11 Feb 1945
(envelope postmarked Mar 12)
Dearest Joan:-
Today is Sunday, a fine sunny day much like the day last August when we were swimming together. The peach blossoms are beautiful, the daffodills are so bright and yellow. The Japanese cherry trees are in bloom now. Every thing indicates that spring is really here! I just caught a glimpse of a “butterfly”, the first of the year as far as I know.
The only objection I have to South Carolina now is that there is nothing to do but sit and read, or twiddle my thumbs. I some times wish I had brought my knitting or something else to occupy my time.
Yesterday I saw some work that one fellow is doing to occupy his time . . he is making models of all of his favorite aircraft.
If time continues to hang heavily on my hands I shall try to do the same.
With nothing here to write about it might be well to go back to the family discriptions that I started some time ago . . .
The third member of my family, my sister Glen as near as I can guess is just past 40 she married a “blacksmith” perhaps you would call him a “wheelright” or a “wagoner” he has modernized as machinery improved and is a skilled craftsman. I have seen little of them but have had occasional contacts with them all through the years. The oldest son, my first nephew, was last reported in a hospital on the western front (someplace in Germany) he is 24, the rest of the children, 2 girls and 2 boys, are all nearly grown (15-22), the whole family is rather rural and really frank homey folks.
The next of my brothers, John, entered the navy about the time I was old enough to remember, he served a few years then went to work on “shore duty” at the trade he had learned at sea. He has now taken to a farm to keep his boys busy . . he still works in the “engine room” of a factory . . His oldest son (18) was last reported “at sea, someplace in the Pacific”. The other three boys are in school and run the farm besides, with their fathers help.
Next comes two brothers whom you probably will meet when you get to California, I won’t protract this letter by telling you about them now.
I think you will have more letters coming along soon because I have written twice each week except the last one, since I left Dodge City. I wish we could have been together at Ely but we will save that for some day when we are old and grey and are showing our grandchildren the beauties of England, or perhaps for some erlier date, who can say just when we will go sight seeing in England.
untill next time my Darling
love
Harold