Augusta, GA Dec 2, 1942
Dear Folks, Wed.
Just a few words that things are still the same here. Nothing new has happened so far. It rained and turned nice and cold and it’s a relief for a change.
How is the rink? I hope you can handle it without any trouble.
Not much else to write will close. Love Louie
P.S. I’ll write in a couple of days Louie

Piedmont Hotel 450 Rooms 450 Baths
Atlanta, GA
Sunday (Dec? 1942?)
Dear Folks,

Just a few lines to tell you that I am fine and hope that all of you at home are the same.

We were given the day off Saturday so I came down here to Atlanta to spend the weekend.

It is a nice town about the size of Providence but as for being any different than any other city it isn’t.

According to the new draft law Ellie is out unless they change it again.

I don’t work in the supply room any more now so I take care of the mail. My boss said that there were too many men in there and that as long as he expected that I would stay with my company that it would be best for everyone if I went back to regular duty and got into better condition. To tell the truth I don’t mind it. I feel that as long as I am here I might as well get in better shape as it is for my own good. So I am nothing but a plain ordinary soldier.

Well there isn’t much more to write now so will write later. Love to all Louie

Idle Gossip Sinks Ships
Camp Gordon, GA
Wed. Dec. 9 (1942?)
Dear Mom,

I just got through working as table waiter for the evening and am at the Service Club before going to a movie.

The last couple of days have been very busy for me and I haven’t done regular soldiering for six months. I am still all over but I feel good and don’t mind it at all. I am doing a lot of running and hiking and I ought to be in good shape before many weeks.

I am enclosing a photo a fellow took of me last week. This was taken before I went back to work and I look really big in it.

How is the rush?

I hope you can take it easy as I wouldn’t like to have you working too hard. So take it easy and let the business go hang (?).

Well, there isn’t much more that I can write now. You know that I didn’t call last Sunday because I was in Atlanta. I’ll try to call this weekend.

Love to all Louie

Piedmont Hotel 450 Rooms 450 Baths
Atlanta, GA
Friday Dec 11 (1942?)
Dear Mom,

I just received your letter with the one Annie (?) wrote you.

It reads very good but I don’t think that it will work because once you’re in the Army your draft board has nothing to do with you. That while this sounds like something you do before you get in the army.

My commanding officer has tried to get me transferred and it hasn’t worked. So I have decided that as long as things are that way that I had better keep quiet as it could be lots worse for me.

As it is right now I am doing everything that everybody else is doing and I don’t mind it too much. I know that physically I will be a lot better off and as long as I have to be in I might as well take care of myself. So don’t worry because everything will be allright.

I am glad you enjoyed the trip to Boston. You try to make it as easy for yourself as possible and tell Ellie that that is one thing that I want.

Tell Ellie that I would like to know the stores’ figures for this year as to last year. I don’t want a financial statement but as you know I am interested and it ought to make something to read.

Well there isn’t much more to write so I will close with regards to all Love Louie
P.S. I didn’t call as it isn’t needed. I will call next Sunday (Please tell me the number)

Idle Gossip Sinks Ships
Sunday Dec 13 (1942?)
Dear Mom,

Just to let you know that I am O.K. and hope that you and the rest at home are the same.

I just came to town and as it is cold I wore my overcoat. The first thing that happened was that I lost a button so for the last half hour I have been sewing them on and making them stronger.

I ran and walked six miles yesterday in 1 hour and ten minutes and wasn’t to tired so you can see that I am getting better. We expect to keep doing that until we can go twenty miles. I guess I’ll be able to do it.

I could use some money I hate to ask for it but I lent some to a friend and won’t get it back until the first of the month. Just send it regular mail not registered.

Not much else to write will write later and will call Sunday morning. Love to all Louie

Wed. Noon (Dec? 1942?)
Dear Mom,

I just received your letter and what was in it. Thanks for such prompt service. I’ll give you all of my business.

It has turned cold here and I suppose it must be very cold at home.

I don’t think I’ll call this Sunday as if things continue as now, there will be no need to.

Regards to all Love Louie

Idle Gossip Sinks Ships
Sat. Nite (Dec 1942?)
Dear Mom,

Just a few lines to tell you that I am well and also that I hope you and the rest of them home are well also.

It was nice to talk to all of you last Thursday but I said Hello and Goodbye to often that I was beginning to get dizzy.

Tell Millie and Sam that I thank them for the nice phone call and that I really enjoyed a nice dinner even if I wasn’t there.

