#lawrence wild

[wellmeetagaiin]

Something a little different. A letter from a soldier named Frank to Dorothy Wild, Lawrence Wild’s wife, dated November 19th, 1944.

Transcribed under the cut

Nov 19, 44

Dear Dottie,

        Just a few lines to say hello. How are you and the family getting along? How is Larry? How about Larry’s address? Will you send it to me, please. I bet you thought you would never hear from me. Don’t fall over. I heard there is another one on the way. Boy, what a man that Larry must be. If I get my leave in Jan. I’ll stop around and say hello. 

        Do you see Betty very much and how is she? You know I still like that girl. But I’ll never get her now. Well, Dot, say hello to your mom and pop for me. How is Midge? Is he in the service yet? If you see Betty say hello to her for me.

        Do you know where Larry is? I’m shipping out soon and maybe I’ll get where he is or near it. 

        Well, Dot, I can’t think of much to say so in the mean time be good and take care of yourself and good luck with the next one. Don’t forget to write. 

And old friend,

Frank. 

[wellmeetagaiin]

A letter from Lawrence Wild (February 22, 1921 - April 22, 1945) to his wife, Dorothy (Dot) Wild (née ; Sundstrand) dated November 25th, 1943. These are unique in that Larry was killed in action at 23 years old.

This is a 16 page letter, so the remainder of it is under the cut as well as the transcription, as always. 

It’s a bit depressing in that he’s trying to think of solutions to have a relationship with his daughter, without actually being around. . as well as trying to convince his wife he isn’t cheating on her. All mixed in with some humorous tidbits, “ I saw a cowboy for the first time. He had a big hat and a gun on his side. He was an old man but he looked so funny with that big hat and gun and the big shoes. It made me laugh to see that.”

Nov - 25 - 1943

         Dearest Wife,

        O doll, I miss you so much and love you. Had you on my mind all week. I try to write but I have been on the go so much; cleaning things and at the end of the day I was so tired and I went right to bed. I have every thing cleaned up, now. Now I can write to you. I hope you are not mad at me for not writing.

        I love you so much. Hope and pray I can come home soon. It has been so long since I have seen you. When I do come home I am going to be near you all the time and hug and kiss you. I love you so much. I have a lot of writing to do today, one from Aunt Mill & one from Aunt Rene & one from Pop Wild & one from my sister Lena. I guess I will be all day writing.

        Doll, do not work too hard. You might hurt yourself.

        Yes, we did move. We are in Camp Swift. It's a big camp but we are not going to be here very long. That's what everyone says.

        I hope to be home soon. I am anxious to see you and baby Sandra.

        Do you think you can send me some money? If not tell me and I will try to get it from my sister. I know you do not have any. If you send me $20 I think I will have enough with my pay. It costs about $40 from here.

        Yes, I am starting to gain weight.I am about 175 now and I look fatter.

        I hope your cold goes away soon, doll. Did you start getting sick? I hope and pray you are well. I worry so much about you. You are the best wife in the world. I will be the happiest man in the world when this war is over so I can come home to you and baby.

        Doll, no one could buy what I want for Christmas. That is to be home with you on Christmas. But there is one thing that I want that is a picture of you and baby together with you holding her. That would make me very happy. Try to get one for me please, Doll.

        So Mom is got [???]. I hope she is not as bad as before.

        Doll, I do not know what to say about you coming here, doll. I went to town yesterday to see if there was any place for you to live and I walked all over looking and there is not a one.

        So doll there is a man in this camp that was here before we came here and they have their wife here some place there is 4 living there so you see doll there is no place to live here.

        Doll, it would make me so happy to have you and baby here. Then I could come home every night to you and baby. I will look again for a place. It's a very small town and doll its so far for you to come and it will be a lot of money. It would be hard, so hard for you and the baby. It costs a lot of money to eat on the train.

        I tell you what. Til I come home then we will talk it over. Then you can make up your mind then. How will that be if you still want to come then you can come back with me.

        I am so glad Sandra is not cranky anymore. Does she sit up yet? I wish I could see her before she gets too big.

        Doll, when I come home you are going to get a lot of loving. I do love you more than anything in the world. No doll, I am not cheating on you. I love you. No one could ever take your place. I love you so much, I pray for this war to end so I can come home to you. You are my doll, baby, my sweet heart and the best wife in the world. When I come home you will see how much I love you and miss you.

        And Doll, I miss it. I am going to do it to you every day and night so you better be ready for it. Here I am talking about it and its coming up. I have had so many wet dreams and I am always dreaming about you. I see you every night in my dreams. O doll, I love you so much. xxxxx

        I am saving it all for you. I bet you will get thin again when I come home.

