Louise: 4 July 1944

July 4, 1944
Tuesday Night

My Darling Frank,
How’s the swellest fellow on earth tonight? And I do mean you — Gee darling I missed you so very much today. It seems that I miss you more on special days like this than perhaps any other time. I always like to share my good times with you, and now that you are away, I can’t and I miss you so very much.

We didn’t do anything this morning, but this afternoon I came up here and went to Buffalo Lake with the McIlhaneys. They had a barbecue for all their employees and their families. There were about 85 or 90 persons there and there was plenty of food and then some. Joe furnished everything and it was all very nice. We all went boat riding again this afternoon. Joe and I.O. have promised to take me out sometime when there are just the three of us and take me for some good long rides. I certainly do enjoy going boat riding and I hope that someday we can have a boat when you get back. You should know something of handling one by then, don’t you think? Or doesn’t your experience cover such things? I’ll bet we could have fun, what do you bet?

[Frank and Louise did get a small day-sailboat, a "Flying Junior", about 20 years later when I was 13 or so which provided many delightful outings for the whole family. Later they scaled up to a boat with an enclosed cabin, and still later bought "Sanctuary", a Catalina 26 - I think - from the estate of Dad's best friend and sailing buddy, Father Don, a Catholic priest in Stillwater. It was from Sanctuary that Dad was flung overboard into icy water, in a hard gust of wind on February 10, 1996. He died 6 hours later of hypothermia, having enjoyed his beloved boating opportunities to the very end.]

Mother and Dad and Doug and Ruby all went down to Buffalo and carried their supper. I know Mother enjoyed it because she always does enjoy something like that. Buffalo isn’t very much to look at, it isn’t pretty nor is it of any size, but it is the best there is around here.

I just thought of the 4th we had last year. We were in Virginia Beach and you were at the base all day. I couldn’t even go in swimming because my bathing suit was across at Cape Charles. I saw Ralph Cocanougher that day as I walked down the boardwalk. Even though you were gone all day it was a nice 4th because I got to see you. I have tried to think what we did on the fourth the year before. I know that I got back to Elkhart on the 3rd after having spent 2 weeks at home here when Jean was sick, but if we celebrated any I can’t remember, can you?

I am spending the night with Sis tonight because it is late and Mother didn’t want me to be out so late tonight. This is about all for this time.

Goodnight darling. I love you very dearly and you are constantly in my mind.
Your loving wife,
Louise.

Louise: 3 July 1944

July 3, 1944
Monday Night

My Darling Husband,
The Dr. I.Q. program has just come on, and I never hear it without thinking of how you always intended to send in one of those biographical sketches on some famous personality. I have had the radio on tonight to listen to Firestone Hour, Bell Telephone, Carnation Hour, and Information Please. Remember how we always liked to stay at home on Monday to listen to these same programs. I am very glad that we could enjoy such things together — just being at home with you is so nice, dear. The biographical sketch has just been given and it was on Gen. Eisenhower. The woman didn’t ever get it and the person sending it in receives $325 for it. Gee the clues were very easy and I don’t see how she could have missed it. The last clue told his name Dwight David or better known as “Ike” and he leads the invasion — can you imagine anyone living now not knowing who that was? She must have been excited.

I haven’t been anywhere today, but have been very busy all day. I mended on my underwear all morning and I now have it in pretty good shape. I am trying to get all my clothes ready to begin school the last of this week. I cooked some steak for dinner today and it reminded me of the many times I have cooked it for us. Remember how you would always sit on the floor while I finished supper, or you would take a bath if you had time and my how you did love to soak in that water for a while, didn’t you. Talking about all this hardly seems real does it, but then we know it was every bit true don’t we? Every minute of it was such fun, and I can hardly wait until we can once again take up where we left off.

