' April 9, 1949 Texas A&M ' My darling Kathe, I have been shadowing the post office all week long to find out how all the disappointed swains at North Texas took your being out of circulation and there nestled in old 5713 at noon were your letter ' and three other little notes. I miscounted there---I mean there were three in all. One said that I had 16 hours to pass and 10 grade points to make which should be relatively easy. I have been marking off the days mentally in the realization that time is growing short. There are now only 55 days to go to the old ' 273 graduation day. The third letter was one from Douglas Aircraft which I will send to you if I can remember t to put it in the envelope. Their answer is far from conclusive but it does sound at least encouraging and as a result of the ' May date I shall not know if I get a job with them until after that interview. Keep the letter and be sure to remind me that I want it back when I come up there this next week. The party in Dallas for Wednesday night is called off and as a consequence I shall be in Denton , around 5 or 6 on Wednesday afternoon. Save a date for me, will you, huh? The inspection tour is finished in Fort Worth around 5 PM on Thursday and if we can work it out so that you can catch a bus over and meet me there, I believe that we might as well go on to the ranch Thursday night. We would be able to make it in around 11 or 12. you may be so involved at the office ' that that won't work out so I shall write the folks to expect us either that night or sometime Friday. You can give me more definite details when I see you Wednesday. There is really not much to put in this letter except the dry facts of my existence without you. ' How long can the waiting time get. I think that I shall just about go goofy during the months when I shall have no hopes of seeing you a week or two from such and such a date. Right now I fill in the lonely hours when I am not working with thoughts of that next time when I shall see you. Oh, well. I can dream of the end of those dreaded partings when I am in some Place waiting for our wedding date to roll , around. There was a dual track meet here today with Texas and the boys kinda laid it on the sips. Something around 80 to 35. , 1 am rather proud of me, Kitten. We have been working for more than two months on a wing design problem in one of my Aero courses. It consisted of a very long set of calculations to determine the makeup of an aeroplane wing. We guessed at the value to begin with and then after weeks of work we would arrive at certain values which were of course wrong. Then we would make changes and go all , the way back through. Seems that when all the thing was said and done, I was the first to arrive at the satisfactory answer. Beat all of the brains through, too! Maybe with a lot of work and a little push from you now and then, I can live up to your opinions. News sure travels fast around here. Practically everyone now knows that I am engaged. Really, ' I don't see how everyone learns so fast since I am not the one who is wearing the ring. I must stop and work if I can, Darling, for I still must get our meal ticket. Was it you I told that two can't live as cheaply as one but it sure is a lot more fun trying. All my love, Clarence ' Enclosure April 7, 1949 Dear Mr. Leinweber: ' Your letter of March 28, 1949, addressed to Mr. Romero, has been referred to this office for action. ' On Wednesday, May 4, and Thursday morning, May 5,1 shall again be on your campus to hold interviews and should like very much at that time to discuss further with you your opportunities for placement with our company. Thank you for your continued interest in Douglas. , Very truly yours, C. C. LaVene, Employment Manager , Engineering Division Douglas Aircraft Company April 8, 1949 ' Denton, TX Dearest one, ' Becoming engaged to you has done wonders for me. I am just always happy and nothing could make me blue. Some of the profs told me that my eyes now sparkle as much as the ring (that is saying a lot.) Honey, I think my ring is growing for everytime I look at it it seems to have increased in size. That's the way my love is for you- everytime I think about you I just love you twice as much as when I last thought of you. ' Let me tell you what I did. All this week there has been a lady at Russell's doing monogram work free on the purchase of any cannon towels. So guess what I did? I bought a set (2 bath towels, 2 face towels & 2 cloths) and had all the towels monogramed like this CLL which is call a shield monogram. In case you can't tell what the initials are-they're C.L.L.-which stands for the man I love & for Chatter Lee Leinweber! Now isn't that neat? It 274 ' is so much fun being engaged. Now I can do so many things that I often dreamed of doing. I love you a whole house full!!!! 1 Goodness hon, what can I do about the Mu Phi Formal. Would you object if I had someone escort me? I could just go to the dinner and let it go at that. I could go unescorted then and not go to the dance. Darling, all of a sudden I have become appealing to boys I don't know. Must be the charm of being ' engaged & I let them know about it too. For instance, a fella called me this morning at seven-Dr. Ola had to awaken me to answer the call--& I didn't even know the guy at all (he said he knew me!) and he wanted me to attend a dance with him tonight-can you beat it??? Course I refused and let it go at that. So this afternoon around four he called again to apologize for calling so early this morning. Then he asked me out to dinner tomorrow-I ' then informed him at I was wearing a ring on my left hand. He seemed surprised and asked me if I would still consider going-"didn't think that you would mind" was his attitude-so I just said in a sweet smiling voice "Thank you but No!" So here I am at home writing you and loving every word & minute of it. ' Say darling, it is this week that I am to go home with you isn't it! Goodness how time has just flown by. I don't think that Dr. Hodgson is going to Colorado after all, which is all the better for me. Now I won't have to worry about things. I love you and will always love you. I guess I always have and just never realized it. I did use to think I wouldn't know what to do without you for you were just always there and now I think-"What am I gonna do with him?" and I can supply the answer to that one too. Your're to be mine to love, cherish, honor and obey forever. You're mine to love and to fulfill love's desires; "love has no other desire but to fulfil itself'- knowing what love really is, knowing it's tenderness, its sorrow its pain and its joy will be all in our making. It will ' be wonderful to awaken each dawn with you at my side and a song in my heart and to know that it will be another day of loving to give thanks for. I love you a whole house full. Well, I certainly have rattled on for pages, haven't I? But you deserve it! It has been a long time since I have sat down and had a long chat with you. And just think I have been ' engaged a whole week now!!! I will never cease letting everyone know about it or miss seeing the ring. And most of all, hear about how wonderful you are! Tell me just how the set up will be for this week so I can inform Dr. Hodgson as to what I am going do, ' will ya, huh, will ya. Love you a whole house full, Chatter April 11, 1949 ' Texas A&M My darling Kathe, If you were rattling on in that letter, then rattle on, and on, and on. I had never hoped to recieve a letter quite like that one and I doubt if I ever shall again. You see, Kitten, I have been looking for a ' long time for the lid to your heart to open and let the love come tumbling out to join with mine. My life is you and all the rest is merely frosting. All my plans, everything, since I first realized that you were the one in all the world for me, have been bent toward the day when we would begin life as husband and wife-one. Just to love, protect, and share life with you is enough to last for my lifetime. I was boiling mad when I read your report of the guy wanting to date you. That was precisely ' what happened to Bill and his fiancee only he happened to have a girl who could be swayed. That is also exactly why I waited so long to give you the ring. You know this, Darling, but I will put it into words, anyway. Just as certainly as there are women who take great delight in breaking up marriages, so there are men to whom there is no greater challenge than an engaged girl. Actually they are emotionally ' immature pschycopaths who are seeking to prove something to themselves. The poor girl who gets roped in is very seldom happy and the man-if he marries her-is very seldom faithful to her. This particular "gentleman" showed his colors and standards when he thought that it would be alright with me, ' your promised. I imagine that your refusal cooled him off a little bit but if he perists in bothering you just let me have his name and I will write the final act of the show. I love you, Kitten. Conversely, it is perfectly alright with me if you wish to have one of our mutual acquaintances escort you to the Mu Phi dance. Shall we talk that over when I see you? ' I wrote you of plans for this weekend in my last letter, but just in case-I would like to leave from Fort Worth around 5 Thursday. We may wait until Friday morning if that will be better for you. As I said before, I shall be in Denton Wednesday afternoon. You should recieve this Tuesday. The towels sound like they will look very cute in our home and I had never thought of the initials. I bet you will get a lot of fun out of buying the preliminaries and I can hardly wait until I can watch you doing the first decorating in our home. ' 275 Saturday night we had as disgusting a show as I have ever been forced to listen to. I thought I might inclose the letter which I wrote and which we distributed around the dorm today. I rather doubt if many of those girls had ever been subjected to the amount of filthy language which was flowing out of ' the windows of this dorm that night. I also rather doubt if it will happen again without punitive measures being taken. This will have to be all until I can hold you in my arms again Wednesday night, Kitten. All my , love, Clarence 11 April 1949 ' College Station, Texas To Certain Occupants of Walton Hall: This letter is written solely to a few residents of Walton Hall who seem to be wholly unversed in the fundamental , principles of accepted moral values, to say nothing of ordinary good manners. The "gentlemen" who wildcatted during the kissing scene of a recent Shakespearian production in Guion Hall has nothing on you students. Your performance when lady visitors are occupying the west wing of Walton Hall has each time ' reached a new low in lurid vulgarity and downright obscenity. Get this through your heads. Even though the college has failed to equip that wing with blinds and you get an unintentional free show, you are not sitting in a box seat at the local "burlecue" and unprintably obscene comments arc pct called for. Neither will comments such as "Cut out the vulgar language. You aren't on the TSCW campus", gain us any friends , there. Think it over. Most of us in Walton are Seniors-and veterans at that! Such scenes show a lack of proper breeding, of personal pride, and of pride in the Aggie reputation. , Last summer during a youth conference here a yell practice was held between two dorms housing visiting girls. No lurid or obscene language was heard. The girls joined in the singing of the school songs from the windows and they loved it. We are not advocating such a practice at 2:00 A.M. during a spring semester but that was an example of positive friendship building. ' To date, three visiting groups of girl performers have been insulted during their stay on the campus. The Senior Ring Dance is the next prom on the calendar. Traditionally, nearly all the girls coming are fiancees or best girls friends and, needless to say, ladies. If you men can't curb your baser instincts, we suggest that you return to the other side of the tracks, Considering , your apparent social education, this may go over your heads in phrase but we hope that the idea will sink in. C.L. Leinweber, Jr. William S. Bouldin Eddie D. Zimmerman , David M. Elston C. A. Austin W. A. Keeler , P. S. It was originally intended to send this letter to the Battalion, but after due consideration it was decided that such an action -"if would let the other papers in the State in on the way we treat our visitors. Actions so degrading and low down as yours--------- the show fits"---------are not fit to be published abroad. April 19, 1949 (mailed April 21) Denton, TX ' My dear Clarence; There have been so many things on my mind lately that I could not write you and make any sense. So I will start from the beginning. After having all my stuff checked I will graduate from this institution. And that ' makes me very happy. First of all, the train schedules and the bus schedules do not coincide with this working peon. Therefore the schedule as now is that I will either be on the Sunbeam around 12 or whenever it pulls into College Station. ' The next thing is the bus which pulls into College Station at 5;15. And you can see by that that it does not even give me time to breathe. Both of the schedules mean that I will have to ask for another day off, which is about to be a habit. I do wish that there was someway that I could work things out that would make the both of you, meaning Dr. Hodgson and you happy. Darling, I will send you a telegram if there are any changes in my plan- ' meaning if I have a ride or something. I will be there come rain, fired! or what have you. Just be thereto meet me. Honey, I will work something out and I will be there with bells on.' I love you a whole house full. Ditto Chatter 1 276 ' ' April 20, 1949 Texas A&M ' My Darling, For some reason yesterday and today have been two of the longest days of my life. I can give ' no reason. They just seemed to have no ending. It was so nice to have you by my side for the 4 days at the ranch. The folks aren't kidding any about the affection they show for you either, Kitten. You measure up to every standard they have ever set for a girl. I hope that I can fit into your family as well. I know that you will let me know when and where to meet you. I have a class until 11 Saturday ' but I can get out early if you come in before. Pat and her brother's girl are coming in on the 12:10 train. You can tell your folks that we will reach Houston between 1:30 and 2:30 A.M. Sunday. I believe that it is better that way rather than getting up early Sunday and driving down. ' Nothing new is happening here. Just work and more work until I get through. I am really beginning to worry about a job. Seems that the pickings are rather slim. Lover's note-get down to work on that piano and recital! You want to graduate with your class now, don't you? ' I shan't come up to Denton again until after your recital so you had best utilize those two weekends to the fullest extent. There are a hundred or more pages of report awaiting me which this weekend will not solve so I ' must sign, seal, and consign this note sans flowery phrases. Will just "I love you" do for tonight, Beloved? Your own, Clarence ' April 22, 1949 Western Union Denton, TX ' C L LEINWEBER= WALTON HALL GOT DAY OFF WILL BE THERE ON 19:10 HOLD TICKETS LOVE = CHATTER = April 27, 1949 Texas A&M My darling Kathe, I hope you have not expected a letter from me too much since I have had work stacked up to over my ears. I think that it has been running out of my ears too. Some of the knowledge must have gone somewhere. I am doing quite well on nearly all of my quizzes recently. Maybe I will be able to ' finish with a bang. Speaking of finishing with a bang-this is my letterly reminder to you to get to work on that recital. You want me to be proud of you, don't you? I have been getting so many nice comments that reports of a bad recital would just about disillusion me. You see, as you know, I have been a definite ' admirer of your voice (and other attributes) for these many years. I know that you are entirely capable of giving the best recital that has been given there in many a moon. You just have to drive yourself over there to practice and spend the side time learning the words. ' Oh, yes. I have become so used to people making nice comments about you that I have become to accept it as something that is due like taxes. Of my friends, perhaps Phil Brewer summed it up best when he told me that I was really whipping out. I think that I told you about that. The phrase is an old Aggie expression meaning that I had a date with a classy chassis, er sumpin'. Incidentally, all of the fellows who exchanged dances with us complimented your dancing. It may best be summed up by saying that you took A.& M. by storm and one exposed shoulder. I liked the effect immensely, though I was worried that it might develop into an expose. All in all it was a quite beautiful gown, Kitten, quite ably filled and decorated. Course now, there is a slight chance that I might be prejudiced. Course I am only in love with you and see things through rosy futured glasses. It was all that I had ever expected of the Ring Dance, though I could have been a much better escort if I had danced a little better. There will be time to learn. I have studies to do so this must be the end of the letter, Darling. I love you very, very much. All my love, Clarence ' 277 May 1, 1949 t Denton, TX BET YOU THOUGHT THAT THIS WAS A LETTER FROM THE CHURCH? AND WONDERED WHAT ' YOU HAD DONE THIS TIME. My dear Clarence; I don't know how in the world I let my self get mixed up into so many things, but I do manage. For ' instance, I let me get talked into singing at a 7:30 service at the other Presbyterian Church. (7:30 in the A.M.) Can you imagine me chirping that early in the morning? Well, I did it. And Mr. Copeland said that it was good as usual. Therefore, I guess I will have to try it out on you some morning, that is after we are married. How would ' you like that? It is the early hour of 8 right now; consquently, I have an hour to kill before the early service. And too I am back over at the USA church-drove over with Mr. Copeland (ed. note-minister of FPC) Your letter just tickled me pink. And I love all the nice things that your friends are saying. It makes me , feel very happy to know that I impress your friends. And by the way, remember the gal that stared at you during the banquet? (Sal was her name in case you didn't remember). Well, she came up to me on Monday and told me that I had one of the nicest looking and cutest boyfriend (later corrected herself and said "fiance") and that you just beamed with personality. (She had enough time to figure that out for I think I remember your stating that she ' stared quite a bit!) So see, my friends think that you too are something. So there!!!!!!!!! I love you. Dr. Hodgson has been gone all this weekend and I kinda hope that he will forget to come to the office o;, Monday morning. Now, isn't that naughty. I surely do get more done when he is gone. Maybe I should be the ' Dean. And Honey, I have been working on my recital. And before you know it it will all be over with. Thank goodness. The swimming pool is opening this day, and it will be quite a temptation; however, since I do not own a suite that is decent enough to go bathing in I shall remain out of the poole for sometime. , Mr. Leinweber-page 2 May 1, 1949 The above is from force of habit! ' I have enclosed the letter that you have wanted for so long. I am sorry that I have not done it before this, but it has always been at just the opposite place from where I would be writing the epistle. In fact, I will have to wait until I get home and all right now. I love you a whole house full. ' I don't believe I could ever tell you in words just how much of a thrill that I got out of the Ring Dance. It was just perfect. And of course you were the one that made it that way. I have always wanted to dress up that way for you, and that did it. Goodness, when you become an executive we will have to that some more!!!! Course, there is one more time that I want to look especially beautiful and that is when I shall be dressed all in white. I love ' you! The choir returned from Tour on Friday night at 1;30, or maybe I should say on Saturday morning. It seems that they had to change busses four times all in all that day in a period of 600 miles. First bus broke down , and then the rest of them (the busses) were not allowed to go further than they would on a regular scheduled run. Course that made the baggage committee real happy! But they were all really happy when they came streaking in the office on Saturday morning. Boy, was I glad to see them. The office and all had been so quiet since the choir ' had left, for they were the ones that always bothered me. (or rather pestered me). I stayed with Laura all the nights that I was not out of town. And honey, after I got back from the Ring Dance, all the girls that she works with in the radio station at TSCW asked her if she knew me and sure enough! I met several nice girls that knew Laura, but I did not tell them that I knew her. Ad do you know what? Mattie Jo ' Rice and Laura produce one of the radio programs together. Laura said that I should have heard all that she said about me. Seems that I impressed her. Small world isn't it???? Seems as though I am not very consistant in my style of this letter; I can assure you that the ones that go ' out of my office for business reasons are all strictly consistant in the style. Both pages either have or don't have indentures. Not like this one which has a sample of both. I see that the end of the page has come up again; so I will fust close this time. Love you a whole house full. Chatter 1 278 ' May 3, 1949 Texas A&M My darling, You had me quite worried since I had not gotten a letter in quite some time and on top of that I got one from Mother saying that she had not heard from you and that I should caution you about not overworking since in her opinion, you did not look so good when you were out there. She thought you looked tired and overworked. I must wish you best of luck on the recital and if I were financially able, I would send you a corsage but my cash supply is such not that it is expedient that I cut all expenses to a medium. When I am employed and start getting in a little more money, I shall be able to again give you things when I would like to. ' Incidentally when is the concert? I should like to be giving you at least some mental support. As I said before you have a voice with infinite possibilities-well nearly. Sing this one for us will you. I guess that I rather bore my friends when I always have to expound upon your virtues and abilities. I know how boring it can be to others since I have listened to similiarly infatuated young men-but can I ' help it if I think that I found the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow? This last weekend was a deadly lonesome weekend. Bill had a date over from XXXXX (I'll try again) Austin and several couples with me a s a very lonesome stag had dinner at the Aggieland Inn. ' Day after tomorrow, Thursday, at 11 A.M. is H hour for me and our chances at Douglas. i have my final interview with Mr. LaVene then and If I can impress him we are in like Flynn but if not, there is sure going to be some powerful scratching. have come to the end of the page so I am going to put down a little poem which I think is to cute for words but which you can easily expurgate by the process of clipping off with scissors. Mary had an aeroplane And about the sky did frisk. ' Wasn't she the brave thing, Her little It seems that that old bugabear, study, has made itself necessary againg so this must be cut short in order to expedite the graduation 31 days from now. All my love, Clarence May 4, 1949 Denton, TX Honey, you have just got to impress that man with your ability. I know you will. ' Dearest one: I have had a time trying to write you, but I will just stay after school and write to you right now. First, I would like very much for you to come up this weekend. Mu Phi's are being given a picnic by the patrons and I ' would like very much for you to come up this weekend. Mu Phi's are being given a picnic by the patrons and I would like very much for you to be my date. It is not necessary that all the girls have dates; therfore, if you can't come, I will still go but go alone like some of the rest of the gals. Course, if you came, I would not work on my recital on Sunday like I would otherwise, but I sure would like for you to come! I love you! ' You asked about the date of the recital. Well, it is on the 18tth, which is exactly two weeks from today. Boy, I am nervous as a cat already. Goodness! And don't go thinking that you have to send me flowers, all I need is your love and mental support. I love you-even your littlest (no such word!) toe nail. Honey you can talk about me all you want to. So there!! This has been just a short one, but I do hope that You will consider it a love note. Love you a whole house full. Chatter ' May 5, 1949 Texas A&M Dear Mother, ' It is only a few days till Mother's Day so I shall write you this little note in lieu of one of those one for every purpose commercialisms. This is the twenty fifth (further review shows that it is the twenty sexth) time that Mother's Day has rolled around since you became my mother. Doesn't hardly seem that long since I was underfoot, does it? Through many of those years you have been a guiding light and through the others you have been an example of what I could be. ' 279 I think that you will find that I am living as fine a life as I know how and most of it is as a result of , the example that my parents have set for me. How could I be bad with the love and guidance that I have had? You have no chance to meet most of the friends which I have made throughout the state but I ' doubt if any of the persons who know me and ever meet you will have anything bad to withhold from you. In a few more weeks I shall be graduating and as I wrote before, the thing which I get will be merely a slip of white paper but it well represent so many more things-work, sweat, starvation, ' privation, anxiety, sacrifice, security and driving will power. Do you remember one of those Christmases so many years ago during the depression when the nerves were strained to the breaking point and we were nearly taken from school for lack of funds. Do you remember the time Tom Priour and Pete ' worked desperately to round up the stock for a refinancing? Certainly you do and there were many other crises. I have not forgotten, nor shall I. 1 shan't forget the encouragement to go to college and your pride in me. I am a grown man now and soon, the Lord willing, I shall be the head of a family of my own. I , only hope that Chatter and I can raise them in the traditions of honesty courtesy and industry which have been passed down by our parents. There is so much more to say but by merely by hitting a few high spots I can tell you that I am ' proud of my parents and that I love them as sometimes I am unable to show. All my love (well- parental), Clarence May 5, 1949 ' Texas A&M My dearest one, , Now I am forced to confess. For some reason known only to me, I thought that your recital was this coming Monday night and I had made up my mind to be there and surprise you after the recital. It was all a very foolish plan which would have entailed nearly 500 miles of driving and arriving back here ' very late that night. It would have been such a surprise for you though. It is impossible for me to carry out such a plan on the 18`h so don't look for me then. I can come to the picnic though it will mean scrapping plans for the next weekend but I would readily scrap them because this promises to be so much more fun. I have no blue jeans or loud shirt so it will mean that I will have to wear a tight fitting T shirt (ribbed) and a pair of khaki pants. If the pants wont do let me know by telegram-on second thought, I imagine that will just have to do unless (wear a pair of old Aggie coveralls and they aren't fit to wear. I will arrive in there around 4:30 Saturday ' afternoon unless it is imperative that I come sooner in which case again send me a telegram. I guess it had to come sooner or later. This being put on show to all of you casual acquaintances, I mean. I have gotten to know and like all of your friends so I won't be entirely in an alien camp. t I had the interview with the Douglas man this morning and I don't know just what to expect. None of us will be notified pro or con for two or three weeks, so in the meantime I am going to begin canvassing Boeing in Seattle and North American in Los Angeles and Consolidated in Fort Worth. If , none of these possibilities pan out from letters, I shall probably be forced to take a tour of the west coast job hunting. Mr. LaVene, the Douglas man, said that the housing situation in L.A. had alleviated somewhat with For Rent signs blossoming out in quite a number of places. The pay would be by the hour at $1.60 per which would be roughly 275 to 282 per month for a 40 hour week. , I'll see you Saturday, Kitten. All of my love, Clarence May 10, 1949 ' Texas A&M My darling Chatter, ' It is a beautiful tie and might I say that you have excellent taste in men's clothing too! Excellent, that is if coinciding with mine is considered excellent. You see, that was exactly one of the two types of ties I was going to get for the suit when my ship came in. The other is one of the new "White look" ties. ' Thanks. (I promptly showed it to my admiring buddies) I had a grand time this weekend even for all of my forgetfulness! Thank Tommy again for me. Kitten, if you can see fit to bring you Mother up to your recital, I will pick up your assorted relatives and bring them from Houston to Denton and back to Austin for your graduation. Let me know ' what you decide. 280 I had a lousy trip back Sunday night-all the Mother's Day crowd coming into Dallas from the south and a jillion blinding lights and a veritable cloudburst south of Corsicana. ' I only have twelve more days of actually attending class now and some of those may be cut off the end. It would sure be a revelation to get a job offer from just anybody! I received a B+ for that long report which I worked so hard and so diligently upon. Maybe there is some justice in schooling after all. That just about clinches a B for that course. ' The mosquitoes are gathering every night for a feast. No longer am I a red blooded American boy-but I sure am raising a crop of healthy mosquitoes! Don't think I didn't remember that the sun suit was last year's-but it did something to me and that swim suit-you see, Kitten, I am ultra conscious of practically everything you wear and practically III ' never have I seen you in anything that wasn't most becoming. I love you, Clarence ' May 14, 1949 Denton, TX ' Darling: I guess you know that I have really been knocking my self out working on my recital. Result: I haven't written you; however, I did let you know that I was thinking of you once. I am so glad that you like the tie. It was just what the suit needed. (Now, next time you come you had better not forget the rest of your stuff.) I love you. Every night I say words in my sleep-some French, some German, and some Italian. They are lyrical words, yes, but I had much rather just go to sleep and get a good night's rest. Honey, I will be so glad when this is all over. I have been spending every free hour of the day and night working with Louis Barringer, my accompanist. ' Don't worry honey, he's bald headed and a little too old for me. And besides, remember that I LOVE YOU. so there. I have got every thing down now from memory; now I have to polish it and give it some style. Oh, I will be so thankful when it is all over with. I'll send you a program as soon as possible for they are to come off the press today. I haven't had to worry any about the English songs that I am singing for English memorization is very easy for me. And it is not too hard to memorize the foriegn ones, but the songs are taken at such a fast tempo that it III ' becomes difficult to spit the words out without getting my tongue twisted somewhat. There are so many things that I would like to do just to get away from it all-such as go in swimming, or to a show, just anything, but I have told my self over and over again that this recital must be good and out of the way before any of that pleasure is sought. I haven't bought me a bathing cap yet, just so that I be sure not to go in. That's discipline for you! And of all the weeks, Dr. Hodgson decided to do some preregistering. Therefore, that meant another ' headache. Sure am glad that I got these dark glasses so that I can hide behind them; therefore, the people will not be able to see the bags that I carry with me. This letter has been one sad paragraph after another, but that is the way life has been this past week. And along I knew that I was neglecting you, and that made it all the WORSER. ' I have written to the folks (this morning is Dr. Hodgson's Eight O'Clock Class Day) and let them in on what you told me. Darling, I am sure that they will appreciate it immensely. I don't believe that there will be many more than Mon and Dad coming up with you. Someone has to stay there with Ann and keep house. David is ' graduating, Doff is working now with the Light and Power, John is attending school and will have examinations at that time. Therefore, you see, it just leaves Mom and Dad, and since everything is on a Sunday, I don't know if Dad will be able to make it-that is, if he has a pastorate to supply. Love you, and how! Chatter May 16, 1949 Texas A&M ' My darling Kathe, I shall take out time to write you a short note 'cause I have treated you rather dreadfully this past week in the letter writing department. I just finished another one of those gosh awful reports-this one ' only 32 pages long. I have only two more to go and two exams and I am through! You can see where my letter writing time goes. Mother just wrote for a room and I couldn't for the life of me tell you where they will stay over ' graduation. The hotel is full. Guess I will have to start desperately scratching for a place. Speaking of scratching. Last Wednesday, I behooved myself of the necessity of more reject slips and wrote 3 more aircraft plants. I shall include (I hope) the one from North American. The dangle hope but I need a June job. I don't expect to hear from Douglas before Thursday. I needn't say "good luck" for you know my heart and pride in you will be right there to kinda support you in your recital. It will be an excellent one. 281 1 I am sending some pictures taken Easter-none came out good, but thought you might want to , see them. (Conspicuous in the group picture is the placing of your left hand). I love you, Kitten, You will just have to put up with my razzing, or kidding,--something I inherited from Pete. ' No time to write much more 'cepting that it is now four months at the mostest before that time. All my love, Clarence May 13, 1949 ' North American Aviation, Inc. Dear Mr. Leinweber: t We acknowledge with thanks receipt of your application, which we have reviewed thoroughly. Unfortunately our current vacancies are limited, and therefore we are not in position to extend an offer at present. However, we t anticipate a definite increase in the number of our openings within the next few months, and will contact you as soon as these develop. If the application as submitted does not include an address at, or through, which you may be reached after ' graduation, will you kindly provide us with this secondary address? We believe there is a strong possibillity that we can extend an offer later, and wish to maintain contact with you. We sincerely regret that we cannot make the offer at this time. ' Very truly yours, W. H. Nance Engineering Personnel May 17, 1949 , Denton, TX Darling: , Well, this is the day before the great event-that stupendous, colossal, and all that sort of rot, contralto Chatter. Goodness, will I ever be glad when all this is over. Honey, I really have been working on it, and I think that I can give a good performance. Only wish that you could be there to see how it all goes off. I wrote Mom and Dad and sent them a check asking one of them to use it. I would love to have some one in the family here to lend me some moral support. I will send you one of the programs as soon as it comes off the press. I guess you got the little poster that I sent you the other day. I just couldn't resist sending it. ' Last Friday, Mr. Appelman told me to get away from it all and do something different to get my mind off the recital. So I accepted an invitation to chaperone a picnic of college kids. Can't you see me, of all people, chaperoning a gang of college kids. Ruth and I kept each other company, for she was the other chaperone. Isn't that a laugh. How would you like to have a chaperone like me? Oh, I forgot, you have already asked me and I ' accepted, didn't I. I love you a whole house full of little Leinwebers. I hear the eight o'clock bell ringing; therefore, it is time for Dr. Hodgson to breeze through and go on his merry way to class to torture Tommy S. and Xina. And it also means that it is time for me to get the morning mail. t I love you, Chatter May 19, 1949 , Texas A&M My Dearest, I am truly sorry that I could not get up to the recital for I know that it was an excellent one. I will be up to my neck in work until Monday and then, for all intents and purposes I shall be through with the studying part of my college career. That precludes my coming up this weekend and, anyway, I shall see you next weekend. ' You see, I must save every bit of the money that I can since you can see by the inclosed letter that I shall probably have to take an expensive trip to the coast in June in search of a job. There is a good chance that I might land a job with North American by showing up out there and asking for a job. , The Douglas rejection came as a rather bitter blow. McCaskill (Mattie Joe) and I were both counting rather heavily on the deal and were both rejected. They offered jobs to no one with less than a 2.0 average (B) and that is 84 or above here. What really got me though was the fact that three out of the five guys who were offered jobs from here had no intentions of taking the offer when they asked for the interview. Two already had jobs and another was going to take graduate work. So far, only about 282 ' one third of our class (Aeros) have definite prospects. The color pictures which Bill took at the Senior Ring Dance did not turn out at all but the Big black and white which the photographers took is pretty ' good. It is an excellent picture of you but I am about to break at the knees. Guess they caught me just as I shifted my weight to help you get the ring on. I should have a final copy to bring up with me to your graduation. ' We had a church picnic last night and I pitched for one team. Move over all of you cripples and make room for one more. This is a shortie but I have work to do that involves both of us and our future, Kitten, and if it involves that, anything can wait. All of my love, Clarence ' May 17, 1949 (enclosed in previous letter) Douglas Aircraft Company, Inc. ' Dear Mr. Leinweber: We are now reviewing the applications of June graduates, and from present indications it does not appear likely that we shall ' have an opening suitable for your qualifications. If our need for additional personnel changes, we shall be happy to get in touch with you. I appreciated the opportunity of interviewing you recently and am sorry that we cannot offer you any encouragement about possible placement at Douglas. Very truly yours, C. C. LaVene, Employment Manager, Engineering Division May 21, 1949 Denton, TX ' Darling: Well, Honey, I am a free woman. No more recital to worry about; no more exams to take; no more compositions to write; in fact, I haven't got anything to do. I was not scared at all when it came time for the performance. I just told my self that I was going to do a good job or bust one, and I did a good job. Mother came and she sat out in the audience with Dr. Ola and Mrs. Rudd (neighbor). Nan and I had a fine audience, and we both were quite releived when it was all over. I have been ' sleeping better, eating better and just everything. Now, I wish that you were here this weekend. I am going to Dallas with Mother this morning and put her on the train for Houston. While I am on the subject of traveling, will you corresond with the family and tell them just how everything can be arranged. I would ' rather it be done through you directly, than trying to do it through lit ole me. I have a lot of work to do this week so that I can get there myself. For as you know, the last day of school here is the 2"d of June, all the grades have to be in and all that sort of stuff. Of course, it is my baby to see that all the professors turn in the grades on time. I already have Dr. Hodgson's ready to turn in; therefore, it won't be him to hold me up. ' There is nothing that will stand in the way of my marching down the aisle and across the stage to receive my degree. For a while I was extremely worried, but that is all in the past now. Thanks for the boost. I love you a whole house full. Goodness, we will have two degrees floating around our home, aren't we the smart ones. ' Mother has been wonderful for me since she has been here. Golly, she looked all my clothes over and made all the repairs there were needed. (I surely do have a good collection of safety pins!) Now, all I have to do is the wash that I have been putting off for the last week that I haven't had time to do. That is what I will do when I get rid of the little lady today. ' That swimming pool surely does look good and inviting, I shan't let it beckon me any longer. I shall respond to its call. Oh Happy Day! Enclosed it a CHATT and a program of my recital. You will notice I marked a few things in the CHAT so that they would not slip by your eyes unseen. I love you, a whole house full. Chatter May 24, 1949 ' Denton, TX Darling; I am certainly sorry that all the letters that you are receiving are telling the same story. I love you just the ' same though. It maybe better if you were to go looking for the job rather than just take one through a letter or a long distance interview. I know just how stuck one can get through such interviews. For instance, right herein this office I can name you two or three mistakes-they are now on our faculty. I will go with you anywhere in the ' United States, outside the states if necessary, all I want is for you to be happy in the job that you do accept. Then I will be happy and love you all the more. 283 I put Mom on the bus Saturday and left word with her to correspond with you and that way it would be t less confusing. Therefore, I will be looking for you on Saturday sometime. You can let me know about the time, etc. I will