Leach, Saidee R.

English

DigitalCommons@Bryant University

  [Transcription begins]       #64     Monday night   Nov. 13, 1944  Dear Douglas - Dad has just driven out of the yard, headed for a CYMBC Executive meeting and on the way, will make a few calls for the Every Member Financial Campaign.  Marilyn is perusing the news and the house is quiet, what with Daryl tucked in her crib and Chip in his basket and big-eyed Bing outdoors frisking thru the leaves before he comes in to settle down also.  The election has come and gone.  I made no comment on the results in my V-Mail letter to you as I didn’t know whose eye might see it but now I can tell you that as far as the national went, we were bitterly disappointed but we can only give in with good grace and push all the harder.  A telephone call from Mrs. Buffum tells us that Tommie’s new assignment is as Executive Officer on a “new” tug being built at Bath, Maine and he will go through practically the same routine that you did--train his men at Miami, take them to Maine where his ship is about ready for commissioning.  He will no doubt have little time at home en route.  Your last three letters were most interesting telling of your diving experience, man overboard between the two ships, and the dive by the naked jg for his letter which had blown overboard.  I will see that Dad buys the fountain pen for Lt. Lee.  Thanks for the limericks.  Your food list sounds fine, ice cream with chocolate sauce, oh boy, what that can do to my waist line!  It seems odd to think of you having hot weather for here it is pleasantly cold and we are glad the furnace is working well when we get up in the morning!  Daryl has on her bunny slippers & pink bathrobe the first thing & goes paddling after “Baba” watching him shave.  Yes, many of your interesting memories will come to you at odd times in later life and your future will be much more colorful because of this than it could have been otherwise.  I wish you might have the fresh milk you long for--can’t you smuggle a cow into your stateroom?  Here banana splits are practically non-existant [sic] altho once in a great while I can buy a pound of bananas.  They are very small and I will enjoy it, when we can have the big ones again.  I have a large gold headed pin at present on the Isle of Mackenzie [indecipherable] (just an idea of mine).  Do you ever see anything of Howell Wagner?  I hear he is out that way--his father called Dad and told him so and Roger H. has written home that he has seen him.  Blanche has written inviting us down for Thanksgiving and I answered inviting them here but saying we will do whatever they decide.  I doubt if there are any turkeys in the market but that will not bother us. Marilyn had hoped Bill might be home but a letter today tells of his being sent to Lubec, Maine for two weeks so doubts if he will be home until after that.    Dad and I went to church again Sunday and heard a very fine sermon by Dale Dutton, minister at Central Baptist (all Baptist ministers exchanged pulpits Sunday).  The choir loft was full and many in the congregation.  I miss not having a regular pastor but hope we will soon find one and then once more Calvary will be back in its stride as one of the outstanding forces for good in the community.  Your second V-Mail has arrived at the Whipples’ so I know now that you occasionally send them in sections.  Perhaps Trudie has received her second sheet by now and it was not a joke at all!  Invalids reported to you before are definitely on the mend--Uncle Rob back home from the hospital & Richard’s arm starting to knit.  An interesting letter from Leland tells of his delivering his first baby alone and the grateful mother, so pleased with his expert ministrations, that she named her child for him!  Today I journeyed down town to look the Christmas shopping situation over.  It is quite plain that one is wise to buy immediately if an article is seen & desired for ten minutes later it has been purchased by someone else & there are no more.  Wooden toys predominate, even the few doll carriages have solid wooden wheels.  Daryl has a very small one now and loves to put her various family to bed always with a “cubber” (cover) over them and we are trying to find one a little larger for her and a substantial rocking chair, besides that she will receive any number of small things that we happen to pick up. Marilyn is easily pleased with “anything for my home” and Dad is my problem child!  But perhaps a brilliant thought will strike me before it is too late.  Yale beat Brown again 13 to 0 but somehow I have no enthusiasm for the football games now that you are not in the band!  Bing has come in for the night and has jumped upon the desk purring like a PT boat. I’m glad you are not assigned to one of them, in fact, I’m very satisfied with your berth and think you are, too.  Of course, I shall be more satisfied when the Elden decides to return to her home port!  I know you dream of home as we do of having you home but this long separation is unavoidable but we hope need never be necessary again.  We are following the news closely and will be glad when Leyte is cleared of the enemy.  The China situation is disturbing but a young Chinese that George Jones heard speak thinks that Japan will capitulate very quickly after the collapse of Germany.  I wonder.  I think you heard him speak at Calvary several years ago.  Marilyn and I are working on our Christmas list tonight.  It seems early but the government, via radio, keeps begging us to do it “now.”  The other night we heard a March of Time broadcast with Tokio [sic] Rose impersonated. I have not been to the movies for weeks so if you see one particularly good, let me know & I’ll try to see it on a return engagement at the Palace!    Lots and lots of love to you,      Mother  [Transcription ended]    

***Letter Written  by Saidee R. Leach to her Son, Navy Ensign Douglas Leach, Dated November 13, 1944

https://digitalcommons.bryant.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1135&amp;context=wwll_leach

***Letter Written by Saidee R. Leach to her Son, Navy Ensign Douglas Leach, Dated November 13, 1944

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