May 24, 1944

May 24, 1944
England

Hello Melva,
We have at last returned from the southern part of England and are about to get things straightened around again. It certainly takes a lot of work to move around and operate. While down there I saw several places that were 600 years-old and some were a great deal older. It included a few castles and such. The houses are built with stone, many with slate roofs. They use wooden pegs to hold the crossbeams in the stone. I got one of these wooden pegs and I'm enclosing it in the letter. It came from an empty farm house down in Wales.

Do hope that you'll keep right on praying for I'm going to need it before so very long. I will take care of myself but you be sure to do the same for I couldn't bear to have anything happen to you or Sandy. Don't get tired of waiting because when we do come back, it will all be worth the while. I just live for the day I can come home.

Love,
Lee (Here is another bear hug.)

May 18, 1944

May 18, 1944
England

Hello Sugar Puss,
We have been on the move again and there has not been much time to sit down and write as I wanted to do. Your letter was good to get and it almost makes tears come to my eyes when you tell me about baby Sandra. I love to hear about her and the cute things she does. I look at the pictures often.

You know Puss, I write when I can so don't wait 'til you hear from me to write. Your letters are about the only thing that keep me going at times so don't let me down. Gets lonesome as hell over here after the joy we've known and anticipate knowing again in our own place. I miss you truly and when your letters come, it's just as if you are here talking to me. I loves you Puss.

Better go for now -- continued tomorrow if chances are right.
Again Puss, I love you.
Lee

May 21, 1944

May 21, 1944
England

Hello Puss,
Too bad about the cat - thought he was tops even tho' I didn't used to care for them.

I hope you got the wire I sent. You mentioned a package in your last letter and I think it is here in England but it will be a bit before I will be able to get it. Will let you know when I do. Thanks a million, Puss!I will always try to show you how very much I love and care for you, be it two years or fifty and I hope it will be fifty. If the army can't change my mind about you nothing can and I think I know whereof I speak for I have seen many things and many people since my entry in the service.

The army affects the boys in a different manner but it to me has only cut my desire to get ahead here. Over a period of four years it has made me want to get this business over with and come back to you - get a new business underway, do a bit of traveling together, have a home and bring up Sandra. But most of all it has shown me how grand you are and without your love how empty everything would be. I miss you and need you so much.
Lee

May 13, 1944

May 13, 1944
Western Union Telegram

All my love and greetings on Mothers Day.
You are more than ever in my thoughts at this time.
All my love =
Robert L. Zimmerman.

May 9, 1944

May 9, 1944
England

Hello Sugar Puss,
I have just finished eating some chocolate ice cream and it is the second I have had since leaving the States. So far I've had no fresh milk but have been promised all that I can drink when I say so. Oddly enough, I've never aid anything. Some of our boys made the ice cream and it was certainly good - don't know just what we would do without our cooks, bless their souls.

Had tea and spent the evening with a the manager of a bank who lives near Manchester. He was a jolly sort of fellow and to top the evening off with the elegance that he strived to show, they brought out some rhubarb wine that was a present to he and his wife on their wedding date and was six years old from that time so goodness know how old it really was. It was the smoothest ever. He said it was the first time in three years that he had even tasted it and that they saved it for only the most special of occasions. This guy that loves you must be making some kind of an impression and I don't think it is an adverse one.

All of the old gang is fine and I have showed them the pictures you've sent and they pull theirs out and we do a bit of reminiscing. I'll tell you how I feel even if you know so well already that I love you very much.
Lee

May 4, 1944

May 4, 1944
England

Hello Puss and Little Puss,
I've picked up a couple of expressions here. "I" means yes, "A" means what, and another very common yes is "um." "Ta" means thank you and "ta ta" means goodbye. Right now, the pound here is worth exactly $4.03 USD.

Post cards here are nearly impossible to get and of the place I'm in would be impossible to send because it is, of course, a military secret. I did manage to find a few of Scotland that I will send separately. High Street Berewick upon Tweed is a rather familiar scene in as much as the general appearance goes. Kings of the Broad Highway looks a lot like many of the things done in this country. The picture of the ships in the Pacific was a familiar one and the only way I could get the general idea of our voyage to you.