tell T and T that you are coming. ' Yesterday, Ruth came driving up in a brand new Buick, Dyano-flo (or something) and it is the prettiest thing that I have ever seen. It is a little darker green than your car and is a sedan-coupe. She has been walking on air all day, or just driving everybody around for the fun of it. It is hard for me to believe and for her too. Course, it is her graduation present from all of her family, but what a present! , I sent out very few invitations-I even sent you one, for I knew that you would come. I had let the deadline slip by me for the ordering of the invitations, so I spoke to Martha Pender and she had a few left over. Consquently, I got some. (She had ordered 100, but she couldn't think of anyone to send them to after she passed ' 75. Isn't that the sorta thing that you like!) I am not serious with that last remark-I hope you know that. How did you like that little letter I sent you the last time with all the enclosures; hot, stuff, eh what? That time has come when Dr. Hodgson gets out of class s000000 Love and later more, Chatter May 27, 1949 Texas A&M My darling, t This will, of necessity, be a short note 'cause I am just about to leave for Houston. Seems from a card I just recieved that it will be Dorothy and your father. Evelyn cain't or doesn't wish to come. I , don't know whom you would rather have up but I will bring howsomever many they wish. (Up to a point!) Darling, I love you very much-so much so that these last three weeks have seemed like so many months. What am I going to do when I am away from you all summer. Dreaming of the fall will t help but I'll miss the thrill of holding you in my arms. Incidentally, I just got a reject from Consolidated in Fort Worth-mimeographed form letter. I don't care how many times I am rejected, there is a place for me to gain a toehold somewhere. Keeps yours toes crossed. Love you, Clarence , May 31, 1949 Mountain Home, TX (postcard) ' Darling, Took Dorothy swimming. Put folks on Bus at 5:30. Arrived in Kerrville at 8:30. Home safe and t lonesome for you by 10:15. Mother sick with a dizzy spell last night. Don't know what but you do something to me. See you this weekend and just have to wait. Tough, isn't it. All my love, Clarence June 13, 1949 , Azusa, CA My dearest one, , I know that I promised to send you a card each night but things and circumstances have been rather strained. I left the ranch about 7:30 Friday morning. Mac did not want to go so I just phoned his home t from Sheffield on the Ozona-Fort Stockton highway to confirm it. His father has been sick and his mother put on the pressure to keep him home. I arrived in El Paso by 4:30 which, due to Mountain Standard time was 3:30. Then I thought I might as well go on to Las Cruces. I picked up a hitchhiker at ' El Paso and we decided to spend the night at Lordsburg, New Mexico. Gasoline had jumped to 30¢ per gallon for regular as compared with 22¢ in Texas. We checked motel's at Lordsburg and the cheapest thing was $4.00. The accomodations at that price even were scurvy. I got so mad at New Mexico in general for their outrageous prices that I decided to tackle the desert all night and rest up in Blythe, ' California. This plan worked pretty good until I got into the mountainous country around the Gila River in Arizona. I didn't know too much about mountain driving and rode my brakes pretty hard most of the way down. Therefore when I got to the bottom they were hot and wouldn't hold. I just thought that the ' hydraulic system was shot and needed "bleeding". When I tried to put the car on the rack in Superior, Arizona it broke the water hose to the heater underneath. Finally I had to replace the hose myself (after the mechanics "lowed" as how it couldn't be done off of the rack. By the time I was through it was 2:30 A.M. or so and the town constable told me what was wrong with my brakes and they were now probably ' 284 ' cool and okay. They were. We pulled into Phoenix about 4:30 AM and I got a half hour's nap before taking out over the desert for Blythe. It was terribly hot from Blythe to Indic in the upper Imperial Valley. Went in past Palm Springs, 29 Palms, etc. This land is absolutely beautiful. I am going to try real hard to land a job here because I sure like what I have seen of it. Vic seems to think that I might land a job here with AeroJet. From what he described about the plant and what projects were not classified as secret, it would be very interesting work. Darling, I miss you already but it will only be a few months now and 1 shall be able to show you ' the country only we won't come non-stop next time. Vic and Nellie have been wonderful to me. We went for a tour completely around L.A. this afternoon. Had supper at the Long Beach Melody Lane and it was very nice (if high T) ' pen's running out of ink, no time to tell you just how much I love you and want you, darling, All my love, Clarence ' June 14, 1949 Denton, TX Darling, Every word that I will write in the forthcoming pages will only say I love you and I wish like heck you were here beside me. (or that I was there beside you!) Never have I had days to drag so on me! Golly, this summer just can't go slow! I love you. ' Mother nature arrived the night or rather the afternoon that you left. Two days early! If it keeps doing that I'll just have to set a date and just hope that we will miss the period. I was talking with Mr. Collier, at church and he made the statement that Presbyterians were neither ' married or buried on Sundays! For to Presbyterians, Sunday is a day of worship & rest-and neither of the above mentioned fit into that catergory; therefore, being good Presbyterians, I suppose will have to marry during the week. (Anytime would suit me!) I will have to write the other gals and see how things suit them. I love you! Enclosed is a little article I thought was rather amusing. I'm waiting for "the Last". Today I didn't want to eat out nor did I want to just cook for myself, so I invited Tommy, Zina & Marvin over for a chicken dinner. Tommy & Marvin just raved & kept asking me if you knew about my culinary ability. And of course, I told em that I had to practice on someone and boy they ate it up! In fact, they would like to be practiced on some more. I even tried some rolls and a cake on them that I made. Everything was a success & I know that I won't have to worry about pleasing you. I am just dying to practice my meal planning & cooking for you...for a life time. Ihave been having fun by thinking up all the little things that are necessary for housekeeping & putting them into practice on the lil apt. I am so anxious for us to begin a life together. I just know neither of us ' will ever regret it! In the evenings I have plenty of time to think out our wedding plans. I figured that if I can run a music school, schedule smoothly for a year I should well qualified to plan a smooth & successful wedding schedule. (That is, all but the part that Mother nature controlls) I keep listing all the small items and the large ones that go ' into such planning; therefore, by Sept. we shall make it tick off on schedule. Next weekend I am going to Dallas and visit all the Bride's Shops & departments. And I hope that I will be able to decide from there just how I want the gown made. I surely would like to hear from Nellie soon & find out about her measurements to see just how much we coincide in our measurements. Maybe, you could tell me if she is "my size" just by looking at her, that is. (I love you!) I know that they are taking good care of you. Nellie & Vic are good at making one feel at home. I suppose that Vicki Ann will entertain you properly while they are at work. I must get back to the office now and fix out the Fall schedule. Who ever takes my place won't have to do any scheduling of classes until spring! It's all in a day's work. I love you a whole housefull, Chatter ' June 14, 1949 Denton, TX ' Darling; You will never know how much I wanted to hear from you in that space of six days. Darling, when you are going that far way don't let me stay in the dark so long. Last night I couldn't go to sleep for I didn't know where you were. I didn't know if you had left home or what. For a while I was thinking about calling you in Azusa, but then I thought of the unnecessary expense that I would put on my self, so I decided not to call. Then today, I was 285 rewarded by your letter. Never was I so glad to see paper! and with that own peculiar scratching on it. Thanks. 1 t love you. I think it would be wonderful if you could get a job with Aero-Jet there in Azusa. I am sure I wouldn't t mind it. And if it is what you want' that is what I want. I am not very hard to please am I? Nellie and Vic are wonderful hosts, and I know they will take good care of you. I am glad that California made such a wonderful impression on you. Nellie and Vic sing of its praises all the time, and if you act that way about it too, then I guess it is worth living there. The conditions you mentioned that prevailed in New Mexico are all too true. I know. We ' toured there with the choir in 2947, and the accommodations and facilities there are horrible. (With a bus load of 40 people we found out just how bad things were when it came to facilities. We would line up outside by these lil privies for minutes at a time. And of course, all of us would be embarrassed!) t Darling, do let me hear from you often, and I will try to do the same. Gosh, I haven't got anyone here, and I do need your letters to help me out. I love you. I shall be waiting for that special letter that you are going to write. Today, or rather this morning, we had the biggest rain storm and my office just got ruined. The water just , leaked allover the place and now my wall be the window has a very ugly pattern in the paint job. It just dripped all morning and I got so disgusted. It sorta put a damper on my spirits this morning watching my office get all messed up, but your letter came at one, and since then I have forgottened all about it. ' I wrote to Ruth and Jane today. Dr. Hodgson is out of town; therefore, you know just what that means. I get to catch up on all of my correspondence. Honey, you should see the apartment now. I have really had plenty of time to fix it up, and the t just what I have been doing. Got some drapes and everything. The floors still look pretty and shiny the way that we ' waxed them that day. I can't tell you how much I appreciate all the help that you gave me during the days that you were here. I guess it was a sorta stupid way to spend the last days that we had together, but you will never know just what they meant to me. Goodness, but how I love you-a whole house full. , I see that it is time for me to end this and do a little cylinder work. I love you, Chatter June 16, 1949 t Azusa, CA My dearest one, , This letter contains no news of mundane affairs. It has no ulterior motive other than just to tell you in a multitude of little ways just how much you mean to me-how much I miss you over the miles and the week that has seemed a year since 1 last saw you. Only a lover could understand just how hard it was to say goodbye-just how hard to forego the ' chance to hold you next my heart for these three months-Kitten, I want you so much that sometimes I am afraid of myself and gloss my will power with a veil of quiet forebearance. That is why I become petulant-the strain has to break out somewhere-and yet I would have it no other way 'cause I love you , too much to build our aircastles with dreams that are figments of the imagination or with actions that would perhaps undermine our future. I love you for the help you have given me in this-for the soft feel of you in my arms or the hard strength which, conversely, conveys you to your goal. I love your ability to dream unabashedly and then ' to work just as quickly to make dreams come true. Never lose that, Darling. Dreams can and do become realities if a person works at them. We will work to make ours come true, won't we? I love your belief in God and what it will mean to our home-that it will have a hub about which sane activities and wholesome fun may rotate. yes, and a hub to hold the pieces of our personalities ' and our family together in times of crisis. I love your ability to feel the moods in which I find myself and to sympathize when things aren't just right. Yes, and I love for you to get mad and let the sparks fly. (Though I am sure that this would lead to felicital bloodshed over a period of years) Yes, and I love your voice (as you well know), your charming way with strangers, and a jillion and one little things which I can't analyze but, mostly, I just love you. Do I build a perfect lovemate of you? No, darling. You have faults as I have mine and what ' person would be interesting or lovable if he or she were forever the perfect (and that isn't possible). Can you understand me when I say that it is a veritable promise of that fulfillment which will inaugurate our life together when I hold you in my arms now? Can you feel what it does to me when I ' kiss you? (And I'm not being funny, either). Do you know why I want you hair down on our wedding night-how I love to rest my head in it and breathe the warm fragrance of you? Can you understand why I want you at the bridal bower pure and perfect as God made you with no restraining modicum of veil- spiritual or actual cloth? ' 286 ' Sometimes, Kitten, I feel as if I could just reach out and engulf you with my arms so that we would be not two nonentities but just one entity. Not you and I, but us-forever. I've told you the sorrow and heartbreak back along the path as at one small crisis or another you rebuffed me. How many times would I have quit and saved my trampled pride and yet in quitting, couldn't? It is all the more amazing because I found no trouble in ceasing relations with others for much ' less than love's stormy path threw in our trail. It is about two and a half months now, Darling. Nellie showed me yesterday how she counted off the days to her wedding for months. Isn't it delicious just to know that the period is coming to an end. Just to know that there will be many more days together than days of parting-yes and nights of knowing that we have fulfilled our of obligations to society, to ourselves, and to our future though in my sight we have been spiritually (though not physically) married since I first asked you. I hope that this little note will suffice as words go, darling, till I can let all the tenderness and want ' of the pent up years speak for me though the years to follow as we two, together years. All my love, Clarence Writ by hand fer mi darlin' who is fer, fer away yer lovin Clarens June 17, 1949 Azusa, CA ' My darling Chatter, As you may soon see, this is benig written on my knee as I sit in choir practice. Vic and Nellie have a choir party after this and I was requested to come. They are going over board to entertain me. Darling, I am truly penitent over the fact that you got no letter for those long six days. I was just going and perhaps overlooked an opportunity or two to write. tried to get a job with nearly all of the plants around here. I have been out from morn till closing ' time in the afternoons canvassing the plants. At this time I have three leads but the outlook looks just a little bleak. I would love to get any offer from Aerojet but they seemed very evasive when I interviewed them day before yesterday. I am going up the San Fernando Valley tomorrow past Van Nuys to the ' North American Santa Susana Testing grounds. The outlook is a little better than dim there. This kicking around Los Angeles is killing. To it is added the strain of knowing that I must land a job before we can get married and the sooner the better. Kitten, after a discouraging afternoon like yesterday I could think of nothing better than to just ' rest with your hair about my face and absorb a little piece and strength. How I need you, Kitten. There will be many times when I shall need you when burdens become great and it will be grand when you will be there to sympathize and urge on. ' Just as Vic got in from work today, there was a nice little 3 way wreck at the next block-no one hurt seriously but quite a lot of abusive language and argueing. Also about 15 minutes later, Aerojet turned a huge rocket on on its test stand. Vic would shoot me if he even knew this was in my letter though all I put down is just my own conjecture as an engineer. something went wrong with the thing. ' Apparently it had liquid fuel and the rear end melted out because there was a dull booming explosion and flames boiled up over 200 feet in the air. Quite exciting. I must cease and desist, Darling, cause that's all the time for news just now-All my love, Clarence June 18, 1949 ' Azusa, CA My dearest one, I just took Nellie to work since Vic was very tired last night and is sleeping late this morning (Saturday). We are going to wash both cars. Did I tell you they got a caramel colored Pontiac 2 door.-I am having terrific competition from Vicky Ann May have to forego this letter for the time being. Did you ever try to explain about the relationship of yesterday, tomorrow and today to a three year old. Nellie ' told her yesterday that we were going somewhere tomorrow and as far as she is concerned today is tomorrow. She has a memory like that dictaphone of yours. Tell her you will give her a bowl of ice cream tommorrow after Daddy comes home and she files it away. Tomorrow after Daddy comes home ' up pops Vicky Ann, "mommy may I have my ice cream. You said I could tomorrow after Daddy comes home. This is tomorrow, isn't it, Mummy?" I just used my amateur child psychology to induce her to eat 287 a huge bowl of breakfast food which she insisted on pouring for herself. I love children, Darling. Hope t ours are as cute as some of your relatives. You should have been with me yesterday. I was chasing down a job chance at the North American Santa Susana rocket laboratory. The dadgummed thing is perched high in the mountains above the San Fernando valley. That country is absolutely beautiful with roads trimmed in towering eucaliptis trees and flat green farms. Abruptly then the Santa Susana Mts. rise from the plain with the rock faults lying at at 600 angle with the ground. Wildly beautiful. t They offered me a job at about $245 a month but it is a wonderful chance to get experience. If Aerojet doesn't come through with a job here, I shall take that one. He promised me time off to get married. Kitten, I miss you so much and sometimes I wake up just yearning for you. Less than 3 months now. Before I forget. I don't believe Mrs. Sanders is going to be able to make your dress, Darling. I know that wrecks some of your plans but she isn't feeling too good and her oldest son is sick. Nellie will write soon. I love you, Clarence June 20, 1949 ' Denton, TX Darling: , I got your two letters today in the mail. Evelyn has been here for the past three days and I haven't had the post office on my mind as much as I did before. Those letters just made me feel wonderful. Evelyn came in on Friday afternoon and she just left today at noon. She is helping with two pioneer , camps at Lake Dallas for the Dallas Presbytery. So that means she will be just around the corner. To bad that I don't have you to take me out there-you know, that is Denton's regular courting grounds. Love you a whole house full. She will be rather busy and so will I; therefore, I doubt it if I get to go over there anytime before the end of the camp. She will be completely through on the first of August; so then she will come back here and stay a , while with me. It surely was good to see her. Her face was pretty well broken out from the nervous strain and the lack of sunshine, but I soon put a fix to that. while I had to work, I made her promise to take some sun baths out on the roof; so that she did. When she left today, her face was almost clear and she looked a lot healthier. Now I hope ' that while she is out around the lake she will take advantage of the good ole King Sol. Here I am at work as usual trying to pull a fast one before the boss arrives! I read and re-read the letter that you wrote concerning no mundane affairs. Oh how you can write! I read it at work, and for the first few minutes I couldn't get down to work. You really do disturb me! And I love you for it. Any time you want to write ' another letter on that line, do it. I won't object at all! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! I am glad that you told me about Mrs. Sanders; for now I won't just look at gowns when I go to Dallas. I shall go with the intentions of a purchase in mind. Too bad that it had to be that way, but I am sure that I can afford the type gown that I want. Even still yet, I would get the material at a bargain and have it made by a dress maker , here in Denton that I know. But all this is for me to worry about. Not for you! You just tickled me pink what you said about the aero jet goings on in Azusa and Vic. Honey, you are wonderful! Things are sounding better all the time, and I want you to know that my thoughts and prayers are with ' you all during the day. Darling, I don't know how the rent is out there, but 265 sounds like a lot of money to me. Course I am working for such a little that any amount would sound big. However, I do want you to know this. If Mother managed to feed and cloth eight of us on less than tha for as many years as I can remember, I am sure that you and I could live royally on such an amount. Course, the times are different now, but I know for fact, that I ' could live with you and manage a house or apartment on just a small sum. I am not bragging; I just know I can do wat I say. Please don't judge me by Nellie; we are intirely two different people. Our tastes are quite a bit alike, but I have a little better judgment and resistance than she has. I guess you know that a little better since you have been ' there fora few days. Nellie loves to do things up in a big way; don't let her over do it for you. She is extremely good at that. I know that we have a crop of cute nieces, but ours will be even cutier. They are bound to be: just look who their Dad and Mon will be! I love you a whole house full. ' Today Xina and Tommy came in just beaming. She had gotten her ring! It is quite beautiful, but of course, I think that mine is prettier. Naturally! Nuf said!!!!!!!! Honey, how far is the San Fernando Valley from Nellie and Vic's abode? Say, why don't you send me a ' Map of California and from that I could trace your running around: know what I mean? I am quite sure that no filling station in Texas would carry a road map of Sunny California-at least, I don't think that they are that nuts! Would you send me a map, huh? 1 288 1 Dr. Hodgson has taken off longer for lunch than usual so this letter is liable to go on forever. I guess you noticed that I decided to purchase some stationary of my own for a change; however; it was much cheaper the other ' way! See what a economizer I is! I love you. There are some letters that I must take off the dictaphone so I guess that I had better settle down. Don't forget that you said that you would telegram me when you accepted a job. When you do accept the job, remember to keep your work and the future advancements in mind. I will go along under any conditions. I love you; what ' you want is what I want! Love, Chatter ' June 20, 1949 Azusa, CA My darling Chatter, I looked and looked for a note from you this morning (it being Monday and no mail Saturday afternoon or Sunday.) I get so lonesome-can see why a sentimental fool thought up that old saw :I pine for you, for you I balsam. ' I keep hoping for an opening at Aero jet but if it doesn't come through, I shall probably start work at Santa Susana around July 1s'. Wages will be very low but it will be an exceedingly interesting job. I will start around $250/per which will be cheap wages out here-maybe after a year we will do better. Gosh, I wish you could have been with us this weekend. We went down to Knott's Berry Farm Saturday ' for a chicken dinner and then on to look at the ritzy Laguna Beach near Mission San Juan Capistrano. The berry farm is quite the deal. They have grown through the years into a terrific restaurant and free museum. (Meals $1.75) They have a complete ghost town that is marvelous in its coverage of early California life. We will go there some day. I really like this country, Darling, though prices scare me silly. Talk about taxes-you ain't seen nothing in Texas. Nellie swears that she is going to write you any day now. It is too bad about the wedding dress deal but Nellie seems to think it much better to get the dress someplace else rather than to count on it ' and then have the deal fall through at the last minute. Kitten, I am beginning to count the days (nearly) now. The first blow of actually realizing what it is not to be able to run up and see you every couple of weeks or so have arrived. Makes me feel ' downright blue but I know it is better for us both to be seperated. We were getting too taught inside. I'm longing for that next date with my bride. All my love, Clarence ' June 20, 1949 Denton, TX A ring on the finger is worth two at the door. I love you! ! r Darling" Oh how I wish that I could be with you when you come in from those days of searching. How I wish that I could hear from your own lips about the interviews-interrupted every once in a while by a kiss or two. How I wish that I could help you in the decisions that you will have to make about the job. How I wish that I were beside ' you during the nights--cuddled in your arms knowing that you were really mine and feeling secure in those arms. There are just so many things that I wish during the 24 hours of the day-that I thought I'd give you some out of the top drawer! You once mentioned that you didn't want me to wear a lot of veiling. I was reading an article the other day and it stated the traditional signifance and the sum total is this. The misty cloud illusion that the veil gives is an ancient symbol of submission. It calls the veil the most important article of the bridle costume. It is a drapery of sweet humility-the wife's submission to her lord & master! Besides that honey, I will prettier if I hide behind ' one! I love you. Darling, all I want is to look beautiful for you-simplicity personified. I will be just me-the way that you love and want me. You're quite a fella, ya know! And I'm just the gal for you. I do wish that Nellie would hurry up and write me! I would like to ask her a lot of stuff & all that sort of ' rot. Put the bee on her, will ya? For the past ten days, we have had a summer band clinic for high school students. Well, that included about 80 kids. Boy, you should have seen me handle them. Mr. Bayless & Riley at the p.o. have been kidding the ' life out of me. They want to know how it feels to play Mother to 80 lit darlings. (Getting in some training the easy way!) Love you a whole housefull. Love, Chatter ' 289 June 22, 1949 , Azusa, CA My Darling, ' Vic had a cold today. (We lay on a damp lawn last night.) As we were sitting in the living room this afternoon your latest book letter arrived. I just beamed all over cause there is nothing I love more than a letter from my love lest it be and is a chance to be with her in person. , I'll try to include a map of the L.A. vicinity. Incidentally, I think I said the North American offer was for $1.40 per hour (about 245 and not 260)-very low on wages but a lucky start if Aerojet doesn't come through. Vic and I are looking forward to his vacation and my marriage with practically equal anticipation. I will probably leave here one afternoon and go into El Paso for a sleep and then into the ranch for another sleep and then to Houston a day before the wedding. Our kids will have to go some to beat Vicky Ann when she is acting sweet. That kid is a perfect little pixie and a prototype of everybody's little blonde sweetheart. I would like to get close to her but buying her candy and things would disrupt her feeding and cause a fusing of loyalty which might get embarassing. I can assure you that brunette though we may be our kids will be towheaded for a while. It runs in my family and, apparently, in yours. ' There are a couple of big fires going in Grififf (Griffith) Park (L. A.) this afternoon. They are having quite a deal about it. Kitten, I just don't know how I can take the next two months without you. Wouldn't it have been wonderful to come out together? Sometimes I wish we were impetuous instead of sensible. I'll watch the mail again tomorrow. All my love, Clarence June 22, 1949 Denton, TX Darling: I see that you are doing the same thing that I do. I look for a letter on practically every mail that comes. And I, too, get a bad case of lonesomeness. Especially in the evenings when I don't have to work. Think I will start baby-sitting or something so that I will have something to do in my spare time! Oh how I love you and want ' you. You know, it is strange how much difference the miles make! When you were in college Station, I always knew pretty well what you were doing and when you could be up on weekends, but now it is intirely different. I ' am constantly counting the weeks until you will come charging up in your green car to take me away (no horse, out dated!) In my last letter I asked your for a map of California. Now I am sure that I want one, and soon. When you talk about these different places, I have no idea where they are in relationship to Los Angles, or A zusa and ' such. Do send me one. Nellie and Vic once sent me some pictures of the Berry Farm, so I know quite well about the place that they took you. ' As far as the gown is concerned, everything is alright; so tell Nellie she has nothing to worry about. I shall go to Dallas some weekend and see about a dress at Neiman's or at Harris's. Both of those stores have well- equipped Bridal Departments. Last night I went home with Tommy and Xina from work, and we all fixed dinner together-course, Marvin was there; so there were the four of us. I fixed most of the meal; I get the biggest bang out of doing something like that. Wish you could have been in on it! I love you. Nellie and Vic had written the family about the car, but I didn't know that they had gotten it already. You ' know, it would be an awful struggle for us to be together like Tommy and Xina. I don't see how they can stand it without being married. They are a wonderful pair! I am so glad that you got to know some of my friends and that I got to know some of your college friends. They, Tommy and Xina, will both be able to be at the wedding. And that makes me very happy. ' Speaking of your friends, remember the boy that held my purse when we went through the ring? Was his name Mark or something like that? Well, the other day, in fact, quite a few days ago, he walked into the Music Hall to get a coke out of the machine in the lobby, and I looked up and saw him-he looked at me and then walked on and got his coke. Next thing I knew he was standing in the door with those knocked-out boots on. So then I ' exclaimed "What are you doing here!" and he replied that he was going to ask me the same thing. Course, he didn't remember my name, but he did remember the face. He then sat down and began to talk to me. It seems that he had gone over to Bruce Hall to see his Mother, who is in North Texas getting her Master's, and she wasn't there. And ' he had noticed the coke machine as he went by and so he came back over here to get one and to cool off. That is 290 when I ran into him. Small world, isn't it? He asked about you and all that sort of stuff. He was just on his way through to San Antonio for summer camp (A&M) at Brooks Field. Since his mother wouldn't be out of class until 5, he stayed around and we chatted for quite a while. Dr. Hodgson was gone that day and I am glad, for I am sure that he would have worried about you. Everybody else noticed the Aggie sitting in here and asked me if he was the one. Poor guy, they all had him befuddled. ' Just shows you how full this world will be of Aggies whereever we go. Love that stuff. Love you a whole house full. Chatter ' June 22, 1949 Azusa, CA ' My dearest one, Another grand letter from you this morning and it just makes me feel good all over. Kitten, you wear a veil if you like. I will probably be in such a daze that you will would be the most beautiful thing on earth no matter what. I trust your excellent taste to be dressed like a queen. I ' love you, Kitten! Didn't know whether you slipped or purposely call it the most important part of the "bridle" (sic) costume. I am not doing a thing right now except sitting and waiting to see if Aerojet, is going to extend an ' offer. I would be wonderfully nice to live here in Azusa near Vic and Nellie. We went over to see Vic's mother last night and fiddled around until we got home around twelve. I still haven't gone swimming yet. Vic tells me some interesting things of the bathing beauties at Balboa Beach. You have no competition for my heart, Darling. I've told you many a time that 1 have 1 considered us spiritually one for quite a long time and that the ring means just as much to me as to you. Incidentally, check on license procedure (time length of delay) if any. We will have to allow time to buy the wedding bands when I get there. You might put these two things on your list of things to be done. Nellie says she wants to get there early to organize things-that she just loves to organize things. That I am afraid of!! I hope you have everything as near completion as possible before you get overloaded with kinfolks and groom. I'll be there the night before (I hope) and you can loosen up your ' nerves on my shoulder if you like. All my love, Clarence ' June 24, 1949 Denton, TX Darling: Young man, there is something you had better know now for I feel that I shouldn't wait any longer to inform you. I have been a brunett since the day I bounced in to this world. Therefore, don't expect all our kids to be blond to begin with! Out of the eight McNeill's, I was one of the three black sheep! (John & Ann were the other two.) Course we were much cuter for we had hair-the others remained bald for almost a year!!! So see, I thought I had best warn you before we have some brunettes of our own. I love you! By the way, did you become introduced to the world as a blond or brunette???? Your mother always said that you were her prettiest baby-at least that is what she has always told me. Honey, what happened to you??? I love you a whole house full of ' Leinweber's (blond or brunette!) I got the letter from Nellie in the same mail with your last epistle, so tell her I will answer it as soon as I am afforded an opportunity. I am sorts peeved with Geo. & M.. They are at home in Houston with both of their children. Dad wrote me a post card and told me that they were expecting them today (Fri). If I had known ahead of time, I would have found a ride home & I could have visited with them. It seems that he was expecting me to be at home. I don't suppose the family told him that I was still here working. It was too late for me to do anything about it so here I ' will stay. I have a solo Sunday in the anthem & since I rehearsed it on Thursday nite, I can't back out at this time. Besides, Saturday, we are having the Scholarship auditions (Music) all days And since I am such a big wheel, I have to be there to make things run smoothly! I love you! Say, you're getting pretty stuck on this lil blond, Vicki. Guess I'll have to do something about that! Do ' you suppose marrying you will change your mind?? You asked or stated that you don't know how you can manage two more months without me.... well the same goes here. Sometimes I, too, wish that we had not been so sensible. During the day, I manage to keep my mind on my work, but during the evenings, I wish that you were somewhere around-even if it were just sitting in the living room smoking a pipe (or cigar)! But oh the nights! I find myself dreaming of you constantly-night after night-and in those dreams you are lying there right beside me. At times ' 291 they are so real, I reach over to touch you-and my arm drops over the side of the bed (which usually awakens me) and then I lie there awake & still dream on! Darling, at times I hurt inside because I miss you so much. Thanks for the map! Out of the clear blue Texas sky, Mr. Dorn, on our faculty, brought me a road map of California, Arizona & N. Mex. He knew that you were out there & wanted me to keep up with you. Wasn't that nice? He goes to California every year--& he has promised to come see us some day. Golly, I really have been blowing off in the letters, haven't I? Living by myself is good for me, it makes me spend more time with you. I love you. Your purrin' Kitten ' Jun. 25, 1949 t Azusa, CA My darling Chatter, This letter comes after a skip of a couple of days for no apparent reason except that I had been ' doing nothing. Yesterday (Friday) was spent in making a set of shutters for one of the front windows They are pretty good if I do say so myself. Today we dug a stray bush out of the front yard. The thing was about , six feet high and bushed out. We are at present getting ready to stain the shingles which adorn part of the front of the house. Nellie has been having trouble with a breaking out on her hands. She went to a-ee the Jucio, yesterday and he injected calcium intraveneously. She promptly fainted. She was requested to come back for a blood count this morning. Nothing serious. She looks very healthy. Kitten, I got quite a buzz out of something Nellie was telling me at lunch the other day. Vic was eating at the plant so we had the noon meal alone since Vicky Ann was at the baby sitter's. Nellie t started talking about Sinton and said Vic had told her something recently which she had not known before. Seems that you father went to Sinton first and had a bunch of teenage footballers, etc. including Vic as a Sunday School class. They apparently took to your dad very much and decided to show his children a good time. When Nellie and John arrived they were engulfed in activities as planned. Nellie t had a date a night for the first two weeks which got her started there. She was bemoaning the fact that after moving to Houston she didn't have a date with a Rice boy in 3'/2 years and that you were always the most popular of the girls. I got quite a buzz out of her reminiscing, especially in remembering what t you had told me on occasion. You see, Darling, though I love you from the depths of my soul, it hasn't been a juvenile, blind thing and I have had enough perspective to see that you are one of the most popular girls in a wholesome, friendly way that I have ever known. The girl with friends has a much more stable outlook than the one with just suitors. That is another of the things which swayed my shy, ' embarassed self to win you fer my own. That you could be friendly and encourage me when I was all loving thoughts and stumbling actions and words was a thing which I have pondered many a time. It will be grand to start as both lovers and friends. The stain job is calling. All my love, Clarence June 25, 1949 Denton, TX ' Darling: Have to have someone to talk to so I guess you are the lucky one. (Otherwise, if anyone over heard me they might think it a bit strange.) ' I was going to go swimming this afternoon but the rain and the clouds sorta discouraged me. Consquently, I spent the afternoon at home-did a tremendous wash (Papa wouldn't have approved!) and then I washed my hair. And while I was waiting for it to dry, I made a batch of muffins. So see, I didn't remain idle even ' though I stayed at home. I love you! I am going to take the afternoon off tomorrow-Monday isn't a regular school day, but I always have to work. For the last three or four days, I have worked overtime, therefore, I am going to make up for it. (Swimming pool, here I come!) ' I thought you'd appreciate that use of "bridle"-I think that you think of it (the veil) more in that line! I love you! You know, you've been gone a pretty long time now, haven't you? Darling, I have been thinking about the ' date. Would the 3`d of Sept. be alright with you? You see, I figure it this way. This past month, June (I mean) my period came on the 8d'. Therefore, to feel perfectly safe I think that I had better say the 3`d. That would give me about two days maybe more, after I leave Denton. The second semester is over on the 25`x' & I believe I will leave that weekend. That way, I would have a whole week. Personally, I don't want to have too much time at home- ' know what I mean. 292 ' Honey, if I set the date on the 3`d we would have more "free time". By the time we got to California I will either be "sick"-or have had it scared out of me! I love you! ' I am sure that the 3`d, which is on a Saturday, will be alright with Ruth & Jane. And I guess with your family too. Get Nellie & Vic's reaction adn then I will settle it once and for all. I think that I am going home this weekend (July 3) for I have been offered a rids. And since I will be home, I shall go by the church and put it on Dr. t King's calendar-and I shall also see the "judge". For you know I want him to give me away!) Let me know by return mail, so that I will have word from you before I go home! You should have heard the advise I was given by a young married couple this morning. Kurt was telling me how to handle all the showers, relatives and what-have-you. Nan just sat there and said "Ah Kurt now you ' know!" & I think she got rather peeved at him! but it surely was funny. The way he was acting reminded me of you. Honey, remember the night that I made those corn puffs & how you began to tell me that I couldn't expect you to come home after a hard day's work & eat just corn puffs, and remember how I responded. Everytime I think about that incident I sorta chuckle inside. I was doing my best to egg you on & you were doing your best trying to make things better (but made them worse). I don't know if you ever noticed that I was trying to darnedest to keep from laughing out loud, but I was. You were sitting there just pouting and you looked so hurt! We were both tired ' that evening & I knew you were in one of your moods-so I just let you be. Oh how I love you. With a little love and affection maybe we can correct some of our faults together. You know, it surely does save paper to write on the typewriter. Had I typed this letter, I could have had it ' all on two or three pages. I love you-a whole house full Chatter June 27, 1949 ' Azusa, CA My darling Chatter, ' Another wonderful letter from my love this morning-and me with not much to do except to sit and dream of you. I got such a buzz out of the talk of our offspring (sic). You asked for this when you slammed (I love you) my handsome countenance. They say "beauty is only skin deep" of women and "clothes make the man". Mark this well-clothes cover the man. You will have many nights to think of that, Darling! Nights when you won't reach out and find me not there. Nights when