Amanuensis Monday - Love from Alaska to Washington

Here are two more letters from Paul Moore addressed to his darling Elaine Cummings.  Showing concern that he has already been forgotten only to find out she still thinks and cares for him. Times are hard and letters take time to arrive, which leaves them both wondering if they are remembered while waiting for those special acknowledgment in letters like these. 

Saturday, 3/14/42

  Hi Darling:

   I received your letter the first of this week & lady I sure was glad to get it. I had just about decided that you had forgotten me. I was sorta disappointed tho for it was sort of cool & distant & it sorta makes me wonder what is wrong. Have you changed or what?

  I have had that picture taken and as soon as I get it I will send it on to you. I really do want one of you took so I want you to rush one to me as soon as you can. Promise?

  I would so much like to see you. It would be so much fun to dance with you again & maybe even to sprit you clear away from the crowd as I did once before. Do you think you would mind that so terrible much? I know that I would enjoy it!

  I have been sorta laid up for the last two days with a bum leg but it is better now and I think I can get back in the thick of things in the next couple of days. This laying around idle sorta gets on my nerves. I have put it to good use though for I had quite a bit of studying to do for exams for  officers School & it has given me a good chance to catch up. I have been before one examining board & now it is all up to me when I go before the last one. Keep hoping & maybe I can see you soon. I have been over most of the Island & it really is very pretty Rugged Mountains & beautiful parks & valley. Seems a shame that you can’t b e here to help me enjoy it. You see every time I see something that reminds me of you I begin to wish a little bit harder that you were here. I miss you so very much my dear. I guess I’ll keep on until I get back & then if my powers of persuasion haven’t exactly failed me I can keep you with me for a long time.

  I miss you so very much Darling.

Write soon

Especially for you

Paul

NOTES: This was a two page letter with only one side used on each sheet. The letter was addressed to Miss Elaine Cummings, P.O. Box 178, Seattle, Washington mailed by Paul L Moore A.S.M. 35205865 1-H. (printed U.S. Army Toops Fort Greeley Kodiak, Alaska w/ U.S. Army Troops and Kodiak marked out) it was send March 17 1942 “Via Air Mail” and checked by 2^nd Lt. Inf. Robert D. Schulz.

U.S. Army Troops

Fort Greeley

Kodiak, Alaska

Friday 4/3/42

Hi Honey:

                I’m sort of wondering what you are thinking about me by this time. I realize what I have done by not writing to you & I sincerely want you to forgive me. I haven’t got so very good an excuse but here it is. I have been down in the dumps for the last 10 days & just haven’t felt like writing to anyone. I just got my first letter started for home today & they’re probably fuming too.

                I was proud to get your last letter & it sure was a help. I am so very glad to hear from you & if I could get a letter every day it would be so very swell. But then that is hardly possible up here so of course I can’t ask it of you.

                You said in your last letter that your father had asked if I have seen any of the bears that are to be found here. I haven’t been lucky, unlucky enough to do so as yet I still have hopes. I have seen a couple of mounted specimens tho & they sure are big. I say. Could you use a bear skin. If I get the chance I mean to collect a couple. So you can tell him that he really should see them. Fishing season is just about here & I also plan on having a few good fish frys. Sound good? Maybe we can enjoy a few of those together sometime. Do you think so too or do you enjoy such things?

                I had a letter from home Wednesday & my brother & Dad both had to register for the draft. So maybe there will soon be another of my family in here too. I already have one brother in the Cir Corp & I guess he is still in the States or was the last time I heard from him. I also have had my application approved & so my going to officer T.S. is just a matter of time. I sure hope it is soon tho for I sure would like to see you again. Every time I think of the fun we had dancing laughing & talking together it makes me want to see you so darned badly. We could have so much fun & loving if I was only back with you again. Just think it has been almost 3 months since I saw you. Seems almost like 3 years when I think of it tho.

                I haven’t gotten the picture yet but I don’t think it will be long now. I have it ordered for almost a month but the Photo shop here is just about swamped with orders so they are very slow. I have been sorta anxiously waiting for your photo to come around too.

                I must quit this rambling around & say Good nite Darling & the Ohio deal still stands good. I’m as badly gone over you now as I ever was. Still in an accepting mood dearest?

Write soon an again

I’ll be loving you

Paul (and written sig.)

I sure could use those

Kisses, too.

What do you mean?

Especially for you (too)

That’s my pet expression

NOTES: There were a total of four pages and all hand written on the same letter heading as noted above. The envelope was hand written addressed to: Miss Elaine Cummings, P.O. Box 178, Seattle, WN.

In the return address is: U.S. Army Troops Fort Greeley, the city is scratched out, Alaska, Paul L Moore, A.S.N. 35205865 1-H. The letter was post marked April 14, 1942 out of Kodiak, Alaska sent Via Air Mail. The letter was checked by 2^nd Lt. Robert D. Schulz. 

