Stanley Arrived From England

July 3, 1945. Anna writes a short handwritten letter to Dad. She notes that the following day is Independence Day but not for her because she “is still double.” The baby is two weeks overdue, but as far as Anna is concerned, “…no matter how people figure, babies get born when their time comes.” Even so, the doctor told Anna to take castor oil. She refuses to take that “axle grease” and instead prefers to “wait a few weeks.” From the context of other comments in the letter, it is clear that Anna is at home. She suggests that the baby might come the following day, making it a “Fourth of July baby.” She is still expecting a boy.

Although the impending birth of a baby is big news, the other big news is that “Stanley arrived from England in the U.S.A. last Saturday. He called up about ten o’clock from Camp Kilmer, N.J. Today he came home about 9:30 A.M He looks thin and tired and I imagine anyone would. It took them 4 ½ days to get here and the last two days they ran into a…hurricane which the weather bureau had forecast was to hit Miami, Florida. …I told mama not to worry about how he looked but to give a fella a chance to rest and eat decent again and he would be OK, but you should know how mama is.”

U.S. Army photo of Camp Kilmer

Anna continues, “Terry welcomed Stanley with a big smile and kiss but she calls him Uncle Anthony. See how she doesn’t forget you. Now she is sleeping downstairs… Mama and Stanley just disappeared. I think mama went to the store and Stas went with her. I am writing today because who knows how much longer I’ll be home and I haven’t written too frequently because I…don’t feel good.”

As Anna is finishing the letter, Stanley and Mama have returned from the store. After advising Dad that another package of personal items (hair oil, shampoo and powder) is on its way, Anna closes, “I guess I will close for now because I can’t talk and write at the same time. Stanley has so much to say and I will writes as soon as I can. So long, Good Luck, and God bless you.”