Dear Juanita,
I haven't received any letters from you for over a week. It seems like I haven't heard from you for over a month. I wish the mail service was a little better so I wouldn't get all of your letters at once. Please write as often as you can and I will get them in time.
I haven't thought much about that nickname as yet. I have been kind of busy at night. I did kind of study your name before I started to write this letter and I thought of this one (Jan). If you don't like it I will try to think of another. I hope you haven't forgot that i am expecting some help from you. After all it was you that said your name was to long. I like it just as it is.
I suppose by this time you have been all over Detroit. I do hope you have luck in getting a job. Did you get to visit my sister while you were there? Do you really think you would like to live in Detroit? I don't mind working there but I would like some place a little more peaceful.
Maybe it is because I have lived there so long. I sure will be glad to back there.
I haven't been able to do anything about those photographs as yet. I will be able to go in town on a few days and I expect to order them. Don't forget to send some more snapshots of yourself soon.
I am sure glad that you sent photographs of yourself. My dear that is about the sweetest thing you could of done, if you don't mind me telling you again.
I can't think of another thing to write about so I will close hoping to hear from you real soon.
Gil.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
June 22nd, 1942
Dear Juanita,
I couldn't wait for a letter from you so i just had to write a few lines. To be truthful about the whole thing, I was thinking about you. I can't help thinking about you all of the time now that I have your picture. I hope the day is not far off when I can see you in person.
I went into town yesterday, but I couldn't get my picture made because they are closed on Sunday. I'll be sure to take care of it the next time I go into town. There isn't very much to do on Sunday in town, so I came back to camp early in the afternoon.
When you go to Detroit be sure and visit my sister and see some of the things I have sent home. Be sure and write how you like the big city. It's too bad that I can't be there to take you around. I would really enjoy doing that. It is funny but the people who live in a small town want to live in the city and the people in the city want to move to a small town. I hope you luck in finding a job. Maybe my sister can help you by telling you where to go.
I hope you don't mind me writing the kind of letters that I do. If I know your feelings about your friendship it would make it a lot more easy to write. There is so many things I would like to say but I am afraid you may think I am terribly forward. Please don't think I am bold because I have grown to like you a lot and enjoy your letter ever so much. I think I would feel lost if you should happen to stop writing me now.
I am making a picture album so please send me all the snapshots of yourself that you can. I hope to send you some more in the very near future. We have to be careful about where we take pictures so it makes it kind of hard.
I can't think of anymore to write so I will close hoping to hear from you very soon.
Gil.
I couldn't wait for a letter from you so i just had to write a few lines. To be truthful about the whole thing, I was thinking about you. I can't help thinking about you all of the time now that I have your picture. I hope the day is not far off when I can see you in person.
I went into town yesterday, but I couldn't get my picture made because they are closed on Sunday. I'll be sure to take care of it the next time I go into town. There isn't very much to do on Sunday in town, so I came back to camp early in the afternoon.
When you go to Detroit be sure and visit my sister and see some of the things I have sent home. Be sure and write how you like the big city. It's too bad that I can't be there to take you around. I would really enjoy doing that. It is funny but the people who live in a small town want to live in the city and the people in the city want to move to a small town. I hope you luck in finding a job. Maybe my sister can help you by telling you where to go.
I hope you don't mind me writing the kind of letters that I do. If I know your feelings about your friendship it would make it a lot more easy to write. There is so many things I would like to say but I am afraid you may think I am terribly forward. Please don't think I am bold because I have grown to like you a lot and enjoy your letter ever so much. I think I would feel lost if you should happen to stop writing me now.
I am making a picture album so please send me all the snapshots of yourself that you can. I hope to send you some more in the very near future. We have to be careful about where we take pictures so it makes it kind of hard.
I can't think of anymore to write so I will close hoping to hear from you very soon.
Gil.
June 19th, 1942
Dear Juanita,
I received two letters from you today, they were dated May 25th and June 1st, I can hardly get over it, receiving so much mail from you the last few days. Please write as often as you can because I am always looking forward to receiving a letter from you. I am sure that I will always want to hear from you.
