V-Mail
Thursday, July 1, 1943
My Darling Wife.
Well here it is July 1st, 11 months since I last saw you. It seems like 5 years instead of such a short time.
No mail has arrived since I wrote to you last two days ago. The mail service is not as good as it should be with V-mail to speed it up. I only hope my mail is getting to you regularly now. There will probably be another one of those long waiting spells for you pretty soon — but don't worry you'll get my letters as fast as the post office can get them delivered.
I lost my fountain pen to the [sea?] a few days ago. I've searched everywhere but cannot find it. You'll just have to read letters originally written in pencil.
My cold is starting to clear up — and the usual cough is starting. I haven't smoked in several days and I'm just dying for a good smoke. It won't be long now I hope. I was able to purchase a Ronson cigarette lighter with just about my last dollar.
Honey I miss you more — more than ever before. In fact each day my desire to get home gets greater and I get just that much less interested in what is going on over here I love you a lot — and Linda gets her share of my thoughts too. Take care of yourself for me
all my love
Your John
READING CLOSELY
“11 months since I last saw you.” That puts their last day together around August 1, 1942.
“Another one of those long waiting spells.” His first hint of the coming invasion.
Naval censor. The round stamp shows his mail passed a Navy censor, likely because the troops were getting ready to board ships.
Where he was. Nine days before the invasion of Sicily, the 1st Infantry Division was in North Africa preparing to sail. John could not say so.