ORD 302nd Wing
BTC # 10
Greensboro, N.C.

 Ray's future grandfather in law, W.R Tilson, Sr.

April 25, 1944

Dear Grace,

I received yur letter dated April 10th at my new station today.  I sure was happy
hear from you.  I am glad to hear that you like the candy I sent.  It wasn't much but one of these days I'll surprise you with an extra special box of candy especially for you.

I sure would like to see how you look in your evening dress but as it will be impossible for me to be there, how about taking a few snapshots and sending me a few?

I sure am sorry to hear that mom is not feeling well.  I sure do wish her a speedy recovery.

Say, when is this banquet or this shindig going to be held, the one you have that new gown for?

I finally got my wish. I am now at a ORD (Overseas Replacement Depot)  I can't tell you anything about it cause they want everything that goes on her kept on a hush.

I don't blame 'em cause in the past year over 200 spies were convicted in this town.  This is a Hot Bed for spies.

I am in good health and I sure do love to hear from you cause I like you a little bit too much and that is bad.  So I guess I'll close remaining as ever,
Ray

April 1, 1944
Easter Greetings

W.R. Tilson, one of Grace's five brothers

Dear Grace,

I received your letter and I sure was happy to hear from you.  Nothing much has happened that I consider worth mentioning, but to fill up space I'll tell you.

Last week Sunday our squadron was put on the alert for shipping out so we all had to report back to the field Sunday which was supposed to be our day off.  We did not get shipped but we have had for the past week all kinds of training from lectures to firing different types of weapons.  So it looks like to me maybe we won't be staying here so long.

I sure do wish that if I had to go I could see you once more before I left cause I think that you are the sweetest Texan that I have ever met.  I also think that your Mom & Dad and brothers are A-1 on my list.  When I was up to your place they treated me like one of the family.

I am dreadfully sorry that when I did go out with you I was so darn fast.  I guess all us city slickers are like that.  Afraid if you are not fast you don't get what your going after.  Again, I say I'm sorry, I do hope you forgive me.

Guess I'll say good bye til I hear from you.

as ever,
Ray

March 17, 1944

Dear Grace,

I received your boxes of cookies and candies and I think that you make the best candy and cookies ever.  I really do enjoy 'em.

I am sorry that I have not written sooner cause I kinda like you and I don't want to start any complications by a correspondence where as I might fall in love with you.  I think that you are a very sweet person and very easy to get along with.  I'll write you if you care to hear from me yet and if I should start getting romantic just bawl me out - but good.

As I write this letter I am partaking in the consumption of your delicious candy.  I sure would like to get somebody like you for a wife cause you can cook just like my mom.

I hope you are not angry with me that I sent you your picture back cause I figured you think I was a wolf just asking for girls pictures and so I returned it to you to show you that I am not.

I think you are grand to send me all that candy and cookies.

As always
Ray

P.S. Do you still like me or am I still to fresh?

July 9, 1944
Somewhere Overseas in India

My dearest Grace,

This letter I will start now but as I am not at my final destination I will not be able to mail it just yet.

All your letters were just wonderful.  I enjoyed every one.  I expecially like the one dated Juen 5th.  Do you remember saying that you do not know whether it was love or not?  I feel the same way, I do not know whether it is love or not.  As time goes on we will know whether it is love or not.  I ope it is.  Do you?  I do not know what it feels like to be in love cause I have never been unless it is now with you, and that I am  not sure.

Now to get to the question on pictures.  I will send you one as soon as I am able.  The pictures you sent me were simply wonderful.  One of 'em made me think you're blue, but the 2nd one was really you, happy and gay, I do hope you always are like that, never to have any worries or such.

I like the way you described spring in west Texas.  I think it sure would be a nice place to settle down only there is one drawback.  I do not think I would be able to make a living there.  I am a city slicker and production work in a factory seems to be in my veins.

You see darling (I hope you don't mind y calling you that) in civilian life I worked for a radio concern in Chicago and I had a pretty decent ob taking care to see that Radio equipment was turned out.  My job was assistant foreman.  My salary was pretty good and I intended  going back to Chicago.  I am sure that I could earn a living in Chicago.

You probably will want to stay in Texas and I think that you would not care to leave.  I might be wrong but I do not think so.  Or do you think you would like city life?

Well I guess that is enough about us for awhile.

This is not such a hot place here.  Everything here seems so different from the states.  One minute the sun shines and the next minute it rains cats and dogs.  I think I could tell you that at night we have to sleep underneath mosquito nets.

This morning I went to church (catholic).  Mass was held in a theatre.  After church I continued this letter to you.

Well this is another day and I am still continuing this letter.  Last night I went to some of those barter or just plain stores, as I did not have enough money I did not buy anything.  Only some Insignias for my clothes.

