Richard Lee Holt Sr. letter to his wife Minneford Francis Holt, September 1943

MRS RICHARD L. HOLT 1st Sgt Richard L. Holt FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS Btry "B" 936 FA BN RFD #5 BOX 10 A.P.O. 4779 %Post Master New York, Ny Sept. 43 My Dearest One Since I have nothing else to do, and I have been sitting here thinking of you and the kids I thought I would try and write a few more mlines. I wrote yesterday but after reading your letter of the 14 again I think maby I dident answer quit all of your questions. First of all tell Dad Holt to stop worrying abut me, I am doing fine also you have better not be grey headed when I get back. Yes Honey I agree with you I think Mother and Dad should go out to Calif. for a while. I think it would do Dad a world of good. So the little boy is spitting now is he. Has Grandad been teaching him to use the spitoon as he has all the rest of the kids. You spoke of the canning. Yes I expect you will have a job taking care of the kids and trying to put up a lot of stuff, maby you had better just forget it and try to buy most of your stuff canned if you can get it. So warren finally got into some kind of school, I am glad maby he will be better satisfied now. Please Honey try and not worry to much, I know it is hard but it could be so much worse. As it is I am in no real danger it is just our having to be apart that is so hard. The evenings are so long and right now there is a full moon. I don't know what it is but we have liked to look at the moon together and out here is seems to be so much brighter, you can almost reach up and take a hold of it. Ther I go getting off on the wrong track. I started out to write a letter that wo- uld help cheer you up a bit and I wind up making it worse. But what I am trying to say is that I love you more each day Honey and that you are always in my mind so chin up sweet and one of these days your old man will be coming home again. I guess by the time you get this you will have gotten moved and at least partley straghtened up. I only hope you don't try to do too much and make yourself sick. I am glad you got the inlaid linoulm for the kitchen. How about the gas furnace for the front room did you one yet are are you going to burn coal. Well I keep seeing more of the old men. Jack Sexson was over this morning. He has been over here since may. Honey we are not per- to say where we are but I guess by now you have probably heard by some way or another. North Africa is a pretty big place but you can figure where the ports of debarkation are tell pretty close to where we are. The customs of the people here sure are funny. When ever they part on the street they always shake hands and say I will see you again. Of course it is in French, but the way they do it is what make it seem so funny. And they are much worse that Dad Kitchel about using their hands to talk with, if it wasent for them I dont believe they could say a word. And anothe thing there just arent any large people here they are all small, the women more especially. Well dear girl I am all run down so will close for this time, hopeing that this finds you all well as it leaves me in the best of health. And may God bless you and safe and well untill I return. Your always loving Hubby LE