George's Letters: 2-10-1943

Wednesday, Eve.


Dear George,


   Hello Sweetheart! How are you? Fine, I hope. Me, well, not so good. I nearly passed out at work twice today. Boy, did I feel rotten. I feel a quite a bit better tonite though, thank goodness.
   My mom isn't home from the hospital yet.


Thursday
   Well, I started this before I went to bed last nite and I'm at now so I'll try & get it finished. I'm eating lunch at work right now so I'll write between bites.
   As I told you Mom isn't home from the hospital yet and from what the doctor says she probably won't be home for another three weeks. Gene and Donnie are both home sick in bed with "cat fever". You have probably heard of it. It is a form of the flu. Me, I feel better today, thanks. I'm not all out of it yet though.
   Say, you know what, I received the sweetest valentine from the sweetest fellow named Geo. E. Bargheart! No kidding, darling, that was the sweetest thing I have ever received, but tell me, since when have they started having card shops aboard ships?
   I haven't as yet received my teeth but then I suppose it will be Summer before I do. I can't have any impressions taken yet though because I have some (illegible word) that are coming out of my gums so I have to wait some more. Such a time. I don't see why they don't just take me out and shoot me. I'd be a lot better off and so would everybody else.
  Say, little one, pardon me for asking but did you have a brother named Clarence that was in the Navy? Just curiosity. Thanks.
   Well, this is Friday nite and so help me I'm going to finish this letter.
   I had to work until 9 last nite at the plant and didn't get home until 9:40; so when I did get home I went straight to bed. Now this evening, I've washed dished and cleaned out the icebox and sprinkled clothes and have some soaking that have to be washed and as soon as I finish this I'm going to iron. Oh, yes, I have a hem to put in my suit skirt that I got back from the cleaners today. It is now 8:30 and I'm listening to the president. Oh, I forgot, I have to wash and fix my hair yet too. I'm beginning to look like a rag picker's daughter. Ha! Ha!
   Gee, darling, I don't know what else to tell you. There isn't any news here only that my family have all improved a great deal, aren't out of bed, yet, though. It snowed this morning, now every thing is slick and clean.
   Gee, whiz, sweetheart I've got to sign off for now and have a swell valentine day. Remember you are still my valentine and I mean it too.


Lots of Love
Ethella

George's Letters: 1-21-1943

Geo. E. Barghart, S 1/C U.S.N.R.
U.S.S. Token
c/o Postmaster
New York, New York


Jan. 21, 1943


My darling George, 
   Well, sweet, I don't feel very well, but I don't suppose I should complain. I went up to the dentist after work tonite and had the last six teeth pulled. One wisdom tooth and the five lower front ones. I only yelled and bawled but no kiddin' darling, that really hurt. My jaws still hurt and now I'm absolutely toothless. Really, darling, when you come home you won't even know me. I'll be all fixed up and just like new. I probably won't even look like myself. Gee, darling, I'll send you a picture of my new teeth! Ha! Ha!
   They took my mother to the hospital this evening about 6:15 to be operated on tomorrow morning at 10:00 A.M. They are going to operate on her for another gallstone that they didn't know was there until the other operation that she had for the same thing was all healed up. Any how, she is going to come out all right.
   I'm on days this month so now I get quite a bit done in the evening, but now I'll have to work harder than ever, but I guess
I can stand a little of it providing my mother gets well. (I don't even get to go anywhere but who cares I don't)
   Gee, honey, the company is having their midwinter party Saturday nite at the (illegible word), and I don't know yet whether or not I'll go. I sure would like too! I certainly wish you were here to go with me. Gee, would we have fun, but darling, I'll just pray that this is all over very soon and that you will be home very soon and then maybe, as you said once before, I can persuaded to be a bad girl. But I don't know. It all depends on how I feel then but I certainly know I won't feel any different then than I do now. Say, darling, my face hurts like mad and my eyes hurt and I'm just about asleep. Besides, I don't know any more news only the fact that I still love you and certainly wish you were here instead of there and that I'll be waiting and writing until you are.
   I've got to go now and hope to hear from you soon. Lots of Good Luck on your adventures, darling.


With all my love to my darling sweetheart, George Sailor , first class.


Ethella


It was only 22 degrees before the other morning when I went to work and it stayed that way for a couple of days. It is warmer now though.


P.S. I love you, darling


HISTORICAL NOTES:
The U.S.S. Token was commissioned on Dec 31, 1942 (placed into active service) and moved from Alabama to New York. The address change above is where George's letters are addressed until otherwise noted.

George's Letters: 12-24,25-1942

December 24, 1942

Dear George!

