V-MAIL
Mrs. Philip R. Cohen
4/2/44

Dear Mom,

Just a few lines to let you know I am well and enjoying my self as much as possible.

Are you having a nice Passover? I could go some of your cooking right now. I’ll save up a real big appetite for you to take care of when I get home. Who did you have home for the Seder? I know that you all must have had a nice time. I don’t quite understand about your buying funds for the boys. You might as well take care of all the kids as well, as I don’t need any money over here.

What men have been taken from Willimantic lately? The way your last letter read it looks as if all the younger set is broken up.

Not much else to write Regards to Ellie and his wife and the rest As ever Love Louie

United States Army
Mrs. Philip R. Cohen

V-MAIL
4/2/44
Dear Helen: Is your antique clock still running? I am wondering if it has chimes or a cuckoo that pops in and out.

Anyway, how are you, Henry and the kids?. Dinny writes me the most letters but asks me the damndest questions that I can’t answer because of the answers necessary. He will have to wait a little while before I can answer them to his satisfaction.

With a lot of luck, I might get a couple days off this week. If I do, to London I will go to see if the Bridge really fell down. I hope I do go as I know the change of scenery would do me a lot of good.
Nothing else to say at this time so Regards to all and take care of yourself.
As always, Louie.

April 4, 1944
Dear Mom,

Just heard thru Rose of Millie’s having a boy so, congratulations. Of course after being an eight time Grandma it probably gets to where it is an old story with most grandmothers but I know it is quite different with our family. I was very pleased when I got the news. I hope that Millie and the baby are O.K. by the time you get this letter.

I received the package with the stockings yesterday and everything was just what I wanted and could use. I will drop Emma a line and thank her for the blades.

There isn’t much news to write as nothing out of the ordinary is taking place. I went to a city called Exeter and spent an afternoon walking all over the town. It has a very old + beautiful university and the town is very neat, quaint and interesting. The people have put a lot of effort into cathedrals and the result is that they have some beautiful ones.

Now with spring here, all the gardens and parks will probably blossom out into some real nice spots. At home I didn’t pay much attention to things like that but in a new land everything has something of interest to the new comer.

I hope I can get up to London to see some of the historic sights of that place but I’ll just have to wait until I can go.

Well, I haven’t much else now to write, so take care of yourself and give my regards to everyone. I’ll write again in a few days. Love Louie

P.S. Have Ellie drop me a line about the tax and how the stores are doing Louie

V-MAIL
Mrs. Philip R. Cohen
4/8/44

Dear Mom: Received your letter Mar. 29th yesterday which shows you that it doesn’t take to long some times to hear from home.

I was very sorry to hear of Millie’s baby passing away. There isn’t anything I can say or do to make it any easier for her so I think that I won’t say any more about it.

I received your package containing those things that I needed plus a very delicious fruit cake that didn’t last a minute. The fellows enjoyed it immensely.

Last nite I went to a nearby town to a Seder service. It was lovely and it made it a little easier to forget the fact that one couldn’t be at home. Tonite I am going to the same place again for services. The people there are really splendid and are doing all they can to make it as easy as possible for us to forget not being at home.

Not much else to write so take good care of yourself and give my best regards to everyone at home. Love Louie

V-MAIL
4/9/44

Dear Helen:
Just to let you know that I am well and expect that you and the rest of your mob are that way to.

I am writing this in a land of many different kinds of flowers. The odd part being that so early in the season they have reached their full bloom while it is stiff weather.

I went to a Passover service in a nearby town and enjoyed it very much. Of course it wasn’t like being home but it helped to make me a little less sick of this whole damn thing if that could be possible.

Did you go to Willimantic? And if so how does Mom look? Let me know. Not much else to write that is new. Regards to Henry & the kids.
Yours, Louie

V-MAIL
Mrs. Philip R. Cohen

4/13/44
Stamped 4/28/44

Dear Mom, How are you and the rest of the family? I hope you feel as well as I do. If so, it would be tops.

I have been kept pretty busy doing the usual things. I didn’t get a chance to get to London last week and so I am not going to plan on any trip like that. If I do get one I’ll just consider it my very good fortune. I found out where Chick Chasen and Henry are and it is quite some distance from where I am stationed and so the probability of seeing them is very slim.

After the Seder service last week, Matzoh was passed out so we brought some back with us and as with everything that can be eaten by soldiers it went very fast.

In your last package the hard candies melted together and so please send a nice large fruit cake next time as what little I got from the last one was just perfect.

Not much else to write at present I’ll drop you another letter in a couple of days. Write often Regards to Ellie and the Upstairs families Love Louie

V-MAIL
4/13/44

Dear Helen
Received your letter of 4/2/44 and am glad to learn that you are all well. I am well and keeping busy with the help of the army.

I didn’t get to London and so will not write of going until I have made the trip as I must be jinxing myself.

How is the spring line of vegetables? Or haven’t you planted your garden yet?
It is quite cold here and yet flowers of all descriptions are blooming or about to bloom.
You might excuse me for just this short letter as I have just been called to ration out some cigarettes.

So will close with best regards to all and how is Goodall doing? Tell the kids to write.
Love, Louie.

United States Army
Mrs. Philip R. Cohen

April 17, 1944
Apr 19 1944 (postmarked)
Dear Mom,

Received your letter of the 10th yesterday which is very fast service. I hope it continues.

