Nov 30, 1944
Nov 30, 1944
Darling,
Take this letter into your room, close the door and read it. This is very secret stuff your going to read and I wouldn't want it to get around.
I've been holding out on you for the last three months. I wanted to tell you, but I still didn't want to say anything until I was further along. I'm not sure yet, but it's so close I just can't wait any longer. I'm scheduled to graduate in twenty three terribly long days. I have one more final comprehension test to take. If I make it I'm in. If I flunk I'm out. I graduate at ten oclock in the morning on December 23rd. I've sweated it out for a year and a half now and finaly I'm on the home stretch.
I've got all of my officers uniforms bought and ready to go. Outside of my slight pot belly I look sort of good. I've got a green blouse, green and pink pants, and a grey garbadine top coat. The whole works darling, a genuine Officers uniform.
We should clear the field by five oclock on the 23rd. Layton and I have made arrangements to drive non stop to Tulsa, Oklahoma in thirty four and a half hours. I can catch a steam liner there for Chicago at 0840 on Christmas morning and get into Chicago at 9:30 on Christmas evening. Honey, will meet me at the train? Even two hours of Christmas with you is a wonderful thought. The train is the "Santa Fe" train from Tulsa so it will pull in the depot for all Santa Fe trains. I haven't told my mother anything about it and I'm not going to. If I make it we'll walk in on them and surprise them all to pieces. Then I want to get you alone, set you under a Christmas tree and just look at you. You, a commission, and Christmas all at once. I know that's an awful lot to ask, but maybe if I'm a good boy it could happen. Please say you'll meet me , Darling. I'm sweating out graduation and catching the train so much that I haven't got any room for more worries. The things that can happen this month are the things I'll remember for the rest of my life. Golly, I'm afraid I'll fall apart before Christmas night. I'm a nervous wreck now and each day sends my blood pressure up 3000 points. I'm going around in a daze. If I make it, you'd better have some aspirin waiting for me. I've been looking at your picture and I'm afraid that when I see you my heart's going to exp[lode. You sure are an elegant looking gal. I drink black coffee every night before I go to bed so that I can stay awake and think about you.
I've got so v ery many things to tell you but I can't say them. I'm whirling around inside.
Don't say anything to anyone. I'd like to walk in on my Mom in an officers uniform. It sounds sort of nice.
Write to me right away and tell me that you'll be able to be there. I'll write again as soon as I calm down a little. Instead of just keeping your fingers crossed, would you maybe say a little prayer, I've been saying a lot of them.
All my love,
Ray