   Merry Xmas! Sweetheart! This may be the day before Xmas but by the time you get it, it will probably be New Year's day.

   For heaven's sake, why haven't you written to me. I've just about went "Frantic"!!! waiting for a letter from you. Everyday when the mail man comes around I'm right there to see if I got a letter from you. Did you get the package I sent to you? If so, how did you like them and were they in good condition? I certainly hope so.

   I have some very good news for you. I started to work last Monday night at Collins Radio Company. I work from 5 til one o'clock in the morning. I'm in the shipping dept. and we aren't very busy right now. We just finished an order for spare parts for radios for the navy. These things go all the way to Africa. Any how, the five girls in that dept. work so fast that they can't keep up with us. Well, so much for that! Now, you know what I do all evening. I don't have to work Xmas nite so I guess I'll go to danceland for a change. I don't have to work New Year's eve, either.I don't know what I'll do then. Any how that is too far ahead for me to say just what I'm going to do just yet.

   Well, I'm going to have to finish this later, as this little war worker has to get ready to go to work. See you later!

   Behave yourself at that U.S.O. dance tonite, and leave those southern babes alone? Do you hear?!

December 25th, 1942 3:00pm

   Merry X-mas! For sure this time my dear sweetheart! I got the most wonderful Xmas present of all by getting your letter when I got home this morning. After I read it I went to be and bawled myself to sleep because I wanted to be near you so badly during the holidays. I couldn't hardly stand it while the girls on the assembly line were singing carols last nite. You will never know just how much I do miss you and I do love you until we get to see each other again. I'm glad that the package arrived o.k. and that you liked them. I don't know that it is just a good thing that you are not here. Boy, if you were here would I be the happiest girl on earth. No kiddin' either! Yes, darling, I hadn't had a letter from you for two weeks until this one I got last nite. I was afraid that you had all ready been shipped out and I was just petrified every time I thought of it. Boy, you sure have it easy, sitting around in the lounge like that are you (illegible word). How was your Xmas dinner? Fine I hope. Have you still got your negro to guard.

   Yes, my darling I knew what you meant by being persuaded but I was just curios as to know what you would say about it. Maybe I wouldn't be bad or at least not mind ii (being bad) if you were here to receive me for being bad. (How about it kid?) No, I don't imagine I look any different than most women when they haven't any clothes on. Maybe you do know and just are bashful and won't say anything about it. Oh ya! If I had you here, I sure would paddle you for opening that box. Ha! Ha! Darling, I enjoy your not getting me any thing for Xmas, because what you did do with your money was a lot more sense! I was more thrilled to think that you bought those two $100 war bonds. Darling, I'd have been very disappointed if I had received any thing from you then found out later that you were going to spend the money for war bonds, besides, they'll do both of us a lot more good.

   Well, now for what the old (illegible word) got me. I got two prs of the most beautiful pink silk pajamas and I proceeded to put one on and I'm going to save the other pair, to wear when I get to go on my trip. In case you are still in the U.S. or even home, I'll wear them when I come to see you! Oh joy! I can hardly wait to wear them. I got a lovely yellow moonstone ring from the lady I used to work for. A small wooden pin, a wooden bracelet, a bottle of "Tweed" perfume. Boy, does it smell. I put some on this letter so you can smell it. (arrow) The perfume is here. Have a whiff so you will know what I smell like. A gold soft chain necklace, a teddy bear pin, and a corsage of red white & blue flowers, nail polish and polish remover, and a real fancy sachet for my closet. Any how I didn't get the compact or the bracelet, so I guess I'll just have to buy them myself.

   Well, darling, I'm very much relieved that I heard from you, but I do wish that you were here with me. My sweet. I've got to end this now and go up stairs and get dressed, it is now 4:30 and I should be asleep. Any how, my smallest brother got an airplane that runs in water so me & the two boys are going up and play in the bath tub in the water with the airplane. Got to go now and please don't wait so long the next time to write.

   Good-bye for now, my dear darling, and I really mean it too. With all the love that any girl could possibly give to the fellow she loves. See you later. Sweetheart! 

   All my love from the bottom of my heart. If I had you here I would kiss you and love you to pieces. Lots of love,

Ethella

(written in margin at bottom of page)

The Xmas card was very cute and the picture was very good & sweet too.

George's Letters: 12-13-1942

December 13, 1942

Sunday Evening

Dear Darling!

   Hello, Sweetheart! How are you on this fine evening? Swell, I hope! I’ve still got my cold and from the way I sound I’ll probably have it for quite some time too. I sound absolutely awful and anybody that talks to me probably thinks I’m mad at them from the way I sound. Well, so much for the way I sound!