Tomorrow is the 4th but there won’t be much celebration. I am going to Buffalo Lake with the McIlhaneys sometime in the afternoon. It will be a nice outing I suppose but everything falls short of being perfect because you, my darling, are not here to enjoy these things with me. I”m sure you know what I mean, being away from everyone near and dear to you. Honey I do hope you aren’t too unhappy out there. Your letters are always so cheerful and I hope it isn’t a great effort to make them such. I do appreciate their being such letters. You always seem so able to make the best of any circumstance, that I feel you are doing so now. Honey anytime you get blue or downhearted, just remember that I am back here in the States loving you very dearly and always praying for you. Dear, you know that I love you more dearly than any one else in this world. You are the grandest guy on earth an no one ever had a more wonderful husband.

Well, dear, the news is rather scarce tonight so I shall close and get to bed. I love you sweetheart — you DO know it, don’t you? Goodnight darling and may God bless you.

Your loving husband [struck through] wife (I was thinking of you when I did that!)
Louise

Frank: 3 July 1944

Monday Night
July 3, 1944

My Darling Wife,
Well sweetheart, I’ve just had a fresh shave, a shower, and brushed my teeth, so now I’m all set to write you and then go to bed. Boy, I wish it were the old days and I were getting all cleaned and dressed up to come to see you in my old Ford. The more I look back on those times the more I realize how much fun it was. Only, if I were doing it over again I would come for you much earlier and bring you home much later. It wouldn’t have been possible for me to see you oftener unless we would make it several times a day rather than every day.

Did you ever tell your Mother and Dad how I used to take you home from Lively’s after suppor and leave you off at Mrs. Paxton’s? Golly, that must have looked awfully crazy to all the other people there. It was kinda silly at that, but then we could sit out in the car and talk, couldn’t we. Do you know, darling, I’m sure now that I loved you long before I ever realized it or was willing to admit it. As you no doubt know you were quite an influence in my life even the Christmas that I went home. Remember how I came back later all reformed realizing that I couldn’t carry water on both shoulders. [i.e. have a girl back in Pennsylvania and one in Texas too] It didn’t take me long though to break down though and carry water on the other shoulder though this time in earnest. We didn’t miss a night after that, did we. I would certainly like to live those months before we were married and our first married year together again. Darling, I’ve told you before, but tonight I feel like telling you again that never before have I known such happiness as I have since I met, courted, married, and lived with you. You are just everything that is good, lovable, and, oh well, just everything worth loving and living for.

So you’ve got a new hairdo? Well, that is quite alright with me, as long as I’m not home and I imagine it is much cooler. Anything is O.K. with me just as long as you don’t get a “boybob”. I might suddenly get sent home and I don’t believe I would like it as well as with your hair longer. I’m sure you can understand that, can’t you, sweetheart.

Say, I’ve been wondering, are you going to remake that white uniform of mine into a suit for you? You know you are at perfect liberty to do so if you want to. The only condition is that if you do you must send me a picture of it (and you) the first time you wear it. You’d better hurry or the summer will be over before you finish it.

I hope you soon get those other pictures and send them to me. I really am anxious to see them. That really must be a good camera. Personally, as you might have guessed, I can’t see putting $250 into a camera for pleasure use only. Maybe I’m wrong but I hope not.

Well, sweetheart it is 10:00 and time for all Navy men to be in bed, so here I go.
Lovingly
Frank

LST Diary: 3 July 1944

Jul 3 Arrived Tarawa, anchored. Departed 1600 for Abemama.

Louise: 2 July 1944

July 2, 1944
Sunday Night

My Darling Frank,
Hello, dear, how are you today? Fine I hope. I am kinda tired after this strenuous day. Well Leta and John are married good and proper. They had a beautiful wedding and there must have been 7 or 800 persons there, anyway, there was quite a goodly crowd. Leta looked beautiful and John was traditionally scared, as much as you were I believe dear. I always will believe you were more scared than I was. Anyhow, the wedding began at exactly the strike of 4 — it wasn’t late because the bride was late, like another wedding we went to, remember? The usherettes and I really did shower them with rice as they came out of the church. Oh, they had everything all fixed up for them, except the car, and since it was a borrowed one that they would only go from the church to the Riddles no one wanted to fix it up. Remember how the kids put the sign on ours dear? Honey, I am so glad that we have such sweet memories of our own wedding. It was nice wasn’t it — just a simple one that went with our pocket books and yet quite enough for us. I am very well satisfied with every little detail of our wedding. By the way, remember how we got so hungry?

