In Normandy: Michigan Tomatoes and Surprise Nighttime Visitors, 1944-07-23
23 July 1944
Normandy
Even on that picture your eyes are ever so beautiful — almost as if you were really there. Of course, angel — I wouldn’t let you sit there on the box which I’m using for a shelf — right in my lap is where you would be — with my left hand around your waist and you’d probably be holding my right — either that or slapping it! (I’d better come home! The party is getting rough and I’m becoming nasty.)
Meant to tell you this quite some time ago — I made that insurance increase to you in England about 6 weeks before we left. There was a lot of red tape but I finally managed to get it thru — or so I thought at the time. About a week of 10 days after we landed here our first mail arrived and one letter to me was from the Veteran’s administration. It notified me that the increase of my insurance was being held up because I incorrectly signed the triplicate copy of the application. I had to fill out an enclosed form and send it back. Can you tie that? I went through the worst part of this deal without having that insurance! As far as I know now all is in order once again.
The show at the field hospital last night went off very well. The boys were a grand audience and extremely receptive. The S.S.O and the chaplain want us to do a few more shows at the other places. If it’s for the wounded guys — any time.
Last night was one of those pitch dark ones and we could barely see a thing. Jerry [I think he’s referring to German planes, or it might say ‘Jenny,’ referring to Wrens, I’m not sure] came over very early in the morning, but that didn’t bother anyone — it was that damned herd of cows from the next field! It was late and very dark — the cow pasture next to our bivouac area is separated by a hedgerow — the boys were in their tents and many were asleep when the cows decided to pay us a visit. They wandered in our field and wandered around — mooing very loudly. (I swear it sounded like the first sergeant at Reveille! [the wake-up bugle call]) There was danger of these cows running into the sleeping men’s tents so the men tried to close them out. That’s quite a job on a block night with no lights allowed. They finally did get them out — incidentally, our area is very well fertilized at the present time.
I received a V-mail from Ernie — he tells me his latest camp is awful — miles from nowhere and always foggy. Ernie doesn’t realize how lucky he is — I’ll tip him off. He says that by the tone of my last letter to him I must be having a good time! Must have written that to him when I was in England in a pleasant mood with plenty of mild and bitter under my belt!
‘Bye now, darling
Your loving Toni
24 July 1944
Hello, sweetheart —
Received two letters yesterday. An airmail from Cynthia and a V-mail from Ruby. Haven’t had any from you for 5 days now. When it does come it’s always in eights of tens - which is okay!
At first it was cigarettes I kept asking for — then cigars (I still want those) — now it’s reading material. Those small pocket sized editions are just the thing to send as an 8 ounce package. Or a regular sized book is alright if you can send it. Practically any subject will be fine — you know my tastes — short stories and novels, etc.
How about that Ogden Nash you mentioned? I don’t think I’m in the mood for propaganda stuff. Make it serious and silly fiction — perhaps you can find some Damon Runyon stories.
I’m losing my knack of making love and kisses on paper — guess I’ll just have to go out and finish off this war by myself so I can come home to you and the real thing pretty soon.
With all my love,
Your husband, Toni
P.S. This is the last of my airmail envelopes. Getting scarce. How are the dreams coming along, Casey?
Dawn Fresh Tomatoes | Distributed by Michigan Mushroom Co.
Niles . Mich . U.S.A | Contents 1lb 3ozI never enjoyed a can of tomatoes more than the one from which this label came. They were especially good so I looked at the brand — and no wonder! Look where they were grown and came from!
Tx
P.S. Casey — I’m twice as homesick now!
Original Letter
