Letter #39

Letter #39

Boulder, Colorado

June 22, 1918

My Dearest Violet,

I suppose you can always tell when I am at the Y by the paper I use. The last two, when twice I have written, I have been so tired I could hardly walk over to the Y so I took my papers and scratched off a few lines to you. We surely had some rainstorm last night when bed time came. Nothing like that!

I have such a true friend as I find in George. I went to my bunk about 8:30 and lay upon the straw tick half asleep with my clothes on. Then the first thing I knew was that someone was pulling at me. I opened my eyes to find George at my side, and what do you think, dear? He had one of his dry blankets and he told me to use it for there was nothing too good for me. I surely appreciated it, for mine were wet. Had I used mine, I would have had a worse cold. You may ask how I managed, with only one blanket. Well, I doubled it and slept next to the tick, and put the blanket over me.
Oh, dear, how I appreciate the good deed George did for me. I only hope the time will come when I can return to him some good favor for his thoughtfulness. Had he not given it to me, I would have slept with all my clothes on but without the blanket. Well, it is over and I am feeling fine. My speech is almost natural again.

Well, dear, you can guess it is Saturday today for I am writing again. I am off and nothing more to do but write and express my feelings to my love who awaits me at home. Hazel asked to have my picture taken in full uniform. Well, that would be impossible, for I haven’t my blouse yet. But I will have it taken with a camera. You never asked for one. Would you like one…of the terrible looking soldier they call Henry? If you do, dear, just let me know.

I have just received my papers for a furlough. The captain isn’t in so I will keep them till he comes Monday. I also received a very nice letter from Miss Bert Herbst. She surely is feeling blue, for she hasn’t received a word from her young man for over a week. He is going to be sent to France, if he hasn’t gone already. Oh, dear, if you should stop writing to me for that long, I would almost be wild. A letter from you makes me feel so much better, both in action and especially, my heart.

I received a good, big parcel today. I don’t know what’s in it, but I think you said a cake. You think I don’t appreciate it? Well you can just think that if you like, but nothing in the world would have been more gladly received than such a gift from you. For I am surely hungry about 4:30 just before drill. Of course I would receive you more gladly than anything else. For you are one good gift I would like to enfold in my arms and have you cling to me and have you never depart from me again. Oh, dear, if you could realize how that love is burning in my bosom for you. It has increased ten-fold since coming here. Don’t think I never cared for you before, for if ever there was a man who had the power of love, I have it for you.

Some of the fellows surely shoot it into George for writing so much. He is such a slow writer; it takes a great deal of time. But listen to me…. He doesn’t write as much as me, for I wrote 38 pages last Sunday. I am going to try and write some of that tonight, for tomorrow I may go to Denver. But dear, don’t think I am going to forget you, for you and Mother are thought of first.

Tonight George and I are going downtown either to the theater or the 15-cent dance. There is but very little going on here. It seems to me some of the people are frightened to death of us. If they listen to me, they would be as safe around me as around their parents. Now, dear, don’t think I am going out to look for girls, for I am not.

Clyde wants me to take his place on police duty. I told him I wanted a few minutes to myself and my love. He wanted to go to Denver this afternoon. If he did, he wouldn’t make it back into for duty.

We had an inspection today from 1:30 to 3:00 o’clock. Our bunks and clothing were inspected, and then of our squad, then last, our drill work. Some were told they needed more practice, but I seemed to escape. Ha! Ha!

I have just received some pictures which were taken about two weeks ago, the one of the interior of our bunkroom. I am not in the picture, but my bunk is located where the cross is. Notice the way we fold our blankets.

Dear, this is just a short letter, but I will write you a long one tomorrow sometime. I hope you are not working too hard, for you must remember what you told me, dear, the night before leaving. Well, I can’t say goodnight, for it is not dark, but you will forgive me. You know … X … thanks, dear.

May God ever be with you is the desire of … Your Ever-Loving Sweetheart Soldier,

Henry

P.S. Eat enough strawberries for me.

P.S.S. What was the contract you signed to do each morning before breakfast

FYI: Specifications for WWI Army Blankets:

No 1312
Specifications for Four-Pound Olive Drab Blanket. Adopted March 20, 1918

Material. – 55% wool, grade 44’s or finer. 10% wool, grade 60’s or finer. Color. – Olive drab mixture to be a good match to standard sample.

1. Washing test: Boil for 10 minutes in a solution containing 80 grains of Oleine soap (Army issue) to 1 pint of water.

2. Laundry test: Boil for 10 minutes in a solution containing 10 grains of dry carbonate of soda to 1 pint of water.

3. Exposure test: Expose to the weather for 30 days.

Size. – To be not less than seven feet long. To be not less than five feet wide.

Weight. – To weigh not less than four pounds and not more than four pounds eight ounces.

Threads. – To have not less than 27 threads to the inch in the warp and not less than 30 threads to the inch in the filling in the finished cloth.

Finish. – To have the same degree and character of finish as shown by accepted new standard. Thoroughly clean and well fulled. The end secured from raveling by an overlock stitch, the thread employed to conform in shade to the blanket.