August 14, 1945 V-J Day 11:15 pm

Note: Jim and Terry were wed in August 1944 after he came back from England after D-Day. Terry became pregnant towards the end of 1944 and Jim was subsequently stationed in Mt. Home Idaho while Terry remained in Wisconsin. Terry wrote letters to Jim from June-August 1945 describing her experience with pregnancy, her challenges being away from her new husband and her excitement to start a family and have a home of their own. This is the last letter that was written and describes the events upon the Victory over Japan day - when the war ended.  

My beloved, 

Hello darling! Well, the war is over - finally! Happy Day!!

Got your latest letter today and I imagine you celebrated it in Mt. Home, Idaho, didn't you? I spent the day out at Rosie's. We heard the news at 6:00 pm. 

You're rather all mixed up and excited just what is going to happen to you within the next few months, well so am I. 

Dearest, you go right ahead and sell the car now if you like and get what you can for it. Believe it is the best thing to do now and we might as well get what we can for it. 

Gee, I sure do hope you can get discharged in a way. Will you accept it if you have a chance to get out?

I would just as soon see you out so we can settle down and have our family together. I'm certain you won't have a hard time to get a job. What do you think?

My mom, Rosie and her ma and a lady friend went out to celebrate tonite at 10:00 - I decided to stay home and write you instead. The excitement here in Milwaukee is too much for me to take. Gosh, the people are just going wild. No foolin!

What did you do - celebrate too? If I wasn't in my present condition I would have too - but I find it's just as well I didn't knowing we weren't together for this great event. 

Darling, I love you so so very deeply and miss you awfully much...

...Can you imagine - our baby was "made" in war and will be born in peace. That gives "it" a wonderful start in life, doesn't it? Hope you had a pleasant layover in Denver. But it feels good to be back at Mt. Home again, doesn't it?...

....Just about a month from tomorrow our "baby" will be born. Mom is going to send you a telegram and notify you "the proud father" immediately! Won't that be a day?! I'm happy too!

Well dearest, guess I'll hit the hay now and say nitie nite till I hear from you in a few days. Your ever loving and devoted Po-do. Hugs and kisses by the tons. Be good and careful. With all my heart so long till later. 

Passionately your wife, 

Terry

Note: Iconic photo from August 14, 1945 of celebrations in Times Square, NYC 

Note:Subsequent telegram from Edith (Jim's sister) to Jim announcing the birth of baby boy James Brown in September 1945.  

25 June, 1944 Sunday

Hello my darling wife, 

I hope this little note finds you feeling fine and on the upper side of things. If you aren't, maybe this will raise your morale just a wee bit. 

Now remember darling, what I say here after, in this letter, please don't pin all your hopes on everything. There's always a doubt as to where I'll go and when I'll be going. You see, I'm only going on a supposition.

One thing is certain and is without doubt perfectly safe to tell you and for you to believe in it's every word and that darling is that I'm relieved from combat. I've completed my tour and will be in for a rest whether it be here - or home to you. 

The past part of it is the doubtful part, meaning that I think it will come about, but I want you to be only half sure because I don't want to disappoint you in any way. Can't you see what I mean, darling?

If I do come home, we should count on the last of July as the time. Can you wait that long darling without suffering too much? I ask that because it seems an eternity to me. In a few day's you'll receive a letter from me telling you that I'll be unable to write for a long time. You'll know then that I'm on my way. Let's hope it's the place we've in mind, you and I. 

I was just reading your letter expressing your impression of our meeting, and I want to say something to ease your mind if I can. To sort of annihilate those "rumors" you've been hearing. 

I think I understand how you feel about it, especially having heard these weird stories from someone, who without a doubt has not had a very happy marriage. It's just a guess, but what you heard probably dealt with the man who was definitely a beast in playing his part of life, having no consideration whatsoever for this wife's feelings or desires. It would naturally tend to put doubts in your mind pertaining to your own marriage, and I don't blame you for being on the uncertain side. 

We both have our little fears and we feel uncertain about how we'll click after we're married, but that's something that takes faith in each other. That's part of marriage, my darling, and right now there isn't much we can decide one way or the other. Except, as I said before, that we love each other very much, rather we've felt that way about it for a long time. With that love comes mutual trust and faith, and if those are attained, the rest will work out itself. 

Please, darling, take those rumors you've heard from "unhappy" women and try to forget them, and trust, hope, and believe that the other side of the story can be very beautiful. Ask a woman that you are absolutely sure to be happily married. You probably have heard the other side, but you're still wondering about your own marriage. 

All I can say now is to wait until the time comes, then to trust each other and to help each other as two people were meant to do. To live as one, to enjoy the love we have, equally and together. 

Life itself is so uncertain, and we can only try to live as life was meant, and hope that every thing will work out as we want it to. 

We'll be all right, Terry, it's only a matter of time until our love is fully realized by both of us..And don't you worry about "it"; the most natural thing in the world if not abused. Remember that.  There isn't much else I can say in a letter, is there?

We'll have a long talk when I get back, and please don't worry abut it, easier said than done, I know, but please believe in our love, all of it - everything will be all right!

