Amanuensis Monday - Alaskan Love Continues

The difficult part about reading these letters are they are only one sided, that was until now. We now learn that the love between Elaine and Paul grew into not only a marriage but also a new born. Like most military families we are sometimes separated during the most difficult times and those special ones like the birth of a newborn.

U.S. ARMY TROOPS

FORT GREELEY

KODIAK, ALASKA

Wed. Nite – 4/29/42

Elaine Dearest:

  Well now you sorta have me wondering why I haven’t heard form you in about a week & I’m lost when I don’t get your letters.

  Thanks a lot honey for the picture and it was swell. I thought it would never get here. So now I really have to get busy & send mine to you right quick. So you don’t get too impatient & I will send it to you as soon as possible. I promise faithfully (to love & honor, till death do us part). Oh honey if I could only see you love you and maybe even cart you off and marry you some time when you don’t even look for me to. You see dearest I am really planning on taking you home with me Just as soon as this thing is all over & I can honorably return to my job. You see dear I feel as if all of my wondering days are over. (I want a home of my own) and I can really settle down to working & just be contend to live & love my wife. I think I can do that & darling I’ve picked you for the one. I hope you have no objections but you can tell me what you think. Just so I will have no doubts as to what you would do when I do come back. I realize dear that this is very sudden & I should know you better but I didn’t get the chance so now we just have to do the best we can. So, Will you marry me, dear? I’m in earnest about this but I also realize that is neither the way or the time to propose to you but I would like very much to know what you think of the idea. Might be I could find a ring to fit you (if I know your size) and of course if you would accept it? Could you dearest? By the way, when is y our birthday? You mentioned its falling in May but you didn’t say when. So could you sorta enlighten me huh?

  Darling I have written all this letter in all seriousness & I do wish you would think it over and then, Say yes!

  I miss you so much, so very much dear. I know how this will sound but I can’t help it. I Love you. So darling come up & see me some time soon. If you only could. How swell it would be. Write soon & forgive me for loving you so much.

Especially for you

Paul

IT WILL TAKE ABOUT 5000 KISSES TO GET ME BACK TO NORMAL.

I sent one of our best papers, like it?

Write

NOTE: This letter was written on the same letter head as above and it is three pages long with writing on only one side. The envelope was addressed to Miss Elaine Cummings, P.O. Box 178, Seattle, Wash. it was sent May 3 1942 “Via Air Mail” the letter was sent by Paul L Moore, A.S.N. 3???5865, 1-H., U.S. Army Troops, Fort Greeley, Alaska.It was checked by 1st Lt Paul R. McFarland.

      

January 19, 1944

                                                                                                                        Omaha, Nebraska

Dear Dad,

  Will try to write a few lines tonite and tell you how I am. I kinda looked for a telegram from you. Hope you received Aunt Mary’s tele. Right away.

  The baby was born at 9:10 pm and weighed 7 lbs. 13 oz. she’s really a darling baby. She has black curly hair, blue eyes. Has a deep dimple in chin, she’s really a doll and getting along fine.

  I labored form Friday nite till Sunday nite. I didn’t suffer too terrible but was out when the worst part of it was taking place. I woke up long enough in the delivery room to fight the gas and cuss when they strapped me down. I was pretty bruised  when I woke up. One of the nurses’ asked me if I’d watched wrestling matches at City pub. Guess she was banged up too.

  I’ve been pretty good and was catheterized once but it hurt so I decided I could use the bed pan by myself. My bottom hurts worse than any other part especially my rectum. For the exams were all made that way. I had an enema the a.m. but it didn’t hurt like I thought it would. Paul isn’t here yet but I guess he’s trying. His folks want to come if he can be here. Spencer is home so they are pretty talked over there.

  Joyce sent me a beautiful satin yellow & comfort for the baby.

  I got an air mail special deliver form Moore’s with a dollar for the baby Guess they are pretty proud.

  Annie came to see me today and Helen, Grandma, Aunt Mary, I’ve had no other company.

  I’d give anything to have you & Paul here. I know you’d both just be tickled pink when you saw the baby. She so cute even the nurses make over her.

  It’s really a good feeling to know a little thing like that belong to you.

Well Dad I’ll close now. Write later I’m a little tired.

  Write soon. Sure wish you were here.

Lots of Love

Elaine

NOTE: Handwritten letter on a single page on both sides. Addressed to Mr. F.L. Cummings at P.O. Box 178, Seattle 11, Wash. mailed out of Omaha, Nebraska Jan 20 1944 from Mrs. Paul Moore, 3117 So 52 St. Omaha 7, Nebr.

