My dear Mr. Roith,
May I call you pop? I want to, believe me.
This is, in a sense, a sort of crude way of introducing myself, but I want you to know that since you are Terry's father, you're tops with me because I think a lot of Terry!
I want to ask you a very important question!! I want to ask for your daughter's hand in marriage. You may have your reasons for not accepting me as your son, but I can't blame you; after all, you haven't met me. ----- You don't know a thing about me. But the important thing is that we love each other!!!
There are a lot of things to be said against our being together, but there are a lot more to be said for our happiness! I understand that I'm a soldier, and that a lot of things can happen, but there is a very important thing not to be forgotten. That is this ---we take each other for better or for worse, and every marriage is a gamble. I can safely say that you were pretty sure of yourself when you married Mrs. Roith. You must have loved her as I love Terry. You wouldn't let any thing stand in your way.
I don't want family trouble between us, but I know that you'll understand.
I may not come back, that's true naturally, but if we were married, do you think that is would make any difference? Do you think that it would ruin her life to be married to a soldier? If she loves me, and I think she does, do you think it would be less troublesome for her if she weren't married to me? I love her with all my heart and I know that you must love her a great deal, but you must consider our feelings. We would never be happy if some one stood in our way; it would prove an obstacle that would be hard to take. Will you please write to me and tell me what you have against our marriage? I feel that I have a right to know because I'm in love with your own sweet, lovely, daughter, Terry.
You must have a very good reason for not accepting me into the family, a very good reason!
But I still love Terry very much, and I'm going to try to be a good husband! I want Terry to be my wife, and I want to be a son, and a friend to you and your wife.
I'll be waiting to hear from you, dad, and don't be too tough on us, we're only two people very much in love, pretty sure that we'll always be happy together, and there isn't anything I wouldn't give to have Terry as my wife. Nothing, no -- nothing that I wouldn't give -
Jim
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Friday, August 19, 2011
September 25, 1943
Darling Sweetheart,
I was looking for your letter today, and when I got it, I pampered it, an patted it, and just all around fondled it before I opened it. I never thought that a little piece of paper, so innocently looking, so unimportant looking, could mean so much to me.
Honestly, Terry, I'm having a hard time of it, that is, by us being apart. Frankly, I've never felt so good and so bad at the same time before in my life! I do my work in anticipation of a letter from you. I know I've got to stay on the ball so that I can be here later, so that we can fulfill the dreams and plans we both must have. Plans for us and plans for ours!
Dearest, there's something bothering me. I don't know how you feel about it, but I'm somewhat mixed up. I've never wanted to be with some one so much in my life - I want to see you again - so very much - not for a day - not even for a week. I want to see you for as long as I'm still here! Don't you see what I'm driving at? I love you so very much - I know you love me - we were meant to be each others. Do you think we could stand each other forever? I have no doubts about how I feel about it; I know that you'd be the only one for me, ever!!
But, here's the point - we've got to consider your feelings, my feelings, and our feelings.
I'm only thinking of our feelings when I say these things - but you should be considered most of all! I want you - not as a girlfriend, for girlfriends are easily forgotten in time; but as my own - wholly and without reserve, and I want to be yours - in God's name!
But there are so many things to be considered when we think of your problems. I feel as though I'd be tying you down if I asked to be mine, but if you feel the same for me as I do for you, my worries are over.
This is a helluva way to propose to a sweet heart - but I don't care - I want you to be mine, tomorrow wouldn't be too soon.
Then there is your family to be considered. They might not agree so heartily as we. They might have other ideas on the matter.
Hell's fine, we'll see each other, and let it go at that. If you want to come down, I'll see to it that you get down and have a place to sleep, eat, and anything else that's available, that your little heart desires.
I was thinking of my next station. You see, I'll be leaving Tuesday, the 28th for Dyersburg, Tenn. or Dellheart, Texas, and I want you to come down, when I get settled and have found out how the land lays.
Tell me what you think of all this. Whatever you decide is alright with me - it will always be alright with me - that is, unless you asked me to shoot myself. I wouldn't do that because then I couldn't see you anymore. That's not good!!
