Transcript Sept. 26, 1954Dear Ila, Well how everything with my best girl these day’s. Fine I hope. How are you doing in school, is the teacher still giveing you a hard time?Well I might get a 3 day pass this week but I won’t be able to get home do I might go to Denver for a few day’s. They have the team I’m in cutting tree down to make pole for this line we are putting up. I just hope we go back to Ft. Carson, like we are suppose too. I haven’t did...

Transcript Nov 1, 1954Dear Ila, Recived your lettler tonight about 2 hour ago and it was good to hear from you too. How is everything with my best girl anyway. I well send you something as soon as I can make it too town too look around. Well it won’t be long before this year will be done for. This time next year I don’t know what I well be doing or were I going to be. I know for sure I won’t be in the army. What do you think you well be doing? I was a little...

Transcript Nov 17, 1954Dear Ila, I wasn’t doing anything tonight so I though I would drop you a few lines. How are you doing in school these day’s? Are you giveing the teacher a hard time? Well last night and this morning we had about 3 inch of snow. I forgot to answer one of your question in the last lettler. You ask if I’m democrat or republican. Well I’m republican. Has your girl friend herd from that boy yet? If she had, how does she like him. ...

Transcript Nov 24, 1954Dear Ila, I recived your lettler tonight as always it good to here from you. Well what have you been doing with yourself working hard? As for my-self I never work hard if I can get out of it. Chicago, a nice place to see I was there for about 48 hours I didn’t see to much but what I did see was nice. I well be glad when spring get here too. I well be close to get out of the army I well be one happy boy. Then I well haft to go to work...

Transcript Nov. 23, 1954Dear Ila, How everything with you in school these day’s, still giveing them a hard time in school. I bet you are. You were lucky not putting a big dent in your dad car. That one reason I don’t like to drive anyone car but my own. That boy that I gave Edna addrest to, said he was writen to her. So you can see I don’t know what to tell you about it. I don’t know what to tell you about Jim, why don’t you give him a hint? As for myself I’m...

Transcript April 15, 1954Dear Ila, I received your letter and was glad to hear from you. As for my self I am fine and hope this letter finds you the same. I will have over a year to do in the army in and would like to keep on writing you as long as I am in the army if you would like me to. I want to try and go to jump school when I get back to the states if I can. I will try and tell you about myself now. I was 20 years old in Jan. I come from a small town along the Ohio...

Transcript April 19, 1954Dear Ila, First of all I will say I am sorry for not answer your letter yesterday 18 of May. It just like a girl to go shopping and stay all day and then go back to the first store and get what she want. I suppose you haft to look around and get the best for your money these day’s. You won’t get this letter by the 21st of May, but I still hope you have a good time at the formal. I still haven’t a picture of any kind to send you but when...

Transcript April 20, 1954Dear Ila, How are you these day’s as for myself I am doing fine. I didn’t have anything today so I though I would write a 2 or 3 letter’s. How the weather back there in Mich., these day’s. It nice out today. I just hope it stay this way for about 52 more day’s. Jack will like to see me leave this place because about 20 day’s after I leave he will leave this place. I hope to do home for the forth of July this year. You said you like to...

Transcript May 1, 1954Dear Ila, I started to writ this letter the other day but I had a little fire in the power-shed. There was no harm done. I hope you can make out this hand writing of mine. I will try an watch my spelling and English. Those are to subject I neve could do any good in. How the weather back there, it rained just about all day. Have you done any swimming yet this year. I can’t wait till I get back to go swimming. That’s one sport I love to do. ...

Transcript May 15, 1954Dear Ila, How everything with my best girl these day’s as for myself I am fine so far. The weather here isn’t too bad, I have seen better day’s over here. How the weather back there? Well I got about 17 more day’s left over here in Korea. In a few more day I will quick work in this place. (But I never work hard in this place.) I here that you want another picture of me. I will send you another one when I get one. If you every want...

Transcript March 29, 1952Dear Ila, I got your addrest from Jack Leamo he said you wanted somebody to write to you. I should leave Korea about Jun of this year, but I still have a year or more to go in the army so I will write to you as long as you want me to. I don’t know what to write because you are the only girl I am writing to besides me mother and sister. I would like you to send me a picture of yourself. The not much to say about myself I came from...

Transcript 25/11/52Dear Ila, Being an obliging sort of young fellow, I thought that as long as you were interested in having a soldier write you, I should elect myself. First off, you’ve never written me, and I’ve never written you (‘til now) and you’ve never seen me, and I’ve never seen you so we start on the same foot, anyhow. In order to make the sledding easier I’ll give you a brief run-down of my illustrious life’s history: Born: Hartford, Conn., Nov 4, 1930, named: Frank...

Transcript Dear Ila, I beg your pardon, fair damsel. Must have misinterpreted along the line somewhere. I certainly didn’t have the big idea you wanted to write to a soldier, I just thought you might enjoy cheering up a lonesome soldier. If you would, I must admit you are off to a flying stop. Only meant, that while these 2 other boys are single and not free, that they are rather seriously attached to young ladies back home. Poor buggers are really suffering from the pangs of woeful love....