I am glad you liked that photograph of myself.But I still don't think it was as good as you say. I hope you're not trying to make me think that I am Clark Gable, but I am glad you liked it.
So far as nicknames go, well I haven't thought of any yet. But I can think of a lot of nice names I would like to call you. But before I can do that I have got to have your permission. I have been thinking about it for the last week or so and haven't been doing so good. How about a little help, I am open for suggestions. After all my dear, it is you I am trying to name.
I am six foot tall, that isn't so tall or is it? How about telling me how tall you are. It doesn't matter but I would like to know. I never did like a real tall girl.
I can't stop looking at that picture of you. May I say again that I think you are a very lovely girl. I just can't express words what I really think of it. Maybe someday when I get back home I will be able to tell you what I really think. I think that would be a lot nicer anyway. I would like to have a picture of you in your cap and gown if you care to send it.
I to hope the day isn't far off when can spend some time together on the farm. I have thought a lot about it and it seems that I can hardly wait.
The next time I get into town I will see what I can do about getting a picture of myself made. It will probably take some time so don't give up hope.
I'm glad to hear that you are doing a lot of planning. Keep it up dear and maybe they will all work out in the near future.
I can't think of anymore to write so I will close hoping to hear from you soon.
Gil
I received two letters from you today, they were dated May 25th and June 1st, I can hardly get over it, receiving so much mail from you the last few days. Please write as often as you can because I am always looking forward to receiving a letter from you. I am sure that I will always want to hear from you.
I am glad you liked that photograph of myself.But I still don't think it was as good as you say. I hope you're not trying to make me think that I am Clark Gable, but I am glad you liked it.
So far as nicknames go, well I haven't thought of any yet. But I can think of a lot of nice names I would like to call you. But before I can do that I have got to have your permission. I have been thinking about it for the last week or so and haven't been doing so good. How about a little help, I am open for suggestions. After all my dear, it is you I am trying to name.
I am six foot tall, that isn't so tall or is it? How about telling me how tall you are. It doesn't matter but I would like to know. I never did like a real tall girl.
I can't stop looking at that picture of you. May I say again that I think you are a very lovely girl. I just can't express words what I really think of it. Maybe someday when I get back home I will be able to tell you what I really think. I think that would be a lot nicer anyway. I would like to have a picture of you in your cap and gown if you care to send it.
I to hope the day isn't far off when can spend some time together on the farm. I have thought a lot about it and it seems that I can hardly wait.
The next time I get into town I will see what I can do about getting a picture of myself made. It will probably take some time so don't give up hope.
I'm glad to hear that you are doing a lot of planning. Keep it up dear and maybe they will all work out in the near future.
I can't think of anymore to write so I will close hoping to hear from you soon.
Gil
June 17th, 1942
Dear Juanita,
I finally received a letter from you, it seemed like ages since I had heard from you.
I wish I could receive a letter like that from you everyday. Please write as often as you can because I am always looking for a letter from you.
I was glad to hear that your party was a success. I also wish I could of been there. Maybe some day your wishes will come true at least. I will try to make them come true. I hope it won't be long before we can see each other because I know I am going to enjoy doing things for you and taking you places. I have learned to like you a lot over the short time that I have known you.
I am glad you liked the pictures. I will try to send more as time goes on. I want to thank you again for sending me that picture of yourself, it was grand. It seems like I can't stop looking at it. I will see what I can do about sending you a photograph. It is hard to get them made over here. If you keep looking at those pictures, you may get sick of them, but I hope not.
I will try to write to you as often as I can. It might be a little hard to write three times a week but if you write that often, I will do my best. My dear that would be grand to hear from you that often.
I was glad to hear that you and Marceline got along so well. You have probably hear that she has always been the apple of my eye. There isn't anything I wouldn't do for her and Jerry.
I can't think of anymore to write so i will close hoping to hear from you real soon.