  I’m going to answer all of the questions in your letter of the seventh! Yes, I do have a chance to fall asleep at work, but why should I, when I stay home at night and get plenty of sleep? You wanted to know what a good girl was, well, I’m one! What do you mean, “you think I could be persuaded”? For your information I don’t do any dating at all! I have even turned over a new leaf! I don’t go to the Sunday nite dances any more. No, I don’t turn your picture around when I undress! I’m glad you don’t smoke, then that makes two of us that don’t! And if you make up your mind to it, you won’t either before the war is over. Please don’t change your English even though the rest of the boys do. Yes, we still have our snow and this morning it was ten degrees below zero. I still haven’t had a chance to go sledding or skating yet this Winter! But I will - eventually! Wouldn’t you like to know what I’ll be all set for with a pair of pajamas? Probably for a good nite’s sleep. What do people usually do in a pair of pajamas? Yes, darling, you pop up while I’m trying to concentrate (which isn’t often)! Well, darling, that is all the questions in that letter, so now I’ll start on the one of the ninth! Yes, sweetheart I dooooooooo enjoy your letters and I keep every one of them to read when I get down in the dumps! They are so much help, I just pretend while I’m reading them that you are sitting beside me talking to me and making me love you more and more. Which you don’t have to try very hard to do. Yes, you see, I’m a good girl in spite of the “butterflies in my tummy”. (I had to take time off to peel an orange. I’ve already eaten a pound of soda crackers!) I wish you were here so you could see how I missed you! I’m certainly glad you are interested in knowing how much I miss you! Sweetheart!

   Well, if I hadn't of had the good idea of bringing you (illegible word) to (illegible word) table I probably wouldn't have ever met you? Right!? I can hardly wait to show you what I intend to "collect on delivery", but I am afraid you will have to wait and find out. What do you mean, "I'll have myself convinced that I miss you pretty soon if I'm not careful?" You know I ---- well how much I miss you and don't try to convince yourself differently either! See!! If I were you fellows, I would find out from the commanding officer just what the penalty was, that you would get for knocking the tar out of those fellows that came in at about 3 o'clock in the morning and woke you up! Then I would "mop the decks" with all six of them! Boy, would I have fun! Never mind chasing them guys up over here, I got enough to worry about, let alone having a bunch of (illegible word) sailors around! What do you mean by me losing "a couple of pounds"? Goodnite, I'm down to 127 # now and I can't even keep my clothes on they are all so big. I'm going to have to start putting on weight so that I can keep my clothes on. I certainly would look funny without any on, especially, on the streets! Yes, I can stand the zero weather - those other four letters were going to Chicago and every one of them were to girls. Just idle gossip is all I ever write to any of them. Yes, I do think of only you and how much I wish you were here with me, as I wish I was with you. Yes, I can read your thoughts between the lines of your letters and I'm glad that they are what they are. (over)

   Little darling, I'm 16 yes. old. Born Sept. 22, 1923 and I'm 5' 3 1/2" tall, 127 3 , brown eyes, brown eyes, and (false teeth and a wooden leg! Ha! Ha!)(Yes, I'm "sweet sixteen and never been kissed!") Ha! Ha! Didn't you kiss me! More than once! I'll never forget the last one! Or the rest of them either! I do like the cold weather. I certainly wish you were up here for all the weather and not just part of it either! The church bazaar was a big success! Yes, I can read the hen scratching as you call it!

   Now for some extra news on the side. I had to sing two solo's this last week. One for church Sunday morning last and one for the Cedar Rebecca lodge on Tuesday nite. I go tomorrow for an interview out at collins radio plant to see if I can get on out there! I sure hope I do. I want to get something good for a change. I'll probably have to work nights but I won't care as long as I know I'm doing my share to help win this war. You will get your package sometime this week or the first part of next week and don't you dare open it before Xmas. Do you hear? If you do you will get a whippin'! I'm embroidering the prettiest white & red checked luncheon set for my aunt in Chicago. My grandmother is paying me the whole outfits. Oh, by the way, she got her pension this last week and boy was she happy. That is all she really lived for. My girlfriend got me the cutest (illegible word) hat for Xmas but I don't know what else I will get. I do know what I want though! I want a gold bracelet with an elastic band and a large round compact for powder. Not much, is it?

   Well, sweetheart it is 9:35 P.M. and I've been up since a quarter of eight getting this thing written and I've got my hair to fix and my nails to polish yet, so I'll have to quit for now. See you later, sweetheart!

With all my love and all my kisses,

Esthella

P.S. Gee, I miss you! Darling.

