Wednesday · Jan. 13, 1943
I feel like a million.
A Turkish bath after two weeks in the field.
Jan. 13, 1943
My Darling Wife
Another day—and no mail from my honey There is more coming in tomorrow and perhaps that will be my lucky day. Many V-mail letters have come in—but not as V-mail. The original letter came to the men directly without being photographed. The date was Dec 31st on many of them Now if I can only collect a few more letters before the week is up, I’ll be happy. I got a few more copies of the Newspress today—and incidentally they have a wrong address which causes some confusion. They address it to Company II (2) It would be well if you would give them my correct address.—it saves a lot of work for the postal clerks—and my new address can be 3rd BN, 16th Inf. instead of HQS 3rd BN, 16th Inf
This morning I went to the dentist but he said that it was just my old extraction which was bothering me still. The hole has never completely healed and particles of food get in which a tooth brush will not remove. The only thing I can do is pump my mouth out with salt water three times a day and that is a devil of a job in the field. The hole is next to the tooth and part of it is exposed at a point that is very sensitive.
I wasn’t able to shave for three days and when I shaved this A.M. I nearly tore my face apart. My hair was dirty and I hadn’t been able to take a …
… really good bath for two weeks. Tonight Lt [Becker?] and I went into town and had a real going over. We went to a place where we used a vibratory belt took a Turkish bath, a hot shower and rub down and now I feel like a million—with a nice clean head and body. If only I could stay this way—but I won’t and in a few days I’ll be filthy again
I haven’t heard anything of Gil but I hope he is still in there fighting. Let me know if Esther hears anything from him: Does [Kuesmiller?] write to Lucille. If he does, let me know what he is doing and how he is getting along. I haven’t heard of him for over four months.
My letter writing is difficult and one letter a week will be good for me considering the work I have to do They sure keep a fellow busy in this man’s army.
Darling, I love you with all my heart and pray that we will be back together and soon. I love you so much I can’t express myself on paper and you’ll have to read my loving thoughts for you between the lines. When I get back I’ll try to tell you all, and express by action all the things I have & haven’t put on paper. You and Linda mean everything to me and don’t forget it. Some of the things I have said and done may have puzzled you, but I’m a queer duck anyhow.
Goodnight sweetheart
All my love
Your
John
About this letter
Two large pages. This letter explains the hint in his Jan. 11 letter: Gil, whom he “had hoped I wouldn’t see,” was Esther’s husband, already at the front.
“IN THERE FIGHTING”Esther’s husband Gil was already fighting in Tunisia. “Seeing Gil” meant going there too.
PERIOD LANGUAGE“A queer duck” was everyday slang for an odd or eccentric person.
READING CLOSELY
“You’ll have to read my loving thoughts for you between the lines.” “Some of the things I have said and done may have puzzled you, but I’m a queer duck anyhow.”
A V-mail letter was normally photographed onto microfilm and printed small at the other end. Some were delivered as the full-size original.
“One letter a week” was his warning. He kept writing daily through Jan. 17.
The Big Picture
A secret meeting
On Jan. 14, President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill met in secret at Casablanca, in French Morocco. Soviet leader Joseph Stalin did not come. He said the battle at Stalingrad kept him in Moscow.
For ten days they planned the next stage of the war. Their biggest decision: after North Africa, the Allies would invade Sicily, the island at the toe of Italy’s boot. A landing in France would have to wait.
They also agreed to step up the bombing of Germany.
Where he was
Near Oran, Algeria, now on the 3rd Battalion staff as intelligence officer (S-2). The 1st Division was still training around Oran while British, American and French troops held a line in the hills west of Tunis, more than 500 miles to the east.