By the winter of 1944, at the age of fifty-four, my grandfather had spent the previous thirty winters shoveling coal and snow for up to 65 apartments. His body began to give out from the strain. This letter is the first in a series that documents the severe knee problems that plagued my grandfather during World War II, and the huge workload Grandpa's infected knee put on my grandmother.
Like most young men, shipped around the country during World War II training, Frank is meeting girls wherever he goes. Here Frank tells his parents about a gal he really likes. I wonder how his mother takes this, given that she adores his at-home girlfriend, Cookie. Frank will be shipping out soon, before "complications" arise with the new girl. Then he'll be on to the most rigorous challenges he's yet encountered.
Frank will introduce the California gal, Margaret (Margie) to his parents in a 3/13/1944 letter. He'll say he likes her "very very very much." Frank still cares about his at-home girlfriend, Cookie, but we have to remember, he had lived a very insular life on Chicago’s West Side and was only 18 when he left for basic training. He’s being introduced to the world, as millions of boys were during WWII, and a good-looking, charming, sweet guy is discovering many girls out there thinks he’s just swell! This Margie is one to them.
Frank's eldest brother, Will, is in the flying business too, at least after his day job. He earned his pilot's license in 1943 and, at the time of this letter in 1944, is teaching aviation classes for the Civil Air Patrol.
I'm posting two World War II letters today because each is very short and each brings Frank's parents up-to-date on the outstanding achievements of his Squadron 85. His second letter relates the increasing pressure on these young men to reach their highest potential. Frank is rising to the expectations.