Excerpt from In My Father's Room

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LOU
Dec 28, 1942
Written aboard ship
Hello Folks,

Well here I am writing from no-where. I don’t have to tell you how much I miss you all and as it gets nearer to Christmas it’s going to be pretty tough. I guess it must be pretty cold at home. However it is just the opposite here right now. Yes, hot as the dickens and it is going to get hotter.

I am in good health and feel swell. Hope I hear the same from you Dad. I never realized how much I could miss all of you. The further away I get from home the stronger the feeling gets. Let us all hope and pray that this thing is over soon and I think that we certainly will appreciate one another after it’s all over.

Ida in your last letter you said something about taking a picture like Perry’s. It was impossible to get one at New River, and you know that I couldn’t get it at Parris Island. What I suggest doing is writing to the Springfield, Mass. Recruiting Station and ask them to send you the address of their studio or better yet ask them if they can arrange to have the proofs sent to you. I am sure in that way you will get a picture of your beautiful brother.

I know that you will probably won’t get this until after Christmas but I sincerely hope that you didn’t send me anything as there isn’t a thing in the world that I can use.

Now about finances, this time it’s my turn. I don’t want you to send me any, keep it for yourselves, you will probably need it. I won’t have anything to spend it on anyway. In fact I will probably send money home to you to put in the bank.

Now most important of all don’t worry. We are not going into combat, and we have a lot of training to do before we even get near the front. In fact months of it. So I don’t want you worrying as you know how it will make me feel.

Selma, how’s everything? Is my breadwinner doing a good job? I know that you are and when you are around I know that letters will come through regular. I had to laugh the other day. Remember when you said to me, “Lou, I don’t mind you going but you are such a Schlemiel that they will send you right over.” I couldn’t help laughing it struck me so funny. But don’t worry dear, they will probably stick your brudder on some island and leave him there for the duration.

Dad, when I come home I will have plenty of stories to tell you. I could tell a few now, but you know it would be censored. So just be patient and I will try to tell you as much as I can.

Ida honey, how’s your love life? You have become quite a man killer since I left. Maybe I cramped your style. Aren’t you glad I am gone? I’m only kidding dear so don’t get all excited.

Anita, monkey I bet when I come home you will be like a grown up girl and your brother promises to take you out dancing as soon as he gets home, O.K.?

I am still wondering about Perry. It would be funny if he went overseas too. Well I will keep my fingers crossed for him.

Please keep your letters coming as often as you did before and know that your brother and son thinks of you constantly every day.

Love, Lou