Foot note: Girls of the Golden West. This does not actually seem to match the recorded history of Dorothy/Dollie Goad/Good. She was born in 1915 (so 29 in 1944), seems to have been married twice (Shelby ‘Tex’ Atchison in the 30’s, Ray Motley in 1943). Had at least one daughter born in 1934 and a son born in 1947, none in 1944. According to the September 22 letter the bunkmate’s name was Mohler. Dolly/Dollie does seem to have been involved with the Boone County Jamboree (later later called Midwest Hayride) at about that time, but one has to wonder if Donald’s bunkmate was married to someone else in that show and Donald misunderstood, or that if the bunkmate was lying. Doesn’t match Mildred/Millie Goad/Good either.
Saturday Evening
Hi Folks -
I’m getting around to writing you on Saturday evening a little earlier than I usually do. It’sonly 7 o’clock so maybe this won’t be the last thing I get done before bedtime as it usually is.
Of course there hasn’t been a whole lot happen since I wrote last so there is no use apologizing for lack of news. Just about all of today was taken up by an inspection. The first hour or so this morning was taken up by putting the finishing touches on things and then we just had to wait for the inspecting officers to come through. But you’d be surprised how much work just even that can be. You are continually on edge wondering if everything is going to pass and trying to think of something that you may have forgotten to do. (I’ll sharpen my pencil).
We were inspected but only by the company commander. There was a division officer who was in the area, I guess, and was supposed to inspect us but never did come through the barracks.
We weren’t told that the inspection was over till sometime near the middle of the afternoon so we put in a fairly good day but there was no real work to it.
I got busy right away and did my Saturday washing for the next week and since then I’ve done a little reading. So far as I know yet I won’t have any duty tomorrow so I expect I’ll sleep a little later than usual. Our Sunday last was sort of broken up by the morning out to the range so I hope to sort of make up for it tomorrow.
For lack of anything better to tell you I’ll tell you a little something that I hope I haven’t written about before. In case I have just forgive my forgetfulness. This is another illustration of coming in contact with all kinds of people. I know you (know) Dollie and Millie, the girls we used to hear over the radio. I believe they called themselves the “Girls of the Golden West” and you still hear them but not always as a team. Now they are often called Dollie or Millie Good.
I’m pretty sure one of these girls was at Alex with the Jamboree that time last year.
Well I know personally Dollie’s husband. He sleeps in my barracks and is a very good friend of mine. You’d be surprised what kind of a guy he is. He’s a fellow smaller yet than I am and is beginning to show his age a little. He’s 34 I think and she’s 24 or 25. He’s got big ears and sort of reminds you of little Dopey. But he’s sort of farmery and a very nice old guy. He himself played for Barn Dances and things and met her through some of them. If I understand him correct he said that he finally got to playing on the radio on the Boone County Jamboree before he came to the Army. He owns a farm in Ohio and talks of his wife just as anyone else would. In fact they have three boys one of which was born while he was home on furlough a couple of weeks ago.
Well I guess I’ve jabbered enough now to help me out tomorrow so I’ll close for the present. DT
Sept. 10’ 44
Well it’s the middle of the afternoon before I got to writing you again. I got up early enough but I’ve been pretty lazy.
I got up for breakfast this morning and then read the Sunday School papers till church time. I finished up the ones I have and sure can say that I have enjoyed them. I have read other things, of course, but they sure have given me a lot of enjoyment the last cople of weeks.
I went to church and then intended to write you before dinner but I read the funnies and did a little mending on one of my pants instead. I’ve messed around since then and am just getting to writing you.
I got got your Friday letter at mail call yesterday evening and at noon today I got your box containing the sun glasses. I sure thank you for everything you’ve done for me.
You said you’d wait till I got back to camp before you sent the watch so I suppose it is on its way by this time. You have certainly done your best to satisfy my crazy whims. I just hope that I’ll be able some way to make up for this.
How are you feeling by this time? I hope Mary and Jim are straightened up before now from the way they were feeling Friday. I am taking some cold today myself so I’ll hit the hay pretty early tonight.
I sure hope school gets off to a good start tomorrow and runs on smoothly. I hate to think that this is the second school-starting that I’ve missed. I sure remember that last one.
If nothing else happens this will be the end for this time. Good luck and God bless you.
Love,
Donald
Mon. Morning
I took an aspirin and rubbed Vicks on my chest last night and I feel a good bit better this morning. The worst I feel now is a little sore throat.