Sept. 30, 1943
Camp Blanding, Fla.
Hello Darling:-
Today I felt a little better when the mail man called out my name that I had a letter. It was the one you mailed to me at Camp Grant on Sept 23rd. It was the first letter I got since I been in service. Hope I get a lot of them from now on. After reading your letter I felt pretty bad after finding out what was wrong with you. I don't see why you or someone else didn't try writting me at Camp Grant and telling me. I didn't know what to think when I got your telegram saying you were in the hospital. I called Mamie and couldn't get nothing out of her. By the way pay them for that call when ever you can as I had the charges reversed. I had tears in my eyes nearly all day thinking about it. Something you and I always wanted and then losing it and all the pain and suffering you had to go thru. Now about cashing in some bonds. For God sakes Dora don't worry about that. Cash em all in if you have to but get your health and strength back. That means a lot more to both of us then them bonds of ours. You said you hoped you got your check soon. Well the way I was told you should get it in the next day or two but I won't get mine until about November 1st although I should get two checks then. Another thing I want to tell you. If something should ever happen to you or my family the only way I can get an emergency furlough to get home is thru the Red Cross. You have to contact them first and they make arrangements down here so you can get away. Hope that never happens. We cannot get a furlough before our 17 weeks training are up. I hope I can see you then Darling.
In the Army you meet fellows from all walks of life. Good ones & bad ones. There are 5 of us in huts at this new place I'm at. Pretty good fellows. 1 is from Missouri, 1 from West Virginia, 2 from Ohio and I'm from Illinois. They are really throwing the work and drills to a fellow. We go to shows several times a day. Last night we had to go to a show and lectures. I got in bed at 12:30. That is to be every Wednesday night. I was issued another fatigue suite; pair of leggings and another pair of sun tans but I'll have to have the leggs shortened as they are 34. We also got our gas masks and packs yesterday. You carry all that and our rifles it gets pretty heavy. I'll get another shot Saturday.
I came back a little while ago from getting a hair cut. I was told to get one for Saturday's inspection. That cost me 35 cents. I also bought me a shoe shine kit for 50 cents. By the way while I think about it don't ever go and buy me one of those fancy hats like Evelyn bought Jackie. We can't have them.
Well I guess by this time Fritz is at Camp Grant. I wrote to him a while back so he wouldn't be as dumb as I was when I went there. One thing was about not having anyone write you. Look how many letters I could of had in those 19 days. He will find out the next camp he gets to won't be like Camp Grant anyhow. This one sure isn't. Here you eat family style and you never saw so many hogs. Some get it all and others none. I had an empty plate several times. I don't know what I weigh now but I think my waist went down.
I have a lot of letters to write if I ever get time. Maybe Sunday I hope so I'll close now and write you more latter as I must shine my shoes and take a bath yet. It's 8:30 and the lights go out a little after 9. Tell Bobbie Hello for me and all the rest. I'll write em latter.
Here's all my love & kisses to you Darling and take good care of yourself and cash in all the bonds you need. Don't forget to pay Katie for staying there. So long now. I'll write you latter.
Your loving husband,
Gus
This letter, as I've said, is the only one left of all he wrote to Mom while he was in the Army. I know he would have written her at least as many as he wrote his mom, and there are 201 of those. I can't help but think that Mom held on to this one because it was special to her. In his last letter home remember that he mentioned he'd gotten a telegram from her saying she was in the hospital. In this letter to her he writes that when he called home his mother or sister wouldn't tell him why Mom was in the hospital. The story I was told by Dad, Mom, and one of Dad's cousins was that they wouldn't tell him why because it was "woman stuff." Mom and Dad really wanted children and she'd already had several miscarriages. She was hospitalized because she had had another one. This pregnancy lasted longer than any of the others. It is interesting that Dad never specifically refers to her being pregnant, just writing about "something you and I always wanted and then losing it..." So very sad for both of them.
In the letter he refers to several family members:
Mamie is his sister, the oldest of the seven children and over 19 years older than Dad.
Jackie is Mom's younger brother Jack. His full name was Raymond John. He also served in the Army during the war and those who didn't call him "Cool" called him "Ray."
Evelyn is Jack's wife. They had just married in April of 1943.
Fritz is Dad's brother Fred. Closest to Dad in age, he is 7 years older than Dad.
Bobbie is Mom's younger brother Bob.
Katie is Mom's older sister, Katie Klein. They lived in the St. Louis area.
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