        Don't worry doll, I will not give any more babies. It was too hard for you to have Sandra so please do not worry!

        I do not go out. I went to the show last night. I saw "Old Acquaintances". Did you see it? It was more of a love picture ?

        I saw a cowboy for the first time. He had a big hat and a gun on his side. He was an old man but he looked so funny with that big hat and gun and the big shoes. It made me laugh to see that.

        When I come home I bet Sandra will like me. You will have to show her my picture, then when I come home she may know me. That's what one of the mens wife does he told me then when he went home his baby knew who he was so try it and we will see what happens.

        Doll, do not worry. Joey(???) is all for you. I am saving it and I did not cheat on you. Please believe me. I mean every word I am saying. Now one could ever take your place.

        Well doll, baby, I have so much writing to do. I guess that will be all for now. We have a big dinner today. It is Thanksgiving. I wish I could be with you and baby.

        Sending all my love to my little doll baby, and to my baby Sandra. I love both you and baby so much.  

        Write soon.

        PS- Can you read this letter?

        Love and kisses for you and baby.

                        Love,                               Larry          xxxxxxxxxxxxx

[wellmeetagaiin]

An original 3 page Will and Testament from Lawrence Wild, dated  May 19, 1944. It was sent from the Headquarters of the 405th Infantry in regards to his affairs before getting sent overseas. He died some a little less than a year later on April 22, 1945.

[wellmeetagaiin]

A partial letter from Lawrence Wild (February 22, 1921 - April 22, 1945) to his wife, Dorothy (Dot) Wild (née ; Sundstrand) dated August 17th, 1943. These are unique in that Larry was killed in action at 23 years old.

This letter contained multiple days worth of writing. This is the second part.

This is after he’s learned from a telegraph sent by his mother that his first child, Sandy, was born. “All the fellows are calling me Pop.”

Transcribed under the cut.

Aug 17 - 1943

Dearest Wife,

        Here I am back again. it is noon time and I have time to write a few lines. 

        I just received a letter from you and was so happy when I got it. It is the first in 3 days. 

        Dot, we are moving from this camp next month on the 14th. We do not know where we are going. I hope it is near home. We have to send all our things back home. We are only allowed to have G.I. things with us. 

        So, if you get things from me then you will know what its for. I have to send our pictures that we have. 

        Its every thing that we brought with us when we came in the army. Do not worry now, we are not going over for we have a lot of training to go through. 

        Dot, I just received a telegram from Mom and I am so happy. So, it is a girl. That’s what you wanted and that’s what I prayed every night for. I hope she looks like you. Are you alright? Is our baby well? Is she big or small? How much does she weigh? I am all mixed up, I do not know what to say. 

       Dot, please tell your doctor to go to the red cross and try to see if he can get a leave for me. He can do it better than any one. 

        I do not think that I can come home for a long time, so please do that for me. I want to come home to see you and our baby.

        Dot, did you name her? If you did, send me her name and when she was born and where she was born. You know, just like the one you sent me before so I can get some more money for you. I can get $12 more that’s for our baby. 

        I am so happy Dot I don’t know what to say. All the fellows are calling me Pop. I wish I was there with you it would be much better. 

        Dot, did you have many pains? Tell me every thing. Are you going to call her Sandy? That is a swell name. I like it a lot. It’s up to you  to name her. Wish I could see her. 

        What time did you have our baby? Was it in the morning or was it at night? 

        Dot, we have to go out now. Sending all my love to you and baby. 

            Congratulations. 

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I hope and pray that you are alright and happy. Please send the doctor to red cross. 

xxxxxxxxxxxx

Love, 

Larry 

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Love and kiss for you and baby

[wellmeetagaiin]

A partial letter from Lawrence Wild (February 22, 1921 - April 22, 1945) to his wife, Dorothy (Dot) Wild (née ; Sundstrand) dated August 16th, 1943. These are unique in that Larry was killed in action at 23 years old.

This letter contained multiple days worth of writing. This is  the first part. 

Transcribed under the cut.

Love,

Larry

xxxxxxxxxx

Aug 16 - 1943

Dear Dot,

        Here it is Monday afternoon and I didn’t receive any letters from you in 3 days. Are you alright?

         Did our baby start kicking you again? I will be so happy when its all over and you are home with our baby. 

        I went swimming yesterday. They have a place in camp now. They don’t have it all fixed up yet but it looks like a nice place. No one is allowed to go in there that is not in the camp. My back is all red. When I put my pack on it dose not feel so good. It will be alright in 2 or 3 days, I hope.