George's Letters: 12-2-1942

Historical Background: This is the first letter in a series written to George E. Barghart while he was serving in the Navy stationed on the U.S.S. Token during World War II. The U.S.S. Token (AM 126) was an Auk-class minesweeper launched on March 28, 1942 and commissioned on December 31, 1942.

The Letter Writer:

Miss Ethella Murphy - George’s sweetheart. A resident of his hometown of Cedar Rapids, IA. She is no older than sixteen when she writes her first letter to George.

Until noted otherwise letters to George are addressed as follows:

George E. Barghart S 1/C U.S.N.R.

U.S.S. Token Gulf Shipbuilding Corp.

Chickasaw, Alabama

Personal Note: These letters were brought into the consignment shop were I work, thrown in with a bunch of misc paperwork, cards, etc. Clearly I was under a sentimental duty to gather and organize all of George's letters and keep them safe. I cannot bear to see a handwritten letter tossed in with the rubbish - esp a love letter! I will be reading and transcribing these letters as I post them here so we can undergo George's journey together. I already feel an affinity for George, don't you? 

December 2, 1942

Wednesday Evening

Dear George,

   I get started on this letter, then I have to stop and listen to the radio and within the next two hours maybe I’ll get this letter written to you. Oh happy day!

   I got your letter tonite when I got home from work and I had to read it before I even got my wraps off and I just stood and laughed. I certainly did enjoy it a whole lot!

   What were you so surprised at; about me writing? I’ll have you know when I make a promise I certainly try to keep it, if I have to bust doing it!!!!

   “Butterflies in my tummy” means that I have a funny feeling in my tummy and usually something good happens. Every once in a while, though it happens the other way.

   What do you mean, “you feel flattered, you didn’t think anybody would miss you”. If I had you right here now, I certainly would show you how I miss you! No foolin’ either!!!

   Yes, I thought of the idea of sending you home “C.O.D.”! I do have some very good ideas one in a while! Believe it or not! (You should know!) What I intend to “Collect on Delivery” is to be kept a secret until you come back home to me! Is that all right! Will you be willing to wait? And find out?

   Honestly, little one, if you didn’t believe me about my missing you, when I write and tell you in every letter, I don’t know how I’m ever going to put it across to you! Please believe me! And I wasn’t drinking anything at all, I was sitting up in my own bedroom with Grandma and she is enough to make anybody feel good without anything to drink. And what I told you wasn’t any line that I landed you, as you say, it was the very truth.

   If every thing happens all right you will get a picture of me for Xmas. I’ll bet you have a lot of rats you want to get rid of!

   You know gas rationing has gave in, and besides it is darn cold walking a mile and a half home from town when it gets down to 10 degrees below zero. No kidding either! And besides, as I told you before, there isn’t anybody here I care to go out with or go home with! I guess I’m just too darned particular about the fellows that are left here at home.

   I have my washing all done, and I’ve only got four more letters to write and my hair to fix, but ah heck I’ll still be home for two more nites this week. (no dances)

   I’m glad all of these letters aren’t boring, I certainly don’t want them to be! You’re darned right about seeing you later. How do you know I can’t read between the lines of your letter to tell your thoughts, you know I still have the very lovely memories of our last nite together! And I’ll never forget it either!

   Now for some news around here. My oldest brother (17yrs) bought me a pair of black rubber boots, a pair of red fur bedroom slippers and a long sleeved powder blue wool sweater! Boy, was I tickled! I got myself a real nice fountain pen and an ever sharp to match. You see the whole family had been hollering at me for some time about buying a fountain pen because I was always using everybody else’s. Now, I have my own so they haven’t anything to gripe about now!

   Say, I’m running out of space and time, so I guess I’ll have to stop this for now and tell you that I’ll be thinking of you always.

   Thanks for the kiss, darling. I certainly need it. Heck, do I just get one? I certainly wish you were here to deliver it and many more. 

All of my family is o.k. and will be from now on I hope.

   We had a real nice Thanksgiving and a white one too! We still have snow and this morning I went to work in 10 degrees below zero weather. Boy, was it cold! It is getting colder too. But I like it very much.

   Well, my mother and one of the neighbor ladies just came home from decorating their booth for the bazaar at the church tomorrow nite. They say it is cold out doors, I wonder now?

   Well, little one, it is 9:10pm and I haven’t got my hair fixed yet so I’ll have to stop this and get something else done. Besides, you are probably asleep by now. Got to go now. See you later, and I don’t mean maybe either!

Lots of love and kisses,

Ethella

P.S. It certainly took me two hours to write this! But who cares, I don’t, so laugh as long as it satisfies you.