neither of us shall know the longing of the days and the miles. Yes, and days when we can awake to one another and the knowledge that we are really living-one for the other! Seems like there has been an eternity of waiting since I first proposed to you on a warm August night years ago. The years of waiting for my love to be matched-to know that you would ultimately be mine. Now the months seem long until September but every day brings a new thought-that we are closer together than yesterday and that this is tomorrow (as Vicky Ann says). Then some bright morning we shall wake up and this is THE tomorrow and all the ' other tomorrow's are yesterdays. I can think of nothing in the ceremony except "until death do us part". Incidentally, Kitten, Nellie is a little worried about the fact that you have never acknowledged receipt of a table set of doilies and linen. She had a store send them and does not know whether you did not get them or did not think to write a thank you note. Along that line-here is another very ' important note for your bridal plans which Nellie says she overlooked. Write thank you notes promptly for all presents no matter how informally recieved or from whatever close friends. I would love to help you with that chore but it is the bride's. You will likely have to spend quite a bit of time on our ' honeymoon with those notes from last minute gifts. When you get plans well enough formulated-let me know what color suit. I shall have it tailor made and it may take a month. I am fairly certain to be employed by the end of this week and can begin to look for a September Apartment. I will let you know just as soon as possible about the address for the ' invitations. We took a Sunday afternoon jaunt yesterday out through Pasadena and Burbank to San Fernando and Chatsworth. We shall probably live in Chatsworth Lake community if I get the North ' American job. As soon as possible, then, I will try to get in Aerojet. From there we went to Moorpark and back down Topango Canyon road to the sea above Santa Monica. From there we took Sunset Boulevard through some of the most beautiful homes I have ever seen. You can follow our route to Vine St. on the map and past a lot of places such as Beverly Hills, El Trocadero (closed for unsanitary conditions), Fred and Leon's, Aro's, etc. Also the Pallidium. We went past the big Hollywood Pres. Church. All of this I shall show you in due time. Be a good girl now while I sign off to dinner. All my love, Clarence ' 293 June 27, 1949 Denton, TX My darling: ' If you keep telling me things like you did in the last letter, I am liable to get the big head before you come back. Goodness, it is funny how sisters think about the other ones. I would never thought it of Nellie. What me having more friends and being more popular than she. Even when Evelyn was here, she talked on similar lines. ' And all along, I though that I was a black sheep or something-not really of course! I love you. I guess along the line somewhere I just learned what life really meant! You know my existance has been somewhat different from that of Nellie, Evelyn and Dorothy-meaning my bugs. But I am rather darling, aren't I. I love you!!!!!!!!!! And ' too, you wondered how in the world I happen to pick lil ole you. (E Pluribus Unum) It took me long enough to decide that you were the one, but somehow I knew all along that you were the one best suited for me. Goodness, you just had all the qualities rolled into one, and I am sure I could love just one person more than I would several who contained just one of the qualities. You see, my list of qualifications rate rather high, and I had to know for sure if you could take all that I could dish out. If anyone can put up with me as long as you have and still want me, then you well deserve me. I love you more than you will ever know. Surely do appreciate all the attention that I am getting from your end of the line, and I do not mean this t sarcastically either! Thanks. I got a letter from your Mother this morning and it made me feel so good. It is extremely typical of her and I think it is rather cute. I quote "I got a letter from our boy tonight and he said he had a position ai,. I'm sure he wrote you, do hope it is not a dangerous one." See what I mean. She also states that she wishes that we were ' not going to be so far from home; however, she wants our happiness. She also sent me a nice long list of the peoples that we will invite to the wedding. Now I will have to get Mom to make up my list from her end of the line and then of course, I have my own friends here in Denton that I ' will want to include. I had quite a busy weekend-doing nothing. But it was good enough without your being here. I did get a lot done, and I even think that I managed to get off a fat letter to you. I see that Dr. Hodgson has just arrived, so with this color typing paper I could fool no one. I love you, ' Chatter June 28, 1949 Denton, TX Darling: I guess I will have to inform you of a few other things; so that you can relate them to Nellie. First of all, I have not received a package from Nellie, here at my Denton address. You were with me while I was at home; consquently, you know that I did not have a present waiting for me there. It was not until a ' few days ago that I knew that I had a package or two at home. Mother wrote and asked me what I wanted her to do with them. I asked her to send them on so that I could acknowledge the fact that I had received so and so from so and so. To this date, Mom has not sent me anything that looks like a package; therefore, I do not know what I have there at home nor do I know who sent them. She did mention that one of the packages was from Nellie, but she t had not the slightest idea as to what was in the package. So honey, I can't just write people and thank them when I don't know who or what was sent me. It seems to me that Nellie would have sent it to my Denton address; however, it is easier to remember the home address in Houston. So tell her the circumstances, will you?????? I am going home this weekend. I have a ride with the Johnson twins from Houston. Rufus has a big ole ' Kaiser; so we should be able to make it to Houston all in one piece. In the mean time, I will tell Mother to keep the packages there and I will look into them when I arrive at home. So tell Nellie that too! If it is what you said that it is, I will be only too delighted to write her and thank her for them. They sound real nice. I love you! (And don't ' you dare forget it!) Here I am using office time again and trying to do this in a hurry. Must close now and send it your way. Will have to sing while I am home this Sunday in Judge Boyles' class. Wish that you could be there. Just ' call me Chatter from Chatsworth!!!! Love, Chatter Darling, I have things all figured out so that I will have plenty to time to write all the thank you notes in the world. That is, if you don't pester me too much when I write them. You see, I have already had some stationery made with our initials on it for just that purpose. I ain't so dumb!!!!! 294 1 June 28, 1949 ' Azusa, CA My darling, You letter concerning the date came this afternoon and I figured that I had best answer it ' immediately if you were to get it before you went home. I am Pst a little confused on your figuring for the dates. If you have a 28 day cycle and your last was on the 8 of June you would fall right flat on the vicinity of the wedding day. You, of course, know more about that than I do. (What an understatement). The 3'd is fine for all concerned out here. I talked ' to Nellie and she said any time was satisfactory for them. Vic is long overdue on his vacation. Kitten, I was quite taken aback by your revelations of the muffin episode. As you should know (or as my mother can tell you-or any of my friends) I very seldom praise things. This is 1 suppose a bad ' habit but it jars my innate sense of honesty to be anything but honest. I knew that something was expected of me since you were so excited about fixing them for me. The muffins were excellent (I know because I once fixed some myself and yours were better). They are alone though, at best, a light snack ' and with syrup they might suffice as a dessert or as a breakfast. My gastronomic physiology demands meat in some form twice a day and a heavy meal in the evening-when we can afford it. I love you, Kitten, and I harbor no beliefs in your inability to cook. I've seen you prepare too many things to believe that I will have to hire a cook to satisfy the esthetic in my appetite. Won't it be grand to be able to eat ' together in our own little place of stuff that I have furnished and that you have prepared? When you come back from the weekend I hope to be at work. If I am not there may be serious results in plans. Vic and Nellie now have 1000 miles on their car and I am going to drive over to Monrovia this ' afternoon to bring him back after he leaves his car for a checkup. Nellie is still feeling a little out of sorts and looks pretty pale. Put no credence in this whatsoever just a thought that just now passed my mind but fainting and sick spells such as she had ' this morning make two and two. However it is probably nothing but a spell of something or another. Vic and Nellie are planning a trip to Yosemite (250 - 300 miles) this weekend and want me along-don't know yet if I will go. May be busy moving. Vicky Ann and I have been squabbling but she seemed to have taken me back into the fold this ' morning. Just a plain case of childhood jealousy. She didn't like my getting any attention from Nellie or Vic. She has a bad habit of thumb sucking and mind changing which is aided by a strict no spank policy. Therefore, she gets away with murder. She is just as pretty as a little doll when she has her hair done but Nellie seldom has time to do it properly. I've ambled along for quite a while, Darling, so I better say goodbye for a while. September 3'd sounds pretty good for a wedding anniversary-It will fall on labor day weekend half of the time!! I love you, Clarence 1 June 30, 1949 ' Denton, TX Darling: I hope that my letter of yesterday did not sound too snappy. I didn't mean for it to, but if you took it that ' way, I am sorry. After I got to thinking about it, I was sure that you would take it that way. Here's hoping that you didn't. I love you. You can bet your ole cowboy boots that I will see that everyone is properly thanked for the presents that ' they send. I would not do anything that would lower me in their opinion for you see, I plan to be in the Leinweber family for a long time and I like to sail smoothly. Therefore, I will not jeopardize my relationship with the relatives through any little errors in etiquette... for your sake and for mine. I love you a whole house full!!!! Dr. Hodgson had a big ole picnic out at his house yesterday evening and he literally knocked himself out. He hasn't been in the office all day. (It is now 3 o'clock) I guess that he just over did himself! Of course it doesn't surprize me at all! And it shouldn't surprize you either knowing him like you do. I got a very sweet letter from Jean the other day, and it seems that she and I both have a bit of waiting to do. They are still in Uvalde. She didn't say what their plans were for this fall, so I guess that they will just stay there in Uvalde. Also in the same mail, I got the letter from your mom containing all the lists of the Mountain Home folks, et al. Your mom says that Jean is really getting to be a rolly-polly. I am happy for Jean that the baby will arrive in September, but I surely do wish that it could have been so that she would be able to attend the ' wedding. But that is life for you! I don't suppose that Charles will be there either, do you? ' 295 Today I have gotten alot done, and everything has been so quiet that it doesn't seem like the same place. It surely is different when you are working with mostly graduate students; they know better than to bother me. At least they are old enough to. ' I do wish that this wasn't the weekend of the 0. For I would like to do some shopping in Houston, but the stores will all be closed by the time that I get there and closed on Monday too. Will be thinking about you while I am home. I will sing for the Judge's class and chat with him about the wedding. I love you, Chatter ' July 1, 1949 ' Azusa, CA My darling Chatter, I was just looking at some pictures of the time when Nellie and Vic were in Houston for ' Christmas a couple of years back. Did I ever tell you that you were good looking? Things look extremely bad at this writing. The job at North American was filled hefore my security clearance came through. That leaves me, as of now, destitute and needing a job. Don't worry t any about the wedding plans. We will get married even if purgatory freezes over. That can be taken care of with the $1000 from Grandma L. I should have a job soon.-I hope because that money will flat have to be replaced. We are going to Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks this weekend. 1 have been rather ' worried about what to do. I have been parked on Nellie and Vic for 3 weeks now and it offends my sense of privacy. I am with them practically continuously since I have no place to go at night (money). I know they must be getting tired of having me underfoot. Yet each day has seemed to bring a new job , chance. I have seriously contemplated coming back to Texas if nothing breaks soon-my money is getting short. Don't know just how I will solve it. Don't worry your head about the situation. I am on the job worrying sufficiently. For some t reason, I miss you terribly this morning-seems like forever though it is shy of a month since we said goodbye. Must be love! Incidentally, I've got that Ring Dance picture framed with the other of you and sitting on the desk ' in front of me. I talk to Aerojet again Tuesday and if they still have nothing I will have to start scratching. All my love, Clarence July 1 1949 Denton, TX Darling: ' Thanks for being so prompt with the answer about the date. For you see, while I am at home I want to sign up for the chapel in the Presbyterian Church. I will give them two dates so that in case anything should come ' up I will have the place reserved. I shall wait until around the first or second week of this month to find out just how irregular I will be by that time. Therefore, I should be able to kinda tell just how things will be before September. I love you. You asked me if I were on a 28 day cycle-well, yes and no. Each month I vary one way or another. I am never regular. I am quite used to the fact, but I am sure that you aren't. And there isn't anything ' that I can do about regulating the situation! That's life and Mother Nature for you. Last night it was so warm that Eithel and Marilyn, my two neighbors, and I drug our couch mattress out on the roof and there we slept for the night. It was so wonderful just lying out there and gazing up at the sky until I ' fell asleep. It was a wonderful sleep. I was awakened this morning by the sun brightly beaming in my little green eyes. Therefore, I couldn't just lie there. Consquently, I got right up and did my daily dozen (ha!) and then fixed my breakfast. I left the house in a mess-the house that is-not me. Therefore, this evening will be spent in a general house cleaning. Surely do wish that you were here to help me move the furniture. (And for other reasons too!!!!! I love you a whole house full!!) Honey don't worry your little head about Nellie and her fainting stuff until you hear differently. Nellie has always fainted at the sight of a needle. I remember once when she visited me in the hospital in New Orleans. I was ' being fed through the veins and she walked in the room took one look at me and then fainted! Now I admit that I was a rather sad looking character, but she didn't have to be so weak. Besides, my handsome interne was there and he had to pay more attention to her than he did me during that visit! So see what I mean; she is quite the opposite from me in that line. Guess I am just a toughie. ' Well, I have got to close now and begin my work for the afternoon. I Love You, Chatter 296 July 1, 1949 1005 W. P St. Azusa, CA ' My darling, You will have to pardon the lack of letters for several days. There were several reasons, some of which will be enumerated here. You see, I have been waiting for definite notification of a job with Aerojet. It may come this afternoon. Vic said I was going to be made an offer. Should be good wages-as low as 250 or as high as 300. Again, don't say anything about this, not even to Evelyn. Naturally a child is the mother's secret but we now think that you have a niece or nephew on the way. Nellie was supposed to start nature's course before we went to Yosemite but hasn't yet. She has been having all kinds of upset stomach and yesterday after thinning the flower beds and getting some sunburn she had one of her frequent dizzy spells. I was kidding her about being careful or I would be thinking that she wasn't naturally a dizzy ' dame. She told me that she now thinks herself expectant. No Period yet. All of this-if so-will not interfere with her being in the wedding lest she should decide to toss her cookies during the ceremony- which affair would be highly embarassing. ' Reason Number 2. Vic and I (and to a limited extent, Nellie) have been working on their bedroom. It has been just bare sheetrock-no baseboard and cracks. We have been taping, cementing, sanding and painting. Tonight, we will put the final paint coat on the ceiling and three walls and paper on the other. That will then leave trim around the ceiling, baseboard, carpet, window facings, ' door hangings, etc. to make a very pretty bedroom. We were discussing last night the putting of a television set in an upright cylindrical mounting on the wall between the bedroom and living room. It would be on a 180° pivot to prevent fouling the lines and to permit view either in the living room or the ' bedroom. It would really be very simple. Vic and I and Nellie, too, just boil with ideas. I recieved a great big check for seventy two whole big dollars and fifty lovely cents. That was my final V.A. check and I had been only expecting about forty bucks. Incidentally, I have moved to a private room. Gave me a chance to organize my belongings and ' gave Vic and Nellie some privacy. Though we get along famously, there was just no privacy for them as husband and wife in this small house with no inside doors yet-you know what I mean. Too, I knew that I couldn't get the necessary studying done-that which will be required when I start work. I don't know ' that they could have done much more than they have done already except perhaps to save my life. I was down to eighteen dollars when I got that check this morning. I really must stop, Darling. This letter has been all news rather than love but you can use your imagination there. Do you know that I shall see you again just 53 days from now and that on the 54`h, we ' shall be married. It's that close! Gosh, it is wonderful-the culmination of all my past dreams and the beginning of all my future dreams. Guess yuo have had a few dreams along that line yourself but mine have just had a lot more experience-see I have been dreaming of us a lot longer. All my dreams, Clarence July 1, 1949 ' Azusa, CA My Darling, Just got to sitting here thinking that my first letter today was not all that it might have been. Just 1 too wrapped up in troubles to tell you how much I love you. Sometimes it gets rather hard to face the old world without you and I let a trouble or two slip out. I hadn't meant to chastise you on the thank you note deal nor did I take offense at your first ' letter. Anyway I got them both today. The stuff I wrote was in the line of friendly advice even though accented. I was thinking some more about the lift that you got from Nellie's revelation on her popularity. There is one thing which Nellie has never had to contend with seriously and that was sifting and rejecting suitors. From her youngest days it has been nearly entirely Vic. I suppose as a defense mechanism from the bugs you worked overtime on the boy angle and got your fingers burnt and quite a bit of heartache mixed up with some good sound knowledge of men and the way they function. It has all gone to make you the lovable girl that you are and certainly the terrible suspense of planning and hoping while I waited for you to go through the period of every Tom, Dick and Cliff was worthwhile in the end. I 297 suppose that the deal during my last years in school was the hardest to take because I knew what was ' going on and could not compete except with gentleness, controlled temper, and waiting. Do you know how Pete finally won my Mother? He drove into town from the ranch (a long way then) only to find her gone on a date with another guy. He could have been mad or defeated but instead he left a box of candy and a card. That was the turning point. You see, Kitten, I have wanted you for my own a long time and none other would do quite as , well. Can you feel what it would mean for a friend to tell you out of the clear blue sky some morning that she thought I was about to marry another girl? That happened to me once at A&M. It was I suppose one of the most forceful blows that I ever recieved. I love you, and have, and will until my life is over. Vic is due in now so it's time to say adios until Tuesday. It would be wonderful if you were with ' us this weekend. Love you a whole past of longing nights and waiting days, Clarence P. S. Vic just told me Aerojet is hiring 40 engineers and draftsmen. Keep your fingers crossed, Darling. ' I talk to them again Tuesday. CLL July 5, 1949 , Azusa, CA My dearest one, ' This promises to be a rather long letter 'cause I have lots to tell you and 'cause I have missed you ever so much during these last few days when you could not be with me (and vicy versy) and when I could not write you. We left Friday evening for Sequoia National Park and went up through Bakersfield and ' Portersville. We got into the park entrance around 2 AM only to find the thing closed! Therefore we pulled back down the hill a ways and Vic and I spread out some bedding beside the road while Nellie and Vicky Ann slept in the car. About 4 AM it started a tentative mist which prompted Vic and I to get up ' and change to the car. (Just got your 1 July letter.) We waited in line until 5:30 when the park opened and then drove up the winding mountain roads to a secluded little camp where we had breakfast. It was beside a rushing mountain stream-the Kaweah River. Absolutely beautiful and cold as ice! We then climbed to the top of Moro Rock-at least I did. It is quite precipitous and Vic is ' afflicted with height sickness (except in airplanes). Nellie and Vickie Ann and I went on up the stairs from where we left Vic but I had to leave Nellie with Vickie Ann when the retaining wall stopped. Vicky Ann has absolutely no fear of heights (or hardly anything else). It was dangerous therefore to take her on up. The view was beautiful with the Kaweah Canyon thousands of feet below and the mighty peaks , of the Western range shining bare across the distance. They are around 12 to 13 thousand footers and hid Mt. Whitney from view. It can only be reached by foot or pack train! Course you know it is the tallest peak in the U.S. (14 thousand Both Sequoia, King's Canyon and Yosemite National Parks lie astride , the mighty Sierra Nevada range (known out here as the High Sierra). The only other thing of real interest in Sequoia was, of course, the giant trees. We saw them all. General Sherman Tree is of course the largest and oldest (estimated at 3500 years). They can't be described properly so I guess I will just have to show them to you some day! ' By night fall we had seen all that we wanted to see in Sequoia and decided to go to Yosemite by way of the General Grant grove in King's Canyon Park. Here again there were many large trees. We did not go up the road into King's Canyon but went down to Fresno and thence through Coarsegold to t Yosemite. Again it was an up down, up down affair. We reached 7200 ft. at Sequoia. We camped at around 5000 ft. in Yosemite for Saturday night. Early next morning we took out for the Merced River or Yo Semite valley. Along the way we saw one mangy, crippled bear and took time out to take pictures. Vicky Ann was up and out of the car immediately calling, "Nice bear, nice bear", etc. to let him know she was friendly. We then drove through the nearly mile long Wawona Tunnel and immediately upon coming out got our first view of Bridalveil. The man who named that falls was a poet at heart. There is no question about it. Darling, if your veil only looks like that, you will be assisted in being my most beautiful , bride, ever! I love you! It just plunges over a shear cliff and then, wafted by prevailing breezes, drifts thither and yon seemingly with no place to go down the high cliff to spatter on the rocks below. We climbed up near the base of the falls and took pictures. Vicky Ann and I went swimming in the Merced River. It was so cold that it took minutes to get ' used to the feel of it. To plunge right in would leave one shocked breathless! We worked on around under Half Dome to Mirror Lake (not very impressive) and then camped for the night. There were 20,000 people in there so accomodations were very bad. At nine o'clock the Firefall took place. They ' build a fire of pine bark and let it burn down to smoldering ashes and then shovel it off of Glacier Point. It looked just like one of the water falls in glowing light! 298 ' 1 The next morning (Monday) we went around to Yosemite Falls which doesn't look nearly as ' pretty as Bridalveil from the distance. When we got in close underneath it was truly beautiful. There is a straight fall of about 1600 ft. adn then a 635 ft cascade leading to the lower fall of around 300 ft. Nellie and I climbed into the base of the falls while Vic took pictures. We were nearly soaked by the mists but were rewarded by the beautiful, irredescent rainbows playing above the green pool at the base of the ' lower fall. Few people seemed to exert the energy and agility required to see this beautiful sight. We then drove back out of the valley and up the road to Sentinal Peak and Glacier Point. I climbed to the top of Sentinel Peak (an easy task though Nellie balked because of lack of breath). It is 8900 ft up. We went down then to Glacier Pt. and looked out across the valley (3000 ft. below). They have a restraining fence on the shear cliff. You look though and there is nothing but a shear drop for all those 3000 ft. Across the valley was Yosemite Falls and at the upper end Nevada and Vernal Falls. In the distance 13,000 ft. peaks of the High Sierras and glacial masses on the bare sides. Wildly beautiful. ' That ended our sightseeing except for lunch on Bridleveil creek (above the falls) and a trip through the Mariposa Grove and the Wawara tree (famous for the car tunnel through it's base). From there we made the return trip through Fresno (San Juaquin Valley) and Bakersfield to Azusa. It was really wonderful. I was supposed to talk to the people at Aerojet again today but upon calling found that they were ' very busy. They seem interested (Lord knows Vic has been putting the pressure on). I hate to have it done that way but I have to have a chance to prove my ability and my faith in myself. All the aircraft plants are at the beginning of a new fiscal year (July 1) and things should be ' picking up around here as they complete plans for the new year. All this writing may give the appearance of a travel tour and no thought of you but I wanted you with us so bad it hurt. Somehow each of us always got around to "if only Chatter were here!" If only you ' were here, Darling!! All my love, Clarence July 5, 1949 ' Denton, TX Darling: It seems that both of us have had quite an eventful weekend. Man, what a trip home. But it was worth it. ' I won't be doing it again for some time so I will be well over it. You see, we had a wreck! Noone was hurt, but it sure did stretch our necks. On the road just below Huntsville some ole gus stops and begins pushing his car down the highway; therefore, the car in front of us had to stop quite suddenly, and so did we, which we managed to do ' rather gracefully. But that is not what caused the damage. A green 1949 Mercury that was some distance behind us couldn't tell just what was going on until too late, and since the highway was wet and slick when he applied his brakes, it didn't do much good, for he just knocked the wham out of our back end! At first we didn't know what had happened for we were, at the time, more concerned with what was happening in front, and then this terrific ' impact. Brother!!!! Rufus and I looked at one another and he said, "What happened!". None of us knew about the car in back of us. Rufus's trunk was just ruined on his Kaiser, and also the front left fender and light. However, Mr. Jazith's car looked three times worse. The accident was completely unavoidable. ' When Mr. Jazith got out of the car and came to see if we were alright I said to Rufus and Emmett that I knew that I knew that man. So I got to talking to his wife and I asked her if they were from Houston and she said yes. I then asked her if they were in any way connected with the Rotary Club in Houston. And she said yes; right then and there I knew where I had met him. He is head of the Student Loan Committee of the Houston Rotary ' Club. And by then he had recognized me. What a way to run into someone that you know!!!! (I recognized him by his one ear; just shows you what a memory I have. I met him only once and that was the last time that I had seen him, until he ran into me, so to speak!) Everyone was alright; Mrs. Jazith was sorta shocked and shaken up, ' but she was a good sport. Both Mr. Jazith and Rufus have every kinda insurance under the sun on their cars, but Mr. Jazith is taking all responsibility and is covering all on both cars. It just so happened that about an hour after that happened some other boys that we all knew from Denton passed and they stopped and asked if they could do anything to help. So Rufus then asked if they would drive me ' on in to Houston and see to it that I got home. I knew both of the fellas real well, and so we started on home and left Rufus and Emmet there with the car. After they finished filling out all the blank forms that the state highway department police gave them they continued on their way to Houston with one light. The next day, Mr. Jazith ' called me to see if there were any after affects, and of course, there weren't, which pleased us both very much. However, I do have a few sore muscles in my neck; it sorta got stretched. Look more like a giraffe every day. I love you! I am sure that there will be no bugs to pop up; so you don't have to worry your little head. I had a wonderful visit at home. Mother and I talked over all the plans and she now knows what she is ' supposed to do towards making things click. Goodness, when she finds out about it all for me, I will then have to figure if I can afford it. I am just holding my breath. I am almost beginning to worry about how I am going to repay the Rotary in full before I get married as well as pay for all of my own wedding. Got any ideas???? ' 299 Course, I know that you have enough worries of your own, and now I go and mix mine up with yours. ' But we both have them and we will have to get rid of them. Darling, please stick it out there. If you come back here, then all that time and money will have been wasted. I love you and I know that something will come through , for you. Please be patient and see it through. It won't hurt Nellie and Vic a bit for you to stay with them. Course You may be getting tired of the couch, but it shouldn't last much longer. Darling, my prayers and thoughts are with you constantly, and so are all of my dreams. Let's make them (our dreams) come true. I love you. I Love You a ' whole house full, Chatter July 7, 1949 t Azusa, CA My Darling, , I was quite shocked to learn that you had been out necking in my absence. Glad it was just rubbernecking. Boy, if anything were to harm you I don't know what I would do. Can't say much about jobs right now-got my foot in a few pies and got one delectable mess of pottage stewing or maybe it is me. I'm hanging on, though, just like my cattle rustling great granpappy. ' Kitten, I don't know what to say about the money situation. We sacrificed our working capital for the car-which I think has been worth it. I am in very bad straits just now but I daresay we can afford to go ahead with the type wedding you want if you pinch each penny before you turn it loose-i ki low yuu ' will. It is against my principles to ask my grandmother for a loan on the thousand. Guess I am just too independant. If a job comes through I can always take a loan on the car to be paid back from the thousand if it is absolutely necessary. My expenditures will have to include one or two suits, a lounging robe, a ' pair of shoes, your corsage, numerous dollars worth of socks, underwear, and incidentals, one peice of luggage (unless money doesn't stretch) and whatever is allowed for gasoline, accomodations and food, etc. for the honeymoon. Of this, most except the honeymoon stuff will have to be purchased before I get the thousand. t When I get a job we can get a loan on the car if it seems at the last moment that you shan't be able to make ends meet. Let me know how the thing progresses, will ya, huh? That seems to be all I can think of for today. I'm sitting on a nice set of pins and needles. , Loving you so much and knowing that the pressure is on makes this job waiting practically unbearable. Love you, Clarence July 9, 1949 ' Denton, TX Darling: , Today I was in the William's Store & I saw a beautiful white nylon and lace slip-so I was sized up by the clerk as a prospective bride. So she asked me the date-which is her anniversary of 30 years. So the other sales lady says "why that my anniversary too." Looks like Sept. P is a popular day. And besides, a gal came in the ' office today to be interviewed for my job & she said she was to be married on the Yd of Sept! Goodness, now isn't that something? I also went to the Vanity Shop to talk to Mrs. Mutt, the owner. She has just returned from a buying spree ' in New York, where she bought the clothes for the fall season. She also handles weddings! (Everything from the bride to the flower girls!) She is having six wedding gowns made to order for fall and they will be shipped down later in the month. She described one lace job that sounds like what I have been dreaming of. She buys on the same market that Neiman's does but her prices are reasonable. At Neiman's you pay for the name, but you also get ' good material! Therefore, I am going to wait and see what comes from the market for Mutt's. She wrote for them to send sample colors for the matron's & bridesmaid's gown. Since the wedding will be in Sept. & the beginning of the fall season, I shall carry out that theme. 1 Remember how you once tried to tell me about how beautiful Horsecollar Bluff was in the fall with all the autumn colors mingling-well, that's how I arrived at the autumn scheme. Honey, I know our wedding will be beautiful-look who's in the wedding party! I love you. Darling, tell Nellie that I will give her a good month in which to make her gown. Right now, I can't give ' her the slightest idea of what color or what style. But I will let her know in due time. In the meantime, I would like very much for you to ask Nellie if she would send me her Juliet cap--l would like to see if I could use it with the gown when it comes. It may be too white for what I want. Then again it , may not, but I would like to match the style and the color. Say, maybe I should have written this letter to Nellie-would save some trouble for you! I love you. 300 ' Some of the kids just came over to play some bridge, which I don't play-so I ran got Marilyn from next ' door & she is playing with them while I write you this letter. It's a gosh awful shame that I don't care to participate enough to learn. You will have to get me interested in it. July 10, 1949 Darling, Didn't get to finish this last night-things were getting rather funny & I was missing out! Love ' you. Today brings me closer to belonging to you. I sang one of the best solos that I have ever sung this morning in church. Wish you could have been there. After September I will be singing all of them to you. How I ' will love that! And you can sing to me in any off-key that you want to. I love you Today marked another day on the calendar for me. Mother Nature arrived this afternoon, which means that I will be quite safe in getting married on the 3`d. That will mean that I will come "sick", so to speak, about a week after married life with you. This time it didn't "hit me" quite as hard; therefore, I feel rather perky. This past week was really a trial. All of a sudden everything had to be done-and Georgia was sick and had to go home to Gainesville. That was on Tuesday, consquently, it left me with no help whatsoever. The fall schedule had to be made; the budget had to be made and submitted to the President by Saturday; 50 letters of teacher applications had to be answered, there was a concert almost every night-so I had to type the programs in the rough for the print shop! Oh it was a fast and hectic week and I couldn't find a minute of office time or otherwise in which to write you to tell you how I loved you. Miss Betty Priddy just dropped in to see me to ask me to sing on a program tonight at the Baptist church. ' I just couldn't refuse her-soooo I am going to sing on a one minute's notice! I don't know why I agree to do things like that! Love you a whole house full! Chatter ' July 11, 1949 Denton, TX Darling: I just got back from one of the best picnics. Mu Phi, Sigma Alpha Iota, & Mu Phi's had a combined picnic. I was Mu Phi's chairman, and with the help of an SAI member & a Phi Mu, we bought all the food & stuff this afternoon-{I just left the office for about 45 min.) The picnic was all Dr. Hodgson's idea and all of us ' followed thru. We all went out to Lake Dallas at a good swimming spot & about 10 of us went in swimming, Dr. Hodgson included (He's a good swimmer!) And while I wasn't lookin' he got out and decided to organize a ball team (baseball) and they elected me as captain of one team. That's what I get for turnin' my back! So I chose up a ' team-and we were beat something awful. We played about 3 innings & I was up to bat (I was pitcher for our team) and darn if I didn't hit a whopper & broke the bat! And I hadn't even eaten anything for energy! Honey, you don't know what a strong woman you're getting. Beware!!!! I love you. We went out to the Lake after five-Dr. H. & I worked up to the last minute & then we both ran home & ' got dressed-in record time & were back again to leave for a good time. that man could run off the legs of a centipede (or however you spell it-- has a thousand legs anyway!) I had a wonderful time. You know what good sport Dr. Hodgson is-well, he really was "all-out" tonight. Mrs. Hodgson & David came & likewise they were ' good sports. It was David's bat the I broke. Dr. Hodgson told David that he would buy him a new one-any 29¢ bat that he found! Love that man! I love you a whole housefull. Wish that you had been there for when it began getting dark the kids began pairing off-Chatter sat there & chatted with to homefolks. I love you! It was 9 when I arrived home & now I am writing you-the lil ole' man I ' love. Wednesday night I am to sing at Caroline Holler's wedding. She is marrying a young Baptist minister. A week or so ago, they installed a candy machine in the Orch. Hall Lounge. Dr. Hodgson said he would ' let the Vending Company place the machine there if every time they loaded the machine they would give his secretary a bar of candy! Now isn't that something. Consquently sometimes I come in the office & find a bar of candy sitting in the center of my desk. Now isn't that sweet????? I guess by now you have heard or read the Gov. Jester died today in a Pullman on his way to Galveston for a rest. He had had some heart trouble so decided to take a rest. It seems that it turned out to be a permanent one- natural causes was given as reason. I feel the night shades falling (me eye lids!) so I had better drag my couch top out on the roof and turn in for the night. Love you, Chatter Honey, I rode out to the lake with Irene & Bill-and I found out that there were worse driving pests than me. Boy, she even tooted the horn for him. Poor guy! And besides that she picked & pecked at him constantly! I love you! ' 301 Darling: ' That doesn't surprise me a bit what you told me in your letter. And it is very wonderful, I think. It wouldn't hurt Vicki Ann to have a new little brother or sister at all. Isn't that what you say. And too, I think that it ' would do Nellie some good. I am glad that you got a room for yourself and that you feel at ease. I did not know about the door situation! And too, you deserve to sleep on more than a couch when you are dreaming of me!! I love you. t Last night I went to the wedding rehearsal of Caroline Holler, and it was so much fun. Honey, I will really know all of the tricks of the trade by the end of this summer. I have two more weddings to perform in so far as I know. We had a rehearsal dinner at the Southern Hotel, and I am telling you I ate more food. It was a chicken dinner and there were three big pieces on the plate besides the potatoes, peas, hot rolls, pear salad, tea, adn the ' dessert which was ice cream with strawberries. I felt like a stuffed toad. (Horned, that is!) It was a quite delightful feeling. Tonight is the wedding and right after that I am to usher at Jennie Ruth Reed's recital. Therefore, I will have two corsages to wear in one evening. Now isn't that nice. I will have to put them in the office tomorrow, ' where my flower snitching boss can gaze at them. I love you. Last night Mary Morgan, the organist, who is one of my music student friends that got married last August, and I sat across from Dr. Hebard the preacher. Therefore, all we talked about was our men. You should have heard us! Then again, maybe you should not have. It would have really done you heart good. For you just ' don't know how much I brag on you. Guess it must be love or something. Marilyn and Eithel are both going elsewhere for the second six weeks. Marilyn is going up to Cape Cod for the rest of the summer so that she can run and play for a change. And Eithel is going to be an instructui at ' Waldemar for the rest of the summer. Surely does make me want to go down there with her. That means that I will be living up there all by my little lonesome, that is, unless they decide to rent out their apts for the rest fo the summer. Golly, things will really be unexciting next six weeks. I got a letter from Mother this morning telling me all about what the expenses for the reception and all that , it was going to cost me. Guess I will have to stop eating for a while! This is going to have to end for this time. Chatter July 12, 1949 1 Denton, TX Darling: ' I have a few minutes so I think that I will devote them to you. I surely am anxious hear from you saying that you have a job and that you are happy in that job. It means an awful lotto me. I love you. I surely do wish that I could have been on that trip that you all took to the National Park, etc. It sounds ' like a trip that you will have to take little ole me on. Remember that will you??????? Hades could not be any hotter than it has been here for the last week. Honestly, it is awful! Everyone tells me that I look as cool as a cucumber; they really must mean that I look as m= as one! Goodness only knows t that I suffer with the rest. If it weren't so hot, I think that I would make many more trips to the UB where it is air conditioned. Course, I might get a little large around the waist, but you wouldn't mind that, would you? I love you a whole house full. ' I have interviewed several persons for this job and so far we have no indication of who the person will be. There has been just one person that we have been interested in and she already has a job, but she is considering the change. I won't know for some time just what is going to happen. I do know that I have a two weeks vacation ' coming to me with pay. However, I shall stay here until the end of summer school, for there is so much for a new person to learn at that time about grades, scheduling of classes and so forth, that I wouldn't leave it all for her to figure out. And besides, Dr. Hodgson is going to San Francisco on the 13`h to return on the 2151, and there everyone would be at a total lost. I love you, Chatter ' July 13, 1949 ' 444 E. Foothill St. Azusa, CA My darling, It is in the bag! I start work Monday here at Aerojet at $275 per month. Course by the time all of the taxes, insurances, etc. are deducted the take home pay isn't so hot. I'm just talking-you don't here me squawking. It is a shame that I had to miss the month and a half of work but for a time I was pretty desperate. The first time I had run up against the not what you know but who you know doctrine. Vic has been a wonderful friend in the clutch. 