After the wedding, we had the reception at the Riddles. There was the traditional two-tiered cake that the bride and groom cut together and then we served it with some punch to all those who came. I poured at the punch bowl and it was a lot of fun. Leta and John are leaving tonight on the 9:45 train for Houston. The Navy couldn’t spare him any longer so he must get back immediately. I can’t imagine one spending their wedding night on a train can you? Boy oh boy, that would be something wouldn’t it? Remember dear old Waxahachie? How could we ever forget?

Darling, I’m sure you aren’t as interested in this wedding as I am, but I thought perhaps you might like to hear about it more or less as a reminder of our own. I think that is one reason I have enjoyed it so much because so many things reminded me of ours. Anything that reminds me of our companionship is always very pleasant to me darling. Sweetheart you know that there is no one on earth that comes anywhere near being as wonderful as you are. I love you more deeply than anyone can imagine. Darling being your wife is beyond a doubt the most wonderful thing that has ever happened to me. Just to know that you are in the same world with me makes life happy and worth being happy about. Don’t ever doubt that I love you, because I do very much.

Did I ever tell you that John had lived in China all his life until he came to America to go to college. He is making a medical missionary like his father who is a doctor. Dr. Bryan was interned by the Japanese on Dec 7, 1941 and was a prisoner for almost a year. He was one of the first repatriates that came over on the Gripsholm. He was tortured and all those things, but is in fine health and is the company doctor for some defense plant in Georgia. It surely is interesting to hear Mrs. Bryan tell of some of their experiences. She is speaking at the church in the morning at 10:00 o’clock about China. Everyone has been invited to attend the lecture. I would like to go, but there are a lot of things that need to be done around here.

I came home from the reception this afternoon and slept for about 1-1/2 hours. I seldom ever sleep in the daytime, but I was all tired out and couldn’t resist the temptation. Mother and Dad weren’t here and everything was so quiet. I don’t believe I could have stayed awake if I had tried.

I surely do wish I could get some more letters from you. The last one was written on June 8. When I think of how long it is, I immediately know that it has been even longer for you, because I almost know you didn’t get any mail the time you mailed those letters on June 8th. We just have to trust in God to take care of each other and when we don’t hear to let Him comfort us. There simply isn’t any other way to keep from worrying. There really isn’t any need of worrying either, because probably when I would be worrying you wouldn’t be in danger and then when I wouldn’t be, you would be. Maybe you can get some sense out of that last sentence, I doubt it though.

Well sweetheart, this is about all tonight. I love you dear and am anxiously awaiting your return. Goodnight and God Bless You –
Lovingly yours,
Louise

Frank: 1 July 1944, evening, & 2 July morning

There’s a clipping inside the letter, presumably from a local Pennsylvania area newspaper:

Dr. J.E.A. Bucke made the Memorial Day address in our church. He based his talk on the hymn, “O Beautiful for Spacious Skies,” which the audience later sang. It was very inspiring.”
Mrs. Earl Lenig and children of New Buffalo visited Mrs. Warren Foster Sunday, and they all attended Sunday School.”
Theodore Crow of the V-12 naval program, a student at Stevens Tech, Hoboken, N.J. spent the week end with his mother, Mrs. Lillian Crow of Liverpool. they both visited relatives here Sunday afternoon.”
One of the pleasantest things coming out of this war was the meeting in the Pacific of Lt. (j.g.) Frank Crow, Lt (j.g.) Lenard Ilgen, Crow’s brother-in-law, and Lt. (j.g.) Lewis Ilgen, Lenard’s brother. They were together for three days. Lewis had never met Frank but he knew the name of his ship, and when he saw the ship, he hunted Frank up and they went to church together.

Saturday Night
July 1, 1944

Hello Darling,
It is 2:00 AM and I’m on watch doing absolutely nothing, so what could be better than writing you. Nothing, unless of course, I could be with you tonight.