I'm saving all my love for you for when I return and I know you are doing the same. So please, Puss, take good care of yourself for me for we will be so happy together when I do get back.  I sincerely believe that by the will of God, I will come back to you.
Lee

April 27, 1944

April 27, 1944
England

Hello Puss,
Right now I am living in the middle of town in a school. Have a rather nice office with even a radio extension. Have been through Liverpool and Manchester and they are both quite big places. Have seen quite a bit of the destruction wrought upon them from time to time. Even though they hastily clear out the places that are destroyed it leaves a scar. Cities are dotted with empty places where there should be homes and shops. Parts of these places still stand.

You know most everything in the building line is made of brick or stone. Sidewalks and even streets are made of stones. The doorsteps in the various homes up town here are made of one large stone that is washed and scrubbed every morning by the wife and believe me they get down on their hands and knees and scrub clear to the street. The stones are often worn in the middle from much use. Some of the houses and buildings are close to 200 years old and look as good as the day they were built.

Long about the 10th of May you will celebrate another day, Puss. Over here they have never heard of Mother's Day, consequently they have no cards or such. Though of you and Mother Dowell and Mother Zimmerman and I do hope they know that it isn't just the one day that I thik of them - it's every day.

Rather glad to hear that you are starting to work if you want to work. I know it will pass the time quicker. Hope it works out all right though.
I love you Puss,
Lee

April 23, 1944

April 23, 1944
England

Hello Darling Puss,

Really feeling tops and I do mean tops - received some letters from you. Thanks for Dorothy's (Lee's sister) address. I guess you know she sent a box of candy and a cigarette lighter. The candy was good - salt water taffy but it won't out do the chocolate. If you can get a hold of some that will fit into a cigar box, send some to me, will you?

I am terrible at remembering dates and anniversaries as a rule, but there are a few that stick in my mind and of course one of those is meeting you. Seems like we never do get to celebrate it like we want to but still it is something I shall always remember. Look what it brought to me. A lifetime of of happiness and joy to make my life complete. I love you very much Puss, with all of me.

Received several pictures of mother and the house and even one of the table set for when they were expecting me for dinner one time. They were good to see and I look at them quite often. And then the picture of you and Sandra came and I'm telling you my Sugar Puss, it's a good thing there are many miles of water between here and the states for it burns deep to come back. Gee, if I could take a plane back all the way it wouldn't get me there quick enough - what am I going to do? Have to keep going most of the time so I won't think too much about it. When I go for a walk in the evenings it helps quite a bit but I'm just looking around for things to tell you.

Puss I love you deeply,
Me

April 14, 1944

My grandmother, Melva. AKA Sugar Puss

Hello Puss,

I haven't been to London yet but I've visited several places of interest. One of these places was the moors. You have heard of them quite often I know for they have always said that they were so beautiful. They didn't exaggerate any either. The heather which is grass that grows on the moors is very thick and when you walk on it you think it is nothing more than a carpet with a nap of about four inches. The ground is almost always wet so it isn't so nice but to look and walk on it is something. All the fences here are stone and when you look at a mountainside you see green fields cut by brown lines which are the fences. Only a few places where there are forests do you ever see any underbrush of any kind. But I miss the sun not shining most every day and it is so damp here. Too I miss the wood houses and steel skyscrapers for everything here is made of stone and only two or three stories high. Nothing tall as in the states. But most of all I miss you.

Love ya heaps,

Lee

April 8, 1944

Irene Manning

April 8, 1944
England

Dear Puss,
Irene Manning was the latest of the pinup gals put out to stimulate the imagination, but now I have a pin up that I have wanting. O' course it is the picture you sent a few days ago and it looks very nice here too - but sometimes I have to take it down because I get to thinking how very swell it would be to be on a bus entering Borger and then getting off. I would know that it wouldn't be too long 'til I passed through the white fence, open the door, and once more I'd be where I belonged. We'd stay there not for long so the three of us would go and find a spot to call our own where we could build our nest and watch the rest of the world go by. You are so nice to come home to and love. And it would be tea for three.

Big hugs and kisses galore. Save them for me, Puss, 'cause I'll be there to get them one of these days.

