Army Service Forces
8th Service Command
Q.M. Section
Camp
Howze
Texas

8th February 1945
Dear Sandi:--- Your sweetest of all sweet letters arrived this afternoon at about 2:00 P.M. and what fun it was to stop everything and dance over the pages of smooth flowing thoughts which you so picturesquely depicted before my very eyes. It is true I was two ahead of you on the letters but just one of your long ones is worth six of mine. I hope it doesn’t take you as long to write one of your as it does for me to write one of mine. I just simply can cnot do one up in a hurry. It takes me forever and a dya to even think more more than write.

My grandmother lived to be 82 years of age so I guess we both hail from long-living people. How long do you want to live? When I was younger I used to have an ambition for wanting to live 100 yrs. But since then I’ve fully decided that 60 or 70 years is long enough and as for me if I get to live that long it will even surprise me. A person has to be mighty careful even to pass the 50 mark the way people are speeding around the country-side.

Hannah’s description of me is like something that comes out of the book----it just isn’t so but just the same it is flattering isn’t it? And for some reason or other people just love to be flattered (including me). Principally she had the right idea about marrying in the Temple to some-one with a few grains of common sense. Outside of that I suppose I’m just about normal except for not having had much experience with womankind. It has been said that no-one actually gets to know all there is to know even after having been married a life-time. So with that thought in mind my little knowledge is probably excusable. If you are referring to these terrible letters as talent I’m afraid I’ve fooled some-one either Hannah or you or both of you. I think she meant that I loved to get swell letters which you are able to write.

I went up to Oklahoma City over the week-end to visit that friend of mine who used to be my District President. We attended Sunday School and then went to his home in Norman, Okla., for dinner. He didn’t have chicken but had some very tasty roast beef. His wife who is originally from Salt Lake City, cooked a marvelous dinner. I certainly admire a housewife who is able to cook a real dinner. They have a baby almost 6 months old and he is certainly cute. He, that is the baby, takes after his mother. Curly red hair and dark brown eyes. They almost made me feel envious. Do you blame me?

Suppose everyone thought the same way about “Hope Chests” as you do? And suppose I stopped putting my two dollars in the bak every now and then---would I ever get rich—shy certainly not? So you had better get busy and don’t rely on those showers that people have to collect enough towels and the lie for the day thereof.

How on earth did you ever manage to get an electric iron? Do they still manufacture them in Utah. Around here the local population would commit arson and even mayhem for such an article (even a second hand one). Anway you have a good start---why don’t you try to get an electric toaster or a Mix-Master next—or even a wash-machine----who said I wasn’t practical?

I note by the letter that you wrote the insides on the 3rd and it was stamped the 5th at Logan—You are not guilty of what you got me for sometime ago are you? Shame for shame—or is the Post Office at fault? Well Sandi---I too am at the end of my rope for this evening so will bid thee adieu until next time. I’ll be waiting to write when you send me inspiration and in the meantime be real good.
Love,
Eddie

Sunday afternoon
Camp Howze,
Texas
QM Section
1122 Hrs.

Dear Sandi:-
Your letter about “health and Wealth” came and your contributory thoughts were interesting. Like you san our mood depends on conditions. I dread the moment of death because it’s a definite one-way trip and a solo at that. Maybe if a brunette were holding my hand, the ordeal wouldn’t be so bad. Did you ever read in the Bible about how Jacob completed his earthly cycle? It is very interesting.
Your reference to cooking didn’t seem impressive. Don’t you know that the shortest route to the heart of man is thru his stomach? Better get busy and learn the great art of cuisine.
How are you ever going to be a successful house wife if you keep giving away electric irons? One is supposed to accumulate!!! Comprehend??
Why are you altering your formal? Are you losing weight? Most girls are on diets these days are you among them?
The man you mentioned about, as coming to Camp Howze, would be a hard individual to find. Too many people are here and this is a large camp. But if I run across him I’ll give him your best wishes.
Thanks for answering any letter before the others. I deem it an extreme courtesy beyond the normal call of duty. I shall add 6 points in your crown when I meet Saint Peter at the gate. Now isn’t that nice?
Be good sweet and remember me soon,
With all my love
Edwin
P.S. My writing is terrible

1922 hors swt
Camp Howze, Texas

Dearest Sandie:-
It’s raining up a little moisture without______
And the wind is howling like a pack of wolves. With that for a background I attempt an answer to your masterpiece of the 7th as well as thinking you for the Valentine Care and cute book___Looks like I’m on the receiving end of all good things. I think it is about time to reverse the situation. Don’t you think so? Before you get true with me I’ll be so indebted to you that I’ll almost have to marry you to even the books. Wouldn’t that be something? Anyway I want you to know I appreciate your minute consideration in every respect and I do intend to pay back in some way or other every kindness you have extended me.
I should have written two days ago but much business has come our way. Even I’m so busy sometimes that eating gets to be non-essential. Did you ever get that way?
You know what ____two more letters came in today and both from you____but I’m not going to answer them all in one letter____No madam __individually for you. You see I write too little for one letter the way it is so it would be gypping you right if I did that.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could sit right down and have a real heart to heart talk? Don’t you know any one in Texas or Oklahoma you could pay a visit to? I mean in the realm of relatives, about June is the earliest I could apply for a “leave” and to reasonably expect any action. I hope Hannah and Earle are out to Zion by then.
My duty called I’ve been out meeting trains, lots of them and it took me since 6:20 to now which is 24 minutes after midnite___I’m now writing on the Sabbath____is that bad?
I’m plenty tired but since you write most of your letters about this late __I’m not to be out done by any women!! I am going to finish this one if it kills me.
I’ve got lots of stuff in my treasure chest____when the folks move it will take about half a voxcar to handle my stuff along. A person would think I’ve been house keeping__But the truth is that I’ve traveled a lot and junk will collect____
I’m glad Ill do as a substitute. I hope this won’t be necessary. Hannah really wants to move to Utah and Earle is so practical.
Your treatise on marrying in the church sounded very interesting and I hope that both of us won’t be disillusioned in our personal philosophies regarding the ever-present problems of marriage. Such an institution can be so beautiful.
The book, Heart of the Rose, is beautifully written. Did you mean for me to keep it or send it back. I read it thru in 20 minutes after receipt of the book. Much food for thought and very sound logic and reasoning contained within its leaves. I’m very glad you sent it to me. I felt a little spiritual significance in your sending it and my reading it. I’ll take heed and appreciate its admonitions.
I’m fully convinced that you can preach a sermon.___I love every word you write. Be good and write real soon.
Love and best wishes
Edwin