Bernice (Bessie) Kotowski Zabielski, 1944

Dad always spoke Polish when talking to his ma on the telephone. 

9 August 1944

India

Dearest Grace,

I received your letter dated July 16 and I sure did find it a very welcome and interesting letter.

I started to write you a letter last night on V-mail, but it seemed to me very informal to write in V-mail.  In the second place, half way finished with your letter I ran out of ink so I postponed it till today.

They had some Sunken Gardens up at San Angelo and I really thought they were beautiful.  I know what you mean when you describe those at San Antonio.

I know that Lt’s are wolfs also, and now that incident that you mentioned convinces me that I was right.

Last night after work I went to see our Squadron play the M.P.’s baseball team.  We won the game 2 to 1.  After that I started to write you a letter but could not finish it.  I’m sorry.  After that I went to a show.  Had a little trouble cause they announced all men in overalls would have to leave the show and so all the men in overalls left and the guys who were dressed in Khakis left also.  The guys in khaki uniforms did not go back until they allowed the guys in overalls in.  They finally let every one in.

They guys were sure mad cause they didn’t mind dressing up in their dress clothes in public cause then you are living up to the standards of our Army, but when they made us dress in dress clothes in the field where no public is allowed sure made the men angry.

Nothing more to say only that I am well and healthy and I sure do miss you.  I wish that you were here so I could hug and squeeze you till you say stop.  Honey, do you miss me as much as I miss you?

How is every one at home?  Well and happy, I hope.  Did you hear from W.R. lately?

So, honey, I’ll close with love and yours, always,

Ray

P.S.  Enclosed is a clipping on why I am now overseas.

Read all the letters at:  http://wwiiloveletters.blogspot.com/

Mom, “bumming” in the big city, shopping with girlfriends, 1944

I was so intrigued with the movie “Guadacanal Diary,” that I ordered my own 1943 edition of the book written by Richard Tregaskis.  He was a news correspondent and I was equally impressed with his ability to record dailey, what was happening, and sending the chapters back which eventually turned into the book.  Just as Dad writes, G.I.s talked about girls, family back home and home cooking.

7 August 1944

India, Monday eve

Dearest darling,

I received today a letter dated July 15 and I sure was happy to receive it.

Say, honey, you’d better not go bumming around so much, that city life will ruin you.  You’re not used to it.  You better wait until I come home and then I’ll introduce you the city life.  I won’t have a chance now, that you living in a big town, all those G.I.’s and 4 F’s around.  I’ll lose you.

I’ve been pretty busy today.  This has been the first let up I’ve had since I got to work this morning.  It’s been raining again this morning, now it is late in the afternoon or early evening and the sun is out and it’s so nice out, reminds me of back home.

I received a letter from home today.  Everything is ok. And every one is in the best of health. 

Well, I guess I’ll close cause some more work just came in and I want to try and get this letter off today if possible.  So, until tomorrow, I’ll be saying good-night.

With love,

Ray

Read all the letters at:  http://wwiiloveletters.blogspot.com/

WWII boat docks in India.

 Dad takes photos, writes letters, misses the States, home cooking and the woman he met in the bus station.  Mom writes letters to her brother and the soldier she met in the bus station, makes candy and sends it oversea, sometimes to become lost.  Indians gather on the dock with goods to selling to the arriving soldiers.  The tenderness of love lettersthe struggle to survive, and the violence of war; such a rugged terrain.

India

Sunday, 6 August, 1944

My dearest Grace,

I am at this time answering your letter that was written on the 14^th of July (my brother’s birthday) and I must say if sure was good to hear from you again.  I haven’t heard from you for a few days.  I was beginning to worry.

I’ll never forget the evening I met you.  It made my stay and trip to Ft. Worth profitable cause I met you.  I sure would like to be back there again and see you.

I was sorry to hear your brother did not get the service he wanted, but I know that whatever service you are in or no matter what branch it is, a person gets to be very proud of his outfit.