302 ' ' Incidentally, it seems that the laws of multiplication an addition y, and hold true. Two and two do make four or you can get the same thing by adding one to three. Otherwise this doctor of progeny here ' in town missed on his diagnosis of "probably, wait and see". Vic and I are still working on the bedroom. It has three walls of a bluish green (somewhat lighter than an avocado green with blue added). The fourth wall is in a bold bamboo stem and leaf pattern in ' gray (varying shades) on the same blue green background as the 3 other walls-wallpaper of course. The ceiling is a dark ash gray to compliment the gray of the paper design. The trimmings will be white and the shades will be deep red. All of which does nothing but confuse poor color blind me. This letter came after a little skip but I wanted to make sure of the job if possible this time. I will ' write more often again now. Here is Bill's new address for the invitation. William S. Bouldin ' 1226 West Okmulgee Avenue Muskogee, Oklahoma I figure there are two more on the list without addresses-the Massey's (Pat) and the Maclntoshes of Austin. I will get their's to you as soon as I can get them from Bill. ' Let me know if there are any others on the list sans address. Set me know about the groom's costume, etc. as soon as possible. Nellie thinks it extremely icky to have a church wedding in business suits but I doubt if anyone in the party now has a dress suit or ' tux, dinner jacket, or what have you. The mother's clothes will of course be dictated by what your mother wears. Please give me a hint. Again I have been all business; Kitten, but this marriage stuff is serious. Perhaps you can read the words of love threaded through this letter. All of this is for us. ' I will be glad when I get to work. Then I will have only the nights to dream of you-to dream of the 52"d night hence. All my love, Clarence PS Dad blamed fountain pen! Knew I forgot something-my address is now 444 East Foothill ' St., Azusa. Have a nice room. CLL July 14, 1949 ' Denton, TX Darling: This won't be a long one for I just have a few minutes. Dr. Hodgson is over at the Main Auditorium practicing with the orchestra and chorus for the performance of the Brahms' "Requiem", which is for tonight. I wish that you would be able to hear this beautiful work with me. I am not singing in it for I have not have had the time to rehearse with them. I know the whole thing by memory, but this is a good excuse to sit out and hear a ' performance for a change. I will have something to do, and that is to see that all the programs are there and ready for distribution, etc. Monday is another day of registration, for the second six weeks term begins. Gosh has the time gone by ' fast. I knew it would be if I stayed here and worked. I Love You. Today, Mrs. Bounds accepted the job as secretary to Dr. Hodgson, as now I have nothing to worry about. She is coming over on Monday and Tuesday and see just how registration works and how to handle any confusion that follows those days. She won't take over the job until August 20h, for that is the day when I shall leave. But every once in a while she will drop in so that I can ' teach her the ropes. There is an awful lot that goes with this job, and I want to help her as much as I can to make it easier for her when school begins in the fall. She is a mature woman-say around 38 and I think that she will be just wonderful for the position. What a difference it will make in office visits from the students!!!! No more loitering just to cool off by the fans, etc. I can just seethe kids now when they return in September and look in the ' office. She is a very attractive lady and she has a pleasant personality and I am sure that she will be easy for Dr. Hodgson to work with. I didn't get a letter today, but I know that I don't write you every day so I have no gripe coming. ' Caroline's wedding went off as smooth as clock work, and I never saw anyone more calm than that little gal. She was a darling. The music was real fine, too, even if I do say so myself. I still believe that I would like to sing for my own wedding-so that I could sing just to you and to all and let them know that it is my song of love to you that I am singing, and not just a music selection being sung. Ask Nellie what she thinks about the idea. I ' LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!! Chatter 1 ' 303 July 15, 1949 1 Azusa, CA My Darling, t Two letters from you today makes me feel bad after not writing you for several skips. Course you know my thoughts are with you-it was just that I didn't want to build up your hopes and then have them crashing down. I have been hoping and praying to be able to write you the news which I wrote ' yesterday. It is absolutely wonderful that we may be here with Vic and Nellie. I start Monday of course and today I have been filling forms and signing papers. They gave me about a Y. inch stack of them. I'll be bonded against I don't know what and practically signed my life ' away on various phases of the espionage act. Looks like about all I will be able to tell you when I come hoem will be whether I had a hard day or a good day. I love you! Nellie is feeling rather bad and had to come home at noon with dizzy spells. Doctor had told her , to stay in bed for 3 days (to circumbent "spotting" or partial menstruation) but she bullheadedly went back to work after 1 day. Kitten, you perhaps understand why I waited so long to give yout he ring. Though it practically ' tore my heart out to know that you "paired off' and dissappeared from the circles before you wore my ring-it was the only way to be fair to you. I am referring, of course, to your mention of missing me at the picnic. Wouldn't it have been wonderful if I had been able to be there? I can only spend the days counting-51 days and 51 nights to our consumation and 47 days til I leave to come to you. I have so ' many plans for those days-what else have I to do at nights? All my love, Clarence July 15, 1949 , Denton, TX Darling: t You should hear me tell everybody about your being able to support me now, and how lucky you are to have a gal like me to support. I love you and I am so very happy that you have a job. Darling, there is a gentleman-a good friend of Mr. Meyer, (in fact they went all through school together t until he went to A&M) that I think maybe you should look up while you are there this summer, or maybe when I come out there. He is Dr. Frank Malina, Professor of Aeronautical Engineering, Calif. Tech. He is a very prominent man in the field of aeronautics and with the U.S. Government. I think that you and he should become acquainted-nothing like an ole buddie from A&M, you know! Don't you think that that is a good idea. Manuel ' thinks that It would be a plenty good idea! I got real tickled about you describing the color scheme in Nellie's house. Darling, you are cute! I can just see you discribe our house to people. We most likely will have a bronze bedroom, etc. I love you. , By the way, please don't write on both sides of that stationery that you use. You should have seen the trouble that I had in trying to read you last letter. Honey, the paper is too thin and you can read both sides at once. and it surely does confuse things. To me every letter that you write is a love letter; so don't worry about having not spent enough writing space telling me so. I have a wonderful imagination and great faith in your love for me. I , love you a whole house full. Dr. Hodgson has gone to Dallas this afternoon and it is pouring down raining, which makes this office a little more confusing than usual, for every one in the music school is standing in the doorway or they are in the ' office making all sorts of noise. I appreciate the address that you sent of Bill's, and I do want the other's that you mentioned. I got us an address book that I am going to put all the names into so that we will always have it for all occasions-someday we will want to send out other types of announcements and that is the list that we will use, etc. There were two or ' three names on the list that were not complete with the initials and I will enclose them in my next letter. I told you that George and Myrta wanted to have my invitations engraved by Star Engraving Co., which is the company that George works for. That means that I will have Mr. Hall do all the other printing that will need to be done. For instance, the napkins that will be used in the reception, all my thank you notes will be personalized ' with my little name, etc. If Nellie thinks that wearing just plain business suits in a church wedding is ecky then she had an icky wedding. What in fire and tornations is she making such statements for??????? Ask her what the men wore in her ' wedding. I think that it would be nice for it to be intirely formal, but I do not want to make any undue expenses. Don't you agree? Therefore, I am seriously considering having the men wear dark blue suits, not an extreme dark blue but a good fall blue. One way to make it have the appearance of a tux would be for the men to wear bow ties. In Caroline's wedding the other night, the men wore dark blue suits and deep wine bow ties and they looked real ' snazzy and the looked like they had on tuxes for the chapel was dimly lighted. Goodness, who is going to run up 304 and look to see if you a black grograin strip down the side of your troussers! Honey, why don't you go find a nice tailor and send me some samples of his fall suit materials, especially in blue; then I could help you select the right color, or the color that I think would look best for the occasion. Mr. McKinley and every one else has gotten to peep over my shoulder to read excerpts of this epistle and tsk, tsk, about it! so I guess I had better close and call it a day. Love, Chatter Sunday, July 17 ' Azusa, CA My dearest One, 48 days-I count them off one by one. Do you know that we have now been apart longer than at ' any time since way back there during the first year after I came back? I've been having trouble with insomnia lately but guess I'll sleep better when I get started on the job. I miss you more than you will ever know-or do you? There were times during that job hunting ordeal when I could have just given up ' and quit, but I knew that our life together, your faith in me, and my faith in myself depended on my staying on the job looking. How nice it would have been to have you there to come home to. You'll be happy out here I know. It will be a little trying at first until I start making over 300 but we can't expect to start at the top of the heap. That would take all of the fun out of it and leave us with ' nothing to look back on. Sometimes, I think that is the very thing that makes rich couples break up. They never have a chance to build a home of their own. In a way, then, your job will be far more important than mine. Far more of your 24 hours will be devoted to the home than mine. You'll make a wonderful homemaker-after all I picked the cream of the crop! I love you. ' Nellie is feeling a little better now-shouldn't be working but it all came about rather suddenly. I queried her about the Juliet cap yesterday. She said that she was looking for it but hadn't found it as yet. Tomorrow is W (for work) Day. Wish me luck. ' How'd you like the poem-still corny, can't get it out of my system. It is chasing around towards church time so I guess that I shall just have to stop and be a good little boy. All my love, Clarence ' July 17, 1949 Azusa, CA ' Darling: I'm already to get married now! There has been one complication to set in. And that is that Jane has to be at a faculty meeting on the morning of the 3'd of Sept. in Marshall Texas which is a good ' 200 miles from Houston. That means that she couldn't be there for the rehearsal or anything. The 4th and 5th are the only possible days that she could be there. I am seriously thinking about changing the date to the 5th for Xina has already stated that she & Tom will be in Memphis & can't be in the wedding ' party at all. And now, if Jane can't be there it will really make me unhappy. Ruth can be there any time so I was wondering if a two day difference would matter to you. I have written everybody today telling them what has happened (you, Mom & Nellie & Vic). The 51h is on Labor Day but that doesn't bother me! have all the material ready to send to the engravers now except for the date. If we can't ' change the date, then Jane will just have to be left out (which will grieve me very deeply!) and I guess I will ask Lil Doff to be a bridesmaid. I did so want it to be with my best friends in the wedding party. Jane came thru Denton today on her way to Dallas to see the operetta "Bloomer Girl" and we had a long chat. Tommy will be teaching in Marshall next year too, you know. Then he & Xina will be married in October. At least two of the gals, X and Jane will be living in the same town. X!na will be keeping house (ha!) for Tommy. And Jane will be teaching in the Junior High School. She will teach just music. I just know the kids will love her! ' Darling, I saw my gown & it is simply gorgeous. And I have gotten my going away suit & all it's trimmings so you see I am all set! I love you! Now it seems that Sept. is twice as far off! I have been reading very carefully about the correct attire for weddings-especially for the men. ' It is correct, if the man is not dressed in strict formal evening wear, for him to dress in a dark blue suit, stiff white fold collars, white shirt, black shoes & socks & light gray silk four in hand neck tie. The other men follow the same procedure. This is correct according to Vogue's New Ettiquette, The American Ettiquette & Emily Post. ' If you would like to go to the trouble of getting tuxes, then it is alright with me. We have the other men to think about too-therefore, we don't want to "put them out" so to speak. Do you agree with me? I love you. Besides, I'm sure you wouldn't mind having a nice dark blue suit, would you? 305 I sent the attendant's dress samples to Nellie showing all the pretty autumn colors that the dresses come in. Golly, but they are gorgeous. We're gonna have such a beautiful wedding! I love you a whole house full! ' Well, how is Nellie's situation-does 3 & 1 still make four! I think it would be nice for another one to come along. Then I could be with her and keep her company & help sew little things-wheel!! It would give me something to fuss around about. Darling, I am getting so excited. Now that I am training someone for my job and now that I ' already have most of my wedding clothes I can hardly wait! Oh how I love you and want you. Miss you like the very dickens! Tomorrow and Tues. will be extremely busy days for me since the new six weeks session ' begins. That will keep me pretty busy until things are settled in the office. Therefore, you may not hear from me for a couple of days! It seems that my letters lately pertain to business, but it is all in the business of getting you! Love you. Eternally yours, Chatter July 17, 1949 Azusa, CA t Darling, have something rather important to talk over with you. I have been getting a little 111atel ial on wedding dress. I suppose that Nellie is right about the men's apparel. They just don't wear dress for ' wedding's around Kerrville. I suppose that they do in Houston, though. Seems that the parents need not. Thus it would entail evening dress for Bill and myself and the ushers. I believe you intend to have two bridesmaids-am I right? This will entail two ushers. I am ruling Charles out. That will leave Don , and anyone of your brothers whom you may choose. Don could rent a tux (I hope) but I hesitate to think how he will look or act in one. I will, of course, have to buy one. The thing will be a rather needless expense since I can't wear it to work but we'll only be married once-whatcha think? Must it be black or can it be the so called dinner jacket affair with off white coat? You have been ' seeing a number of weddings and know all about those things-or ask Tommy Hardy. If you like the idea let me know immediately along with a sketch showing the coat and color, the pants and color and whether with a strip down the side or no. Also, do they wear a collarless shirt and an attachable front, or t what? You see I have never worn one or seen one put on (aren't I dumb). Specify tie type, too. Shoes must be black, mustn't they? It can be done if you like but you will have to let me know and pick one of your brother's so I can get the information out in order that they may be prepared ahead of time. Darling, I love you. I spend the time just waiting for the day when we will be together as long as ' we both shall live. Once we are married nothing can part us-not even Mother's twin beds. Guess she will just have to be scandalized all over again. Don't know why in the world she ever got the things, anyway! , I'll be working hard in the next weeks to get a more or less permanent position here. It is a nice place and I want a home. All my love, Clarence. July 18, 1949 ' Azusa, CA My Darling, t 47 days to go. You just talked yourself out of a six page letter. You see, I have only 3 pages left. I'm just kidding of course. Really, I knew better than to do that and to many a girl it would have been excuse enough to boot a guy out on his ear. , I started work today and had quite the time. I will be learning and not very productive for the first year. I start off with 1 to six months of drafting and then one to six months of stress analysis after which time I shall be prepared to fight the mean cruel design engineer world. Don't go working up any jealousy complexes when you get out here or trying to live like the Sanders' live. Vic is way ahead of me and I ' doubt if I ever catch up with him-not for 20 years anyway. Okay-okay! Calm down I was only kidding a couple of sentences back. I love you! Was just saying Vic is a terribly smart guy. ' Your idea about the blue suits sounds okay. I'll wait to see what you say on the other and then shoot you a straight answer. Kitten, I want you to have the nicest wedding possible-nothing gaudy 'cause I know you wouldn't like something not in taste. To that end my suggestions and queries are propounded. ' 306 I took Vic and Nellie and V.A. out to dinner tonight as a thank you gesture (course I had been ' doing this and that all along-'s where my money went). We had a nice meal at a moody French place-shrimp creole. You will like the place. Now the austerity and saving program begins. Time to read my bedtime stories-a Drafting Room Manuel!! All my love, Clarence ' July 19, 1949 Denton, TX ' Darling: I am really in a quandry? And I don't know what to do. Dad keeps writing me and asking me about my Rotary Loan, which hasn't been repaid. He doesn't know what I have paid & he surely would like to know. I have paid very little on it and I don't know how in the world I am going to get it all repaid & get married too. You see, he wants to go before the board and make a loan for David-but how can he do it when I still have a debt to pay. I wish I had never listened to him & I wouldn't be in this mess! I don't have enough saved to pay back even half of the $300 plus the added percentage. I would be completely stranded with nothing in the bank, if I did that. Honey what can I do???? I have only you to turn to and you know how I feel about that. I would hate to be the one that prevented David from getting a loan. Dad wants to go before the board sometime next week and I should act before then, but I don't know what to do. I can hardly see through my tears to write this for it makes me so mad. I ' don't have any body here that I can turn to so it is left up to you to hear my troubles. Everything was going along so fine and now this becomes a pressing matter. Honey, I'm so mad at Dad that I can't think straight. Why don't he leave money matters alone! I wish that I could send them the check in full and be completely free of it, but how I can do that I don't I know. Honey, is there any way that you know of? I believe that I would do anything to get rid of it and his queries. Every time I go home he wants to talk about it-I avoid it cause I don't want to lose my patience with him. So he writes it in letters-letters which I very seldom answer for I always write Mom. ' Darling, help me figure it out. I surely wish you were here so that I wouldn't have to put this all in writing and that I would have you to hold me and tell me not to worry and that together we could find a way. I'll be so glad when I'm yours-I love you! I hate for this letter to be a crop of tears, but I am distressed & don't know what to do. I want to have a nice wedding-one that is within my means but I can't make the money stretch two ways that ' much. I have gone too far with the wedding plans to stop now-course it's over a month off and besides I only two more paychecks to come in before that time. I do want David to go to college & he can't go without a loan-I wish that Dad would leave him alone & ' let David do what he wants to do rather than what Dad Wants! For Dad always has to put in his two cents-you should know that! I had better stop writing now for I may say too much & later be sorry-for right now I am furious! Honey help me! I love you, Chatter r July 19, 1949 Azusa, CA f My Darling, This may get monotonous but-46 or 48 days to go. I can just see it now, "Labor Day! Boy you ' picked a grand time to take on a lifetime job of supporting a wife", etc. It lends itself admirably to the verbal part of the old time custom of shivareeing and the traditional pointed jokes. Don't you worry, Kitten-if it needs must be the fifth make it so. (Might make it the 1St just as easily.) ' There is another subject which must be taken up here. That is the apartment deal. It is going to be very difficult to find a suitable apartment coming empty from the Middle of August to the 1 St of September (If I can find one at all). I shall look into it this weekend and maybe put an ad in the paper if I can find nothing otherwise. If then-that fails you can stretch the truth just a bit and put my present ' address on the invitations and the mail will be forwarded then to whatever place we get. You haven't let me know which of your brother's you would like for an usher. If you have 3 bridesmaids and Nellie, I will need two of your brothers. I'll start checking into the suit deal immediately ' to find out what Bill and Don have to say. Boy, things are getting a little light. You think you are excited! I have been troubled by insomnia lately. Didn't get to sleep until 1:35 or thereabouts last night and had to get up at 7. 1 think maybe that I shall sleep better tonight. The longing for you and the excitement of a new job may be toned down by ' the sleepiness I feel stealing over me now. I was fingerprinted this morning and got started in on some actual work this afternoon. Had to just kill time this orning and that is always a terrible strain for me. 1 307 Hey, I was eating lunch yesterday (the first day) and saw what looked to be an Aggie ring at the ' next table. Sure was-the guy came over and introduced himself. He and I are the only two Aggies in the place. I'm making quite a lot of acquaintances-a lot of them important. Can't get a circle of friends ' yet cause I am just a spare cog without you! I love you. SAY-1 better stop and write the parents before they think I have died-Don't you worry about that waiting cause you'll get used to it. (as near as ever you can). I've waited a long time for you. All my , love, Clarence July 20, 1949 ' Denton, TX Darling: Got your letter this morning about the buying of a tux for the wedding. Honey, I think that it would be extremely nice for it to be intirely formal, but how are we going to get around the fact that every will have to be formal, including the mothers and dads. Where in the world would Dad find a tux! I don't know why Nellie is filling you so full of ideas-I should like to say a few things to her! Maybe I should have married you before you , went out there, and then you would not have to listen to her. I got a letter from Dr. King the other day and he stated that he would be on vacation then; therefore, I am afraid that Dad will have to perform the whole ceremony. That is unless, I ask Bill Foster to assist. XII'Li do you think about that? Dad does not have anything that even looks like a formal attire, and I don't know where in the t world he would get one for the occasion. Honey, I am not Houston's darling debutante getting married and I wish that Nellie would realize that. But you can do whatever you wish about it. (You know by now what I would like you to wear, for I gave you a whole list of the correct attire for the wedding that I had planned.) ' Darling, Nellie is a mad dreamer. I am a dreamer who likes to make my dreams materialize-like you. Therefore, I dream only to the point where I can make those dreams come true. My letter this morning was distrubing, and I don't think this one will make things any better. But honey, I am trying so hard to make things work out smoothly and all I get is cogs in the wheels. Please help me. ' Mother does not have a formal, and I know your mother doesn't. And I shall not ask them to purchase such. I love you, (unsigned) July 22, 1949 ' Azusa, CA My Darling, ' Looks like we both have a lot of problems. I can't say just what to do yet-you see I have $24 to do me until a week from tomorrow when the first pa check comes in. My pay will be on the order of $112 t or vicinity every two weeks (after all taxes and stuff removed). That gives $336 income until I leave for Texas of which it will take $100 to live. Looks like we are in a jam. I'll write you Saturday and let you know what I can find out. Things have been pretty quiet today. I put in my regular stint at the plant. There is a terrible , draft in there (to coin a pun). Spent the whole day just drafting away. I had a terrible time with that time clock the first couple of days. Though I am on salary everyone punches the thing to give all the workers a feeling of equality, etc. ' I'se sorry about the fact that you got no letter yesterday. I went over to the Sanders' and we played Pitch until it was near eleven and I just had to get in that sleep. Don't think I'm not thinking of you though! I sure am glad that I have now started work. It isn't good for me to think of you too much and the same goes for you! That statement might sound silly right now but think it over. When you love a person very much and can't have them it is best to find some way to occupy your mind other than brooding and longing continuously. I love you! Time will pass fast now as soon we enter the last month. Darling, please don't worry too much about the money. I'll see if I cain't do something. Course ' just to make you feel right'n stuff-if I can scrape up any we will consider it a personal debt from you to us which will need payment in the future. Hokay. That pore rabbit which Nellie had killed wasn't even used for fried food. What a shame any fool could have told she was maternal without making a rabbit party to the proof. All of which raises more ' complications-she has had trouble with a suppressed monthly condition for 2 weeks and may be ordered by her doctor not to make the trip to Texas. I sure hope she can, 'twas downright inconsiderate of her to do such a thing at this time-HAH! , Keep your chin up, Kitten and don't lead with your nose. That would be disastrous! Ah-ah. Temper! Temper! 308 ' Seriously though, I'm with you and though things may not come out as well as possible it will be a grand wedding just because it is yours and mine. Then you won't have to worry about having a shoulder to cry on. All my love, Clarence ' July 21, 1949 Denton, TX ' Darling: I do want you to remember that when you compare yourself with Vic that he has a four year starter years of married life to a gal like Nellie and before that-3 years he worked on an assembly line at Menasco. He just didn't start out where he is now. I love you-and together we'll advance! You just wait and see. Darling, have you even begun looking for us a place to live? Personally, I'm not particularity interested in living too close to where Nellie & Vic live. I don't want people to be constantly comparing us-which I know they will do. Personally, I'm almost scared to live in the same town. Honey we're so different-I guess you've figured that out by now. I'm just lil 'ole me-Katherine McNeill and Nellie is the Nellie that she made since she left home. ' She is not the Nellie that I knew and ran around with. I'm so glad that you think you got the best material out of the top drawer! I'll make you proud of me-and I'll be just me! I am sure you realize by now that I want you wear a dark suit for the wedding-and that I don't ' want you to listen to any more of Nellie's "do's". This is my wedding-and yours, and I want it the way that 1 want it. It is not an exhibition but our wedding. Therefore, my word should govern the procedures. I hope that I don't sound horsey but only one person can make rules or make requests and hope to have things turn out the way that he ' wants them. I love you...a whole house full. I surely do need you here with me. I find out just how hard it is to do things through correspondence. And too, how hard it is to make love, too My letters have been nothing but a lot of bossing & raving! Do you mind? I do wish that Nellie would ' answer my letter & the questions. She isn't enlightening my mind at all. Ask her to write me & let me know some of the answers. Honey, will Nellie & Vic drive down before you do. Or do you know their plans? Nellie could be an awfully big help to me if they would plan to come around the I" or even before. I will be home after the 26d', ' which will give me a week for preparation at home. Mother had better serve some good meals during that time for I am losing by the pounds already! How would you like a skinny gal. Glad that you now have some literature to entertain you in the evenings-California, surely does have pretty gals so I've heard. Love you, Chatter July 23, 1949 ' Azusa, CA My dearest One, ' I meant to write you this morning and tell you just how awfully much I want you. In some ways these last days are going to slow and in others they are going too fast. Let me shoulder a little of your worry first and then let you have a little more from this end. I am sorry that I could not get this chore completed this weekend-but I tried awfully hard. When things came ' right down to it there was no way out of getting insurance, etc. on the car so I am negotiating a loan with the Bank of America on the car. Don't worry-e can pay it back from the thousand. I will send you $250 probably Monday 15' of August. That money plus whatever else is needed must go to the Rotary Club. If your Father bothers you any more between now and then-tell him to go stick his head in a bucket or something. That is a concurrence of opinions from both sons-in-law. Now the bad. Nellie is still doing very poorly and may not get to be in the wedding or even come. She has been awaiting a doctor's decision and didn't have the heart to write what 1 have to write. ' I figure that you can perhaps give her a week more at the most and I will flash you the news pro or con immediately that she gets it. Doctor bills and her loss of work have wrecked their plans for new clothes and more trouble will probably just stop things. They have been planning to come around the 20th of ' August and leave just after the wedding (two weeks inclusive one way or the other). Now about my suit. I looked over the International Clothiers Custom Made (Chicago) samples here and picked a one eigth inch navy blue herringbone. Also there is a Navy Blue Plateau Cloth by Timely Clothes in a ready made which is nice (No. 866 1 think). There are various serges in near ' midnight blues which I would have no earthly use for after the wedding. See if you can find these samples and suits around. Unless I hear otherwise I shall order one of these sometime next month. Seems like that is about all for the time being-Woh! Just read your last letter again. 309 Kitten, you know that I don't like a wishy washy person who cain't make up their mind. I am glad ' that you are positive in your letters about what must be done. Nellie is trying to compose a letter just now but she is in a rather bad frame of mind from the ' pregnancy troubles and hasn't gotten the thing finished yet. She gave me the samples since I told her this letter was going off this afternoon and that the other girls needed the samples. If there is anything I can ask her and write you let me know. ' Kitten, I have been looking around for apartments but I haven't the money to move into a sixty five or so dollar apartment now and you just can't find them coming open in September. There are only two apartment houses in town and neither is what I would like. There are apartments coming open every week-plenty of them in single homes. Couldn't we please put my present address or Vic and ' Nellie's (this is crossed out-ed. note) on the invitations and any mail will be forwarded. Then I can find as nice an apartment as is available late in August. What do you think? Please. Never knew a wedding could be so many headaches but it is kinda fun isn't it. Beings as how it is ours. You've been worth waiting for and you shan't regret all this worry and work cause I love you, Clarence P.S. I looked over this letter and it looked just like some old hen had been out scratching. Sorry July 24, 1949 Denton, TX Darling, ' While I think of it, you should make your D's in Denton look more like D's. The post office officials mistake it for an S & some of my letters to Sinton before they reach me! It just so happens that we used to live , there! Guess I will have to give you a lesson in penmanship. I love you! (It may be that they have become so familiar with our correspondence that you won't have to bother about it!)---consquently, I would get the mail before it made the long trip! I surely do wish that I would hear from Nellie. I am extremely happy for her in this new condition, but I t do hope that it won't prevent her from coming for the wedding. I'd like to see her cake and have at it too. If she can't come then I will have to make a few major adjustments, which can easily be done now that I have set the date-permanently. ' By the way, would you like to hear the latest. Honey, we will be married on Sunday, Sept. 4`h at 5:30 (the way I always wanted it!) in the chapel. I love you. This date suits every one involved best & it is just what I want. Sunday is a day that has always been sacred and rather special in my way of thinking and our marriage is something sacred & special-therefore, Sept. 4`h-Sunday, will be an extra special beautiful sacred day. I love you. Darling, I know just what you meant when you stated that it wasn't good to think of each other too much. I do it with out thinking or trying-the nights are full of you. I am keeping very well occupied; therefore, only my , non-working hours are spent thinking about you constantly, and that is because I have to use that time making plans & budgeting. (I love you.) For instance, George called me and I gave him the order for my invitations with the Sept. 4's date. (On the bottom of every invitation will be an invitation to the reception-therefore, no one should feel slighted.) And the rest of this afternoon was spent in writing newspaper notices to send with my picture ' announcing our marriage! So don't be surprised if your Mom sends you a paper with my picture in it! And honey, my hair is really growing-darn it. Surely is hot-but I love you and if you think I am beautiful that way then what else can I do but let it grow. I love you a whole house full. (No rabbits for us!) ' I surely will come in handy out there in Azusa when Nellie is in need of a baby-sitter or a keeper for Vicki Ann, won't I? It will just show you what a good mother I can be. I love you. Chatter July 25, 1949 ' Azusa, CA My Darling Chatter, ' This style of writing may amaze you at first but my written hand is not so hot and I need practice in lettering for my engineering work. Understand as you read this that I am working without guide lines here. I recieved the first compliment I ever recieved on my lettering today. ' It has been a tough day at the office, Kitten. I have been promised my first work on a new project as soon as I finish what I am doing now. In consequence, I worked my fool head off all day long and finished just as the whistle blew. I am shore one heap big tired. Now is the time when I could just ' love to have you cuddle up in my arms while I relaxed and got the fatigue poison out of my system. 310 ' These weekends are horrible. I dare not spend money foolishly and there is no job to go to in ' the morning. Sure will be nice when we are married. Then if we have nothing else we will have each other. Forty or forty two days now. Over half our parting is behind since I left you about 47 days back. I recieved a newsy page from your father this afternoon. It rather surprised me and since I had none from you I thought that you might have had to go home for some reason or another. Wasn't much ' but musings and family goings on. Here are the two addresses which I promised you. I decided not to send one to the Macintoshes. ' Mr. & Mrs. D.G. Massey & family 1524 El Campo Drive Dallas, Texas Only the long, lonely nights and the days that stretch ahead for the next five weeks can tell you just how much I miss you, Kitten. Sometimes it still seems that I am dreaming when I think of us as approaching the marital state. I need you so much in ways that just can't be put down in words. You see, you are not just A one but THE one. Perhaps you can understand now that I have known this for a long time. Weithout you life would certainly go on but something of the beauty and the togetherness would be missing with anyone else. That is the very thing that keeps husbands faithful and wives contented. Let's make it a thing to be envied by those who marry for money or for lust or any of the other things that beset the errant's path, I love you! Goodnight, my darling. Sleep tight. Clarence ' July 26, 1949 Denton, TX ' Darling: I am glad that you wrote the letter that you did stating that I would hear from Nellie soon. I had thought ' that that was what was troubling her. Clarence, Please make it clear to her that I want her to be in the wedding if it won't be of harm to her health and to the child that she will be bearing. Darling, she had so much trouble with the last birth, that I do not want her to develop any attitude that would be of harm to her this time. You know, I told you that she broke down the last time because she did not want the child at that time. ' And I definitely do not want her to develop the same attitude with this one-it will not be good for her or for Vic. That is one of the reasons that they were so in debt-her hospital bill. Please make it clear to her that I can go ahead with the wedding plans and that I will not let it bother me. Even though I would like for her health or-anyone elses. Please assure her that I would love to take care Vicki Ann anytime that she would get on her nerves, for I know that when I get out there that I will welcome and job of that sort. In fact, I think the situation is ideal. I will be an ole married lady by the time that the little one arrives, and I will be able to be with Nellie and help she and Vic out in many ways. It will not be like the last time when she was so all alone out there. I love you. I have to run now and go see Mrs. Mutt and take a peek at the dresses for the attendants and the flower girls. A week or even more will be enough time in which to let me know the doctors decision. I only want Nellie to do what is right and best for all concerned. Please get her straightened out. I love you a whole housefull Chatter July 26, 1949 Azusa, CA My dearest Chatter, I have just read you very, very nice letter (with certain reservations-regarding the battle of the bulge). Doggone it! If you had taken me three years ago you would not have had to worry about my natural "shady side of the twenties" figure. I love you! The date and time sound wonderful. I had always rather hoped it would be on Sunday but have tried to keep my two cent's worth out unless you required them. As they say back home it is your day to howl. Everything I do or suggest is in the interest of you having the wedding to remember. Labor ' Monday would have posed quite a problem on the license deal, too. I am writing your father this afternoon to get him to get all information on the license. I can hardly wait. Forty days to our wedding day and only a little over a month before I begin the trek back to Texas. I had a busy day today and got started on something with quite a bit of meat in it. I know that, even though the newness has not yet ' worn off, I shall enjoy this job as long as I may keep it for there is always something going on and the people are all so congenial. I am just waiting for the day when I can have you around to share the joys and lighten the sorrows. Gosh! Won't it be wonderful! ' 311 Nellie is feeling quite a bit better now. I have not been over to see what the latest from the , doctor is but I sill let you know before the week is up I hope. Must be all for now, Kitten. Don't get too bothered about things that don't turn out right. I'll get ' that cash to you by early next week, I believe. Love yo', Clarence July 27, 1949 , Denton, TX Darling: Golly but I miss you. Like tonight, for instance, Mr. Appelman had a recital-I would have given my left ' little toe to have had you sitting there beside me! Instead, I was sitting there with the two love-birds-T & X. and Tommy H. & Marvin. I'm surely glad that they are around. Would much rather been with you!! I love you. It won't be too long now though & we will be able to go all sorts of places together! I love you! The Society Editor of the Campus Chat called me today & wanted the low-down on my wedding plans. ' Will send you a copy when it comes out. Nothing like being in society?!! Evelyn is coming down to spend a week with me beginning this weekend-she is all through with her vacation bible schools for this summer. I think I will put her to work in the office, I could use some help. Honey, Tommy Hardie will be the new choral director at Bryan High School this coming year & many to come. And he is quite anxious for our wedding to come about so that he can come over from Bryan for it! Isn't that something!!?? That means that there will be someone there other than our families! (ha!) I have been meaning to write to tell you to be sure & take out some insurance on the car before you make ' the trip, but you have already looked into that, which makes me extremely happy. As I sit at my desk & try to work-one prof after another walks in and out and asks me "how many more days is it". Surely are a lot of people interested in our wedding-in fact the whole administrative staff keeps asking , me about it & then they tell me how much they're going to miss me. Now isn't that touching? Gosh, how lucky can you be? I love you. It is getting late & I must stay "beautiful" for you-Sleepily , Chatter 1 July 26, 1949 Denton, TX t Darling: When I saw that "new look" in your handwriting I thought surely that you had found a secretary prettier than this lil secretary! But sure nuf, it was just another of your hidden talents being brought to the surface. Life ' gets more interesting all the time. Oh boy!!! I love you. I hope that you have great success in this project on which you have begun work. Honey, just put your "all" into it and I know that it will be good. The other night a group of kids came over-a bridge party & I was the fifth man. But it was intended that way, for they are & were determined to teach me to play bridge. So Jody, who is a very good player, sat beside me & told me the "why & wherefores". After about 3 or 4 hands I was doing nicely by myself-we played up until around 12 & had a real good time. Now at least I know enuf to say that I can play bridge a "little". We intend to play kinda often so that I can really keep in practice what they taught me! Now after I get out there you & Nellie & Vic & I can play to get me some more practice. I love you. Must run to work, Chatter July 28, 1949 Azusa, CA My Darling, ' Guess I had better write my best girl tonight before she gives me the gate. I hope you are duly shocked by the enclosed pictures. Have to make a show at keeping you in line someway. Hope it doesn't come as to much of a shock to you when I ra'r back and fight the bit some after we are married. We got quite a buzz out of your picture strip. I love you! Nellie is quite a bit better now and I will probably give you the tentative verdict Saturday. You seemed quite worried about her frame of mind in today's letter. Don't be. She was just feeling very, very ' bad and had to take a lot of upsetting medicine 'n stuff. The trouble is under control now and she is back at work. She wrote you one letter and tore it up. Don't know just what the deal was but think she must have bawled you out for never mentioning whether you had gotten the graduation present or not--? ' 312 Everybody out here is television crazy-sets all over the place-fools who can't afford 3 meals a day striving to keep up with the Jones's. Shows are lousy as yet. Few of the big names are in the game. 38 days to go. Each night as I crawl into bed I count off the lonely nights to go and each morning as I go to work I count off the days before I leave for Texas. Good night, darling I love you, Clarence ' July 28, 1949 Denton, TX Darling: ' Boy did I make the headlines, I wish you would look!!! Can you imagine? I almost fell over backwards when I saw that! But it's nice to be noticed, ya know. I am sitting here waiting for Evelyn to come-she is going to spend a week with me before sh goes back home. It will be nice to have some company for a change for I am always alone! I may even put her to work in the office. I could use some help over there, too. Honey, how will your suit be cut-will it be similiar to you light suit. I would like for it to be that way- for then it will carry the same effect as a tux. Know what I mean? Please have Bill wear the same color & type suite as yours. John has a dark blue suit but I do not remember it too well. I would like to have Don dressed in a suit of a similar caliber as yours & Bill's. Honey, I do not think that a mid-night blue would be practical-but don't have the a light color. I want the suits to be dark, but not to an extreme. Vic has excellent taste, ask him to help you in your selection. Just explain to him what I have said & I'm sure that he will understand what I want. I love you. Dorothy surely is enthusiastic about my wedding, and she is doing a lot of research for me. For instance, she is finding out where I can get the best prices & bargains. Speaking of expenses, no doubt you know just about ' what all your expenses are don't you.-License, bride's bouquet, best mean & ushers gifts & boutineers (sp?), the mother's corsages & the bride's gift. If you would like to make that gift practical, I will tell you what I would like. I love you! Honey, what are we going to do about our honeymoon? How have you thought about our traveling and ' such. Would it be too much out of the way if we went to the ranch, then to see Chas. & Jean, and then traveled up and over towards Calivornia. Or what did you have in mind. If we went by the ranch, I wouldn't let the twin beds seperate us! I love you. (Rest of page is missing) ' July 30, 1949 Azusa, CA My Darling 36 days to go! I shall leave Azusa a month from tomorrow in all likelihood which brings up a subject which will disappoint you no end. Nellie wrote you a big long letter yesterday all full of jubilation about being able to come and then she went to her doctor yesterday evening and he said it might be bad if she started bleeding again next month. Therefore it is impossible for her to know if she can come- certainly she can't be in the wedding. I was over last night talking to them and they have decided nearly definitely to call off the trip whether Nellie continues okay or not. You needn't worry-she wants this one. I think it is best for all concerned. It butchers your bridal group but it is better that it was butchered now than a week before the wedding. 1 love you and you love me-that is all that is of lasting ' importance in this deal, darling! Got my first check yesterday-$118.50. Happy day. I was so close to broke that it was not even funny. We may go up to the San Gabriel Creek (River) to pan gold tomorrow. Should be fun. ' I must go and complete the transaction on the car so I can include the money in the letter. Bet it will take a little pressure off. LATER ' Finished up all the transactions on the chattel mortgage and got the car registered so the enclosed check is all ready for your signature. Pay the Rotary Club Immediately, Darling. I'm in love with my job-sure is interesting to have your finger in a pie like that. Course there is another love in my life, too. I spend 8 hrs. at work and 16 with you. Don't know until I get into the routine ' whether I can balance things are whether the night will make me too tired for the day or the day will make me too tired for the night. Maybe we had better have a "kissless" marriage. What'cha think. 313 P.S. (Just Try!) I love you. Guess I had better sign off cause I've got lots of nothing to do. (Just remembered that I borrowed five bucks from you before I left-makes the 250 245.) Be sweet, I love you. Clarence Nellie said she would write a third letter soon! July 31, 1949 - August 1, 1949 Denton, TX Darling: One month and 4 days! Golly!!! Then I'll really belong to you-body and soul. It won't be long now. t Honey, I know that I thanked Nellie for the linen set. I don't know that should upset her so! I will write her and mention the linen set, but it will be repeating what I have said before. I love you. Evelyn arrived bag (3 of'em) & boxes (2 of'em) and a briefcase! The place is really crowed!! Surely is good to have her around. I haven't giggled so much in years. I don't know why but she & I amuse each other , immensely! Yesterday, we went downtown to Mutt's for she had called and said that my gown had arrived. Oh honey, it's gorgeous-you won't know me when I come walking up the aisle-you might think that you've got the wrong ' gal coming towards you. It is simply beautiful & it really does things for me. I can hardly wait for you to see me in it. Evelyn & I are going to Dallas tomorrow--& do a bit of shopping at which time I shall pick out my chinL and crystal. So far everytime that I had planned to go something managed to prevent it. This afternoon I called Dr. t Hodgson and said that I was going to Dallas in the morning & that I would be back at noon to work. Monday, is a day of a lot of nothing at the office. So reluctantly & hesitantly said it was alright. (I'm so far ahead on the work there in the office til it isn't funny-As far as I'm concerned I'm ready for the Spring Semester.) I don't think that Mrs. Bounds will have much trouble when she comes into office. There is no real big hurry about the apartment just so we have one to go to when we get there. I'd like for it to be a nice one-sorta on the order of the one that I am living in now, but larger-cause you're liable to want to have room enough to chase me around! I love you. And too, it would be easier for YOU to help me clean up. I love you. I'm not worried about Nellie's state of mind-for all I want is her haPPiness. And of course I want her to be in the ' wedding-if it is alright with her doctor, if not, then Ruth will just take her place. Course, I want Nellie to be standing there beside me most of all. That is, with the exception of you. I want to warn you now that you had better smile when I come trembling up the aisle on the Judge's arm. So you have better keep using Ipana 'er sumpin'. I've been in too many weddings where the groom was either too ' scared to smile or too bored or something. By gum, you'd better smile-I love you a whole house full! You had better talk to Vic about that license deal-for he got his in Houston, etc. I think there is some sorta of blood test connected with it, too. You had better inquire & find out what Vic remembers. I shall close now, and write a long letter to Nellie. Love you, Chatter Darling: On the radio this morning they were talking about the big Sheep Dog Show in Kerrville this next week, and whose name did I hear but Mr. Ernest Leinweber. And they talked about his dogs. I always think of the name and I am constantly writing - and now I hear the name on the radio. Goodness! (The anouncer pronounced it wrong like every one else does) Honey, I know him, don't I? I know that there is a gang of them. This weekend was the annual family party at home on the ranch, wasn't it. Jean wrote and told me that she surely wish that I could come down but you know that I couldn't do that. It costs. July 31, 1949 , Denton, TX Dear Mom and Dad: Plez consider this a letter from Evelyn and I. Since she is a foreign correspondent and can't write in ' English, even if she tried, I shall endeavor to write you and let you in on all the know. Evelyn arrived bags (2 of them), boxes (3 of them) and brief case (only one, thank goodness!), Now the little apartment is crowded! However, we are having a good time. Giggling and all that sort of stuff. I am making ' her work for her meals-so don't think that she is just sitting around on her can. Tomorrow the both of us are going to Dallas and I am going to pick out my crystal and china-I shall inquire to see if they know which stores in Houston carry the same stock, Then I shall let you know and you can register-or I will tell you the names of the patterns and you and Doff can find out who carries them. That will ' hive you something to do in your spare time. (ha!) 314 Saturday, Mrs. Mutt called me and said that my gown was here, so I immediately trotted down and tried it on. Oh my goodness, but it is a beauty. It is a size 10 and it fits me perfectly. It is such a beautiful gown and it ' makes me look like someone else-someone that is extremely exotic. Of course, I don't know who that someone is-so it must just be plain ole me. You will love the dress. I have never seen anything so beautiful. I'm ready right now for the wedding, as far as I am concerned. Evelyn was with me when I tried it on and her eyes just ' bulged. Dad, I am hoping that you have a dark blue suit: if you don't have one you had better start thinking about getting one. Since I am not having the men wear tuxes, which is out of the question, I do want all the suits to be as near the same color as possible. I do not want it to be a midnight blue, but a soothing dark blue. Clarence's suit will be either a one eight inch navy blue herringbone or a navy blue Plateau Cloth (by Timely Clothes-sample #866) therefore, if you could make a trip down to some men's clothiers and take a look at those two mentioned it would give you an idea of what the men are wearing. I want John to be one of the ushers. I know that he already ' has a blue suit, but I can't remember just how dark it is. I wonder if you would compare it with the types that I stated and see just how it would go with them. Please.??????? Mom, you and Doff and decided won where the rehearsal dinner will be, for it will a lot easier for me to leave it up to you all. Since I am not around Houston enough to know some of the places mentioned, I will just leave it up to your taste. (I don't particularily care for Bill Williams-it reminds me too much of primitive life- you know, eating with your hands, etc.) I kinda like the idea of the Tea Room. ' Personnel for Wedding Bride: Chatter Clegryman; Pop Groom; Clarence Donor? Judge Best Man; Bill Bouldin Usher; Don Leinweber Matron of Honor; Nellie Usher; John Bridesmaid; Ruth Reavley Organist; Ruth Red Bridesmaid; Jane Collins Singer; Evelyn Jr. B-maid; Ann ' Flower girl; Fleda Nell Mom, Doff, Mr. & Mrs. C.L. Flower girl; Vicki Ann Leinweber ' Course, for the dinner, the two little gals will be excluded and sent home for a long night's sleep. I don't know what to say in regard to Ann. Therefore, all toll we will have to plan for 17 persons. (That is not counting the husbands or wives of some of the people-like the Judge for instance) However, we have to bear in mind that the dinner is given for the wedding party. Of course, if Nellie and Vic cannot make the trip that will cut two of the ' party out. The last report that I had from Clarence was that Nellie was doing a lot better and that she was back at work. I do hope that she will not over do it and prevent them from coming. I surely do want them to come. Golly, ' so much centers around their presence. I should hear from her this week; she has been to upset to write a decent letter, says Clarence, for she started several and got disgusted and threw them away. I am hoping that Doff will let this serve as an answer to her very explicit letter describing the possible dinners. For this has turned out to be some letter. In fact, it is almost a book. ' I will make a payment to the Rotary Club of Houston during this next week. A payment that will practically get me out of the debt. Something that will make me only too happy. Love and later more, Chatter August 1, 1949 Azusa, CA ' My Dearest One I have been a busy little boy today just doing nothing. I went to church this morning and then about 1:30 Vic picked me up and we all went out in San Gabriel Canyon to try our luck at panning gold- no luck. There is gold there but not enough to pan effectively unless you know just what you are doing- which we didn't! Sure will be glad to get back to work tomorrow. The weekends pass exceedingly slow and I get no mail from Saturday noon until I come home after work Monday afternoon. I know I havn't been writing ' you regularly which is a crime since I so love to get your letters. I can't some how bring myself around to writing long assinine letters on the potency of my longing-like yours it is something that we have to live with far too much to drag across pages of miles. Like tonight as I sit here writing-I think not of how ' much news there is to put in a letter but rather of how much longer until I see you again and we become totally one. And yet there are only so many ways to put it in words and they all boil down to I love you. Can it be any more complex? And yet I have said it all in words-as I shall repeat it again and again. Is ' 315 it a crime to long to have you with me tonight to say it with actions? Gosh it would be nice if that were ' so-just to have you even to cuddle up and snuggle against me with that incomparable hair tickling my nose and maybe assess a kiss taken as I have never taken from another and as was never given another. Or maybe to play a gay little tune on the strings of your heart never knowing just what the tune will be but improvising perhaps as the mood arises. Can you see that, Darling? Can you feel the need and all the suppressed desire of the years? It's here tonight coursing thru this room-and no doubt ' through yours. It will be with us until it is fulfilled and grows, and ripens to a mutual sharing of memories-God willing! 35 days to go and then a lifetime! A lifetime of everything that makes a home and a family-a lifetime of the merry little girl who has ripened into the women I love. Don't say, "the guy's dopey", when I say you are the epitome of my dreams-I realize your vagaries as you realize mine. We have run afoul of them from time to time. There is that deeper revelation of oneness which you must feel as I feel. A oneness which leaves this half in the mood you find tonight. Goodnight, Other Half Love you ever so ' much, Clarence August 2, 1949 Azusa, CA My Darling, I'll kinda run a resume through your letter of today. I can get a suit of near the same cut as the one I have though I will temper it with a little common sense since this one is a modified lounge drape. You can't coordinate these things too well in letters, but I will try to see that Bill's suit is as near like mine as possible without forcing him to buy a new one which he might not want. Mine will be navy blue- which is neither too dark nor too light. I presume by your mention of John's suit that he is your selection for usher. How many bridesmaids, lease!! Please let mother know your silverware, china, etc. patterns before you send out invitations. Perhaps you have already 'cause she wrote today that she had just recieved a nice letter from you. ' I'm filing the list of things I must buy. Would you place the order for flowers to match for mothers and yourself. One large or two medium white orchids for you trimmed as you like and boutonneres for us'uns. If you have scruples, I can have Dorothy do it but you know the way you want the wedding ' arranged. And please do drop a hint on the morning after present. It is supposed to be a trinket but you have so much costume jewelry (I can't afford the other kind.) Brother-don't I know what my expenses are. I flat can't buy very much in the way of new clothing. That suit will cook my goose. The honeymoon is optional and one of those unplanned things. 1 know where we will start but ' had thought that you might like a half day at your home after the wedding-a day or two after-to organize shipping of such stuff as can't be taken. Plan to take only a nominal amount plus the breakables with you. Never can tell about thieves and canvas tops you know. More about this later. ' We will go by the ranch to see the Grandparent's Harper (a promise already made), Charles & Jean, and the folks. From there we come by way of Carlsbad Caverns, Grand Canyon etc. as we have money and or time. I have had your father check on the license and got his letter back today. He or anyone can ' purchase the thing so long as they have the info and my medical certificate. I am forwarding the note on to the folks. They will love to be able to do something if only to pay for the rehearsal party. (I think) It may be necessary for one of your sisters to handle the deal naturally ' because I feel sure the folks won't leave the ranch until Sunday morning and just would be hopelessly lost trying to handle something like that in a strange city. They can't stand travel and will be dead anyway. Just a note on my activities. Vic, Nellie, and I went to a police benefit ball at Santa Anita race ' track Saturday night (free tickets) Nellie was quite put out, I am afraid, because I would not dance with her. I just couldn't force myself to stomp on her feet-still self conscious. Milton Berle was there and put on a great show-sure was funny. ' Did something to my alarm this morning-not sure what-consequently no shave, five minutes late to work and felt like you know what all day-be good all my love, Clarence 316 i August 1, 1949 (one month, 3 days) ' Denton, TX Darling: Well, I made the trip to Dallas, and it turned out to be a very successful one. Let me tell you what your patterns of our china and crystal are. Honey, they are beautiful and simple-you know how my taste is. Our crystal in an orginal pattern called "Vine" made exclusively for Linz jewelers of Dallas. It is Belgium crystal by Val-Saint Lambert. Just in case you need the information-the crystal can be purchased by mail order to Linz Bros....and can be bought at the following prices. Goblets; $3.25 ca., Sherberts: $3.25 ea., Iced Tea; $4.83 ea. Salad plates; 4.00. it is a beautiful piece of crystal which shows style and excellent taste. The China is Lennox China and the pattern is Tuxedo. It good china with a gold embossed in geometrical design-like minature Byzantine or Doric columns.-and a pencil line in gold outlining the center of the plate. I do hope that I have not entirely confused you. In case you have the chance to visit any places that would sell Lennox china you can take a look at the pattern and see what you think about it. When you put the three-my crystal, chain and silver together it makes a wonderful setting on the table. We tried it out at the jewelers, I know. I am sure that you will like it, if you don't then we will just have to live with it for the rest of our days. All of the ' patterns are very serviceable-I don't want stuff that will just sit on the shelf. I love you. While I was in Dallas, I did quite a bit of other buying. I won't tell you what I got, for you will see it all in due time. There is not too much stuff that I will have new over the clothes that I purchased last fall. You never did ' get to see them enough to be tired of them, so I am hoping that you won't remember them too well. 1 love you. a whole house full!!!!!!!!! Oh, I almost forgot: I got a pattern in pottery too. And this is Dragon flower by Winfield makers of handcraft china. (The company is in Santa Monica) It is really pretty, and I am hoping that we will get enough so ' that we can eat at least two meals a day off of it...meaning we will eat off the good china sometimes in the evening. (That is if we get enough of that) I am getting so excited about it all. Oh honey, I love you so much-and it is worth waiting for. ' I had intended to get back by noon today, but trying to get everything done just right took more time than I had expected-besides Evelyn slowed me down a bit-guess I am used to going at too rapid a pace. Well, we missed a bus, in fact, we missed two of them. By the time we got on the 3:30 bus and were on our merry way back to the salt mine, it was too late for me to think about going over to the office. I don't know how happy I have made ' Dr. Hodgson (ha% but I tried. Monday never is a very busy day. I got back and later I went by the post office-the windows were closed at that time, conquently, I could not get the registered letter that was there waiting for me. Thanks a million darling. I will pay it back to you in more ways. than one. I love you. I will send ' a check to the Rotary and we will be all clear. It is getting late and I have had a rather tiring day. But is worth everybit of the effort that is put forth in making preparations for becoming yours. I love you. Chatter f ' August 2, 1949 Azusa, CA My Dearest One, Nothing has happened since yesterday which is of news value. Troubled by insomnia again last night. I was quite amused at your letter today-I'll sure grin for you-maybe quite fatuous and no doubt will be like the canary that pecked the cat's nose! Any rattling will be my fine pepsodented teeth. Note: Ipana is for the smile of beauty of which 1 ain't. My tentative plan unless something calls for a change is to leave here Wednesday evening (31 August) stop in Phoenix for the night and proceed to the ranch on the next day's run. I'll lay over and come to Houston the night of the 2"d-1 month from today-happy day. I love you. Terribly hot (for California-or rather L.A.) today-92 degrees. Course other parts of the state crawl up to 1200 regularly. I sweltered. ■ I don't want to see your wedding gown until you come down the aisle-then I can steal a look or two after the wedding and out here at my leisure. I know it is beautiful. I love you! I must cease and desist to write the folks. Be good and don't get in too much of a tizzy. Tell ' Evelyn that she is commissioned as official keeper of the nerves. All my love, Clarence 317 August 3, 1949 , Denton, TX Darling: ' Since Evelyn has been here, I have found it hard to sit down and try to write you a letter. I am so used to living alone now in that apartment that I have all that I can to try and control myself---o keep from being impatient. You see, Evelyn is extremely slow and just takes her good time-I am so used to going at a certain tempo that it sometime get annoying when I want to meet deadlines, etc. By the time that you get me, I am liable to really be a mess-more so than I am. Hon, I have always stated that there would be two bridesmaids-Ruth and Jane. But now that Nellie will t be unable to attend, I have just shifted Ruth up to the Maid of Honor and Jane to first bridesmaid, and I will add Dorothy for the second bridesmaid. Therefore, we will need just the two ushers-Don and John-for Ruth will be standing opposite Bill. Consquently, every thing works out even. Ann will be a Junior Bridesmaid-and it is not , necessary that she have a partner. Fleda Nell will be the only lil flower girl; Ann can coach her if necessary. So you see, things are not bad at all. I am still looking for the letter from Nellie... however, I have already accepted the fact that they will not be here, and I have been contacting the necessary persons that it will affect. I am disappointed, yes, but it isn't stopping all progress, I can assure you. Maybe I sound just a little to frivilous about it ' all, but I have had many disappointments in my life which I have never let bother me, and another added to the list, hardly phases me. I love you. I think you know how I feel about the matter, therefore, I shall not try to explain further. ' The more I think about it, the more I like the idea of having someone there to greet us. Then I will get to show off my gown all over again; I am getting real excited about it all. I can just see me now-blabbing my head off to Nellie about it all... The wedding and just everything from Houston to Azusa! Your mother had gotten just one of the letters that I had written her when she wrote the letter to you. For ' you see, after I came back from Dallas, I sat right down and wrote her a two page typed letter telling her just what I had chosen in the way of my silver and crystal, and china. I even had a sample of the crystal sent out to the ranch so she could see what the folks would be putting their money into. And I also told her just what the procedure was for getting the crystal-since it is an exclusive pattern, it can be purchased through Linz Jewelers only. In my last , letter to you, I told you about that and the china, etc. and your mother's letter was even more informative! So she should be well informed. Dorothy has been working all along on the idea of the rehearsal dinner, and I think that she has just about ' made up her mind as to where it will be held, etc. However, if your mother does like the little idea of doing something, then I am sure that there will be no objections from any of the family as to their taking some part. Dorothy is a wonderful little manager; therefore, your mother and dad would have nothing to worry about as far as that end goes. You see, since Dorothy will be in the wedding itself now, there will be the expense of her buying a , gown. You should see the system that I have set up for taking care of the acknowledgments for gifts, etc. Boy, I haven't been asleep in these days that you have been gone. Since I have such a good system set up, I hope that I get ' some gifts to acknowledge! (ha!). I love you a whole house full. I got the registered letter and I signed the card, so you should know that I got the check all right. I went down and deposited it right away, and then I sat down that evening and wrote another one to the Rotary Club of Houston. Therefore, I won't have to worry about them. ' Mr. Hall of the print shop is fixing me up with all kinds of stationary with my little name on it so that I can send out fancy notes for "Thank yous" and notes that I can write to all those participating and tell them about the rehearsal time and the dinner, etc. See, I am wide awake! ' Darling, I would prefer that you give me the gift before the wedding, for if I tell you what I want or would like for you to give me-then I will need it before. Well, here goes. I have always wanted a nice little bag to go with the rest of my luggage. One of those little bags with the handle on the top that can either be used for an overnight bag or a cosmetic bag. During all of my college days I have wanted one and had many occasions where I would need such, but I never felt that I could get one, or I never did take out the time or the money to do so. My luggage is brown trimmed with natural leather. Therefore, the bag could either be brown or in the natural color. It would be an extremely useful gift, and one that I could always use. Course, all the books say that the groom should give his bride some piece of jewelry, and I agree with what you say. The only thing that I do not have is a time piece, and you know that I cannot wear a wrist watch. Course, there are the lapel and the kind that you can wear around the neck-which of course some day I would like to have one of the kind so that I could keep all my dates with you, but for now I am content with my electric clock. Therefore, all logic points to the piece of luggage. Talk ' to Nellie about it-she gave a piece similiar to what I want to Evelyn for her graduation from Rice; so she would know what I am referring to. Only, I want mine just a wee bit bigger than Evelyn's-for I could use it for any small trips that we would see fit to take after we are in California. I love you. ' This letter has really gotten to be long, but I guess you won't mind since you haven't gotten one too recently. And, of course, I am sorry. 318 ' Your idea for the honeymoon was the same thing that I had in mind. I love you. I would hate to leave ' Texas without seeing the Harpers and some of the Leinwebers-Jean and Charles, etc. Goodness, we will be going a fer piece down the road, won't we. Must close now and go home. Hope that Evelyn has fixed supper. For I am rather tired, and I have a concert and reception to attend-plus choir practice, first. Love, Chatter August 4, 1949 Azusa, CA My dearest One, Some of the Imperial Valley must have sifted in through the pass at Palm Springs cause it was ' mighty hot today-hottest of the year at L.A., 23 miles from here--921. I understand it pushed 1051 here. Azusa is backed in the mouth of the San Gabriel Canyon and the 9000 ft. San Gabriel Mountains rise at the city limits-foothills of the High Sierra. Vic told me this morning that it would be impossible for them to come even if Nellie appears ' okay. They have a number of irons in the fire including the house and car and the last month's doctor bill's killed any chance. Nellie had planned to work till Christmas but lost her job as of sometime late this month. It's tough but.... The days are beginning to drag now-seems like they will never all pass. It will be a strain on us for a while making a go of things on only $237 clear each month (California prices) but we'll enjoy every minute of it. Won't it be grand! Bill wrote-sez to say hi! Tell Evelyn Howdy for me. ' The china and stuff sounds very nice. Guess I shall see it all in due time: I leave for Texas four weeks from today. See you in less that a month now. Guess I better phone up from downtown and have you clear the decks for action. Somebody might get embarassed the way I feel now! Goodnight Kitten. Your Clarence August 5, 1949 Denton, TX Darling: ' I got no letter from you today, but I did receive one from your mother-one that she fell asleep writing. You should see it. She was in a big hurry besides-however, I managed to decipher it. And she said that she would write me more on Monday. I am looking forward to that letter for then I will know if she got the piece of crystal that I had sent out there. Also, I finally got a letter from Nellie today. It sounded real wonderful and I am ' glad that she finally got around to it. While waiting for that letter, I went ahead and made arrangements that would not include the Sanders family. Evelyn left today at noon adn will be in Houston tonight. She can help out a lot by being at home-more so than if she stayed here. Last night, after the (enclosed) concert Mr. Appelman invited Xina, Tommy, Tommy, and Bob Stone (T.'s brother) and his mother, Mrs. Evans, Marvin Solley and myself and two other kids that you do not know (Alvis and Sallie Autrey) over to their house to have some pie and coffey-plus making home-made ice-cream. We really had a good time. That will be the last time that all of us will be together for a long time. Tommy and Tommy have finished their theses, and both are just floating around on air. Tommy S. will go home now until the 25th to find a place for he and Xina to live in Marshall beginning in October. Tommy H. will just be going back and forth until he begins his teaching in Bryan High school. Xina still has a course to ' complete or I am sure that she would just pick up and leave too. Marvin, too. Every one will be together again on the 25`x' of August, which is the last day of school and the day of commencement. And that will be my last day around here too. The end of a wonderful chapter in my life is slowly coming to an end-but the next chapter is even more promising. I love you. I must bring this to a close, and call it a day. I love you a whole house full, ' 319 August 6, 1949 ' Azusa, CA My Dearest One, ' Another week gone by and this is Saturday morning and I have been sitting here counting up finances. Things are sure going to be tight before I leave here with a suit and payment on an apartment. Oh, well. I'll manage somehow. Haven't gotten a letter from you in two days-guess Evelyn kept you occupied. The wedding is four weeks from tomorrow. Can you fathom that? I want it to rush around and yet it scares me-the financial part, that is! ' You know, it is an amazing thing but there is absolutely nothing to write about-no business to talk over and no love that can be made by letter-just the perishable, deliver in person type. All my love, Clarence August 6, 1949 Denton, TX ' Darling: Here I am in a strange place, but I still have plenty of time in which to write you. Yuu See, Zv11. %'uciunan decided that he had better get rid of all of his pests so he asked us (his tenants) if we would mind leaving for the weekend! He is going to set off a bomb in the place that will kill humans as well as the pests that are eating his stock-such as little silver fish that love to eat the book backs, etc. Since it is Saturday, he thought we would all like to get away from home for a change. Therefore, I am down staying with Caroline Brown-you don't know ' her-. She has a date to play bridge way up until the wee hours of the morning, so here I sit by my lonesome. I just finished washing my hair, and while I am waiting for it to dry, I decided to make use of the typewriter that is sitting here on the desk. You know, it is a very nice past time just writing to you and thinking of you. I love you. Today, since I always have the afternoon off, I went down to have my gown fitted-it was too long for a shortie like me. I want to have my portrait made nest week so that I will have them before I go home and they will be ready-all ready to put in the papers. I have the write-ups all ready to send to the papers, too. So see, I am really thinking ahead. I didn't know that Nellie was losing her job; I guess that does sorta put them out. I thought that she would keep it for some time to come. Course, I won't mind, for it will mean that we can be together more. Nellie and I, that is. ' I do hope that they will get the piano; then Nellie and I can make some mad music together-and you and Vic can sit back and talk shop-using your ear plugs, of course. I love you. I am hoping that you will give me some idea of just what to expect from the weather in the country that we will be traveling through. Course, you could always cuddle me up and keep me warm, but I have heard that the late afternoons get sorta chilly and that there is need of a coat or something. Please let me know what to expect, for I want my wardrobe to be equipped with the right things when we start out across the country. You know, this whole adventure it thrilling me to death-new country to travel through and most of all a partner all my own to ' share it with. What a set-up. I love you. During the week of August 13-August 21" Dr. Hodgson will be in Los Angeles and San Francisco. Just thought I would warn you in case you see or feel a swift breeze that week. He is attending the MTNA-Music etc. etc. etc. By the way, he has some relatives by the name of Hodgson that live in Glendale-in fact, it is his brother ' who is a doctor. (He has all sorts of professional men in his family-preacher, musician, and doctor.) Good representation, eh what? and all of them are his brothers. Must be a plenty of them. My hair doesn't act like it will ever get dry, so I guess that I will have to help it-with a nice dry towel- ' for it is getting rather late and I must get my beauty rest for you. I love you, August 9, 1949 Azusa, CA My darling Kathe, ' Please don't send the ring back, darling. It is just that I didn't have anything to write for the past several days. It's amazing but there is a lull before the storm right now. This will be the accumulated news, musings, etc. of two or three days. Shall I inform myself again tonight-only 27 days to go-only 23 until I leave here-time passes-tempus fidgets as you say (or do you?) I think it was Tennyson who 320 i said in one of his poems that the mills of the gods grind slowly but exceedingly fine. Think the old boy i had something there. Didn't do much of anything Saturday-went over to Pasadena and looked thru all the department stores in town. Right now I think that I shall wait to get you that case until I get to Texas. The suit and rent won't wait and I get one check the day I leave so it will be no help out here. I am going to make a list of things to be gotten. We have to get the wedding rings after I get there, you know. I'll get my final desperate plans in a couple of weeks from now. Sunday morning I went to church-you won't much like it cause it is old and the people are old- 1 few young people our age. Then in the afternoon I went over to Covina (4 miles) and went swimming for the first time since Yosemite. Tried to pick up a little tan-guess why! Sunday night-had tea and French pastries with the Baron, his wife and daughter (my landlord). ' The daughter incidentally is a bag in the accepted since of the slang phrase but has a beautiful spirit. She is an artist of quite some ability as you will see when you see her paintings. Today-back to work and most of the day was spent in study. I latched onto a handful this afternoon. Plenty of work on the board for the rest of the week. I expect that these days of parting will be quite poignant for you. Never again will you be all together again-and yet-as you say-you go on to something bigger and better. Something which has no superior in achievement for everything else is but Shakespeare's stage for the getting of life. If we can but be a success as husband and wife and as parents then anything else we may be-or could have been-serves only to touch up that achievement. I love you! Down into the last month now and the second and most wonderful of my life's goals-and the most difficult-is near achievement. That goal is you, Kitten-and as I have said many times all the i others have been merely in preperation for you. Likewise all.that comes after will merely be strength for the bond which we are about to make. I can even yet hardly concieve just what it will mean to have you all mine-on, well, all the world love's a lover-such a prodigal waste! All my love, Clarence w August 9, 1949 ' Azusa, CA My darling Chatter, Vicky Ann went down to the beach today with a neighbor and I have just come back from the house after listening to her get bug-eyed about all she did. She is just like the little girl with the curl- when she's good she's very good but when she's bad, she's horrid but always, she's cute. Vic and Nellie coddle her quite a bit and never, never spank her. Sometimes they get fed up and send her to her room and after she cries a little Nellie gets soft hearted and the banished returns. Results-"Daddy, you were a bad boy. If you do that again I'll cry again". An object lesson of what happens when you relent. She has learned to play one against the other, too. It breaks your heart to discipline the little devils but it has to be done sometimes and once it is done any backing down is a victory for the child to be used next time and don't think they won't! She's sweet though and as lovable as can be when she's not sleepy or tired. You'll think the world of her. You ask about clothes-what a question! Nellie said bring a coat, a suit, a sweater, a skirt, a summer dress, a pair of shorts and halter, a bathing suit and a heating pad-or something like that. It has been hot as Hades here and today it drizzled a little (the first since I have been here). It is cold tonight-around 60° to 651. You never know what to expect-however-we can probably expect warm or hot weather in Texas, warm or cool weather in the mountains turning cold at night (Texas border on) i with extreme heat in the deserts in the daytime and cold from 10 or 12 at night on. The first few weeks in September are supposed to be about as hot as any they have here in the L. S. atmosphere. I know this won't help much but it is the best that I can tell you. Nellie finally quit and said bring some of everything on the trip-be prepared for about a week anyway. ' Gosh, the days are scooting by-I leave here just three weeks from tomorrow. It begins to feel now like I was back in school with a couple of busy weekends before I could go up and see you again only this time will be so much, much more different. We'll have a nice honeymoon and hang the i expense (within reason)-none of this when we have time and money stuff. All my love, Chatter i 321 August 10, 1949 , Denton, TX Darling: ' I went to the union building to eat dinner today-with Marvin and Xina (Tommy is in Marshall looking for an apartment for them to live in) and I have gotten back early so I will spend that time with you. I love you. For the last couple of days, I have been rather rushed at the office and something always managed to prevent my writing in the late evenings. For instance, last night I was a real sweet girl. Marvin Solley is leading the singing at a revival in Krum; so he asked me if I would sing a special some night. Last night was the "some night". The preacher came by and picked us up at 7:30 and it was 10:30 before we got home. What a revival! The ' preacher is one of these very emotional fellows-something that I don't particularly care for in the pulpit. It was in a Methodist church, and it rather surprized me. I was glad to help Marvin out-he is a very good friend. Xina has been out of town, and she arrived last night around 11. We went by her place to see if she were home about 10:30 and she wasn't-so Marvin just took me on home. I love you. (Tonight Xina will be the special music. They have , asked me to go along to keep them company, but I don't care for the preacher that much; consquently, I shall remain at home. By now you should have me in your hands! or a reasonable facsimilie. I sent me to you yesterday by straight mail. Hope that you like it. It is the copy of the print that I am using in all the papers for our approaching marriage. WHEEEEEEEEEE! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! I love you. You always wanted a nice smiling one; so I think that this one ought to do. Huh???? Everything should be in black and white by this weekend. Material was sent w the Houston Post, Houston Chronicle, Kerrville Mountain Sun, San Antonio Express. How is that for spreading the news????? I love you. Honey, please tell Nellie that I would like to use the little white testament that she used in her wedding. That will be my "something borrowed". Oh yes, I will take care of the flowers after I get home; Dorothy can't get ' her fingers in that pie. That's for me! A real cute situation has come up lately. One of the members in the Durkee Community Church, where pop used to preach, has asked Dad to perform the ceremony at her wedding on September 3`d. She also asked if I would sing. Well, Dad thought that would be real fine. It would mean, of course, that her rehearsal would be on the night of the 2nd, the night that you would be coming in; so I just set my foot down and said no thank you! I love you and I won't let anything keep me from being at home when you get there. I guess you know that it will mean that Dad will have to rush away from the rehearsal dinner (ours) to perform the wedding on Sept. 3`d. Can you beat ' it? And if I accepted the singing for the wedding, I would miss the best part of that day-the last night that I will have with you before our marriage. Therefore, I will just have to be selfish for a change. Dr. Hodgson has just arrived so I guess I had better bring this to a close. I love you a whole house full, Chatter August 11, 1949 Azusa, CA My Dearest One, I didn't get a letter from anyone today-guess it serves me right for not writing for several days ' over the weekend. Just kinda get to expecting to see those letters here waiting for me when I come in from work. Probably you are the same way. It won't be long now though until the continuous letter writing phase is over-hope I won't ever gave to write you many more. By that I don't mean that I have ever disliked writing them but is there any reasonable substitute for being in my arms? The usual today and the days just fly between weekends but they (the weekends) sure drag. Only three more of those to endure though. Don't see how I ever got talked and talked myself into coming way out here for three months without you. That wedding had better be good to make up for all the long months. I know you will be devinely happy with it all. I can hardly wait to see you come floating down the aisle. You can just be envious of the soloist-I'll be envious of nobody but I can feel myself now just scared stiff. You are going to have to be awfully gentle and understanding with me after such an ordeal. Hah! I love you. Three weeks from tonight I'll be on the desert coming to you-haven't got a white horse but will the convertible do? All my love, Clarence 1 1 322 1 August 11, 1949 W-Day-24 ' Azusa, CA My Darling, Only four sheets of paper left for this letter-don't yet know whether it will be too little or too ' much. I usually sit down and pour myself dry of love and information and quit at the end of the nearest page. The picture is wonderful. So's the hairdo and so are you! It is the first portrait which I have ever had of you which captured our spirit and your beauty at the same time. I'm not just "barking to hear my ' head rattle" either, Kitten. You know or should know by now how reticent I am with lavish compliments. Just part of my makeup which makes me keep silent or noncomittal rather than say things I don't mean. In short-your teen days are gone with the below shoulders hair but that frame in the picture is perfect ' for you-yeah, I know, you wore it like that when I saw you last but this is the first time I've "seen" you lately. I hope you are telling me that that is the picture you sent to the papers. I'm enclosing a little nationwide comic strip which you no doubt have read. I was flabbergasted to see little Azusa in such elite company even if it was on a jackass. ' One more work day in this week-boy they sure go fast. Nellie was having her teeth worked on this afternoon. A fifteen buck bill to X-ray and fill one tooth. I hate to think what will happen when you start expecting! Guess we could go to the lengths of bankruptcy if we were blessed with an impending visit from a "little stranger". In the future of course. How you talk! Be a good girl and I'll be with you before yu know it! All my love, Clarence ' Mountain Home, TX Wednesday I My Dear One, Have been feeling bad and couldn't think well enough to finish my list and I notice since I have commenced on it again it has been so long since I turned in the other one I have forgotten just why Iput a question mark or an underscore by the side of certain ones. Wish we were together for a little while I could get it straighter. ' Anything you don't understand just drop me aline. Oh me, oh my, what a mother-in-law you will have. (probably my son's absent mind at times, I am to blame for). I got your goblet and it is perfectly beautiful. I went to Kerrville to see if they carry any of the pattern's that you selected but they did not carry any of them. Ijust thought they might and the people usually go in and ask and but some of that, and I doubt if many of them would order, they like to see what they buy. Now they do have your 'Candlelight'silverware, and ifyou are short some of that let me know and I can tell them at the jewelry store. They have the Wear Ever aluminum at Schreiner's so ifyou have any of that let me know so they will not duplicate. They also have a good line of Reverre Wear, which I believe is stainless steel with a copper bottom which is verynice. When Jean and Chas were here I told them that you had selected Wear Ever and they have some of both, so they like the Reverre better, said it does not stain, does not pit etc., however they are both very pretty, just passed this idea along to you. If you want to change let me know at once and 1 will register it at the store. I sure wish someone here handled the other patterns of crystal, china and pottery. In case you don't get all of the sets or enough to make a set you can buy a little along and maybe we can finish it later in gifts. You can use any kind of linens, cooking utensils etc, so it will be nice to get those things. Kathy, Junior seemed to think it would be nice to have us give the rehearsal party but it will be impossible for us to be there before noon Sunday as things look now. Unless Jean has had her baby I hate to leave too long because something might happen that I would want to be with Chas. One doctor that examined her when they first ' married thought she would have to be operated on in order to give birth to a child. While they have not mentioned that lately, naturally it sticks in the back of my mind and I will be glad when it is all over. She sure looks well and being part Scotch I take all 1 can get and I have ordered twin girls, wouldn't that just be grand and of course I will get you making three girls in Sept. I just know there won't be such good luck and it might even another of those nasty lil ole t Leinweber boys. We will love it anyway, won't we? I am depending on Junior to let us know as soon as possible what Don is supposed to wear. Also I will try to let you know as near as I possibly can how many will be at the reception. All this excitement is sure too much for Grandma, for, as you see, I started on the rehearsal party and finished off on the new girls, so here goes again. If you remember, Chas. had a dinner parry honoring the men the day of the wedding so they wouldn't be underfoot at Mrs. Cunninghams. We paid $20.00 for that and we do not ' know what you would like to do for your rehearsal party, it occurred tome that we could send your Mother the money and it would help out, if that would be alright with you. I wish I could be there to help but unless thing change I can't. We will help Jr, a little with his ties and favors too as we did Chas. I am sure it didn't look so nice ' 323 to give Junior the wedding gift $400.00 so long ago but I know that you two have enjoyed it more than if you had not had it or if you had a debt n the little car. Let me know about the rehearsal parry and if it is OK I will mail your Mother a check. ' If you have not sent the notices to the paper, you had best do that once, because it seems to me that they have to be here so many days ahead of time. Well, here is some more news, Chas and Jean sold their place with a good profit and will give possession ' after he gathers his cotton. That of course will be too late to enter at A&M this Fall so at present they plan to go over there in Jan. I am very happy about it all because they seem to be. They will get them anew car. A Buick I think. Chas wanted to get a second hand one but Daddy told him that if he could afford a new one it would be much better because the parts cost so much for the Buick and if it was worn too bad it would be a dead expense to , him. I am so glad for them because they won't have to live so hard now. We have just gotten a good rain and it is so green and pretty. Still we have made no sale and we are really sweating it out. It has been so long since we have sold wool, around 14 months and that is our biggest , income. Sure is looking bad from the producers end of it. Cattle prices are down so we are holding them and we may wish we had sold later on. Yes, we had our annual parry and sure had lots of fun. So many things were fun, but I think the contest that all ages enjoyed the most was a rollicking square dance byt he own children of The Three Girls with their , shoes removed and their feet tied up in big brown paper bags. The rain has kept us from attending the meeting but we will try to go tomorrow. I wish you could be here for that because it is always so good. We will not help too much this year, just let the younger unes tuke un a lutle , more each year and next year I guess I will take care of the baby and let Jean help. My dear, I must stop and get the rest of the kin a letter, so more later, My love, Mother Ree August 14, 1949 , Denton, TX Darling: Exactly three weeks from today I will be come Mrs. C. L. Leinweber. Gosh, when I think about it being so close to that time, I get all full of butterflies. Yesterday I was down at Mutt's to see how things were coming along. It looks like everything will be ' here in time so that I can have an easy mind about those matters. Your Mother & I are keeping p a rather steady correspondence-I shall enclose her last letter. Don't know if she has written you the news therein-so instead of my quoting excerpts, you can read for your self. I love you. I got Dr. Hodgson off to San Francisco yesterday-where he will be for a week. Surely will miss him! ' He will spend a couple of days in Los Angeles. We have quite a few of our N.T. musicians out on the west coast- so someday, I will most likely run into some of them. You were right when you said "you sorta expect to see a letter" for that is the same thing I do. I go to the ' mail box twice a day, and if the letter isn't there in the morning-I surely expect to see a letter-red, white, & blue-in the box at the second trip. Then if there isn't-well, surely it will be there the next time. I love you. Anyway, I wouldn't give you back your ring for such a thing (Gotta have a souvenier for each romance-so I figure that rings would make a nice collection!) I love you a whole house full! , I'm gonna spend this afternoon at the pool and get a little tan. This will be my third time in the pool this summer. You know I must have been working or something for it is hard to keep me away from a pool! Hon, I have become regular with my period-for the last three months I was blessed with Nature on the , 100h-Therefore, I think that I won't have to worry about that. Course that means that I will be "sick" during some of our travels but that won't matter-the more active I am the less I have the cramps. You won't mind running up and down a few mountains, will you? I love you. It is time for me to take a bath & get ready for church-I'm singing my last solo here today. Sad ' occasion--! I love you, Chatter August 14, 1949 Azusa, CA My dearest One, , No, My darling wife to be. You shan't sing at this girl's wedding the night before ours. We have too much important stuff to do and talk over before the wedding. Granting that I might not get in until very late on the night of the second, I would still want you to get some rest. I love you. This is another of those dad gummed weekends with me about to go mad with wanting you. Do you leave Denton on the 25th or 26th? I've got to be prepared with the letter changeover. 324 ' I went swimming yesterday-still futilely trying to develop a suntan on my legs. I want to look ' reasonably well preserved for you. The enclosed clipping is very, very elementary psychology but it seemed so true to me that I just snipped it out and am sending it along so you can concur in my diagnosis, Doctor. I had (and do) considered you as the best girl friend I had in the literal meaning until I came back from overseas. (You were the only one whose letters I would answer, remember?) You had been a truly desirable girl (physically) before the war but you hit me over the head with a backless dress the day I first saw you after the war. From then on friendship hasn't been the goal though you are now, undoubtedly, the best friend I have even including Bill. I think we shall remain that way for we have so ' much in common (though you may not think so!) This all chillun's today's little philosophy class is adjourned! There's nothing new on the marriage front. I failed to ask Nellie about the bible. I shall as soon as they get back from Burbank (Vic's mother) this afternoon. They are going to Hollywood Pres. this morning. We are arranging for you to sing the second Sunday you are here (I want you with me the first one). All my love, Clarence W-Day minus 21 (three weeks) August 15, 1949 1 Denton, TX Darling: The whole box full of invitations arrived this morning: so IF you would like to see what one looks like ' then go visit Nellie and Vic sometime this week, and they will have one to show you. I think that they are real pretty. And I surely do appreciate what George did for us. Honey, I think that it would be a nice gesture (that is, if you think so) if I would send an invitation to the baron (Is he really a baron?) and his wife and daughter. Since you have lived with them this long, I think that they would appreciate an invitation. What do you think? I guess you have told them something about me or have you been keeping me a secret to surprise every one? I will do just whatever you want me to about it. Okay? Yesterday, I spent the afternoon at the pool with Marvin Solley and a bunch of the students in the music ' school. In fact, we could have had a grand chorus rehearsal! I got back a little of my tan. But not enough to make me look funny or two toned in the nude. (Gosh, what am I saying?????) I love you. I thought that I would sneak in this letter during my noon hour so that I could spend the evening doing my ' invitations. That will take quite a bit of time. Honey, I am getting so excited that I can hardly spend the eight hours at the office working. Isn't that awful? There are so many things that I can think of doing and dreaming about rather than the work that I should do. However, I won't let my boss down while he is gone. He is too wonderful, and so are you, by the way. I love you. This afternoon I will go for my last fitting of my gown to see if I won't trip on it as I process up the aisle. I will have the wedding pictures made on Friday night so I will have to give them plenty of time to get the dress pressed and all that sort of stuff. I shall have the same photographer as I did for the engagement picture. I am so glad that you liked the picture. It is the picture that I used for the papers. Satisfied. I love you. Your future, Chatter August 16, 1949 Azusa, CA My darling Kathe, I dood it again-skipped a day! That was very nice of you to send me Mother's letter. She flat hasn't written me but one little post card in the last month or so. I knew nothing about any of the stuff in the letter. ' I let Mother know about the attire for Don. I'm glad the period straightened out. It would have made things a little bit on the rough side. Maybe it'll be an exclamation point instead of just a plain period next time! I love you! Today has been a rough as Monday's always are but I got paid. Doesn't mean much as I can't cash it until Saturday when I will buy my suit. It will be a navy blue Plateau Cloth I imagine. The Baron and family invited me to Sunday dinner last night-quite an occasion. Tania's (Shan ya) boyfriend was the only other guest. She cooked the meal and it was exotic. We started off with muscatel wine (and ' continued with). Then we had an aspic of patee a fois gras (chicken liver) with tomatoes. From there we went to the piece de resistance consisting of roast ano (Iamb) and sauteed pomme de terre (potatoes). We ended with a plain cake doused in rum as we watched and topped with whipped cream. This I didn't ' 325 like and found nearly nauseating-the rum and whipped cream tasted like castor oil! Later we had ice cream with peaches-all this prepared from stock by Tania-she doesn't like prepared foods. You'll like her adn the Baron adn the baroness even if they are a queer lot. ' The Baroness speaks very little English-though fluent in Russian and French (the court language) and fair in Italian and Turkish. The Baron speaks nearly anything except German including several Hindu dialects. We got mixed up with Yogi and the seven spirits last night but I got snowed when he wandered into esoteric and exoteric-and it takes a pretty good linguist to talk over my head- he's only been speaking English a year, too. That seems to be about the extent of my wanderings tonight. I'm just crazy about that picture. It sits right in front of me along with the other. All my love , Clarence W-Day minus 20 August 16, 1949 , Denton, TX Darling; , Have you been troubled by the lack of sleep? Do you find it hard to eat a good meal? Do you find your thoughts wandering and thinking of one person in particular? If you are bothered with such. then you have the same trouble that I have. Honestly, if this keeps up, I will be thinner than a rail, and my clothes will just hang on , me. I can't afford to have them altered. I love you. Maybe after I cook us a few meals, I will gain some of it back-or either I won't be there to bother about it! As I remember, I was rather plump when you first met me fifty-eleven years ago. You should see the knot I got from addressing all those invitations last night. Good thing that it is not on my ring finger, or you would never get the ring over it! But that is what I get for marrying into such a big clan. I love you a whole house full of little Leinwebers. Tonight I will stamp and seal all of the invitations. I tried to talk Xina into coming over, but I think she ' knew what I had in mind. Oh well, it is only once in this life-time of mine that all this will happen. I am really getting a big kick out of all this: just wish that you were here to see how it is all done. Just wait until our daughters grow up; I will really know how to sympathize with them. I love you. Course, we will have some lil ole Leinweber boys too, but they aren't half as much trouble to get married off. Say, which church is it that I will sing for when I get there? I think that it is wonderful. If Nellie wants to fix up any more dates for me, just let her do it. For I am not one to inflict myself upon the public-or maybe you hadn't realized that quality. You know how I love to sing. I like people to ask me to perform, but far be it from me ' to tell them that I sing, etc. Well, I am at the end of my line, so I guess I will close for this time. The future Mrs. C. L. Leinweber, Chatter Enclosed are the letters that you have wanted for the car-I finally remembered! ' August 16, 1949 Denton, TX My dearest One, Another letter from you today and I feel like a king or something. It is always so nice to come back to a , chatty little letter from Chatter at the end of a rough day. I'm just a little jealous of Marvin-you mention him quite frequently as being here or there with you, you know. Don't let him get any of that happy stardust in your eyes (I know) and think perhaps it is for him. Do continue writing me of your activities (him included). You see I'm just putting in a plug for me and us. I'm glad ' that you have somebody to squire you around occasionally since I can't be there-course from preference I am continent in the way of girl friends out here-not one has occupied that car seat which is reserved for you. Nellie and Vic and I have had several good laughs at the expense of one girl and her mother, though. Quite amusing--. I ' love you! Kitten, since I have only known the Baron and his family for a little over a month, I don't believe it hardly cricket to send them an invitation. I appreciate the thought, though, and they are looking forward to meeting you. Certainly I have told them of you. I bore everyone to death. Tania always greets me at the door to tell me how many letters I have today and it is a sad day indeed when there are none. You should have heard their exclamations when they saw your latest picture-would have done your soul good. That photographer really captured the stardust which I mentioned a while ago. I hope I never do anything to dim that light which shows just how much fun and expectation we share in these last few weeks. ' 326 1 I suppose that quitting time has come to another days few chronicled moments together so I'll just leave it hanging here with a mental kiss and a prayer for the days to rush by. All my love, Clarence August 17, 1949 Denton, TX Darling: ' You know, I surely am glad that you like that picture so. Say, how do you like those dimples that I managed to manifest on that particular occasion. I love you. Did you show the picture to Nellie and Vic, if so, what did they say about it? I'm just curious-and I am not fishing for compliments, seeeeeeeee!! ' Things are getting awfully dull around here. Never thought that I would miss my boss so! Despite his peculiarities, etc. I surely am crazy about him. But I will take you any day and any time. I love you. He has been writing some of the cutest cards to let me know what it is like out there. You know, I shouldn't be a bit surprized if I didn't run into half the music faculty out in Colorado, for it seems that most of them are going to Colorado or Mexico City. We'll soon find out, won't we? So if I hear anyone screaming Chatter through a tunnel or gorge or in the canyons then I will know if they are anywhere in the vicinity. Small world, isn't it. I know that we won't run into the Hodgson's for they will be in Mexico City having a gay time, and bringing most of the wares back with them. Not much of anything to write about so I will close. Love you, Chatter I August 17, 1949 Azusa, CA ' My Darling, This is one of those days when I didn't get a letter from anyone and I'm feeling just a mite lonesome tonight. There is really nothing new-a very dull day as far as news is concerned and here I am with only two days left in my work week. I'm working like the devil most of the time and intend to keep it up. I enjoy most of it so it is nothing more than tiring. Every engineer under whom I work and whom I impress with my ambition (what atrocious English) is an asset to my career in plugs for raises in position and salary. Also they can be depended upon for first name buddies when my knotty young budding engineer problems arise. I finished a very nice confidential drawing yesterday and worked on something else today. I do some work for Vic tommorrow. Poor Vic is in an awful cramp and was lugging report material home ' today-something you'll see me doing some day. Suddenly his work has turned out to be the most ! important thing being done by the company and is rush-rush. He couldn't have gotten away from here to save his neck for the wedding. It's a good thing Nellie came down pregnant when she did or we would have been caught even closer to the deadline. ' The days are sure slipping and I let myself slip into thoughts of the trip back last night and liked to have never gotten to sleep. You have only a little over a week left at Denton now, haven't you. Oh happy daze. This time two weeks from now I shall be well into Arizona. The border is only about 170 miles from here. I suppose this is all for tonight, darling-Be good. Love n' stuff Clarence W-Day minus 18 August 18, 1949 Azusa, CA My dearest One, I got quite a buzz out of your telling Xina to come visit you the night of the invitation writing. Maybe you didn't use the right forms of persuasion. Could be you failed to tell her that it would all be good practice! Don't coming crying on my shoulder about that. My shoulder is only open to legitimate cries. ' You had plenty of chances to take me as was with no folderol. I love you. Guess I'm looking forward to the formal hitching as much as you are. I'm pretty well calm about the whole thing now. Have arranged with Bill to have the smelling salts in his coat pocket. Course it will cause a scene but don't guess it can 327 be helped. I hope you are as good at twenty yard dashes as I. 1 would hate to beat you back up the aisle. I've been negotiating to get all the ushers, bridesmaid's 'n people locked in the reception room at the crucial moment. There is something about a wedding that brings out the worst in the party- , especially Don. The church is the Azusa Presbyterian Church-the one Vic and Nellie sing in. Hollywood Pres. is about 40 miles off (round about) and to far for us to attend regularly. Vic and Nellie sing in the one here. You better be good (and I know you will) cause we have led everyone to believe that there just aren't any other contraltos in our acquaintance. They sure need a contralto soloist, too. (No pay). This is the end of my rope, too. So bye for now. Love you, Clarence W-Day -17 , You take it easy dadgummit-I may be tired when I get there but not so tired that you hadn't better be in good shape for the post wedding situation. Oh, Darling! August 19, 1949 , Denton, TX Darling: , While everyone goes to the reception following Jack Hendrix's recital, I shall write a letter to you. It is much more delicious talking to you than eating little sweet things and sipping a nice cool drink. See how I love you. That is the last recital I shall be attending here. Tonight before the recital I spent an hour and some with a photographer. I was having my wedding pictures made. She made all kinds of shots of me. And I think that that stardust will be in all of them. I love you just thinking about you, or the mention of your name brings out the stardust. You see, when she was taking the , pictures I was pretending that you were there and that I was smiling at you. I love you. I do hope that they all come out good, but then if they do it might be too hard to choose the one or ones that I would like to have for the papers. Mutt was there and helped me get dressed, and she expressed the desire that it was one wedding that she surely would like to see. She has been wonderful to me, and I shall never forget it. ' I am so anxious to wear the gown and priss down the aisle. Guess I just want to show me off to you! Oh honey, I want you so bad. (and I am going to get you too----it is almost too good to be true.) I will get the proofs of the pictures on Monday-can't you see me now, showing them all off...Cause that is just exactly what I am going to do. Gotta have public opinion, you now. I love you. It is tomorrow that Dr. Hodgson returns. I surely will be glad to see him. Never did think that I would miss him, but I did. Course, it a different missing that I felt from the "missing" of you. It won't be too long now, will it? Just one week from to day I will start my journey home a journey that I dread for I have accumulated so much stuff, you ought to know for you helped me move over here. I do hope that Rufus will decide to go home to Houston before he goes to his teaching job. Love you, Chatter Honey, have you found us a place in which to ' live-you haven't mentioned it lately. What about it, huh? August 20, 1949 Azusa, CA My dearest Kathe, , Unhappily my letter today is just like yours yesterday-there is nothing much to tell. Seems like a shame too when we are already into the last dozen. I have two dates I watch because one starts the chain of events and the other culminates it. The first is the day I leave here-only eleven days off now. The other of course is the wedding day. Gosh, it seems practically unbelievable. Sometimes when I think of coming back, I unconsciously reach out and flex my arms only to find nobody there when I could have sworn that you were there. The imagination is just that strong. I may go to the beach for the first time today (for a swim, that is). The company is having a beach party-Always something going. I must first buy the suit though. I have one in mind and will do some fitting. That all now, Kitten Your own, Clarence W-Day minus 15 , 328 I ' August 21, 1949 Azusa, CA My Dearest, I have quite a lot to say tonight-mostly because I was a bad boy and failed to send you a letter this morning. I am getting started a little late this night cause the Baron and his family corralled me and we fair had a discussion. They are the most amazing people I ever saw. You just can't say no and time just flies. Yesterday I went to the beach-Aerojet was supposed to have a party there but very few showed up. There was free ice cream and pop and balloons for the kids. There were many balloons left over so several of us guys blew one after another up and set them adrift in the vagrant breeze. We would nearly bust our ribs laughing at the little kids as they tried to catch them. Sometimes they would 1 bounce for quite a long ways before an enterprising youngster would finally corral them. All in all, I was very lonesome. Last night I came back and just started reading old letters-perhaps torturing myself but never- the-less reliving in a way the bitter defeats and the bright moments in the campaign for your heart. The ' biblical verse kept running through my mind "For now we see darkly (crossed out)-oh, well, skip it. I can't quote the thing but you know the one-"when I was a child, I spake as a child..." That was the first time I had read your letters one by one since recieving them. The tenor was very, very warm and always 1 ended with words of love until sometime early in 1947 (March perhaps) when the warmth started fading. Then sometime that summer (I read them last night) came one of the most heart rending letters I ever read (looking back at it). Must have been at about the time of the Dick deal. Next was the one about the brotherly love and "can't ever be a member of your family". That was perhaps the lowest point of my life. The work of an entire year and perhaps a lifetime had been torn down-now to build again. Someday we must match letters. Remember, this is not an ordinary puppy love affair-this is a man courting the only woman he has ever loved. There is a long lapse (over a month and then plans for a football game in Fort Worth. Things are on the upgrade again and then somewhere in here the terrible news that rumor has it she is about to get married but not to him and her answering letter scoffing about the whole thing. A recapitulation seems to show that the rumor was months late and the danger was weakened though the poison still lingered. Then a reverse rumor that they were all through reached her and more 1 valuable framework was torn down. Then slowly step by faltering step-a phrase here, a loving thought there-stumbling in blindness he sways her a little and the soft little encouragements begin again. The letters are just a little warmer and then amazingly never changes to "give me a little time" again. I remember that Christmas well, Kitten. The hastily snatched salad, the murmuring waters and the fumbling boy. He stirred you again physically that night-he couldn't know then that there, perhaps, began a new awareness-that faltering and desperate, a chord had been touched which started a symphony. The rest reads easier. Love returned and then instead of docile acceptance there was ' longing and awareness. Oh, Darling! How wonderful it is to know that we finally are to be one. It still seems a miracle-after all that trying and sampling of innuendos and ways of endearment we have reached that time. 1 Now the other chapters can be written-the preface you have read-but only the preface. I was ever afraid that a chapter read before the end was known might spoil the story. Now the switch may be turned-the light is on-the book is open. That which you have never known may be unspread before you. Had I loved you less you might have read before. ' Kitten, two weeks from tonight will bring that for which each day is but a forecast. Then all that which I have repressed will be yours even as I take that which is mine alone. Don't fear for I love you too much to be anything but gentle or to take pleasure and give nothing in return. Do you remember the first poem I wrote you. None of that stuff has been for Annabel Lee. Corny, perhaps, but all for you and all from the depths of my heart in the only rhyme I knew-sincerily. No sincerity-no poem. Just happened to think that reminiscing is the mark of a doddering old fool. Guess I had better stop. Just meant to say that I shorely am mighty proud to be having you fur my wife Ma'am. Been a looking fur it nigh outa 3 yars now. All my love, Clarence 329 August 22, 1949 ' Denton, TX Darling: I have just gotten back from the photographers where I got my wedding pictures. They are real fine, and I am afraid that it will be just a wee bit hard picking out the ones that I would like to have in the papers. Then too, I don't know which would make up into the prettiest portrait. Oh well, that is my problem. ' The other day I was in Voertman's and he told me that he would like to give me something that I would like rather than just something that he likes; therefore, he told me to come in the store and look around and anything that I would like in the store-no matter how large or small, all I have to do is say the word and he will , wrap it up real pretty and it would be mine. Now isn't that something? Course, that really puts me in a spot-for I surely do like pretty things and to make up my mind about one, it is just real difficult decision. It just thrills me to death that people have been so nice to me during this past week. The Appelman's are contemplating coming down for the wedding. They have been anxious to make a trip to Houston, and since the wedding is on a weekend, I think that they might do it. They have been awfully nice to me, and if he should come, he wants to record the wedding. Now isn't that something??????? I love you. Mother and the home folks seem to be having a big time answering the phone and telling people that I will , be home next week and that they can talk to me then. Seems some photographers and all enterprizing agencies want to get into the show. Love all this attention. I got another letter from your mother today and she stated that Charles and Jean had already gotten the new Buick and that they were going to be moving in with the folks soon. Seems that Jean will be in the hospital in , Kerrville and spend the first day at her home, after she is dismissed from the hospital, then your mother will take care of them until they move to A and M in the fall. Charles has been accepted for the fall term, and I surely hope that he goes ahead and registers there at College Station. Goodness only knows that it will be best for him and for , Jean and the baby. For I know that even as sweet as your mother is, she will get on Jean's nerves and that would never do. I love you. Chatter August 22, 1949 ' Azusa, CA Dearest One, ' Boy, did I get snowed today-4 letters. One from you, one from Mother, one from Bill, and a hotel reservation. Yes, I might as well tell you-we spend the first night at the Shamrock-not the bridal suite but a good room, I hope. You hang onto that info, Kitten. I don't want to have to sic the house dick , on any of our kinfolks. (Anyway what would we do with a suite?) I am having to mix the good with the bad in my plans. Foremost among the good will be the fact that we will be there getting spliced. On my bitter tea list is the fact that I shall have very few new clothes. Just didn't have time to swing them. ' Mother said that they had thought of having an open house at the community meeting house when we come back through there. She wrote you about it she says. It seems very nice but on the other hand it will sacrifice our time at home or on the trip one. I had only thought to spend a few hours at the grandparents Harper, a night and half a day at home and another half day at Uvalde or wherever Charles and Jean are. That takes 2 days. Add any time which you wish to oversee packing and final arrangements at your home. If you figure that isn't necessary okay. If you would like such a post wedding affair as Mother is suggesting drop her a note immediately and set a night for it. I can supply , these details-the wedding is the night of the 4th. Please not the 5 h-perhaps the night of the 6th Remember, Mother won't be hurt-it all depends on how much you feel you should take on (remember, you're taking me on in this little deal!) I love you. It will be nice for me though I shall be tired and though it may put a crimp in Mother-too much worry and excitement. Do what you like-huh, Darling. This issue leaves me unstirred. Forgive me for rehashing old hash in yesterday's letter-was just trying to tell you again how awful, awful much I want this day to come around when we may share the most wonderful experiences that either of us have ever known. Oh, Darling how the very thought just turns me upside down and leaves the little butterflies fluttering all inside of me! Mother said your picture and stuff came out in the paper but she didn't send it-said Mrs. Salter ' made a nominal amount of errors in getting it into print. What a hash she made of Charles & Jean's writeup! Oh, yes. A place to live. I won't look until this weekend. The Baron has a pretty good apartment which he has been begging me to take-75 bucks per though. Linen service and all utilities ' and central heating. I shall canvass all available addresses and see if I can find anything any nicer. 