I love ya, Puss.
Lee

april 3, 1944

sorry. still don't have capitalization capabilities.

april 3, 1944
england

dear puss,
the letter and pictures of yours came and they were plenty okay. i have definite hopes of receiving a good deal more similar to those so don't quit writing. and when you get the roll of film developed after taking the pictures, send me a print of each. i certainly don't want to wait 'til i come home to see them for it is liable to be a few months yet.

believe me there is no one anyplace who can hold any candle to you and i do believe that is has been proven. you can't imagine how i long to be with you and how very much i need you. one doesn't miss the happiness until he has known it so well. i do love you so much.

thanks a plenty for the promise of sending the cigs and blades 'n such. plan to see gone with the wind again when it comes here but it's awful lonesome going to the show by myself.

love and a couple of bear hugs,
lee

March 23, 1944

March 23, 1944
England

Hello Puss,
The Air Mail letter with Sandra's picture came. Gee, she looks like a butter ball sure enough. It's no wonder at all that they make over her so much. If they don't spoil her now, I will when I get back. But there sure is someone I'm longing to spoil a great deal more and I'm going to do just that when we move into our new home. Hope that you are able to get the film there in Amarillo 'cause those snapshots are the things that carry you half way around the world in a second or so, leaving some dern nice memories. They are of the kind you don't forget ever. It's just like dreaming in your dreams. Everything is perfect.

Certainly would be grand if Ford was right the other day when he said that the war would be over in about two months. He said he could give no reason for saying so now but he did have something to back his opinion on.

Have been looking in shop windows for trinkets and such but they are so scarce. But I know that I'll have something by the 31st even if it will be a bit late getting there. All this of course means Happy Birthday from this lug across the pond that loves ya gobs.
Lee

March 20, 1944

Another letter from my grandfather to my grandmother.

March 20, 1944
England

Hi you and little you,
Several evenings ago I tried my luck at bicycling and like a good bit of other luck, it wasn't as good with English bikes. The front brake was broken and the back one broke while I was riding it, so I just rode around a bit without any brakes. The chain jumped off a couple of times also - more fun.

Had tea last evening. This time they served tarts and maids of honor. The tarts are a bit of jelly placed in the center of a bit of bread dough. The maids of honor are about the same with a small sponge cake top. The crumpets are something like a biscuit. All of them are swell when served with tea. The pictures I told you about are finally ready. They are definitely not good - they look too much like me. Going to send to you just to let you see what your old man looks like sometimes when he is looking over the situation.

How nice it would be to hear a jukebox again with a bit of American jazz pouring forth in its sentimental manner. Just think, to be able to go down across the street from the bus station and play some music, eat a sandwich, and drink a cup of good coffee. Many is the time I have though of it.

Time for me to get some shut eye so bye for now.
Love and kisses,
Lee

March 18, 1944

From my grandfather, stationed in England to my grandmother in Texas. From the address it seems that she was visiting her Aunt Bernice. At this date, my mother (Sandra) was just two months old and he had yet to meet her.

March 18, 1944
England
Hello Puss and Little Puss,
Another week has just about passed into oblivion with but little to write and tell you in my Sugar Report. Did receive two letters from you on the same day, dated February 14 and February 24.

Sandra seems to be causing quite a commotion all across the country. From your letters it seems she has received so many nice things from so many widely scattered people and it does seem they all make such a fuss over her. It's no wonder though, just look who she belongs to. I'm not going to bust the next to last button off my vest - they are too hard to sew on. Too bad I can't come to the States to spend my time off with you. A bit later perhaps we can solidify our dreams and I do pray for that day.

I accepted an invitation to tea and had quite a nice time. The fellow is a merchant and has a shop in the middle of town. His family is quite nice and I have very nearly adopted their little girl. Sweet she is, but what should I do with two now? May go back at some other time to see them again. Really do like the tea but that's about all because of the lack of seasoning in the English food. The "chips" are French fries and that's about all you can get in the restaurants too, outside of fish and tea. I don't eat fish so I drink the tea.

Be sure to keep me posted on things and let me know how you're doing. And do take good care of yourself and the chick, 'cause I love my gals with a capital L. I'll try to look after this funny looking guy for you too.
All my love,
Me

March 8, 1944

Happy Veteran's Day. Today, for Veterans Day, I read aloud a V-Mail letter on my YouTube channel. To see it, click here. Below, I'm continuing with an excerpt from another letter sent to my grandmother from my grandfather during WWII.


Hello Puss,
... When you write, say anything you wish for your mail to me is not searched by the censors. Of course you know that I can't buy any clothes here so maybe you could send me a scarf, green in color. Bought a handmade knife at a very reasonable price. Bought a bell in a pub and looked at the bottom of it - Made in the USA. That was one time the joke was on me.