Amanuensis Monday : Pvt. Paul Moore's letters of love

These letters happen to be from another large purchase that was made from eBay. These letters show the loving relationship and the hardship between a young couple during the tough times of war and separation. Paul L. Moore was with Co. H with 201st Infantry in Alaska, fell hard for Elaine Cummings in Seattle. There are twenty-one letters that I have in this collection and these are the first two. 

                                              Alaska Steamship Co.

                                                    The Alaska Line                                    ON BOARD S.S. Denali

                                                                                                    Thursday – 600 P.M.

Elaine Darling:

  How are you by now. Ok I hope and I’m hoping that you haven’t forgotten the guy who fell so terribly her for a very pretty little girl one night at a dance. Who made a date to see her the following Sunday & had to leave on the Wednesday before & so just couldn't stay to see her. Golly I but I wanted to see you too. Darling, I want you to remember what happened that night & we had to leave each other so darned soon after meeting. You see dear I am more or less taking it for granted that you fell for me just about as hard as I did for you. I really hope so, for when I asked you over the phone to wait for me until I came back I was deadly serious when I asked you to do that and I would like very much to know how you feel about the situation. Do you think you could tell me dear? Kinda funny for a gut to ask something like that of someone he has only meet once & never did have a date with, but then I’m a sort of a funny guy.

  You know you asked me not to go too fast that first night. I was planning on taking it rather slow so as to sort of assure myself of you caring for me before I started to go too fast as you say. But dear don’t you think it has changed enough to warrant my asking you if you care enough to wait for me. I in other words Elaine I am going to ask this! If you do care enough to wait for me I will ask you to and then if I get back to take my air corp. training I will try to take my time until I get my wings and then ask you to marry me. Will you think very hard about accepting such a proposal? If I don’t get that chance to come back I would like you to wait until I get out of the Army & take you to Ohio with me. Now! Will you do that dear one? Tell me please.

  I know that I am going very fast but I think you feel the same as I. That it is possible for you and I to fall very deeply in love with each other. When you write give me your opinion of this subject.

  We have had a swell trip so for no bad weather or anything, are now about 500 miles from Seattle and getting further away all the time.

  I have just about taken up all this space so I’ll write again about tomorrow. Please write soon & I want a picture of you.

My address

Paul L Moore

Co. H 201^st Inf.

APO 3-P c/o postmaster, Seattle, Wn.

A.S.N. 35205865

You made me love you

Paul

NOTE: This was a letter written on “The Alaska Line” stationary with a space to write in the ship (Denali), both sides of the paper were used. The envelope matched the stationary the letter was addressed to Miss Elaine Cummings, Ace Motel, Tourist, P.O. Box 178, Seattle, Washington. Mailed out Via Air Mail on Jan 21 1942 

Sunday Night

Feb 22, 42

Dearest Elaine

  I’m doing much better now than I thought possible. Have even gotten two letters from you. But I must confess that they have me rather puzzled. You don’t seem to be exactly sure what you are going to do about choosing. Of course as far as I am concerned, I would like very much for it to go my way but of course the decision will rest finally in your hands but I can do my best to influence it all I can. Do you mind if I try my best?

  I sorta wonder what you are doing. Have you been to any dances of late? Found any new friends or something. You know what! I would give most anything to be back where I could dance with you once more where we might even get a chance to find out for sure just what is going on here in our hearts dear. You see Elaine, every day that goes by strengthens my belief that this is the real thing. This may sound rather funny but I really do mean it. Of course I think that you feel much the same & it would be swell to know that you really do think & feel the same as I. So analyze your thoughts & heart my dear & then tell me the results. Could you possibly do that?

  I am going to have a picture made and send one to you within the next two or three weeks. I can also send you some snaps of the Country here. Of course all mail & pictures are censored before they leave so that leaves me very little choice of what to write. I can say though that the country is very beautiful and should be much more so this spring & summer. The majestic & beauty of the contrast between the mountains & the sea can’t possibly be beat. You really should see it sometime. Say, maybe, on a honeymoon, with me, maybe. Could be but then I guess that will take a lot of hoping.

  Well sweet it is getting rather late and I’m kinda sleepy so I’ll quit for now because you are probably tired of the drivel by now. All I can do is ask you to wait, and darling keep your fingers crossed. I really care you know so be careful. Don’t make me too discouraged for I could use some encouragement now. I haven’t heard any more about training school but I’m still hoping.

I’ll love you

Paul

P.S. I still could use your picture. Please sent it and write real soon.

I’m taking it easy, but I still think I’ll take you home with me, any objections.

Address

Pvt Paul  L Moore

A.S.N. 35205865

1-H.

Ft Greely, Alaska

NOTE: This was a three page letter written on one side of each sheet. The envelope is addressed to Miss Elaine Cummings, Ace Motel Tourist, P.O. Box 178, Seattle, Washington mailed out on Feb 26 1942 with the return address Paul L Moore, A.S.N. 35205865 1-H. Ft Greely, Alk. the letter was checked by 1^st Lt. Carl R. McFlarland.

Thank you for visiting my blog today and I hope you enjoyed the letter in my Moore and Cummings collection. I will share some more of the letters at a later date. As always I look forward to hearing your comments.