For now, Terry, the pen has tried it's best to console and to set your mind at ease; what follows we'll have to wait - not too long, I hope!

You have all of my deepest love forever and a day. 

Your future husband, 

Jim

17 June, 1944 Saturday

Terry darling, 

How is my best pal and closest, dearest person that I know? I hope this finds you feeling as low as I am, cause then I'll know that our love is just as strong, if not stronger that it's ever been. Terry, I miss you more today, it seems, that ever before. Each day that goes by just makes my heart a little heavier because I'm not with you. Darling, you do things to me every time I think of the way you talk, the manner in which you laugh, in fact every thing about you makes me tingle. 

It's a hell of a feeling, sweetheart, to love some one like you, and yet to have no chance to express it. Darling, it just struck me now, that if we're going to be as happy when we're married as we're feeling miserable now, if it goes from one extreme to the other, do you think that we'll be able to use up all that happiness? If the laws of nature and naturally of love work that way, then my darling wife, then you and I will share the sweetest most complete life together that any one has ever known. I sincerely, with all my heart and soul, believe every lasting word of that. 

Can't you see, my darling, that you're more than a woman to me, more than a beauty to admire, yes, it goes deeper than that. Terry, you mean everything to me. You're some one to fight all obstacles with together, to trust and to believe in. To live happily as one, sharing all the graces and pleasures, along with the hardships and miseries. Am I making myself clear, the way I feel about you? And darling, this should remove all doubts about our truest, deepest love that we have for each other. I'm yours, and please don't ever forget what I've said. Always together my dearest, through hell and high water perhaps, but we'll be rewarded some day, we believe that, don't we?

You might be interested to know that I have another pretty little ribbon to wear on my tunic. I was awarded toe Distinguished Flying Cross today. I hope it makes you as happy as it does me. It's beautiful, and I hope you'll be able to see it soon, but I know you'll be patient. 

For this time, sweet, I've run out of words. I'll leave you until another day very soon. 

My deepest love to my future wife, 

Jim

14 June, 1944 Wednesday

My beloved sweetheart, 

Hello darling, I hope this finds you as lovely and as sweet as you've always been to me. 

It's been terribly hard lately, that is, thinking of you and wondering when this is going to end. This separation, how long can it go on?

I'm eating my heart out for you every day. I have doubts about whether I can keep from going stark raving mad at the thought of you. Darling, you mean everything to me, and I have the feeling that this is only the beginning. 

I can't write what I feel, that is an impossibility, but I can say that if I didn't have you to hold on to, to give me something to believe in, to trust and to love, my life would become simply a machine, a tool in which to accomplish something that would have no meaning, no feeling, no emotion. 

Can't you see what I'm trying to tell you? You mean as much to me as life itself, without reservation, without hesitation, and you can believe that! I hold you above anything darling, and if something ever happened to either of us, believe me it would take a lot of something to go on as I was before, without you. 

How can this be, to cherish someone beyond the conception of life and those who live it? I don't ever hope for you to love me as I love you. 

I know the torture you're going through, the patient waiting and hoping you must be doing, and darling, if you feel like I do about you, the time can't come soon enough to be in each others arms again, oh what a wonderful world this will be then!!

I haven't been doing much that you'd call exciting lately. I've been on detached service in Cambridge, the town of the famous university, for the last few days. It was a morbid dirty, and I won't bore you with the details, but you can guess what they were, nothing else could suggest the word "morbid."

Everything else is about the same, nothing changed. In other words, time has been dragging for me lately, nothing seems interesting after dreaming and thinking of you all night. I'm sweating it out now, and I'd sooner sweat out combat than to be doing practically nothing as I'm doing now. 

I'm writing this in my room, and the lights are bothering my roommates to a point where they can't sleep. Let's give 'em a break and continue our little talk another day very soon. Is all I've got for this time. Good night, my darling - if only you were here now. 

"Terry, for you I'm waiting.
Terry, a vow I'm making. 
For you, forever more, I'm yours"

Sentimental, ain't I? Good nite sweet, 

Jim

10 June, 1944 Saturday

Note: The events described below depict the iconic D-Day on June 6, 1944. 

Dearest Terry, 

When you read this, the invasion will have been heard of far and wide, and you, I know, would have felt the same suspense and expectations as I. 

I don't know how to say it, my darling, but the events of this past week have changed a lot of hopes and plans that I had mustered and have since so vainly put aside. That will be for the present, and for the future, the near future, at least I can not, will not dare to make a guess in actions or results concerning us. 

All I can say, sweetheart, is that we'll have to wait just a trifle longer for our hopes and dreams to materialize. It's not of our choice, not of our desires that we be made to remain apart. That being the situation, we can and will be big about the whole thing. 

I didn't intend to make this sound melodramatic, far from that, because there's nothing I'd like better, nothing I've longed for more fervently than to be with you again, and back with the folks I love. But there's a big "but," as long as there is something to be done over here, and as long as I can contribute to it being done, small as it is, I shall try to accomplish the same. 

