Letter or Postcard – Letter
Sender – Ralph Peterson
Recipient – Phyllis Peterson
Postmark Place – St. Petersburg, Florida
Postmark Date – 15 April 1943
Letter Date – 14 April 1943
Text:
My dearest wife and baby,
Just got back from KP and thought I had better write before I got too tired. No letter from you today, but I’m hoping for one tomorrow. Got up this morning at three, had inspection, then went over to the mess hall and started to work. Or at least that’s what I thought I had to do, but I know the mess sergeant and he put me in charge of the whole dining room. All I had to do was boss around 20 men and see that they had the place clean. That was the easiest day I put in on KP. This sarge is a tall, blonde-haired Swede from Minnesota. They call him Whitey, too, so he and I get along real swell. I would work or get the place cleaned up in a couple of hours, then I could take my crew out on the lawn until the next meal. I went to sleep out there for about two hours on my stomach, and I have really got a dark brown back tonight. At least it don’t burn anymore. I don’t know what I will do tomorrow, but I suppose I will find out soon. There is a big shipping list coming off tomorrow and according to some of the guys I know I’m supposed to be on it. I don’t know for sure where we will be sent, but the Stevens Hotel in Chicago, which is a radio technician school, graduate a class on the 19th. Boy, I am praying that I will be sent up there. I can’t let you where I am going as I don’t know, but I will let you know when I will go. I hope it is soon, as I am getting tired of staying here without any chance of getting ahead. I hope your folks are getting along well. Is your mother still in bed or is she up now? Let me know all that happens, as I like to hear what goes on. And you tell Pappy again that I am still waiting for that letter he promised me. You know there isn’t much to write about, although I want to tell you that I still love you with all my heart and I miss you like the very devil. I only hope it won’t be long before I can be home by my wife and baby. This is all for tonight honey, so have to close with all my love and kisses to my sweetest wife and baby from your soldier Daddy.
PS – Don’t forget, I love you and you always love me. RP
Notes: Again, Dad never had a nickname when I knew him. Certainly not “Whitey.” A bit of a spoiler here, Dad did not go to The Stevens Hotel in Chicago, which still exists as the Hilton Chicago.