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Pauline’s Letters

The Story of Pauline Lampley and Abb Truett

Janie Pauline Lampley, born November 25, 1907, in Cheatham County, Tennessee.

Pauline is my Grandmother, I never knew her because she died just 20 days after my mother was born. The letters, mostly between my grandfather and grandmother, span from June 1940 to her death in 1942 .

“The Life Story of a lucky Tennessee Sailor that Lived to Retire” is my Grandfather, Abb Truett's, life story that he wrote about himself . I have included excerpts these to fill in the story.

The story starts with an entry from Abb's life story about his military life. Pauline's first letter is one to her sister the year before she met my grandfather.

Abb Roach Truett, born on June 27, 1894, in Lyles, Tennessee

I will be blogging a new letter every few weeks, I include old family photos and "This date in history" snips within each blog post.

Please take this journey with me in my grandparents love story and subscribe to my blog to be notified whenever I post new letters.

Note: My Grandfather was in the navy, the letters and his life story span through Pearl Harbor Day. Within the first couple transcriptions I realized that some of the language my Grandfather used in his writings were ethnic slurs common in the 1940's. Rather than censor his writings I have added aTrigger Warning to the pages with sensitive content.


The Letters

  • April 1917April 1917

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

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  • June 3rd, 1940 Dear MaeJune 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 ...

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  • November 1940November 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 PaulineJuly 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.

  • August 12, 1941 Dear PaulineAugust 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 ...

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  • August 15, 1941 Dear PaulineAugust 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 ...

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  • August 17, 1941 To my Dear Future Sweet WifeAugust 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 ...

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  • September 10, 1941 Dear PaulineSeptember 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 ...

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  • September 18, 1941 Dearest AbbSeptember 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 ...

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  • September 21, 1941 Dear PaulineSeptember 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 ...

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  • September 24, 1941 Hello DarlingSeptember 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. ...

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  • September, 29 1941 Dear AbbSeptember, 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 ...

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  • September, 29 1941 Dear PaulineSeptember, 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 ...

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