Undated – presumed to be sometime in 1942, after Pop went to training for the U.S. Navy, as he talks about being away and being in class.  The exact location of the letter is also unknown but presumed to be in Newport, Rhode Island.

Dearest Marion,

I received your letters of the 28th and 29th.  The first letter was swell but the second letter almost knocked me flat.  I can’t seemed to get it straight but whatever happened is some mix-up somewhere.  My mother wrote a letter the same time as you did but she didn’t say anything about it.  That’s one thing I don’t like.  My parents never did anything to make bad friends between me and anyone else.  I love you honey and no matter what anyone says or does they’ll never change that. I’m going to wait for one more letter from home and if they don’t say anything about it I’m going to write and find out all about.  Don’t let it bother you honey.  I’ll get this straightened out.  I despised Mr. Fredericks for interfering with George and Terry and I’ll make sure that my folks won’t do the same thing.  I’m in class now and if I get caught writing I’ll get the devil.  I’ll write again tomorrow. Don’t forget honey whatever happens I’m yours for the asking.

I’ll always love you,

Larry

This letter hints as some possible conflict between Pop’s parents and Nan.  If the presumption about timing is correct, they were already talking seriously about getting married, but Nan still would have only been about 16 years old, and I can understand that this may have caused concern for Pop’s parents.  Based on the comment regarding the Fredericks, I can imagine that this might be close to what this letter is about.  But without Nan’s letters, it’s hard to know this for sure.

That brings us to the end of 1941 in the letters Pop wrote to Nan.  At the end of the year, he was 17, and she had just turned 16.  There were 13 letters, covering 17 sheets of paper.  In the letters, he referred to her with affection as:

• Sweetheart
• Sweetest Sweetheart
• Darling
• Dear
• My little angel
• Honey

Seven of the letters were love letters, expressing his fervent devotion for her.  Three of the notes were apologies, where he begged for her forgiveness and expressed worry that he had lost her affections.  One was a birthday card, one a Christmas card, and one was a proposal of marriage.

My impressions of my young and in love grandfather:

• He was a romantic!  He was one of the toughest people I’ve ever known, so it’s been very interesting to see such a tender and romantic side of him.  The romance definitely strikes me as the desperate and earnest love of teenagers, but at 17, he was definitely not afraid to express himself to my grandmother.
• He’s a poet… Some of his writings are quite poetic and he likes to play with words.
• He was bashful about sharing his affections with more than just my grandmother.  He admonishes her to keep his letters just be them.  I’m not surprised by this, because she and her sister were notoriously joined at the hip, and I can picture them sitting on her bed giggling while reading the letters together.

25 December 1941 – Queens, New York

This is a blue Christmas card – the cover has a young woman arranging flowers, with a gold ribbon tied through the card.

On the front of the card, it says:

To my Dear Sweetheart at Christmas

Inside the card, it says:

In the light of Christmas candles

It is your own smile I see

And I cherish every memory

Which your dearness brings to me….

By the merry Christmas candles

I will make this wish sincere:

May joy light the world at Christmas

Just for you….. My Sweetheart Dear!

Handwritten underneath the poem:

To the Sweetest Sweetheart of them all

From Larry with Love

11 December 1941 – Queens, New York

This is a pink birthday card – the cover has a young woman arranging flowers, with a gold ribbon tied through the card.

On the front of the card, it says:

To You at Sweet Sixteen

Inside the card, it says:

Your sixteenth Birthday is the day

When life has never seemed so gay.

The world looks bright and brave and new,

And evidently made for you.

Oh, I wish you neither wealth nor fame,

But just that you’ll always feel the same!

Handwritten underneath the poem:

To Marion

With love

From Larry

3 December 1941 – Queens, New York

Dearest Marion,

Last night you probably thought I was silly for acting the way I did.  For some reason or another I felt as if I had lost you.  I love you more than anything else in the world.  Your like my right arm, if someone was to cut it off I’d be finished.  Last night made me realize more fully how much you mean to me.  That’s the God’s honest truth, take it or leave it.

You know Marion your the one that has kept me going.  I am trying to achieve a goal, all for you.  Maybe I’m trying to hard you make me understand that I’ve been neglecting you.  I am really sorry honey.  I don’t deserve a girl like you, your too good for me.  We have been going together for over seven months and you’ve gotten some raw deals am very lucky to still have you.  I’ll have to close now it’s getting late.  But don’t forget no matter who you go out with or when you out, I’ll still be here waiting for you when you come back. So long honey. I’m thinking of you, always.

With love, sincere love

I remain yours,

Larry

P.S. I’ll see you tonight.  Please keep this letter between you and I.