If anything interferes with you coming down, you won't have to explain why or wherefore - no is good enough, and I'll understand. If you do decide to come, I'll be the happiest person alive - and that's all there's to it. Just as simple as all that!
Those dreams were of us - a home, a family, picnics - I wondered what the first one would be - a boy, a girl - or maybe twins. Do twins run in your family?
I always felt that I'd never get married, that I'd be tied down if I did. But I think it's wonderful, especially if I had to be tied down with you the rest of my life. Isn't it fun to be tied? God but you're lovely!!
That song, "You'll never know how much I miss you" hits the spot to the letter. I can't begin to express how much I really love you. I feel sorry for us when we get together; I can feel your back crushing now; incidentally, you almost broke mine that last night, remember?
About my activities here. We fly every other day, ground school the other. We get a 24 hour pass every week - and also any other time we're not scheduled for something.
There is a town about 40 miles from here. I've gone 3 times already, for what I don't know. There's not a damn thing there but women and drinking, and without you, it just ain't any fun. There's a swell officer's club on the base. Spend odd hours there.
So hard to leave - even in writing my heart, my love - all yours for ever,
Jim
I was looking for your letter today, and when I got it, I pampered it, an patted it, and just all around fondled it before I opened it. I never thought that a little piece of paper, so innocently looking, so unimportant looking, could mean so much to me.
Honestly, Terry, I'm having a hard time of it, that is, by us being apart. Frankly, I've never felt so good and so bad at the same time before in my life! I do my work in anticipation of a letter from you. I know I've got to stay on the ball so that I can be here later, so that we can fulfill the dreams and plans we both must have. Plans for us and plans for ours!
Dearest, there's something bothering me. I don't know how you feel about it, but I'm somewhat mixed up. I've never wanted to be with some one so much in my life - I want to see you again - so very much - not for a day - not even for a week. I want to see you for as long as I'm still here! Don't you see what I'm driving at? I love you so very much - I know you love me - we were meant to be each others. Do you think we could stand each other forever? I have no doubts about how I feel about it; I know that you'd be the only one for me, ever!!
But, here's the point - we've got to consider your feelings, my feelings, and our feelings.
I'm only thinking of our feelings when I say these things - but you should be considered most of all! I want you - not as a girlfriend, for girlfriends are easily forgotten in time; but as my own - wholly and without reserve, and I want to be yours - in God's name!
But there are so many things to be considered when we think of your problems. I feel as though I'd be tying you down if I asked to be mine, but if you feel the same for me as I do for you, my worries are over.
This is a helluva way to propose to a sweet heart - but I don't care - I want you to be mine, tomorrow wouldn't be too soon.
Then there is your family to be considered. They might not agree so heartily as we. They might have other ideas on the matter.
Hell's fine, we'll see each other, and let it go at that. If you want to come down, I'll see to it that you get down and have a place to sleep, eat, and anything else that's available, that your little heart desires.
I was thinking of my next station. You see, I'll be leaving Tuesday, the 28th for Dyersburg, Tenn. or Dellheart, Texas, and I want you to come down, when I get settled and have found out how the land lays.
Tell me what you think of all this. Whatever you decide is alright with me - it will always be alright with me - that is, unless you asked me to shoot myself. I wouldn't do that because then I couldn't see you anymore. That's not good!!
If anything interferes with you coming down, you won't have to explain why or wherefore - no is good enough, and I'll understand. If you do decide to come, I'll be the happiest person alive - and that's all there's to it. Just as simple as all that!
Those dreams were of us - a home, a family, picnics - I wondered what the first one would be - a boy, a girl - or maybe twins. Do twins run in your family?
I always felt that I'd never get married, that I'd be tied down if I did. But I think it's wonderful, especially if I had to be tied down with you the rest of my life. Isn't it fun to be tied? God but you're lovely!!
That song, "You'll never know how much I miss you" hits the spot to the letter. I can't begin to express how much I really love you. I feel sorry for us when we get together; I can feel your back crushing now; incidentally, you almost broke mine that last night, remember?