        O Dot, I miss you so much. I hope and pray this mess is over soon so I can come home to you and our baby. That’s all I want. I want to work hard + have a home of our own. It’s going to be so nice to have our own home. Then we can fix it like we won’t . . . we will make it look like a doll house. 

        If I go back to the same place and work I want to run one of the big machines. Then I will make more money than I did. 

        We are having class today. I think we will have them all week. That’s better than going on them long hikes isn’t it. 

        It is very hot today. It seems like it is the hottest day so far. It will soon be getting cold again, then it will not be so bad on the hikes. 

        How is Mom and Pop? Hope they are well. Is Mom still getting all fixed up? Did she buy new dresses? Well, she has been working a long time so I guess she is getting tired of staying in. She stayed in almost every night after work maybe it will make her feel better to go out. 

        Well Dot, I have to stop now. I will be back soon. Its time to go out. Its 1 o’clock now and we come back at 4 this afternoon. Good bye for now.

Love, Larry xxxxxxx

Aug 16-1943

Dear Dot,

        I only have time to say good night for we had a lot of work to do all day and I just got done. It is now 10:30 and I am so tired so I will close now til tomorrow night, then I will write more to you.

        Good night, Dot. Be back soon. 

Love, 

Larry 

xxxxxxx

xxxxxxx

xxxxxxxx

Love + Kiss for you and baby 

[wellmeetagaiin]

A letter from Lawrence Wild (February 22, 1921 - April 22, 1945) to his wife, Dorothy (Dot) Wild (née ; Sundstrand) dated August 4th, 1943. These are unique in that Larry was killed in action at 23 years old.

Transcribed under the cut.

Aug - 4 - 1943

Dear Dot,

        Received a letter from you and was so happy to get it. It has been 5 days now. I was worried so much I thought something was wrong. 

        Yes, we have been doing a lot of hiking and I am getting so tired of it. This is something like maneuvers. We have maneuvers next month. Some of the men were saying that we were getting a furlough after we get done with these 4 weeks.  I hope its time if we do not we’ll get [one] after we get back from  maneuvers. 

        I am going to try to come before we go on  maneuvers. Do not worry about the money. If I do not have it some of the men will hand it to me, I hope. 

        How is Rene? I have not heard from her since I came back from my furlough. Did she get her home all fixed up ? It is a nice home that she has. 

        I am going to eat now. We got our own food in cans now, in one of them I have meat + vegetable stew and the other thing is biscuit, sugar, soluable coffee is good. Sometimes I will get some and send it to you then you can see what the men get on the other side. I am going to eat it now. I will be right back. Love, Larry xxxxxx

        Here I am again. I feel better now since I had something to eat. It was good.  It makes me feel better when I hear that you are alright. It won’t be long now. I bet you will be glad when it is all over. It will make me feel better too. Then I will know you and our baby are alright. 

        That was a good thing that man was thinking you might have hurt yourself. That bus stopped so fast. They should take their time when they stop. 

       Yes, I will be happy if it is a boy and I will be just as happy if it is a girl. I do want a little girl and I want her to look just like you. 

        Do not worry about me getting a job after the war. The kind of job that I was doing. . there are lots of places that have that kind of work so do not worry.

        No, I didn’t see that in the paper. I wish you could send me the paper. I would love to see the Camden paper.

        Dot, you are doing wrong when you give our cat a bath. You will have to bathe him all the time. Cats always bathe themselves so now you will have a job for yourself. 

        Since you are talking about dirt, my hands are so dirty I guess it will be hard to read this letter. We do not get any time to wash. We do not get any water anyway. We were [???] yesterday. I did get a bath and shave in a stream. Boy, it felt so good to get the dirt off. 

       Dot, didn’t you say you had an examination? What do you have to of them? 

       Yes, I would love to hear from Mom and Pop. So the island is closing. That will be hard for Pop but I guess he will get a job. I guess there are lots of jobs now so it won’t be hard for him to get one. 

        Yes, I know you can not write when you are in the hospital. Maybe you can get someone there to write for you. 

        I have not seen George in about a week. You see he is out here too but he is not with me. I look for him all the time but I never see him. 

        Dot, you are not a wash woman. You are the best wife in the world and I love you more than anything in the world. You are all I want and our baby. No one could ever take your place. I always did love you and I always will love you. I will soon be home to my love, Dot. I am going to be so happy when this mess is over and I can come home to you and baby. I hope its soon.

        Yes, I remember when I told you about girls face when they have a baby. Now you know. 

        Well Dot, I have to close now. Sending all my love to you and baby. Miss you very much and love you.

