Nashville, Tenn
Sept 29, 1941

Dearest Abb,

I received the package Sat. I was excited as a child on Christmas morning, they were lovely. I like to wear beads. And they are so odd. I think you are real sweet to send them to me. I didn’t get the watch. But maybe I haven’t had time.

I hope you had a big time with Pauline & Woody, if she could see me, she sure would kid me, but I guess I could take it.

The size of my finger is 6 1/2.

I am trying to get my birth certificate, though maybe I would have to have it if I worked out there. Did I ever tell you how old I am, or maybe Pauline has, anyway I was born November 25th 1907. But Pauline and I are just 30 to her friends in Calif. so don’t give us away, ha.

I would like your brother & wife to come by and see me or call me.

Will write again this week.

Pauline

September, 28 1941 German SS troops kill over 30,000 Jews at Babi Yar on the outskirts of Kiev, Soviet Ukraine, in response to sabotage efforts which the Germans attributed to local Jews.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_World_War_II_(1941)

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Pauline’s Letters:

• April 1917

  An excerpt from “The Life Story of a lucky Tennessee Sailor that Lived to Retire” by Abb R. Truett:
  November, 1940, I was ... Click to Keep Reading ...

• June 3rd, 1940 Dear Mae

  Dear Mae, Read your letter this morning, sure was glad to hear from you. I am having a good time but not as ... Click to Keep Reading ...

• November 1940

  An excerpt from “The Life Story of a lucky Tennessee Sailor that Lived to Retire” by Abb R. Truett:
  November, 1940, as we ... Click to Keep Reading ...

• July 5th, 1941 Dear Pauline

  Gee jack I wish I had more time off while you are out here, so I could be with you more.

  Click to Keep Reading ...
• August 12, 1941 Dear Pauline

  Sam’s Birthday is September 15 that will be the code for the date we will arrive in San Diego or any name ... Click to Keep Reading ...

• August 15, 1941 Dear Pauline

  I haven’t heard from you since my last 2 letters. You probable haven’t recovered from the shock. As soon as you get your ... Click to Keep Reading ...

• August 17, 1941 To my Dear Future Sweet Wife

  I received your letter today as we will be sailing early in the morning for Honolulu. I will tell you how glad I ... Click to Keep Reading ...

• September 10, 1941 Dear Pauline

  I will get some time off for Christmas. I told Lieut Lett confidential about us but it was too good to keep secret ... Click to Keep Reading ...

• September 18, 1941 Dearest Abb

  Received your letter yesterday, Honey. I sure was glad to hear from your, I missed your letters so much. Just counting the days ... Click to Keep Reading ...

• September 21, 1941 Dear Pauline

  I have 1 sister May Russell at Lyle, Brother Henry “The Navy”, Russell, Woody & Day at Turlock Ca. Mother is at Day’s ... Click to Keep Reading ...

• September 24, 1941 Hello Darling

  Honey I will try to make you a good wife so we will be happy. Of course we don’t know each others disposition. ... Click to Keep Reading ...

• September, 29 1941 Dear Abb

  I received the package Sat. I was excited as a child on Christmas morning, they were lovely. I like to wear beads. And ... Click to Keep Reading ...

• September, 29 1941 Dear Pauline

  It will be just like going to heaven when we come in to home port and I can see you. We will never ... Click to Keep Reading ...

September 24, 1941

Hello Darling,

Received your letter today, I am very anxious to see you, but I think it will be best not to come before Dec. and I know mother will like it better. You see I am her baby child, and what a baby ha.

Honey I will try to make you a good wife so we will be happy. Of course we don’t know each others disposition. I will try to be sweet anyway.

Yes I go to the same church that your mother goes. I don’t get to go every Sunday. As I have to work on Sun. Mother goes every Sun.

I have two sisters and one brother. My brother married when he was 20, he has 5 sweet children. Bettie 15, she is the oldest in 2nd year high school. Mack, Ruth, Margaret, Leonard, they live in the country, about 12 miles from Nashville, He works here, his name is Homer.

I know you will like my oldest sister. I think she has the sweetest ways than any of us. Her name is Mae, she has been married about 2 years. Married a man quite a bit older than her but he seems to worship her. She lost a little girl by her first marriage, she would be 15. Lucile is next to me, she has a girl 9 years old, she sure is sweet. I am sending some pictures of part of my family, you can keep them or send them back if you wish. I hope that you will get to meet them. I lost my father when I was 9 years. I have been working for the tel Co. 16 1/2 years, almost all my life, ha. Sorry to hear about your brothers children, hope they are better now.

Pauline

Picture is enclosed

September 26, 1941 The U.S. Naval Command orders an all-out war on Axis shipping in American waters.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_World_War_II_(1941)

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Pauline’s Letters:

• April 1917

  An excerpt from “The Life Story of a lucky Tennessee Sailor that Lived to Retire” by Abb R. Truett:
  November, 1940, I was ... Click to Keep Reading ...

• June 3rd, 1940 Dear Mae

  Dear Mae, Read your letter this morning, sure was glad to hear from you. I am having a good time but not as ... Click to Keep Reading ...

• November 1940

  An excerpt from “The Life Story of a lucky Tennessee Sailor that Lived to Retire” by Abb R. Truett:
  November, 1940, as we ... Click to Keep Reading ...

• July 5th, 1941 Dear Pauline

  Gee jack I wish I had more time off while you are out here, so I could be with you more.

  Click to Keep Reading ...
• August 12, 1941 Dear Pauline

  Sam’s Birthday is September 15 that will be the code for the date we will arrive in San Diego or any name ... Click to Keep Reading ...