Amanuensis Monday - Alaskan Army Love

The letters from Paul to Elaine continue to offer insight into the relationship of love during a separation that neither could avoid. Both anxiously await an exchange of photographs while the concern of possibly forgetting each other. There is a mention of a hasty marriage but luckily it won't be classified as a shotgun wedding. Paul ends the last letter in today's posting expressing his feeling through words of love in a tearful poem.

U.S. Army Troops

Fort Greeley

Kodiak, Alaska

4/15/42 – 1:30 PM

Dear Elaine:

                Well here is another letter even tho I haven’t much of anything to write but I’ll at least know that you are getting something form me & know that I’m still dreaming of you.

                Know what! I’m jealous of all the boys who get to dance with you & even, maybe, make love to you at all those dances. Don’t’ you dare go & fall for one of them & forget me. That keeps me going all the time. So please don’t forget.

                As for my meeting anyone up. All the women but a few natives & married ones have been evacuated from here & so I never even have a chance & anyway I can’t forget one night in Washington. I don’t think I’ll ever forget how swell you were & how hard I fell for you. I’m sure hoping you can do the same. I intend to come back & take up right where I left off. Kissing you! (but not goodbye)

                Have you ever had the picture make? I have been looking for it every day. I had a letter form home Sun day & my mother wants one too so now I guess you two will have to wait on the slowest Photographer in the world. I have even gotten impatient with him. So all we can do is keep waiting. I will send it to you the moment I can get it. So please be patient.

                Darling I wish I could see you now. I sure wouldn’t stop at any 42 kisses. It will take a lot to make up for the time we have lost. Agree?

                I am rather rushed as we have a review this evening & I still have to dress. So will you please forgive me for making this short.

                I miss you so much. The way you look at me & smile. Have you flirt with your eyes makes me shiver when I think of having you in my arms again. I don’t think I’ll ever let you out of them once you are in them. Kiss me once in your dreams tonite. Write soon & don’t forget the picture.

Especially for you

Paul (handwritten sign.)

NOTE: This letter consisted of three pages all written on stationary with the same heading as above. The envelope was hand written and sent to: Miss Elaine Cummings, P.O. Box 178, Seattle, WN. The return address is: U.S. Army Troops Fort Greeley, state marked out, Alaska, Paul L Moore, A.S.N.35205865, 1-H. The envelope is postmarked April 16, 1942 w/ hand written Via Air Mail and was checked by 1^st Lt. Carl R.McFarland

                                         

U.S. Army Troops

Fort Greely

Kodiak, Alaska

Friday nite 930 4/24/42

Elaine Darling:

  Here I am again listening to the radio & I hardly have anything at all to say to you but at least I can try. So as I have said before “Heah oh goes”.

  If you only knew how badly I miss you. Golly, I would give most anything to just see you & hold you in my arms once more. I miss you more than I even thought possible. The things are so little that make me think of you but something is always happening and it seems that every time I turn around I am think of you. So in case you sometime get a feeling that I’m somewhere around you will know that I’m longing very much to see you. So darling do your best to keep on loving me with all your heart.

  I’m so blue tonight dear. Miss you so terrible much & longing to see you. Just to think that I haven’t seen you for 3 months. Here I sit with an orchestra playing “I Surrender Dear” & you some 2000 miles away. Seems to be sort of ironic. Especially when I miss you so very much.

  I haven’t gotten the picture as yet but they tell me in town that I should get it in about 10 days. So it is still on the way. I got your letter telling me yours was coming so I’m on pins & needles waiting for it. My mother want one too so I must get two so she won’t be angry. She is about the swellest person in my life. Next to you of course. You rate no 1 on my hit parade & I’ve a very strong hunch that you will continue to hold that spot. So make sure & be ready for a hasty (un-shotgun) wedding when I get back.

  Here is something that expresses he feeling in my heart, very well.

                Got the blues tonight, it seems.

                Sit here dreaming foolish dreams

                Heart a-aching, tears fall too

                Honey I am missing you.

                Thought that we could said along

                Without heartaches, that was wrong.

                Now I cry while others laugh

                Yes I’ve got  the blues tonight

                Praying, darling while I wrote

                That you’re feeling sorry, too.

                Missing me like I miss you.

                Like it?

Write soon                             Especially for you

                                                Paul

NOTES: This is a three page letter all sheets with the same letter head as above and writing on only one side of each sheet. The envelope is addressed to Miss Elaine Cummings, Post Office Box 178, Seattle, Washington and was mailed off April 27 1942 “Via Air Mail” from U.S. Army Troops, Fort Greeley, Kodiak, Alaska, Paul L Moore, A.S.N. 35205865, 1-H. and was checked by 1^st Lt Carl R.McFarland

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.