Gilbert
P.S. your letter was dated June 7th.
(Marceline is my great Aunt Marce and Jerry is her husband, Gerald Daley.)
I finally received a letter from you, it seemed like ages since I had heard from you.
I wish I could receive a letter like that from you everyday. Please write as often as you can because I am always looking for a letter from you.
I was glad to hear that your party was a success. I also wish I could of been there. Maybe some day your wishes will come true at least. I will try to make them come true. I hope it won't be long before we can see each other because I know I am going to enjoy doing things for you and taking you places. I have learned to like you a lot over the short time that I have known you.
I am glad you liked the pictures. I will try to send more as time goes on. I want to thank you again for sending me that picture of yourself, it was grand. It seems like I can't stop looking at it. I will see what I can do about sending you a photograph. It is hard to get them made over here. If you keep looking at those pictures, you may get sick of them, but I hope not.
I will try to write to you as often as I can. It might be a little hard to write three times a week but if you write that often, I will do my best. My dear that would be grand to hear from you that often.
I was glad to hear that you and Marceline got along so well. You have probably hear that she has always been the apple of my eye. There isn't anything I wouldn't do for her and Jerry.
I can't think of anymore to write so i will close hoping to hear from you real soon.
Gilbert
P.S. your letter was dated June 7th.
(Marceline is my great Aunt Marce and Jerry is her husband, Gerald Daley.)
June 15th, 1942
Dear Juanita,
I haven't received a letter from you for a long time. In fact it seems like months since i have heard from you. I did receive something from you that was worth a hundred letters and that is your picture. It is probably the sweetest thing you could have done. A couple of the fellows have seen your picture and now I got competition, they are falling in love with you too! May I say that I think you are a very lovely girl.
I went into town on pass today and had a very nice time. I went to a theater and saw "Son of Fury" it was very good.
I didn't stay in town very long because there really isn't much to do. Most of the fellows in town seemed to be enjoying themselves by getting drunk. I don't drink so that kind of left me out. I can't see where it does a fellow any good to get drunk these days.
I suppose but this time you are finding this letter very uninteresting but there really isn't very much to write about. While I am writing this I am looking at your picture and I can't seem to think of anything that would be more interesting to write about.
I guess I will ask you a few questions. What are you doing these days? what do you plan to do now that you have graduated? Are you doing much swimming these days? I heard that it's grand up where you are in the summer.
I can't think of anymore to write so I will close hoping to hear from you real soon.
Gilbert
P.S.
Thanks again for the picture, it was swell of you to send it.
I haven't received a letter from you for a long time. In fact it seems like months since i have heard from you. I did receive something from you that was worth a hundred letters and that is your picture. It is probably the sweetest thing you could have done. A couple of the fellows have seen your picture and now I got competition, they are falling in love with you too! May I say that I think you are a very lovely girl.
I went into town on pass today and had a very nice time. I went to a theater and saw "Son of Fury" it was very good.
I didn't stay in town very long because there really isn't much to do. Most of the fellows in town seemed to be enjoying themselves by getting drunk. I don't drink so that kind of left me out. I can't see where it does a fellow any good to get drunk these days.
I suppose but this time you are finding this letter very uninteresting but there really isn't very much to write about. While I am writing this I am looking at your picture and I can't seem to think of anything that would be more interesting to write about.
I guess I will ask you a few questions. What are you doing these days? what do you plan to do now that you have graduated? Are you doing much swimming these days? I heard that it's grand up where you are in the summer.
I can't think of anymore to write so I will close hoping to hear from you real soon.
Gilbert
P.S.
Thanks again for the picture, it was swell of you to send it.
May 28th, 1942
Dear Juanita,
I received another of your most welcomed letters today. It was dated May 18th. Keep uo the good work! I enjoy your letters very much, the more the better.
After reading your letter I am more anxious than ever to get home. I hope the day is not far off when we won't have to write each other. It is good to know that you are patiently waiting for that day also.