330 This would alleviate the 30 or more dollars wasted for holding until Sept. 15. His comes open on the 16th ' We may not have such a hot one to begin with but by shopping around in our leisure time we can find what we want. I shall write tomorrow and the next day to Denton and then shift to Houston for the last week of letters. Just think-13 days-how wonderful can life get? All my love, Clarence W-Day minus 13 ' August 23, 1949 Denton, TX Darling: Here I am at this rattle trap again pecking out a letter to you. I love you. Today was Christmas in three bundles. First thing after I got to the office today, a lil colored gal walked in the office and asked if I knew Katherine McNeill-so I just beamed and said that it was me, and upon making that statement she handed me a beautifully wrapped package. Course, I had to open it right there, and it was a beautiful pair of hem-stitched pillow cases. Then around noon, a colored man walked in and asked for Katherine and he handed me a little package from McCray's Jewelry Store. And it was a spoon of our silver. And then when I picked up the office material in the faculty box in the administration building there was a long envelope which contained a beautiful white linen handkerchief. After I got off work I went in to see Mr. V. and I picked out a beautiful lamp for us. It is a huge thing; therefore, if you don't find us a place to live then we can always live under the big lamp shade. I love you. The lamp has a large china base, about a foot more, in burgundy and white and the shade is of grey. It will blend with anything in the living room or wherever we may choose to use it. ' Tonight Ed and Jo Meyers gave a big ole picnic in their back yard for all of us that wouldn't be around for some time. They own and run the Pender's College Supply Store right across the street from Marquis Hall. We used to haunt their place for they have a wonderful selection of music and serve the best coffee around the campus. They have been wonderful to all of us kids around here, especially the music students. I have been training the new secretary and I am sure that she will be fine. Course, she doesn't know all about the music school like I did, but she will catch on in time. I am getting all kinds of cases of the blues and stuff about leaving this place, but I am sure that as soon as I ' get home that I will be so busy that I will not have time to think about it. I love you-and when you come along to whisk me away, I know that it will all bade in the past and that the new adventure will be ever so thrilling. Did I ever mention that I love you a whole house full? I have been hoping that I would hear from Nellie since I wrote that last letter. I don't know how she ' reacted to the letter, but I told her in so many words that I was not weeping about her not being able to come and be in the wedding. Gosh, I am sorry (and I told her that) but I won't let minor things disturb me so that I can not go ahead and be terribly happy in all the planning of the wedding. I love you. Waiting until you take me in your arms and tell me-----I love you. Chatter August 23, 1949 ' Azusa, CA Dearest One, This will be just a short note, Kitten, to tell you that I love you. ' The Baron put some lillies and ferns on my dresser here and they form a perfect setting for your picture. Somehow they remind me of you-the soft warm texture perhaps but there the resemblance ends for they are quiesant and you have a capacity for violent passion perhaps, quien sabe? ' I had a big time yesterday-the main fuse box blew and we had no lights to work by for four hours. I've been cleaning and waxing the car today. The poor little thing hasn't had a really good going over in quite a long time. Just a week from tomorrow before I start the trek home now, darling. Goodnight until some night soon, Clarence W-Day minus 12 331 August 25, 1949 , Denton, TX Darling; t Don't worry about not having new clothes. I don't mind. And I will tell you this right now, after we are married we will concentrate any money for clothing for you. I have enough new and old things that will do me for years-that is the one reason that I invested most of my money in colthing. So you see, darling, I have been ' thinking about that for some time..... for a year or so, in fact. I love you. I think you are a darling for getting us a room at the Shamrock. I wouldn't know what we would do with a suite-play hide and seek, I guess! I love you. , As for the apartment, anything you get will suit me. If the apartment of the Baron's is nice, I wouldn't mind that. But you could tell him to cut off about $10 for the linen service. You should see the linens that I have been getting from people here. We'll have enough to furnish a mansion. No tellings what I have at home. Honey, lil ole run down places here in Denton are set at 75 and 65 dollars for rent unfurnished. Therefore, I know things , couldn't be much higher in California. So do what you think best about a place for us to live. All I care about is having a place that you and I will make a home. Rufus took home almost all of my stuff this afternoon and will dump it at home tomorrow. I surely do hope that nothing will happen to it. He has been awfully nice to me. There have been so many thefts in cars that I would like to have gone home with the stuff, but I am saving quite of bit of express charges that would have otherwise incurred. Ruth was in Denton yesterday for a little while and we had a nice session of gab. She is as excited about , the wedding as I am. She wants to come down a couple of days early so that she and I can run around in her car and take care of things that will need last minute doing. Isn't that considerate? Oh, how I love friends-and you most of all. Love you a whole housefull. Chatter August 25, 1949 Azusa, CA ' My Dearest, I skipped a day yesterday for which I am duly ashamed-or should I say contrite? Things really began popping today. I let the vampire get ahold of me and puncture me for the ' Wassermann. Then I picked up my suit. It is very nice and the little changing to the coat makes it fit very well. It was a rough day at the office-hot and I was working on a rather intricate drawing. Confidential, too. You should be home by the time this letter gets there. Guess it was rather rough to tell your friends goodbye. I can't quite figure where the colored friends came from-perhaps the Peacher McNeill branch, huh? I'm still worried about this license deal. You and your Pop get to work on it immediately ' that you recieve the medical slip, huh? Tomorrow night and Saturday is house hunting (apartment) day. Things have rather slowed down in the apartment availability line here but 1 have this one of the Baron's to fall back on if I can't find ' anything as good cheaper. Darling, I have just started into the welter of preparation. I have only five more nights after tonight here and then I'm a coming for you-not quite as dramatic as young Lochinvar but I'll be coming out of the West, too. All my love, Clarence , W-Day minus 10 P. S. Tell all your folks howdy! August 26, 1949 , Denton, TX Darling; This is the last Chapter in the Denton episode for I shall return to the office for the last time this morning. Last night 768 students graduated and boy was this place crowded. Even more so than when I graduated, and it was even hotter last night. , Both of the Tommys received their degrees-master of music. Tommy Stone received two degrees-he got his bachelor's in absentia and then paraded across the stage to get his master's. I am so proud of them both. T. Hardie is almost sure that he will drive to Houston for the wedding from Bryan, where he will be teaching this next year. (beginning in September). 332 ' I have an awful lot to do this day-get what little money I have out of the bank, pay all my bills, see that a couple of boxes get on the express wagon. Rufus took a lot of my stuff, but he couldn't take it all. Mr. Appelman ' is going to take me to Dallas and see that I get on the train. Now isn't that nice? Hope the people in California are as nice as the ones here. I love you. And then, I have to clean up the apartment. I can't just pull out and leave it like Evelyn DeLong left it for me. It just isn't my way of doing things. I'm funny that way. Mrs. Bounds has been catching on the office work just wonderfully, but I will still worry about it for some time-maybe a year. There is just so much to it. Last night I was standing outside the auditorium with Dr. Sam McAlister, head of the government ' department, and we had just a wonderful chat. He has always stated that he was very sorry that I was leaving and expressed it even more last night. He is head of the Fine Arts Series here at the college and I always helped him and Dr. Hodgson quite a bit with the work. I told him what a lucky gal I was to get such a wonderful guy as you, ' but he quickly remarked that you were the luckiest one-for you were getting me. I love you. And so this chapter ends, and the couple live happily ever after. Chatter August 27, 1949 Azusa, CA My Dearest One, Gosh, the days sure slip by. This is another one of those crummy weekends which leave me with too much time on my hands. 1 was out apartment hunting last night and everything seems to be in the vicinity of $70. One was very nice but the owner was rather grumpy. I am going to look at the ' Baron's this morning and try to Jew him down on the linen problem. I am beginning to believe that we will have the best deal here. It is a big two story frame house with an entire long lot beside it covered with grass and bordered with resurrection lillies. No dirt problem from the back yard-it's asphalt. As I said I will look at it this morning. There was another small one, just as cute as the devil but with only one room, bath and kitchen for $65 less linens, 70 with. I passed it up because the closet space was entirely inadequate. I need about 4 feet of closet to hang my small amount of clothes loosely. I know you need fully as much. We had another get together down in the master apartment last night. One of the roomers, Mr. Hughes, who is a purchasing agent at Aerojet brought a buddy of his who was an old vaudeville man. He sang, played a harmonica, and did imitation routines. He and I did a minstrel act. I' Kitten, it just can't be too soon-how I would have loved to be with you last night. I rolled and tossed until 2:30. Consequently I am like a log this morning and should sleep better tonight. I love you, Clarence W-Day minus 8 L-Day minus 4 August 27, 1949 Azusa, CA Darling, Go downtown immediately upon recieving this and get the license or make sure we can get it ' when I come. Your father said I would not have to be there. It is preferable that you have that out of the way cause the office may be closed next Saturday. If this will not get the license (invalid medical), wire me collect immediately. Love Clarence. Also had standard health test-am ready for ordeal! I love you! 333 August 28, 1949 , Azusa, CA Dearest One, , I knew something like this would happen. I didn't ship any birth certificate along for you to get pertinent poop from. I hope it did not stop you from checking to see if that medical would work. I suggest that you phone Judge Boyles or the county or district judge, if anything went wrong. There is a ' waiver in case of emergency provided under the California law. I finally decided to take the apartment from the baron after looking at all of the others available. It is a little high but conveniently comes open on the 15`h. That means that we will time our honeymoon to arrive in here that day. I will go to work Friday morning and then we will have a full two day weekend , right off the bat. How does that sound? I love you! I jsut started thinking about all I have to do and it scares me. I leave here only three days from today at noon. ' Saw a girls softball game last night-not very potent. I seem to be out of ink (I was). See you in 5 days All my love, Clarence W-Day - 7 L-Day - 3 August 29, 1949 Azusa, CA ; My dearest wife-to-be, Darling, I skipped you yesterday but I was working for us. I hadn't been entirely satisfied with the apartment here at the Baron's mostly for the lack of privacy and the price tag on it which was nearly ' a third of our net income. Home economists say pay % for rent. Therefore with Nellie and Vic's moral support and hints I spread out the other way (towards L.A.) I was driving down Garvey in West Covina and saw an apartment for rent sign. I went in just window shopping and came out on the run to get Nellie's opinion from the woman's viewpoint. She and Vic were very pleased. There are several of these little apartments one of which we will have. They sit side by side under one roof but you have relative privacy and if we don't get an end one to start we get it as soon as one comes open. Here's the setup-small, one double bed in the main room, an adjoining kitchenette with a little Servel icebox and gas range (all apartments out here seem to have gas rather than electricity). Excellent bath facilities (shower only). I believe you prefer a shower though I don't remember. All this for $50 per month with utilities furnished-we furnish linens. I took it for six months to get the low price range. I believe it will , suit us to a T, Kitten-I can think of hardly anything else but our starting our home together-oh, Darling! It is about 4 or 5 miles from work and Vic and Nellie's place. This will most probably be the last one before I see you, Sweetheart. Tomorrow night will be spent in packing and I will want to try for plenty of sleep afterwards 'cause the next day I'm a coming for ' ya! Gosh, the months have been long but now we are nearly there. Just think-less than a week now! Less than a week to fulfilment-to that for which all our past lives has been pointed. How in all the ' world's multitudes did we find each other? I often ponder that question. Until Friday night, then, Kitten, this is probably a sign off-then with more than words I'll say I love you with everything that's good in me, Clarence W-Day - 6, L-Day - 2 , 334 i l d~, t ~~,,kk k 2 T 3 t '{j [ a+b Li° " 's•. { '~:'y La+.,.. 1 7 1 yf t t 4 _ _ ism d. v M1 i y 41 l 3 ~t t I ^f _ y r r 11 "Vi Lv ( < ~ ~ 1950s 223 S. San Gabriel Azusa, CA January 4, 1950 ' Dear Lil Audrey & Pete, Don't know if you read between the lines of our last letter or not but this is to make it official. You & Pete will be grandparents again this year. It will be in late July or early August. How does that sound to you??? We think that it is quite wonderful and we are extremely happy over the fact. Therefore, the material that you-all sent will go into a maturnity house dress for lil ole me! (I mean, "big" ' ole me!!!) And the machine will be put into steady use for quite some time. I have been feeling wonderful-have too much energy & don't know what to do with it all! I haven't been sick hardly at all & I just look like I'm gaining a little weight! (But just wait another month!!!!) Clarence & I have had a "bizzy" week & it will continue that way. Last night we were invited out to ' dinner, tonight we have a dinner engagement, tomorrow night a wedding; Friday night we're having Nellie & Vic to dinner. And that's the way it goes. Saturday is our day of rest!!! Last Sunday, after church, we drove up to the mountains & Clarence & I played in the snow; & Vicki Ann ' hiked with us up around the mountain side. The monday after Xmas we (Nellie & Vic & V.A.) & us) drove down to Palm Springs the big million dollar resort town of the movieland people & that sort. We took picnic stuff with us and had our selves a feast on ' the desert. Then we raced about in the sand & up & down the dunes. Palm Springs is also famous for it dates. You should see those date farms! The Christmas tree packages arrived the other day from Chas. Jr. & Debby (or Jean Ellen) and we were quite relieved for we didn't know when to expect them (before or after Xmas). Know that you all must have had a ' big time! Gotta get ready to go out with me fella when he comes, so----love, Chatter ' August 2, 1950 Dear Folks, There will be two copies of this letter-one for the Leinweber's and one for the McNeills. Yesterday morning Chatter awakened feeling a little different and since her doctor's appointment was for two that afternoon, she was able to find out just about what to expect. He told her that everyting was ready and that he would probably see her that night-yesterday. I subsequently got everything in order at the plant as it concerned me and told them that they probably would not see me the next day. How right I was! I got home from work and read my paper as signs began to multiply. We ate and then I went out to mow both the front and back lawns. I had not quite gotten the back lawn completed when there was a showing of blood to back the minor back pains. The lawn had to wait. We got to the hospital and got Chatter into bed and all ready. That was at about seven thirty p.m. From then they took her into the ' delivery room at that time. Momma McNeill and I sat thru the rest of it in the waiting room until the baby was born at ten to five. That was a terrible wait for me for I thought that she would not be in the delivery room for more than an hour. I had all kinds of visions of complications and possible results of some boner. They tell me that the birth was normal in every way just slow (at least, I think it was). Chatter was given a spinal just before the final labor by the doctor. Consequently, she saw the whole works. It just numbed her hip and abdomen area. They took a few stitches to fix her up where they had cut for stress relief (standard practice out here now). Then they let us see her and she was just ' as happy as the dickens-all perked up on her elbows and laying on her tummy and joking. You wouldn't know anything had happened. We saw the baby before they cleaned it up and she (the baby) immediately yawned in my face-a real whopper of a yawn, too. ' I got a little sleep this morning and skipped work and went to see Chatter and Tina this afternoon and tonight. Both are in fine shape. Chatter had her twice for short spells today to suck at the nipples a little to be ready for the milk flow. The kid has very dark hair and purplish blue eyes with the hair seeming to be just a little curly. ' She is nineteen inches long. Her face is roundish with a pug nose and tiny flat ears. She seems to be exceedingly healthy. We foresee absolutely no complications for Chatter even as there have been absolutely none all during the pregnancy. How many long hours I worried about that both before and after our marriage. Life is really wonderful at this date. Love, Junior 335 December 20, 1951 , Dear wonderful people, , Course, as usual, I have procrastinated so that this letter may reach you before Christmas and then again it may not. Any how, we would like to extend to you our warm greeting. If I could put all three of us in an envelope, I would surely send us out your way. However, this year Xmas will give us a new thrill for Tina will be old enough ' to really get excited. Already I have been getting butterflies in my tummy just thinking and planning about Tina's first Xmas. It will be the first Christmas that Clarence and I have had in our own home; so it will hold many a thrill for , us too. We have had our tree up for some time now and Tina gets all bugeyed when the lights are on. Oh she is a cutie! We have saved a bit of news to tell you at Xmas time so that you may rejoice with us. You see Clarence and I have been eating rabbit food again and it seems that you will be happy little grandparents sometime after , Easter. Well, now that you have been left speechless, I will let Clarence take over and write to you in his own wonderful way. , I do hope that this will get there on time but it is touch and go. It would be nice for the above news to get to you Monday evening. We will send this Air Mail to try to time it right. Chatter has been saving the information until the baby started kicking and then after it started that now violent practice we decided io hold uff until Christmas time. Chatter has been very well and has taken part in any number of things as she did while she was ' carrying Tina. I think that she has thrown up only one time. The new one is due around the 15th to the 20`h of April which will make it about the age that Tina was when you saw her if everyting works out all right and we come home in August. Things will be warm then and we should be able to see people this time. However-no matter how , much we will be wanting to see our old friends we will have to think of our health first and that of our children if there is reason to believe that taking them someplace will put them in danger. Chatter has fixed the house up very pretty. We have the tree over in the corner by the piano and got the first of our ornaments. In the years to come we hope to have more. I shan't go into details because it is getting late. , We took the money you sent and bought each other presents in secret to add to the Christmas surprise. To Tina's we added $10 of our money and got her $20 worth of presents in all. One of the things is a little tricycle. We had to try her out on it at the store and had a heck of a time getting her off of it there. We brought it home and ' put it in the closet in the front bedroom. Chatter went in there looking for some music the other day and of course Tina was with her. Tina opened the door and stood there bugeyed just saying "Mommee, Mommee, Mommee-ee". I thought her heart would break when we carried her out. She has forgotten about it now and it will be another big surprise when she sees it on Christmas morning. We get our turkeys tomorrow and will store one away for Easter reference. (I am referring to Vic's, too.) I looked all over town in search for a wire recorder but there is none to be found. Two of our friends have tape recorders but Don's machine will not take tape. Let me know if you can latch onto a tape recorder and we can ' send you hour long snatches of our life here. Merry Christmas and to all Good Night. Love, Clarence Jr. & Chatter P.S. We had a studio picture of Tina taken about 2 weeks ago but the outfit didn't get the copies out fast enough. Our package is on its way home and pictures for the grandparents and you will be coming as soon as we ' latch onto them. We received Jean's present for Chatter today. April 18, 1952 (written on yellow graph paper) , Dear Folks I shall not be long with this note and will write full details tonight. You have a new granddaughter. ' Her name is Kathy Marie & she arrived at 10:30 am April 17`h. Her weight is 7#13 1/2 oz and she is 201/2 inches long. Her hair is very dark and she has quite a bit and is a perfect, strong baby. Chatter is doing fine although she had a rather long labor. The baby started to come face up and then changed its mind and started turning. Didn't tear anything up and just came on in due time. More tonight. Junior ' Sorry about paper, etc., etc. I am still in groggy shape from loss of sleep. 336 r April 19, 1952 ' Dear Folks, My loving wife swiped every bit of the writing paper in the house before she went to the hospital and I didn't find it out until I set myself down to write to you tonight. Therefore this rare old vellum which you see before you was once the cover for a freshly cleaned dress. I suppose that a resume of the happenings of the past week or so would be in order. Tina started vomitting last Friday night and was running quite a fever by Saturday so we took her to the doctor and he informed us that she might be coming down with the measles. All of this made us very happy since the new one was due the following Tuesday. Sunday, however she was quite a bit better though still somewhat listless. we could not take her to the nursery during the Easter services for fear that she might have the measles so I stayed home with her and our visions of her wearing the beautiful little Easter outfit ' which Chatter had made went a glimmering. I stayed home with her since Chatter was to lead her children's choir in an anthem as a part of the Easter service. Monday and Tuesday followed in ordery procession with Tina seemngly in pretty good condition. Wednesday dawned much the same except that Chatter was beginning to feel uneasy and by the time I got home from work it appeared that we were due ' for the hospital trip that night. So what did Tina do but throw up her supper and make repeated attempts to make sure that there was none of it left. About nine we went down to the Klukan's who live in the house on the south corner of our blocck. Mary Lou is quite a friend of Chatter's and had agreed to take care of Tina while she was in the hospital. We were feeling quite apprehensive since they have two little II' girls, one of whom is 3 and the other about 14 months. We sat around and watched television for a while and finally checked in at the hospital around 11:30. By about 3 AM the contractions were coming quite regularly on a 2 to 4 minute schedule and, though I informed her as to what had happened the last time, the stupid nurse gave Chatter a sedative shot and a couple of red pills. As before, this had the immediate effect of slowing down the contractions to about 8 or 9 minutes and we did not get back to the 2 to 4 frequency until around 5AM. As time went by it became evident that there was a little bit of trouble and Doctor Mulford showed up around 8 o'clock and checked on her. Seems the little bugger was wanting to ' make it's arrival facing the world instead of in the normal face down position. Then she changed her mind j as women do and started to turn witht he result that the delivery was a mild forceps (high forceps- around the head.) This did not hurt Kathy any aside from leaving a couple of red marks on her face which ' are now nearly gone. For Chatter it was a somewhat more difficult delivery than that for Tina though not a really bad one and hou know Chatter---she doesn't whimper. She was only in the delivery room a little less than an hour this time. Both of them are doing absolutely fine. Whereas Tina was anybody's guess and most people said Daddy as to resemblance, this one is ' a picture of Chatter. She and Tina are nearly opposites. Kathy was the longest baby of either sex in the nursery at 20 %2 inches and weighed nearly 1 '/2 pounds more than Tina at birth. She is a robust child and the nurses say she sleeps better than any baby there. Her hair is very dark---quite a bit more than Tina's at birth and she has the receding hair line which Tina had though she has quite a bit more hair. Her ears ' are very tiny and flat and her eyes are a very dark blue. Her cheeks are rather pudgy and shaped much like Chatter's. I told Nellie that she had the McNeill nose and Nellie immediately took offense. She will take no semblance of kidding such as that which is a part of the every day life between Chatter and I. ' Nellie said that there is no such thing as a typical McNeill nose and I had to explain to her that I was referring to the type common to Chatter and George and to a somewhat lesser extent to David and herself. Anyway the kid has Chatter's nose and no offense meant. If she is as pretty as her mother I will ' be more than satisfied. Getting back to Tina. After getting no sleep all night I came back and made requisite phone calls around town and then got a shave and 2 hours sleep and took Tina to the doctor. She got a shot of penicillin and one of something else. She has been feverish and light stomached the last few days and I ' can't seem to break the attack. I forewent visiting Chatter tonight and called on some of the choir members to go and keep Chatter company. Tina IS getting medicine every four hours and I hope to get her in shape soon. She blossomed out with loose bowels today and I hope that that is the thing which was waiting to come into the open. If so, now we know where we stand. Chatter was to come home tomorrow but the doctor said to wait until Monday to give Tina a chance to get well and not expose the baby. Tina was running no fever tonight but upchucked her supper all over herself and the bed so I don't know what the morrow will bring. I will let you know if things get no better. It is a rough life on Daddy. ' Kathy Marie is named after Chatter and yourself, Mother. I hope she can live up to the two names. Love, Junior. 1 ' 337 Wire -January 21, 1955 Third unit of our harem arrived noon today. Kerry Lynn. 7 pounds 11 ounces. Fine baby. Chatter had a , little rough time with dropping blood pressure but is none the worse. My ordination as ruling elder Sunday. Chatter will write in day or so. Love=Junior=.. Jan.22, 1855 (Ed. Note: Daniel was a little off with his date) ' My dear Clarence and Chatter and Cherubs; ' Ten in the morning and already Wife, John, Ann and I have read your telegram. For each of us it produced a kick of delight. All were ready to push me back in the comer because I predicted that it would be a boy. But I suffered no disapointment. We should be as gracious in giving a welcome to women, perhaps more so than we are giving a welcome , to men, daughters than sons. We all here rejoice with you and appreciate her name. Katherine is a good manager under a good man even if she has a K.ICK.Tribe! Katina, Kathy, Kerry. To us as a family it is both a joy and a pleasure to have you and Chatter welcome for us as your very own , another daughter. God bless you as her parents and her as your daughter. It is just fine. We will be waiting for the letter from Chatter. But first we want her to take it Pacy en1 he- Rlad T-IPr r-rnrd thus far is one worthy of the good books. She can't afford not to be better to herself now than ever, especially after Sunday. , People - not doctors - comfort those with low blood pressure that they are to live a long time. Guessing in this matter of family is always difficult. But chances are good. That is if she is a McNeill. It takes so many McNeills to amount to anything that each one is supposed to have about eight children. If she is a Tegg then - about three as the limit - then Chatter just as well begin looking to her inlaws - sons in law - as much as to any one else for a son. Now Clarence you can go down the family line from your side and come to some conclusion which you may express in you last will and testament. Kidding is wonderful because it is so uncertain. Take it like a man. Chatter can take it like a , woman. We have for years now thought of her as a jolly good fellow and a good sport. God be praised for her and may she merit the best of love and care, as well as a place and time to live a very useful life. Now I know that this is not the time for long letters But I do want both of you and your daughters really rejoice in the fact that Clarence is being Ordained as an Elder. Elders really make the high mountain in our church, , Presbyterian. We flying Parsons are too much on the wing or too much on the drag when Elders are not of the best material for the church, manly and spiritually. Believe me Clarence when I tell you that I think of you as both manly and spiritual. No man was better selected than Abram, Abraham. Does it not seem that God called, selected him because Abram seemed to consider his seed, his family when he considered himself and his God. Nothing better for a man than ' to be a man, a family man, a Godly man. Now that you have been selected, called to this high Office because you have been such and are such and expect to be such, I do hope that your life as an Elder will be a joy to you and a great blessing to many. God bless you as an Elder in the Church because you are such in heart, life, home and as far as life ' can reach. I truly embrace you as my man. Victor may read this which I have said about you as if written to him. Both of you were very manly as I saw it when you were courting your wives. Keep it up as long as you can. Always receive children for more than you think they are worth. Receive them that you may have the best that can come to one, next to conversion from sin to salvation, while here on earth. , Others here will write you. Congratulations and love from the family here, Your Dad, D.A. January 25, 1955 ' Dear Folks, While I am waiting for the doctor to make his morning rounds, I will try and write off a note to you. , Well, we did it again! you now have 3 cute granddaughters. Kerry is a combination of Tina & Kathy-all of the good features, and, of course, I think she is really something. Looks as though Jean will be supplying you with all your grandsons and I will supply the granddaughters! Oh well, we can't have everything. ' I most likely will be going home today or tomorrow! It all depends on what the Doc says when he comes. By the way, Kerry was born on her doctor's birthday-so he has quite an attachment for her. I am feeling just fine now, however, I don't plan to run any races soon, for this one. Next Day The doc came and said he could see no reason for me to stay-so I am now at home. The girls are really thrilled with their new sister. They are with her constantly as long as she is up and awake. When she goes to bed, they just disappear and play by themselves. It is trully wonderful how good they have been. Kerry is a good lil , sleeper so we don't hear much out of her at night-only for her feedings and then back to sleep again! 338 1 Inez is here today helping me and will continue to do so for once a week for a while. I'm spoiled now. Mrs. Latta, our neighbor, has offered to help in any way, & so many others have too. This is an extremely busy week for Clarence so he won't be able to take his vacation until Monday, Might know it would happen that way! Well, I will close this for now, for I have a few announcements to send out. So just hope that you are as proud of another girl as we are. ' Kerry has big flashy eyes that just dance-she looks a lot older than 5 days. Right now they are dark blue, but time will tell whether they will be brown or like Kathy's. A pert little nose, and rosebud mouth complete the rest of her lil face (shaped like Kathy's). Her hair is black and she has two of the "littlest" ears pressed tight against her head that I have ever seen! And the rest of her lil body is in perfect form!-Long slim fingers and beautifully ' shaped nails like her dad. Love, Chatter ' Houston, TX August 6, 1955 My darling, Your letters that were dated on the I" and the Yd arrived in this morning's mail. Mine should have arrived there about the same time. You sent yours by slow train and I sent mine via air mail. Before I forget, stub check 1262 for Rev. D. A. McNeill and for $50. He was going to the bank so I got ' him to cash it for me. So far Dad has not accepted any money for my stay here. I told him what 1 would like to do and he said that he made it a rule long ago that after the first two weeks there is a charge. What it will be I do not know yet. That comes due next week. I have bought a little item here and there for the house-things that they will not get for themselves. Nothing expensive just being practical. Then too, I have done all my own grocery ' shopping for Kerry. I went to the shower last night and had a fairly nice time. Can tell you more about it when I get home. Ginny got a lot of nice things. By the way, tell Nellie if they want to give Dave and Ginny something that they ' would really like for them to give them sheets. So far, they have not gotten any. Towels, fancy and plain, yes; but sheets and cases, no. Postage could be saved by asking John to bring it back with him. Our stuff and theirs too. What ever you decide to do. Honey, your littlest member of your harem, cut her first tooth on Wednesday. She has not tried it out on ' me yet' but you can see it poking through the crack in her gum. And besides that great accomplishment, she can bring herself up to a stand while in the stroller. She really likes to travel across the floor on her all fours and makes good time while doing it. ' Kathy and Tina have been very cooperative and play ever so nicely together. Martha and Vicki (the little girl with yellow hair, as Kathy calls her) come over to play quite often and they play "ladies". Right now, they are on their second trip to the grocery store with Grandpa. David's car is out of whack, and so he is driving John's. Therefore, it means that Dad is doing the shopping by pedaling his paddies to the store twice. Poor fella. ' Does seem as though I forgot to tell you that I only stayed in Kerrville until about 6 or so and then we went on to College Station arriving there about 11:30 or so. Then I spent the night there and on Saturday about noon we arrived in Houston at Liz's house. There we ate the lunch that we had packed for ourselves to eat somewhere along ' the way. Then around one thirty we all piled into Chas's car and came over to visit with my folks. They stayed only an hour or so. Jean and Chas. had promised to stay with Chas and Frances the next time that they were in Houston. And that was the last that I saw of them. I intend to go out to see Liz one of these days and spend a while with her, but that will have to be next week after David's car is fixed. Tina got a birthday card from your folks that that is the last that I have heard from them. I do intend to get them off a card soon after I write this to you. According to your letter you seem to be getting along just dandy. Gee, think of all the uninterrupted ball games that you can see before we get home. It is liable to spoil you!!!!!!! Every day I miss you more and more. I love you. Mother and I had planned to take Tina and Kathy to see "The Lady and the Tramp", but, by jingo, they held over Pete Kelly's Blues and so it will be another week before it will be shown. So that was the disappointment for yesterday. Oh well, they got over it. So I walked down with them to the Alameda Show and saw Bob Hope and the ' "Seven Little Foys". Pretty cute, except Kathy kept asking when the Lady and the Tramp was coming on in that loud little whisper of hers. And you know what I mean!!!!! Well, Mother wants me to roll up her hair for her to look pretty Sunday; so I will bring this to a close. Love you for ever and ever, Chatter Sunday: Did not get this off, like I wanted too. But you know what? A funny thing happened this morning. While we were preparing to go to church Mr. Dabadie came over and said that the mailman had left a letter there that did not belong to him. Guess whose letter it was. Right. It was the first letter that you had written ' to me-dated Aug. 31". Mr. D. had been away all week long-so there sat your letter-I too was wondering why you had not written before the two letters that I got Saturday. Now I guess that explains everything. I love you. ' 339 6317 Kenwick Ave. Fort Worth 16, TX August 22, 1960 Dear Folks, Looks like you have been getting some of this good rain also. I can't remember so much rain in August in a long time. I guess that we have gotten between 4 and 6 inches in the month so far. A little bit every few days. The word is out now. We are going to leave for Seattle on Saturday the third of Sept. Word came through ' today that they were willing to offer the amount which I had asked so I gave notice at Convair that I would be leaving in two weeks. Sure hate to leave but there has not been anything here for me in quite a long time. We will not be able to come down there again since this weekend will be taken up with details and when , we leave we will be rushing to get the kids in school there. As it is they will miss the first four days of school. Every one here is well. As usual, Clarence left this for me to finish. Mother, since we were at the ranch last I have talked a couple of times with Nellie in Washington. And she says that most of the houses already have the built in stoves, etc. , Therefore, I will just go ahead and take my range and then if we don't need it I will either put it in the basement (most of the homes have them) or will feel free to sell it. So we'll just disregard what we had discussed int he past few letters about the electric range. Maybe someday we will be able to get the dresser, but I know that we cannot ' make a special trip down. The time that we have is just too short. I have been going through closets and throwing out, giving away, etc. stuff that I don't want to be packed by the movers. The Boeing Company will pay all the moving expenses plus shipping Scamper v is air or rail. It is awfully hard for us to move so far away, but I know that this is a step in the right direction for Clarence ' and the work that he has always wanted to do. (Something that we had thought would come when we moved here to Ft. Worth, but never did.) The offer was for a Program Development Management Position in the Aero-Space Division. So see, it sounds good doesn't it??? plus a very nice salary to match. Gotta a jillion and one things to do, so will let you hear from us later. Love, Chatter and Jr. (Ed. note - Grandma wrote on the front of the envelope-Goodbye my dears, I hope you will be happy in your new world. We seem so alone here but we must be happy if you are. We love you so.) ' Ed. note - Only the last portion of this letter was saved. There is no date but must be before 1962 since Nellie and , Vic were still living in Seattle. The letter is about Great Grandma Leinweber's death. I asked Chatter to start the letter so that I could finish it as time allowed. I put in at least 12 hours at work during each day of the past week excepting Monday. Left work at 11:30 pm on Friday and then ' had to go back in for a full day Saturday. I wanted very much to come down but I am afraid that it would have left the fellows in a pretty bad lurch since I had the responsibility for a good share of the final report. Finished up the worst section (about 140 pages) Saturday night. Our airport was closed because of fog ' all Thursday night and up to mid-afternoon on Friday. Could have taken a bus down to Portland, if other things had not been so hot. Mother, it is always a shock to lose loved ones. Somehow we roll along through the years thinking---or perhaps just hoping-that everyone will be with us always. We all do it. Then when they are ' gone we feel a terrific sense of personal loss. Above and beyond this, though, there must be joy. That is the Christian way and, essentially, it is the meaning of our belief in Christ as our Saviour. He died that we might have everlasting life if we would only believe in and accept him as our saviour from our sins. Certainly, Grandma was a practicing Christian in her life and, although we feel the personal sorrow, we must rejoice that she has gone to accept the place which has been prepared for her. She lived an exemplary life over a difficult century. I hope that the same can be said for each of us when our life's journey is through. She left a group of her and Grandpa's progeny without a stain in the manner of man's laws-though I grant that some have not been so good about keeping the laws of God. I must close this letter now for we have to go and pick up our young crew over at Vic and Nellie's where they have been spending a good share of the day. ' Incidentally, we have only had the one snow-before Thanksgiving. There is much snow in the mountains of course. It was a beautiful, sunshiny day here today. And here you really appreciate beautiful, sunshiny days, Love you, Junior & Chatter Grandma wrote on this letter: "This letter about Grandma's passing-Junior, you have stated death in such away ' as Christian, the way I believe I'm so glad you can see it that way. As Don says 'there is a new star shining in Heaven'. She looked like a sweet little angel, imagined I could see a smile of contentment on her face. " 340 ' r Bellevue, Washington ' April 9, 1964 Dear Folks: Usually Clarence starts the letters, but this time I guess I will write the whole thing. He has been awfully ' busy of late and is working on a proposal that means extra hours. So it will be a few days before our household is back to the normal schedule of having him home for dinner and the rest of the evening. Clarence bought a nice tie with the birthday money, and as I stated in the last letter I was going to buy some ' perfume with mine-which I