In one of your letters you said you would like a heavy date with me. Listen, are there so few men at home that you must ask a man who is so far away from home? Of course I know you are particular about whom you ask just as I am. There is only one person I want to date, my dear, and that is you. Don’t ever worry that I will run around with other women. There is absolutely no one I would go out with other than you, and I’m sure you realize that. I know you are the same way.

Excuse me, I just took time out to listen to the news. They dictated it on the radio slow enough to be copied on a typewriter and just a little fast for longhand, but I copied it almost verbatim and typed it up for the officers and crew. Our radiomen have been copying it in code every day lately but for some reason they didn’t this evening, so now we have at least the most of the news. Some of the towns in China and Italy almost threw me, though.

Sunday
Honey, I’m sorry there are so terribly many interruptions in this letter but it took me so long to copy the news and type it that it was time to be relieved by the time I finished it. I hope you won’t mind and I’m sure that you won’t. Sweetheart, I feel as if I’ve known you for a million years and I think I know just what your feelings are and what your reactions will be in advance. That may sound peculiar, but if it does it’s because I love you. Darling, there is not a lot of doubt in my mind that you are the most wonderful thing that ever happened to me.

Don’t take me seriously on what I said about that heavy date in the first paragraph. Of course I know you wouldn’t go with any one but me, just as you know I wouldn’t want to go with anyone else. And I surely would like to have a heavy date with you, and how! The only thing that’s been bothering me is just what does a couple do on a heavy date? If I can guess right I’m in favor of making this an extra heavy date! Agreed?

I saw a movie tonight. It was James Cagney in “Johnny Come Lately” and was pretty good although I was rather disgusted with the moral of the story. Have you seen it? Some of the boys said it was playing in Pittsburgh when we were there, but I had never seen it advertised before. By the way, I think it is swell that you are getting to go to some shows now. Go to all you can and enjoy them for me too. I don’t blame you for liking musical comedies, because that is what I like best too.

I must go now, sweetheart, but I’ll see you again soon (by letter of course).
Your loving husband
Frank

Louise: 2 July 1944

July 2, 1944
Sunday Morning

My Darling Frank,
How’s my honey this beautiful Sunday morning? Once more I am writing you in the morning because I was so very tired last night. I went over to Riddles yesterday morning about 9 o’clock and I got busy. There was quite a bit of running around seeing about flowers, dresses, etc. and I did a lot of that for them. I ate dinner over there and then after dinner I went over to Sister’s, cleaned up, and then went back about 4 o’clock. Leta and I went down to see the proofs of her pictures and then we all went to the church for the rehearsal. It was very messed up as rehearsals always are but I’m sure everything will be O.K. today. Immediately following the rehearsal we all went over to Dr. Malone’s for the supper and it was truly a lovely affair. The Malones have a gorgeous home and we had a swell time. After the supper we all went back over to the Riddles and worked until eleven o’clock on flower arrangements. Believe me when I got home I was really worn out so I went right on to bed without writing your letter, but not without praying for you and thinking of you. Darling all the time I am getting ready for the wedding I keep thinking about ours, although very simple, and how glad I am we had it. I also keep thinking of how very dearly I love you and how I wish you were here. Another thought comes to me rather naturally and that is the supreme happiness we both shall feel when once again we can be together. Sweetheart it will be almost like getting married all over again, only much more dear because we already know the joy of each other’s companionship. Darling you are truly wonderful and I am so grateful that God has given me the privilege to call you my darling husband.

By the way I learned the Ruth Hereford is expecting a baby in about a month. She always said that she wanted a baby as soon as she got married, and she will lack 1 month having been married a year when it is supposed to arrive. Evidently she is quite happy about the situation, as I can well understand. Mrs. Hereford is with her now, because Harry is in the hospital with appendicitis. He has a rather good job which will probably keep him in the States for the duration. Darling, I still believe we are doing the right thing by waiting until the war is over to have our family, then we can enjoy it together and also we can give our children a normal home together darling. I am very glad that we both want children though. Gee honey — I wish you were here now for me to put my head on your shoulder and for you to put your arms around me. I really get in a loving mood when I think of you and our children.