I am glad to learn that you had such a nice Passover. As for your considering the details a nuisance I know you don’t mean it as you really enjoy the fuss and bother.

Ellie didn’t make me feel to good when he wrote that the men’s store volume was not up to snuff. But there isn’t much I can do about it. I think he is right in advertising a bit heavier and with a push now and then he should find a sign of improvement. I know he has quite a job on his hands with both places to take care of but he should and does know that the weak spot needs more work to bolster it up. So with a cautious buying policy plus a very watchful eye on unnecessary expences a good result should be had.

I went to town yesterday and while in a café met a young fellow from home: His name is Congdon and he is an ensign in the navy. I think he is a son of the man who used to run the Maverick Laundry. This kid used to come into the store and so I knew him.

I just received a letter from Helen telling me of Bernard’s being in Red Bank as Chief of the Navy Hospital. That is a real nice break for him. He was deserving of it as he had had plenty of sen duty. I know Henry + Helen will make it very pleasant for him while there.

How is the car taking the war? Has Ellie had the dents taken out and simonized it? It would be a good idea as it ought to be pretty good yet.

I hope you don’t undertake the garden by yourself as it would be to much for you alone.

There isn’t much more to write as there isn’t much I can say about myself still busy and not to too many places. Weather cool and our day races(?) as it rained to hard. I guess I can get along without them.

So best regards to all and take good care of yourself. Love Louie

P.S.
I haven’t any complaints about the frequency of mail from home. I kicked before and so now I feel that I should speak the other way. Louie

V-MAIL
4/17/44

Dear Helen
Received your letter of the 8th and glad to learn you are all in good health.

That was some break Henry got. I know how it is appreciated by him because he earned it. I hope these things come often to him.

Bernard being in Red Bank and with that kind of a setup is sitting pretty. Both he and you and your gang should have some enjoyable times. I am glad he got such a good break.
Not much news from me as there isn’t much new happening. I ran into a Willimantic guy yesterday and spent a few minutes with him.

Outside of that there nothing unusual taking place. So will close with best regards to all your gang and remember me to Bernard.
Yours Louie

V-MAIL
Mrs. Philip R. Cohen
4/23/44

Dear Mom:

Just a few lines to let you know I am well and hope that you all at home are the same.

It may seem to you that some of your letters aren’t getting answered but that is because of delivery. Last week I received yours of the 10th and then of the 4th and so I took care of both with one letter. I also received the 8 oz. package. Right now I am loaded with blades and as for cigarettes I have plenty of them also.

This being Sunday morning things are quiet and so I intend to do a little laundering. Don’t sell the washing machine as I quit as soon as this is over.

Not much else to write at this time. Don’t overdue the garden work and take good care of yourself. Regards to everyone at home As always Love Louie

V-MAIL
Mrs. Philip R. Cohen

V-MAIL
4/23/44

Dear Helen & All
Just a few to inform you that I am well and hope that all of you are. By now I suppose you have Bernard all tied up and busy with social functions which probably tickles him to a great degree. Or did you put him to work in the garden? I’d like to be in Red Bank about August and visit the farm again.

How did Henry do on his trip? Or are there still as many restrictions as ever? I seem to keep asking questions but that also fills the page doesn’t it?

Well, that about all until my next letter I hope will be merrier. Give my regards to all there.
As always, Louie

4/27/44
Dear Mom, Have been getting excellent delivery of air mail letters from home and I am only five days behind the news. That is a great improvement and it really does wonders toward making life here a lot pleasanter. I received the Boston Herald which Millie sent. It is printed so fine I’ll have to get glasses to read it. Not complaint just an attempt at a bit of humor (Not funny)

Beautiful weather here and it is something to see. Flowers all in bloom and vegetables in the gardens starting to pop out. I suppose it’s the same at home but I know its much nicer.

Not much I can tell you now as nothing new has taken place. Regards to Ellie his wife and the upstairs: Take care of yourself Love Louie

V-MAIL
Mrs. Philip R. Cohen
4/30/44

Dear Mom,

Just a few lines to let you know I am well and hope that all of you at home are the same.

I am going back to childhood as I think I have a mild case of the hives. I don’t have strawberries and cream very often so can’t account for the cause, however, they keep me company and so I don’t feel all alone.

Did Ellie take care of the car this spring? And in what shape is it? You ought not leave doing over my room because it will make the whole house look bad. Whatever scheme you pick out will be O.K. with me.

That’s all for now except did Ellie pay income tax for me this year? My regards to all and I’ll write in a couple days. Love Louie

V-MAIL
4/30/44

Dear Helen, Am taking advantage of the weather and so if there is an odd odor from this letter, it is good old England. I am out in our “back yard” stretched out on the grass writing and at the same time getting a does of good hot sun and it is swell.

I suppose Bernard is pretty well set up by now and so has a little time to spend with your gang.
How did Henry do on his trip to Texas? I hope he wrapped them up.

I think I had the hives but not the itchy type. It must be from powdered eggs and oatmeal for breakfast the past three months. Today by the way is our 3 month anniversary of being here in England and it doesn’t seem like any more than five weeks. (you thought I’d write years but I am a good talker).
Regards to all yours, Louie