You sure are cute sitting here on the desk in front of me.
Things in general are rather uninteresting here, although I have found some work to do.
I realize I am driving you crazy buying things for me, but I am determined not to go through another winter with only one book to study—and that one not in my field. I hope to be back where I left off school before I start in again. If I work hard, I can not only get my technical stuff, but may know enough French and Italian to pick up credits in them (as liberal arts options). That my make it possible to finish in 2 semesters instead of three.
I wrote a check for $10 today to Institute of Radio Engineers for a subscription. I am trying to joint same, as it will help. I should have done so 7 years ago. It is hard to get money orders.
I love you, kitten, even if I can’t ever seem to get home. Cy.
HERE I AM BACK AT THE OLD HEADQUARTERS [NAPLES] ON A TRIP. I HAVE HAD A LOT OF TRAVELING TO DO RECENTLY AND MY LITTLE AIR MATTRESS SURE LOOKS BETTER THAN THE SORT OF ACCOMMODATIONS PROVIDED FOR TRANSIENT OFFICERS—A COT AND ONE BLANKET.
I HAD DINNER WITH THE VULCANOS A COUPLE OF NIGHTS AGO. I HADN’T SEEN POP FOR SIX MONTHS, AS EVERY TIME HE GOT TO TOWN, I COULDN’T. WHEN HE CAME IN, PUPA’S FIANCE WAS ALSO THERE, BUT POP DIDN’T EVEN SEE HIM. HE CAME OVER AND WE HAD A LONG BULL SESSION. MOMMA EVENTUALLY TAPPED HIM ON THE SHOULDER AND WHISPERED TO HIM THAT IT WAS ABOUT TIME HE SPOKE WITH THE YOUNG HOPEFUL, SO HE DID—SAID “HELLO,” AND STARTED IN WHERE HE HAD LEFT OFF. THE GIRLS, WHO DIDN’T CARE FOR THE ONE AND ONLY, WERE QUITE AMUSED.
JOHNNY HULL, ONE OF THE MAJORS I’VE WORKED WITH ONCE IN A WHILE, IS ON HIS WAY HOME. HE IS GOING TO TRY TO CALL YOU, BUT SINCE HE WON’T GET MUCH CLOSER THAN TO CHICAGO THAN NEW YORK, HE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET THROUGH.
MY POSITION SEEMS TO BE VERY SOLID ALL AROUND. DUE PROBABLY TO MY OWN BIG MOUTH, AS I HAVEN’T DONE ENOUGH WORK TO DEMONSTRATE IT, I HAVE RE-ACQUIRED A REPUTATION FOR ENGINEERING SAGACITY. PEOPLE SURE DO GET FOOLED BY A LIBRARY. I’LL BET I COULD BUY A BUNCH OF BOOKS ON OBSTETRICS AND BE KNOWN AS A FORMER VERY GOOD BABY SPECIALIST BEFORE A MONTH HAD ELAPSED, EVEN I DIDN’T EVER OPEN A BOOK.
EVERITT IS COMING ALONG SLOWLY, BUT I AM MUCH MORE IN THE SWING THAN I WAS. MY LACK OF A MATH HANDBOOK SEEMS TO BE THE BIG PROBLEM, AS THERE IS A LOT OF MATH THEORY I HAVEN’T QUITE FORGOTTEN, BUT MUST SPEND HOURS DIGGING OUT.
PERRY AND I WENT TO THE SHOW LAST NIGHT AND SAW “HAIL, THE CONQUERING HERO.” IT WAS SORT OF STUPID IN A WAY, BUT OTHERWISE NOT TOO BAD. THERE WAS QUITE A STRONG REACTION WHEN THE MARINE SGT. SUGGESTED TO THE LAD GIVEN A MEDICAL DISCHARGE FROM THE MARINES THAT HE TRY THE ARMY AIR FORCE, AS THEY TOOK ANYTHING. TONIGHT WE ARE GOING TO SEE KATHARINE CORNELL IN A STAGE PRODUCTION OF “THE BARETTS OF WIMPOLE STREET.”
Katharine Cornell
AS YOU CAN PLAINLY SEE, I’M GETTING FARTHER AND FARTHER FROM THE WAR. UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THERE ARE ANY PEOPLE AROUND WHO HAVEN’T SEEN AS MUCH OF IT, LITTLE AS THAT WAS, AS I, I DON’T BELIEVE I SHALL VOLUNTEER FOR ANYTHING. OF COURSE, THAT OLD PISS AND VINEGAR REALLY BOILS WHEN I SEE SOME OF THESE NEW SHIPS GOING OUT, AND I MAY FORGET ALL OF MY “SENSIBLE” RESOLUTIONS SOMEDAY. BUT IT LOOKS NOW LIKE I AM DEVELOPING AN INTERESTING JOB, WHICH WILL KEEP ME BUSY FOR A WHILE.
ALTHOUGH MANY CHANGES WILL BE MADE IN UNITS HERE, IT LOOKS LIKE I, AS AN INDIVIDUAL, WILL PROBABLY FOLLOW IN TOM’S FOOTSTEPS. DON’T LET IT THROW YOU IF I DO, FOR THE FIRST TWO YEARS ARE THE HARDEST.