About my activities here. We fly every other day, ground school the other. We get a 24 hour pass every week - and also any other time we're not scheduled for something.
There is a town about 40 miles from here. I've gone 3 times already, for what I don't know. There's not a damn thing there but women and drinking, and without you, it just ain't any fun. There's a swell officer's club on the base. Spend odd hours there.
So hard to leave - even in writing my heart, my love - all yours for ever,
Jim
Thursday, August 18, 2011
September 24, 1943
Sweetheart,
It's hard for me to start to write because I can't seem to put into writing the way I feel. I was so happy to hear from you, and if I had any doubts about us two before this, they're far removed now. I think you said in words what I feel about you and couldn't express myself.
I've felt kind of empty since we've parted. I thought it was possible that it was something that would blow over in a short time. However, after going to town a few times for a few drinks and a dance or two, I wasn't enjoying myself as I had in the past, and I was convinced that we were stuck together for good. You may be there and I could be any place, and I'll always feel that we're together some way, some how!
I can't even lie down for forty winks without thinking of you or dreaming of you - when I wake up, I'm sorry it's over because you're not there anymore. I've felt like some part of me was taken away; that I desired something to grab onto to make my being complete - and I can fill it partially when I think of you, but there's always that feeling of hopeless grasping for something that isn't physically within reach. I know that if you were in my arms, there would be nothing more exhalting, nothing more fulfilling of that half souled feeling I've had since leaving.
There's a soft, constant pain in my heart; a desire to be with you, and a love so intense that if I were to lose you - life would be full of effort without end.
We're as one, honey, and if it's up to my feelings, we'll always be together!
I don't think anyone was ever more happier in love than me, nor more sad in being apart. Somehow, even if I don't get to come home, I feel that we can arrange it to see each other a lot more in the next few short months. If you feel the way I do, it'll be easy, oh, so very easy - May God give his blessing and see to it that we're not parted again for a very long time.
As I write, I feel disgusted that I can't write what I feel for you. My pen wants to break from the pressure on it - squeezing that you'd get if you were here. No matter what I write, it doesn't come near to what my heart is saying. If I were a poet, I'd compose the best poem yet, and if I were a novelist, I'd write the best story. Darling, what pain could be more closer to happiness?
Something has been bothering me. Your dad couldn't very well express an honest opinion of me not knowing me - not even seeing me, but I wondered what he thought of us. What does he think of our love? He probably wouldn't say what he feels about it, but you know your dad, and you know how he feels without asking him. He loves you a great deal, I know, and so does your mother - but I'm going to be selfish and love you too, try to love you more if I can - that won't be hard.
My mother likes you, my sister likes you, in fact, they all like you, how could they dislike you. I was so proud of you that last night; I had the prettiest, the sweetest, and the loveliest creature, why shouldn't I feel proud? You were so damn nice, that I could have walked into the room and said "That's the girl for me," and wouldn't have known anymore about you than just to see you as you were. Darling, you're a peach! My girl - am I a lucky boy to have met you, you because no one else will do, ever!
I guess we can thank Helen for getting us together that way - fate is funny. But we would have met sooner or later anyway - maybe as long as 50 years from now. I think I would still have fallen for you even then.
"Parting is such sweet sorrow," but until next time, we'll make it the sweetest!
My heart and my love, always,
Jim
It's hard for me to start to write because I can't seem to put into writing the way I feel. I was so happy to hear from you, and if I had any doubts about us two before this, they're far removed now. I think you said in words what I feel about you and couldn't express myself.
I've felt kind of empty since we've parted. I thought it was possible that it was something that would blow over in a short time. However, after going to town a few times for a few drinks and a dance or two, I wasn't enjoying myself as I had in the past, and I was convinced that we were stuck together for good. You may be there and I could be any place, and I'll always feel that we're together some way, some how!