I can hardly wait to receive that picture you are going to send. Please send it as soon as you can. I am sorry I haven't any to send you, maybe later on I will be able to get one made.
I can't think of anymore to write so I will close hoping to hear from you soon.
Gil.
I received another of your most welcomed letters today. It was dated May 18th. Keep uo the good work! I enjoy your letters very much, the more the better.
After reading your letter I am more anxious than ever to get home. I hope the day is not far off when we won't have to write each other. It is good to know that you are patiently waiting for that day also.
I can hardly wait to receive that picture you are going to send. Please send it as soon as you can. I am sorry I haven't any to send you, maybe later on I will be able to get one made.
I can't think of anymore to write so I will close hoping to hear from you soon.
Gil.
May 26th, 1942
Dear Juanita,
I received your letter today that was dated May 13th. It was good to hear from you again, it seemed like ages since i had heard from you.
Thanks a lot for the very nice pictures of yourself. It seems like I can't stop looking at them. I would like some larger ones if you have them. I am sorry I didn't know when i had those photographs taken. I could of sent you one of them. When Mrs. Daley gets hers please write and tell me what you think of it.
I sure will come to Carsonville when I get back. I am looking forward to meeting you. I also hope to do some hunting. Most of all I hope that we can get to know each other real well when I get back.
I am going to send you some more pictures in a few days. I am having them developed.
I wish I could be there for the celebration of Mr. and Mrs. Daely's twenty fourth wedding anniversary. I guess I am missing a lot of things these days,
I think I will close for now hoping to hear from you real soon.
Your Friend
Gilbert
(some of the letters seem redundant but it was because there was such a delay in delivery and lost mail that my grandfather often repeated himself just so he knew that something would eventually get home.)
I received your letter today that was dated May 13th. It was good to hear from you again, it seemed like ages since i had heard from you.
Thanks a lot for the very nice pictures of yourself. It seems like I can't stop looking at them. I would like some larger ones if you have them. I am sorry I didn't know when i had those photographs taken. I could of sent you one of them. When Mrs. Daley gets hers please write and tell me what you think of it.
I sure will come to Carsonville when I get back. I am looking forward to meeting you. I also hope to do some hunting. Most of all I hope that we can get to know each other real well when I get back.
I am going to send you some more pictures in a few days. I am having them developed.
I wish I could be there for the celebration of Mr. and Mrs. Daely's twenty fourth wedding anniversary. I guess I am missing a lot of things these days,
I think I will close for now hoping to hear from you real soon.
Your Friend
Gilbert
(some of the letters seem redundant but it was because there was such a delay in delivery and lost mail that my grandfather often repeated himself just so he knew that something would eventually get home.)
May 23rd, 1942
Dear Juanita,
I haven't heard from you in quite some time. I do hope you haven't stopped writing because i enjoy your letters very much.
I went into town on pass the other day and had a very nice time. I went to the theater and saw the picture Sergeant York. It made me kind of homesick when it showed where he was returning home. There was a few other parts that kind of hit me between the eyes.
I suppose it is really nice where you are now. I have heard a lot about it, but i have never been there. I got a letter from Mrs. Daley and she said you were having grand weather. Maybe when I get back I will have a chance to visit your part of Michigan. My real reason I guess for wanting to come there is because I want to meet you. I really hope to get a chance to know you better. That is if you feel the same about the whole thing as I do.
I have been looking forward to recieving dome pictures of you. I am sending you a picture of myself taken just after i came in from work.
I can't think of anymore to write so I will close hoping to hear from you real soon.
Gil
P.S.
I also want to wish you a very Happy Birthday.
I haven't heard from you in quite some time. I do hope you haven't stopped writing because i enjoy your letters very much.
I went into town on pass the other day and had a very nice time. I went to the theater and saw the picture Sergeant York. It made me kind of homesick when it showed where he was returning home. There was a few other parts that kind of hit me between the eyes.