Get pretty blue over here - not by myself I know, but this time it's bad. I want you near me so much and the thought of it being a long time maybe, just about shakes the props out from under me. Tried getting a bit blotto but it was only a waste of dough. Now it may seem a bit odd but when I do get the blues, I can't sit down and write like I want to. One fellow said if he could just cry for a few minutes, he could get rid of it but he is like me. He can't cry no matter what. To get a letter helps to make them vanish so write often Puss, please.

Sure gets dark here - finally got a hand torch so I wont run into my hand when I put it up for a guide on a dark night. You know Love, that's getting pretty dark.
I do love you Puss, just a little and you know that means with all my love,
Lee

29 February, 1944 - Leap Year

The next letter to my grandmother from my grandfather, during World War II.

Hello Sugar Puss,
Received your letter of the 3 February on the 27, two days ago. And today's Sugar Report will start in where my last letter left off. I was, at the time, somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean. After due course of time, we landed and are now somewhere in England.... England has been at war for four years. A husband, brother, sister, or any combination of such, is nine times out of ten, missing from the family and it naturally leaves a surplus of girls. After so much of the heartbreak of the war, they live for what pleasure they can possibly derive. So it is not the destruction of a country that ruins it. Rather it is the last hope which is gone and they term it morale. The longer the fight, the lower the morale goes. You can see now that a country degenerates terribly and loses even though they may win the so called victory for they send to war, the cream of the crop...

English are very generous. when you eat a meal at their house. they will put a week's ration on the table and tell you to eat it all. But out of politeness and to save them from starving, you eat but very little.

I look for mail from you every day and day after day there is none but I know that as soon as they are able to, the mail will come thru to us. Sure wish I had put you in my pocket before I left for now I could take you out and let you live near me. The first time I come home, I'm going to do that very thing. Put you in one pocket and Sandra in the other. Give her a kiss for me and keep most of them for yourself and here is a bear hug. Keep the home fires burning for this guy over here cause he sure does love you and miss you terribly. The war won't last forever though and when it's over I'll come back and no more do I roam by myself. Be sure to write.
Love, Lee

September 17, 1943

"Hi Sugar Puss, Night and Day, Begin the Beguine, Stardust - some moody music and I'm ready to junk this place and come home to you. But I can dream and I do... Fired a 45 pistol today and made a good score as a whole - a point above average and not many did that. Having to accept that this job calls for me issuing passes and it is a real headache and no fooling. You get more people sore at you for following orders. Just can't help it if I hate to disobey... Had a sandwich before coming out here. The place I ate is where I left a pack of cigs on the table. Sure enough, the waitress saved them and gave them to a fellow to give to me. Didn't know they had such people left but I guess there are a few of them here and there. I love you awfully, Lee"

September, 1943

I've started reading the letters my grandfather, Robert Lee, sent to my grandmother, Melva, during World War II.  It took going over the first letter a few times, but I was able to pick up his handwriting. 

Apparently Lee's term of endearment for Melva was Puss. They had married in 1942. She was living in their house in Borger, Texas, north of Amarillo. The first letter was postmarked from where he was first stationed at Camp Howze, an infantry replacement training center near Gainesville, Texas on September 13, 1944. September 13 is my birthday.

"... Sent home for the license that I had on our marriage to send to Washington so that they won't stop your allotment. From this end, I haven't been paid and it looks like it will be a month or so before I get anything. I gave Bruce back $5.00 of the $10.00 I borrowed from him to take along with me. Didn't want to get too far into debt... It was rough luck about the ankle chain but I'll fix it and will never take it off again... it isn't silly to be sentimental about it. It makes me so very happy to know you love me too. It just completes everything I ever lacked. Such happiness you've brought to me. Don't ever take it away..."

My heart.

Air Mail 1944

This week my mom gave me a box of letters my grandfather sent to my grandmother when he was in the army, stationed in France during World War 2. He typed a few, but most were written in longhand and hard for my mom to decipher. One of my weird talents is my ability to decode handwriting in tough script. Now it's up to me to interpret what this young soldier was writing to his 20-year-old wife and the baby daughter he had yet to meet.

The Tool Box

This tool box belonged to my grandpa. In the late 1940s, he took it with him to north Texas bars and cafés to fix their juke boxes. I don't know my way around a juke box so I use it to hold office supplies. It's one of my favorite things.