        I am good but I can not seem to stop smoking. It is very hard to do.

xxxxxx

xxxxxx

xxxxxx

Love,  

      Larry

Kiss and love for you and baby

xxxxxxxx

xxxxxxxx

xxxxxxxx

[wellmeetagaiin]

A letter from Lawrence Wild (February 22, 1921 - April 22, 1945) to his wife, Dorothy (Dot) Wild (née ; Sundstrand) dated January 7th, 1942. . . but it was actually 1943. You know how the new year can mess with people.  These are unique in that Larry was killed in action at 23 years old.

Trigger warning: abortion 

In this one he says “I did not mean to do that to you, Dot” -- he is referring to getting his wife pregnant. Of note, he says it is too late to “go to the doctor right away and have something done”.

Transcribed under the cut.

Jan 7 1942

7 o’clock

Dear Dot,

        I received two letters from you, Dot. I was glad to receive them for I didn’t receive any for 5 days. 

        Dot, I miss you ever much and I love you. I see you have been sick. Get well for me and do not worry for it will make it worse. Let me do all the worrying, Dot. I am worried sick every time I eat. I bring it up. I can not hold it down. I guess you know what that is from. 

        Dot, I do not look at girls for there are no girls here. I do not think of girls [at] all. I think of my little Dot. I hope you will be alright. I did not mean to do that to you, Dot. I feel so bad for what I did to you. I am worried. I can not eat. All I think of is you. 

        If you are not well, stay in bed. Do not go to work. I will send all the money I have and all I get I will send. You need it more than me. I can do with out things. I do not go to town. I have been in town two times. The town is 4 blocks long and all I could see was soldiers in the town so I don’t go any more so you don’t have to worry. Th only girl I want is you, the one I love. 

        Dot, don’t be scared. You will be alright for I pray every night for you. 

        So the bird does not sing. Well, when I come back home I will get you one that does sing and we will not get stuck the next time.

        We have not had any snow here. I have not seen any snow every [???]. All we had is rain.

        Dot, I have been sick for 5 weeks. Its not bad sickness. I will be alright, don't worry for it will make you wary.

        We went on the range today for our shot to find out how good we are in gun shooting. I did not think I would pass but I did. We had to have 100 to pass. I had 114. All I think of is you so that way I didn’t think I would pass. I am thinking of you all the time. 

        Yes, my face is thin. I am getting thin again. Yes, I did lose weight. I do not know how much I lost.  Every time I take a shower I can see that I lost weight. 

        I bet Rene’s house is nice. Some day you will have one like it for when I come home I am going to work and have one built for you. 

        I wish I knew I did that to you so we could go to the doctor right away and have something done so you would not have one but now it is too late so have it for me and do not worry for you will be alright. 

        So Lit (?) & Joe are man & wife. Sending my regard and congratulations. [Note: He spells it congarglayshon] I do not know how to spell that word. I guess you know what it is. 

        I had to stop for a while for I had to clean my gun. I fire the B.A.R. today. First we are going to shoot the M.1 Cal 30. I do not know how I will do.  I will do my best. 

        Its time to go to bed now so I will close. Love to Mom + Pop + Carl and all on 30th St.

        And Love to my little Dot.

Love, 

Larry

xxxxxxxx

xxxxxxxx

xxxxxxxx

Love and kiss for you

[wellmeetagaiin]

A letter from Lawrence Wild (February 22, 1921 - April 22, 1945) to his wife, Dorothy (Dot) Wild (née ; Sundstrand) dated December 23rd. 1942. These are unique in that Larry was killed in action at 23 years old.

Transcribed under the cut.

Wen. nite at 7:30

Dec 23,1942

Dear Dot,

         Received your letter to day and was glad to hear from you. Yes, I received your letter and card. I have to give you something for our Anniversary. It takes 5 days to reach its destination (?)

        I wish I was there trimming the tree too. I would love to be there. We marched and drill every day but not Sunday. It is our day off. I do not go out side of the camp. I can go out but I do not want to. I have not been out of camp ever since I have been here. 

        [Note: I am really unsure about this paragraph.] It was one (or two) week before we life Mrs. Overenges. If you do not get it have the little Larry or little Dot for me when I come home. I will love you very much if you do. 

        We can not come home for about 30 weeks. I want to come home very much for I miss you and I love you, you little Doll. 

        It seems the [???] to me years & years. I miss you Dot, no, I am not happy.

        I received a card from Dot, Mc. Cartney & Aunt Rose & Mrs. M. Burkharett. They were very nice to get them.

        A Merry Christmas to all. I love you Dot and miss you ever much. A merry Christmas to you.

        Love to: 

        Mom + Pop + Carl and a Merry Christmas.

Ps. Here is some stamps for Carl.

And 

       Love

                  To

                           You

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

x                                                      x

x                    Larry                          x

x                                                      x

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Kiss for you the one I love