I suppose it is really nice where you are now. I have heard a lot about it, but i have never been there. I got a letter from Mrs. Daley and she said you were having grand weather. Maybe when I get back I will have a chance to visit your part of Michigan. My real reason I guess for wanting to come there is because I want to meet you. I really hope to get a chance to know you better. That is if you feel the same about the whole thing as I do.
I have been looking forward to recieving dome pictures of you. I am sending you a picture of myself taken just after i came in from work.
I can't think of anymore to write so I will close hoping to hear from you real soon.
Gil
P.S.
I also want to wish you a very Happy Birthday.
May 11th, 1942
Dear Juanita,
I just received your letter a few minutes ago. I cant quite understand why you are not receiving any letters from me. I have answered each one of your letters. In your next letter please write in the dates of the letters as you receive them. Then i will know which letters you have received.
I thought you were a friend of mine? how am i going to get your honest opinion of that photograph if you aren't going to say anything against.
Of course if it is to bad, why forget that i mentioned. i mailed them home a quite a long time ago, they should be there anyday now.
I am sorry but i cant tell why i have that new address. it is just one of those things we cant talk about. It i ever get back to the states i will tell you all about it.
I am sort of looking forward to receiving those pictures of yourself. I will try to send you some in my next letter.
I am glad you like my nickname, although i have hear of better ones. I'll bet that you have probably got one too, how about breaking down and telling what it is. if you haven't, i am going to try and think one for you.
I'll close hoping to hear from you real soon.
Gilbert.
(it was around this time my grandfather had been shipped out to a unknown pacific island to continue the campaign. also i want to note that at the time my grandmother was about to turn 18 and my grandfather was just about to turn 20.)
I just received your letter a few minutes ago. I cant quite understand why you are not receiving any letters from me. I have answered each one of your letters. In your next letter please write in the dates of the letters as you receive them. Then i will know which letters you have received.
I thought you were a friend of mine? how am i going to get your honest opinion of that photograph if you aren't going to say anything against.
Of course if it is to bad, why forget that i mentioned. i mailed them home a quite a long time ago, they should be there anyday now.
I am sorry but i cant tell why i have that new address. it is just one of those things we cant talk about. It i ever get back to the states i will tell you all about it.
I am sort of looking forward to receiving those pictures of yourself. I will try to send you some in my next letter.
I am glad you like my nickname, although i have hear of better ones. I'll bet that you have probably got one too, how about breaking down and telling what it is. if you haven't, i am going to try and think one for you.
I'll close hoping to hear from you real soon.
Gilbert.
(it was around this time my grandfather had been shipped out to a unknown pacific island to continue the campaign. also i want to note that at the time my grandmother was about to turn 18 and my grandfather was just about to turn 20.)
May 6th, 1942
Dear Juanita,
I received your letter that was dated April 26th today. It takes quite some time to get a letter over her. I try to answer your letter as soon as i get them.
Please don't let the new address fool you, i am still at the same place. That is all i can say about it just now. We are not allowed to tell where we are.
I sure will come to Carsonville when i get back. In fact i will be sort of looking forward to meeting you. I hope it wont be long before i can get back.
Ill try to send pictures from time to time if i can get them made. It is rather hard to take pictures here because we have to be careful of the background. I will like very much to have that picture of you if you care to send it. I am sure it would look very nice on my locker door. Then to i would have a chance to get to know you better.
I was in California at one time but i hope to go back some day and spend more time there. It is very beautiful, that is why i want to go back.
My favorite song right now is Miss You. We hear it quite often over here. They don't play many popular songs here.
Ill close for now hoping to hear from you soon.
Your Friend,
Gil
I received your letter that was dated April 26th today. It takes quite some time to get a letter over her. I try to answer your letter as soon as i get them.
Please don't let the new address fool you, i am still at the same place. That is all i can say about it just now. We are not allowed to tell where we are.
I sure will come to Carsonville when i get back. In fact i will be sort of looking forward to meeting you. I hope it wont be long before i can get back.
