Looks like the war is pretty near over in Europe

April 30, 1945

Hello Sweetheart,

No letter from my darling for the last three days. I s'pose it got kinda hard for you to write after not receiving any for so long. Maybe you just felt like you couldn't write any more until you heard from me. I couldn't blame you. I surely hope I'll hear from you tomorrow.

Saw a Laurel & Hardy show tonight. It was kinda silly, you know like the one we saw, but I had to laugh in spite of myself like I did when I was with you. It would surely be good to laugh and enjoy myself again like that.

Later: Didn't have time to finish this last night. They turned the lights out on me. Gene, did you ever get my music back from that lady? (I can't even remember her name.) I have been wondering about it but could never remember to ask you. I don't want to lose it. This morning is May 1st and a really very beautiful day. I wish I were back with you and I could really enjoy it. Maybe we could braid a maypole or something, huh? We would do something special anyway, wouldn't we? I think I would be perfectly happy just to go for a "May walk" only with you, my darling.

I hope my mail is coming to you regularly now. Please, Sweetheart, write me every day like you did and tell me all about you. You know, darling, I've told you--your husband likes to know everything about his little wife--even the little things. Always yours, from your husband who loves you very dearly, Perry

May 2, 1945

My Darling Wife,

No letter again either yesterday or today. Right now when I think I should at last be hearing from you regularly, I get no letter at all--how's that? It's been five days since I heard from you. Did you stop writing because you didn't hear from me for so long? I hope that isn't the reason, but then I could hardly blame you. It is all probably just delayed in the mail. But it makes me wonder--wonder if anything could be wrong. It is good that each new day brings new hope.

This is starting off a rather poor letter, isn't it. It's pretty hard to write when you don't receive any mail though, isn't it? I guess nobody would know that any better than you, would they? Guess if I don't get some mail pretty quick, I'll have to get out some of your old ones and reread them so I can get some inspiration for my letters. You know, I have told you that you are the main source of my inspiration.

Looks like the war is pretty near over in Europe, doesn't it? I wish it was that near over out here. I hope another year will finish everything up. Then I can come back to my love and we can be together forever and do those things our hearts now long so much for. I hope I will be able to see you before then though, but we never can tell. We can only live daily with the best faith and hope that we can and trust in the Lord for the outcome. It will surely be good if Dick, Pierce and Grant can all come home now, won't it?

It must be beautiful back in California right now in May time. (Even more so in Utah--ahem.) I wish I were back there to enjoy it with you. It's quite beautiful here too, but I only have a partial appreciation for it. That is the best I can do until I am able to be with you again, my love.

Well, Sweetheart, it seems like about half of, or most of, my letters are written complaining about not receiving any mail from you. You must get very tired of it especially when I know you probably write me more often than I do you. Please try to forgive me, my darling. It's only that I long so much to be with you and your letters are the nearest thing I have to realizing that.

Sweetheart, it's quite late now so I'll have to stop for now, but only stop writing. My thoughts will go on loving and adoring you. Yours forever, Perry

Gene with her brother Pierce

May 2, 1945 (Wed. eve.)

My Sweetheart Perry,

I received your two sweet letters of the 27th April today. It seemed so strange and kind of funny too that you should mention not receiving my letter telling you that I didn't go to the Gold and Green Ball and then that very day get the letter from me of March 17th.

You probably have about all of my letters up to date now. But, Perry, you never received my tin box of cookies and candy, did you? Oh well, maybe it's just as well. The candy wasn't so good anyway. The cookies were tho. Wonder what ever happened to them?

Oh Perry, what am I going to do with you! You must understand me--I don't ever want to disappoint you. Darling, I am far from perfect. I have so many faults. I must strive to overcome them. But you mustn't say all those things about me. It frightens me. Perry, your family haven't met me yet. You must let them draw their own conclusions when they see me. I want very much to be all those things you speak of tho. I shall try so hard.

I'm glad you got the ward news. I forgot all about it. Well, your "little rascal" was sitting in the second row on request. You see, the chorus sang that nite, so when they started to take the picture, they asked the chorus to come down and take the front rows. We sat back of the bishopric, and I didn't whisper either.

I guess you got your birthday card a little early from me. But I didn't know how long it would take to get to you. I've sent you another--a different kind--sorta funny. Maybe it will come closer to May 6th. Tell me what you think of it.

Golly that was a long letter, that first one I got today, and such a sweet one, Perry. You are surely making up for all those days last month when I didn't hear from you. I hope we both will not have to experience that again. I am so anxious to know where you were and why our communication was stopped. But I'm guessing.

Pierce Fast

Mother received a letter from Pierce today, also a package. He sent us all something: a bottle of perfume each for Emily and me, a box of powder for Mother and a cute little pair of wooden shoes for Dad. Such a dear little brother. He is in the 9th Army in Germany, you know. Says he has been very busy the past month and doesn't find much time to write. Guess it's about over, over there now. I hope it means it's not much longer for the Pacific war.

Oh, Perry, it's going to be such a thrill to have you choose a gown for me. I won't buy one, darling, I promise. I want to wear the one you choose. I've never had a white formal before. I shall be so proud of it. Darling, I am enclosing an invitation I received (we received) to the wedding reception of your cousin, Ray Cottam. I got a little gift for them from you and me--two pretty hand towels.

Must say good nite now. It's getting quite late. I love you, Perry. Always your very own Gene

PS. Yes, Perry, I will wear the little white blouse for you when you come back. I shall save it for that very special date.