Although today was Sunday, it did not mean it was a day of rest.  We had to work.  I don’t mind working cause there is nothing else to do.  I missed church today and I know I shouldn’t have.  I would have gone if I didn’t have to work.

Last night I went to a show, and I saw two pretty old pictures.  The names of the pictures were “Yank Ahoy” and “McGuerins of Brooklyn”

They were two very comical pictures.  I really enjoyed them.

I figure you should be in Fr. Worth until the last of August so about the 20^th of August I shall again address your mail to Matador.

As you know this is the Monsoon season in India, so again, today, it’s been raining.

For dinner today we had Roast chicken, mashed potatoes, corn, string beans, tomatoes, canned cherries, and iced teas.  It sure was a good dinner.

I still have not had the chance to go to town so I do not know what it is like.  I heard it not so very hot.

Darling, I never received that candy you made.  I figure it might have got lost because I’ve had so many changes of address.  So when you are making some more candy or cookies for W.R. pleas send me some.  I sure do miss your home made candy and cookies.

Well, darling, I guess I’ll close with all my love to my one and only.  Here’s some kisses.  I can’t put an x’s.  The censor won’t pass it.  But you know they are enclosed.

Love,

Ray

Is that a camera in Dad's hand?

Dad is in India in this letter.  Sleeping in a tent.  The photo is of him still on a ship.  Is that a camera in his hand?  When we lived In Japan, many years later, I remember taking photos and developing them with Dad in the base photo lab.  Is it any wonder that his creative talents, and mom’s with her sewing and quilt making, that many of their children and grandchildren have followed in their foot steps?

3 August 1944

Thursday eve

India

Dearest,

I’ve got the urge to write you, but I just can’t seem to find anything to say.  I have so much to talk about yet when I sit down to write you my mind seems to be a total blank.

I haven’t been very busy today, but as soon as I try reading a book or write a letter some body comes in with some work he wants done immediately if not sooner.

I am writing you this letter while on the bed and underneath a mosquito net.  It is very stuffy underneath the net, but if I did not sleep under the net I would be subject to the bite of a mosquito and maybe malaria.

I really had a lot of trouble to get to work today.  On account of the big rain the other night all routes to our place of work were underwater.  When we did land a truck to take us, there was always the chance of it stalling so we would l have to get out and wade through the water.  Our truck stalled once today and so I had to get out and walk. 

It is getting dark now so I pulled out my flashlight so I could keep on writing to you.  We have no electric lithgt in our tents.  As I sit here and write this letter there are guys outside reinforcing their tents cause some of the tents fell down the previous night.  I’ll wait till mine falls before I reinforce it.  Mine looks pretty solid, anyway.

Most all the minor dirty jobs are being done by the Natives.  All we have to do is carry out our regular duties and not worry about K.P. etc.

I pay a guy $2 a month to do my laundry.  It does not matter how much clothes I give him.  The price is always the same.  This way I’ll be able to put on a clean suit of clothes on every other day.

I sure am glad in one way that they shipped me over seas. For by shipping me overseas I replaced a fellow that has served overseas for more than 2 years.  You should see how happy he was when he found out I was replacing him. And that now he was able to go home again.  Now if they send enough guys like me overseas your brother, my brother will be able to come home sooner.  Don’t get me wrong.  I don’t cherish this idea of being away from you, I miss you so and I so do long to be with you again.  I’m only happy that because of replacements like me and some other guys coming here, gives you a chance maybe to see W.R. a lot sooner.  (You should be glad you don’t have to put up with me for a couple of years.)

Well babe, I guess I’ll close for tonight.  I have no more news and I’m getting tired so I could sleep.  I want to sleep so I could dream of you.

With all my love,

Ray

P.S.  I do love you.  I’m pretty darn sure.  Are you?  I’m kissing you good night honey.  Did you get it?