Friday · Oct. 23, 1942
Just keep on writing to me.
Those letters mean everything to me.
Oct 23, 1942
My Darling Wife.
I was discharged yesterday from the hospital & rejoined my unit today. [Feel well?]—and I all I need is a little care.
When I got back to the company they had just forwarded my mail (about 8 letters)—to the hospital I may never get them now.
Honey, I feel so lonely without those letters and I hope I’ll get some in the mail which is to come in tonight.
I love you so much, dearest, and just remember always that I am constantly thinking of you and my little princess. If I could only hold you in my arms now and tell you what is in my heart, it would make me feel so good.
I can’t tell how regular mail is going to be, but if you don’t hear from me don’t be worried but just keep on writing to me. Those letters mean everything to me—make me feel almost as if you were here with me.
It is almost time for the last mail to go out so I’m going to have to close this letter.
Darling, I hope you and Linda are well. Keep your chin up, and things will come out alright. I love you dearly with all my heart.
All my love
Your John
[In haste?]
About this letter
John's division had been in Britain since August, training for its next mission. He doesn't say why he was in the hospital, only that he was discharged the day before and rejoined his unit on Oct. 23.
WHAT HE COULDN'T SAYWithin days the 1st Infantry Division sailed from Britain for the invasion of North Africa. Letters were censored, so he could not hint at it. Notice how short this one is, and the note at the bottom, which looks like “In haste.”
THE MISSING MAILAbout 8 letters from his wife, Ginny, had just been forwarded to the hospital as he was leaving it. He worried he might never get them.
READING CLOSELY
“Just remember always that I am constantly thinking of you and my little princess.” His little princess was his daughter, Linda, who had turned two the month before.
“and I all I need” is exactly as written; he seems to have started one sentence and finished another.
The only copies of this letter so far are low-resolution scans.
The Big Picture
A secret invasion
By fall 1942, America had been at war less than a year. The Soviet Union wanted a second front: a new Allied attack on Germany to take pressure off the Russians.
American generals wanted to invade France. The British said it was too soon. In July, President Roosevelt decided Americans would fight Germany in 1942, in French North Africa.
The plan was called Operation Torch. About 107,000 American and British troops would land in Morocco and Algeria. The target was kept secret.
Where he was
Britain, back with his company after a hospital stay. The 1st Division had trained near Winchester, then moved to the Firth of Clyde in Scotland for landing practice. By early October it was gathered there, loading for an invasion only the senior officers knew about.
In this letter. “In haste”: the last mail was going out before the convoys sailed. He could not say where he was going, or even that he was going.