5/22/44 V-Mail, Italy
From C.B. Stafford Maj A.C.
Hq XII Air Force
Hi Toots:
When I write every day on the typewriter, it doesn’t leave a hell of a lot to say each time. But I guess that is better than going for days without letters.
I got a letter from Norm yesterday. He seems to be getting along swell, and apparently had quite a time in Miami.
The boss got back from his trip yesterday, and everything is again peaceful. We had a couple of officers in for bridge last night, and I got skunked. But, considering that I never had higher the 2 honor count all evening, and made one slam on same once, I guess I can’t kick.
Liquor situation here is no buono. Having opened up a beach club, the dues are now five rocks instead of three, but none of us who have lived out in the field are kicking. The privilege of having a club which would do justice to Chicago or NY is worth a hell of a lot more to me than 5 rocks per. Of course some of the people here think that the Army owes them a club. When I think of some of the pitiful little shacks I sued to put my squadron club in, scarcely as good as the “clubhouses” the kids build back home when they are 8 yrs-old, I can really appreciate our Varga-decorated walls, bar, etc.
Well, Snooky, be a good gal. You should have been here this a.m. I had a sock darning party with myself. Hey—How about sending me a couple of spools of thread? Khaki, o.d., forest green, and white thread, and o.d. darning cotton—huh?
All my love, Cy.
5/22/44 Italy
Martha:
Your letter is most upsetting. I have written two answers to it and torn up both.
If you can live on the $175/mo. allotment by virtue of having the furniture, go ahead if you want to. I had rather counted on having a hand in picking out our first furniture. This means living on it without any little odd $500’s for rent, clothes, etc.
If you decide to buy the furniture, I shall then take all the surplus over here and put it into war bonds earmarked for college. That degree will cost us $2500 minimum. Without it, my earning power will be quite low, so you shouldn’t begrudge the money. It shouldn’t take but another year overseas to save that much thus we can start putting things into the checking account again.
Your letter has upset me more than anything which has happened to me since I came overseas. As I love you dearly, I shall close now and not write the things I can’t help but feel.
Your old tightwad, Cy.
These are just wonderful, Rick. Thank you for sharing them.
I fear we have lost the knack of writing letters in this modern age. I think that is truly a loss, not only to the people we are not writing to, but to our children who have little insight into their older relatives younger selves.