Sweetheart, it is time for me to get ready for Sunday School so I will close and send you all my love. Be real sweet and remember your wife is always waiting for you.
Forever your loving wife,
Louise

Frank: 1 July 1944

Saturday Morning
July 1, 1944

My Darling Louise,
It is 11:00 A.M. so I’ll write this now before I go on watch. You see the O.O.D. who relieves for the 13-4 watch always has his watch at 11:45. Of course you know that it is an old Navy custom to relieve at least 15 minutes ahead of time. I don’t really see how it makes much difference though because you are on four hours no matter whether you relieve on the hour or 15 minutes before, as long as everyone else does. Boy, if someone doesn’t get relieved on time they really set up a howl.

As you know the O.O.D. doesn’t have nearly as much work to do when you are at anchor or in port, as he does underway. Usually all you have to do is send boats away, meet incoming boats, and just sit around waiting for something to happen, which it sometimes does. While we are at anchor the O.O.D’s stand watch just every other day, having 4 hours on and 8 off on the day your section has the duty. The other day is for liberty or more often, for doing the chasing around you must do for your department.

I received two letters from you yesterday and one from Mother. Darling, I wish I could write interesting letters like you do, but honest honey, there is so little to talk about that it is difficult to write an interesting letter. Yesterday I helped censor mail, and what a stack. It was just one days mail but it seemed as if there were 250 letters, and they must all be gone over rather carefully. Usually the writing is terrible — even worse than mine. One certainly can realize just how poor a job of education has been done with even the young people of today. Honestly it is pathetic to see how poorly the most of them write or spell, and the grammar and sentence construction is something awful. The most of them are just kids too, about 17, and some look even younger.

Once in awhile there will be something funny in a letter and the censor reads it to all the other officers. Yesterday one kid wrote about ten letters, all practically identical in content and not over a half to three-fourths of a page. He got around not writing more by saying in each letter, “If I could tell you all the places I’ve been, all the things I’ve seen and all the things I’ve done, I’d be writing all day, so I’ll stop now.” That was usually about the third and last sentence of his letter. Of course that makes it easy for the censor, which was O.K.

Dearest, you surely must have been thinking hard of me last night because I had a mild case of the blues. It wasn’t too bad but I surely did miss you and want to be with you again. Those spells don’t come too often for which I’m glad, because it doesn’t pay to get homesick out here where you can’t do anything about it. I love you my darling wife, more than you’ll ever know, and all I’m going now is marking time for the day when we can be together again and begin where we left off.
Your loving husband,
Frank

LST log: 30 June 1944

Jun 30 Arrive Eniwetok, anchored, awaiting orders.

Frank: 30 June 1944

[All Frank's letters dated after June 8 were mailed together on June 30]

June 30, 1944
Friday afternoon

My Darling Louise,
Honey this will have to be hurried because the mail will soon be going out. I’ve been busy for the past four hours censoring other peoples letters and haven’t even had time to do any writing of my own.

Darling, we got mail again yesterday and I got about ten letters from you as late as June 16. Also one from Mother, Clayton, Mary Crow, Ted and Rev. Harkins. I was on watch at the time the mail came in so had to read them all hurried and don’t remember any specific news except that everyone is still fine and that you love me more than ever, which is good enough news to me. I will read all of the letters over again and again and answer any specific questions if there are any.

I’m certainly glad that you finally received the necklaces and also my uniforms. I’m so glad you like the necklaces and hope you can make something real pretty out of them. I get so much pleasure out of doing things for you and sending you things. I love you sweetheart, more all the time we are apart. I too will be exceedingly happy when we can be back together again, and I really do want to meet Bill and Ettawanda and all your fiends. We can really have some swell time.

I suppose you know that Mother has stopped working in Harrisburg. I’m really glad because it would only have been a question of time until she would have been sick again. I surely wish she had it a little nicer. I have some excellent plans which I want to have you consider but I don’t have time to tell you about them now.

Well, sweetheart, as I told you before we have been keeping up with the news of the fighting in France and you were right again.

I must go and take inventory in the Ships Store now.
Lots of loving from a very loving husband.
Frank

[Just a personal note: seven years after Frank wrote this letter, his second daughter -- me -- was one day old.]