I received the box you sent me on Friday and the boys and I enjoyed the cookies and cake very much. I have them all chewing the Toffee and I think that about five of them have lost 3 teeth already.

Furloughs are starting again and if we are here for a while I might get another one. But this won’t be till the later part of Jan or Feb. So until then I can’t get excited about it.

Not much else to write now So will close with love to all and I’ll write soon.

Yours Louie

Wed. Dec 23 (1942?)
Dear Folks,

Just a few lines to let you know that things are O.K.

I have been going out on the firing range and we have been kept busy. All our spare time is taken up in learning about rifles and cleaning them.

We expect to have Christmas day off so I guess I’ll try to make up on a little sleep.

I was very glad to hear that business is so good by the time you get this it will be over and I hope it closed with a bang.

Not much else to write but will write in a couple days again. So.
Regards to all Louie

Idle Gossip Sinks Ships
Friday Dec 25 (1942?)
Dear Ellie,
Just to let you know that I received your letter with the money. Thanks and I hope that I can get along for a little while without sending for any more.
I was very happy to read how good business is. I feel that if you can hold C + R to last years figures that you will be doing very well. I really believe that of all the men’s stores in town we have had a bigger percentage of customers go into the service than any other store and even taking into consideration the facts that there is a lot of work and that prices are higher, to hold to last year is very good.
As for the kids things, you really have done a great job and I hope that it will go even better.
I do think though, that you ought at this time, start to build a little revenue for the future. Right now is the ideal time to start as it is easier to do it when you have good business and a fair (?) of each than to wait and try to do the same thing in duller times.
Also, after things quiet down a little you should try to straighten out accounts so that all the real estate is in one account and the two stores in two separate accounts. I don’t want to sound officious or anything like that but it will be lots easier for you later on.
I haven’t as yet received the package but expect it at any time as there has been a transfer Postal rush
I hope Mom is well and can now take it easy after the holidays.
You ought to keep giving a little help until you get through with your inventories. I don’t know what to tell you about my return in the C + R store. Try to figure out a bill of sale to Mom or find out what should be done.
Well, I guess I have written about all I can to get you feeling that I am sticking in my ten cents worth so will close with Best wishes and regards to all Louie
P.S. Tell Mom I’ll write in a couple days. Also please have Mom write me and send the telephone number of both house and store. Louie

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well, Ellie, this sheet is not to be seen by Mom.
I guess I am at the beginning of a journey. We have had all furloughs cancelled and they have started to pack our machine guns. This time it looks like the real thing so I am writing you this now in order that someone at home will know whats up in case you don’t hear from me for a while in January.
We have heard it rumoured that we will leave here by the 10th of January. It is also very strongly rumoured that we go overseas and also that we might go to another camp in the states. But it looks like Africa.
What ever happens I want Mom to get whatever I have and do as she wants with it. Of course there still is a chance that I might be weeded out before shipment overseas but we might as well expect anything.
So you know the story and as I write, if after the 10th you don’t hear from me well, break the news but wait a couple of weeks anyway.
Lots of luck Louie

Sunday December 27, 1942
Dear Mom,
I just received your letter and am happy and am happy to learn that you are weathering the Christmas rush so well.
You know that it either rains buckets or is very dry and so long as it is raining buckets we might as well put our as many boilers as we can to catch all that we possibly can. As I wrote Ellie now is the time to put away something for the future so that it will make things easier when business slows down.
I also think that if you can you ought to cut the mortgage on the house. After all if you have the money, there is no sense paying interest on the mortgage and getting nothing out of a big bank balance.
As to your going to Florida If that is what you want, well do it, but as for me I would take a couple of weeks in New York and see all the chains (?) and go everywhere and I know that you would enjoy it a lot more.
You know, Mom I’d like to have come here but reason it out, I was home only 2 months ago and I do call often enough besides writing to you as there is no good reason to take this hard tough trip down to see me.
Another thing, Ellie has inventory to take care of and you should be home at that time to help as much as possible. I hope you don’t think that I begrudge you having it easier but right now you shouldn’t be away to long.
I am enclosing a picture taken last week. As you can see I am still far from being a slim kid. I feel fine and don’t work to hard if I can help it and so far I can help it.
Well, not much else to write will close with Love and Regards to all Louie
P.S. Please write me about the figures for this past week as I would like to know that is Dec 1 to 26 compared to last year (over) there are three presents (?) give one to Millie and the other do what you want to with it. Louie