I can't even lie down for forty winks without thinking of you or dreaming of you - when I wake up, I'm sorry it's over because you're not there anymore. I've felt like some part of me was taken away; that I desired something to grab onto to make my being complete - and I can fill it partially when I think of you, but there's always that feeling of hopeless grasping for something that isn't physically within reach. I know that if you were in my arms, there would be nothing more exhalting, nothing more fulfilling of that half souled feeling I've had since leaving.
There's a soft, constant pain in my heart; a desire to be with you, and a love so intense that if I were to lose you - life would be full of effort without end.
We're as one, honey, and if it's up to my feelings, we'll always be together!
I don't think anyone was ever more happier in love than me, nor more sad in being apart. Somehow, even if I don't get to come home, I feel that we can arrange it to see each other a lot more in the next few short months. If you feel the way I do, it'll be easy, oh, so very easy - May God give his blessing and see to it that we're not parted again for a very long time.
As I write, I feel disgusted that I can't write what I feel for you. My pen wants to break from the pressure on it - squeezing that you'd get if you were here. No matter what I write, it doesn't come near to what my heart is saying. If I were a poet, I'd compose the best poem yet, and if I were a novelist, I'd write the best story. Darling, what pain could be more closer to happiness?
Something has been bothering me. Your dad couldn't very well express an honest opinion of me not knowing me - not even seeing me, but I wondered what he thought of us. What does he think of our love? He probably wouldn't say what he feels about it, but you know your dad, and you know how he feels without asking him. He loves you a great deal, I know, and so does your mother - but I'm going to be selfish and love you too, try to love you more if I can - that won't be hard.
My mother likes you, my sister likes you, in fact, they all like you, how could they dislike you. I was so proud of you that last night; I had the prettiest, the sweetest, and the loveliest creature, why shouldn't I feel proud? You were so damn nice, that I could have walked into the room and said "That's the girl for me," and wouldn't have known anymore about you than just to see you as you were. Darling, you're a peach! My girl - am I a lucky boy to have met you, you because no one else will do, ever!
I guess we can thank Helen for getting us together that way - fate is funny. But we would have met sooner or later anyway - maybe as long as 50 years from now. I think I would still have fallen for you even then.
"Parting is such sweet sorrow," but until next time, we'll make it the sweetest!
My heart and my love, always,
Jim
Thursday, August 4, 2011
September 20, 1943
Dearest,
I'm not going to wait to receive your letter. I haven't gone up to the Post Office, as yet, to see if I had any mail - How's the little girl of my dreams? I do dream of you, and it's all good, believe me!
I can't begin to tell you how much I miss you - I've just got to see you again. What am I talking about? I've got to see you a long time - say, forever?
I'm saving the bad news to the last, but in the meantime - I've met the members of my crew, and have flown with them once; that was this morning. Got in a little machine gunning and formation flying. There isn't much use for a navigator here. They stay within 50 miles of the field and hell, they can't get lost. I'm getting the feel of the plane, and I guess I'll be getting better acquainted with my crew as time goes on. (I wish you were my crew).
Here's the bad news. I'm sorry I told you I was coming home for 8 days. I should have known better to be so sure. That's the Army for you - and let me tell you, when I found out that everyone except the navigator would be entitled to the 8 day delayed enroute, my chin must have dropped down to my heels. I was so happy thinking that I could spend more time with you once again. There was a lot of things I wanted to straighten up between us two. I wanted to tell you how much I loved you. How nice you'd be to come home to, how long it will seem until I can hold you close to my heart. That was my reason for being so happy - I'll always love you, Terry, I know it, I knew it as soon as I saw you for the first time. I hope you love me half as much as I do you -
My next station is, in all indications, somewhere in Texas. At least I'll be nearer home and we'll be closer to each other. I'll be there a few months more or less.
Met John Touler, a bombardier cadet, said he knew you. Thought you were tops!
Hate to leave, but here's a hug and a kiss and my love,
Jim
I'm not going to wait to receive your letter. I haven't gone up to the Post Office, as yet, to see if I had any mail - How's the little girl of my dreams? I do dream of you, and it's all good, believe me!
