Me: If my Dad saw this picture of my Grandfather with the shotgun he may not have needed the upcoming letter from my Grandmother about premarital sex!
Laverne: It’s clear Ray, my future Dad has fallen in love with Grace, my future Mom. Looking forward to a three-day pass, he signs his fifth letter “Love.” What has she written him to elicit such a response? Or could it have been the boxes of candy she so carefully wrapped and sent him? He now knows she has brothers in the war, lives on a small west Texas cotton farm, can cook candy, plays basketball, sends well written letters, long and full of details, and he knows that her family, like his, has many wonderful Christmas traditions. I’m sure she has included snippets of life on the farm. In two years the war will be over and they will be making wedding plans. Grace’s mother, Stella, will have written Ray a long letter advising against premarital sex. Something few future mother-in-laws would do today.
December 26, 1943
Sunday Eve
Dear Grace,
I just got back from town and I found your letter waiting for me. It sure is a pleasure to hear from you.
I received the candy in perfect condition. You did a very neat and exceptionally good job in packing it. Not one of the pieces was chipped.
It would be a pleasure to spend my time with you. I’d love it, but I don’t know whether you would like it.
The first three-day pass I get I think I shall take you up on that invitation.
As I mentioned previously in this letter I was in town today. I did some skating but that is all. This town is too darn dead.
Say, is there really a war going and you people back home can’t get sugar? I sure am sorry for you all.
They opened up some bowling alleys here on the field so it means I won’t have to go to town so often.
Thursday it rained like the dickens, and I, in that rain, had to go and target practice. I’m not a very good shot, but if it was a Jap he would have been a dead one.
I don’t have much to write about only that my Christmas was not a very happy one, even though I had most anything I wanted. I really missed the folks. I am glad that I have no girl back home to worry about. I probably would have gone crazy.
In the second place I’m the bashful type. Oh yeah. Any way I think I am. I haven’t found a girl I could really go for so far. I have my eyes on one now. I guess it will take time before I really do know. I guess I have plenty of time. I am only a young guy, won’t be getting old for another year. Ain’t I the silly kid. Guess I’ll close now as ever
With love,
Ray
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