Ill try to send pictures from time to time if i can get them made. It is rather hard to take pictures here because we have to be careful of the background. I will like very much to have that picture of you if you care to send it. I am sure it would look very nice on my locker door. Then to i would have a chance to get to know you better.
I was in California at one time but i hope to go back some day and spend more time there. It is very beautiful, that is why i want to go back.
My favorite song right now is Miss You. We hear it quite often over here. They don't play many popular songs here.
Ill close for now hoping to hear from you soon.
Your Friend,
Gil
May 3rd, 1942
Note: there are some gaps between days of my grandmother actually receiving the letters, but my grandfather wrote her everyday he could.
Dear Juanita,
I received your letter that you wrote April 12th a few days ago. I am sorry that i could not answer it sooner but i was very busy. I had been very busy the last two nights and i didn't have any time to do any writing.
It is grand here and it is probably everything you have ever heard about it. I am sorry but we are not allowed to go into detail about the islands.
Those pictures of the farm were very nice and so were those feathers of the peacock. That was the first time i had ever seen any of those feathers. I sure will come to Carsonville when i get back. You and Mrs. Daley have made it sound very interesting and i am sure it will be. I plan to do some hunting around there when i get back.
I will try to send you another picture in my next letter. I am having some made. I am also glad you liked the one i did send, I would like have some more pictures of you. I guess that's only way i will get to know while i am over here.
Ill close for now hoping i hear from you very soon.
Your Friend,
Gil.
(my grandfather was stationed in Hawaii and the surrounding islands right after Pearl harbor. Carsonville is the tiny town my grandmother was born and raised in and Mrs. Daley was a family friend that my grandmother spent time with.)
Dear Juanita,
I received your letter that you wrote April 12th a few days ago. I am sorry that i could not answer it sooner but i was very busy. I had been very busy the last two nights and i didn't have any time to do any writing.
It is grand here and it is probably everything you have ever heard about it. I am sorry but we are not allowed to go into detail about the islands.
Those pictures of the farm were very nice and so were those feathers of the peacock. That was the first time i had ever seen any of those feathers. I sure will come to Carsonville when i get back. You and Mrs. Daley have made it sound very interesting and i am sure it will be. I plan to do some hunting around there when i get back.
I will try to send you another picture in my next letter. I am having some made. I am also glad you liked the one i did send, I would like have some more pictures of you. I guess that's only way i will get to know while i am over here.
Ill close for now hoping i hear from you very soon.
Your Friend,
Gil.
(my grandfather was stationed in Hawaii and the surrounding islands right after Pearl harbor. Carsonville is the tiny town my grandmother was born and raised in and Mrs. Daley was a family friend that my grandmother spent time with.)
April 25th, 1942
Background: my grandfather, Gilbert Goetsch, was stationed with the 34th engineers in the army. he was at Pearl Harbor on December 7th and served all the way through until the end of the war. His sister, my great aunt Marce, was friends with my grandmother Juanita Pickett, and had asked my grandmother to write to her brother stationed overseas since he didn't get much mail and was having a hard time in the army.
Dear Juanita,
I received your very nice letter the other day. You may write as often as you wish. I will try to answer each letter that you write to me.
Sometimes it is rather hard to answer letters as soon as we get them because the lighting in the mess hall is very poor.
I am afraid that i am not a very good dancer. I did dance a little about three years ago. I haven't danced at all lately, i never really cared much about it. But i will be willing to learn when i get back.
I had some photographs taken and i am sending them home, I am going to have my sister bring one out to Mrs. Daley as soon as they get home. The fellows didn't think much of them.
When Mrs. Daley gets hers, how about being a pal and giving me your honest opinion.
I am sorry but i don't know that fellow you mentioned in your letter. he may be on another part of the island.
My birthday is August 29th and i don't mind you calling Gil.
I will close hoping that i hear from you real soon.
Your Friend,
Gil.
(the Gil my grandfather is referring to is his future brother in law who married my aunt Marce. Mrs. Daley is Gils mother.