• August 15, 1941 Dear Pauline

  I haven’t heard from you since my last 2 letters. You probable haven’t recovered from the shock. As soon as you get your ... Click to Keep Reading ...

• August 17, 1941 To my Dear Future Sweet Wife

  I received your letter today as we will be sailing early in the morning for Honolulu. I will tell you how glad I ... Click to Keep Reading ...

• September 10, 1941 Dear Pauline

  I will get some time off for Christmas. I told Lieut Lett confidential about us but it was too good to keep secret ... Click to Keep Reading ...

• September 18, 1941 Dearest Abb

  Received your letter yesterday, Honey. I sure was glad to hear from your, I missed your letters so much. Just counting the days ... Click to Keep Reading ...

• September 21, 1941 Dear Pauline

  I have 1 sister May Russell at Lyle, Brother Henry “The Navy”, Russell, Woody & Day at Turlock Ca. Mother is at Day’s ... Click to Keep Reading ...

• September 24, 1941 Hello Darling

  Honey I will try to make you a good wife so we will be happy. Of course we don’t know each others disposition. ... Click to Keep Reading ...

• September, 29 1941 Dear Abb

  I received the package Sat. I was excited as a child on Christmas morning, they were lovely. I like to wear beads. And ... Click to Keep Reading ...

• September, 29 1941 Dear Pauline

  It will be just like going to heaven when we come in to home port and I can see you. We will never ... Click to Keep Reading ...

U. S. S. Cuyama (A0 3)
Aboard Ship

Dear Pauline,

Received your sweet letter, I sure will be glad when you are out here.

I will let you know our schedule before leaving here.I don’t think now it will be until December until we get back then we will get some time in port. We will have some definite information the last of the week our schedule has been changed to our disappointment. You can make your plans for your transfer in December. I want you to have some time off with me so we can go places. Sweet. I hope you wont be disappointed at their late time, you are going to be my sweet wife if you just have patience with me and I know you will.

I am mailing you a small package tomorrow, some things I got you in Honolulu and Tuesday I will mail you the wrist watch it is a “Balova” $39.50 I was going to give it to you when you were here before.

You and I are going to be happy together and we will have some fun with our friends, Mother told me you go to the same church she goes to.

(over)

Say. Woody and Pauline sure do kid me, wait until we married & we will kid them too.

Honey I want us to be happy so you can tell your folks and friends. And I will try & get some time off next summer so we can go back to Nashville & meet your folks.

Say. How many sisters & brothers do you have? I have one sister “May Russell” at Lyle, Brother Henry “The Navy”, Russell “Nashville”, “Woody” & “Day” at “Turlock” California. Mother is at Day’s now, His two boys Billy 9 & Johnnie 7 has the typhoid fever, in the hospital.

I wrote to Russel & Bessie at 1516-9 ave N Nashville Tenn to go around & see you. They are very religious he works in the carpenter trade.

Say. Write me something about your sister & brothers and their name and your little nephews & nieces & their names: I like children.

By by for this true
Abb.

P.S. Write me sweetheart. I will be looking for a letter the last go the week.

September 19, 1941 German capture of Kiev is now formal. The Red Army forces have suffered many casualties in defending this chief city in Soviet Ukraine.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_World_War_II_(1941)

---

Pauline’s Letters:

• April 1917

  An excerpt from “The Life Story of a lucky Tennessee Sailor that Lived to Retire” by Abb R. Truett:
  November, 1940, I was ... Click to Keep Reading ...

• June 3rd, 1940 Dear Mae

  Dear Mae, Read your letter this morning, sure was glad to hear from you. I am having a good time but not as ... Click to Keep Reading ...

• November 1940

  An excerpt from “The Life Story of a lucky Tennessee Sailor that Lived to Retire” by Abb R. Truett:
  November, 1940, as we ... Click to Keep Reading ...

• July 5th, 1941 Dear Pauline

  Gee jack I wish I had more time off while you are out here, so I could be with you more.

  Click to Keep Reading ...
• August 12, 1941 Dear Pauline

  Sam’s Birthday is September 15 that will be the code for the date we will arrive in San Diego or any name ... Click to Keep Reading ...

• August 15, 1941 Dear Pauline

  I haven’t heard from you since my last 2 letters. You probable haven’t recovered from the shock. As soon as you get your ... Click to Keep Reading ...

• August 17, 1941 To my Dear Future Sweet Wife

  I received your letter today as we will be sailing early in the morning for Honolulu. I will tell you how glad I ... Click to Keep Reading ...

• September 10, 1941 Dear Pauline

  I will get some time off for Christmas. I told Lieut Lett confidential about us but it was too good to keep secret ... Click to Keep Reading ...

• September 18, 1941 Dearest Abb

  Received your letter yesterday, Honey. I sure was glad to hear from your, I missed your letters so much. Just counting the days ... Click to Keep Reading ...

• September 21, 1941 Dear Pauline

  I have 1 sister May Russell at Lyle, Brother Henry “The Navy”, Russell, Woody & Day at Turlock Ca. Mother is at Day’s ... Click to Keep Reading ...

• September 24, 1941 Hello Darling

  Honey I will try to make you a good wife so we will be happy. Of course we don’t know each others disposition. ... Click to Keep Reading ...

• September, 29 1941 Dear Abb

  I received the package Sat. I was excited as a child on Christmas morning, they were lovely. I like to wear beads. And ... Click to Keep Reading ...

• September, 29 1941 Dear Pauline

  It will be just like going to heaven when we come in to home port and I can see you. We will never ... Click to Keep Reading ...