KEEP ME POSTED HONEY—YOU’RE VERY SWEET AND
I LOVE YOU, CY
9/15/44 Corisca [#2]
Hi Toots:
So you’re lonesome. Well, keep busy—it helps. When I go to see Katharine Cornell in person, I’m really a far piece from the war. She, Brian Aherne, and McKay Morris turned in the three best performances I’ve ever seen. The play was far better, and different, than the movie.
The enclosure is a rather poor picture of Lilliana, second oldest of the Vulcanos. She insists I send it, and I shall try to get pictures of the whole family eventually. I have a swell picture of Gozlands.
There’s a big discussion going on, so I shall close. Too many people are asking questions. Love & Kisses, Cy.
[P.S.] Kitchen table sounds good.
Hey! I have these math tables. Burrington’s is the one I want. If you have not sent it please do. And it is a blue book.
Ed Bland is ok I shouldn’t worry. I think Jane may be down to earth now. Glad you heard from Bob Fleet. Mom is quite a fine character—I shall write her again.
Heard this one. It is a quick listing of Shakespeare’s plays—Wet, Dry, 3 inch, 6 inch, and 9 inch. There’s a story goes with it but translation is (in same order) Midsummer Night’s Dream, Twelfth Night, Much ado about nothing, As you like it, and Taming of the Shrew.
9/17-25: Historical note: Operation Market-Garden is initiated by British General Montgomery in an attempt to secure several bridges in the Netherlands for the purpose of invading Germany and skirting the main defenses. It ends badly with almost 1500 allied troops killed and more than 6500 taken prisoner. See: https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/the-story-of-operation-market-garden-in-photos
9/18/44 Corsica
Honey Girl:
I can hardly stand this waiting until I get my hands in that old fuzzy of yours. There are so many different ways it can be fixed when it is long—I’m a damn nuisance. But you’re so pretty no matter how it is fixed that I can’t make up my mind which way I like it best.
Marfy, it’s hard for both of us to be apart, but we can’t complain. I’ve probably done all of the combat I will, and you are damn certain I will eventually get there. Of course, if I get put in a combat outfit, I shall continue for I really enjoy the thrill of pitting my abilities against Jerry. Naturally, I get “scared” but not frightened, if you can see the difference. But I have decided not to ask to go back to it, as I have twice, for your sake.
I went flying with the boss yesterday and made only 1 good landing out of three. This business of flying once a month is taking the smooth polish off of my work. I shall try to do more flying. The OM seems to have taken a great shine to me recently, although I believe he is the sort who won’t go out of his way. I hope I am wrong, as I am getting damn sick and tired of having mere children and civilian soldiers come in with chickens on [rank of “Bird Colonel”]. I’m afraid you’ve got a professional soldier for a husband, Darling, for the more I think, the more I realize how foolish it would be to try to go back to civilian life. Even as a shavetail, we’d make $346/month, and that is not bad. Everyone assures me that I should be in line for at least a Captaincy when it is over. All of my service counts on fogies. As you can see at left, it isn’t bad.
Base 163
Flying 81
Subsistence 42
Quarters 60 }2nd Lt. with 6 years service
$346
As a 1st Lt. the following would apply. Also Captain just in case.
1st Lt. Capt.
Base 182 218
Flying 91 109
Subsistence 42 42
Quarters 75 90
$390 $459 <-This is 2 ½ times what the chief engineer of Wells-Gardner makes!
As you can plainly see, if I get the chance, we’d better take it.
Now, if we do, the first thing will be a year’s assignment to Harvard for additional study. If I have to pay my fees it will leave us about $1500 of our $2000 savings. Then if we’re lucky and have kids, or adopt some, my school money can be used for them. I figure on paying their fees, books, and clothes and letting them earn room & board. At the same time, roughly 20 years from now, our first $5000 endowment pays off. And ten years later we get another $5000. So Snooks, rather than change horses in the middle of the stream, like Daddy did, I think we’ll ride this one. I don’t think we’ll have to worry about another war for another 20 years or so, and by that time you’ll probably want a couple of years vacation from my repulsive mug.
The planning on page 2 sure looks a lot better than the planning we did in the beer joint in Elmhurst the night you knocked Fritz off of a stool.
Finance forgot my class N deduction for July & Aug and I am sending it in on my Sept. voucher. If you get any correspondence on it, just forward same.
Snooks is a pretty girl. I love her. Nuts, I’ve been studying so much language that I’m beginning to talk English like a lesson in grammar.
The pictures are of Maria Rosaria “Pupa” Volcano no less. They are lousy, as when she smiles she is quite attractive. As you can plainly see, though, you have no competition. She is the one engaged to Baron Black, but I doubt if she’ll ever marry him.
Things are a little more interesting here as I have been able to keep busy. Weather has been cloudy and cool, and quite conducive to sitting home by the fire—if I had a fire and the proper lap to put my head in. You might just as well plan on having me follow you around like a little dog.
I’m damn sick and tired of not being able to go home to the sweetest girl in the world after work, but I guess this work is important enough to justify it.
According to the newspapers, AF units are already set for South Pacific. Mechanical people haven’t a chance of getting out. Well, if things go well, we can make it in less than a year. Just remember, I’m just as much in love with you as before—maybe more.
Honey, will you mail me about 50 sheets of:
2-cycle logarithmic vs. rectangular 8 ½” x 11” (approx.) graph paper.
Franklin can tell you where to get it. I prefer the orange to the green lines. Mail it first class.
I hope you are well. I haven’t had but two letters in about 10 days.
