Between January 1943 and August 1944, Alvin and Faye Anderson were able to spend time together back in the States.
But there were still periods of separation. Here are quotes lifted directly from Alvin’s letters to Faye during that time period:
Feb. 1, 1943 — “Darling, you know we are losing the best part of our lives, aren’t we?”
Feb. 12, 1943 — “The president is about to speak. I’ll be back. Well, he finished speaking, and it was good. I guess you heard him.”
March 17, 1943 — “So Dorothy said she wouldn’t blame you a bit if you resigned. Well, I wouldn’t either. I think you would be helping the war effort by keeping a lieutenant happy, don’t you?”
April 1943 (exact date not known) — “There are line officers and desk soldiers. By line officers I mean officers who are with ground troops — troops that fight and die in battle. Then the desk soldier sits up in a nice, clean, air-conditioned office and gets the promotions while we sweat blood.
“There is friction between them. It has always been there, and it will always be there. That is why I want to stay on the line. This is where the only real soldiers are.”
April 9, 1943 — “I hope that was right about what the person said about the war being over in December. I think it is foolish for anyone to say things like that because no one knows when it will be over.”
April 16, 1943 — “Here is the way I look at it. We have to go our own way now together. Our fate rests on no one else’s decisions but our own. And I don’t think we have made a bad decision yet, do you?”
June 26, 1944 — “I lived every minute I was with you, because I knew the time was near when I would have to say goodbye to you again.”
June 30, 1944 — “Darling, the war situation is looking good to me now. The Russians are doing a swell job … it looks like they will be in Berlin long before our troops are.”
July 15, 1944, from England — “When the Armistice Day of this war comes, I’ll be the happiest guy on earth, I guess. Then I will have two of you to come home to.”
July 18, 1944 — “Darling, the people back there in the USA don’t even know there is a war. Only by having some member of their family gone. They hear about it and read about it, but over here they live it.”
July 27, 1944 — “Well, everyone is talking about the end of the war. I just hope they are right. … Russians deserve the credit. If they don’t get it, there is liable to be more trouble.”
Aug. 14, 1944 — “Darling, it sure does our hearts good when we can hear the rumble of hundreds of bombers streaming overhead for several hours at a time. I know there is something in store for Hitler’s ‘Krautheads’ every time I hear them.”
— Compiled by Mark Wineka.