The other day I met a little boy who was twelve years old and he had a wife who was five years old.  It seems funny people getting married so young.  He did not like married life.

I suppose you are wondering how come I have no money.  Well it is because we have not been paid since we left the states.  That was quite some time ago.

The air raid siren just sounded.  I do not know what's up, no planes in sight.

There is a shortage of fountain pens here, the other day I was offered $90 for my fountain pen.  It is a court martial offense to sell and profit like that.

Well, dearest, today is just another day, it is raining again and the day seems to be very dismal.  We got part pay today.

Today we are to get our rations of "cigs" and  beer.  I do not use neither so I'll be able to save some money.  I am sorry that this letter is in such a poor state of affairs but yu see I have no where to keep my letters but in the bag that they issued me.

I'll send you a picture as soon as possible, do send me one of yours, the largest one you have. (Not over 8 x 10.5)

I am writing you longer and more often that I do to my folks at home so it goes to show you that I care for you pretty darn much.  I would like to write you more often but I can't until I reach my regular base.  No more news for now so so long till later.

Today, darling, I wrote you a letter I sent off all ready.  I hope you got it all right.  We haven't done anything all day.

Well honey a lot of the fellows today are being sent our as replacement to different outfits.

Hello my honey, another day has passed and I am still here.  It hasn't rained here very much in the last two days.  I just got finished with dinner and so I sat down and visited awhile.  I noticed kids from about 4 to 12 years of age eat the stuff we could not eat ourselves and we were throwing it out.

Today I am writing you this letter on an Indian Troop train.  They nowhere come near to compare with our trains in the states.  Our beds on the train are wooden boards, or slats I should say.  One nights sleeping on that train only made you that much more tired.  It is 0930 now.  The train just stopped and we are having breakfast.  It was a pretty decent one today.  We are somewhere in the mountains in India.  It sure is nice but feels like it is going to be awful hot.  See you later, darling.  I'll close now.

Here in India conditions are very poor.  All they do all day long is beg.  Every station we stop at a line of beggars is already at work trying to get some candy, food or money.

Darling I am getting used to sleeping on boards.  After this war I should be a tough as nails and be able to eat anything or sleep on anything.  This life I am leading now will make me appreciate the states a lot more instead of just taking it for granted.

I arrived in a camp safe and sound.  I guess that I could tell you its and American camp.  I do not know how long I will be here.  I hope it will not be long cause I long to hear from your.  It sure has been hot here the past few days.    I'll close cause I have no more to write till the next day.  I received 3 letters from you yesterday dated June 19th-July 7 & 10th.

Well darling I will not delay this letter any more.  I might be at this cmap for some while and it would make this letter too long to hold up on it some more.  I am still not at my final destination.

my darling,
good night
love
Ray

P.S.  I love you, Honey.
(I think)

July 30, 1944
Somewhere in India

Dearest mine,

Today, my darling, I was the happiest man ever.  I received from my one and only 17 letters.  It was all back mail.  I answered some of your latest letters a few days ago.  The letters I received today were old ones.  I was the only fellow in our squadron out on new men that received any mail.  I'l answer any questions you asked that I am able.

       June 8, 1944
       Honey this was the oldest letter that I received from you today.  I say that picture, "Lost Angel."  I thought it very good.

     June 9, 1944
     You said in this letter that you know what kind of letters I like to get.  I think you know what kind I like.  Ones that say you miss me etc.  I am waiting for the explanation you said you would give me, one later in writing.

     June 11, 1944
     No questions.  No answers.

     June 13, 1944
     In this letter you state that you are glad I am fighting a war against the Germans.  My war is against the Japs.  I am in a different theater of war.  Don't worry my darling cause I'm coming back now for sure.  I have you to come back to.  I'll get a picture as soon as I can.

     June 15, 1944
     I sure would have liked to see how you looked in your white shorts that made you blush when the minister came in.

     June 19, 1944
     Never had any trouble with the colored people so I have nothing against 'em.

     June 21, 1944
     This letter made me chuckle slightly when you said it sure was a scorcher.  The temperature hits here always above 110 degrees at least.  Sometimes it get as hot as 130 to 140 degrees, they claim.  When I was back home the states as a civilian I also was a Boy Scout like Dan.  I liked that song "I'm getting tires so I can sleep."  Is that our song?

     June 22, 1944
     I do not mind your going out with this guy David Taylor but be sure you keep him in his place.  Don't let him treat you rough.  Be to him like you were to me.  You know why?  I love you and I do not want any one to fool with you while I am gone.  I'm sorry you cried because you haven't heard from me.  I couldn't help it.  I was at sea.  don't cry.  I'm not worth it.

     June 24, 1944
     You ask me whether I went to a singing convention, if it is a community sing I have been to 'em plenty of times back in Chicago.  This Aunt Louise of yours must really be OK to make you all those dresses.