Transcript 16/1/53Dear Ila, This may or may not be a surprise to get another letter but I’m in a combat now that requires every address I know and even some I don’t know. Bet one of the lads here in the exec. Post that I can write 40 letters; 10 days time. If I should fail to do so I’ll have to give him the magnanimous sum of 20 dollars. Seems like a lot of work, what? But just to even it up, though, he must write 20 letters in the same 10 days and if he fails I’ll be the...

Transcript 6/2/53Dear Ila, The letter writing bet turned into nothing because we both finished in time, but at least I caught up on much belated writing, such as aunts, uncles and other obscure relations. Speaking about being busy, I’ve really been busting my hump around here. We moved into the Punchbowl 2 days ago, and acquired a pig pen, so work is the password. I took over chief computer for the battery yesterday and of course am swamped with work. Must get a whole new set...

Transcript 21/3/53Dear Ila, Always try to sound cheerful no matter what’s cooking. As a matter of fact this is a snap job the only difference being that is a matter of some 10,000 miles from the states. Course I admit the $70 I won last payday in a poker game undoubtedly boosted my morale. Follows the run down, as best as I can do, on myself that you request. Born in Hartford, Conn.; Nov. 4, 1930 Lived in Massachusetts last 15 years. Live in Wenham, Mass. Now. Founded in...

Transcript 28/2/53 3:15 A.M.Hi Doll, Although it is still slightly early in the morn, this is the best day of the month. Payday! The one only, good day of any month that the Army has to offer. Funny you should ask, but the outfit no longer resides in the Punchbowl. We moved west another 24 miles 6 days ago into the Mundung-Ni Valley and are now in direct support of Heartbreak Ridge. Must admit I’m getting sick of all the unnecessary moving, though. It’s a mess everytime we do...

Transcript 7/4/53Dear Ila, Sitting around wondering this evening whether I’m in the doghouse or that the mail hasn’t come through. Haven’t heard from you in what seems quite a long time and couldn’t help thinking that I’ve probably don the usual and put my foot in my big yap again. I sincerely hope that I haven’t said anything off color that might lead to false conjecture on your part. I’m honestly interested in this correspondence and am thoroughly enjoying myself in writing to...

Transcript 9/4/53Dear Ila, Of course after writing to you 3 nights ago and wondering where you were I got a letter and am back with my trusty sword in hand. As far as your writing more often goes, I think it’s a P.D. (peachy dandy) suggestion. I’m available, that’s for sure. Yeah, my mother informs me that our home is like a bughouse what with my sis getting married. It’s in June but the Army doesn’t see it my way and I’ll still be here pushing ‘em out instead of home. Don’t...

Transcript Hi Doll, This will be a shorty, but I’ve got some pictures to take the place of the missing words. Remember that Confucius said “one picture is worth a thousand words.” Got sergeant a few days ago, which was rather a surprise. I wasn’t seriously looking for it. Rather hoping, would be better. Lot of rumors floating around about moving, but I’m pretty sure we’ll stand fast. Not much necessity for the artillery moving principally because we’re in good position and are the...

Transcript 25/4/53Hi Doll, Got your lovely letter this evening which boosted my morale considerably after a rather miserable day. Was up all last evening figuring out data for a turkey shoot, so I spent a little time in the sack only to get up and find the battery commander pulling a bunch of baloney on me. I’m afraid I don’t get along with him too well and vice versa. After just making me Sgt. I can’t see why he’s trying to give me such a hard time. Heck, no I’m not mad at you...

Transcript 1/5/53 11:30 P.M.Hi Doll, What is it with this younger generation? Today yet I’m a big deal, and a kid. RE: Your letter dated 22 April 1953. Say is that a bunch of squares in that town or a load of hep cats ? If you read me, cat, square off some pulp wood with a little India. Better wise up the community, though, because I hear there’s a commander up that way eating 3 squares a day. Dig me? Cool your heels, Frankie and let’s gum ten. I’m afraid I’ve got spring fever...

Transcript 12/5/53Dear Ila, Finally heard from you this evening, but it wasn’t your fault. Nobody in the battery had gotten any for 6 days until tonite so the mail system was just screwed up. Sounds as if you’re despairing of school again. Heck, I’d be cheerful if I had only 19 days to go over here. As it is I’ve got only about 4 more months to go, so I don’t feel bad about it at all. Not long when you really consider. I’m glad you got the pictures O.K. The only trouble I’ve...

Transcript 19/5/53Hi Doll, Whatever it is, you win. I don’t remember what it is I said, and it probably wasn’t anything intelligent. I seem to have the knack, fortunate or otherwise, of putting my foot into my mouth without any trouble at all. I’m sure, though, I was just fooling around and hope you’ve taken no offense. Sounds to me as though you’re a little squeamish, or else you’ve never had a really good meal of worms and grubs. Why just this evening we had a lovely green...

Transcript 28/5/53Dear Ila, My goodness but you really wound up when you get started on a letter. I’m 3 days late and already yet I’ve forgotten you. How can you assume such a thing? I get much pleasure out of writing to you + also hearing from you and there you go already. Whoa, young lady, slow down. I’m still here and faithfully trying right down to the last nickel. Why, I’m highly complimented to think that you’d really like to have me in your community. And even go as far...