A sweet letter from a son to a mother that the mother kept all those years until she passed away on December 16, 1990 (43 years) and I have kept for her ever since:
Transcription:
Long Beach, California
January 24, 1946 [1947]
Dear Mom,
Well here this little fellow is again. Received a couple of letters from you a couple of days back. Guess you thought that I wasn't going to answer it. By the way, tell Mrs. Thornton that I said hello, and that I would try to answer her nice letter sometime this week. Received a letter sometime this week. Received a letter from Aunt Lorene yesterday. She said Aunt Jo really gave me a build up. Guess I had better write her hugh. Been hearing from Lou Etta pretty often. What should I get David for his birthday?
Say, by the way don't look for any money this time or the next for I used it up a buying clothes and the next one I will have to get David's present and pay five or ten down on something for you. Don't forget you have a birthday coming up this fourth of May. Then I've got to get something for Lou Etta for graduation, since she was nice enough to get me something for graduation.
Well the first of February I will commence receiving only ten bucks a pay day or twice a month. Won't be so bad if I make another rate in the next couple of months. From then on you will receive only (I don't know why I put the only in there) a fifty dollar check from the government each month for about fifteen or sixteen months. That way I won't go & spend it. If I make a rate it it will be $12 more per month. Then it won't be soooo bad.
May send some shoes home about next week sometime. I mean some new ones. Might as well's to have some good new shoes when I get out of this little fellow. Let me give you first an estimation of some of the clothes I already have on hand that I am saving back for civilian life. So be sure and have my good old bottom drawer waiting. Sure wish you were here to do some sewing for me. That's one thing that I sure do miss - Mom - and boy I really mean it too. You know I get to thinking every once in a while about what you would say when I would sorta get mad at you over nothing. Now I can see where you were right about that I would regret that I had ever said those things.
Mother I think more or you than any person in this whole world. I now wish that I had never said anything to hurt your feelings. Here a person can think of what all the good things he could have been doing for someone he loves like you Mom.
I guess a person has to live to learn and I learn't the hard way.
Now as I was saying a few lines back here is a list of the things I am planning on bringing home with me on my next leave or send it home. 4 pair pants, 3 shirts, 5 pair of socks, 5 towels, one dozen hankerchiefs, 8 pair shorts, 4 pair skivy shorts. Two new fumpers. Am going to buy me another pair of new shoes. You see that's what I have stowed in a foot locker all locked up. I bought a dozen handkerchiefs, 6 pair socks, 3 fumpers, 4 suits skivy shorts & shirt's yesterday. Already planning on that civilian life. This is about a 1/3 of what I have to use.
By the way george I can use that sugar too. You know what I mean. Received a letter from Douglas not too long ago. Must close & hit the rack.
Write Soon,
You Ever Loving Son,
Roy
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