     June 26, 1944
     To answer your first question I was going to India and I slept all day and all night while on the ship.  Since I left Texas I have traveled about 22,000 miles, almost the distance around the world.  I can not put down any x's for kisses but you know that every letter I send you I seal with loads of kisses.  Do you?  Those kisses are only for you and no one else.

     June 28, 1944
     Do not ever say "I do not know why I write because Ray gets bored with my letters."  I never get bored receiving and reading your letters, no matter if you just scribble I would enjoy 'em cause they are from you.  You should have some letter from me by now that bore you or not.  I am not a Republican. I am a Democrat and when I vote Roosevelt is going to be my choice.  Our whole family is Roosevelt style.
     I can't seem to get a camera so I do not know whether I could get any pictures taken.  I'll try to borrow one.  Every minute that I do not devote to my country I'll be thinking of you.

     June 24, 1944
     Today we had roast chicken, pie and ice cream.  So you could see I'm at a pretty good field to get this stuff.  Yes my darling get plenty of that experience in taking care of the house.  I want some one with plenty of experience.  When I get out of this Army I'll have a few hundred dollars so we could get a little start.  I hope to invest it one of these days in a sound proposition like you.

     June 29, 1944
     I hear again of this David Taylor and I'll beat his brains in.  If he is smaller than me.  I don't know the guy but I don't like him.  I don't know what you see in him.  I am not disappointed in you.  Only when you go out with David Taylor, the wolf.

     July 1, 1944
     Glad to hear you still have Cpl. Pin.  Say, I sure would have liked to see how you looked all in red like that.  I wish that I was home with you and I would tuck you away in bed like yu were made of glass and I was afraid you would break. (NOT FROM A POEM)

     July 5, 1944
     You aren't kidding me one bit when you say that I spent the 4th of July very unusually.  I was in my bunk out at sea.  I like to go wading.  That is a date, so don't forget when I come back.

Well darling I've answered all your questions and all your letters to date.  I'm sorry Ican't answer it letter for letter because if I did the censor would not be able to censor 'em all.

I'm closing this letter but not my heart until I write again.  I'll try to write tomorrow.

Lovingly to my darling,
Ray


    

July 27, 1944
Thursday Evening
India

Dearest darling,

Well darling I guess that I have reached my final destination finally.  This looks like a pretty good field.  I think that maybe being stationed at this field will not be so very bad.  They run this field on the same order that they run the ones in the states.

We are living in tents but I do not mind that.  We have folding cots to sleep on and the tents are pretty roomy.  We have the best chow here, we have a big variety of food, including fruit.

Right after I finish this letter I am going to play Bingo.  Wish me luck.  I'll tell you tomorrow whether I won anything.

I have not as yet been assigned to any job so I do not know what I'll be doing.

I'll be able to give you more dope on this field and everything in about a week.

I'll write more tomorrow.  I just wanted to let you know that I arrived safe and sound at camp and I still love you.

The other night it rained so hard that we had two feet of water all over.  Our brick barracks were built abut 18" off the ground and we still had 6" of water in our barracks.  I nearly caught a cold wading to the mess hall.

I have no more news darling so I guess I'll close as always and forever,

yours,
Ray

PS You love me?  Yes No

CPL R. F. Zabielski 16141795
489th Air Base Sqdn.
APO 882
c/o p.m. NYC, NY

July 31, 1944 11 pm
India

Hello my dearest,

Sure was hot today.  I sweated all day and felt awful tired.  I guess I'll get used to it.

The work I am doing looks to me like I will really like this job.  I work under the same conditions that I worked under in the states and also in the same type of office.

I went to the show yesterday and saw "The Miracle of Morgans Creek" with Betty Hutton and Eddie Bracken.  I liked it and I really think it brought out the point it was trying to with out pulling any punches.  Did you see it?

We also had a stage show starring Ann Sheridan and Ben Blue, Ruth Dennis and a couple of more actors were along.  There were five of them.  Although I think Ann Sheridan was supposed to be the drawing card, I think Ben Blue and the Master of Ceremonies stole the show.

I have no more news so I guess I'll have to close.  I started this letter yesterday but I am finishing it now, August 1st.

I am thinking of you my darling.

Always,
Ray

June 6, 1944
Tuesday morn

Dear Grace,

I'll bet you are wondering what ever happened to me.  It's been quite awhile since I left the states and am at sea.  I figure it will be quite some time before I reach my destination.

Today we received the good news that the Invasion had started.  Yesterday we heard that Rome had fallen.

I hope you had a nice graduation and I do hope that the flowers arrived that I had sent on time and to the right place.

Here on the ocean we had a storm all night and this ship of ours sure is bucking.

