1944 - 1945 ORIGINAL ARCHIVE OF MANUSCRIPT LETTERS [18] HANDWRITTEN BY A REAL AMERICAN 'JOE' WORKING HIS WAY FROM TRAINING AT THE US NAVAL BASE AT SAMPSON NEW YORK TO SUBIC BAY IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC TO HIS DARLING 'HONEY'

On offer is a super group of 18 original World War II manuscript letters, 51 pages in all written by a man "Joe" to his pregnant wife, Honey, while he is stationed at the US Naval Training Station [later the Sampson Air Force Base] in Sampson, New York and then later in Samar Philippines. The first letter dates January 26th, 1944 and the last letter from Joe is from October 2nd, 1945 which finds him on a ship heading to Samar in the Philippines. Joe is a very good writer filling his letters news and events concerning his training but at heart these are love letters and full of intimate sentiment. Here are some snippets: "January 26th, 1944 Dear Honey, How are you feeling? I hope you are all right and not crying too much. How is the baby behaving? I hope everyone is ok. I am still in my civilian clothes because I am what is known as a holdover. They are holding me because they say I can't hear too good. I am in a barrack with a bunch of other fellows who have something wrong with them. There are about 200 of us. I don't know how long I'll be here because they have to examine my ears at the hospital. If they pass me I will start boot training but I will not be with the fellows I came here with because they already have started. If they don't pass me they will send me home…..I miss you very much and love you so much that I always have you on my mind. Love Joe." "January 30th, 1944 Dear Honey, it is a beautiful day today. The sun is shining but it is a little cold. All the boys are in the barracks amusing themselves by playing cards, sleeping, playing the piano, reading and writing letters. I'm not in boot training yet but I expect to go either Monday or Tuesday. I feel lonely today because we are not together like we use to be on Sunday. I went to church this morning at 6:30 Mass. The church looks nice and is simple not fancy. I started to think about you in church and I felt like crying. I had a big lump in my throat. One of the fellows did cry in church. He is married also. We felt good going to church just the same. Tonight is show night. They have shows on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sunday night. They are going to show Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland in "Girl Crazy." We saw this picture but I am going to see it again because we have to go to the show. This is the only chance we have of going out. We have to stay indoors all the time except when we go to eat over at the Mess Hall and go on jobs cleaning up in the kitchen or clean up another barrack next to ours. We are treated just like prisoners. The sailors in charge holler at us and make us do crazy jobs like picking up match sticks and cigarettes and stones around the outside of the barracks. I wish I could start boot training right away so that I can come home quicker. I heard that they only train for 4 weeks now and have 21 days furloughs. I hope this is true because I can stay longer at home with you. I hope everything is going along all right. I haven't received any mail yet and it makes me feel lonely. I hope to get some tomorrow. I love you very much, Joe." "February 6th, 1944 Dear Honey, I went to church this morning like I told you, everyone has to go to church during boot training. We had church in the Drill Hall because there is no church like in the first place I was. Today is our rest day. We don't' have to do any marching. Most of the fellows are either playing cards are checkers and reading. I wish I was home today because I can just smell the spaghetti and meat balls cooking on the stove. Boy! What I wouldn't do for a nice plate right now. I got a letter from Viola yesterday and she told me about Rosemary eating some glass. I'm glad to hear that she is all right now. Does Rosemary still raise hell when she comes over to the home? Does she still refuse to kiss papa? I suppose papa went out last night (perhaps he means to the tavern because in an earlier letter he talked about his folks staying out late at the tavern) and came home late as usual……When I come home on furlough I will sleep all day with you and make up for all the time that I've been away…..Love and kisses, hubby Joe." "September 26th, 1945 At Sea Dear Honey and Baby, We finally left the Admiralty Islands and we are on our way to Samar in the Philippines. We left at 7:15 this morning. It has been a pleasant day, not too hot, and the water isn't rough. I think it will take about six days to get there so that will be about next Tuesday. After Samar we go to Subic Bay which is near Manila. I hope I get a chance to have liberty in Manila. I heard so much about the place that I would like to see it. At least Manila is a big city and it will be different than anything I've seen out here yet……Honey I heard some good news today for those fellows who have three or more children. They can request to be discharged. I heard this over the radio today. I also heard that starting Oct. 15th, the points are going to be lowered to 40. I didn't hear this over the radio, honey. The fellows were talking about it because they said they heard it ashore at Manus. If this is true, I'll have 40 points in November and I should be on my way home in December…..Love Hubby & Daddy Joe." Overall VG.