February 12, 1945 Monday

Dear Harriet,

                This is the day after the weekend before.  I’ve either lost or misplaced my pen so this pencil is next best.  I haven’t gotten a letter for two or three days so one ought to come this afternoon. But I’ll start this now and answer the letter after while.  That is, if I can.  I won’t have much time tonight because I have a watch to stand over at the huts from 1700 till 2000.

                Saturday night they had a large Valentine Party at the Big U.S.O. so I and Gene (one of the boys who was on the same draft as me) went over there for awhile and had a few refreshments and I made a Valentine-as you already know.  All the stores were closed and I didn’t know where to get one so one of the ladies raked up some stuff and some gear to make one.  That’s a new twist and I’m no judge as to how it came out but it was fun.  Then I tried to dance a bit (rusty) because the music was good. They had a large orchestra there.  Then I threw a few darts and watched the floor show.

                They had some small children, even younger than Lou Ella, put on a kind of Cupid skit.  One small lad dressed as a marine and one as a soldier and one as a sailor.  The lucky kid was dressed like a soldier and came down the way with his blonde bride and he kissed her and there was a musical background all the while. You know the cute way small children have when they do things like that.  Then Gene had to get back to the Base so we parted company.  (Between you and I, he was AWOL.  He used Holly’s Liberty card which is a Court Martial offence, but it was my idea and he never got caught). 

I didn’t have to work Sunday so I rented a sack down to the YMCA and stayed in town for the night.  I was a midnight show before I hit the sack. I got up near 8 a.m. Sunday and started out to find the church.  I rode two or three street cars for quite a while (what a big city!) but finally found it.

You know how long it’s been since I went to church Hon? Almost a month and it’s surely surprising how a lads spirit can become starved for religions services like those we know.  Gosh it did seem good to participate once again in LDS services.  I really absorbed the Sunday School and Priesthood meetings.  The people are the same as Mormons everywhere-cordial, extremely friendly, and they make one feel really at home.  After church I teamed up with 6 soldiers from Scott Field.  6 fine guys near my age.  It did seem strange though.  I can’t hardly get accustomed to it ever since I’ve been in the Navy, I’ve been in towns swamped with sailors but here they’re a rarity.  I was the only sailor at church with quite a few army lads and I guess people did think it strange to see 6 jolly soldiers and a sailor walking down the street.  We did feel good because it was a beautiful day.  All the snow has melted and it was almost warm enough to be without coats. Really a bright day.  We had just polished off a chicken dinner and strawberry shortcake for dessert.  Hmmm.  

We then went to the zoo.  It’s one of the best zoos I’ve seen the site of.  It is where the St. Louis World’s Fair was. There’s the zoo and an enormous park, etc… Then we went to the building where all of Col. Lindbergh’s trophies are.  A whole building of them received as you know for his flight across the Atlantic. I didn’t know till then that Lambert Field here is where he took off from in “The Spirit of St. Louis” in preparation for his flight.  One of the soldiers took a few snaps of us with his camera.  If possible, you’ll hear more of it.  Then we made it back to night meeting which was also most enjoyable and I know I’m going to be pleased with the church part of my stay here. I almost forgot that they asked me to fill in and help with a double quartet-the 6 soldiers, an army captain and myself.  We practiced awhile after Sunday school and sang the sailors hymn at night.

In the first part of this letter I said I’ll probably get a letter today-I received it just a bit ago and now I don’t feel like writing.  I wish you never would have had to write such a letter.  At such a time I wouldn’t blame you if you hadn’t written me at such a time Harriet.  I know it must have been hard.  I know also that I can’t feel as you did because you were so close to Lila, but my feelings are deep and as you say-a person can’t write about such things-you have done very well though.  I can’t yet believe or hardly realize what you have told me. I am deeply sorry.  You’ll tell Lila that and though, I don’t know how right now, I will get word to Lila myself. We’ll leave anything more-unwritten for now Darling mostly because of lack of words. 

Yours sincerely dear. 

Pablo