.....something has been cut out.....

Did you ever get those pictures?  I hope you did.  I'll be waiting for them.  Before you send out the pictures let me mail you my new address.  I'll have it as soon as I land.

I really don't have any more news so I guess I'll close thinking of you.

As ever,
Ray

Ray and Stella

Matador/Whiteflat

1943

July 27, 1944
Somewhere in India

Dearest Grace,

Good morning honey  I just got up and ate breakfast, had you on my mind and figured I'd write you a few lines.  Bore you a little.

Had a very good breakfast-fresh fried sunny side up eggs and pork sausage, cereal and cantaloupe.  The breakfast I had at your house beat this though.  I really could go for a breakfast like that.  Bacon and eggs, cream and cereal.  Good old official cream also, not canned milk like we have here.  Enough about food, I guess I've said enough, always complaining.

What have you been doing in the past few days?  I hope you're trip to Ft. Worth was a good one.  So far I've been in Bombay and the city is nothing like anything in Texas.  All they seem to have is peddlers in the streets, trying to sell you something you don't want and they usually sell it to you too.

Last night I went to a show here on the field.  It was an outdoor movie.  It rained at the beginning but stopped later on.  I saw "So's Your Uncle" and part of "There's Something about a Soldier."  About 3/4 through the 2nd picture it started to rain cats and dogs.  I was soaked to the skin.

How do you feel abut me honey, still the same way?  I hope you do.  I'm nuts about you.  I wish we get things ironed out between you and me soon.  Say you never told me if the flowers arrived the day of your graduation or late.  They were scheduled to arrive the day you graduated at school.

I sent you a picture not very good but I guess it will have to do till I can get a good one.

Remember when I met you at Ft. Worth and started a conversation? I said I sure would like to have you for a sweetheart and then when I did write you a few letters and we got better acquainted I sorta hinted around for you to invite me over to your place.  You finally gave in and after I left I figured you were sorry you ever met me.  The guys at camp ribbed me cause I traveled 300 miles to see you and I disappointed you.  I was kinda down in the dumps.  Then when I heard from you again just before shipping for overseas telling me you cared a little I was really happy and then I knew I had something to go for and come back for.

I'll be waiting for that picture you promised to send me.  If you have not sent it out yet hold onto it till I give you my newest address.  I'll write you as soon as I receive the candy.

My younger brother has been rejected by the Army because of a weak heart.  The folks were kinda glad in one way but sad to near he had a weak heart. (Raining again)

I guess I'll close now but before I close I want to ask you one more question.  When is your birthday?

Lovingly yours always,
Ray

The Mother in Laws

Bessie and Stella, 1946

July 8, 1944
Overseas

Dearest Grace,

Today all the mail caught up to me.  I received 9 letters from my best girl who lives in Matador.  They were dated as follows-May 23-24-27-29 June 5-7-8-13-15.  I also received two of the pictures.  Gee!  But you're wonderful.  It was just wonderful to hear from you.  I look forward to your letters.

I sure am glad to hear that you received so many presents and are proud of each and every one.  I am sorry I could not get you anything else besides the flowers.

When and where were the flosers delivered.  Were they in time for the graduation?

I can't tell you what country I am in but I am not in England and I am not in the Invasion.  I figure I will be fighting the other wars.

Say hello and give my love to your folks and rest of the family.

Honey, as I am not at my final destination, I can not write too much and I also can not meniton where I am at.

I'll write soon as I can and more.

Simply forever yours,
Rahy

P.S.  I am air mailing it so you get it fast.

Bessie Kotowski Zabielski

Mother of Ray

Immigrated through Ellis Island

January 15, 1944

Dear Grace,

I sure am sorry that I have not answered your letter sooner.  I would have but I guess you know by now that I am not a very dependable guy.

I am so sorry that you did not enjoy my company and I sure am sorry I could have not set myself with you in high.  I know you never said anything that you disliked my company but I could tell by the expression on your face that you were.

I really did have the swellest time ever and I think it was awful nice of you to invite me to spend a week end at your house.  I think that you are the swellest girl that I know and I really mean that.  I hope you found your purse and are wearing those cpl. strips I gave you.

I sure had a rough trip from Ft. Worth to Chicago.  I had to stand up all the way.

When I left your house I left at 10 a.m. I arrived in San Angelo at 7:30 in the evening.  I hitch hiked all the way to San Angelo.  It was 283 miles.  I did not know it was so far to Matador from Angelo because I am not allowed to travel over 250 miles on 3 day passes.

I am enclosing a card I was going to send you but did not.

I have no more news so I guess I'll be closing unatil I hear from you.  Soon I do hope.

Love as ever,
Ray

P.S.  Give my regards tothe swellest bunch of folks that you have.  They sure were grand to me.