I can't begin to tell you how much I miss you - I've just got to see you again. What am I talking about? I've got to see you a long time - say, forever?
I'm saving the bad news to the last, but in the meantime - I've met the members of my crew, and have flown with them once; that was this morning. Got in a little machine gunning and formation flying. There isn't much use for a navigator here. They stay within 50 miles of the field and hell, they can't get lost. I'm getting the feel of the plane, and I guess I'll be getting better acquainted with my crew as time goes on. (I wish you were my crew).
Here's the bad news. I'm sorry I told you I was coming home for 8 days. I should have known better to be so sure. That's the Army for you - and let me tell you, when I found out that everyone except the navigator would be entitled to the 8 day delayed enroute, my chin must have dropped down to my heels. I was so happy thinking that I could spend more time with you once again. There was a lot of things I wanted to straighten up between us two. I wanted to tell you how much I loved you. How nice you'd be to come home to, how long it will seem until I can hold you close to my heart. That was my reason for being so happy - I'll always love you, Terry, I know it, I knew it as soon as I saw you for the first time. I hope you love me half as much as I do you -
My next station is, in all indications, somewhere in Texas. At least I'll be nearer home and we'll be closer to each other. I'll be there a few months more or less.
Met John Touler, a bombardier cadet, said he knew you. Thought you were tops!
Hate to leave, but here's a hug and a kiss and my love,
Jim
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
September 17, 1943
Sweetheart,
I thought about us two all the way down here. Mighty serious thinking too, incidentally, and I'm wondering what you thought about what I was thinking.
If I haven't mentioned it, I do love you! I thought you'd guess that much. I meant what I did in giving you my wings. Some times things can be said without a word being spoken, that last night together was one of the those times. I hope you've accepted them in the same spirit I meant them to indicate.
I'm coming home soon again - that is, I've been told as much; and naturally, it is my hope that we'll be thicker than - molasses. I do want to see you so much, feel you in my arms, crush you, hold you so very tight! I can't get you out of my mind, not that I want to. I don't ever want to lose you, never.
We could get along famously. I like the way you laugh, the way you talk, the way you walk, I like everything about you.
We clicked right from the beginning, I sensed it as soon as I walked into the room on our first date. I found myself without a line to cram down your throat, we didn't have to impress each other - we belonged.
There are a lot of things I can't express in a letter. Things that must be felt, naturally. It's these things I hope we'll feel when I come home again.
This is what I was thinking about all the way down here - so you know how I feel about us - God grant me the power - the good fortune - to see you again soon.
Answer soon because I may leave sooner than I expect. I'll let you know when I'm coming. If I leave suddenly - I'll call you up as soon as I can. "You'll never know how much I miss you."
With all my love,
Jim
I thought about us two all the way down here. Mighty serious thinking too, incidentally, and I'm wondering what you thought about what I was thinking.
If I haven't mentioned it, I do love you! I thought you'd guess that much. I meant what I did in giving you my wings. Some times things can be said without a word being spoken, that last night together was one of the those times. I hope you've accepted them in the same spirit I meant them to indicate.
I'm coming home soon again - that is, I've been told as much; and naturally, it is my hope that we'll be thicker than - molasses. I do want to see you so much, feel you in my arms, crush you, hold you so very tight! I can't get you out of my mind, not that I want to. I don't ever want to lose you, never.
We could get along famously. I like the way you laugh, the way you talk, the way you walk, I like everything about you.
We clicked right from the beginning, I sensed it as soon as I walked into the room on our first date. I found myself without a line to cram down your throat, we didn't have to impress each other - we belonged.
There are a lot of things I can't express in a letter. Things that must be felt, naturally. It's these things I hope we'll feel when I come home again.
This is what I was thinking about all the way down here - so you know how I feel about us - God grant me the power - the good fortune - to see you again soon.
Answer soon because I may leave sooner than I expect. I'll let you know when I'm coming. If I leave suddenly - I'll call you up as soon as I can. "You'll never know how much I miss you."
With all my love,
Jim
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