Remember, Terry, darling, I'm still alive and still very much eager to stay alive, that's something to think about. And as for my part in coming events, it will undoubtedly be of a more passive nature than it has been in the past. 

So, you see, you won't have to worry your pretty little head off anymore about me, if that'll help any. 

If we both think about the boys down on the beach head, and the missing they must be feeling about now, and those who don't have any more cause to feel anything at all, I'm sure we can endure this so called postponement of ours, and go ahead as before, "grin and bear it."

The time will come when most of this blows over, when we can start our planning again and resume what we started to accomplish, you and I, a short while ago. 

You've probably sensed the extreme confidence and optimism that were bound to come out in my later letters. For this, I am sorry. But as fast moving events have happened since, a bigger thing than you and I, a change had to be made, and I know you'll understand what I've been trying to say. 

I cannot tell you the nature of my new status, and I'm all around hammered in by restrictions of words, but I'll leave the meaning of this letter up to you to interpret. 

Remember now Terry, I'm safe and very much on the live side of things, and I'm leaving it to you over there to stick with it just a little longer. I know you will!!

I'll leave you now darling, for awhile, but never completely, for I do love you so very much!!

Always yours, 

Jim

6 June, 1944 Tuesday

My beloved sweetheart, 

And naturally, the swellest, sweetest person in creation to me. The only one to ever mean so much and be so priceless, that's you, darling!

This is just a little note, Terry, to let you know that I'm still around, and have got all four engines pulling full power. Hoping that this finds you feeling as well and - as happy, happy at the prospects of what the future, the near future may bring. 

I've got some more to add on the list of  "paddle feet." Phil, Brooks and Rhodes are finished up and I'll be one too, after the next one. I'm still sweating blood over it, but it's just another ride, no different than the rest, and soon it'll be over. What a glorious day, baby, what a wonderful feeling that's going to be. 

I guess you can understand now, why I'm so happy; why shouldn't I be with you as the prize?

That's all I can think of lately, you, lovely you. I'm just batting my brains out, merely spinning my wheels, but can I help it?

And I'll keep on thinking of you until that sunny day, I hope it's sunny, but so what if it isn't? It'll be sunny to us, won't it? So why should we worry about it?

I'm going to end this half cocked note; I hope you can make it out. Cheerio, old thing and save your strength, you'll need it when I see you again. 

All of my fondest and deepest love, your future husband and partner, 

Jim

2 June, 1944 Friday

My darling Terry, 

I just got thru reading your latest letters; they were really grand letters! Terry, you're wonderful, that's all I can say. 

I'm glad your doctor decided not to cut around. I had been talking to my flight surgeon about your god awful trouble every time you menstrate, and he told me that after we have our first child, you'd be all right. He didn't say it worked that way every time, but you can wait and see what happens. I guess your doc had the same vein in mind. 

I sure hope I can live up to your doctor's expectations, not counting your's because that remains to be seen. I can't picture anything more fascinating or soul filling than to have our love blended into a good couple, a good team. To get the fullest enjoyment out of life that our hearts can absorb. Two hears beating as one. Darling, doesn't that sound like something out of this world?

I dream, I think, and practically live for the day when we'll begin to realize our fullest love for each other, and experience whole hearted satisfaction in knowing that we do love and care for each other so very much. Terry, with both of us feeling this way, how can we miss having a complete, absolute and perfect marriage? I can't say that I deserve such a girl as you, but I'll try to be a good husband, and I'll always consider myself very lucky to have you as my wife, Terry. There aren't many people like you, no not very many as loveable, as good natured, and easy to get along with as you are. Terry, I'm not trying to flatter you. I mean every word of it, and I don't think I'm wrong - I know I'm not!

Darling, your just so damn sweet that your going to have trouble with me when I get back. Talk about strength, I've got some too. I guess it'll be one big wrestling match to see who can break who's back first. I wonder who'll win? Are you wondering too? I'm thinking it might come out a draw. Say, wouldn't that be swell?

I've got some good news to tell on this end. The "Old Bear" has completed his tour, yes, Fergie is all through for awhile. God be thanked, and God be praised, for some one must have been along with him, some one must have helped! I'm awfully happy for him, did you know it?

Marthemus also finished up, what a grand feeling, believe me - 

Phil and Brooks have 2 to go, Rhodes and I have 3 to go, Smithy has 5, and Moody has 7. Remember when I had 19 to go? It seems like a long time ago, but I've been whittling it down until now I can see a dim light at the end of a dark tunnel. You know, the light that keeps getting larger all the time until, sunshine is seen once more, and you're that ray of sunshine to me. You've become a beautiful reality now, instead of an impossible goal to reach, always reaching out for, but never quite being able to realize that it was time that I could ever see you again. 

I'm talking too fast now, after all, I'm not thru yet, I better be careful. 

Well, darling, would you mind too much if I called this a letter and leave a little for next time?

Hanging all of my deepest love on this line, I close until another day. 

To the nicest girl and the best wife a man could hope to have, kisses and embraces, 

Your future life partner, 

Jim