Jurassic War

Mary,

Sorry that I have not written in a few weeks. We have been terribly busy, preparing to leave stateside. Then we were getting settled here in Hawaii, and preparing for our first mission. I’ve received your letters and find time to read them. They keep me motivated.

We got liberty and I went out with some of the guys, then used the remainder of the time to write this. Hawaii is just like a postcard, with tall palm trees, sandy beaches, and crystal blue water. We spent most of our time down on the beach, walking around, running into the surf. The water is a lot warmer than the Atlantic that we have in New England. It sure is beautiful. I’m glad to experience it, but it’s not the same without you. Wish you were with me.

I hope things are going well there. I’m glad that your school finished up with such a great result, and I’m happy you found work at the bank. I wish I could have been at your graduation. I’m sure you will do well at the new job. You’re good with numbers and attention to detail.

We’ve been working with the rubber boats more. They have us go out into rough surf, capsize the boat, then work as a team to get it right-sided. We’ve gotten better at using the rope and our body weight to flip the boat back into position. Everyone has gotten stronger and better at rowing, too. I feel a lot better about the boats now. But it is a vast and powerful ocean and the boats are quite small. Lt. Col. Carson continues with the fitness regimen. He had us up at 4:00 a.m. the first day we got here. We did a six-mile run in combat boots along the water. It sure is harder to run in sand than I’d ever imagined.

We’ll be here for a little bit longer, then our unit will move into the action. I’m sure that I’ll get some down time to write, and I will continue to get your letters. The military is good about moving mail through the combat zone. It’s one of the priorities the brass put on the rear echelon. Keep the mail coming to keep the spirits up of the folks fighting on the front lines.

I’ll be in touch again soon.

Love,

Randell

Randell,

I got your most recent letter and I’m thrilled that you finally got to go on liberty like so many of our servicemen and women. Try to make the best of your free time and don’t waste the opportunity for relaxation by spending it getting sorrowful about me. We’ll have plenty of time to make great memories together. It’s fine for you to enjoy a new and special place on your own without me. I’m happy to hear about your new experiences.

Things are pretty much the same here. But I don’t mind it. I prefer to have a steady routine. I get up and go into work every day, then I either go home and help my parents, or I help out with the war bonds. On the nights that I do not volunteer, we have dinner together and then we all watch the evening news. The war in Europe is disastrous. Cities are being destroyed and they have to fight the elements in the winter. Soldiers have come home with frostbite. Then we hear about the Pacific. The jungles, bugs, and heat. I don’t know which is worse.

I think about you every day. When I go to bed, I read your latest letter, and when I don’t get a new letter, I read the old ones over and over. It makes me feel better. I know that I’ve told you this before, but my life here is very routine. I also say a prayer for you and for our troops. My cat Byron now basically sleeps in my bed at night. He’s with me now as I write this.

I love you and miss you, but I’m content to wait until the war is over and we can truly be together. You are the only one for me. I’m so glad that we are going to be married.

All my love,

Mary