A WWII Love Letter...from my Papaw to my Mamaw

[jus_the_facts]

....My Papaw died day before yesterday...I found this awesome love letter he'd written dated July 12, 1945 while in the Navy...in a huge trunk filled with photos and momentos from his life....this letter touched my heart and showed me a view of the young man my Mamaw fell in love with...always wondered how she could put up with his curt and contrary demeanor...now I see why...:cry:

My darling sweetheart,

Hello sugar! I wish I knew that song, "No Letter Today." I could sure have been singing it a lot since I've been in here. I'll sure be glad when we leave here. I don't think there's any place I've been yet that I dislike as much as this , including Iwo Jima and Okinawa.
At least we did get mail regular and that's about all that means anything to me out here. In Saipan we were getting mail but no liberty, here we are getting lots of liberty but no mail. I don't think I need to add that I prefer mail. They can have their liberty and everything else in this hole. I can't tell you where I am or what it's like but someday I can and I'll probably beat my teeth plenty about this place, but the main thing is not getting any mail. I could stand anything, even combat, if I was only hearing from you more. I didn't mind going into Iwo or Okinawa too much because I knew it had to be done and I knew that when we got back we would have lots of mail from home. If you remember I used to talk about, in my letters, how I was looking forward to getting your letters when we got back but there is no such thing as mail serviceinto this place.

Darling I just can't help but sit here and wonder about you and the boys. I keep wondering if you all are settled back out to the house, if you all are all well, and if you are going to church with the boys every Sunday and reading to them every nite. All these things run through my mind and many others but I guess they'll be answered in due time. Just pray for me darling, and we'll both trust in God, knowing everthing will work out for the best.

Sweetheart, maybe you can't tell from the way I run on that I love you , but I DO. That's something that will always be no matter what happens. I mean that with all my heart. I love you more than anything else in this world and always will. You are my one and only sweetheart, I love you now and forever. Always remember that!

Well Sugar, give the boys a big kiss for me and tell them I hope it may be God's will to let me give it to them myself in person before too long. Goodnight my darling, may God bless and keep you always.
I love you, you are the prettiest, sweetest, dearest, most wonderful, and most precious wife and sweetheart ever.

All my love and a million kisses from your adoring sweetheart,

Richard

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

RIP Papaw...I wish we could have been a lot closer than we were...I know you loved me and now can truly see that you loved my Mamaw and why she loved you so much too...I hope with all my heart you're in the heaven you talked about so much..surrounded by all the family who preceeded you in leaving this world...may your heart rest in peace...sure hate that it was so hard for me to see how truly big it was...only now in hindsight.
:loveya:

[JohnKleeb]

1. Didnt know you lost your grandfather Amber

I lost one of mine 24 years ago, sigh the anniversity is coming up, just before XMAS and I never knew the guy. Thanks for sharing that was touching.

[VelmaD]

2. Thank you

for sharing that with all of us. It's so sweet. I'm sitting here at work trying not to cry. Made me miss my Papaws. :-)

I'm sorry about you losing your Papaw. :hug:

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

3. Since I sent my condolences privately

I would simply like to say ...I have NO DOUBT why he loved you so much. May the sadness you are feeling now pass and be replaced by all the warmth he brought to you.

Hugs.

[THUNDER HANDS]

4. awwwwww

:)

[Cheswick2.0]

5. that was sweet

What a treasure that trunk of letters etc... is! I am sorry for your loss.

I sang at the funeral of a friend the other day. The sermon was all about his reunion with those who had gone before. It is hard on us left behind when someone dies, but for those who are gone the pain is over and the joyous celebration has begun.

[jus_the_facts]

6. Thank ya'll....each and every one of you......

:loveya:

[THUNDER HANDS]

7. kick

for papaw :)

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

8. Kick for a sweetheart!

[eileen_d]

9. What a gift to have found that letter

Recently my mom shared some old letters from her late father with my family... they're precious. My condolences for your loss.

[jus_the_facts]

10. I want to thank ya'll again for your kind words....

.....and for kickin' this thread for me as this really was something very special to have found and gave me much comfort too...the visitation tonight was difficult but saw many people I'd not seen in a long time...family and friends as well...tomorrow we bury him...next to the son he lost in 1972...RIP James R. Bell...I'll always love and remember you Papaw! :cry: :loveya:

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

11. You hang in there and hold your daddy's hand

I'll be thinking of you, Amber. Tale a few of the flowers home with you and let them dry....

[jus_the_facts]

12. I'm hangin' in...and I will be beside my Dad...bein' strong for him.....

....he did well tonight...kept his mask on so not to breathe in any germs that he might encounter...so hopin' he'll not get any sicker in that regard.

Thank you so much Teena...he got lots of flowers and plants...will definitely get a few roses to bring home too...sure hope everything is gonna be alright for you too...G'night and sweet dreams my dear precious friend!! :hug: :* :loveya: