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[1 April 1928] April Fools Day Leon Nicaragua
Dearest:
Here we are in Nicaragua. We arrived at Corinto
yesterday and after unloading the ship all day we were
headed into a train about the same size as my suit case
is and started for Leon. We got here about Midnight then
started unloading all our Company property and baggage
off the train so we got to sleep at about 3:00 A.M. Our
supper last night was two ham sandwiches and what warm
water we had in our canteens and as we were all very
hungry we dropped one of the boxes with canned beans and
made a feed. I didn’t get a can cause there weren’t
enough in a box to go around but those that did get them
split with those that didn’t.
Ive seen much good beer in evidence but havent taken any
myself for reasons of my own. The first reason is you
and the second is cause I quit drinking The other
reasons are a secret.
Im sending you the water ticket I had aboard the
“Oglala” to put in that scrap book of ?
You will notice how many buckets of fresh water I got on
that trip. We always had to stand in a line about 7
miles long for everything like that and many guys got
left.
I tried to take pictures coming through the canal again
but not much success cause it was late in the afternoon
when we got started through the first lock and it got
dark quick and a time picture wont work while the ship
is moving. Ill see how they turn out anyway. There is no
photographer here but I dont think we will be here long
anyway so maybe if we go to “Ocotal” we may find a stray
one there.
It sure is warm down here honey. Im sitting in a breeze
and still sweating to beat the band. It must be 110° in the shade and there isn’t any shade around. You wont even
recognize me for the coat of tan Ill have when I get
back. Ill look just like (Our Friend?) Sandino.
These people here aren’t niggers honey. I thought they
were like in Haiti and Cuba but they aren’t. They are a
mixture of Spanish and Indian I don’t like them though
and they hadn’t better give me any reason at all to kill
them cause I clean and oil my pistol every morning and I
need Half breed hide to make a good suit case.
The chow here is wonderfull they give us all the beans
we want as long as we don’t want more than one spoonful
and all the hard tack we want as long as we dont want
more than three. The coffee is good. Just like chewing
tobacco juice. The dust and sand , flies, cockroaches,
bugs, flies, etc. give the food a wonderfull strength
and flavor. Im going to live on fruit as long as Im in
the hills and if I stay in a city like this or Ocotal
very long Ill go bankrupt buying fruit at a nickel a
dozen. This is all Sandino’s fault so he better not let
me see him cause Ill put so much lead into his hide they
will need a derrick to move his body. Ill quit for a
while now to go after more (Beans & hard tack) and Ill
write more after dinner.
1 hour later
I was lucky this noon to get through so quick, it
generally takes twice as long as this to get anything to
eat.
The rest of the company or at least the majority of them
are going on liberty this afternoon but little ole
Thomas is going to stick around here. There is nothing
in this country that I want except Sandino’s scalp and
he isn’t in town or if he is he isn’t letting us know
about it so Im going to stay in so there wont be any
chance for me to go wrong.
You know honey a man is liable to go wrong if he gets
out and sees some of the Senoritas around here. Oh yes.
There are some of those around here and although they
aren’t considered naughty around this country, they
would be considered very much so at home. Thats why Ive
quit drinking cause there isn’t so much danger of my
losing my head by getting pickled. People have been
known to do things they were sorry for later, and the
only reason the do those things is because they are
drunk. I just decided that no matter how good the beer
and booze may be Im going to lay off of it so don’t be
surprised if I make up for lost time by getting drunk as
a lord when I get back to the states where the only
danger will be policemen.
I had to draw so much khaki clothes before I made this
trip that my clothing allowance is way drawn out. It may
be darn lucky after all that I came here cause we may be
out in the hills for months at a time where we wont need
money so they can check me all they want to and I wont
worry.
Well honey Im going to close now so I can write Lill a
few lines yet and maybe a few lines to my father. I wish
you could be here to see the funny sights and funny
people and the houses & ox carts etc. Its all very
funny.
We got instructions about Sandino yesterday. They told
us to bring him in but not as a prisoner. Now what could
that mean. I wish Id meet him. Id bring him in the way
they want him. Boy Id make him wish he hadn’t started
anything to bring me so far away from you. I can’t help
but think of you all the time honey and wish I was with
you. Oh well 446 more days and a flop so Ill, “see you
later.”
Love
Porter
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XX
P.S. My address is
61st Machine gun Co. 11th Regt. U.S.M.C. Expeditionary
Force Nicaragua c/o Post Master Balboa Canal Zone
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April 2 1928 Leon Nicaragua
Dearest:
Im going to try to write you a few lines this afternoon
although Im not at all sure how well I will succeed. We
drilled so well this morning that they decided to give
us the whole afternoon, all weve got to do is clean up
our machine gun.
In yesterdays letter I told you that I wasn’t going on
liberty but I changed my mind and went anyway but didn’t
drink anything except two bottles of soda water. I went
with one of my buddies to hear some gook band play while
all the men marched in one direction around the band
stand and all the Senoritas in the other direction and
they all threw confetti at one another and all wore
their best. It seems that the week after Palm Sunday is
“Holy week.” for them and everyone that can get a hold
of a pair of shoes wears them and the womens dresses and
shawls are all the colors of the rain bow. I wish you
could have been here to enjoy all this with me. Im sure
you would have liked it.
I haven’t received any mail as yet but I guess thats
because the mail hasn’t come in from Managua yet. They
don’t have a post office here so all our mail gets
thrown off at Managua and comes up here when ever they
find a spare mailman to make the trip up here.
They are working us pretty hard here and every one is
growling but for the short time Ive got to do yet I
don’t care if they stand me on my head until I get paid
off. I won’t complain no matter how much it hurts. Just
as long as I know that you love me. Thats all that
matters.
Im going to try to get a young parrot and a young monkey
when we get out of here and bring them home as pets so
you’d better train any cats you might bring around to
leave a bird alone.
My thumb is coming along fine although I don’t think
that cavity is filling up very fast but I think Id
rather have it slow but sure anyway. If it fills out to
quick it would be easier hurt.
How is the weather up there? Is it still cold? I wish it
were a little cooler here. Its so darn hot here all the
time that half of the time I don’t know if Im coming or
going. The sudden change from the states to tropical
weather is hard on a man and it often is hard to get
used to it. Im getting used to it a little bit already.
I wish you could see some of the sights down here. They
have some machines. They belong to the wealthier people
mostly Castilion Spanish, its only the peasants that are
part Indian and they are mostly poor but these wealthy
people are mostly connected in some way to the people
that came when Ponce DeLeon first found this country.
The poorer class very seldom wear shoes and as a rule
are very ignorant. They all work at something or
another. The women can be seen from early in the morning
till late at night carrying baskets and boxes and all
kinds of junk on their head and its quite a common
sights to see a little girl six or seven years old
carrying 20 or 30 lbs on her head nor for a small boy to
be carrying water by the casks on mules back or hauling
wood or selling fruit.
I guess Ill quit for a while now honey and finish this
tonight cause Ive got some clothes I want to scrub. The
clothes get so darn dirty here cause the whole place is
so darn dusty. The dust lays 6 or 7 inches deep all over
and when you walk you cant help but stir up a cloud of
dust. Ta Ta for now.
We have been eating with the one company of Marines that
were here when we got here but now I think we are
getting our own Field kitchen so we will have our own
mess. We are quartered in an old Monastary that they are
fixing up for a school. They are quartering us here
because we don’t expect to stay here long. If it wasn’t
for this old building we would be sleeping in tents and
the mosquitoes are bad enough around here without
sleeping with a bunch of lizzards, bugs, and sand flees
and Id much rather sleep with a couple of rattlesnakes
any day in the week cause they only bite once and then
leave a guy sleep but these darn bugs & sand flees try
to eat a guy up and that don’t feel so good.
Im afraid Im going to have to make a couple of guys
think a train hit them. This is all a new gang and they
don’t know any better than to pester around me while Im
trying to write. Ive got an idea that Im going to start
a class pretty soon too.
Well honey don’t forget I love you and always will and
Ill be back if I have to come with a wooden overcoat.
When with the Spanish people do as the Spanish do
Besos Ye Pesos
Your
Porter
Write soon and dont forget to look at the address.
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April
11, 1928 Leon Nicaragua
Dearest:
I hardly know how to start this letter off nor do I
think I should start tonight. We are just back from
Ocotal where we went as a convoy for an ammunition
train. Weve experienced just about a little of
everything there is on such a little trip like that,
everything from starvation to skirmishes with little
rebel bands who would have liked to lay hands on that
ammunition. Ive lived mainly on fruit that we bought
from natives for the last couple of days we couldn’t go
off into the woods off the road and get it ourselves
cause we were in rebel country so we just simply had to
buy it. We all ran out of smokes and had to buy from
native dealers and they charge almost enough for a pack
of smokes to buy a car in the States. The duty is so
darn high on them. We bought enough for a month at 7₵
per pack when we got to a post exchange though. I kind
of like this country though except for two things. The
starvation for one and because Im so darn far away from
you for another reason. We brought our mail along as we
came through Managua but no letter for me.
Im restricted for ten days. I can’t leave the compound
except on duty. Four other guys with me. The five of us
shot at a gook and only one man hit. No it wasn’t a case
of poor marksmanship it was a case of assassin unknown
so we were up before the C.O. and got 10 days
restriction so the natives would be satisfied that we
were punished so we got 10 days with a little Extra
Police Work.
Next day
I had to quit last night cause it was getting so darn
dark and I was tired as the dickens anyway.
More excitement. They just put up a detail for shore
patrol and everyone went to see if they are on it or
not. Im not. I expect to get a nice detail the end of
this week or the first part of next on another
ammunition and supply train going into the hills.
There is only one thing that has kept me from going
crazy this last week. That was thinking of you and
remembering what a nice reception I got when I came home
and because I want to get back for more is the only
reason I didn’t go nuts. Ive kept sane enough to keep
away from booze and these Spanish women also the gook
women and whats more I haven’t even had a desire for a
glass of beer and no sign of weakening yet. There won’t
be any either not if I know about it. The time has been
going very slowly since I came back off that leave. Ive
been very lonesome but just thinking of you helps that
along. Thats all I live for now, to think about you and
to get back to you.
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April
14 1928 Leon Nicaragua
Dearest:
Im going to start this letter tonight although Im sure I
don’t know what Im going to write about, all I know is
that Im lonesome for you again. Ive been thinking of you
all day again so Ive simply got to write to let you know
how much I love you and long and wish for you.
Ive been doing extra police work all day so I took my
daily bath and washed some clothes after supper and now
it is pretty late. I wish you would try taking a bath in
a bucket of water once. Its lots of fun (for a halfwit)
The ammunition and supply train that was supposed to
leave today didn’t leave and if they don’t leave pretty
soon they won’t leave until after the rainy season which
is due to start in a week or two and when it does the
mountain roads get impossible and by the time the rainy
season is over the election will be over and Sandino
most probably brought in or driven from the country. If
we stay in Leon here for the election we may probably
start back for the States in October or November. It
would be kind of hard on us in the mean time cause while
we stay here we do intensive training but thats a darn
sight better than burrowing around the hills in a half
starved condition and dirty as pigs without a chance to
even wash our hands or face half the time and its also
better this way cause Im surer of getting back to you.
If we knew for sure that going into the hills meant
death it wouldn’t be so bad but chances are 10 to 1 that
if we get hit at all we will just be wounded and maybe
crippled. That would hurt most, so I guess its just as
well that we stay where we are for the present.
There seems to be something doing right now. They are
looking all over for the property Sgt. To get out the
reserve ammunition and we are now standing by in
quarters, they are sending out men to round up all the
liberty parties in town. Looks like we might be due for
some excitement tonight yet, nothing definite only
playing safe for some reason or another. It wouldn’t be
a new sensation though to have call to arms go in the
middle of the night so Im not worrying any. I only hope
that if they do start anything that Sandino himself will
be there so we can get all this over with.
Well honey the next time the mail gets in here I want a
couple of nice letters and the more the merrier and we
will hope that I get back into the state in time to be
in Cleveland for Christmas so for now bye bye my Derby
and Dont forget to write to
Your
Porter
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XX
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April
17 1928 Leon Nicaragua
Dearest Derby:
This mail around here runs just about like the trains.
The schedule says during or about the year 1928 such and
such a train will arrive. The mail is just about the
same. There were 105 bags of mail got here from Managua
yesterday but it hasn’t been given out yet so I guess it
hasn’t got this far yet we expect it sometime today
though.
I was on a patrol last night from 5 to 10 P.M. No
excitement except for one spick that got a little silly
from drinking this darn “Wiro.” One punch in the mouth
soon fixed him up so we took his pig sticker from him
and turned him loose again. They drink this “Wiro” cause
they can get drunk on a dimes worth of it but the
trouble is when a guy gets drunk on that stuff he would
walk up and take a punch at the devil himself. It makes
them goofy.
This country seems to be doing my thumb a lot of good. I
split it open a few days ago and its healed already and
its getting tougher and tougher all the time. Its
filling up too, slow but sure.
I found a photographer the other day but didn’t know how
good he was so I just left one of my worst rolls to be
developed and he burned up all but one film by using an
arc light for printing. Im sending you that one to laugh
at, it’s a picture of the only sea port in Nicaragua and
therefore also the biggest. Thats one of the largest
towns down here. This city is the largest and Managua is
second Ocotal third and the (seaport) “Corinto” is
fourth. The two largest cities put together are about as
big as one half of Akron. Im also sending you two stamps
I picked up . One is an “Austrian” stamp the other is
“Italian.”
Ive been reading over the two letters that I think so
much about and also the (consolation?) note. The first
one is of the letter to the (Great Private) from the
(Greatest of the Great West Tech Rooters). You told me
that you didn’t think you had done right to let me kiss
you. You said Hoppy or Anne wouldn’t have. Im just
wondering if you still think the same way. The next
letter was about your “Cumberland” trip and also you
said “Yes’ but you were still in doubt as to wether it
was (love) or not. Have you found out? Thanks to your
mother and Hoppy. The note of consolation is proof of
that, also the many happy hours of my last furlough. The
unhappy hour when I had to leave also was proof of that.
I get very lonesome down here where you are so far away
but I can always see you right here in front of me as
you looked on a dozen different occasions, especially as
you looked when I kissed you. Those memories are all
that keep me from going Bolshevick around here. I miss
you more than it is possible to tell you in words. We
will just have to let the fact that I do miss you and do
love you be sufficient.
Im going to try to have a letter on every mail boat that
leaves this country and Im going to expect a letter
every time the mail comes in so get that pen busy honey.
Im not sure if they will leave me but Im going to try to
get a transfer either to a band in “Managua” or else a
transfer to “Haiti” just keep writing though cause Ill
get it all sooner or later. Well honey for now Im going
to say Adios and Ill write more in a couple of days.
Porter XX P.S. Am I gyping you on your letters any more
than is absolutely necessary? Im trying not to.
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April
18, 1928 Leon Nicaragua
Dearest:
Ive received three of your letters so Ive come to the
conclusion that patience is a virtue. Im going to try to
answer them as the were written. The first was mailed on
March 22, and went to Hampton Roads.
You asked me if I was sure that your first letter was
received in June ’26? No Im not sure by any means
because I don’t know when your first letter arrived
cause it may be that one arrived the year before but it
may have been mixed in with some bunch of letters that
Ive burned. If I’d saved all the letters Ive received
since I enlisted Id have a trunk full so your letter may
unkntentionally have got mixed up with some of those,
but the first one I have saved is of June 20, 1926. Does
that straighten that out?
Ill admitt that I would like to see this, “beautiful
green,” bathing suit but Id rather just see you. Ill see
both though and then raise the bet a couple of times.
I never said that you answered in a dumb way honey. I
only wanted to know why you said that you hope I mean
who you think I mean. I know now all I needed was to
have my memory refreshed.
Darn it all anyway why chuckle because I signed myself,
“Bashfull.” Im just about right ir anyway I used to be
and Im still a little that way.
Talking about snakes honey makes me think to tell you
that I may go on a hunting trip here soon, for big game.
Deer and Couger are plentiful around these parts and if
I can get three more fellows and can get the permission
and leave required and see my way clear to spend about
$40 for the rental of a horse and to buy ammunition and
supplies I may go for about 10 days. The reason they may
let us go is because the venison comes in handy for the
galley.
Now back to your letters. By the way honey if youve
never told Hoppy so before you might tell her sometime
that I am grateful to her for the decision she helped
you make. Id have written her a letter thanking her a
long time ago but I didn’t know if you’d told her that I
knew or if she would like it.
By the way, This big boy is stepping out today. He wrote
a letter to another (Miss) who lives in West Virginia.
No harm done though I simply wrote to my old buddies
sister in the hope that she may be able to aid me in
locating him. He seems to have dropped off the edge of
the earth, and I knew her first name cause it’s the same
as “Babes” and I knew his home address.
I kind of liked those men that knew where they belonged
in a guard mount but were foolish enough to go and get
lost on a furlough. They were good this way but would
have tasted much better if they hadn’t got lost.
Your next letter was addressed here and was mailed March
26th. Im glad you liked the watch. I only wish I’d been
able to get a key for it.
Ill try to see that you receive a picture of the Great
Private but don’t know if Ill be able to get the machine
gun and the tin derby is out of the question. We aren’t
allowed to take the machine gun out only when told to
and there isn’t much chance to take a picture duing
action and during drill it is out of the question
almost. Ill try however.
No Im not worrying any Im just sore as heck cause they
take me so far away from you at this time after almost 3
years in the States and Im sore because after my
spending so much on music they take me away from it.
Im glad you like my sisters so much and am happier than
you can know to realize that you love their brother. In
fact I believe that if it wasn’t for that they might
have an awful Bolshevick on their hands down here. You
are the only reason that Im not doing some rash things
down here. In fact I was boiling all over yesterday and
just thinking of raising cain when these letters arrived
to make me think better of it.
Good Lord. Here Im almost out of paper and Ive still got
to explain the difference between a sea bag and a heavy.
I see right now where I have to hunt up some more paper.
Here comes my Christmas paper into use again. Well a
“heavy” is short for a heavy marching order. Its one
blanket, one pup tent with stakes, one change of khaki,
one complete change of underwear, and our toilet
articles, mess gear etc. A sea bag is a canvas bag about
18 inches in diameter and about three feet deep with a
place to close it and lock it. The sea bag is issued to
us for the duration of our enlistment and we carry all
our clothes in them. They are taken along as baggage and
can’t always be got to on board ship.
So – you thought you were going to fool me with another
one of these French phrases. (mal-de-mer) Ive just about
figured it emans sea sickness cause if Im not wrong mal
means sick and mer means sea, hence my deductions at
first I thought it meant, “Man-O-War” but couldn’t make
it fit so I guessed again. Am I right?
No I dont suppose you do know what a corset is like but
I guess you know how it feels to be squeezed, well thats
about how it would feel to be rolled into a heavy
marching order except that being squeezed doesnt involve
being carried on a mans back like being rolled in a
heavy would.
So far honey Ive stayed by my word and stayed away from
booze and from these (Senoritas) and Im still going
strong with no sign of weakness.
Well Honey Im going to close this and leave it hoin
yesterdays letter and hope they get under way sooner
than the next government transport.
Love and many lost Soldiers
Porter
XX These two got lost also.
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April
22nd [1928] 61st Company Leon Nicaragua
Dearest:
I was on the guard as a runner yesterday and as I was
tired and didn’t think I would be needed anymore last
night I went to bed at about 9:30 P.M. I was called at
11:45 P.M. to round up all the company officers. I found
them everywhere except their quarters. They were
scattered over all the bar rooms in the town. I finally
got them all in regardless of the state of sobriety.
They had a serious but hasty conference behind closed
doors. The news came at 2:00 A.M. That two platoons
would move to Blue fields which is the place where all
these revolutions always start. At 2:30 A.M. they
announced that it would be the First and Second machjine
gun platoons that would go. We were sent back to bed for
two hours when they blew an early reveille and we were
supposed to pack, eat breakfast and sign the muster roll
and get under way by six oclock A.M. we were ready to.
The orders said we were to proceed to Corinto by rail
and board a couple of the Destryoers that were waiting
for us and we were to proceed through the Panama Canal
to the East Coast of Nicaragua to a place called Blue
fields. We got stand by orders at six A.M. and at 9:30
A.M. we were told to unpack again cause we aren’t going.
Im glad in one way cause if we had gone Id never even
got a chance to drop you a line cause we weren’t going
to do any stopping at all and I don’t think there is any
way of mailing a letter from the place we were going to
and much less chance of ever getting a letter. There
would be so much of my mail going astray that Id never
get caught by it. We would probably both be grand
parents before all the letters ever caught up to me.
Im putting a couple of labels into this envelope that
come off of beer bottles. Ask your Dad if hes ever seen
them and Ill bet he can tell you what they are without
looking twice. Ill not be able to make such a complete
collection as I had hoped to because Ive quit drinking
and the toehr fellows aren’t interested enough to take
the labels off unless they themselves are saving them.
Im all-so sending you a merry-go-round ticket. They call
it a carousel or play horse here.
Theya re starting four new posts on the patrol today.
These new posts each man will be on watch 3 days without
coming back to the quarters because these new posts are
so far out and in the sticks that it takes a months pay
to send a postal card there.
Im afraid Ill have to knock off now honey and try to
write more tonight so ta ta for now.
Tonight never did seem to come around yesterday so Im
going to try to finish this today. This being written on
my 21st Birthday so we could call the writing of this a
celebration. Theyve been ringing the church bells in
this town all day again. Im not so sure though that they
are ringing for my birthday, it might be another one of
these religious holidays that these people down here
observe. They never have more than 9 holidays in one
week and never less than 4
In your March 26th letter you mentioned the fact that
you saw the average on my course, please tell me what
that average was as that average hasn’t reached me yet.
Im afraid this detail will just about put a finish to my
course and it just happens that Im almost finished too.
Let me tell you something else my Sweet Young Lady, if
you ever get your hands onto those pictures of “Emil of
some years ago” again Tear them up for me. I think I
know which ones you are referring to.
Dont go to worrying about this young mans dreams
skipping 18 perfectly good years cause they won’t. The
only reason my dreams are ahead of yours is because I
started mine so much before yours. My pleasant dreams
started long before you decided to say, “Yes.”
In one of your letters you asked me the old question,
“What is Love anyhow.” Have you found the answer to that
question yet? I know what Love means but it happens that
my vocabulary is way to small to even attempt to
explain.
I believe Id give most anything right now to have that
hour or two of ours at Brookside all over. I often think
of it when I lay around here with nothing to do.
Well Hoppy’s idea that you may lose your passion for
doys & horses may be alright, but Im gambling the other
way. You better get fond of Nicaraguan Parrotts too
cause Im going to own one and whatever ship I come on Im
going to try my best to bring him along also a monkey if
I can or maybe a honey bear in its place if I can. Il
also give you a chance to lose your passion for dogs by
having one of those around the house. I think by the
time we get all those animals into one vity we won’t
hardly have room to turn around. Oh well, who wants to
turn around though?
Sending out four Marines to preserve peace in some of
these small towns is nothing compared to some of the
things that happened down here last year when we weren’t
only fighting Sandino but also the conservative army,
which is just another name for a bunch of bandits. The
Marines ran across a band of armed conservatives in the
hills and took them on as prisoners. The conservatives
were only 308 men and the marines were 8 Privates, one
Corporal, one Top Sgt. And one officer 2nd Lieutenant.
Ten enlisted men and one officer. A shave tail at that.
I believe Ill close now honey seeing as Ive told you
just about all there is to tell and here’s hoping the
mail gets here on schedule which is April 27, 1928 or
better yet lets hope it gets here sooner and heres
hoping some of those letters that went to Haiti get here
soon.
Love
Porter
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XX
like this
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April
27, 1928 61st M.G. Co. 11th Regt. Marines Leon Nicaragua
Dearest:
I started a letter to you day before yesterday when I
had the guard but never finished the letter cause I was
called away to go on watch.
To begin with Tuesday I went out with the other platoon
to fill in for a man who was on guard. We went out to
fire the machine gun range and I made high score for
that day. (Small Roses?) Well that glory didn’t last
very long though cause Wednesday when I was on guard
some Corporal went out and bettered my high score by two
points. I didn’t get to shoot yesterday nor this morning
so I guess he wins for a while anyway.
Well today is the 27th so the mail boat is due in
“Corinto” today sometime so we should get some mail
about the first of next week anyway. Im expecting a
whole sea-bag full. I wonder if my hopes and
expectations will be fulfilled. I hope so.
This darn country sure is the bunk. The time doesn’t
pass like it does in other tropical countries, it drags
here and a weeks seems like a year. Still it wont be
long now if I do every day of my cruise then Ive got 418
days to go if not, that is, if I get out 3 months ahead
of time then Ive only got 326 days. I hate to do those
last three months because Im anxious to get back to you,
but on the other hand I stand to lose much money if I
get out those 3 months early and that just means so much
less of a start for us. However I could make up for what
Id lose in three months once I get to working on the
outside. What would be the best thing for me to do?
By the way, Ive a little news to tell you but I don’t
want you to bank to much on it cause its only rumor, but
Ive heard that we may get back to the Good Ole U.S.A.
for the Christmas Holiday. If we do Then stand by for
another furlough but this one is going to be a real one
if I get to make it and I doubt if you will remain in
Cleveland when I come back for the last couple of
months. Oh no. Mrs. Thomas would come right along and
would stay along for a few months. Thats exactly the
size of the whole thing honey. If I was to come to
Cleveland tomorrow Id come with a wedding ring. I miss
you so much that Im afraid Id never be able to come back
without you.
I just heard some news honey. We are moving out of here
tomorrow to toehr quarters. They will still be in this
sity though. We are only moving out of this institute
building because school starts nest month. The mail
comes to the same address (lucky for me).
Did I tell you yet that Im going to work right along
with my course regardless of where I am. It wont be no
easy matter to get my exams in but Ill manage somehow. I
sure had to fight plenty for permission, cause those
things must go through official channels and on an
expedition things like that are a pain, so if I dont
want to have half my lessons lost Im going to have to
use plenty of diplomacy and good sense. Im just about
ready to write out another exam now so we’ll see how it
works once.
I managed to sneak off to one side of the firing line
today and I got a couple of pictures of the machine guns
as they went into action. I don’t know how they will pan
out. Ill see that later too.
Next day
I had to quit yesterday and last night I didn’t get
another chance to write. This morning we moved from the
old quarters tot eh new. Then I had to go down to Hdqts.
To mount guard now Im going to try to write.
I like this new place even better than I did the old
place. Weve got plenty of water and nicer quarters and
even a flower garden in the center of it. Wish you could
see it. Weve got no galley here though as yet so we will
have to go clean across town for our meals for a while.
I think we will get our mail today or Monday cause the
boat didn’t sink and got into Corinto O.K. last night.
So far Ive kept away from this booze down here. I think
Im going to get me a little beer and wine pay day night
cause thats my next liberty night and one of the fellows
is going along to see that I don’t get to much. He don’t
drink at all so he’s going to keep an eye on me so I
can’t get reckless.
Im going to try to write a few lines to Lill if they
don’t give me some work to do before then.
I think Ill close now honey and try to write Pa and Lill
a few lines and Ill write more to you when out mail
comes in.
Besos Ye Pesos
Porter
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May 2,
1928 61st Company Leon Nicaragua
Dearest:
I don’t remember now if I ever sent off an answer to
your letters that I received Saturday, cause since then
Ive done nothing but duty on the patrols and go to the
Range and load cartridge belts for the macine guns and
in bewenn times when I had a few minutes to spare Id try
to catch up on lost sleep. Im on a patrol again today
but I don’t go on till 8:00 P.M. tonight.
I received a letter from Lill at the same time that I
received your four letters. I sure was glad to hear from
her. The mail boat and payday are the only real bright
days for us, you know and they sure come seldom enough.
I heard some nice news the other day. I heard that this
machine gun company is going to stay here in Leon till
after the elections and we will probably come back to
the States along about in December. Oh well honey don’t
worry. They cant keep me down here much longer than that
even if they dont send us back then.
This is pay day down here and the first thing I did was
to get my supplies and then a couple of bottles of beer,
The first Ive had since we got here by the way. Boy that
sure tasted good. I dont mean maybe. It tasted just like
more, but Porter knows better than to let his eyes till
his (Will Power) what to do.
I only wish you were down here honey. I wouldn’t care
then, even if the mail never got in. I wish you could
see these women, They carry everything on their head.
They sell fruit and other wares on the street corners
and sit out in the street with their trays setting on
the sidewalk and their days sales dont often amount to
much over 3 or 3 ½ dollars and they sit there from about
5:00 A.M. till late at night. Ive bought oranges for 3₵
per doz. and 3 doz. Banannas for a dime. Oh they are
sheap enough now cause there is plenty of show here, but
when we are on a hike or something where the food is
scarce and they know we are hungry they try to rob us by
asking big prices. Im eating the 18th banana out of a
dimes worth right now. You just wait till I come home.
Ill bet you won’t even recognize me. Ill be as sunburned
as a nigger and probably be very fat from eating many
bananas.
The rest of the gang have gone to show now so Ill have a
little time to write when on one will bother me. I don’t
feel like eating anyway.
What’s the matter honey? Is this absence making the
heart grow finder? In your last batch of letters you
seemed to have a bad case of “Blues.” They are alright
in our “Blue Heaven” but otherwise the are nix. I know
its pretty hard waiting and I often feel that way but if
you will just forget to think about how long it will be
before I come home, I think you will have fewer Blue
moments.
Do you know what I often do? I just see you as you
looked when ever I kissed you and as you looked when you
first met me at the door. Then I imagine Im kissing you
again and those – shall we steal a name and say (Dream
Kisses?) are pretty nice while they last but then when I
get a chance to sit down and think about the time Ive
got to do yet then I get more lonesome than ever but
when I come back to the “Dream Kisses,” then all that
leaves again.
Well honey Ive got to get ready for patrol now and go
down to Battalion Headquarters for orders and
instructions. Ill write more first chance I get
Write soon Honey cause those letters mean very much to
me
Semper
Porter
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XX C.P.
I forgot these in the last letter, XXXXXXXXXXXX
XX C.P.
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May 4,
1928 61st Co. Leon Nicaragua
Dearest:
Ive been working all afternoon so far loading machine
gun belts with ammunition we use about 4000 round of it
for a half day firing on the range. Think of how much we
would fire in combat. Just figure eight guns to a
company each firing 240 rounds per minute or four shots
each second. We never fire steady that long though. We
probably shoot a burst of 50 or 100 rounds then change
to another spot. My hands are sore and my arms tired
from feeding that loading machine.
I hear that there is another mail boat coming in about
the 6th so we will probably get the mail about the 7th
or 8th. I wonder how many letters I get this time. I
hope its plenty and the more the merrier.
I wrote to my father to Lill to my cousin Gust
Sharalotta, and to Erv and Jim yesterday. I sent a few
lines to let them know Im still alive and kicking.
Do you know honey? That no matter how much I want to get
back to you and no matter how much I hate this country
still I like it. I just don’t know what it is cause
there is nothing here that I like and everything except
the machine gun seems to bore me. Im a little bit
interested in that but then Im no more interested in it
than I am in the rest of my duties.
Ill say this much for this darn country. Its harder to
soldier and if you want to soldier you just have to keep
plugging away all the time, shave at least once a day
and take a couple of baths a day and either scrub two
complete changes of clothes a day and shine your shoes
at least four or five times a day and all on account of
the intense heat and the thick dust. Then to every thing
is made as inconveinient as possible cause it is made
for the use of these Gooks and they are way out of
style. We have to take a bath in a bucket, sit on a box
for a hair cut, stand in line for chow also wait our
turn in line for a bucket of water and to scrub clothes.
We line up for so many things that if I was to be woke
up in the middle of the night Id run out and fall in
before I was fully awake.
The streets are so hot that it burns your feet right
through the soles and its hard to march on the streets
cause theyre all paved with cobble stones. Oh well honey
I still cant see what it is I like about this country
nor why but I do like it.
I only wish I could get one punch at Gen. (sardine)
Sandino. Ill bet he’d wish Id never been sent down here
to play hide and seek with him. I guess we hadn’t better
make fun of this war though it’s the only one weve got.
There was one detail of men left here today to go back
to the States. They were extremely short timers. Three
months and less to do on this enlistment. Two of those
darn fools are going to ship over when they get to the
States. They are just going back with them. Ill bet even
money they’d never send me this far away from you again.
It’ll be a long day till I ship over too unless they
give me quarters and such a good rating that we can both
afford to see the world through a port hole. There is no
telling but what they might do something like that about
the rate. I may come back as a rated man, from what I
hear. They are going to make a bunch of men soon and
maybe – in the next bunch I might get mine. If I do and
the first one is large enough I might make a second one
before I get back. Then I’d have a nice start. Oh well
honey whats the use of dreaming though. Id probably get
my recommend and then spoil it all in the last minute by
telling someone higher up to chase a horse.
I shot high in the range again this morning with 63 out
of a possible 80 then in the last minute some bozo fired
over and made 65. Oh well being second best with no one
else within 9 shots of my score isn’t so bad. Maybe the
next time Ill beat his score. Id like to beat it but
still I don’t want to cause if I do Im liable to be made
tripod man and have to carry the tripod on all marches
and that darn thing sure gets heavy even if it dont
weigh but 53 lbs. and your shoulders sure get sore from
carrying it.
Im going to sign off now honey so I can get ready for
chow.
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May 6th
1928
Well that chow lasted a couple of day according to this
letter. I didn’t get a chance to finish this night
before last and then yesterday we were busy fooling with
a clothing and equipment inspection. Today Im on patrol
again, going on at noon so Ive got till then to write
The mail boat came in to Corinto yesterday so we may get
mail today or tomorrow. I don’t know just what it
depends on but it probably depends on the engineers
sobriety, if hes sober enough to run the train today or
not. Heres hoping he can’t get any booze at all.
Weve been raising particular H!!! – in this company in
the last couple of days. Every man went bolshevick and I
guess weve just about succeeded in knocking the 1st Sgt.
out of the box. I hear we get a new Sgt some time next
week. Did you ever heard of, “stock,” on the ball team?
Well thats him. I don’t know how good he will be but I
hope he will be better than the other guy that weve got
now. He couldn’t possibly be worse.
Ive just about ruined my watch I think. I went to set it
yesterday and pulled the stem out to far and its parted
company with the watch. Ill see what these watch makers
down here know. They may know enough to fix it but Im
starting to doubt it. They don’t make these people that
smart. Why the photographers down here cant even develop
a roll of films without spoiling them. I took a roll of
films to be developed and printed and I think he got 4
pictures good. He forgot to put the films into the
finishing fluid and when they were exposed to the light
they spoiled. I think Ill have to start developing and
printing my own pictures.
Well honey I guess thats all for this time and Ill try
to write more and oftener after this if I can so for now
Ill close with much
Love & Kisses
Porter
XXXXXXXXXXXX
XX
40 C.
P.S. Im working on my course but seem to be stuck on the
one lesson.
Porter
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May 7,
1928 Leon
Dearest:
Ive got beside me three letters from you that arrived
yesterday. Don’t figure on this twelve day interval
stuff to much cause it may mean that you get fooled,
cause the mail don’t go out of here at regular intervals
no way it goes out whenever a ship bound for the States
gets lost far enough to hit Corinto
You are most certain that the penant on that car was
Chrysler-Club and Im most certain it said
(Chysler-club) no (r) in the first word. It most probably
was Jim.
Yes I heard something about the German Irish flyers, but
didn’t know if they made it or not. The Irishman must
have been good luck cause no square head has enough luck
of his own to make that kind of flight.
Gee honey it makes me cool off a little at least, to
know that every place in the world isn’t as warm as
this. I see from the U.S. papers that get here that
Cleveland has been winning a few games this season so
far. Heres hoping they keep it up.
Im doing everything you mentioned and a couple more
things for good measure and that includes traveling
around in circles and just living – for the day when
they send me back – to you.
To tell the truth honey it wouldn’t take very much to
build a four room bungalow and it would be just about
the right size but Im not so sure if it wouldn’t be wise
to wait a couple months before we start planning that I
mean a couple of months after I get to working steady
cause no matter how cheap it would be we would have to
make payments for a while. Then to if my luck don’t
change soon I may not have much more to start on than
what Ive got in the bank right now. Ill see though what
can be done cause I want that bungalow too.
There isn’t much doing in Nicaragua. There was a detail
standing by here on my birthday to leave for Bluefields
where Gen. (Sardine) captured a gold mine and some
prisoners. I was on that detail but we were left behind
and another company went instead. Before that detail got
a good start, Gen. Sardine heard that they were coming
so he took what gold he wanted and blew up the gold mine
and made good his escape, so right now on one knows
where he is at so there seems to be – A lull in the days
occupation – Its not known as the childrens hour though
in military circles its known as intensive training,
(And How) Mucho Malo meaning very bad in Spanish.
Dont worry honey, if you keep on addressing my mail like
you do Ill surely get it, no matter where I go, and dont
worry about your cooking. You never heard me growl yet,
have you.
Sho, honey Id like to send the films up there for
developing but Im afraid they would get ruined on the
way up practically all of those four rolls I took over
to be fixed the other day were spoiled.
I dont know if these Senoritas keep their shoes polished
or not Its very seldom they wear shoes, but the powder.
You can smell them for 3 blocks cause they use such
strong smelling powder.
I don’t know if I will be able to bring a monkey and
parrott or not but they cant shoot me for trying.
Dont figure for my birthday cause it doesn’t mean
anything while Im in the service except that it makes my
time so much shorter and that much sooner Ill get home
to you. If you’d sent a package it would no doubt have
got here but its better not to bother cause it isn’t
necessary. Its enough for me to know that you remembered
my birthday. Thats more than I can say and I do wish you
would let me know when yours comes around. I know about
when but exactly.
I love you so much honey that all I can think about is
you. I can’t see right now just how Im going to stick it
out down here without seeing you soon. Just the thought
that you love me too is the only thing that keeps me
plugging away and I think if it weren’t for that Id sure
be some bolshevick.
Well honey write soon to your
Porter
Bueno Noche
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XX
40 C.
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May 10,
1928 Leon Nicaragua
Dearest:
I was expecting another mail to get here about three
days ago but for some reason or another (reason unknown)
the darn ship hasn’t got to Corinto yet. Its known to be
somewhere between Balboa and Corinto cause it got
through thet Canal last Saturday. Oh well no use to
worry I don’t suppose only Id like to have my mail.
This morning we fired the range and when we ran out of
ammunition (1400) rounds we came back and scraped and
painted the machine guns and tripods, the carriages, and
ammunition boxes Then came my job. I operate the loading
machine and I had to load the belts that we emptied this
morning. I just finished at 3:15 P.M. and its now 3:30
P.M. so you see I didn’t waste much time before I
started this letter.
Ive been thinking over what you’ve said about a four
room bungalow honey and I think we could swing it
alright but what I can’t figure out is how in the heck
we are going to make only four rooms into a bungalow.
You would have to have the Kitchen, Dining room, and
parlor on the first floor and only one room on the
second. That one room would get lost in all that spare
space and if we were to put the bed room downstairs too
the house would no longer be a bungalow, it would be
just a house like Mins and you wanted a bungalow. Ive
written however for an estimate on a bungalow, four
rooms, and I gave orders that if there was no such thing
for one to be invented.
Im going to try enclosing the results of some of the
pictures Ive taken so far some of them turned out fairly
good, others only half as good and the photographer
spoiled what I didn’t. It seems like every picture I
wanted to take always appeared just after the sun went
down so it was always to dark and I couldn’t take time
pictures cause the boat was moving. These are the
results so far. The pictures that the fellows took of me
were no good. Either they cut my head off or they kept
the shutter open to long by letting the cable kink or
something like that. Ill try my luck again first chance
I get.
Well honey it looks like Im gong to quit for a while to
get some chow.
Next day
It always seems to be about the same thing here when I
go to write you a few lines. I always get called away or
have to stop for chow or something and some times it’s a
couple of days before I get back to the letter. Im on
guard again today Ive got the prison watch. Theyve got
10 prisoners too. I go on at 8:00 P.M. again.
I just came off at noon and as soon as I got chow I came
back to the quarters and took a nice cool bath so now I
just feel like writing. Don’t get to excited though
cause I only feel like writing but I don’t know what to
write about.
In still working on that lesson on, “Motors &
Synchronous Converters,” but I havent got over the last
part of the thirteenth question yet. I think Ill have to
ask for further information on it.
Another hour later
What did I just get through saying? There always seems
to be something to keep me from writing. This time it
was my bunk broke on me while I was writing, so I just
made a good job of it so they couldn’t refuse to survey
it for me and then went to the property Sgt. and got it
surveyed so now Im writing on a nice clean new bunk. It
wont be that way very long though.
The boys are working hard this afternoon at painting the
machine guns. They were painted yesterday so today they
scrape the paint off again and re-paint them. (Marine
Corps Efficiency) We may do it all over tomorrow and
those guns may not see any more paint the rest of their
days.
This is a great war alright for those people that are in
the States, but for us its (just the bologna) Id eat a
couple cords of hardwood to get just one good shave
while Im down here. Oh yes they sell us blades alright
but they aren’t any good. I used four blades this
morning and still Im not shaved good.
I only wish I could be with you right now for even an
hour. Ill bet that hour would be 61 minutes long. Id
like that one hour just to tell you how much I love you
and how much I miss you. I never thought it possible to
love any one so much as I love you honey. Ive found out
different though. I keep alive on the knowledge of the
fact that you love me.
Well honey two months have slipped by since I left the
good old U.S.A. for this place. It can’t be very long
now. I think we can both stand it that much longer. Oh I
know its going to be hard and the (great speed) of the
mail don’t help any either but we’ll just do our best
honey and don’t forget that I Love You and the time may
pass quicker. Think of your four room house and little
Joseph the athlete and that may help some. Dreams and
air castles usually do.
Uno Besos Del Derby
Porter
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XX
80 C.P.
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May 14,
1928 Leon Nicaragua
Dearest:
The mail got here last night about a week later than
schedule and I had two letters from you.
Oh yes I believe I have heard that every cloud has a
silver lining as yet. I know just about where to look
for it though cause Ive only got a year to do with a
couple extra day, at the most, so thats when Im looking
for the silver lining.
Dont wory about those people who have a cast-iron face
and can’t smile. Just do your best to radiate sunshine
yourself and if you do happen to feel blue just mix it
with the ink. Im sure I understood and I won’t mind if
it makes you feel better.
What do you mean when you say Lill was lonesome where
she worked? That sounds like she might have quit working
at her old job.
Home would be the ideal place for a person who is in
love, provided – the other party concerned is there. Oh
don’t mind that soldiers sweetheart stuff honey. Thats
all right in some places but a soldiers sweetheart can’t
stand so very much more than any one elses sweetheart. I
think youve been pretty brave and Im proud of you. I
understood just how you feel and I think I feel the same
way.
I dont remember having ever sent a letter without
putting a return address on it, still if Lill says I
did, then I guess I did.
Don’t start to worry about me now honey cause no matter
how much the papers rave about this war there really
isn’t much danger cause Sandino wont start anything with
the Marines as long as he isn’t put to close quarters,
and then he just strikes long enough to kill a couple of
scouts, then turns and runs. He won’t even come within a
mile of a machine gun if there is any chance at all of
being seen. The worst battle the Marines ever had with
him was in February and then there were only 14 Marines
hit so you see with all the Marines in this country it
isn’t likely that Im going to be the unlucky one to get
hurt. The biggest danger down here is sickness, insect
and reptile bites (All of which can be kept off if one
is carefull) Weve got to be very carefull of the water
we drink of the food we eat. We never put on a pair of
shoes or socks without first shaking them to see that no
spiders or scorpions or small reptiles of any sort have
crawled into them we always sleep under a net being sure
that the ends are tucked in so nothing can crawl under
it. Im taking very few drinks of beer in spite of the
fact that I like beer, just so there wont be anything to
weaken my system. Im staying clear of all natives except
in line of duty and especially clear of native women
cause they are all infected with different diseases from
leprosy on down, and by my living in this manner I don’t
think there is much danger unless the fever should break
out and they are keeping a weather eye open for the
first sign of that so it can be isolated. Now don’t
worry anymore about me cause there really isn’t such an
asfull amount of danger.
The first platoon is firing the machine Gun range for
record this week so we (The second platoon) are doing
all the guard and patrol. Im on again tonight in the
rebel district with my bunky as my side kick. They
always send two men out together on these patrols. Ive
got a 4 P.M. to 8 P.M. tour of duty tonight and another
two hour tour from 2 A.M. to 4 A.M.
Ive finished the lesson of my course that Ive been
working on but I think Ill have to do it all over again
cause I missed out on two questions that had me stuck
and I had to ask for further information on those two
questions. Im still waiting for the other lesson to get
back but Im going to go right ahead with my next lesson
whenever I get time.
Well honey I think Ill close now and hope you are over
(The Blues) and in “Our Blue Heaven” again. The next
time you play (Blue Heaven) again play Hilo also for me.
Muyo Besos Ye Peosos
Porter
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XX
40 CP
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May 16,
1928 61st M.G. Co. Leon Nicaragua
Dearest:
I meant to write this letter yesterday but I didn’t get
the chance. It seems that things were happening fast
here night before last while I was on patrol. We had a
small earthquake. The (Spicks) came running out in all
stages of dress that would make me look like I was at
the north pole the way Im dressed this minute, and Im in
my underwear. They werent going to get caught in their
shacks no way. The dogs gave us the first warning, about
a million pooches held an assembly right near us and
took off into a place where buildings were scarce. I wish
you could have been here. You could have picked yourself
a nice dog.
Im going on patrol again tonight. Ill see if I can get
another volcano exited enough to start another
earthquake. Boy, if Id known of any road going back to
the States Id still be running. I don’t like these
earthquakes worth a darn.
Im getting darn lonesome for my clarinet and Im writing
to the band master at Ocotal to see if I cant get into
the band up there. Its part of this same Regt. and if
hes interested enough to try to get me transferred he
can.
I guess we fire the Machine Gun range for record next
week. Ive got good hopes of making a darn good score. In
fact I expect to be either high man or next to high man
in this platoon and maybe in the whole company.
Im getting more lonesome for you every day, honey, and
if I don’t keep busy all the time it just tortures me. I
love you to much to be so far away from you for such a
long time. Still no matter how lonesome I am Im happy
just because I love you. I never knew it was possible to
love anyone so much. Don’t worry honey. I realize its
hard but Ive only go so much time to do and then we’ll
make up for all this.
Write to me often honey and let me know from time to
time how the Cleveland Baseball team makes out. I try to
follow them up but dont always succeed. I think they
stand third now but I hope they will be first by the end
of the season.
Love Your
Porter
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40 C.P.
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May 19,
1928 Leon Nicaragua
Dearest:
I received two of your letters yesterday also one from
Min. I was on patrol again last night (Every other day
for the last week) so I didn’t answer until this
afternoon. I slept all morning.
Why don’t you explain this meaning of the name of your
club (Ive never got around to studying the sign language
nor Chinese) Then may I can tell you if it is
appropriate.
Don’t let that engaged couple get on your goat honey.
They aren’t spooning, merely making the most of there
young lives.
I can’t understand it honey, you say you haven’t
received a letter in almost three weeks. Ive been writing
right along every chance I get.
I hope that boy friend of yours dont forget to use that
hammer in case my sweetheart needs protection. Why don’t
you tell me my horoscope seeing as you brought up that
subject.
Oh yes Im having a very enjoyable time here. I only hope
these people never make a mistake and forget to feed us
eggs chicks, or beans or canned sweet potatoes cause if
they ever did Id die.
Weve been having quite a time here for the last week,
between earthquakes, patrols, and battles with rebels we
didn’t get much sleep, no casualties though but a few
guys got tired of it and tried going over the hill. They
all came back though a white man can’t travel this
country without either a protection from insects or
either medical attention so being out two nights
generally brings them back sick with fever and hungry
etc.
Sorry to hear youve been sick again with your headaches.
I hope its better by now cause I know how bum they can
make you feel alright.
You told me once that you don’t believe in bum dreams so
don’t believe in that one about my requesting you to
write so many letters cause I never done no such a thing
and I never will whats more.
Will you please explain this (If I saw you now youd get
T.B. or something for sure) This was part of the ending
of your last letter.
Write soon honey cause dreams like that one of yours
don’t come true.
Your
Porter
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May 25,
1928 Leon Nicaragua
Dearest:
We got in here yesterday noon tired as the dickens,
dirty and hungry but after dinner we soon forgot all
about that because we had some mail waiting for us. I
had one letter from you, none from home. I was happy
though cause you had received one of my letters and were
happy. Don’t go to thinking that your doctor is to darn
far away to prescribe for you. You haven’t told me a
thing about practicing on the fiddle for a long time and
I certainly am sure that my last prescription was, “Much
practice.”
I believe Ill have to try that, “Please God,” stuff once
and see if I cant get a couple of letters from my folks
and about twice as many from you.
I don’t know just what Jennie’s brother meant when he
said he felt like a kitten on a tin roof. Id just say I
feel blood thirsty as heck and Id like to clean this
country up.
No I didn’t think I had a monopoly on “Our reception.” I
only put it down that way to let you know I liked it and
wanted more. The same goes for our trip to Brooky.
Don’t worry honey girl. Im used to all this excitement
allright and like it but I only like it because it gives
me a chance to work out my grudge against these Gooks
and that goes fro all these people of both sexes. Dont
you worry about these Senoritas sweetheart. I haven’t
cheated yet and I don’t intend to. There is really no
use for you to worry. This life may be exciting as heck
right now but don’t worry about the life at home seeming
dull for me. Id gladly make the change today if it were
possible. If they were to tell me to get ready to go
back in 5 minutes now Id ask them what the extra 4 ½
minutes were four.
Dont plan on seeing me Christmas cause you will be sure
to be disappointed if you do. You may expect me when you
see me coming down the street. There are some men here
who should be paid off and are still waiting for
transportation to the States.
Ive just found out why my letters get up to you so
seldome. Ive been using native stamps because they leave
here quicker. They catch any old tug out of here but
they are liable to travel around for a couple of months
to Chinese waters or to Europe or South America or some
place like that before they ever see the good old U.S.A.
while with American stamps they dont go out so often
cause hes they only go on a United States Government
boat and therefore get there much quicker. Im going to
use American stamps form now on and see if that don’t
work. We are figuring on going out tot eh Machine Gun
range next week for record firing and Ive bet with one
of the fellows that Id make 320 and I think I will win
the bet.
Ive written to my dad and to Min when I wrote your last
letter and if Im not mistaken the one to my father
chould bring results in the form of a long expected
letter. I suppose Lills letter will arrive in the next
mail that gets here.
I guess you are the one that is going to get me to
worrying if you go to telling me that the mood to write
may not come your way again for a couple of months. Id
just about die of lonesomeness if I had to wait that
long for a letter.
They are figuring on starting a class in (Spanish) here
for a few men so we may assist in the coming election. I
think Id get into that class and see just how dumb I
really am. Id like to be able to talk Castilion Spanish
if I could like this I can make myself understood but
thats all so I think Ill try to learn more.
I guess this is all for this time honey so write soon to
one who loves you and always thinks of you when as you
were when I last saw you and I always wish I could be
there to hold you in my arms again.
Besos Hablo
Porter
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40 C.P.
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May 27,
1928 Leon Nicargua
Dearest:
This is Sunday and for a change things are going pretty
smoothly. (knock on wood) Weve done no work at all
today, and weve had a very good dinner. I don’t know if
we will get disappointed or not, but there was another
boat due at “Corinto,” this morning but I don’t think
there was any mail went to Managua on todays train so
maybe the boat didn’t get in.
Im going to be firing for record in the mornings this
week and Ill be attending some kind of a special class
at Headquarters where we will be taught low to handle
the ballots and the voters on election day, and those
that take these instructions will work in the polls and
wont be doing guard.
I havent taken any pictures lately because there is no
chance at anything nice unless you call, “rain,” nice.
When I say rain thats just what I mean cause when it
rains in Nicaragua its like a cloudburst at home and
when it pours here old, “Noahs Ark,” wouldn’t have a
chance
In one of your letters you made the remark, “honey,”
that Id get used to all this excitement and the life at
home would seem dull. Ill tell you how it is sweetheart.
I like a good fight, but there don’t seem to be enough
gooks in any one city to give me a good fight so I get
quantity in place of quality and Im figuring on getting
so much of it before I get back that Ill have enough to
last me for the rest of my life, and even if I do ever
feel quarrelsome again I think there should be at least
one man in Cleveland who would satisfy my craving for
excitement. Oh well honey, you know I may not even be so
quarrelsome as I seem. I may only be mad enough to fight
anyone who lives in this darn country, cause its partly
on their account that we were brought down here. Id sure
like to find the man who is the reason for it all. Im so
darn lonesome since I last saw you that I just don’t
know what to do with myself and believe me honey, Ive
tried everything. I just love you so much that all this
only serves to make me even more angry with the natives.
Ive taken all those things into consideration and Ive
decided that my biggest desire is to settle down with
you just as weve planned, “in a cottage small.” (Four
Rooms)
Ive made a bet on what kind of a score I nake for record
this week. Ive bet that Id makde 320 or better, and Im
afraid Ive bitten off a pretty large piece there but
(Little Joseph) needs some shoes so Ill have to make
320.
Yesterday we saw a poker deck on a bunk just as we were
waiting to go to chow so just for fun one guy dealt two
poker hands, he looked at his and didn’t draw any cards,
I discarded and drew four cards to a jack and made a
hand that appears about once in 3 poker players life
times, I drew a perfect hand, a royal flush, an Ace,
King, Queen, Jack, and Ten of the same suit. I was so
surprised to see it that I was speechless for ten
minutes. Boy what I mean I was the hero of the day.
Today weve been playing some five hundred we played a 40
hand game. I cant keep my mind on those games any more
like I used to cause Im so far from Cleveland and my
mind always goes back there.
Ive heard the rumor again that all men with less than
one year to do will go back in December. I hope so, Then
Id have a darn good chance for 3 months ahead of time
discharge if Im still in a position to take one like
that.
Well honey if we don’t have mail tomorrow why it may be
two three more days but when it dies get here Im going
to expect a few letters from you and a few from my folks
so Ill write more then so for now
Hablo Besos
Porter
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40 C.
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May 31,
1928 Leon Nicaragua
Dearest:
I wrote you a letter last Sunday but never mailed it
cause after I got it written I found my envelopes had
vanished. We started out into the sticks to where our
machine gun range is on Monday so I couldn’t mail it
until now even if Id had an envelope. Oh well theyve
promised to pay us tomorrow so Ill get envelopes then.
Today we came in from the range to find some mail here
for us, three letters from you, one from Lill, and one
from my dad. I was one of the first bunch to fire for
record, that was Tuesday morning I made 21 points over
Expert Machine gunner and was high man until the second
bunch fired and some Corporal was given a tie score with
me and he should have had one point more and I was
honest enough to show them where they missed that point.
Everyone thought I was a fool for even helping someone
to beat my score but I still think its better to be
honest.
Don’t you remember when that old convict ship was in
Cleveland a few years ago? I went through it then and it
sure was interesting even if it was creepy.
Heck no honey, if we had to wear those darn heavy
“blues,” or, “greens,” down here we would all shove off
or pass out. We wear khaki trousers and khaki shirt with
field hats and when were in our quarters we wear much
less than that.
This darn mail service gets on my goat, half the letters
travel to South America or to Eurpoe before they reach
the States. Oh the times you aren’t Im not here when
they get here and Im so lonesome when I haven’t either
you or a letter to comfort me. Im sure a (Sick calf?) or
what have you.
There you go getting my meaning wrong again honey. I
didn’t say I was going to try to to keep away from the
Senoritas, cause that is an easy proposition. What I
said is that when a man gets to much beer below the belt
he is to liable to get reckless and forget himself and
maybe do things he might be sorry for. Do you understand
now? Don’t you worry honey, they may have me down here
right now where I can’t hold you in my arms and tell you
how much I love you, but this won’t last forever
sweetheart Ill be back maybe even before the end of this
year then Ill be able to tell you what I have to write
now Ill be able to tell you that
I love You
Was that written large enough? Do you think I may be
able to find a few of thise lost soldiers when I get
back? Im sure going to try my best honey and if I do
find them I think they will get lost still more, cause
Im sure starved for some of them.
Don’t worry about that last letter honey. I don’t mind
what you write on the spur of the moment, Ill just try
to explain those things and Ill be darn glad to have
received the letter. When you get jealous like that I at
least know that you love me
If I bring a polly back and it learns to talk that
language, (profane), then he will make a darn good meal
for the cat. A honey bear is an (animule) animal that
resembles a black bear but is only of about 18 inches
long when full grown and their favorite chow is fruit
and honey.
Id give my shirt to have heard the Allen Theater
Orchestra play, “Mother Marchree.” Im wild about that
song.
Who do you say you wish you might have known my mother,
honey? Im just curious to know why but Ive wished the
same thing myself honey. I just got another letter this
minute that had been astray this one was from Erv and
that makes this an almost perfect day. I suppose you
know where I would have to be to make this a perfect
day? Ask Carrie Jacobs Bond.
Now I don’t want to give you any false hopes or anything
like that honey but the dope is that all men with less
than a year to do in December will go back to the States
in time to welcome the new year. I hope so.
Well honey its just about time for chow so Im going to
close now.
Bueno Noches Senorita and
Love from Your
Porter
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I Love You
X
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June 4
1928 Leon Nicaragua
Dearest:
It seems that every time I start to write you a few
lines Im always doomed to quit before I get fairly
started. Weve been expecting trouble here for the last
few days and weve been sleeping in our clothes and on
our arms and ammunition just waiting for a call to arms
thats never gone. I just wish they would turn us loose
on some of these darn spicks, theyre all rabels anyway.
Id darn soon show them how a good Marine can fight. Id
like to break spick noses, necks, heads, legs, and all.
Id get even for them causing me to come down here so far
away from you. Its simply dangerous for tehm to let me
out on liberty with so many gooks running around loose,
the way I feel toward them.
I wish I could be at home today for only an hour, so I
could hold you in my arms again, so you could tell me
you love me. I still think its all a pleasant dream and
that Ill wake up to find it out. Dont worry though honey
girl Ill be back soon now, maybe sooner than either of
us thinks. Im of the opinion that this darn trouble is
just about blown over and that things will quiet down
soon now and that we may go back to spend the holidays
with our loved ones. Im beginning to get hungry again. I
guess it must be near chow time. I wonder if we’ll get
shoe leather (beef) for show again if we do Im going to
make another cocoa nut or banana chow.
Oh well sweetheart I suppose I should be thankfull that
I havent got more time to do or Id probably get a
transfer to one of the permanent outposts out in the
hills. At least no matter where Im at or what kind of
duty Im doing I at least know that you love me and I
also love you, more than anything else and that helps
because it makes me want to get back to you and it makes
my stay down here easier and safer in all ways.
Im studying Spanish here now in a class that the Marine
Corps conducts in order to prepare us for the job of
managing a voting booth at the coming elections. They
are going to have one Marine in each booth to run it and
preserve order. Im getting along fine. I can talk 26
words already and understand much more. (Usted hablo
bein espanol?) That means (Do you speak Spanish well? Si
Senorita Yo habla bein espanol y aleman idioma) That
means (Yes Senorita I speak the Spanish and German
languages well)
Well honey Im going to close now but don’t forget to
write cause Im so lonesome for you that I hardly know
what to do. I could just love you to death if I had you
with me now and Ill bet Id get some practice at hugging
to so write to
Your Lonely
Porter
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“See You Later”
XX
40 C.P.
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June 4
1928 Leon Nicaragua
Dearest:
I just mailed a letter to you on my way to Spanish class
but when I got back I found a letter from you waiting
for me so I just have to write another one.
Seeing as you would rather have me come home three
months early thats just what Ill do. I was thinking of
doing that and going in a garage business for myself
anyway but things haven’t been running so smooth with me
lately but Ill put in for 3 months ahead of time anyway.
I may be able to team up with your dad in something.
Just to show you how my luck is running honey I got
recommended this morning for Pfc. and this afternoon I
find that Im the next on the list for transfer to the
hills so Ill probably go on some detail before my
recommend comes through and thereby lose my chance.
I guess there is no use pretending honey. This situation
down here is getting closer every day and right now
things seem to be at a fever pitch and we are only just
standing by to see from what direction its going to
come.
I guess that picture of the flower garden is out of the
question now because weve moved from there and three
times since. We dont stay very long in one place down
here, not long enough to get any grass grow under our
feet at any rate cause it might get to darn dangerous.
Dont you worry about my lessons interfering with your
letters honey. Id ten times sooner neglect the lessons
than to neglect you.
Ive quit booze altogether now honey, all off of it. Ill
explain. I was second best shot in the company so a
couple of us that shot high had to go out to celebrate
and I simply got disgusted with the way I acted and
swore off. I just figured you wouldn’t like the way I
staggered so I took a dislike to it.
Im going to try like the dickens to come home Xmas time
honey and from the rumors we hear I may be successful
but don’t bank on it and dont bother about your nose
being powdered cause I like it any way. I never growled
the last time I came home about your hair being half way
through the drying process did I? Then I must have liked
it the way it was.
I sent Lill a letter this morning when I sent yours
honey, and I write her every chance I get. Im sorry to
hear she was sick, but maybe it wasnt appendicitis after
all. It may have been only a pain in the side.
I was on patrol yesterday and got into a little argument
with several spicks and I done one of them up kind of
bad from what I heard this noon. I suppose Ill have to
see the old man at office hours in the morning and
explain but maybe not. It may be that the darn fool has
better sense and simply dies and has it over with
although it shouldn’t be so bad as all that cause I only
hit the poor fish with my fist but they think his skull
may have a minor fracture or two.
Im going to quit now till after supper.
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June 6
1928
Dearest:
It seems that when I stopped for chow, I stopped for a
long time but theyve kept me busy ever since till about
two hours ago. Im supposed to be on guard right now but
got relieved because I didn’t rate going on again. It
seems though like there is always something or another
to keep me from writing a complete letter.
What is the nature of the business your dad is figuring
on? Or is it the same as Im thinking about.
Oh I don’t say for sure that I can get out three months
early honey but chances are good because after the
elections are over all men with less than a year to do
will probably go back to the States and then my chances
would be about 3 to 1 in favor.
I love you honey more than anything that I know of and
my biggest ambition is to make you happy so you will
never have to regret the fact that you’ve accepted me.
Im always thinking of you and I always dream about you
even when Im wide awake and I often imagine (A smiling
face, a fire place, a cozy room, and also another
basketball player) Ive sure got a good imagination if it
only proves to be right. Im still afraid Im dreaming and
will wake up sometime or another.
Ive got a big Spanish lesson to do today and Im a little
afraid of it. Ill get over it someway though. I can
understand the language fairly well and know most of the
words and their meaning but I have a hard tome trying to
construct sentences because half of them are inverted
from the English and half of them aren’t
I heard today that the gang that was supposed to go to
the hills won’t go after all and Ill probably stay here
until I go back to the States with the exception of
perhaps a few trips like weve been having as train or
supply guards to some outpost or maybe in case of some
emergency but Ill always get back here.
Well darling, I guess this is all for this time so Ill
close now with love and many kisses from
Your Porter
P.S. Where is Milton Dane Ohio?
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40 C.P.
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June 8
1928 Managua Nicaragua
Dearest:
Im just going to write you a few lines dear to let you
know the news. Ive been transfered to the 11th Regt.
band at Ocotal for duty and weve completed this much of
our journey by rail during which time I took a few nice
pictures that may or may not turn out good we’ll see
later.
Tomorrow we expect to finish our trip in one of the
Fokker transport planes that were brought down here last
fall. You remember reading about that, don’t you.
Im glad in one way to get back but in another way Im
not. I was up for pfc when I got transfered and would
most probably have made Cpl. in 3 months time but I dont
care even if I dont get as much money here Im at least
back in my old outfit at their request.
Thats going to be all for now honey except that my
address will be 11th Regt. Band Ocotal, Nic c/o
Postmaster Balboa C.Z. so bye bye for now and write soon
to Your
Porter
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June
14, 1928 Temporarily at Leon
Dearest:
I was at Managua over last Sunday waiting to proceed by
plane to Ocotal but for some reason or another I never
got that far. Theyve brought me back here to Leon to go
to Ocotal with a bunch of rookies that are going up.
They couldn’t very well send up that many boots alone
cause It would be murder in case of an attack or ambush
theyve simply got to send a few men along that have been
through the mill. Thats going to be a long hike too. 180
miles of mud and mountains. We dont know when we start
cause thats a secret at Heqts but we expect it to be
soon. Ill sure be glad when its over and I get to do
band duty again.
There was a batch of mail got in here yesterday but not
even one letter for me. I can’t imagine whats the
matter, or have you been sick? I hope not, but I just
cant help but worry when I don’t hear from you.
Its been a long time now since I heard from you and it
sure makes it hard but then the U.S.S. Texas gets into
Corinto today maybe she’s got some mail aboard. I hope
so a letter sure will help a whole lot.
My time is getting shorter down here all the time for
full time now its 1 year and 5 days but for 3 months
early its only 9 months and 5 days. Im going to get all
the fighting I want during this time so Ill be sick and
tired of fighting when I get out.
The rainy season has set in good and proper here now it
rains every day (and how) The curbs are 16 inches from
the street and this building sets 7 inches higher than
that and the streets flood so deep that the water runs
right in here all you see around here now is mud and
water. Ill sure be one happy hombre when the send me
back to the States and to (the sweetest girl I know.)
Ive often wondered if when I do get back to Cleveland it
won’t be to much for me. To know happiness after all
this misery may give me heart trouble. Is there a sure
cure for that? Im not worrying about that though, just
wondering. If Ive got my choice I’d say call the doctor
but send me to Cleveland. How about you?
Im behaving nice now, no more booze. Not even one drop.
Im up the pole.
They arent going to let me take our sea bags along so
the only clothes we will have with us will be what we
carry in a heavy. There won’t be room for writing
material or any other such luxuries so once we get
started I wont be able to write till I get there we
probably wont be able to shave till we get there either
so by the time we arrive we probably will be a salty
looking bunch and in case of an ambush or a fight, some
of these rookies will probably get so scared that they
will lose six years of growth and will probably be a
sick looking bunch. They will get used to it though,
thats what puts a level head on a man. They will go up
there as boys and come back men. I often feel sory for
some of these men. They remind me so much of the mothers
boy in, “What Price Glory.” Their inexperience makes
them just so much excess baggage and a good target for
the enemy for their sake I hope this trip is uneventful
because if it isn’t then its just to bad for them. The
only thing the world will know is what the notice in
the, “Leatherneck,” says about their death. They no
longer consider the, “Fallen dead” as heroes, they are
just (casualties).
Whats the dope in this business you dad is intending on
going into? Youve got me curious. I hope its ine of the
trades I like cause Id sure like to work with your dad.
I just heard two shots in the direction of the woods so
now we’ll probably be restricted the rest of the day
expecting an attack and the two shots were probably some
one out hunting.
Well honey if I dont get a letter about tomorrow or day
after then Im going to start cutting up so write soon
and let me know that you love me as much as ever so Ill
know that it wasn’t your fault that I didn’t get a
letter aboard the last boat that came in.
Thats all for now my sweetheart so write soon to
Your
Porter
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XX
40 C
“see you later”
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July
10, 1928 Ocotal Nicaragua
Dearest:
Here I am in Ocotal at last, back in the band. We got in
here late the day before yesterday, and I was never so
glad to get anything over with as I was when that trip
was done.
That trip is bad enough in the dry season and with
plenty of chow but in the rainy season its practically
180 miles of swamp. We were forced to start out with 5
days rations and inadequate protection. We only had two
automatic riflemen and no “sbu Thompsons” we were darn
lucky that we didn’t get a real battle coming up cause
we had 104 head of (excess baggage) recruits and 16 old
timers to take cause of them and protect them. They sure
were a bunch of hiking fools though and bears for
punishment. One time we worked day and night for two
days up to our hips in swamp and black mud getting the
bull carts through two miles of swamp and when we got
onto a small rise in the land where we set up camp some
of those fellows still had enough pep to fight a gruge
fight that lasted 50 minutes.
One time we got a spoonful of beans (about fourteen) and
three hard tacks and a quarter of a cup of coffee and
made an 18 hour hike up the side of what they call a
small mountain here. (We would call it going up the face
of a wall) It rained every minute of the time and we
were up to our hips in mud again. We rested all the next
day though and ate what rations we had left cause we
were coming to a Marine Post the next day where we could
get a few more days rations. That was on July 4th. Then
on the 5th we had another clamity the bull cart with our
chow upset in one of the rivers and our chow was spoiled
so we had to make some forced marches on what we had in
one of the other carts. We sure were glad when we got
here.
The Band up here is only playing one concert a week
(Sunday afternoon) The rest of the week we have Spanish
school and Guard. Thats what Ive got tonight. They feed
pretty good here though and this duty isn’t so bad cause
its not regulation. We have to go armed to the teeth
though every where we go. We carry both a rifle with 100
rounds of ammunition and a pistol with three clips full
of ammunition we look like a darn bunch of cowboys half
the time. I took 6 rolls of pictures but Im afraid they
spoiled crossing some of those darn rivers. I have a
little hope for a couple of rolls of them but that hope
is very slight. Ill see how they come out. Im sending
them to Managua to be developed and printed.
I got two letters from you just as we were leaving Leon
but they got wet coming up so I cant very well answer
all of the questions you asked. There was some mail came
in here yesterday but none for me. Mine has probably
gone to Leon again so I may receive some in a week or
so. Oh well it just can’t be helped so Ill have to make
the best of it and just wait.
I also heard from my cousin Gust S Karabotta when I got
those two leters of yours but it will be a wek or sl
before I get paid enough to get some stationary so he
may have to wait a while for his answer. I was darn
lucky I had some very good friends here or Id never been
able to borrow this much paper. In fact Ive got such
good friends here that they came out to meet the detail
with smokes they had borrowed because they knew Id be
out so smokes everyone was before we got here. They
fixed up a barrel with a can that had holes in ot so I
could take a shower and lent me their own clothes and
razor so I could shave and get some of the mud off of
myself and wear clean clothes and they even took my
muddy and dirty clothes to their own wash woman and
undid my roll and pack for me and everything. Ive sure
got some real friends here who were as glad to see me as
I was them and it sure makes a fellow glad to know he
has such good friends. Two of them even went out and
swiped two chickens from some gooks and some supds and
got salt and lard and stuff from the galley and swiped
eggs and made me a special feed of Spring Chicken and
French fried potatoes and some eggs turn sunny side up.
Ill sure never forget that reception as long as I live
and Ill try to show them how much I appreciate it.
Well honey Ive got a two till six watch tonight so I
must get a little sleep so bye bye fo now an write soon
to
Your
Porter
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Friday
13 July [1928] Ocotal Nic
Dearest:
Im doing my Spanish right now or rather Im doing my
Spanish Study hour on this letter. If they caught me Id
probably get a firing squad and a crick wall.
I wrote a few lines to Lill last night but was in no
hurry to write this cause there is no mail collection
till Monday, then God only knows when it gets a boat to
the States. I hope its soon or you will be thinking Ive
forgotten you or that Ive ceased to love you. I havent
though. I only wish I could prove it to you. Oh well
honey no use to let that worry us any. The election down
here comes off on Nov. 4th and as soon as possible after
the election as possible they are going to send back
those men who have les than a year to do so it will only
be a matter of a few weeks from then till I get to the
States. Meet me at the depot with a minister and a
couple of witnesses.
The time is passing quickly down here but to me it sems
like ages. The hike up here only took a little better
than two weeks but those weeks seemed like months to me.
I thought of you all the time and I really believe that
Id never made it if it weren’t for those thoughts. I had
disintery and food poisoning and I sure was a sick
Marine for a few days but I just figured you wouldn’t
like for me to drop out when all those kids were
sticking through. So I just kept going.
Ive been working pretty hard on my clarinet since I got
here but no lip yet. I cant get the first C above the
staff yet and when I get a lip Ill be able to go an
octave above that. I think we are going to have a
rehersal tomorrow I hope so cause if we don’t have one
why I won’t know anything hwen it comes to the convert
Sunday.
These darn guys around here sure are bound to keep me
from writing here first its one thing then its another
but Ill fool em.
Sunday 15th July
I guess I didn’t fool them so very much after all it
seems like I quit writing Friday and didn’t start again
till just now.
Yesterday morning was passed in getting ready for our
regular weekly inspection then we had a rehersal and as
far as Im concerned it was all a joke. Pop put me into
second chair right off the bat, and I haven’t got enough
of a lip to play the B [flat] scale let alone the stuff
he had out. Im afraid that for the time being Im going
to be forced to admit that Im beat, but plenty of
practice should put me into some kind of position and
condition again or at least I hope so.
I got an envelope full of spoiled films back from the
photographer yesterday, but only four good pictures the
rest of them were completely spoiled from getting wet.
The outside of my camera is spoiled as far as looks goes
but I think the rest of it is O.K.
Well honey weve got to play a concert this afternoon so
we’ll see what kind of music we really can make if its
anything like yesterdays rehersal then I pity the people
who will be forced to listen to us.
Im going to close now honey and blow a few notes but
don’t forget and write soon, often, and much to
Your Lonely
Porter
P.S. Im still up the pole.
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XX
40 C.P.
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July
18, 1928 11th Regiment Band Ocotal
Dearest:
I got two letters day before yesterday but didn’t answer
them yet, for no reason. (Shame on you Porter) I had a
kind of a hunch there might be more yesterday but there
wasn’t.
Those two letters sure made me happy sweetheart. Those
days and nights on the trail were just one long torture
to me. Id have felt much better if Id had those last
couple of letters that I received in Leon, so I could
read tehm over on the trail and fell to pieces it was
just impossible to keep anything dry when we crossed
some of those rivers and swamps.
Oh yes I sure enjoyed that ride in the plane only Im
sorry to day that I was unable to attend the Marine
Corps figured I needed some exercise so they left me
walk. Illl tell the world Im doing a bit of traveling
down here. The last bit tips the scales at about 180
miles.
I don’t quite agree with your Dad about the, “sport
outfit” its not a gun and a horse you want. It’s a
couple dogs and a horse. I wish I could take back one of
these horses for you. They sure have some beauties. They
don’t get only about two thirds as large as the horses
in the States but they are fast and sturdy. I wish I
could keep a horse down here. They seem to be the
cheapest thing down here. You can buy a darn good horse
for 5 or 6 dollars in the hills. They cost as much as 25
or 30 near a town but thats even cheap when you figure
what a horse would cost at home.
Yes Im still taking Spanish lessons here but learning
very little they have such a short time to teach us that
they are hurrying over it just giving us the
fundamentals of it so we will be able to talk enough to
run a voting booth. They are slowly but surely getting
us into shape now they are going to teach us balloting
and voting laws of Nicaragua etc cause that will be more
necessary than Spanish cause in reality we will have an
interpreter at each booth but we will have to know the
laws and rules cause we will be the President of the
booth and be called on to make some decisions and see
that they have a square election.
Im sorry my last letters were all so short sweetheart
and Ill try to do better in the future. I won’t promise
to but I sure will try. Im going to have a hard time for
a while unless I come over to school early in the
morning and write until school time, cause I don’t get
much chance no other way cause school holds all morning
and a couple hours in the afternoon. We were only having
one hour in the afternoon but theyve increased it to two
hours now so if I want to build a lip Ive got to figure
on getting back to the quarters and practicing from then
till dark and figure on time out for supper and after
dark it is pretty hard to write without a light. Ive
come to the conclusion that this is the logical time to
write. Verdal?
I read, “Money to Burn,” by Peter B. Kyne. I read that
at Quantico,a nd I sure liked it. That poem is nice to.
Im sorry I never told you I liked my horoscope
sweetheart cause Ive never received it. It probably
arrived in Leon after I left and my old pal down there
is holding my mail till he hears that Ive arrived when
he will forward it to me and Ive sent him a short note
letting him know that I got here without getting killed
and that I was still kicking so I suspect Ill get all
that mail pretty soon.
So far I like Ocotal pretty well except that one always
has to go armed we always either carry a pistol or two
or a rifle everywhere. This is where the biggest battle
so far was fought just 1 year ago last Monday July 16.
This is what Sandino wanted for a stronghold and so did
the Marines, needless to mention it. The Marines are
still here, and a salty looking bunch too we look like a
bunch of Jessie James characters half the time. There is
nothing regulation about this place, no leggings or
field scarfs or anything. Darn, I cant write at this
darn recreation room here cause every time I start some
darn fool starts that Victrola off on Blue Heaven and I
just cant write then.
Ive felt like an undertakers job every once in a while
and found out all about every muscle in my body but most
of the time it was nothing more than the, “Blues.” Id
even have sworn at times that I saw you just across the
street but I knew it wasn’t so, so I just kept my hat on
more when the sun was hot. This darn sun sure gets a
guys nanny sometimes.
Good lord honey only a little more time till school and
I havent put a bit of study on my lesson. Write soon to
your
Poeter
Much Love and Many Kisses
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40 C.P.
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July 22
1928 Ocotal Nicaragua
Dearest:
This is Sunday and Im not on guard and there is no
Spanish class today so maybe Ill get a chance to write a
letter.
Ive practiced all morning so far I don’t seem to be
making much progress so far as building a lip is
concerned, but if I keep at it long enough Im bound to
get good enough to spend the rest of my time in the
service at it. Im afraid though that Ill never be much
good again. I seem to have lost control of my fingers.
My time now is ten months and a butt for full time and
seven and a butt for 3 months early. My chances for 3
months early look darn good too. They are thinking
seriously of sending all short timers back right after
the elections so I expect to be back in the States by
the first of the year at the latest. I only wish now
that I hadn’t saved so hard on my clothing allowance
cause now Ill lose all that by requesting an early
discharge. Oh well Ill have enough to get by on even
this way so why worry.
I had to put this away while I ate dinner but I came
right back to it and if Im lucky Ill be able to finish
without another stop.
There is a boat due in Corinto today with mail but I
found out about it to late for this letter to get on it.
This letter would have to be in Corinto (220 miles) by
now. The last plane that picked up mail to go was Friday
morning and I didn’t hear of the boat until this
morning. Ill have at least one letter on that boat
though. I just know I have, maybe more. Who knows. I
should have a couple of letters from my father too and
maybe some of the mail that went to Leon will get
forwarded here.
This country here sure is pretty in some respects. I
took a walk up one of these hills last night in time to
see the Sunset and it sure was beautiful. I wish Id had
some films for my Kodak. I shot an eagle last night. He
was sitting in a dead tree and we saw him as we came
around a bend int eh trail, and he was almost right
above me so just for the fun of it I drew my pistol and
tried it out. We also came across two deserted houses
where the people seemed to have left in a big hurry and
we found telegrams and letters to the former occupant,
that proved that he was a bandit General. They were all
sent by his Gen. in cheif and the telegram was a
warning. The Marines never knew that he was a bandit
though he was listed as a quiet peaceful citizen. Those
little walks sure are interesting and I only wish I
could indulge in them oftener.
I have a kind of hunch tha the woman who does my washing
is trying to find out things (military) I think her
husband is a bandit. We have him watched all the time
now.
I wish you could be here with me darling. Then Id be
happy and contented to do anything as it is Im lonesome
for you and always wish I could see you so I could hold
you real close once more and kiss you. I often feel like
its just impossible to wait so long to see you again. I
suppose Ill have to wait though. (328 days) maybe even
(238 days) Thats always one comfort cause I know that
Ive already served about 1100 days so these other few
shouldnt kill me. then to the fact that you love me and
are waiting for me help too. I believe they help more
than anything else. Ive got your picture here now. I
don’t know how I worked it but I got it sent up here
from Leon by air mail.
Love & Kisses
From Your Porter
XXXXXXXXXXXX
XX
40 C.P.
My bunky just came back from liberty in town and brought
me back some stamps, and if I get this written soon
enough he is going to mail it for me when he goes out
again.
You should see what all we have to carry on a hike. You
know there are eight privates and a corporal to each
squad and each squad has one machine gun, the tripod to
mount it on, two cans of water 6 boxes of ammunition
enough spare parts to make another gun, a tool kit, two
shovels, two picks, eight sand bags, one matchete, one
hatchet, one clinometer, one compass, one field glass,
and one aiming stake & cleaning rod then a couple of
more tons of extra junk.
Ive addressed three other envelopes one to my dad, one
to Lill and one to Erv but Im not writing their letters
till later cause I want to get this one into the mail
that leaves today. The next mail leaves Saturday I
think.
Well honey write soon, much, and often to your
Porter
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July 26
1928 11th Regt Band Ocotal
Dearest:
Our mail was delayed a couple of days so today I received
two more letters from you.
Im afraid you and I both are sorry that I had to hike
instead of ride in a plane. I don’t know why honey but
some way or another I think that E.A. Guest’s poem is
right. What seems bad is sometimes only for the good. We
heard today that the one fellow that hung out at the
garage with us last summer was killed in an auto
accident. Then if Id stayed behind it might have been
me. Then to Im glad Im away from that bunch of drunks
cause one of them hit some poison booze and went insane
and hung himself. He was a darn nice kid otherwise. Hes
got a mother living too. Maybe it’s a good thing Ive
quit booze when I did. ----? I guess that poem is right.
I wish I could go to Brookside when ever I feel in the
mood. Ive invented something to take my spite out on
though. When I dont feel just right I go for a walk out
into the woods about 5 miles past where we are allowed
to go to a place I know of where buzzards and mountain
eagles are plentifull and I shoot a couple of these.
Then when I get back I feel lots better just cause I
took my spite out on a helpless bird it helps the
marksman ship though the last eagle I got was 200 yards
away and I got him with a single shot. The hunting sure
is great around here.
Ill say a fellow appreciates a good show when he gets
one after hes made one of those hikes where he can’t
shave and the wiskers get in his way. He don’t wait for
Saturday night for a bath either he takes one when ever
the water tanks are full and he can find time, even two,
or three times a day. That dwindles down to one a day
after the novelty wears off but even then they are
appreciated more after you’ve made a hike like that
where for any number of days you don’t find any water
clean enough to wash your hands and face in, course any
water that is that clean is promptly chlorinated and
used for drinking and cooking purposes.
Hot zigetty. Im writing this in the recreation hall and
some !*?!!= fool has to put, “Dream Kisses,” on the
portable phonograph that we have here and it almost
makes me tear my hair out when they play that, cause the
melody of that is so pretty especially when played on
the Tenor Sax or on a cello. They will play, “Blue
Heaven,” for me in a minute though so why worry.
Tonight is the night of the Turney vs. Heeney argument.
We are going to get the results blow by blow by the
courtesy of the boys in our radio station here. They
have built a loud speaker expressly for this fight and
are going to hook up the high frequency set just for the
fight.
I have a funny feeling that there may be a spare letter
or two at the quarters. Im kind of looking for a couple
of the strays to find me soon. Im going over to see and
also for chow and Ill write more later.
July 28 1928
Dearest: As usual once I stop writing about a dozen
things come up to keep me from starting again. I
stiopped this letter long enough to see that I had no
more mail and also to get some dinner but just got to
the quarters where they told me in no uncertain terms
that I had half an hour to prepare myself to go on
guard. That one time when I cussed the guy that invented
shaving, and bathing and razors and everything else. If
the O.D. only knew what I called him he’d still be
blushing. I got shaved and cleaned up and was ready to
mount guard in twenty minutes including the cleaning of
my rifle. We had a regulation O.D. on and he was a pain,
made us stay at the guard house between watches wouldn’t
even let us get our writing material so we could pass
the time. That guy sure was a pain in the ear.
Don’t worry about anything nice happening down here
darling. There is no danger of it. This whole country is
just a curse to the world and nothing worth while ever
happens here. Ill sure be glad when I can get back to to
you. I know Ill be happy then and not before.
This running out of money when you want it most sure
hurts dont it honey? Money! The root of all evil still
we are always trying to get more of it. That seems to be
our one set back if I had more of it we’d be married
now. Ive been fairly lucky with in respect to money
until I came to this country but now I can’t seem to get
lucky or stay lucky. I often lay awake at night dreaming
of you and of the time when we can get married then
theat infernal question pops up. What will we use to
live on. I had hoped to have enough saved out of my four
years to enable me to start out on a home of our own but
Im afraid I counted the chickens before they were
hatched. The way things stand now why I wont have much
over what I need for clothes an traveling when I get
paid off if its 3 months early and very little more if I
do full time. Im lucky I lent my dad some of that money
I had in the bank and had the rest put into a savings
account. That money at least is safe. Oh I may be able
to collect some of my money down here yet but Im
starting to doubt it cause what I done was to order
supplies and sell them on credit to the fellows while I
was in Leon giving my savings in the treasury as
security and the fellows not paying up promptly caused
me to loose what I put up for security but Ive still got
a chance to get almost an even break out of it, but that
chance sure is slim.
I really don’t know why I should bother you with all
these measely details honey except that I want you to
know that before I can start on the four room bungalow
that we want so much Ill have to work and save for a few
months first. Its heck to have one’s dreams shattered so
quickly and so easily honey but lets not worry some way
or another Ill make things go and then we’ll look back
and smile at all this, cause we’ll be, “Happy in Our
Blue Heaven,” and a fire place, nice puppy, little “ca”
and above all a wife.
Well sweetheart I guess after all the gloom drips off
this letter there wont be much news but you will get
cross eyed trying to read it if I write any more than
this so Ill just close with
Love & Kisses from
Your Porter
P.S. Dearest One: Im not a puritan, please.
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August
4th [1928] Ocotal Nicaragua
Dearest:
This is Saturday night and seeing as Ive finished my
daily dozen (on the clarinet) I thought I might as well
write you a few lines about most anything.
To begin with I started the day off by cleaning and
shining my pen. I smoked three cigars and saved the
ashes just for that purpose you should see it now, it
sure shines for a million. We also had our weekly
rehersal today all stuff Ive played before so I didn’t
have much trouble getting over it. Tomorrow we give our
regular weekly concert, then next week it will be the
same old stuff. (Spanish school and electoral laws etc)
I expect those of us who will run a booth out in the
sticks will probably start out about the end of this
month or the first part of September cause the
registrations start in the early part of September and
will cover about two and a half weeks then the elections
come of on November 4th Ive stocked up enough supplies
to see me through a couple of months in case I don’t get
in to where I can get supplies. Im kind of looking
forward to the elections honey cause it will mean that
Im just so much shorter and also I have good hopes of
being sent back as soon as the elections are over or at
least soon after that. I can hardly wait for the time to
come when I’ll be able to see you and hold you in my
arms again.
I was pretty blue when I wrote the last letter to you
but Ive decided not to show the while feather yet. It
may be that we wont have the start we were figuring on
but with the help of the Lord Ill make things go some
way or another. I think that no matter how bad things
may be Ill still be able to support my wife or Ill die
trying. Im going to try my best to partly make up for
what my foolishness has done. Im going to sink every
possible extra dollar down in the old account and see if
I cant have a few nickles saved up by the time I get
out. The a couple of months savings after I get out
should put us on our feet well enough to realize that
bungalow. (Then we’ll be happy.)
I got a letter from my Dad the other day written in
German and telling me all about the farm etc. I also got
one from Lill and also a picture of Lill with John, and
a couple of Lill with her (famous Jack Dempsey Grin) she
sure is getting to be one nice young lady. I can’t help
but think of her as anything but the kid sister so it
always surprises me when I look at her picture and
realize that she is growing up.
If I can get out three months ahead of time then Ive
only got 228 more days and a flop and as far as I can
see there is nothing in the world to keep me from
getting out then. Im always dreaming of you honey, in
that bungalow and little (name Joe), and a fire place
and all the trimmings and some times I get so lonesome
that I think Ill go crazy but then along comes a letter
from you and I start right out at building those dream
castles again. Those letters seem to inspire me some way
or another and they give me new hopes.
I guess Ill close this letter now and go back to my
quarters and build dream castles cause its nearly bed
time fo good Marines.
Good Night Darling
Porter
P.S. Do you still love your Porter?
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August
8, 1928 11th Regiment Ocotal Nicaragua
Dearest Derby:
Today I received one of your letters that had been sent
to Leon, not the last one though cause this one didn’t
have my horoscope in it so Im expecting still another
letter to be forwarded soon.
Don’t never fool yourself honey into thinking that this
is the ideal way to learn anything about geography or
anything like it. One does learn though very frequently
to ones own sorrow and often some things that may come
in handy one thing it will do though if a person don’t
go crazy first it sure will build a guy up physically.
No honey I don’t mind if you write me a nice blue letter
once in a while. I feel like it would be slighting me if
you didn’t tell me about it when you are blue. I should
be told all about it. Aren’t we going to be life
partners? I feel the same way and if Im writing a letter
at the time whey then it turns out blue I always send it
off anyway cause as long as my letters are blue you will
always know why its because I love you so much Im
lonesome for you. Do you realize that in eight more days
it will be six months since we parted at the depot and
in another two weeks Ill be figuring on six months and a
butt for my discharge. Thats only 225 days away. Do you
think you can wait that many days more?
I often wonder what I wold do if I didn’t have you to
look forward to. Oh yes honey I have my trials and
temptations, but when they come Ive always got you as my
beacon. I stop to think how you would like it. That
thought seems to overcome all my temptations and this
life is sure full of them, and to yeild is ruin for a
person. Ive sure kept clear of any of that kind of
trouble just by using that one thought and now its
getting so Im not even tempted anymore. I just lay
around and dream of everything that is pretty and
beautiful. How I wish you were here for a few minutes
honey. I could love you to death. I miss you so much
that Im afraid I would never leave you go anymore.
We have a dog here that looks just like the dog you used
to have. (Poocher.) He’s very playfull to. He always
comes up on my bunk to sleep. Ive taken a liking to him
and I think Im going to try to take him back to the
States with me when I come.
Ive spent the biggest part of the last two days shinning
up my pen. I cleaned it with cigar ashes the other day
but yesterday and today I used a blitz rag on it and now
it shines like a million dollars. I also cleaned the pen
point and it writes much better now.
I think we are going to have a make shift concert here
tonight like we did last night two guys just start
practicing soon some other guy or maybe two or three
other fellows join and the first thing we know weve got
a young band there.
Well honey I guess Ill get ready for show now and try to
get a (pop rehersal) after chow.
Write soon honey no matter how blue the letter gets.
Love Your
Porter
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August
11, 1928 11th Regt. Band Ocotal Nicaragua
Dearest:
Three of your letters arrived here yesterday they were 5
days late on account of no planes coming up till
yesterday. The mail generally gets here on Monday
mornings. The latest one was only 17 days on the road.
Im sorry to hear that you were sick again. I hope you
are mucho bueno by now, or rather long ago.
Those three weeks that you didn’t receive any mail were
on account of the hike up here. By this time youve
surely received some. I know just how it feels not to
get any mail for a long time cause I was in the same fix
all the way up here and a few days more.
Some one stole my Kodak here in the last couple of days
past. I guess it was someone on one of the outgoing
details. I hope he enjoys it who ever he is. Don’t worry
honey they haven’t sent me out into the sticks yet,
although they probably will within the next month but
only for the elections, no more, even then we will
probably get our mail. They will probably send it out by
plane and drop it to us and when ever we send in
official correspondence we will probably get to send off
a letter or so for ourself.
Dont sympathize with me on account of the heat cause I
can stand that alright but the cold at night and the
damn rain gets on my nerves cause being in tropical heat
for two or three months thins your blood to such an
extent that the cold is felt much more.
How do you figure that my letters have such a variety of
choice news in them? I never write anything except what
happens here cause I don’t know any thing else to write
about and what I do write about certainly isn’t any
thing new, it’s the same old thing always now you tell
me something about Lill, about Helen, Milton Dam, the
long distance fliers etc etc. What do I ever write
about? Im afraid you’ll get fed up on Marine Corps
pretty soon and then I won’t have anything to write
about, and now I guess you will admit Im right wont you?
Dont believe a darn word the papers say about the
Marines in Nicaragua because although they send men down
here to write up those things still they are most wrong
cause those fellows have to much imagination.
I have another watch now. I have a 17 jewel Bulovo. I
like it very much but I think Ill have to get a
different case for it when I get back to the States. The
one I have now is rather the worse for wear and knocking
around down here and the case is a silver one and I
don’t like it.
If you don’t want to look for another husband, dont
mention the 5th Hungarian dance to me for the next 5
years. Ive seen to much of it and it gives me a pain.
Im getting a pretty nice tome again considering that I
payed off so long and havent played but one month since
and not very much of it for that month. Im getting a
little better though and it encourages me.
Well bye bye for now honey and write soon and mucho to
Your Lonesome
Porter
XXXXXXXXXXXX
XX C.P.
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August
16 1928 11th Regiment Band Ocotal Nic
Dearest:
I received your letter Monday but didn’t get a chance to
answer it cause I was on guard and had the mid watch.
Then yesterday and the day before we had our hands full
here all day it seems that the gooks have a couple of
St. days in a row onteh 14-15-&16th of August that they
call the (fiesta) and they come in from near and far to
get drunk and celebrate the consequences are that the
trouble starts between the rival political parties and
we lock tehm up as fast as they start anything and on
the last of the three holidays there arent enough gooks
free to start much trouble so we expect a quiet day
today. There have been a couple of mounted pareols gone
out in the last couple of days to a place out in the
hills where some bandits have a strong hold and as the
patrols drive them out if hiding the combat planes drop
50 lb. eggs into their midst.
That letter of mine sure took a long time in getting to
you honey and it was also a long time between letters
but I really couldn’t help it. I only wish I could send
them as often as I did when I was in the hospital and as
quickly.
A “Sub Thompson” is like an automatic rifle only its
much shorter and shoots smaller bullets but it keeps
shooting as long as you keep your finder on the trigger
and feed it the ammunition its right name is “Thompson
Submachine Gun.” They are real deadly at short ranges
and seem to be the favorites where such work is
required. The gooks call them “Loco Carbinos” cause they
shoot like they were crazy.
I don’t know how Im going to stand these next couple of
months down here. Im so lonesome and blue all the time.
I just keep thinking of you all the time. I thought
about you so much that I couldn’t seem to go to sleep
last night and when I did why I did nothing but dream
about you all night. (Wonderful dreams) Im often afraid
that its all a dream. I only hope I dont find something
like that to be true some day.
There always seems to be some new dope down here they
are going to try to have the entire 11th Regt out of
Nicaragua by the first of next year now, but if thats
true then Id like to know why they have enough supplies
here to last till March. One thing I know. The band will
be back in quantico before Feb. 1st. The Colonel himself
said so and that must be facts cause he should know.
I had to quit to attend school this morning and after
that chow then more school so now Im trying to finish
this in a hurry so it will get into this weeks mail and
I don’t think it will take over 15 or 16 days to get to
you.
Really honey you ought to see my pen now. Ive got it
shined till its dangerous to look at its liable to put
your eye out.
Our company has formed a baseball team and they won
their first game yesterday afternoon they play again
Dunday morning. Hey look like a good bunch of players
and I think they will have a good record.
We got our books of electoral regulations today and
there is no English translation so its going to mean
much study so we will be thoroughly familiar with whats
in them.
Well Bye bye for now sweetheart and write soon to your
Lonesome
Porter
XXXXXXXXXXXX XX C.P.
(see you later)
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August
16, 1928 Ocotal Nicaragua
My Own Derby:
This being Sunday with nothing else to do, Im going to
try to write a couple of letters. I really should wait
till tomorrow and only answer those I receive, but I
feel big-hearted today.
To start with three of us started out for a walk into
the country this morning in search of a bag of oranges.
We armed ourselves with a rifle and a pistol and mucho
ammunition cause the country around here seems to be
iverrun with small bands of (freebooters) bandits. We
were gone all morning (No Gooks shot) and just got in in
time for show but I decided I didn’t want any so I came
over here to write this. Im in the shack that we call a
(recreation Hall) and the victrola is going full blast
so that I can hardly sit down.
Ive got a picture here that some fellow took on the spur
of the moment one day while we were fooling around and
it was the only picture that turned out good out of
three rolls. He used the same size camera as mine was
only an older type. Im kind of glad mine is gone cause
it always made me mad when the pictures didn’t turn out
good, and every one seems to have the same trouble I
guess the climate must affect the films some way or
another way. This one (goofy) picture turned out good by
some miracle or another.
I kind ot expect to catch the guard again tonight Im not
sure but Ive got a funny feeling that way. Ill see the
guard list later when I get a couple of letters written.
Im going to write a few lines to my father when I get
this written and maybe a few lines to Min. I haven’t
written to her in a long time and Im really ashamed of
myself after the way she treated me when I was home. Im
going to be sure to write her the first chance I get,
before this afternoons concert if possible.
There seems to be one satisfaction to every day that
passes down here. Im always just that much more of a
short timer if I get out three months early Ive got 212
days and one good sleep to do. I don’t believe I could
stay sane then even with that in mind if it weren’t for
the knowledge that Ive got you waiting there for me. The
day and night dreaming and building of air castles also
helps to pass away the time.
I guess we will start out for the different voting
districts to take charge for the registration and for
the election along about the first part of September. I
may be lucky enough to get one of the two or three
booths in the district of Ocotal. No matter where I go
Im going to take one precaution that we are allowed. Im
going to have a loaded “Sub Thompson” in my lap and my
pistol at my side always, cause the darn gooks are
treacherous as heck in all respects and especially in
regards to politics.
Im expecting a couple of letters from you soon and also
one from Lill and Im hoping there will be one from my
father tomorrow, if the mail gets in. I hope it does
though.
Well honey Ive decided one thing anyway. Im going to
request a leave the day I hit the states and Im going to
come up and see you and maybe put in my application to
the police dept or make some kind of arrangements for
work when I get out.
Well sweetheart, Im going to close this letter now and
if the mail man arrives tomorrow and threats me good,
Ill write more. Im going over to the quarters now and
write my fathers letter there using my lap for a table
so
Love Your
Porter
XXXXXXXXXXXX
XX 40 C.P.
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August
23 [1928] Ocotal Nic. 11th Regimental Band
Dearest Derby:
Today five bags of mail arrived here. I got three
letters, one from you one from Lill, and one from a
buddy in the Sixty First company. At the present they
are at El Sauce
8/24/28
They called me away yesterday so they could get me to
look over an engine to see that’s the matter with it.
Some wealthy Spanish family in town here owns a Dodge
and they wanted to see what was inside of it and got the
motor out of time. I told them what was the matter and
refused to fix it for the simple reason that they live
in this darn country, even if they are descendants of
some Spanish nobility.
I don’t remember so much about thise pictures that I can
tell you off hand what they are about. Id have to see
them.
Lill was telling me that hse met you down town as she
was going out to lunch and that you went out together.
She tells me that she likes her new sister in law – to
be. I can’t hardly blame her wither. I like her myself.
Id be surprised if you did meet me at the depot with a
minister and a couple of witnesses, but it would be a
pleasant surprise and I ought to know about it before
the train pulls in so I could take a chance on cutting
my throat and take a shave, and any way Id have to get a
liscense and a ring first but if you think Im trying to
back out, why just try me. That would be my fondest
dream realized.
Don’t worry about that wings pin honey if its lost and
you want another, just remind me of it when we get to
the States and Ill get you a new one or break an arm
trying. I guess I can though.
Well weve been told where each of us is going for
theelections. I drew Telepaneca. There will be two other
boards there that means six men and of course a small
patrol for protection. There will be two Marines on each
board, one president of the board and the other vice
president or as the Nicaraguan election laws calls them
a (suplente) Thats me. The only difference is to satisfy
the gooks and cause the other guy is my senior for
service. Hes got 12 years of service already done. Ill
probably have to run the darn board half the time cause
he’s been trying for 2/3 of the time he’s been in the
service to drink the tropics dry, and hes still trying
it can’t be done so Ive quit trying myself.
Do you know honey what they are doing now. They are
organizing what we are pleased to call the (Cocoa Navy)
That is they are building three cutters with outboard
motors on them and are going to try to make the trip to
the East coast of Nicaragua over the, “Cocoa River.”
They are plain D:XX fools if five of the men that go on
that trip come through alive they will be darn lucky.
Those that arent picked off by the gooks from the banks
will be killed in the rapids and those that live through
that will die of fever in the swamps. Still its not
quite impossible only it’s a darn fool idea.
I weighed myself this morning at the Quartermaster and I
now weigh 164 ½ lbs. Ive lost about ten pounds since I
left Leon but what Ive got now is all hard weight. This
life sure puts a man in good physical condition once he
gets through the mill.
Well sweetheart I hope that pretty soon my fond dreams
will come true cause Im thinking that in 6 months and 27
days Ill be a free man again.
Its most time for school to start now so Ill close this
with Love & Kisses
From Porter
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX 40 C.P.
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August
26 1928 Sunday Ocotal Nic
Dearest:
Im starting a letter because I have nothing else to do
this morning or rather this noon. I have no desire for
food so I thought it might be a good idea to try to
write.
Ive been laying on my bunk all morning thinking of you
and longing for you. How I wish that I could be with you
for a few hours today. Im sure those few hours would be
appreciated. I wonder what you are doing and if you are
thinking of me some times. Im most sure you do and that
is quite a comfort to me. I only wish I could tell you
how much I love you sweetheart but I can’t. My
vocabulary seems to be much to small and in order to
find out you will just have to wait till Im a free man
again, which won’t be long now( 207 days) They now have
some kind of information that every man in this regiment
with less than two years to do will go leave here on or
before Dec 10th and those with less than one year to do
will get the preference for the first boat. That means
that I might have Christmas dinner at home yet. I wish I
could though.
I don’t just remember if I told you in my last letter
where I have been assigned for the elections. Well it’s
a little place called, “Telepanica” and I find that in
spite of the fact that I hate the idea of being mixed
into any of these peoples political squabbles, still Im
looking forward to the whole thing after all it may
furnish some excitement and I seem to have a – shall we
call it a charmed life?
Some of the fellows who were out on a hunting party were
coming in last night and reported the various trails
leaving the city to be over run by a lot of suspicious
looking gooks. I organized on the sliy a five man patrol
and we proceeded to have some gun. I wont incriminate
myself by giving any details because it was all very
un-official but we had our fun and that is all that
counts. Im figuring on having more of the same around
election time. I may and again I may not. Who knows?
Im getting another guard tonight from two till six in
the morning. Ill have to stand guard mount at six
tonight but Ill be relieved to play concert and then I
won’t have to return to the guard house till two A.M.
when I go on watch.
I wrote to my father the other day but Im going to write
him another letter, a german one just for practice, even
if I have to write all nonsense.
Well honey Ill close now and Ill write more soon.
Always Your
Porter
XXXXXXXXXXXX
XX
40 C.P.
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Sept 3
1928 Ocotal Nicaragua
Dearest:
This is one of my off days for letter writing. It seems
like I haven’t a thing to write about yet Im going to
write or break an arm trying.
To start with I just sent a few lines to Min and
enclosed a small check for her to deposit for me and I
told her where I was going for the elections and that we
would probably start out in a week form today if not
sooner. We will be back sometime between the 7th and the
15th of November no later. Our mail may be forwarded to
us by planes so just keep writing to this address. The
letters I write won’t be so prompt in getting started
cause the only time the mail will leave Telepaneca, only
when a patrol happens to come through there on the way
to some place where the planes can make a landing.
We are expecting to go back pretty quick after the
elections are over though. The men with a lot of time to
do will probably get transfered to the 5th Regiment at
Managua and the rest of us will be sent back to
Quantico.
I wrote Lill a letter one time while I was still in Leon
and I told her I was experiencing the pangs of
“homesickness” and I got a letter from her on last
Fridays plane that openly accused me of being not
homesick but love sick, can you imagine anything like
that? She says that if I could hold you in my arms, and
look into your eyes, and wisper sweet nothings into your
ear, I would forget all about my old homesickness. I
think she is right too, but she talks like she has had
the experience.
There was a messenger came into town an hour ago with
the information that there is a band of bandits a few
miles outside of town and a mounted company is now in
formation waiting for the word to move forward on a
pareol to discover this outfit and get the dope on it.
There was a couple of outfits supposed to have,
“Ferarra,” and his band all bottles up here last week
but he gave them the slip as pretty as you please. These
darn bandits know this country so well that they give us
the slip in places that are considered absolutely
impossible to travel.
Two hours later.
I was called away from this letter without so much as a
minutes warning and ten minutes later we had the town so
surrounded and patrolled that a fly couldn’t move
without our knowing it, much less anyone get out of
town. Tht bandit cheif was in town somewhere when we
went out, he isn’t now. That just goes to show what we
are up against. These gooks know secret trails and
passages that we don’t know and consequently we find
ourselves up against a brick wall every time. We went
out loaded and locked ready for anything in the way of
fireworks, since then the mounted patrol has left and
two other patrols beside that. There arent 100 men left
in town and those that are left are all bandsmen and
office personel, which means by the way that we will
probably do all the guard for the next few days until
some of these men get back. This affair this afternoon
was supposed to have been pretty serious cause this
chief has a big body of followers with him and they are
in the woods outside of town somewhere. Oh well whats a
little thing like that? When the news of the bandit got
out we had lots of fun watching the gooks clear the
streets. They know better than to stay out cause in a
time like that we don’t stop at anything and most of us
are only to glad to have an excuse to bump off a few
gooks.
Well honey thats all for now so write to me soon cause
there is nothing that helps more than to get a couple
letters cause then I always know that you still love me.
Always Your
Porter
XXXXXXXXXXXX
XX 40 C.P.
P.S. Is Lill right?
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Sept 8
1928 Ocotal Nicaragua
Dearest:
Im now about to answer your June 6th letter. Thats the
one that has my horoscope in it. Youve sure got me down
pat now. That letter also had the picture featuring the
West Tech letters. The one of you and Helen.
Ill leave here Tuesday for my post, which is Telepaneca.
We had our inspection today for clothes and equipment.
Tomorrow and Monday we will be busy getting our ballots,
forms, paper, ink, pens, register, minute books seals
etc all ready and packed. This last week has been a busy
one but nothing like the next two days will be. We will
only be allowed to take a certain amount of personal
stuff along, and no way of getting any while we are
there, so don’t be surprised if you get letters written
on election paper. Im taking two months supply of smokes
and soap etc, and Ill just have to trust to luck for the
rest of it to be forwarded.
We got more dope last night about coming home. This time
the dope says that on November 15th this band starts
back to Leon via ------ foot power and from there we
will go to Corinto when ever the boat gets in, or at
least we are expecting to get sent back then. If not as
a band I know of 3 men that are most sure of coming home
then. Im putting in my request for discharge 3 months
early then unless its a certainty that we will be back
in the States by the first of the year. 187 days at that
rate.
When I got your forwarded letter I also got one from
Erv, one from my Father and a letter from the Marine
Corps Institute with a lesson enclosed that I sent in
during the month of “May.” The grade was 92% and a
couple of compliments on my work and a request to try to
send in at least one lesson a month. Thats just
impossible cause in the first place I don’t have my
books along and in the next place I don’t hardly have
time to eat, let alone study. Talking about eats,
reminds me that I forgot to eat dinner. Oh well supper
is only 45 minutes off and being hungry will just me it
so much better tasting.
Gee honey, I can’t even think of anything to write
about. All I can think of is you, and what fun we’ll
have when I get out, and thinking of the future, with
you. Oh well, what would be the use of living if we
couldnt day dream or have pleasant thoughts and
ambitions. I just had to stop to give this pen a drink
then, it seems to write much better now, dont leave so
many words incomplete.
Im always dreaming of you and the future, heres a
demonstration. The other day in class the Ensign asked
me in Spanish “¿Es su casado?” and I was thinking of
“Brooky” at the time he asked the question so I looked
up with a blank expression on my face and just took a
chance on it being a yes or no question and said, “Si.”
The question he asked was, “Are you married?” You’d
better check up on me.
While we are out on these elections honey Im going to
try to write at least one letter per week and Ill
guarantee that many, but I wont promise more though Ill
try to make it oftener. Ill warn you though that those
letters might not be collected for a couple of weeks at
a time cause there is only one way to get mail out of
the hills into civilization in order to mail it is when
some patrol happens to pass on its was out. My mail from
the States will be forwarded to me by plane and dropped
but Im sorry to say your mail wont leave there by plane
cause they really cant land on the tree tops and thats
all there is around Telepaneca. If they wanted to build
a wash stand they would have to cut down 5 or 6 trees in
order to get a sufficient open space.
The chow is known to be rotten the water worse,a nd the
bugs and skeeters are bolder than bandits. They claim
that its impossible to go out of the door without
drawing a 45-70 slug from some hill a half mile or so
away, and although none of those slugs have ever been
known to hit, still its no fun to know that when you
step out of the door that some bandit is drawing a bead
on you and the fact that hes to far away is no comfort
either, but we will just have to see it through, and if
God be willing why none of those slugs will hit me and
if my time comes why it will come anyway bullet or not
and how could a man die better than by wearing the
uniform of his country. Oh well, lets quit thinking
things like that.
Well sweetheart the guys around here are starting
another one of these goofy arguments that have no
reasoning on either side, and anyway its chow time so
Ill quit now one of the guys was just shooting some
german at me and talking and writing dont mix,
especially German so
Love Your
Porter
XXXXXXXXXXXX
XX 80 C.P.
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Sept 16
1928 Telepaneca Nic.
Dearest:
This is my first Sunday here we arrived night before
last and spent yesterday in looking up our political
members etc. Today we aren’t doing anything but starting
tomorrow we expect to be busy most of the time we are
here. We will start tomorrow by getting our building in
shape we will make the Alcalde (Mayor) fix the roof for
us and get the place cleaned up and tables and chairs
put in for us.
This place isn’t half as tough as its cracked up to be
though. Its true that on the night we got here we had
information that the town was going to be attacked that
night but I guess the gooks realized that they wouldn’t
stand a chance the way this place is fortified now. They
all seem tame enough.
The hike up here wasn’t near as much as the one from
Leon to Ocotal but it seemed to get under our skin a lot
more fo wome reason or another my poor dogs sure were
sore when we got here. Ive got a couple of blisters
about the size of our dress caps on my one foot and one
about the size of a young watermellon on the other hoof.
There won’t be any mail leaving here for a while so Im
going to write this letter on the catch as catch can
plan. That is a little every time comething happens
between now and the time the next mail leaves here, and
whenever I get a chance.
This place would be darn nice if we only had a regular
mail service and a few modern conveniences. We havent
even got a decent way to take a bath, only the river and
its bad business going out to far in it cause its so
swift right here that its nearly out of the question to
swim. The current carries a man out and under before you
know what its all about.
Oh well honey when I get out of here Ill only have about
132 days to do and the 11th Regt. starts out on the trip
to Leon for further transportation ti the States on Nov
15th according to the latest dope.
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Sept 18 1928 Telepaneca
Dearest:
Its raining outside now and we are trapped in our office
so Im going to make good use of the time and write a few
lines.
Weve been all day getting our boards into shape and
keeping after the Mayor to repair the building. Some
job. I hope I never get roped for another like it. The
job in itself isn’t so bad cause we are really free from
foolish regulations and we come and go as we please but
the schooling we received simply isn’t sufficient for us
to converse intelligently and there are so darn many
dialects. The only way I can get results in spanich is
by using the cuss words.
Id like to be at home right now. Im really getting
homesick. I lay awake half of th night and think of you
and home, and build many kinds of air castles. If those
ever come true then I could truly say that Im a happy
man. It sure is a comfort just to know that I have you
and that you love me. It seems like a nice dream to me.
I only hope that when we are through with the electoral
business that they send us back like they say. Im going
to ask for a leave as soon as I get tot eh (Estados
Unidas) in other words the good old U.S.A.
I know Ive got some mail waiting fo me at Ocotal and it
will be forwarded as soon as possible but even at that I
may have to wait a few days so Ill just have to sit
tight. It wouldn’t even help it if it were addressed
here in fact I wouldn’t get it as soon so just keep
writing to Ocotal.
Ill close now so
Love Your
Porter
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Sept 21
[1928] 6:00 A.M. Temp. Electoral Mission Telepaneca
Nic.
Dearest:
There is a patrol going in to Ocotal this morning so Im
going to scratch off a few lines to you and let them
take the letter in and mail it.
Weve got everything all ready and all our people sworn
in ready to start registration Sunday morning bright and
early.
I sent a letter in several days ago by the Mayor of
Ocotal but I didnt know he was leaving till about 10
minutes before he left and in my hurry I forgot to
finish the letter I even forgot the little crosses.
Ive been thinking of you all night again honey. Ive just
got some kind of a feeling that Im going to be cheated
in the end, cause you are really all that is dear to me.
If I could only hold you in my arms and hear you say you
Love me, then I would he happy again.
There goes Reveille honey so it wont be many minutes now
till this letter leaves. Hoping you aren’t as blue as I
am and I hope this patrol comes back soon and with
plenty of mail for Your
Porter
XXXX
40 C.P. 40 C.P.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Does this make up for the other letter?
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Sept 27
1928 Telepaneca Nicaragua
Dearest:
This noon while we were at chow one of the combat planes
came over and dropped a nice bag of mail presto – a
vacation epistle mailed at Newark. Sweetheart you can’t
know how good that letter makes me feel the other times
that the plane dropped mail I got left, so you see that
letter today sure was a blessing to me.
Whoa dobbin I hear another plane but Im fairly sure its
no more mail. I sure wish it was though.
I just can’t help feeling blue as ink sometimes honey. I
just lay in my bunk and think of you half the night and
then I feel miserable cause Im so far away and I realize
that you must be lonesome too. I often wonder how I
could be so lucky.
I can’t help but worry just a little about money matters
honey cause Id been figuring so much on those few
dollars that I had managed to save. I was counting on
them as a nest egg.
The other day our old company (the 61st M.G. Co) came
through here and stopped for a couple of days. They are
a roving patrol now. I couldn’t collect any of my money
though cause those poor devils haven’t been paid since
July 1st they didn’t have a pack of smokes between them,
let alone money. Id have collected about half of my
money if they’d had any to collect. I guess you are
right though about being to young to worry, after all it
was easy come easy go. I wish you would tell me about
some of those suggestions so I would know what they are
all about.
Yes sweetheart it seems like that is all we do, just
wait, but dont worry honey, Ive decided Id come back to
you and I will. Ill be getting out in 175 days if Im
lucky and I kind of think I will be. My big ambition
seems to e to make sure that Ive got you for my own for
all time to come.
Why should you ask my forgiveness for mentioning ice
cream. That is something that happens in fairy stories
now ice is nothing more than a word down here. The only
thing that’s cold around here is the nights and the
river.
Oh yes I still love my, “Derby.” I cant help but love
her this life is so rotten down here that I don’t
believe Id stick it out if it wasn’t for loving my,
“Derby.”
I really believe honey that you like the service too. Oh
Ill admit it I like the service in one way, but in
another I hate it. Id gladly stay in the service if I
could have you at the same time, but on the other hand I
don’t love it so much that I can’t stay out of it. Id
much rather have, “A smiling face, a fire place and a
cozy room.” I can just imagine you being thrilled with
the site of recruiting officer though.
Well honey weve got two of the registration days over
with now so weve only got three more at 4 day intervals
and then a 24 day interval till election day with
nothing to do except to hold hearings for
reconsideration of decisions, and for correcting any
errors we may find in the register book or anywhere
else. I believe we are going to have a little trouble to
it seems that some trick shyster lawyer and doctor who
resides in Somoto has been sent here to try to buy votes
for the Liberal party and is trumping up all kinds of
goofy charges against Conservatives, trying to get us to
refuse them the right to vote. He has sent in some kids
as young as 14 years old with the sole purpose of
holding up or delaying the functions of the board. I was
so mad at him yesterday that I ordered our guard to keep
him away from the vicinity of our table and he tried to
come around again. I just can’t shoot a man in cold
blood or he’d be dead by now.
Well honey Ive still got a sheet of paper but again Ive
got that same old trouble. The things I think about to
write to you when Im doing something else just seem to
get out of my reach when I take up a pen and start to
write.
Thats all for now honey. Ill try to write more next
Tuesday when weve got another entire day off. I don’t
know when this letter will get anywhere to be posted but
I hope its soon so you won’t have to wait to long for a
letter from
Your
Porter
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and
XX These are for the headlights with very much love from
Porter
I hope some day Ill be able to repay you for all this
waiting sweetheart. I know its hard and Ill try never to
make you regret this wait.
P
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Sept 30
1928 Telpaneca Nicaragua
Dearest:
I seem to have a (shall we call it) writing streak this
week, just why I can’t say but today is another
registration day so I appropriated one of the tables and
a chair here in our office and tried to pass the morning
by reading. (Beau Gest) I got tired though and decided
to try writing a letter or two, one to you so you would
know that I still love my Derby more every day, and am
always thinking about her. The other letter I will write
is a matter of duty. It (the second letter) will go to
my father. I got a letter from him just before I left
Ocotal and Im afraid Im tather slow in answering it.
Today we seem to be having a bit of trouble by some of
these spicks who are under age coming in to register.
Ive had to start about half a dozen of them on their way
this morning already (a kind of painful operation – for
them) my hob nails seem to be standing up nicely under
the unusual strain.
Ive been doing something the last couple of days about
what you told me in regard to worrying and Ive decided
Id wait till I get home although I doubt if Ill have any
time to worry in once I get out, while Ive got plenty of
time right now in fact Ive got more than I can handle
comfortably right now.
I wish it was all over with already honey and that I
knew what Im going to follow up on the outside my only
worry is for you sweetheart Im always afraid that I wont
be able to give you everything you want and that as a
husband I might be a failure. Ill just have to do my
best and cross each bridge when I get to it. That might
not sound so hopefull honey and maybe even a little blue
but its not. Its merely as you said in your letter. When
two young things love each other and are both striving
for the same goal they are bound to land on their feet
some time and sooner or later are bound to attain that
ever present goal so lets play the game.
My mind has been wandering for the last few minutes we
have been having some exciting time here with some of
these guys and no matter how I try I just cant keep my
mind off of those arguments while they last.
Im only looking forward to March 21st honey cause when
that time comes along Ill either be a fre man or Ill
have 90 days to do. I sincerely hope it will be free.
When Ive got you safely to myself darling Ill be happy.
That seems to be my biggest ambition and my biggest
worry. I cant remember ever having wanted anything quite
as much as I want you sweetheart it seems that I cant
think of anything else, and Ill try my best honey to
nake you happy so you won’t have to regret having taken
that step. I amy be rather selfish in respect to you but
I just cant help wanting you all to myself.
My side kick just noticed that Im writing so he said to
tell you that he loves you as much as ever. Should I
break his neck. I guess not. He says those things as a
joke no more. He is really a darn good fellow and means
well. I kind of wish you might know him although God
knows Id be jealous if you did.
Well honey I guess Ill close this letter puzzle now and
hope I get a letter or two tomorrow or day after.
Love Your
Porter
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XX 40
C.P.
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October
3, 1928 Telepaneca Nicaragua
Dearest:
This is another registration day and as much rain since
Sunday has swollen the river to a great extent we find
this to be a most event less day (pronto another letter
gets started)
Ive been thinking lately that you might like something
pertaining to these elections for your scrap book so Ive
collected a few things I think you will be able to
figure most of it out by yourself because it is very
similar to French and pronounced much the same however
Im putting a translation of some of the words on the
sample ballot and also on the hand bill. This is the
next to the last day for registration so we are
expecting quite a rush on Sunday and I probably wont get
a chance to write. I wonder whats wrong some mail came
in the other day and I missed out someway or another.
I wish I didn’t have to be present here today Id go down
to the river for a swim a person is pretty sure of at
least a half mile swim if he gets into the current
today. This river is always swift but when it is high it
is more so and it takes a fair swimmer to buck the
current long enough to get back to shore in less than
half a mile cause the current takes one out into the
middle. I find it great sport when the river is high and
sure would enjoy myself if I didnt have to stay here
today.
Do you know what Ive decided? Ive decided not to join
the police force when I get out. (Why?) well if I did my
hours would probably be such that Id never be with you
except so many hours each day and besides my Sundays
would all mean duty. I could just as well stay here then
cause Id see almost as much of you. Ive decided that I
can do better by getting a post office job or mail clerk
or something like that and Id have more time with you in
that way. What do you think of that for an idea honey?
Will it hold water? Don’t forget to tell me what you
think of it honey, or have you another idea up your
sleeve? I wish you would tell me if you have.
We have been expecting the plane to come over today and
drop our pay, but so far it hasn’t shown up yet. I wish
it would though Id go out in town tonight and look for
the nicest looking kitchen and make me up a feast. Id
have soup, coffee, fried potatoes, beans, rice, eggs,
hot peppers, and alligator pears. The hot peppers Ive
never liked before but with a spick chow they are good.
Ive eaten so much hard tack, corned bill, gold fish, and
shum that Im afraid Ill die the first time I sit own to
a good meal. They’d better put tin dishes before me too
cause Id be liable to break any other kind cause all Ive
seen since Ive been in Nicaragua is my mess gear and a
few good dishes. Oh well honey I shouldn’t kick though
cause Ive seen the time when the chow that Im so tired
of now would have been a feast and in the absence of my
mess gear a tin can did duty and did it well.
Im having a little trouble with one tooth here lately
and Im afraid Ill have to visit a dentist the first
thing when I leave her cause this country is hard on the
teeth and it dont take them many weeks to decay these
gooks dont know what a dentist is and the Marine Corps
dentists are all in Managua about 120 miles from here by
mule trail.
My watch seems to have had a slight accident some way or
another. I cant wind it unless I take it out of the case
and hold my finger on a certain part. Oh well, thats
another watch added to our collection honey. The only
reason I dont throw it down and smash it is because I
want to keep it to remind me always of Nicaragua, cause
its been through much hardship, bad weather etc with me
(Nice pal)
Well honey I guess by this time your vacation is over
(es verdad?) I hope you enjoyed it honey, but Im sure
you did judging from your letters. I only wish I could
have been with you part of the time. I guess it won’t be
long now honey Ive only got 168 days and a flop now
pretty soon Ill start back to the States and then Ill
get my discharge and Ill be with you always.
Well honey, I guess Ill close this letter now honey and
try to get it off soon.
Love Your
Porter
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XX 40 C.P.
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October
6th [1928] Telepaneca Nicaragua
Dearest:
Ive simply got to write another letter today so I
sneaked away from the barracks and over to the electoral
office cause if I was to stay over there all morning Id
go nutty as a squirrel. Theyve got the regular after
payday games going with all the arguments thrown in for
good lock and listening to those arguments is to much
for anyones sanity then to it seems that to it seems
that Im kind of the center of attraction this morning
cause a small corral snake took a notion to drop from
the roof of th quarters and as luck would have it the
darn thing fell right on my bunk lucky thing I couldnt
sleep last night cause if I hadn’t been wide awake
things might have happened because although the anake
was only about 9 or 10 inches in length it was the most
poisonous type of snake in Central America. They never
get much over 12 or 14 inches in length. I felt him whwn
he hit my poncho so I reached over the side for a sock
and I took a swing at where I thought he was and knocked
him off on to the deck. Theve ben searching the quarters
since reveille for that snake and thats another reason I
cant have any peace of mind over there. Im going to use
my mosquito net at night after this.
I sent you a couple of scrap for your scrap book in my
last letter but left out one of the most interesting
pieces. A seal for the register book so Im sending it in
this letter. I was forced to have null written all over
it to satisfy the members of the board that nothing is
being put over on them. Tomorrow is the last day of
registration then we have hardly anything to do till
Nov. 4th except make out a couple of lists and post a
few notices.
Ive got you picture here in front of me honey the one of
you and Hoppy and really honey Ill bet a months pay I
could stand a kiss or two right now. I wish I had the
original here but as that cant be I guess Ill have to do
the best I can with just a picture. This should bring my
time down to 165 days though so it can’t be long now. I
love you so much honey that its really a sin and a shame
that we should have to be separated for so long. I wish
we were married already honey then I know they would
never separate us again. I know that youve promised to
marry me sweetheart and I think more of that promise
than I do of anything else but Im always afraid that
some unkind fate will keep us apart and that would be
just more than I could stand. The biggest of my
ambitions seems to be to make you all my own.
I remember how I used to feel before you said yes
darling and that wasn’t feeling good but when I got that
letter where you said yes why I was happy and I always
carry that letter along so I can always read it over
when I think Im dreaming.
Do you often dream those dreams we used to dream
together honey? About a “Blue heaven” abnd a son whose
name is “Joe?” I do. Im a lucky man after all darling,
just ot get you to say yes is much more than I really
deserve but Ill do my best to make up for it by making
you happy honey. Ill try my best.
Do you ever practice on the wiolin any more honey? You
should you know or else all the studying youve done so
far is wasted.
Im going to try to write Lill a few lines when I get
through here and let her know Im still alive so seeing
as thats all the news for this time Ill sign off with
all the love Ive got and many kisses. Ill always love
you darling and be
Your Own
Porter
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XX 40 C.P.
P.S. Don’t forget to write soon.
P.
P.S.S. (00) Those are a couple of squeezes for the WTH
sweater also for the person inside of it.
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Oct. 16 1928,
Telpaneca, Nicaragua
Dearest:
This is Tuesday and just one week since I went into
Ocotal with a ration patrol. I didn’t have to go. I went
of my own accord can you imagine me going on a forty
mile patrol just for fun? Well we had a little fun and
got back Saturday night with a full pack train. I layed
around all Sunday to rest up and started to answer the
letters I got in Ocotal yesterday but couldnt keep my
mind on it so I quit. Im trying again today.
Don’t you worry honey you have your good times and don’t
worry about me cause Im here for so long and it just
cant be helped. When I get home and have you all to
myself Ill be making up for what Im missing now. That
will make up to a certain extent for all theis waiting.
You are always slipping off to a church somewhere honey
Im sort of getting lonesome for a trip to one myself. I
havent been to church in a long time now.
Now for your questions. A blitz rag ia a polishing cloth
with some kind of a chemical preparation on or in it
that cleans and polishes metal. That is what we use on
our belt buckles on our blues.
Im glad honey that you don’t seem to tire of hearing of
the Marine Corps cause it is really the only thing I can
write about down here and I really want you to like my
letters but Im always afraid they will be very dry, but
if you like them then Im satisfied.
Yes you noticed my watch on one of the pictures alright.
Ive got it on Ocotal now getting it repaired. I broke it
on the last patrol. You also noticed white soxs but if
you call that unromantic Id like to know what you would
call this Marine Corp (white soxs are regulation) Nope!
Guess again. That picture wasn’t entitled the bucket
brigade, that was called (the morning after the night
before).
Yes honey. Im sure that was a nice long letter. I sure
enjoyed it. I guess Ill second that wish of yours cause
I do wish I could go for a ride with you, and Im
lonesome too.
I got a letter from my father and one from Erv at the
same time that I got yours so they will have to be
answered and maybe one to Lill besides.
Did I ever tell you about the boat patrol they were
making from Ocotal. They called it the “Cocoa Navy”?
Well they came to grief. They were forced to burn the
boats at Quilali and return. They had one man drowned
and one gone nuts and found the rapids beyond that point
un passable. The dead man was drowned in trying to go
over one of the rapids and the other guy was hit in the
head by supplies that were dropped by plane. Those men
went so long without food that when they did get some
dropped to them they couldn’t eat it. One of the fellows
weighed 102 lbs when he got back to Ocotal and he
weighed 164 lbs before he left. They got into Ocotal the
day before our patrol got in and they were made heroes
of and left to do as they pleased so they all went out
to drown their sorrows, and they sure succeeded. I don’t
blame them either cause after enduring much hardship
nothing is a better tonic than alcohol cause it warms
the blood and makes the blood move it even stimulates
the heart action. Those men sure deserve credit.
The registration is over now so in about 19 days the
election comes off. Weve got 1207 registered here. Weve
got the most registered any where in the Department of
“Nueva Segovia” I believe we are going to have some kind
of help from Ocotal on Nov. 4th.
Well honey write soon so I won’t get to lonesome and Ill
write as often as I can.
Love & Kisses
From Your
Porter
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XX
X
XX Do you figure this out.
XX 40 Candle Power.
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[Oct.
18, 1928] Telepaneca Nicaragua Date (?) Possibly Oct 18
Dearest:
Even though I wrote to you a few days ago, and have no
new news for you still Im writing and not only that but
I find Im anxious to write.
This morning a patrol left out if here for the, “San
Juan Sector,” their orders are rather indefinite ao we
don’t know what its all about all we know is that they
may be gone a day or a week.
I wonder dear heart why I ever joined this outfit. I
could be with you now and Im sure Id be better off. Id
like to know what it was that got into my blood the day
I joined. Im positive it wasn’t the lack of employment
cause I was never out of work and a had a steady job
when I joined. I guess we will just have to decide that
it was fate that caused me to enlist. (Fate) she sure
plays some mean tricks some times. Im convinced
sweetheart that it was fate made me do it to keep us
apart till a certain time. Oh! no. Im not trying to back
out cause its to hard or anything, quite the contrary
the service fascinates me in a way. Im only grieving
that fate is keeping me from that most precious of all
things, “A Good Womans Love.” I shouldn’t growl though
cause after all Ive only signed my name for so long, and
in that way the fates have been kind to me because after
all God has given me that woman and her love to enjoy
forever, if only the time for old lady fates prank were
over. Oh well honey after all it wont be long now if
things go right I should be free to come to you in 5
months and 3 days.
Do you know darling when I started to realize that my
time is getting short, I always get a little scared for
fear that something will come between us. That would be
just like fate.
Lets forget all these unpleasant reflections and
thoughts darling and just be happy and thank the good
lord that we have one another to look forward to. We
have only one life to live after all so we may as wlll
get as much pleasure out of it as seems possible.
Half hour later.
I quit writing this long enough to eat chow and seing as
that burning desire to write is still with me Ive lit a
candle and sheilded it so Ill be able to write as the
spirit moves me. I only hope that I get left in peace
until Ive written enough to satisfy myself.
Ive been catching up on my tardy correspondence in the
last few days honey. I wrote to Erv, to Lill, and to my
Dad. My conscience still bothers me though cause just
recently I got a letter from Erv that has chased me half
around the globe, and he told me that Joe May was in the
hospital and no matter how sore I was at him still I
wish I could have sent him even a small note while he
was sick. By gosh honey I think Ill write him a few
lines and patch up our silly argument after all I think
he felt as bad as I did about it and it really was
silly. I see it now. There are no two ways of looking at
it. The whole trouble with me is I don’t like to humble
myself and make the first move.
Well honey, I guess this will be all the raving Ill do
for this time but Ill write to Joe yet tonight. After
all we were pals at one time you know. Write soon now
honey to let me know you still love
Your
Porter
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XX 40
C.P.
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Oct 20
[1928] Telepaneca Nicaragua
Dearest:
I really haven’t a bit of excuse for trying to write a
letter today so Ive decided to sit down and start on one
of the “catch as catch can” letters. (One line now
another when Im caught) and I want it to be real messy
so Ive decided to try out one of the nice soft ---
election pencils.
Ive often thought honey that after I get out of the
service I might forget some of the things that you might
want to hear about the most so Im going to write about
these things as I think about them and then when I get
out you can always ask me about those things, some of
them are really interesting to hear about only Im afraid
you will have to find me in a nice mood when you ask me
questions about this country, or you might learn a new
language. (not Spanish) I don’t know what we would do if
we couldn’t growl. We growl one minute and the next we
tell you all about the beauty of the place.
Im thinking right now about how all these towns are
located and how you always see a big cross on top of
some mountain just before you see the town which is
sometimes still far away. The cross always seems to be
so placed that when you come to it you get your first
glimpse of the town, and every town has a cross like
that. Then too along the trail you often come to a cross
at the side and there is always a pile of rocks by these
crosses, and the gooks pray before they pass and toss
another rock to the cross. They pray for the person who
rests there or rather for their soul. Just fancy though
throwing rocks at a dead person.
Then too there are the habits of the people. Their
methods of cooking, their clothes, the difference in
dialect in different parts, Their food, all this I could
talk all day about, yet when it comes to writing it Im
lost.
I guess my sitting down to write again today will earn
me much razzing at the hands of my buddy, cause this
really makes the 12th letter Im writing to his two. I
wonder what causes the big difference? Maybe he hasn’t
got a nice little lady who is waiting for him to come
home, in fact I know he hasn’t. He’s been in the service
ever since he was 16 yrs old and hes 25 now so you see
he dont have much to do with women all he wants is a
uniform and 3 squares and a place to flop, and if the
cards run his way maybe a machine, or a motorcycle, or a
speed boat, or something like that. He’s just an old
soldier if he looks at a woman its only for a good time,
so he cant understand why I write so much every chance I
get.
You will no doubt be glad to hear that your Porter is
still up the pole and still going strong. I mean in
other words that all this real booze down here doesn’t
tempt me in the least anymore, although I wouldn’t mind
a glass of good wine (Home made) right now.
I wrote to “Joe May” the other night as soon as I
finished your letter, and Ive been tempted to take it
back out of our soap box before a patrol takes it into
Ocotal, but I always decide that its only foolish pride
that prompts it so I leave it mailed.
Theyve got some real American candy in the canteen here
and as much as I hate candy still it is the only
American delicacy that we can get and that so seldome
that I had to quit long enough to get some. (Hersheys
and Baby Ruths) … presto Im six bits poorer and liable
to be sorry when my stomache starts hurting then
possible salts or castor oil, maybe both. Id like a nice
(Lemon pie) right now if I had to swallow all the
medicine in the sick bay right after.
Has your dad been doing any hunting? My dad has been
telling me something about the rabbits on his farm dont
even need a gun, only a good heavy pair of shoes and a
pocket full of rocks. According to his story you kill
all you want by just stepping on them and in case you
want more you simply throw your pocket full of rocks.
You really should try it out some time. My fathers
letter makes me restless I want to get in on some of
these hunts
Well honey I guess thats all for this time.
October 22.
Dearest:
Continue the march. I guess Id better get started if I
ever expect to finish this. I had good intentions of
finishing yesterday but I wasn’t feeling so good. Ive
got that tropical sickness again and when a guy gets
that he generally feels pretty weak for a couple of days
to come. Im feeling much better though. I know just how
to fight “dysentery” now. I keep some Bicarbonated Soda
handy and dissolving it in a cup of water and drinking
it while is sizzles sure helps.
Ive read a few books since Ive been here, and yesterday
I found “Beau Sabruer,” the sequel to “Beau Gest” and I
liked it as well if not better than, “Beau Gest.” Ive
also read, “Wings,” “The Box with the broken seals,”
“Who goes There,” “The Moving Finger,” and a few others
that I cant remember right now.
We had a message yesterday from the patrol that went out
the other day. They had a big contact in which they took
eight prisoners, three of them were freed again cause
they proved that the bandits were holding them as
prisoners when the contact took place. The patrol is
expected back here with the other five prisoners today.
The patrol may get here but I dont think the prisoners
will. If they do why one of the officers will probably
select one or two men and say,, “Take the prisoners to
San Fernando 22 miles away and be back in 10 minutes. We
wont be listening,” and good Marines always obey orders.
They will be back in exactly 10 minutes without the
prisoners. Then on the other hand they may only lock
them up and send them in to Ocotal later this week when
another patrol is expected to go in. I hate Gook
prisoners.
Well honey, if things go right Ill be a free man in 150
days from today and Ill see you 151 days from today. Do
you think that much happiness all in one dose is liable
to hurt me? ----? Well give it to me in one dose and
then call the doctor or undertaker.
Im wondering, honey. Should I get another motorcycle
when I get back to the States or shouldn’t I it would be
handy when I want to run out to see my dad still I
almost think Id rather buy a machine.
I guess I look ahead to much and have to much ambition
for a Marine. Still who wouldn’t if they had what I have
to look forward to. I wonder what I should do honey if
it wasn’t for you do you want to know that I think? I
think Id have given in long ago to the temptations that
come in a persons way in a place like this. The only
reason Ive passed up these temptations when I felt blue
was because I always thought of you. Just you, and our
love is the greatest things I have. I only hope that I
may repay you by being all you want me to be, and a
little more.
Think of me sometimes honey and also of a fire side and
children (Joseph) and then write honey with those dreams
in mind. Thats how Im doing it. I seem always to see
“our Blue Heaven.”
Always Your
Porter
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XX 40 C.P.
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Oct.
23, 1928 Telepaneca Nicaragua
Dearest:
Our plane came over this morning and “Presto” quarto
letters. Three from you and one from Min also a picture
of the “Gob.” Thanks for the picture honey. Those
letters and picture sure made me feel good. Time out!! –
I went out into town and ordered myself a meal cause I
didn’t eat in the mess hall they had good fish again.
Our combat patrol came in from “San Juan” yesterday and
what they didn’t have, dont count. They had six
prisoners, 2 burrows on saddle 1 rifle 6 rifle barrels 1
rifle stock a couple of dynamite bombs, a few machetes
and a number of chickens and turkeys and they burned
down half a dozen hourses where the bandits were staying
and found some letters that were being delivered to
(Friend Sandino)
This morning another patrol went into Ocotal taking
those prisoners in also some mail. The patrol is mounted
on mules, the prisoners on their feet and a slip knot in
the rope around their kneck. They may get in to Ocotal.
The only important thing on that patrol is the mail.
How do you mean I pull all the surprises in this family.
You are always surprising me. Im always surprised to
know or find out that you really mean more to me than I
realized before.
Ill have to see that Van Gastels don’t work overtime any
more if thats what is keeping you from writing so often.
Gee when you wrote your one letter it was only one more
week to go in Sept. now Im writing this one and its only
a week to go in Oct. pretty soon Ill be a free man again
the only difference will be that the next time I say “I
do,” it won’t mean, “four years” but, “life.”
Never mind what I think of the picture in the other
letter. I couldn’t see the picture all I saw or see is
“The Pepsodent Smile.” And how?
To join the Navy or Marine Corps youve simply got to be
single. Will you be eligible for the Navy?
If Id been there I wouldn’t have minded the smell of
iodine and I think I could have stood for the words, but
the tears are out. Thats one thing I cant stand and if I
see any when I come home Ill run away and reenlist. I
hate sore thumbs to cause sometimes when it gets cold I
can still feel mine and I don’t want you to feel like I
did,a nd anyway it’s most sure to cut my letters short
when you do that.
I dont think there is a sure cure for lonesomeness but
day dreams and air castles help sometimes.
By this time you should be able to tell me how Tech’s
football team stacks up, even if it is an entirely new
team they may have some good material. Stranger things
happen you know.
It dont seem like eight or nine months since we parted
honey. It seems like 9 years, but thats cause I have so
much time to brood and think if I had some real work to
do the time would pass quicker. Anyway I wish the next
150 days would hurry and pass.
I wish Dame fortune would flip a letter into your letter
box and by this time I think she has. Write soon and
berry much to
Your
Porter
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Oct.
27, 1928 Telepaneca Nicaragua
Dearest:
Our patrol to Ocotal came back yesterday bringing our
Naval officer along for the electoral board, but they
brought something still more important. They brought
some mail out. I had two from you and one from Lill. She
told me much about here little affair and said to keep
it a secret, but it made me so sore I couldn’t see
straight. That scum that she was going with showed his
colors by making a fool of Lill in a public place by
dragging her around like he owned her, and by following
her around every where she went just to humiliate her. I
sure would like to lay hands on him. Im going to break
every bone in his body when I get home and I don’t think
that time is far off. I wrote him a letter of warning
and sealed it and enclosed it in Lills letter and asked
her to forward it cause I didn’t even remember his last
name let alone his address. So much for the skunks.
Now for the good news. The first bunch of men to sail
right after the elections is over sail on Dec. 1st
according to the present schedule and Im sure going to
be one of those and if possible you and I will eat our
Christmas dinner together.
We had an electoral board meeting today and worked hard
all day. The Lieutenant told us that we are to receive
some sort of a little certificate, or what have you, in
recognition of satisfactory services rendered. That will
be a nice thing to keep me from shiping over when the
temptation comes to me.
In your first letter you say you shouldn’t write just
for punishment but Im glad to see you realize that it
was or is no fault of mine.
I see you enjoy the same pastime I do (reading over old
letters) The date on them may grow old but the letters
don’t. I often do that same thing.
Im sure I don’t know what a poor girl is to do in the
event that she has no shoulder to weep on. You see
darling Im not experienced in that line (never having
been a poor girl muself) That will soon be remedied
though.
Oh yes there is another way beside “foot power,” if I
want to invest in a “caballo,” a horse or mule but I
hate to do that cause they are pretty hard to sell at
the other end and Id hate to lose so much money cause
the horses aren’t so cheap here as they are in some
parts of the country and saddles are very expensive so I
think Ill just hoof it. It dont kill other guys and Ive
done it once before so I guess I can again.
Gee honey Im starting to figure on that Christmas dinner
already. Id give up the dinner part of it though if I
could just sink my molars into 6 or 8 nice potatoes also
my arms around about well say 128 or 130 lbs or
Beatrice. I believe you can drop the pork chops and
spuds from the contract.
Well honey thats about all Ive got time for now cause my
candle is just about used up and the same with the news
so Ill close now with Love & Kisses
From Your
Porter
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XX 40
C.P.
P.S.
Ill bet I could double that 40 C.P.
P.
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October
30 [1928] Telepaneca Nicaragua
Dearest:
I just found out that some good messenger is going into
Ocotal tomorrow or the day after so Im writing another
letter cause he will probably take the mail in with him.
This night Im on guard owing to the shortage of men
here. There was another fast combat patrol left here
early this morning bound for the “San Juan,” district
again. Im also the only machine gunner left behind, so
if (which is a doubting word) we should have a scrap Id
be safe as if I was in bed, cause Ive got a nice sand
bag barricade all around the gun, just as if Id have the
gun there in case of trouble in he position that the gun
is in now it would be preactically useless. Id darn soon
move into the open though. Take my word for it.
Well honey the elections here are only five days off and
our departure for Ocotal only one week away. Then if I
really am on the “A” list for sailing why Id have just
one more month to do in Nicaragua. Wouldn’t that be
nice. Just think sweetheart if I really do sail on Dec.
1st Id get to see you for Christmas. I think Id really
believe in Santa Clause if that were true. Id consider
that an Xmas present from the U.S. Marine Corps. Im
coming home if its only for a day when I hit the good
old U.S.A. and while Im there Im going to be looking
around for some kind of work or some kind of an
opportunity and if I get back then Ill be almost certain
to get out 3 months early. (Knock Wood) Old lady,
“luck,” dont seem to have forgotten me even if old lady,
“fate,” has.
There seems to be just one thing more that would dare
make my cup of joy overflow but I don’t even dare to
think of that yet, not until I can lay away some money
and know that Ive got a steady income. I only wish the
time were here already when I might make you all my own,
when Id be sure that no man or woman either for that
matter could keep us apart. Let’s hope that time comes
soon, and the sooner the better.
I see you are still wearing that lil ole ring – even
with the pepsodent smile. I was so interested in that
nice big smile that I even forgot to look for the ring
but it came to my notice a little later. All I can say
is, “Muy Bonita” .. Both Gob and Smile. I can hardly
believe that all that happiness could possibly be meant
for me. Maybe Im just luckier than I thought I was. Do
you think you could stick me with a pin from where you
are? Id like to be sure Im awake and not only dreaming
all that. Ena how, ---- you’d better tell hoppy to
practice smiling her highest grade of smile cause it
wont be long now and she will need it. The days seem to
drag like lead right now but 142 days and a flop –
honey. I hardly believe I can wait even that long. Id
like to play chicken hawk and grab my chicken and fly
away right now.
Are you going to make me a lemon pie when I get home
honey? Ive simply been dying for a lemon pie lately and
if I don’t quit even thinking about one Im liable to
make me a pie crust of mud and try making one myself.
The fellows down here have come to realize Im up the
pole and for the last week they have been trying their
darndest to make me weaken and come down pretty soon
they will realize that I mean what I say and that that
junk has not got such a good wrestling hold on me after
all. No more booze at all in the tropics and solamente
wine in the U.S.A. and very little then. Do you think I
can keep all these good resolutions? Especially the one
about getting a steady income first? Thats going to be
the hardest one. Im afraid you won’t be able to realize
how much I want you honey and how I dream about you and
live only for you. This is all the paper I have right
now honey so Ill have to close and dont forget to write
soon to
Your
Porter
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XX 40 C.P.
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November 2 1928 Telpaneca Nicaragua
Dearest:
The messenger that went into Ocotal yesterday returned
tonight and brought some mail along. I had a letter
needless to say. It took 23 days for it to arrive but Im
thankful for it just the same.
The elections down here come off day after tomorrow we
are all set for it we got rid of the last little details
today. We have the most registered here of any place in
the district also in the department, and are expecting
some nice crowds here in fact weve made preparations to
work far into the night and we open for business at 6:00
A.M.
We leave here for Ocotal on Tuesday morning if
everything goes right and as we are travelling light we
are going to take a trail that is impassible with a pack
train and we expect to make the trip in one day and get
it over with after all we are only 40 miles from Ocotal.
Im going to try to get myself a mule for the trip
because it means several pretty bad mountains to cross.
You are going to excuse this paper I know, or Id not
write on it. I don’t want to buy some more paper and
haul it back to Ocotal with me nor do I want to throw it
away and Ive got a couple of these official scratch pads
so this is what Im using for this letter. Am I excused?
Im sorry about that thumb honey. I know how those things
can make a person miserable. I hope its sell a long time
by now.
We have a heck of a time here too. To heal a sore in
this country is about the most difficult thing Ive ever
tackled. The whole country is over run with skeeters,
and fleas, etc. and every time they bite it always turns
to an open sore. They seem to prefer the body to the
face, and the arms and legs to any thing else. It takes
a couple of weeks to heal those bites even if they
receive the best of care. Ill be glad when I get back
where the fleas aren’t quite so plentiful. (The good old
U.S.A.)
Darn right you Marine is home sick, but not so much that
as love sick. I think of you always honey and fight the
same old fight over and over. There is always something
saying get her the first time you see her you are liable
to lose her. Then my common sense and pride says not
till you are in a position to support her. Im afraid
that all my pride and what little common sense I have
got will leave me though when I come home again. Im
afraid that to hold you close once more will be to much
happiness for me and Im liable to lose my head. The very
thought of you seems to make my head swim honey, can I
really be so lucky or is it only a pleasant dream? I can
hardly wait to get back to the good old U.S.A. so I can
get a leave and find out.
When I come home Im going to take a room over town the
first night cause I dont want to be on Mins hands and I
dont want to stay at Erv’s cause I don’t like to take
anything for nothing and Erv’s mother would refuse to
accept anything from me unless I was staying for any
length of time, and then if I missed so much as one meal
she would refuse anyway, so Ill just stay over town the
first night and then find me a place in Brooklyn for the
rest of my stay. Im also going to buy my civilian outfit
when I get there. (Good bye Bank roll.) I think Ill get
Erv to help me select that. He knows more about what
they are wearing than I do.
This letter is not expected to leave here before I do
and by the time you get it I expect to be on my way back
to the coast. First to Leon and then to “Corinto” then -
- - - (Over the fence is out) The U.S.A. You had better
keep writing to Ocotal though until I tell you of
another address.
Well sweetheart as much as I hate to do it Ive got to
close this letter. Ive got a watch to stand tonight and
Ive got to try to get at least 3 or 4 hours of shut eye.
(Heres hoping the fleas lay off.)
Im getting good honey. I can now eat twenty (service
made) hot cakes for breakfast. Just think what I could
do to real nice home made ones with real syrup. Those
twenty were on a dare though. I dont always eat that
many, but on a bet or a dare I could eat Thirty home
made ones.
Write soon honey and heres
Love
Porter
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XX 40 C.P.
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November 5 1928 Telpaneca, Nicaragua
Dearest:
The elections down here are over, or at least they are
as far as we are concerned. Things went pretty smooth
all day due to the fact that we took a pretty high hand.
The Nicaraguan personel gave us a nice recommendation
though to the Departmental and national Boards of
elections and he told us we would all get a certificate
of some kind and if his recommend is any good we will
get some kind of badge or medal. I don’t expect we would
get them though for maybe a year or two, if ever,
something like that would be nice as a souveneer. All I
care for is to know that I done my duty well enough to
be recommended for the medal. (¿No es verdad?)
Mañana in the morning we go as far as San Fernando en
route to Ocotal. We had the final meeting of our boards
this morning and wound up what business we couldnt wind
up last night. Ive got a few things for the scarp book
if I can ever get them away from here without tearing
them all to pieces. Just a few seals and so forth. It’s
just a little to much to send in a letter.
Ive been reading over some more of my letters, as usual,
the letter to the Great Private to be read on the train,
headed the list. If I remember right you wrote the
letter during the afternoon and it was headed “Dear
Pal,” then at night I believe I asked you to at least
remain a pal if you couldn’t be more. Thats just another
instance of (two Great Minds) Pardon the Spanish capital
T but Im doing so much Spanish I forget myself. Im even
talking it in my sleep.
I wonder if youve ever decided about if it was or was
not right to let me kiss you (Anne or Hoppy wouldn’t
have left me). That one paragraph seems to worry me just
a little bit. I dont remember if I had the nice weather
going back that you wished me, cause if I remember right
I started building dream castles almost as soon as I
finished the letter I was pretty tired you know, and the
next thing I knew I was in Washington changing trains.
The day after tomorrow we expect to arrive in Ocotal
sometime during the afternoon and Ill probably be to
tired to do anything but Thursday morning Im going to
try to find out all I can about the first sailing list
and you may rest assured that I will give you any
information I may unearth, in fact Im pretty sure right
now that I will be one of the first to sail for the
States. Id almost bet that Ill be in the States for my
Christmas dinner.
Well honey this is all for a couple of days now,
possibly till Thursday or Friday. Write soon honey to
Your
Porter
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XX 40 C.P.
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November 8 [1928] Ocotal Nicaragua
Dearest:
We got in here yesterday after making record hikes for
two days in a row. We made the hike from Telpaneca to
San Fernando in 5 hours and 35 minutes 22 miles of the
darndest mountains and hills you could want. The Looie
and I started to see who could walk the other down first
and we sure set a fast pace. I dropped out on the 14th
mile and they had to life me into the saddle of the
Looie’s mule. The Looie walked two more miles and I gave
him the mule and walked the other 6 miles into San
Fernando. I was to tired to even think. Yesterday we
made the 18 miles into Ocotal in 4 hours 5 minutes and I
had to drop out 2 miles before we got to Ocotal. I was
still to tired from the day before. When I got into
Ocotal I found four letters waiting for me from Oct 1st,
Oct 12 – 15 – and 17th. The first three were rather
jolly but the fourth [torn corner] was blue. Whats the
matter honey? To much broo[turn corner] Put some of
those things out of your head honey. How could a person
believe in God and evolution also. I can readily see how
a person could believe part of each theory but you
couldn’t possibly believe both in full. Thats really all
we can do honey. (What we think is decent and right)
nothing else matters. What a silly question, of course
you arent selfish or vain. You only imagine those things
when you start to feel blue. Certainly wives have
faults, but have you ever seen a husband or for that
matter any person like that. You just tell that
aquaintance, (who told you that you are vain) to go to
the devil. Show them the part in the, “Bible,” where it
says (Let him who is without sin cast the first stone)
or the part about (removing the beam from their own eye
before attempting to remove the splinter from someone
else’s eye) Just you forget things like that as soon as
you hear them, as long as you know you are being decent
and straight, What else matters and as for being selfish
thats the bunk.
Don’t you worry about my changing my mind after we are
married for a while honey if you were only a passing
fancy I would never have asked you to marry me. (Give me
credit at least for being a gentleman, if nothing else)
Dont you understand, sweetheart, that I love you more
than anything, with real love there is no room for
doubt. I simply love you honey and Im satisfied, so if
anyone else dont like it tell them they are catty. Just
forget those things now honey and some day we’ll thumb
our noses at those people.
There seems to be some new dope out around here about a
sailing list but for the present it is being kept pretty
dark. I may and I may not get home by Christmas but when
I do get there Im going to ask for a leave right away
and Im coming straight to you maybe we will make some
kind of arrangements and get married then. People cant
talk then. The reason that we might not get out of here
as soon as we expected is cause of the results of the
elections. “General Jose Maria Moncada,” the Liberal
candidate was elected, and for the present it looks like
more trouble but it won’t last very long, Im sure. Ive
got some more scrap book material but seeing as there is
no American or Nicaraguan post office here I can’t send
a package so we will just have to trust to luck.
Well honey dont forget to write soon to
Your
love sick
Porter
XXXXXXXXXXXX XX 40 C.P.
P.S.
please tell me which day is the sweetest of the year and
what it means. I know I got a kiss that day but Im
darned if I know what its all about. Kisses are to
scarce to let them go by to easily.
Porter
a few
more XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
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November 10 [1928] Ocotal Nicaragua
Dearest:
I really haven’t any excuse at all for writing today
cause I haven’t enough news to fill even one page. Ill
probably think of those things about the time I get
ready to close this letter.
Yesterday I got my certificate for services faithfully
performed as vice president of an electoral mesa. They
had all the electoral men lined up facing the Colonel
and they blew a general assembly and lined the company’s
up on either side of us and when we got our certificate
the Colonel gave each of us a salute and the company
gave us a salute in the form of a, “Present Arms.” The
same ceremony as when a man gets a Navy Cross. Then the
old boy declared it to be a holiday, then today is
another holiday, “The Marine Corps 153rd Birthday,” and
tomorrow is another holiday, Armistice day. We are
having a sort of picnic today. We each got some kind of
fruit that they imported from that foreign country
(U.S.A.) They called that fruit apples. Gee I’d
forgotten that they made them
them those things. We are
holding all kinds of contests out in the square this
morning and a big chow this noon, probably all the real
bread we want, as long as we dont want over two slices.
I guess tomorrow is the mystery day.
Im going to send you a couple of peacock feathers in
this letter and hope to God they fare better than the
others did on the hike in. I had nearly enough to make a
fan but they were absolutely ruined on the way in. Im
going to try to get some more.
There is some kind of dope out now that the short timers
don’t leave here till Jan. 15th 1929. Two more months.
Im going to try to get on an earlier list though so
don’t give up the ship yet. If thats true though you
will probably have to wait a couple of weeks for your
Christmas present this year cause in the first place
there is nothing to be had around here and in the next
place I couldn’t send a package if I did have one to
send. Don’t give up the ship though honey. I may be able
to talk the old man into letting me go back earlier.
Are you over your spell of blues yet? I hope so. They
only make a person miserable and don’t really help any.
Well honey I guess Ill close this letter now with Love
and Kisses from
Your
Porter
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XX 40
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Nov. 12
1928 Ocotal Nicaragua
Dearest:
A marvelous thing occurred today. We really got some
mail. I had one letter from you and one from Erv. You
told me that Lill hadn’t received any mail from me for a
while so I wrote to her first so in case I got called
away Id be sure to get her letter written without fail
or as the Spaniards say (Sin Falta)
Erv tells me that he is now keeping steady company with
some girl from the East Side. Im glad of that cause now
he’ll settle down and get over some of his goofy ideas.
He’s also got a car now. A “Moon” if I’m not mistaken.
Thats a bigger start that I expect to be able to make. A
big car wont feed or clothe a wife (I don’t think)
I don’t know how the handwriting in this letter is going
to turn out. I hope its better that it turned out in
Lills letter. Im writing this with a straight pen cause
the point on my fountain pen is on the blink and I wont
trust it to a gook to fix. I saw enough of their work
when I had my watch fixed. It cost me five smackers too,
and the watch looks a wreck now. I think Ill just worry
along like this till I get to the States and get it
fixed.
Yes honey, I am feeling much better now, not nearly so
blue. I sure wish it was all over with though so I could
come back to you for always. That seems to be all I eat,
sleep, and live for. Id give everything I own to be able
to spend the rest of my life with you, and please honey
dont go to thinking like you said in your last letter. I
know that every one has their small failings but Ill
always love you no matter what yours happens to be. All
I ask is that you should be mine wholly and forever and
Ill do my best to make you happy. Don’t you go to
worrying that Ill tire of you, cause I love you more
than that.
No darling I don’t miss my clarinet now, cause I see
quite a bit of it here lately. We are now doing band
duty only Id much rather be doing husband duty only that
would be so much more fun. Think so honey?
Your new coat may be beautiful and have nice soft fur on
it but darn if Im not really jealous of that fur. That
darn stuff is so close to you and Im so far away. Oh
well honey it can’t be very long now 129 days to go if
Im lucky.
Gee it sure don’t take you many seconds to take in all
the details when you see a Marine Does it? Medals,
packages, and all in 2 seconds.
I got those two letters that you sent to Telpaneca
alright darling. I think all my mail has caught up to me
mow except those that started out for Port Au Prince
Haiti. Theyve never caught up to me.
That letter sure was, “My Bonita.” in other words it was
very beautiful. Heres hoping I get many more like it.
How are the gossips treating you now? Are they still
shooting off their mouths? If I can make some
arrangements for your support till I get paid off, will
you marry me when I come on the next furlough? I
wouldn’t have to make arrangements for more than two or
maybe three months.
Thats the only way I know of to stop gossiping, and to
say anything about you when you are my wife would be
suicide cause then Id have the right to protect you and
the Unwritten law would back me. anyway I want you
honey. More than anything else, and Ill never rest easy
until you are mine, all mine.
Well honey if I don’t quit soon, why this letter will be
one nice mess, wont it? Beside that my candle will soon
burn out and Ill soon have to quit for taps so it would
be a triple disaster so write soon to your
Very lonesome
Porter
XX C.P. ¿es Verdad?
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Nov 15
1928 Ocotal Nicaragua
Dearest:
Im going to put myself open to a lot of criticism. These
guys around here always kid me about he number of
letters I write. I write about four to every other mans
one.
We are sxpecting my old company, “The 61st Machine Gun
Co,” in here some time today, from “Somoto,” where they
were stationed for the last couple of months. That means
that I get to see my old buddy, “Woodhouse.” It might
also mean more than that. I got a little probable
information in a confidential way from one of the
fellows at headquarters this morning and it is his
beleif that once the 61st Co. gets here to take over
Ocotal why we will soon be starting for “Leon,” where
the band will be stationed until the Marines get
withdrawn from Nicaragua, except of course the short
timers who will go back the first time they have any
transportation available. That should be close around
the first of the year, either a little sooner or a
little later.
A band of entertainers who called themselves (Gloom
Chasers) were here yesterday and the day before and put
on a small show for our benefit. There were 5 of them,
Two Gobs and three Marines. They also picked up some
comedian up here. They sure were good. I haven’t had
such a good laugh since I saw, “Rookies,” for the first
time. I nearly laughed myself sick. The comedian related
a story of the time he was doing a watch as Sgt. of the
Guard. The O.D. bawled him out and told him hereafter to
make the Guard report so a dumb man would understand it.
He also named one of the officers present. So he says he
asked “Just what part of the Guard Report is it the
Lieutenant doesnt understand.” He also cracked some
other wise ones about some of the other officers who
were present. He sure was some comedian, he didn’t give
the mess Sgt. 10 minutes rest all during the show. Thats
one man who sure got the razberries.
The Marines are now making what they are pleased to call
a big drive in a last effort to get “Sandino.” Im afraid
theyve waited to long now. Im inclined to believe that
he has made good his escape and is by this time in
hiding where he wont be found in a hurry. They started
yesterday and are expecting to stay out 30 days in parts
unknown. That means parts where no white man is known to
have ever been.
I just wonder how Im going to take it when I finally do
get back to you. After all this time down here Ill swear
Im almost afraid to trust myself. That burden I think
will fall to you. You will have to be Guardian Angel,
Chaperon, and Sweetheart to me. Im afraid I might even
be hard to manage at first. Still maybe it may not turn
out like I think. Just getting back to you may be enough
to make me buck up and be myself. Who knows? We will
have to meet that (shall we call it emergency?) when it
arrives, in the mean time Ill be practicing self control
and other punishments, such as punching the wall just
for spite etc.
Those passions that I am so afraid of may seen funny to
you honey, but they’re not. They are merely another of
the necessary evils attached to real love. They are the
things that mean the realizing of our fondest dreams.
They are the things that make “with the marriage vows
combined,” the cup of happiness to over flow.
Gee after reading that over Im afraid that you wont be
able to make heads or tails out of it and may not
understand, still what I meant to say is true. I love
you now honey and Im so afraid that Im liable to spoil
it that I cant even write sense. If you can understand
what I mean, well and good. If not why dont worry
yourself any trying to figure it out, but just throw
that page away.
I only wish it was all over with and that I was a
civilian again cause if I dont get out of here Ill go
mad from waiting and from longing for you. Im always so
afraid you are only one of my nice dreams and wont be
there when I come.
Well darling I guess Ive raved enough to suit you for
one day so Ill close with lots of love and bushels of
kisses from
Your Lonesome
Porter
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XX 40 C.P.
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November 17, 1928 Ocotal Nicaragua
Dearest:
I haven’t got much news to write about in this letter,
but Ive nothing else to do right now so I can’t hink of
a better way to pass the time than by trying to write a
letter.
There is a last drive on for the Marines last effort to
get Sandino. I dont believe they will be very lucky.
They have a list published here nameing tentative
patrols, in case one is needed on a short order. Im on
patrol no 2. The first one is out now so in case they
need another in the next few days Ill be called on.
Yesterday I put in my written request to be discharged 3
months previous to the date of the expiration of my
enlistment. How the request is going to be treated I
can’t say until it returns here. That may not be till
close to the end of Dec. Oh well Im fairly sure now that
I cant possibly get wawy from Nicaragua before Jan 15th
so by that time my request should be back. Im certainly
sorry I can’t be with you for the Christmas holidays.
That was one thing I expected, and so did everyone else.
This darn Marine Corps is to changeable. I won’t say
that they will grant my request, but I think they will
cause they are now afraid not to recommend approval
cause they are afraid of having to much trouble. The
fact is that Ive threatened to come down the pole, if
its not approved of. That of course is only a threat. I
have in reality no idea what ever of doing that thing,
its only what I call using scientific measures.
We had a darn nice rehearsal this morning,a nd we played
everything from, “Atlantis,” on down to ,”Give me a
Night in June,” fox trot. We showed exceptional form
too.
Well sweetheart I dont know of any thing else to tell
you unles you want me to tell you that “I love you,” and
couple more times. That seems to be all Im able to think
of so Ill close now before I spoil this perfectly nice
letter.
Thats all. Love & Kisses from
Your
Porter
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XX 40 C.P.
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Nov 21,
1928 Ocotal Nicaragua
Dearest:
When the mail came in Monday and I only got one letter
from you, I decided to wait a couple of days to answer
cause I had a feeling that there must be at least one
more roaming around. This morning I got the other one.
16 day mail service is pretty nice, dont you think so?
Don’t you worry about the snakes bothering me. Im
getting so I can’t even sleep without a bed fellow. Ive
tried to sleep alone several times but was always forced
to go back for a scorpion or tarantula or a snake or
something. Im getting so used to it that Im going to
build a home for sand fleas, scirpions, skeeters, etc
right at the head of my bunk so they wont have to come
so far to keep me company.
You may be right about fate having exhausted her bag of
tricks, but Im darn’d if it looks like it right now.
Unless something out of the ordinary happens, (so that
my request for early discharge should be approved) why
Ill probably not leave here now till Feb. or March. I
always seem to be the unlucky guy, except on one or two
occasions ex. When you said, “yes.”
You tell these doubting persons honey. Just because we
are to far apart to quarrel, doesn’t mean that we will
make up for it when I get home,a nd the people who think
so are just juts. I can’t remember ever having quarreled
with you or even having had a cross word. Do you?
So --- you don’t like to listen to political speeches.
Well, neither do I, in fact I used a very effective
means of keeping out of hearing of them. We just put out
an order that they had to get a permit from us to hold
any kind of political gathering whatever and when we
gave that permission it always designated the other end
of town as the place of the said gathering.
If it seems strange to you to see flowers blooming and
say November at the same time then how would you
designate the feeling I get when I try to say November
at the same time that Im trying to keep from sweating
even when I run around the quarters almost in my,
“birthday suit.” The winter months are over here now.
Guess what!! I havent got my Christmas cards even bought
nor the gifts I intended to send either and it looks
like Im not going to get them for a while either. Ive
thought of a pretty present for you but you will have to
wait cause there is no place to get anything suitable
around this neck of the woods and if there was I
wouldn’t know how to get it to you because a, “post
office,” is just two words down here. Two words without
meaning at that.
No darling, Ill have to beg to differ with you. “Blue
Heaven,” isn’t a back number. Why we played it for the
first time the night before we left for electoral duty,a
nd anything we play is the latest even if its 10 years
old, or anyway thats what the people down here think.
The Marines too. There are some here now that have been
down here for 2 ½ years.
I don’t know if I told you or not but there are 7 stand
by patrols here in Ocotal and one patrol drills each day
in the week, our day is Tuesday. We drilled yesterday
and gave a display of marksmanship and I got assigned to
another automatic rifle. I told you I was unlucky, they
weigh twice as much as the other ones do and you have to
carry so much ammunition for them that you feel like a
pack mule. I should worry though. I carried one all the
way up here from Leon so I dont think a two or three
days patrol with one will kill me. They are much better
in this kind of warefare cause they go into action so
quick and they are also much better protection.
I don’t really worry honey only Im always afraid Ill
lose you when I sit around and mope about all the hard
luck Ive had. I just can’t believe that Im so fortunate
as to have you. I always think that its only a nice
dream.
Well honey I guess all I can do is to just do my best
and keep hoping that I get sent back to the States soon,
so write to
Your
Porter
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XX 40 C.P.
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Dec. 1,
1928 Ocotal Nicaragua
Dearest:
It does seem like all the fates were against me trying
to make up for the one bit of good fortune that I
managed to get. Ill explain my growls.
They put out a feast here Thanksgiving that was fit for
a king and all you could eat. I couldn’t eat any of it
because my tonsils were swollen and wouldn’t permit the
passage of food. Then second Thanksgiving night was the
first chance Ive had in nine months to sleep in a spring
bunk with a mattress and sheets etc. (even a pillow and
pillow case) and Im darmed if I could get comfy in a
bunk like that. Im so used to sleeping on a hard field
cot or on the deck, - - well I just didn’t feel at home.
You see this all happened in the sick bay where they
have things like that.
Ive got it pretty nice here. Ive got the sick officers
room all to myself cause when I first came over here
they suspected me of having dytheria but since then my
disgnosis has been changed and its now tonsillitis. Im
feeling fine now except that Im a bit shaky from the
fever and I hope to return to duty in a couple more
days. I should be in bed now but what the Doc dont know
can’t hurt him.
I tried to write a letter yesterday but I was so nervous
that I couldn’t read my own writing so I just had to
start all over again.
This is Saturday and when the Colonel came in here for
inspection he asked me a bunch of fool questions so I
told him I was feeling pretty good and wanted to go to
duty, he said, “Oh yes Ill stop the rest of the Marines
in Nicaragua from functioning long enough to come and
carry you to your quarters.” Why he must think Im sick
or that Im a baby so a sore throat could stop me.
Im afraid my request for early discharge is dropping
through so all I can do now is to hope that I get back
to Quantico before March 1st cause then Ive always got a
darn good chance by just sending in another request.
They very seldom refuse when a guy is in the States but
down here it’s a horse of a different color.
A week ago yesterday we were told that starting last
Monday there would be a mail boat come into Corinto
every second day and the mail would be distributed to
us, in fact to all the stations in the hills daily by
plane. The first distribution of mail hasn’t arrived yet
since then. Oh well I hear a plane coming in now.
(Maybe!!?) this one has a sack or two of mail for us.
Lets see now, I should have - - - oh about twenty
letters anyway. Time out.
Id like to write a couple more letters today, one to
Lill, to my dad, to Erv and to Min but I can hardly
write at this table let alone in bed and Im out of bed
against orders now. Thats why I took time out before
cause I heard the chief coming and had to crawl back
into bed.
Dont forget honey write soon and many of them so Ill at
least come near to getting 20 letters even if I do fall
short a few.
Love Your
Porter
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XX 40
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December 3, 1928 Ocotal Nicaragua
Darling Bea:
Today we got our first bunch of mail in two weeks. I had
one letter from you and one from Lill. I think Ill make
this letter on the, “catch as catch can,” idea, and
being as Ive only 1 pad of paper over here as Ill have
to write on both sides if I dont want to use up the
whole pad.
To start with Lill wanted to know how it feels to be in
love, and how I feel when I get a letter from you and
how I feel when I don’t. I tried to explain how it
effected me but Im afraid it isn’t explained very
clearly. I hope you don’t mind being talked about in
that respect. Im sure Lill keeps something like that
confidential but, if you would ever care to know how
much I love you honey, I think you might understand me
more clearly if you were to read that letter.
You went on an eighteen mile hike did you? Now how would
you have felt if you’d carried about 100 round of
ammunition and about 8 ¾ lbs. of rifle then how would
you have liked to have used mother earth for a mattress
and no pillow except a hard knapsack or a rock, then get
up the next morning and get started again by 6:30 A.M.
or 7 oclock at the latest. When we came up from Leon we
would get up and get ready to leave as early as 3:30
A.M. sometimes and I carried an automatic rifle too.
That weighs just about twice as much as a Springfield
rifle.
So one of you gang got married, did she? I believe I
remember, “Irma Sass,” you called, “Tags,” in your
letter but I thought you called her, “Tagalong,” when I
was home. I often have to laugh at some of the names
that girls give one another for instance when you wrote
that your dad would be accompanied by a, Miss Hoptoad,
well it just naturally took (d - - - -) twenty minutes
to dope out just who you meant by that. I just couldn’t
connect Hoppy with a name like that. I thought maybe you
were taking a hound puppy by that name. Tell Helen I
said I wouldn’t blame her for spanking you for a name
like that. really sweetheart it isn’t bad to give a
person a nick name but that might make some people sore.
Oh well here I go preaching again.
Im afraid when I get out Ill have to get married so my
wife can pick my clothes for me or Im so old fashioned
Im liable to get something that was stylish during the
civil war.
Do you know honey I hear so much about, “Aunt Mame,”
that I can hardly wait to meet her. You sure like to go
out there. My Aunts aren’t good company like htat at
all. I don’t blame anyone for being religious but my
aunts are over religious. They are religious fanatics. I
have a certain amount of religion myself but too much is
to much. I wish my aunts were more like your, “Aunt
Mame.” Im beginning to feel like I know her even though
Ive never met her.
So you like, “Dumas’,” style of writing, do you? Well I
like it myself. Ive read quite a few of his books when I
was in Quantico. I can’t just remember the names of them
but I do know that after reading them I admired the man
as a writer.
If you want something good for your hiking shoes honey,
go to some harness store and get a can of saddle soap,
it will clean the leather, soften and preserve it and it
helps to shed water. Ive stood a pair of hobnail shoes
with saddle soap on them into 3 inches of water and took
them out and they shed water like a duck’s back and they
weren’t damp on the inside either saddle soap also
cleans the leather so that it takes a very good polish.
Do you notice any change in the writing? Ive fixed the
point on my pen at least temporarily. I can express my
thoughts more clearly with this pen.
Well darling Im getting so Im writing everything but
what I want. I make (O’s) for (d’s) and I misspell every
other word so that must mean Im sleepy.
Write soon darling and make me happy cause thats the
only time I am real happy.
Love Your
Porter
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XX 40 C.P. Next issue Mañana
Continued Dec 5th
Dearest:
Yesterday the doctor decided that I was well enough to
remove me from isolation, but no amount of coaxing
could make him send me to duty, so now Im in the ward
with the rest of the, “gold bricks. I spent most of
yesterday getting myself set up in the ward and so far
Ive spent most of this morning shaving. You might not
think it but for a man to try to shave with a straight
razor after he’s been sick for a while is quite a job
cause its easy to cut your throat if your hand isn’t
steady. I had to take a mouth full of water when I got
through just to see if I could still hold water. I kind
of expected my throat to leak a little but it didn’t so
I must have done quite well.
This place seems to be the favorite hangout of the
non-coms as far as I can see. Im the only Private over
here at present. There are a couple of corporals and
Sgts and above but no more Privates. I fare quite well
though as a whole. Im on regular diet again and showed
it this morning by eating six eggs a cup of coffee (Our
cups hold 2/3 of a quart) and a half a box of soda
crackers. I expect to show them some more marvelous
tricks this noon if the chow that they bring over is
half way eatable.
The band is rehearsing right now and I can just hear
them. They sure sound good from here, maybe due to the
fact that Im not there. This continual playing and
rehearsing is making quite good players out of some of
their band and we can now tackle some of the big stuff
that till now was just to hard for us. Theyve been
playing almost nothing but big stuff here lately. We
destructed Atlantis again the other day and a few more
like. “Martha,” “Faust,” (Big Bill Tell) “Wm Tell,”
“Semiramadi” and, “Opera Mirror.” Right now the
assistant band master is directing and the band master
himself is playing clarinet. He has been ever since I
turned in for the simple reason that most of those large
numbers have plenty of clarinet work and our clarinet
section isnt any to strong anyway.
Well honey the time seems to be passing and five days of
this month have passed already pretty soon now the time
will get here whn I start back for the states and you. I
wish that time were here now, as fast as the days are
going by, still they seem to drag. It can’t be long now
though. They are bound to send me back soon cause even
if the wanted to hold me here till the day I get
discharged they would have less than 200 days to hold
me. They won’t keep me that long though. I just have an
idea they won’t. I don’t have much hope right now of
getting back to the U.S.A. before March 1st but its not
impossible and stranger things have been known to
happen. (¿Quien Sabe?) in other words (Who Knows?) Ill
tell you one thing if I should in any way manage to get
back so I could put in my request on or before March
first Id be sure to get it cause Ive never known a
request like that to be disapproved of in the States.
The only reason they do that down here is cause there
would be so many short timers doing the same thing that
they would be short of the ammount of Marines that they
figure they will need here on Jan 1st for the
inaugaration. 90% of the men with less than a year to do
would be asking for the same thing.
How did you make out on that hunting trip you went on?
Tell me something about it. Ill bet you had plenty of
fun and I wish I could have gone along. I really like to
hunt if its done as a sporting proposition, only I like
to hunt with a rifle, where the game has as much chance
of getting away as you have of getting it. The chances
are you will come back empty handed most of the time but
the sport is so much better and you dont have to kill the
game right and left of course the shotgun is now the
accepted method and most people go out to kill what they
can, and it is used for food and therefore not wasted.
Then to the rabbits get to be a pain to the farmers and
it doesn’t do any harm to kill off a few now and then. I
know thats the way my Dad feels about it he says they
are plentiful and in the way and he wants me to come out
next fall when Im out of the service again and help him
get rid of some of them.
I wrote Min a nice long letter the other day also one to
Lill and one to Erv and I even wrote a short one to my
father. Maybe it’s agood thing after all to be able to
turn in to the sick bay once in a while. Youve got to
admit it is an excellent way of catching up in ones
correspondence.
Well honey I guess Ill have to close this letter now, Im
getting talkative. Just think, fourteen pages. Thats
almost as much as that book I started at Hampton Roads.
Well write soon honey so I can realize my fond dream of
twenty letters in one mail.
Love
Porter
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XX 40 C.P.
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Dec.
12, 1928 Ocotal Nicaragua
Dearest:
It seems like Im getting behind with my letters again. I
received one letter from you on Monday and two more
today so Ive got to get busy and do some writing. I
started to write on Monday but had to quit on the 4th
page. There have been a lot of patrols going out here
since a week ago. Our 52nd Co. had a contact with a
large bandit force and walked right into a neat ambush.
One man was killed and every one feels kind of hot about
the gooks since then, everyone is acheing to get out
onto the trail.
Yes I know West Tech has a good team this year. I read
in the Sunday Plain Dealer where West Tech took east
Tech over the line something like 33-6. I think thats
what the score was. Oh yes. The Plain Dealer was sent to
me by a fellow in Managua, whose folks always send it to
him. He is a corpsman in the hospital down there.
Snow? Why it seems to me like Ive heard that word some
where before. Here it is December on 13 days till
Christmas and we are still taking our little swim and
our open air baths.
Nope honey it isn’t over ten months since I was home.
Ill confess it does seem much longer but it isnt, in
fact it still lacks 3 days of being 10 months.
Yes I know where Im going to be for the next 3 months.
The dope now is that Ill stay right here till Ive got
only 3 months to do. Just think sweetheart if my request
for early discharge had been approved then Id only have
98 days to do, like this Ive got 188. Ive just about
given up all hope of getting out in March and just about
decided to just take it easy and do the rest of my time
without growling. Good idea “¿Es Verdad?”
Ive now assumed the honorary title of, “Band Mechanic.”
(unofficial) Im repairing all the instruments in the
band, one at a time as they break down since Monday Ive
repadded and repaired and cleaned and oiled 3 clarinets
and 1 flute. Theyve kept me busy too.
Weve also got a couple of artists in the band and one of
them looks very promising so he’s going to paint a
picture for me. If it turns out good enough to warrant
my carrying it around then Ill bring it home. Otherwise
Im afraid it will have a nice time in the ash can.
I think just like your friend, “Mrs. Van Meter,” about
marriage I think if a couple are suited to one another,
it is the most beautiful and helpful and inspiring
institution that can possibly be had. I don’t care what
the gossips think about it, they will never change my
idea of it. Im glad to know that your ideas along that
line are permanent, honey. That makes me feel better all
the way around.
Will I take a chance if dying from lemon pie? Darn
tooting I will provided, you make it. Never mind the
guarrantee on your cooking. Im not giving you a cooks
liscence of a cooks diploma. Im giving you a marriage
certificate and a ring and if the unguarrantee’d cooking
should turn out to be nothing to brag about, then we
both suffer. I don’t think we will though. I think if Im
not mistaken Ive already sampled some of the cooking
that youve had your foot in. Verdad?
All O-Key. Im given to understand without a doubt that
youve decided to was the right thing to let me kiss you
that night. Im so satisfied that Im almost happy in
spite of the fact that Im in Nicaragua where I always
thought happiness impossible.
I really don’t know if Ill buy my civies in Cleveland or
not honey. Im afraid my liberty uniform will be unfit to
wear and what is in good shape will probably be lsot or
stolen of strayed so I may buy them from the Post Tailor
in Quantico or else in Washington D.C.
How jolly it must be to be newly wed and just forget
parties dates and everything else but just one another.
Oh well some day if the Good Lord so wishes we will be
that way.
I just wonder how many girls would put up with what you
are putting up with and still wait for a fellow at some
times you didn’t even get mail from me for a long time.
Im beginning to realize that you sure are one A no 1
sticker and Im happy to know it.
Well honey I dont know of anything more to write about
so I think the best thing to do is to go to sleep, but
its so close to chow time that I think Ill just read a
paper for a few minutes.
Write soon honey to
Your
Porter
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XX 40 C.P.
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December 19 – [19]28 Ocotal Nicaragua
Dearest:
I was kind of expecting a letter from you Monday, but
the mail got here and I got no letter at all then Ive
waited two days over in the hopes that my mail might
have strayed.
We had another funeral to play this morning, and its
almost made me decide not to celebrate on Christmas as I
had intended it seems this man died from an alcoholic
heart or something like that. I don’t know for sure yet
but if I do celebrate it will be very moderately.
I was intending to tell you all about the West Tech
Football team but some way or another my paper vanished
into thin air. I get the, “Sunday Plain Dealer,” quite
regular now. My friend in Managua send it to me just as
soon as he reads it himself all he does is address it
and take it to the Post office marked via plane and the
next day I get it. He also sends me magazines every once
in a while.
Well honey it looks like Ill probably start for the
States around the end of February so I should only have
70 some odd days to do in Nicaragua and only 183 in the
Service. Hot puppy.
Ive been doing quite a bit of practicing here lately,
considering the fact that Im a short timer. I doubt very
much if I will play any when I get on the outside maybe
Ill get a clarinet and fool around with it a little bit
now and then, but no more than that.
I can hardly wait for the days to pass till the time
when I start back to the States and till I get paid off.
Its just as our Chaplain says, it’s a wonderfull thing
for a man, to have someone and something to go back to.
Ill second that but, it also tends to make a man
lonesome and blue. It’s a pleasure to be lonesome and
blue if one gets a prize for it in the end. That thought
is always a big comfort. I wish I was in Cleveland now.
Ill bet a (knickel) (5₵) I know where we’d go. We would
go ice skating or Ill eat my hat. I havent been ice
skating or even seen any ice or snow for so long that I
don’t know what it looks like. The same goes for roller
rinks and roller skates, and any other form of amusement
you can think of except, “right by squads, column left.”
Im getting so used to wearing a pistol every time I go
out away from my bunk, that Im afraid Ill never get used
to going out without a bunch of hardware strapped to my
side. Ill feel lost without a rifle and a pistol and
when I go out into the woods Ill have to go un-armed or
Im liable to shoot some innocent by stander thinking him
to be a bandit.
Well honey girl I dont know of anything else to write of
so Ill have to close now with
Love & Kisses
From
Porter
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XX 40 C.P.
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New
Years Eve [1928] Ocotal Nicaragua
Dearest:
Today for some reason or another, unknown to us, a few
bags of mail got through to us. I got one letter from
you and a package from Lill and Babe, and one from Max
and Min. Mac & Min sent me a carton of cigarettes and
Lill & Babe a lighter. They both come in handy and got
here at just the right time. I still can’t understand
though how it got to it destination without getting
lost. Maybe the mail clerks in Leon and Managua already
have cigarettes and a lighter.
This is another one of those nights when we are
permitted to celebrate all we want to, everyone else is
drunk already and Im just about 3 sheets to the wind
myself. Oh well, - - Ive still got 6 sheets to go to
windward. This is one night when Im forced to come down
the pole. You don’t care, do you honey?
There have been lots of rumors around here in the last
couple of days in regards to this band. They were trying
to make us go from post to post out in these hills and
play for them. Im glad that fell through, then we were
supposed to be going back. That proved to be nothing but
exercise for some idle tongue. Then there is a rumor out
that we are going to Managua in February to relieve the
5th Regt. Band and be the Legation band. That wouldn’t
be such a bad job if I had about two years to do, but I
havent. I can’t possibly be going back before February so
Id rather do my time here than in Managua it really
looks like that rumor is true too, but its still two
months off and Ill only have a couple of months left to
do by that time and only a couple of days in Nicaragua.
They are starting to celebrate already it sounds like a
young war outside now and its only six oclock 6 more
hours of 1928. I wonder what its gong to sound like by
then.
Weve got a concert to play in half an hour Im just
wondering how many guys will be sober by that time. I
have a sort of a hunch that this is going to be a hot
concert.
Jan 1st 1929 “Happy New Year”
Yes my hunch was right. I was called away to play
concert, and it was a hot concert. We played the,
“Shamrock Waltz,” and it was funny to see a bunch of
these hard boiled Marines, drunk, and crying like a
baby. That waltz reminds one of much cause it uses about
every Irish melody I ever heard of except, “Mother
Machree.”
Well honey, I was asleep last night at Midnight. They
made us pipe down at taps just like any other night, and
before I knew what it was all about I was asleep and I
never woke up till 6:30 A.M. this morning.
Well I guess my pen is going to have a rest till I get
back to the states now the rubber part under the pen
point just broke so Ive laid the pen away and am now
writing with a straight pen.
This is the day of all days for the guys down here it
seems they are singing and hollering like its nobodys
business. Thats all for this time honey so Ill close now
and wait for another letter.
Porter
XXXXXXXXXXXX
XX 40
C.P.
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Jan 5
1929 Ocotal Nicaragua
Dearest:
Im going to start this letter tonight but Im not going
to mail it yet cause the out-going mail dont leave again
till Tuesday while the planes coming up on Monday might
bring some mail. I certainly hope they do. Ive been
lonesome and blue for the last couple of days now and
afraid to write for fear that it would be contagious.
The work here has left up here the last couple of days
with the exception of re-signing every fellow in the
band with his instrument and doing a little work on the
flute and making four violin pegs out of some wood that
by rights should be called (tool steel) and the only
tools I had was a knife. Well outside of that I havent
done a thing in the last couple of day except a few
rehearsals and one concert. There isn’t a thing to do.
The other day I slipped on the platform under the shower
and hurt my foot a little so I havent been able to go
out to see what our painting looks like but tonight he
brought it sown to the quarters and its pretty good. I
give the kid credit alright, he sure deserves it cause
to paint a color portrait from a picture that don’t show
any color at all is no easy thing to do. Some officer
saw our painting and has asked him to do a couple for
the recreation hall I don’t know if hes going to do it
though hes going back next month. Im due to sail on the
third boat from now. The first of the three leaves
Corinto on Jan 17th the second about the First of
February the exact date is unknown and my boat leaves
about the First of March so when I get to the States Ill
probably have about two months to do. Ive ben having a
heck of a time trying to set the lantern so I could see
what I was writing so if about every 5th word don’t make
sense don’t blame me, balme the light.
My old company (61st) came in here yesterday on their
way to Appali [Apalí] and they are laying over here till Monday
to draw cloths etc. I was sure glad to see some of the
old familiar faces Id like to collect some of those
faces and put them in the cash register, but they wont
fit, and none of those guys have been paid now in four
months. Ive also seen my old friend Capt “Donald Spicer”
from Quilali.
Well darling only 166 more days to do. I can hardly wait
to get home so I can take you in my arms again its
almost a year now since we were together last it seems
like about 50 years but in reality we still have very
nearly a month to go before 1 year. Ill bet you a dollar
to a bent penny that nothing short of a miracle will
ever take me away that long again, no not even 1/4th of
that time. When I get home you may be prepared to see a
lot of me till one of us leaves this earth.
Im getting a lot of comfort out of you letters honey,
especially the one where you assured me that you would
be waiting for me and that you loved me. Im just like a
woman (Bam! XXX) I have to be told over and over or Im
not satisfied. An I going to have to wait or are we
going to get married soon after I get home? I think Ill
resort to cave man methods before Ill wait. I think Ill
be able to wait till I get a job, but no longer. Im
about at the end of my tether now. Would you believe it
sweetheart? Everything I do or think Im always thinking
of you, day and night, and when I do manage to get to
sleep why even then I dream about you. How does your
uncle say it? Sick calves? is that right? Well call it
what you want but Ill tell you this much, he calls it
that we call it love but whatever it is it sure has a
powerfull influence on me its sure serving to keep me in
the straight and narrow path. Some people say there is
no such a thing as love but Im here to tell the world
there is. These doubters call it passion, well Ill admit
there is passion connected with it, but there is a much
finer, “shall we say desire,” connected with it. The
desire to please the one in question. When a person is
willing to forfeit or give anything for another life,
honor, and all. Thats the definition of love that you
asked for in the other letter. Thats why I knew that you
loved me even before you did, just because even though I
didn’t want it you were willing to give your all even
till it hurt to give more. Yes I do realize those things
and I appreciate them, and my biggest desire is to do
the same and if it were possible even more. Im sure
going to come home when Im free again and Im going to
try at least to please you and to make you happy if I
can only have you and help to make life a pleasure for
you then Ill be happy.
Tomorrow Im going to write a letter to my dad and Im
going to try to write it in german if I can. This letter
Im going to keep till Monday and maybe there will be
some more to write about and I may get some mail on
Monday so this may be a man sized letter after all.
I cant get used to this pen for some reason or another
but I think after about three or four letters Ill get
the hang of it. Im getting so I can make a capital (I)
without sinking the pen into the paper so pretty soon I
think Ill be used to it. I wonder if you can read all
Ive written so far if you cant then just save it itll I
get home and Ill try to translate it for you with,
“Love, hugs, and kisses
“Porter”
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XX 40 C.P.
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Jan 7
1929 Ocotal Nicaragua
Dearest:
This is Monday but for some reason or another the mail I
expected didn’t get here so Im going to get this letter
off and into the mail.
Im using still another pen as you see. Ive borrowed an
old broken down “Parker Jr.” and with a little coaxing I
can get more out of it than I can our of a straight pen.
I guess Im darn lucky to have any thing to write with,
or on, cause the post exchange here hasn’t got a darn
thing this month, and the funny pat of it is they aren’t
expecting any thing in either.
I just wonder if Ill be able to tell you just how much
you mean to me it seems like the words just refuse to
come to me when I try to tell you, still I always
realize it.
Last night I was reading over some of your letter and I
got jealous as the dickens from reading one of them. You
had written about finding some flowers waiting for you
at the shop one morning and that the giver hadn’t made
himself known. I got so jealous that I just couldn’t
sleep last night. Somebody better forget those tricks
when I get back cause when I get in a mood like that,
someones liable to get hurt. I didnt know I could get so
darn jealous all at one time. I wonder what makes that.
Ive started to read over all your letters cause Ive got
to start getting rid of some of the baggage Ive got so
Ill be rid of it by the time I start back. They won’t
leave us carry to much baggage you know, only one pack
and a blanket roll cause all the planes will carry is
1600 lbs. and it don’t take many men to make a load that
heavy.
I started a letter to Lill last night but kept it over
to finish today, partly cause I expected to hear from
her and partly cause I had to go out to play concert.
Ill close now honey so I can finish her letter and get
both of these into the mail.
Porter
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX 40 C.P.
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Jan 11
1929 Ocotal Nicaragua
Dearest Derby:
Lets give three rousing cheers. For some reason or
another some one made a mistake and left some
mail get through to us. This is the first mail weve had
since Christ was a corporal on Grants Army. I got my
share of the letters to. I got three from you and one
from Min and one from Babe. They seem to have had some
rotten luck there. They were all sick at the same time.
Talking about music honey its sure got my goat, for your
wrist to get stiff is natural cause you don’t play much,
but for a guy who has to play as often as I do to play
as rotten as I do is a shame. Ive just about decided
that Ill never be a real musician.
Yes honey it is ten months and over since I left but
dont worry all Ive got now is 160 days to do and then
Ill be with you always. I guess its quite possible that
some day Ill be sitting in the same chair talking to the
same girl. I wish that time would hurry and come along.
I can hardly wait cause it seems like that is all weve
been doing ever since I can remember.
You seem to worry to much when I tell you that Ive been
sick so from now on Im not going to tell you if I get
sick again, cause there really is no use to worry about
me cauase Im strong and always recover anyway I wasn’t
born to die that kind of a death. I was born to die in
my books so quit worrying Im all well now and most
probably wont get sick again for ten or twenty years.
Consider yourself bawled out for worrying.
Im sorry to say they will keep me here after Jan honey
it seems like I won’t get out of here now till the first
part of March but that isnt so very far away so lets be
patient just a little longer honey.
Don’t worry honey I will write on both sides of the
paper from now on cause all Ive got is this scratch pad
and it looks like there won’t be any other kind
available for 14 more days so Ill have to write on both
sides and use what Ive got very sparingly.
Yes I remember distinctly the argument about using
nothing smaller than an elbow cause its liable to injure
the ear drum, and my mother used to use a hair pin all
the time so I told her one time what the teacher had
told me.
Why do I write and tell Lill of my feelings! Why honey
Im surprised didn’t you know that regardless of how much
we argue when we are together still Lill and I are
always the best of brothers and sisters, no matter how
sore I am at her still Id give my right arm if it would
help her any. I always tell her everything just like I
do to you, and anyway I always do tell you how happy it
makes me when I hear from you, and I always tell you how
much I love you. Im always afraid that my letters will
bore you cause they are always the same old story. But I
come to think of it honey, - I believe youre making
sport of me.
Ive been blue since Christmas day and this morning it
was getting so I didn’t know hat to do, when all of a
sudden along came the mail and presto my blues have left
me now all I ask is that they send me back so I can come
to you real soon, so I can hold you close and kiss you.
Id like to look into the 40 C.P. again. I love you so
much honey that Im sure that Ill never some back if I
ever make a furlough to see you, unless you come back
with me. I just couldn’t bear to be separated again once
I got home and got my arms around you.
Well honey your painting is finally done but how Im
going to get it to you now is another question. I may
have to take it back when I go myself.
Don’t forget to write now honey both soon and much to
Your Lonesome
Porter
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XX 40 C.P. How do you like that?
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Jan 13
1929 Ocotal Nicaragua
Dearest:
This is Sunday and even though there is no news still I
have a funny feeling that there is something to write
about.
The last letter I wrote I swore Id never write about how
I feel again cause you worry to much but Ill take that
back at the time I wrote that letter I wasn’t so good as
I told you since then Ive found a good remedy for
malaria and colds while in the tropics. The doc told me
to make friends on a moderate scale with (John
Barleycorn) and Id be less liable to come down with such
trifling sicknesses while in the tropics. Ive been taking
on the average of 4 drinks of (Media Medis) every day
for the last three days and its surprising how much
better I feel now. There isn’t a bit of fever or cold
left. Im kind of glad cause Im more liable to get back
to the States alive. There is an epidemic down here now
and they are advising all of us down here who desire to
stay clear of the flu to drink a little each day and I
sure want to stay clear of it now that Im this short if
the flu is still bad at home Id advise you to take a
glass of wine about twice a day till its over and you
will be less apt to get sick. I always thought that
booze of any description or in any quantity was harmfull
but our old doc down here has convinced me that as long
as it isn’t over done its helpful rather than harmfull.
I know that since Ive been taking a couple of drinks a
day Im feeling better, sleeping better and even eating
better and before that I had a continual fever (malaria)
never real bad but just enough to make me feel bad.
I havent had very much work for the last couple of days
and Ive done a lot of thinking. Do you know sweetheart
that I love you so much that the mere thought of being
away from you for another day is torture. I even worry
cause I know that all the time Im far away other men are
looking at you every day, men that you don’t even know
are enjoying a privelidge that Id give my right arm to
have right now they can see you while poor E.G. can only
remember that you are waiting for him and only for him.
I wonder what Id do if anything should ever happen to
keep us apart. I belive Id get crazy as a loon, in fact
Id probably get so sour at the world in general that Id
try to bring it to an end. Oh well sweetheart, it really
cant’t be very long now so we’ll just have to be patient
and the first thing we know we’ll be together again for
good, then Ill be able to tell you what I can’t seem to
write I can tell you and show you how much I love you.
Im getting so that I even love the street you live on,
the house you live in, just cause you go there and call
it home. I wonder what we will do for our house when I
get out. - - - ? Shall we get us an apt. or part of a
two family home or will we be able to get a bungalow and
shall it be furnished or will we get our own furniture.
Im just wondering on top of all that what kind of work
Ill take up on the outside. Im real anxious to get
started in some kind of work but I don’t suppose I can
be very particular and will have to be satisfied with
most anything as long as it is sufficient to pay for our
wants and gives us a chance to lay away a little money
toward our own house. Im afraid it will be several years
before we will get to realize that but if hard work will
give it to us, we will surely have it, cause what more
could a man ask in return for his work than to have you
and know that it is you he is working for. Well I guess
Ill have to do as you say just quit my worrying over
such matters cause its just as you say (if two young
things love each other as we do, then it will be no time
at all till things come right side up) There is one
thing I am sure of though. We will be a happy couple.
Its just not possible that it should turn out any other
way. I love you too much to have it any other way honey
and I always will. Many people think that love only last
while you remain single but Ive watched too many other
married people who are making a success of their married
life and who, after many years of married life still are
as much in love with one another as the were the day
they got married. I know that love can last if it is
real love and I know that our love is the real kind
cause Ive laid awake more than one night and figured it
all out from every angle. Thats one good thing about the
service, no matter how busy you are during the day,
still after Taps goes and lights are out and all is
quiet, you can always lay in the bunk and think.
Well honey girl, your picture is completed now and the
first chance I get to send it Im going to. Im afraid Ill
have to send it without a frame though. The fellow that
painted it is on his way back to Frisco to be discharged
and these gook carpenters can’t make a frame to suit me.
Im not even satisfied with the painting. I might even
just hang on to it till I come home myself and I may
decide to destroy it. I don’t know though, Ill probably
bring it home and let you decide cause it may be that
the artist sees you in a different way from what I see
you. Yes. I think thats what Ill do. Ill just let you
decide, still I kind of wish Id punched the artist in
the nose just for seeing you in a different way; then Id
at least have the satisfaction of knowing that I nearly
got even with him still in spite of everything it will
be a nice souvenier to take back from Nicaragua. Dont
you think so?
I wonder what you are going to think of this letter. You
wil probably think Im drunk cause I started out with a
lecture on strong drink. Im not drunk though, please
don’t think I am sweetheart. I simply told you of a very
good preventative for malaria and flu and then I simply
told you what you asked for in your last letter (how
much I love you) and if it seems like Im crazy in the
part about the picture, Im not. Im simply uncertain
about it and don’t think that the artist done you
justice. If I didn’t think that you would understand
this letter Id tear if up even if ten pages is a lot of
work.
Well honey now youve certainly got a lot to write about
after reading this letter so lets have a nice long
letter telling me all over how you are very real and
that you are not only a good dream and lets hear you
tell me that you do love me.
Always Yours
Porter
XXXXXXXXXXXX
XX 40 C.P.
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Jan 20
1929 Ocotal Nicaragua
Dearest Derby:
I wrote a letter several days ago but it hasn’t got into
the mail yet. Ive been waiting for a letter but although
mail got here twice in the last week, I didn’t get even
one letter. Oh well, maybe there will be one tomorrow.
There has been a big flu epidemic around here but its
just about over now. I had a touch of it two or three
times but I would promptly go out and get about half
tanked up and then to bed and sweat it out, about 2/3 of
this band has been half lit for the last nine days, its
just about over now. Im glad too, it wasn’t near so bad
here as it was in some towns, for instance, “El Sauce,”
has been condemned and the marines ordered out of it. The
whole thing has just about worked itself out though. The
gooks call it (colontura) (The fever) When the thing
first started around here I hesitated to go down the
pole but when I felt like a broken down something or
another and my head got hot then I decided Id rather be
half full for a little while than real sick for a long
while. Thank God its just about over now.
Have you heard from Lill lately honey? I havent had a
letter from her for some time now. She must be sick,
cause Im sure Id have heard at least a little from her
by now if she wasn’t sick.
Gee honey its hard to stay away from you for so long. I
almost have to cry when I try to write just think of it
honey about twenty-five more days and it will be a year
since I left, but gee it just can’t be very much longer
till I get back and then - - ? for good.
I can’t write no more right now honey cause Im to blue,
but Ill try again later in the day.
Next day.
Dearest:
Here I am on the air again. I quit yesterday with the
best intentions of starting again last night but we
played our regular Sunday concert and after that why we
had a tough argument about how it was played and the
first I knew it was taps, so Im starting early this
morning in order to get this into today’s mail
I hope there is a letter for me today honey so I won’t
feel so doggone blue.
Always Your
Porter
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XX 40 C.P.
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Jan 22
1929 Ocotal Nic.
Dearest:
Yesterday I received one letter and it was mailed on Dec
17, 1928 and got into Leon on Dec 31, so it took 21 days
from Leon to here not so good it had gone through the
gook mail. Theyve got a new mail contract with the
United Fruit company now and one of their steamers will
some in to Corinto every Thursday from now on so that
means mail once every week.
What makes you think that each letter sets the starting
date later honey? I feel pretty sure now that Ill leave
here at least by march 1st. Today our band master went
to Managua by plane to get a new set of glasses and
while hes down there he’s going to try to talk them into
using the long timers from this band to fill up with in
Managua and to let him take the short timers and return
with them to the U.S.A. I hope they let him do that and
I hope its right away. I doubt if he’ll succeed though
but no matter if he does or not Ill go back soon anyway.
Well honey the flu epidemic seems to be just about past
so Im on the water wagon again in other words Im up the
pole once again and darn glad of it.
Dont worry about my wanting any other bed partners when
I get back. Id be to darn jealous. Im even afraid that
Ill be jealous even of the bed clothes cause they are so
near to you while Im so far away that I can’t even see
you let alone touch you no I don’t think Ill want any
other bed partners.
Yes honey I know of the new addition that is on the
auditorium. You see I was getting, “The Sunday Plain
Dealer,” for a while and I kind of kept posted on what
is new at home.
Ive got your picture here now its all done except for
the finish of the frame. I just found out that to judge
the painting one is supposed to look at it from a
distance and it does look pretty good like that. I think
Ill have to keep it here and take it home with me when I
go home. There don’t seem to be much hope of getting it
home any other way.
I suppose this letter will get to you about the same
time as the other one and as there isnt anything new Ill
have to close this honey so write soon to
Your
Porter
XXXXXXXXXXXX
XX 40 C.P.
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Jan 27
1929 Ocotal Nicaragua
Dearest:
I was out on another combat patrol since I last wrote to
you, and had fairly nice results now theyve got
something new again. The new president here has resolved
to clear the country of bandits so he’s giving us a gang
of guke generals etc to act as guides for us and they
are going to send out a small Marine patrol with a bunch
of those guys and all Marines on that will be volunteers
my name is in for it too. This is going to be a bigger
thing even than that (Cocoa Navy) was. That was a big
thing but this will make it look sick. I don’t know yet
if Ill be one of the chosen few or not they will be
pretty strict in their selections. I think the whole
outfit will be dressed like gooks. I think Id make a
darn good gook. I think they are going to give special
pay to the men that fo on that patrol but Im not sure
cause they haven’t said anything definite yet. I think
its going to be a darn good patrol though cause there
will be only 4 regular Springfield rifles, and the rest
will be automatic rifles and sub Thompsons. The four
Springfields will be carried along just for shooting
rifle grenades, cause thats the only kind of rifle that
can be used for that purpose. I think that outfit is
going to get rid of bandits alright what bandits don’t
get shot will be scared so bad that they leave the
country. By the way I got myself a couple more of them
the other day on that patrol.
Ive quit counting my days to do. I know that its less
than 150 but I don’t know exactly all I know is 4 months
and a butt. Im just marking time now and trying to make
the time pass quicker. Ill mark time 130 more days and
then Ill start suitcase drill.
I wonder whats the matter with the mail service down
here now. The mail came into Corinto last Thursday and
we haven’t seen hide nor hair of it yet, maybe
“Mañana.” I hope so. Id sure appreciate a letter or two
or three or more. The more the merrier mostly (marry er)
merrier. That is my pet line anyway. Do you know honey
if you were with me I believe Id be satisfied even down
here. Thats my biggest worry, being kept so far away
from you for such a long time. Oh well sweetheart it
can’t be so very long now, can it? I think once we get
settled down we’ll probably just forget all about this
banana war down here and probably forget that there ever
was a Gen. Sandino at least I hope I can forget it cause
Im getting all I what of it right now.
Well darling Im going to close now and just hope that
there is a letter for me tomorrow if they should make a
mistake and bring some up here. Write soon and let me
know all about it and Love
Your
Porter
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XX 40 C.P.
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Jan 29
1929 Ocotal Nicaragua
Dearest:
Today I was accepted as one of a very few Marines who
will go with the “Moncada Volunteer National troops.”
They are all ex bandits and know where and how to fight
them and find them and they know the country the Marines
are going along to do the fighting. The Lieutenant in
charge is my one time skipper from the 61st Co. and when
he saw my name on the list he asked to see me just to
make sure I was the right man and he accepted me right
off the bat. It sure makes a man proud to know that your
exskippers think enough of you to fight to get you on
such an important patrol. The Colonel and the band
master are trying to keep me here cause Ive only got a
month to do in Nicaragua and God knows how long this
patrol may last but the Lieut. Has promised to send me
in when its time to leave for the States cause the
patrol will most probably stay our for maybe six months.
Ill go for a month though it won’t hurt me any. Ill just
be out long enough to make a couple of good gooks and to
get enough real hardship so I won’t forget it to easy. -
- ?
Your letter and one from Lill got here today. I was sure
tickled to get it cause I havent over one letter at a
time from you now for about a month or more, and it
seems like they are always getting shorter. Im glad I
got this one today cause it may be a month before I get
another. I wouldn’t swear to it but I might be able to
write once or twice while Im on patrol if we ever lay
over in any town where there is a Marine garrison but if
you don’t hear from me for a while don’t get excited
cause it will only mean we are avoiding towns so far we
don’t know any details yet, dont know when we leave,
where we go, or even the exact number of men that are
going and if we did I wouldn’t dare to write it cause a
military secret is a bad thing to talk about.
Well honey Ive got a guard to do from 2 A.M. to 6 A.M.
and between then Ive got to sleep, eat, and stand guard
mount so for today
Adios
Porter
Jan 30 1929
My Own Derby:
Last night was a rotten night for me its impossible to
sleep in the guard house cause if the insects crawling
over a guy dont keep him awake, then the ringing of the
bells every half hour and the sentries reporting does. I
tried my best to sleep right up till 2:00 A.M. but no
success, and that makes the four hours seem almost
endless I was so darn tired that I slept right through
rehearsal this morning with my clarinet in my mouth.
There is no new dope on when we are leaving so I cant
tell you anything about that except that we may have all
Thompson Sub machine guns and no automatics. Oh well
they are just as effective at a short range so why
worry. Im going to try to get an automatic though no
matter what happens.
Has Lill or Babe or anyone told you anything about my
dad lately? I havent heard from him in a long time now.
Im starting to worry about it let me know if Lill tells
you anything about him.
Gee but I wish I could be home for good now honey. I
sure do miss you an awfull lot honey its 50 weeks now
since I was home it won’t be that many more though, and
this time I think it will be for always. Have you
decided on what we are going to do yet? That is what is
worrying me more than anything right now all I know so
far is that I want you and need you and that Im always
Yours with much Love
Porter
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XX 40 C.P.
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Feb.
13, 1929 Ocotal Nicaragua
Dearest:
I got off patrol last night and found three letters
waiting for me. I sure was dying for a letter, so they
very probably saved my life.
I hardly know how to write this letter. Ive got so much
news for you and yet my time is limited. I guess Id
better start out with the extra special news first. Im
on the next sailing list supposed to sail on Feb. 19th.
Hows that honey? I expect to leave here before the end
of the week or not later than the first part of next
week. Thats what I call lucky, to come in off a patrol
and be told that youve only got 3 or 4 more days to do
in this dump. I guess by the time this letter gets to
you Ill be in the States again, probably in the Post
Band at Quantico.
The gook patrol was a big success so far but I think the
next four or five months will be even better cause these
gooks we had with us are all ex-bandits and they know
where and how to get to these birds. I believe Sandino’s
backbone is just about broken now. We have his best
General here in irons. The brains of his outfit,
“General Jiron.” The man who planned all the battles and
ambushes. We spotted 5 bandits on the side of a hill
inside of the dead line before we were 20 miles out of
Somoto my automatic rifle and I get credit for a couple
of those, the other 3 went over the top of the hill into
the bushes and got away. Had one contact with “Salgado”
and took a bunch of prisoners. We caught one spy. He died
a soldiers death, before a firing squad. I don’t know
just how many days we were gone but they were enough to
drive a man crazy after a contact a man has to get drunk
or hes bound to lose his good sense by thinking of it,
cause you see some awfull sights during that kind of
action. Im glad its over for me. The details of the
patrol can wait till I get home cause they are better
when not written on paper. I also violated an
international law while we were camped on the Honduras
border. Armed forces crossing into a neutral country. We
did plenty of hiking both day and night and covered
about 250 miles of tail all over Northern Nicaragua. Oh
well Id rather come home and settle down anyway. These
next four months will surely pass sooner or later and
Ill tell you all of my experiences once then after that
I want to forget all about the ugly part of this country
and think only of the nice things Ive experienced down
here.
Well honey it can’t be long now so we’ll just have to
take it easy. Ill have to close now cause Ive got to
clear out at the Quartermaster cause no one know when I
might leave for Managua and Im going to be ready when
the time comes.
Mucho Love
From Your
Porter
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XX 40 C.P.
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March 3 1929 Managua
enroute to U.S.A.
Dearest One:
It seems now like my days down here might be numbered. I
expect to sail within 1 week from today. I suppose you
will be wondering what causes all the silence for the
last couple of weeks, well one glance at this paper and
you should know. That will all be changed in short
order though. Weve got paid so when ever the post
exchange opens up Ill get my supplies. Then to Ive been
kept pretty busy for the big part of the day. Im doing
duty here in the Bakery and the hours are pretty long
and irregular so therefore I generally try to get somes
sleep when I can get off.
The other day several of your letters caught up with me
also one from Lill and one from my dad. Im going to try
to write them a few lines tonight if I can. Ive been on
the go since two A.M. this morning and its now 7:00 P.M.
so Im getting tired but I think I can last through at
least two of those three letters.
Know what Im doing all the time now honey? Im trying to
figure what wouold be the best kind of work for me to
follow up when I get out of the service. Youve got to
admit that it’s high time I was doing some thinking
about it lets see now – about 109 more days to do. It
cant be long now honey. Im ready to leave whenever they
say the word too. Ive got my sea bag now and its all
packed ready to leave. I hate to think of March weather
in the States though after a year of tropical weather.
My blood is pretty thin now and ther cold wont go so
good at first.
Well honey don’t write till I know where Im going to be
or when I know where Ill be
Love Your
Porter
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