NOT FOR RESALE CONTAINS UNLICENSED IMAGES Chapter 7 March–May, 1944 March 2, 1944—Asheville My dearest one, Your cable yesterday and letter today and one Monday makes me feel I’m being “courted” all over again. The cable gave me a right and a half hope until I opened it. As always, you think of everything. Mom was thrilled and so happy to hear of Warren. Can’t wait to hear both your impressions... why and how, etc. Your letter today leaves me hanging in the air. Did you or didn’t you go on the raid? It’s good the cable arrived or I’d be terribly worried, not knowing. I suppose you’re thinking, what’s she going to say now? The answer is... nothing. Just take the best possible care of yourself and remember my prayers and love are with you. It’s all part of the job and I understand, even though I’m not too keen on the idea. However, the impractical side of me envies you terribly. Your letter definitely gave me a vivid picture of the “night before.” I can see everything... even you, banging away at the typewriter. This should be published... really. Did I tell you I spoke to a lieutenant on Sunday that I used to go to school with? He’s in the 12th Armored Division. I said I knew someone in the Fifth, meaning Eddie of course. He said, “Oh yes, they are due for some excitement very soon.” I’m wondering if he landed with the latest convoy over there. What a reunion that would be. Keep on and we’ll have to take an ocean trip. There’ll be more of the family over there than here. It’s a lovely night. I went to the movies tonight with Freddie and we decided to walk home. I don’t know why he hangs around. I’m not such good company but I guess it is someplace to come to that’s like home. We saw “Gung Ho,” the story of Carlson’s raid on Makin. Quite good... very exciting, of course. I’m enclosing this with your St. Patrick’s Day card. Remember two years ago, that day you called me up, and called me “your colleen?” I’d love to have the phone ring and hear you say “Hello, sweetheart.” Please, may it be soon. The husband of one of the girls in the bank made quite a name for himself over in France the other day. He’s a Capt. Benzing, a 1 NOT FOR RESALE CONTAINS UNLICENSED IMAGES bombardier I think, shot down three German planes. He has a gorgeous wife. She quit last week since he is due to come home within a week or two. All those fellows finishing up their missions and then a leave for home, I hope, for them all. Do you have to complete twenty-five missions to come home? If so, hurry up. At the rate you’re going, it may be ten years from now. Don’t mind me... I get like this now and then. Lately, I’ve felt the need of you so much. Do you get like that? Just one big ache, then you start slinging insults under your breath at everyone who’s keeping us apart. You’ve been playing second fiddle to a pair of socks the past few days. I finished one tonight... my first sock... of heavy white wool for Warren to wear inside his flying boots. They look kind of good if I do say it. I amazed myself because I don’t think I ever saw anyone making socks. All I know, I got out of a book. Believe it or not, your sweater is on the way with the shampoo, stationery, and cigarettes, all I could get in the package. You can wear the sweater for Easter. Hey, darling, if you’ll write a request, Mom will bake you a chocolate cake. She has a recipe that will keep indefinitely... the cake, not the recipe. She made one for Warren when he was in the west and it traveled ok. I haven’t heard from El this week. I was anxious to hear if she’d heard any more from Tom and what they’ve heard from Eddie, if anything. I meant to ask Bette, too, what she heard from her Eddie, when he landed, etc. We have an empty house... just Mom and me for a few days. The girls in the apartment got vacations together so they all went home Tuesday for ten days to Missouri and Nebraska. I just happened to remember I have two rolls of film I’ve been hoarding to put in the box and I forgot to send it, so I’ll send it first class by itself. It won’t weigh more than eight ounces. I’m about ready to hit the sack too. I’ll be back again maybe tomorrow. I hope another letter comes telling me about the mission and the fate of “Stars and Stripes, Second Edition.” Love me and miss me. All my love and kisses, always your Billee March 5, 1944—London Hello sweetheart, Another day and another night to add to the many on which I have felt the need of you so much. I don’t know why that old familiar heartache should be more painful tonight. But it is. With every passing day, I repeat my vow never to let you out of my sight for a second unless it is absolutely necessary. 2 NOT FOR RESALE CONTAINS UNLICENSED IMAGES The way I feel tonight I wish I were in a position to carry you away somewhere, away from the rest of the world and have you all to myself. Not for a day or a week or a year, but from now on. I wish I could be alone with you for a million years, trying to prove how deeply I love you. Billee, there was something said last night by Ben that made me examine my conscience, if it can be called that. He said he wondered if Jane could believe deep in her heart that he had had two dates during the 25 months he has been away. He didn’t, and wouldn’t, question her faith in him but tried to point out that even wives are human and may sometimes wonder (and in many cases they have a right to wonder) if their men are treading the straight and narrow. He asked me what I thought about it and I was honestly stumped for an answer. You see, there must be many reports reaching home about the “wild life” side of the Army, particularly in London. I suppose it would be natural for some to wonder how much is going on that they don’t hear about. At first, I thought it would be silly, almost a challenge to our faith in each other. Then I decided that you, like Ben’s wife and Andy’s, should have a right to know what we do. I might add that I am positive in my belief that Andy hasn’t had a single date during his 20 months overseas and that Ben has had exactly two. In my case, I haven’t been so good. I have had three! And I’ve told you of all three. One was with Doris Frost a year ago Christmas and two with the WAC last summer. Now, I don’t intend for a single moment to be typed as a martyr to love and I’ll tell you why. I may have said it before. When you love someone as I love you there just isn’t anyone else. I’m sure I would be poor company for a girl, and it’s easy to shun that company. Once in a while a woman’s company is appreciated wholeheartedly. When we went to Bebe Daniels’ I enjoyed myself immensely. I’d be an awful liar if I said otherwise. So, there it is. I simply thought it was about time I told you again that “I ain’t misbehavin.’” And, that I truly adore you and look upon you as being more precious than... well, you name it. Speaking of Ben and Andy, the three of us passed our day off today having lunch at a French restaurant, “La Coquille,” and seeing “Madame Curie.” Early tonight we stopped at Air Force headquarters to get reports on today’s raid, the first time the Forts went to Berlin. The reports were rather brief at that time so we couldn’t tell what the true picture was. Your V-mail of Feb. 17 came yesterday, the first since the airmail of Feb. 8. You mentioned not having heard from Warren but that’s all cleared up now. As for Eddie, I haven’t heard from him yet but I expect I will pretty soon. 3 NOT FOR RESALE CONTAINS UNLICENSED IMAGES I was surprised to learn I had to request your picture, but here it is: “Please... pretty please... send me your picture.” ‘Night sweetheart. Love to Mom. All my love and kisses, forever and always, Charles March 6, 1944—Asheville Darling, What can I say or do? I’m so very grateful... truly it is the answer to my prayers that you are being kept safe. The next thing... what of the boys that went down? I hope you hear word very soon that they are safe as prisoners or perhaps in friendly hands, and that Mac bailed out in time.