have. I have a purse size spray perfume container and so I got a refill for it. So thanks again from both of us. Not too terribly much going on around here. On Monday, Kathy will make a trip over to the Jr. Hi to become acquainted with the procedures and facilities. She will have a big sister (a seventh grade girl) escort her around during the day... attending classes, eating lunch together, etc. School ends here on the 4`h of June, which is not too far away. Tina brought home her schedule for her Hi School subjects, and we sat down and planned her courses for the 9`h grade. She will still be attending Chinook Jr. Hi for the grades here are 1-6 elementary, 7-9 Jr. Hi, 10-12 Sr. ' Hi. So for a year Tina and Kathy will be attending the same school. The following year I will have a girl in each one of the three categories. Kerry's teacher has been asked to give a demonstration of her Math methods before a conference of ' Western Washington Math teachers on Saturday, and Kerry has been selected as one of the top students to participate. Ten students will be used for the demonstration of method. How about that???? Clarence got a birthday card from Don saying that Sperry was having its troubles and has been letting ' people off. Boeing has kinda stopped laying-off (at least for the time being). Boy, Boeing surely did upset a lot of households in the Bellevue and Seattle area. Many of the families moved to Huntsville, Ala. and to New Orleans. Our position does not seem to be in jeopardy at the present time. We certainly have enjoyed our Color T.V. Sometimes on Sun. evening we have a carpet of kids from the neighborhood on the floor watching and crunching pop corn! We knew this would happen! ! ! ! ! and we don't mind a bit. Well, I got to get busy with a few things before the kids come home. It seems like someone always has to go to somewhere-dentist, shopping, etc. therefore, I always try to get all the household chores done before they ' return. If they don't have to go anywhere, our house becomes grand central station-girls, girls, girls. Love from all of us. Chatter ' Red Lodge, Montana June 14, 1966 Dear Folks, ' We finally got on our way but some of the things which we planned to do, like writing letters, didn't get done. They were supposed to load our household goods on Friday but didn't get it done until Saturday. By the time we got the house cleaned up it was too late and we were too tired to leave town. ' We just went over to a motel, spent the night and left Sunday morning, the 121h. We spent Sunday night in Missoula, Montana. Monday (yesterday) we drove through to West Yellowstone, got a motel room, and went on into the park for a while. Today we got up relatively late and wandered through Yellowstone and, about 3:30 pm left the area of the Great Falls of the Yellowstone and headed for Billings, Mont. Shortly after leaving the park, we ran into 7 miles of almost impassable road construction and after struggling with that for quite a while we undertook the climb to Beartooth Pass. That was some climb. The pass is at 10,946 feet and you look down on whole ranges of rugged snow capped peaks of ' the Absaroka Range. Wet snow was beginning to fall as we drove for miles along the barren top of a ridge above the 10,000 ft. level. Next time I will go out the north entrance to Livingston and then across- thank you. To make a long story short, we stopped in Red Lodge-about 60 miles short of Billings. ' 341 Tomorrow (15th) we will see Custer's Last Stand Battlefield and then go on to Spearfish, South , Dakota or thereabouts. Thursday (16th) we will spend most of the day in the Black Hills area and spend the night in western South Dakota. Projected: Friday night (17th)-somewhere near Chicago ' 18th-somewhere around Pittsburgh 19th-vicinity of Gettysburg 20th-Washington area ' 21 Washington area 22"d-Norfolk area 23rd-Raeford, NC area 24th-Asheville, NC area ' These are approximate Olds Vista Cruiser 19[6]55 (white) AZP-656 Washington Love, Junior Bellevue, Washington July 23' 1969 Dear Folks, ' I saved up quite a few things to write about. Seems like I have been meaning to write for the pest week but haven't made the grade. ' Chuck and his friend were here for about a week. The friend, Jim (Boone), spent part of the time with a cousin in Tacoma. Chuck got one job while they were here but jobs have been very scarce this summer. Few of the college kids have been hired. Boeng is cutting back and the local labor market is flooded. Anyway, we enjoyed having them very much. Seems like Chuck is very interested in geology , and may have found a calling there. We took him up around Mt. Rainier and he seemed to enjoy it very much. He had camped there for three days when he was up here with Jim Hanna before but the clouds covered the mountain all three ' days. One of man's greatest adventures is now nearing what we all hope will be a successful end. You probably have some idea of the amount of my professional life that has been tied up in manned space exploration work. My entire work at Cape Kennedy was, of course, associated with the Apollo Program. , Needless to say, I spent Sunday and Monday glued to the television set, taking a day of vacation Monday to be sure that I didn't miss anything. What a thrill, and how much you have seen in your lifetime. Even I can remember those old slow biplanes that used to come hedge-hopping up from San Antonio and just ' 20 years ago and less some of us at Aerojet were working in our spare time on something which we called Project Luna. I think that our minds were too small for we worked with rocket motors that yielded a few thousands of pounds of thrust. We just couldn't concieve of anything as big as Saturn V and its 350 foot height and 7 %2 million pounds of thrust. Later I learned to think big when I worked at Convair and developed conceptual designs for turbine driven pumps which would require up to 10 million horsepower. Then some years ago (around 5) 1 led Boeing studies of vehicles for manned-Mars exploration. These ' were real big vehicles from 450 to 550 feet high and weighing 20 to 30 million pounds as they lifted clear of the launch pad. They are feasible and someday they may be flown. When wireless was invented the first phrase was "What wonders God hath wrought". Neil Armstrong said "One small step for man, on giant step forward for mankind". My blase kids, who take this for commonplace, decided to go to bed halfway through the moonwalk!!! Somehow, they have been brought up in the age of satellites and Mercury flights and Gemini flights. They have missed the background of the ages-the shepherds watching the sun by day and the , moon by night; the ancient and not so ancient moon worshippers; the stories of green cheese and men and even rabbits in the moon. They haven't heard of Galileo Galilei who was silenced by the church for blasphemous and heretical statements based on his first use of a crude telescope, of Tycho Brahe and Copernicus, of Johannes Kepler and Isaac Newton, and of all the people who have worked in this century ' to make centuries old dreams come true. It is marvellous and incredulous and, to use the expression which is much overworked these days, its fantastic. I took a flying trip back to Philadelphia last week-out on Thursday night, conferences all day ' Friday, and back Friday night. That jet lag-three hours time difference-gets to you (not enough sleep) The family is doing well. The kids have a monoply on the local baby sitting market. People realize that three babysitters in one house gives them a good chance to find at least one who is not busy. Tina has been sewing a lot and has done a real good job of it. She tends to get cross as a bear after hibernation when she works at it though. 342 as r~ t f 15 ~"1' Ski `a k+ _ Al Aft a b f.N .i3 5 a T i u~ e ' ~ x E s F~~ We have the house and grounds in pretty good shape. Shasta daisies are blooming right now. They are very pretty in beds and plantings on three sides of the house. I hear you have had a good bit of rain and that things were really pretty this spring. Love, Junior I will add my 2 cents while sitting in front of the T.V. waiting for the splashdown. This has really been a thrilling Apollo flight. As you can tell from Clarence's part of the letter-he is so happy about it all. This has meant an awful lot to him. I am ever so happy that we spent 2 years in Fla. which put us so close to the program Apollo. Well, they have arrived all safe and sound! If I hadn't seen it myself, it would be hard to believe they had been to the moon, took a walk on the moon and returned!! Quite fantastic! This weekend we are going to visit some friends who have a summer place on Whidbey Island. We will dig clams and then feast on them. Also plan to catch some crab. During the week Chuck was here we had a call from our former next door neighbor in California-Mrs. ' Latta-she was visiting relatives in Seattle. And then later in that same week-Dell Tallman-our former neighbor in Ft. Worth (you know, the one who walked into the planter box and broke her heel!!!) was visiting her son, Jack, who lives in Seattle-so we went over to see her and had a nice visit. It was kinda like visiting all the neighbors from all our former ole hometown week, or something. Well gotta go-my neighbor wants the girls and I to meet her parents from Louisiana who are visiting her. They know some of the same people I know and grew up with. This is certainly a small world, isn't it?? Love from all of us, Jr. & Chatter By the way, have you ever gotten the mantle replaced in it's proper place? ' Mountain Home, Texas July 5, 1971 Dear Chatter & Junior; I know this letter is long overdue but I have waited to write, not knowing just what to say, how to put it into words the way we feel about Tina. We did not know of the life she and Jim had been leading until we got Tina's letter the next week after I talked to you. Kerry mentioned that she could not travel by plane and then I thought she must be pregnant. Chas or ' Don's families had not even hinted of this. Tina's letter came when Daddy was running fever and it was had. We were both hurt and at first very angry but as time went on we realized that Tina had hurt herself and the little life she will bring into the world in away that can never be anything but a ghastly reality. The pitiful thing is that Tina ' says they are happy about it. This is what I can't understand, just why Tina has committed the two sins, the first one fornication and while taking the pills would not excuse this, it would have prevented bringing the poor little baby into the world. Since she could have prevented this I have wondered if she could have gotten pregnant so Jim would marry her. I have never been able to talk to my grandchildren, the gap too wide to penetrate. ' When Jim told us he had been rooming with the negro we were shocked but their main goal seems to be to bring the negro up to the level and I hope the negro can merit this, however each individual, black or white has to do this himself. You know there is a law of average, that to bring the bottom up the top must come down to meet it. ' Looks like this is what is happening all over. I am not in a habit of treating anyone badly, colored, poor rich or otherwise but Isure think that if we mix too much with people that have different standards to ours we have much grief. Now in the case of Tina and Jim, there's also the breakdown of the moral standards of the so-called intellectuals. We have been seeing this condition advancing at a rapid rate through the last few years in the churches and schools and I have worried many hours and I have prayed and asked God to give the girls, the strength to live right. You can see what the result is, if they don't. And I say girls, because I have been a girl and I know that girls can control these morals, if they want to. These days they handle and pet the boys too much and wear their dresses so shortfor one of two reasons. Either they are advertising.for the trade they Practice or simply want to entice the boys. They don't have to show their tickets you know. Then if girls do not correct this permissive attitude, the same thing that has happened to Tina will happen to them. ' If you remember, a few years ago I told all of the grandchildren that we did not want any illegal babies brought here. I should have said that the parents themselves would not be welcome either. Since Tina has belonged to the Presbyterian Church all of her life, something is wrong, the reason why they could not take it. Looks as if this church and others have lost themselves along the line and to approve of this and many other questionable morals is not good, such as the support of Angeline Davis. If you intend to stay in this church why not start a clean-up campaign against it's pollution internally. I hope that the Hannas can help the children and maybe they can become born-again christians and have a new life. The Church of Christ is a good church and if it's people live up to it's rules and regulations they are real christians. Of course the children, as of now have chosen their type of world to live in and their crowd, which certainly does not include Clarence and I, and our world does not include them. ' 343 You made a mistake when you sent out the wedding announcements if you knew Tina was with child. ' Please ask her not to send announcements to our friends and kin here about the baby. She does not know them very well anyway and I don't think they would be especially interested to hear about it and it would only hurt her. 1 have told no one here but Aunt Dolly and Aunt Edith. Sooner or later they will know it but there's no use to advertise. I wish I could have talked to you but since we can't I have had to write to you and I do hope you won't take offence to what I have said. I do not know just how you feel about it all and that is your business as she is your child and it is your own family. I know I have irritated you at times with my ideas and our standards of living. we love you and hope you can love us but I had to let you know about our feelings. We have tried to set the right example and we are veryproud so you know how this hurts, but the greateset hurt is what Tina and Jim have done to themselves and the baby. , This is the last I will speak of this or your children (Tina & Jim) I have not written to Tina, couldn't say anything nice and she is in no condition to make it any worse. Now I will tell you about our anniversary. The day itself was rather quiet as we had wanted it to be. We went to town and got my hair done and came home a little early in order to rest and go to the reunion the next day. Rained t that night but we went on and the day was beautiful. We had a wonderful time. Mary Lou had a huge wedding cake cooked for us and some of them had nice gifts, but I had told everyone we wanted no gifts so it was a little embarrasing, though it was sweet of them. Had some new cousins there that we had never seen. Daddy did not feel t too well so we left a little early. Monday we got the pretty alarm clock or watch out of the post office. We want to thank you for it. It will be treasured by us the rest of our lives and please when we are gone, please pick it up so it will go on and on in the Clarence Leinweber marriages. The dates are precious but you know w.r did not not.;-- them until the next day. We do not see too good and I just thought it was probably a patent number. ' Clarence is still not doing as well as he should. Had thought he would throw this last attack off as fast as he did the others but not so far. Has a bad pain or hurt about where the lower rib in the back is so it could be something about that rib. , Aunt Edith and Betty came out yesterday and Louis and Tim (Wooten) came also, so after all we did enjoy our fourth. They have all gone now and we will go to town this afternoon to get groceries, were a little short while they were here as we had not gotten groceries the week before. I must stop as Daddy is wanting to get started, We love you, Mom ' Mountain Home, TX July 29, 1971 Dear Ones; Should have answered your letter at once, Junior, when I received it but there's just so many house-wife duties and letters to write and I have not been in the mood to write to anyone. It has been very dry here but this last few days we have gotten two inches and thirty points, so-as Nelle used to say that she always got a letter from me after we had gotten a good rain, and I suppose that is usually the case because I do hate writing letters when I am depressed. , You should see hte hill this morning, it is just out of this world. The grass was beginning to turn a little brown but already it is looking solid and green. Daddy has only two cows and two bull calves in this pasture so this should make winter hay for this year. We are so very lucky because so many did not get the rain. These rains are ' falling spotty as they have all year and we need a good general rain. Charles and family (all but Louie) are on a vacation trip and he plans to attend several Range Science Conventions while they are gone. Chuck and Sandra are living a few miles from Butte Montana and they went there first. Jean has written two cards and they were having a fine trip. Haven't heard for several days and I hope everything is OK. Louie has a real good job and making good money. I'm not sure if I have told you that Don & Pat are looking for another baby the latter part of November. I am very concerned about this because of the conditions there financially and I think Don looks awful and Pat , always looks so bad. Got a letter from them last night and the reality that they were having another baby was as much of a surprise to them as it was to us. Said that it was definitely not a planned event. If you remember they planned and wanted the other two. Pat said that she simply told the doctor that it could not be when he verified it and she did not believe it for five more weeks, and she says that since God is sending it, it must be for a good , reason. She still weighs 110pounds, has not gained any weight at all, that Idon't understand. All we can do is just to hope and pray that everything will be alright. So many times I have wondered how anyone could have as many drawbacks happen to them as Don has. ' Friday Morning-And this is the day that the boys will land on the moon. I know this is wonderful, beyond all of man-kind's dreams and certainly my poor brain could not figure even one push button out. My greatest concern is that the three mother's sons are safe and have a 'speedy return'. The knowledge you have has been developed through hard work and many years of research, and as I think of it now, must have commenced with the 344 experimenting with the old gallon bucket of water that you heated by wood fire down in the creek bed until the lid was blown off . The push-up of the lid and how far it went into the air was measured by how tightly you put it on the bucket. This of course just had to work by using your own little brain-not the fancy gadgets that are used to measure by today. I am sure you have gotten much satisfaction out of the share you have had in the developments of the Space Program. The percentage of people who make a success of the goal they have set to attain in a life-time is ' very low-so I think, you can stand up and be counted. Junior, I suppose that you may take the Mountain Sun, if so you saw where Cotton Eldridge drowned in the river just above the bridge. It was pronounced an accidental death. He and his wife had gotten a divorce not long ' ago. I have seen them from time to time and I thought they appeared to be very happy. We had always thought a lot of Cotton and 1 am sure this will be hard for his mother because she has never gotten over the tragedy of Virginia's death. I did not know it but I have heard that her husband left her years ago so do not know if he is dead or alive or even if this is true. Many of the old-timers going now, just lately Mr. Fisk, Johnny Level and Scott Fawcett, all Presbyterians. Rolly Kothmann and Mr. & Mrs. E. M. Peters will not be at our Campmeeting this year. All of these have been very faithful followers of the Lord so they will be missed by those with whom they have come in contact. The Campmeeting commences this coming Sunday and we will try to go about half of the time, have to take off about ' every other day. We don't get as much out of the meeting as we used to, we are not able to help much and, too, sometimes they preach sermons to the left and they do me no good, just irritate me and I don't think that is christian either so it is better to hear a sermon that I like over the radio. ' Monday morning, August 2; Did not get your letter finished and I'll have to bring you up to date. We had the most wonderful rain here yesterday, an inch and a half. Seems that it has covered a lot of territory and the weatherman said that it has covered approximately all of Texas. Some places it measured up to 4 inches. How happy and ' thankful we are. Don't think I have told you about Buster having a bad accident lately. He was working with one of his huge well drills and apart of it fell on him, crushed one leg and all of the pelvis bone. He had pneumonia at first and when he was able they put steel in his leg and made a pelvis bone of the steel and hooked it to the opposite side of the bad leg to his hip bone. He is up now on crutches and knowing Buster as we do he will be getting around before long even if he has to crawl. Doesn't seem fair that fellas like him work so hard andpay the taxes so the lazy ones can set on their fannies and get the welfare money. Your letter to us was wonderful, Junior, you spared none of us but left the matter about Tina to our Lord Jesus for he alone can help. I am a veryforgiving person, especially for those I love and I hold no hate in my heart for anyone. I have never been put in a position like this one before and to sum it up I think I dislike most-the Tina, who hurt the Tina we had loved so all of these years. She had told me that she did not smoke or drink and as well as I remember that she did not dope so I was in hopes that somehow she would come through safely. The very dangerous thing today is the permissive intimacy that is practiced between sexes of all ages. This is causing many divorces as it is illegal babies. I can remember what a wonderful time I had when I was young and as I look back ' on it there were two things that saved me, one was the love of my family and what I might do to harm them, I was proud of our name. Then the other was my own self respect I had to have that and in my own mind I wanted to be able to prove to the man I married that I was clean, so only Daddy and God knows that I was. If you remember I ' told you that I thought the long engagement would be very hard for Tina & Jim. Now as it is all over 1 will sum it up this way, she needs no forgiveness from those of us who love her but they need to take it to the Lord for his forgiveness and through the experience they have had heart-ache and worry, so much of it, I'm sure they have gone very low in spirit, and the way I look at it it is these people who, when they become humble enough to be born-again christian are what I call great people. 1 have thought of Tina & Pat most of the time and I do hope they are alright. I'm so afraid for Pat & Don too but surely time will take care of it all. In your letter you spoke as if you had committed some horrible sins. Guess I'm like most mothers because 1 sat and tried to think of even one and I could not. Of course we all have done many things, small bad habits and so forth. Maybe God makes us senile in the latter part of our lives so we can't remember the bad things. Then, too, he makes us hard of hearing so we can't hear the bad and our eyes get weak so we don't see it, but 1 think I hate most the gradual lack of mobility. ' Now just one more thing, do talk to Kathy & Keri and tell them to have a good time for they will never be young and free again, and never crawl under, over or through that thick high wall between them and indecency and they will make it, and a boy worth marrying will like them that way and will be very lucky if he can get them. ' Chatter, I imagine you are busy getting the girls ready for another year of school. I have wondered though if you might be with Tina as she said you might come down. Do hope all of you are well and we love you, Mom P.S. Forgot to say that Daddy is doing very well now, still seems to be weak but gradually coming out of it. Maybe he will go longer this time before getting an infection. Jasper Moore had to go back for another operation but is better right now. ' 345 College Station, TX Aug. 23, 1971 Dear you-all- I know you have been keeping the path to the mailbox hot-so I will make it worth your while. The enclosed photo is one that is taken immediately after birth-how's that for expression!!!! It really does not do her justice (sound like a grandmother, don't 1?) because it barely shows her eyelashes, and her dimples (They're like Dorothys-they ' pop in and out when she moves her mouth.) Notice those small ears!!! close to her head and very well formed-Her little hands are very pretty-long tapered fingers with nails like Kat's! (She has already had to have them cut by the nurses-they were sooooo long!) and still are. ' Her voice is terrific!!! We get to hear that frequently. (Oops that must have struck a responsive chord cause she is bellowing)! Well, back again! Tina seems to be doing as well as can be expected. She came home from the hospital on Saturday-she ' refused to stay any longer-so the doc said OK. Aug. 26`~-We seem to have everything under control now-all systems go!!! Gillian has been a very good habv- even though she had this bladder problem. I will explain it more thoroughly when I get home. Tina's spirits are good-she still has the headaches ever so often-but nothing else. , Don has called about every day to see how things are & I went over to their place for dessert on Tues. evening. Boy, are Don & Pat ever thin! ! ! or maybe I should say skinny!!! Although Pat is due in idte Ott. or cutiy Nov. (They're not too sure either!!) (And this is their third one!!!) she has not gained any weight! Tad and Barbara ' are something else again. Tad is a real good looker.-but ornery. They are all going to the ranch today and will be back on Sunday. They wanted to know if I wanted to go but I didn't feel that I should have Tina to do too much- for she easily over does it!!!! t I surely do miss you folks-hope every this is going along fine with you. I plan to check about my flight on Mon. or Tues. (I was asked to confirm it a couple of days ahead-so I'll ask about the meals then! Each day Gillian does something new. She has practically plowed a furrow in the bed-she can root across the bed in no time & sometimes goes around in a circle. ' Well, guess I'd better close or you will never receive this letter before I get home. Love, Me! Mountain Home, TX ' Nov. 17, 1971 Dear Junior & Chatter, Guess its about time to send in a report on our 'whereabouts and whataaouts' but really the things that happen here are very dull for city-folk reading. We have had a small frost here but just enough to turn the leaves in the low places and they will be real pretty within the week. Clarence and I were talking the other day about the time you all came down when you lived in Ft. Worth. The girls were small then and the leaves were beautiful, persuaded me to go with them to gather some for their teacher (don't remember if it were a Sunday S. or grade school teacher). We walked too far because they kept seeing prettier ones than they already had so some of the ones in their arms had to be discarded to make room ' for the more beautiful ones. Finally, the only thing that saved us was the arms so full & high that we could not see over to collect more. Their little legs were so short and pudgy that they stumbled over the rocks all the way home and sometimes fell but never once did they give up any of their leaves. When we reached home you said there was ' no room for so many in the car but I think they left none of them because as you left all we could see was the upper part of their tired little faces among the shiney multi-colored leaves and I think they must have had a sleepy little smile on their faces as they called "good-bye". No more snakes, I think as by this time they must be on cold storage for the winter, however, come spring and the warm weather you will have to plan to come and get some of them. Just might have another to forma reception committee for you at the door. Nothing but the Good Lord and a nonaggressive snake saved you this time, making strips where it was in easy reach all the time. Warren said he had killed 7 this year and was very close to ' several of them. The hunters left yesterday and in great spirits. They got a lot of deer and turkey too, and they were fat also with large horns. They will be back maybe. Wish they would not comeback around the holidays but that will be it I imagine. We always ask for three bucks and Daddy won't kill any. Hope Don can get over and get one or a doe so ' they can have meat but he has never cared too much about hunting. Wish you were here, Junior to get one. We got good news yesterday. It was Clarence's date with Dr. Hawkins and after he got his treatment Hawkins told him that he was doing real good. We had been a little worried because the last time he told him that it ' looked as if he was headed for an operation but he does not have to go back now for three months unless he should get an infection. 346 ' Also good news about Donnie Pat. He seems to be doing good and Patricia says he is real strong. The Y have not said what their hospital bill is but I'm sure it is a lot, guess it took all their savings. Don refuses help from ' us because he knows we have so little income but I told him that if we do not have it we can always get it. This year our Christmas to your family and Chas' will be much less to you and we will add that extra to Don & Pat to help buy their food. Besides the mental worryfor them I'm sure they have practically exhausted their bank account. Don wants to try to work in the day time and go to school at night but I think he might have a breakdown. He has taken care at least that there will be no more babies so if they can somehow handle this there will be no more. I want to go over there so bad but Daddy doesn't want to go anywhere in traffic. I want to talk to Don because can't find out ' much over the telephone. There's no more real news this time so I had better stop and get this mailed when Daddy goes for the mail in a few minutes. We love you. Mom ' Mountain Home, TX February 17, 1976 ' Dear Tina and Jim, Your letter to your grandmother arrived and she was so tickled to hear from you. she especially appreciated the cute little flowers on the letter and the love you espressed. You were right, her room is filled with ' flowers. She is a very well-loved person and many have expressed their love and concern for her in the lovely flowers that they have sent. I have written 20 thank you notes for her to the ones that have sent flowers. Although my being away from your father for a long period of time is not easy, and maintaining the long vigil with your grandfather is not easy, I know that my presence here is much appreciated and I have gained a great ' insight and understanding of life of love and of death. The love that I have witnessed between your grandfather and grandmother is a thing of beauty that I shall long remember. And the love that your grandmother has for Jesus Christ who has given her the strength to accept all the suffering without the slightest whimper. As she told one of her friends that came to visit her, "God never asks us to carry any burden that is too heavy". She is truly an i' inspiration to all that visit her. For the last 4 weeks she has not eaten one ounce of food ...and her body is very frail, but her mind is very alert and lucid. She has not taken any medicine of any kind for she does not want her mind boggled. She has been eating ice cubes so that her mouth will not be parched. And although I know that her body is wracked with pain she never shows any discomfort she bears it all in silence because she says that she is walking hand in hand with Jesus. Pete will only leave her side when I am there ...he has a cot in the room with her and spends each night there. I drive back and forth to Harper each day and take care of things here at the house and bring clean clothes for Pete, etc. However, he will not come back to the house for fear that something will happen to Mother if he leaves. (He promised that would not leave her side for any length of time and he feels very strong about that promise.) Therefore, I make all the trips to the postoffice, etc. and I have caused quite a bit of excitement among the ' hometown folks. The first day that I went to pick up the mail-a couple of folks were standing in front of the P.O... (Everybody knows everybody and who drives what car, etc.) so as I got out of the car and walked past the couple I heard "who's that? and until they found out that I was staying out at the house they had thought I was a burglar or ' that Pete had a friend that they knew nothing about ...when Phyllis (the next door neighbor told them that I was Mrs. Clarence Leinweber, they thought that Mother was back home again. So it has kept Pete rather amused to hear the funny things that have been happening to me. And beleive me, he really needs something to cheer him up. Last night, we did not see how mother could last through the day...and Pete was really down in the dumps but today was ' a whole new day. Remember how Grandmother used to tell about your Dad finding her the first daisy each year and bringing it to her...and then after we were married, she would find the first one and press it and include it in her letter. Well, ' Just before your Daddy left for Seattle ...he went out in search of a daisy to bring to his Mother. Unfortunately, there was not a one to be found. Phyllis's children came running over last night to tell me that they had seen some blooming (they had seen Clarence out looking for the daisies)... seems that the little rains that we have had for the last couple of days had brought them out. So bright and early I went out and got some and brought them to Mother. ' You should have seen the twinkle in her eyes and the smile that came to her face. It was a twinkle that lasted all day. Well, I have chatted long enough..... just had a long distant call from your Dad.... sure wish I could be two ' places at once!!!! Tina if you happen to have to make a trip into Miami, you can pick up your ticket and have it with you... otherwise, it should still be there when you need it. Or you could check to see if they have it and tell them the circumstances as to why it has not been picked up.... for it is still impossible to give you any definite date. I don't see how Mother has held on this long ...she told me this morning that Jesus had told her that it would not be much longer. And since I know that they are walking hand in hand I feel that she knows of what she speaks. 347 Not too long ago there was a TV movie that was called "I heard the Owl Call My Name"...a very beautiful ' story. It is also in book form-a paperback-you might get a copy of it and read it. And it will help you understand just how your grandmother knows the Owl is calling her name. ' I love you, and wish that I could wipe away the tears that I know you have shed while reading these words-but God will wipe away those tears for we know that there will be no more suffering for her and that she will find the comfort for her soul. Love, Mother Give the girls a hug and kiss for me. I have a bunch of pictures to give you when I see you. Your grandmother talks about you and Jim in very loving terms and is so proud of how you are raising your beautiful girls. Bellevue, Washington , June 21, 1978 Dear Tina and Jim: ' Although we just talked to you on the phone while you were at Jean's, I have these pictures to send to you so that you can see for yourself just what a cute little fellow Robin is...and it is not just a braggin grandmother opinion. , While going through the stuff in my desk drawer, I found your birth certificate that I had been planning to send to you to keep with your records. Never know when you might need it. So please put it away with your important papers of deeds and records... in your safety deposit box. Also thought you might enjoy reading about your former classmate-Ann Reinking. On page B2 there is ' an article about Ste. Michelle-the winery that we told you about visiting on Saturday. This Friday we will be trying our hand at catching king salmon at Westport. Kathy is taking the day off, and will be going with us. All reports are that every one is limiting-if that is true then we will have 9 big fish. I , sure hope the waters are calmer this time, cause I don't enjoy decorating the side of the boat!!! We decided to go early in the summer this time, for Seattle is expecting to have a very heavy tourist season beginning in July for that is when the King Tut exhibit opens. We have tickets to see it is Oct. It will be in the Flag Pavillion at the Center, which they have remodeled just for that purpose. The Seattle Center has been maintained beautifully ever since the World's Fair in '62 and it continues to be a big attraction. Well, gotta run now-this is the 4`h letter that I have written. Wanted to have all the letters ready when I pick up the prints that I had made. (Hope I get the right one in each letter this time!!!! ha!!) Love, Mom ' Bellevue, WA July 30, 1979 ' Dear Tina, Jim and the girls, It is late in the evening so this will be short. ' I received a call from Kerry this morning at 1:30 A.M. saying that she had just given birth to a seven pound, thirteen ounce boy, David Neil. That was the name that Chatter and I had chosen for our boy had we had one. Bobby was calling his folks and Kathy. I presume that one or the other called you or let you know. She went into labor about 9 P.M. They informed the doctor of events but apparently he ' misread the info as it was passed along to him for the nurses delivered the baby before the doctor got to the hospital. Mother, son and-oh, yes-Dad are doing fine at last report. Mary Smith has landed in the hospital. Several members of the family went out to Westport for fishing. Mary had a bad stomach ache just before boarding. By the time they were across the bar, she was having much difficulty in breathing. She toughed it out and even caught two fish. They came back through Seattle late and decided to go on home, hoping that she would feel better. She didn't, so it was back to Swedish hospital in Seattle. She had suffered a pulmonary embolism and was fortunate to have ' survived it. She has been in the hospital for about 8 days and may get to go home Wednesday. They had her hooked up to a Heparin drip device to thin her blood. They unhooked that today but she will have to take blood thinning pills for the next six months. They know that the embolus came from the lower abdomen and tentatively figure that it may be associated with after results of the hysterectomy that she ' had about 2 years ago. Bumper sign beginning to show up in increasing numbers in the Washington, D.C. area-IF IT AIN'T BOEING, I AIN'T GOING. ' Enclosed is a check for three birthdays. I used to get somewhat perturbed at my mother for doing just that but I haven't got myself organized to handle birthdays. Lost My secretary a while back and she handled that task so efficiently. There is 30 for you Tina and 20 each of the girls. Remember, I forgot to send something for Erin and Gillian's is coming up soon. I am thinking in terms of a school dress each for ' 348 the girls and a book if anything is left over. For yourself, Tina, I was thinking that an evening out for you and Jim at a reasonably nice place might be better than something material. Those are just thoughts. It is now time to close up shop and get the old carcass in bed. I am kinda dragging around in trying to do everything. Love you, Clarence Bellevue, WA February 15, 1981 Dear Tina and Jim, This is a dreary day in late February. The rain has fallen in spates for the last several days. I can do nothing in the yard and am catching up on my paperwork. ' Enclosed is the inheritance check. I am a little late on it just couldn't get around to sitting down at the typewriter and getting off a letter. Next year will be the last of the checks and it will be for less than $3,000. 1 just checked the paperwork and that statement is wrong. I am committed personally (not by the will) to pay out $12,246.94 to each daughter. This check brings the payout to $9,000 each. Therefore, ' there will be another full $3,000 next year and $246.94 the year thereafter. Between Mt. St. Helens and the earthquakes we are having our share of the natural phenomena. A couple of weeks ago the mountain had a quiet squeeze-out eruption. This consisted of a considerable expulsion of viscuous lava which built a higher plug in the mouth of the volcanic tube. The plug is now about 1000 feet across and about 450 feet high. It resembles one of the homemade ginger cookies. Friday night we were playing bridge at the Nalos' when an earthquake of 5.5 magnitude on the Richter Scale really swayed the house. To our senses, it lasted about 15 seconds but the seismographs recorded the primary tremblor for about 12 minutes. There have been a number of aftershocks, but we have not felt those. The epicenter was about 12 miles north northwest of Mt. St. Helens in the Mt. St. Margaret area. ' The Government received a second nice raise this past twelve months. I put it that way because the Government gets almost half of any raise that I get. The first raise about 8 months ago was for about 5% and the last one for about 10%. 1 am still working long hours. I suppose that you have heard about the kid who was studying geometry and asked his ' grandfather to explain what the book meant when it said "pi r square". His grandfather replied, "Pie are not square. Pie are round." Then there is the problem faced by psychiatrists in changing a light bulb. It takes a long time, but first the light bulb must WANT to be changed. ' Mary Lou's 91 year old mother has terminal cancer. She is still very chipper for a lady her age but has a large adenocarcinoma centered in the lower chest with probable involvement of the thymus and the arterial matrix as well as the left lung. It has metastisized to most of the bones from rib cage to spine to the pelvic girdle. The coming months will be tough for all concerned. ' You are well up on Kerry and Bob's good fortune. Kathy is doing OK. Barry is beginning to travel a lot for Boeing. Tell the girls hello for me. So far as I know, we will still be coming in March (201' or 21S) unless ' Mary Lou's mother's condition deteriorates rapidly. Love you, Clarence 1 1 349