Dear Juanita,
I received your very nice letter the other day. You may write as often as you wish. I will try to answer each letter that you write to me.
Sometimes it is rather hard to answer letters as soon as we get them because the lighting in the mess hall is very poor.
I am afraid that i am not a very good dancer. I did dance a little about three years ago. I haven't danced at all lately, i never really cared much about it. But i will be willing to learn when i get back.
I had some photographs taken and i am sending them home, I am going to have my sister bring one out to Mrs. Daley as soon as they get home. The fellows didn't think much of them.
When Mrs. Daley gets hers, how about being a pal and giving me your honest opinion.
I am sorry but i don't know that fellow you mentioned in your letter. he may be on another part of the island.
My birthday is August 29th and i don't mind you calling Gil.
I will close hoping that i hear from you real soon.
Your Friend,
Gil.
(the Gil my grandfather is referring to is his future brother in law who married my aunt Marce. Mrs. Daley is Gils mother.
Introduction....
i thought i really knew my grandparents and their story, married at the end of world war 2 and never separated until 1995 when my grandfather passed away. but it was not until a few years ago i kept hearing snippets of a series of letters that my grandfather had written to my grandmother during his time in the pacific theater of World War 2. i had always assumed that they were just love letters written as some many others had done during that time. as i got older and my grandmother got older, she made emphasis that the letters were to be kept hidden and upon her passing, either buried with her or destroyed. she even went so far as to make my mom promise this.
well, my mom had a hard time keeping the promise and when my grandmother passed away earlier this year, the letters fell into my possession on the day of her funeral. i was excited to have a piece of this family history and get a glimpse at the love my grandparents had for each other, one that i often envy and strive for myself one day.
when i picked up the first letter, dated April 25th 1942, and quickly read it, i was confused. the letter was written by my grandfather to my grandmother, but he was writing to her as a stranger. never once having met her. i sifted through the rest of the massive collection and found that from 1942 to 1945, my grandparents never once physically met and had fallen in love through letters. when i asked my mom about it, she told me she never knew until i was about 19 years old and my grandmother followed up by saying "she didn't want her daughters to go that way, that's why she never told anyone."
they married on December 1st 1945, just two months after my grandfather left the war. they were married for 49 and a half years never once leaving each others side. the only sad part is, i only have the letters my grandfather sent to my grandmother. the ones he received from her had to be destroyed since was in the army and constantly moving.
now, a few months after my grandmothers passing the letters sit with me and i guess i want to share with anyone who will take a moment and read this. i need to transcribe them into a hard copy since the paper they are written on is becoming frail and thin, and i think lastly i really need to reconnect with my grandparents and share this amazing love story. i also think in this day and age we all could use a little warm sense of love really is eternal.
well, my mom had a hard time keeping the promise and when my grandmother passed away earlier this year, the letters fell into my possession on the day of her funeral. i was excited to have a piece of this family history and get a glimpse at the love my grandparents had for each other, one that i often envy and strive for myself one day.
when i picked up the first letter, dated April 25th 1942, and quickly read it, i was confused. the letter was written by my grandfather to my grandmother, but he was writing to her as a stranger. never once having met her. i sifted through the rest of the massive collection and found that from 1942 to 1945, my grandparents never once physically met and had fallen in love through letters. when i asked my mom about it, she told me she never knew until i was about 19 years old and my grandmother followed up by saying "she didn't want her daughters to go that way, that's why she never told anyone."
they married on December 1st 1945, just two months after my grandfather left the war. they were married for 49 and a half years never once leaving each others side. the only sad part is, i only have the letters my grandfather sent to my grandmother. the ones he received from her had to be destroyed since was in the army and constantly moving.
now, a few months after my grandmothers passing the letters sit with me and i guess i want to share with anyone who will take a moment and read this. i need to transcribe them into a hard copy since the paper they are written on is becoming frail and thin, and i think lastly i really need to reconnect with my grandparents and share this amazing love story. i also think in this day and age we all could use a little warm sense of love really is eternal.
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