August Letters

August 7, 1950
El Toro, Calif.

Dear Jane,

You know, I have just made the most momentous discovery of my whole life. It will be hard for you to believe it but here it is: I think you are the most wonderful and beautiful girl in all the world. You far surpass my wildest dreams as to personality, character, and faithfulness. You must be all of these things to [be still] in love with me. I can hardly believe you are my wife now and forever. If I ever were to do any wrong to you, I believe my heart would explode and I would surely die of anguish and despair. I trust and believe in you with such intensity that for the first time in my life I feel tears behind my eyes when I think of you and how wonderful it is to be your husband. To have found you and to have lived with you has been the most that any man could ask of all life itself. You have become so much a part of me and my life I feel that part of me is missing. Never have I felt such a twisting and wrenching inside of me — Believe me Baby, just by your example you have made me the most loyal husband that ever lived. I only wish I could withdraw and utterly crush all the cruel things I have said and done to you because you are the most precious thing I have in this world.

I promise that for all the rest of our lives I will make you very, very proud of me, and believe me, I never fully realized how much of my life has been, and is shaped by, your loving care and thought.

Believe in me and trust in me, and I will believe in you and trust in you,
Mert.

Here would be Jane's letter, if she had one.

August 8, 1950
El Toro, Calif

Dear Jane,

By now you have received my torrid missel of yesterday. I want you to know everything therein still goes. You are my love, my only one. There will never be anyone but you. This I mean.

Kid, old gal, you are the most necessary cog in my life. I hope I am the big cog in your life. I have been very remorseful every time I think of the times I have shoved you out of bed, and like a small pink dictator demanded my coffee. What a perfect lady you are!! How could you stand me!!?

I’ll never let you go!

There is a big bothersome fly buzzing around, I don’t seem to be able to get him. He is driving me nuts. (Time out for fly swatting!) No luck, they have gone into hiding.

The day before yesterday we arrived and that is when I lift you. I’ll never forget you waving to me. I felt like running back and saying lets run and hide together someplace and let this messy world take care of itself.

Yesterday, Mom and Dad came out to see me. They look very good. They are most eager to see you. I think you will like them very much. I believe they are coming up this week end or may be next. They are anxious that you take none of your vacation on their account, so they are intending to be there on the week end.

Now to a little business. Enclosed is $20.00. You must need it by now. I am having trouble getting money but I think I have better chances than you do. The paymaster seems fouled up. Do not get an advance on your pay unless I completely fail.

Please send me my insurance (G.I.) policy number. I want to make out an allotment for it.

Believe in me and trust in me and I will believe in you and trust in you
Mert.

P.S. Send me a picture of you!! Quick!!

READ THiS FiRST
Mrs. Merton Kirk Cameron, Jr.
444 Palm Ave
Los Altos, California

August 8, 1950
Tuesday

Dear Lil’ Bunny Rabbit,

Gosh, it’s terribly lonesome with no little rabbits around & just Cinder & Baby Cat to sleep with. Buster misses you too as he sits at the door & cries & when I let him in he looks all around the house & then wants out again.

Have you seen your folks yet? I wrote them & told them about the package & mail & asked if they wanted me to send it down to them or if they would be up here soon.

Sunday when I got home about 3:30 Marie Knowlton called & asked if I’d like to come over for dinner & so I did. She had a real nice dinner & I had a pretty good time. Last night Patty Hoagland McEvan & her new husband Mac asked me over for dinner. I took the dessert — Taylor’s Bake Shop angel food cake, strawberries & whipped cream. She also had a real nice dinner — but she had rice cooked the gooey way & gad, it was awful compared to your mother’s improved way. She showed me some of her wedding presents & she really got some lovely things — but ours were just as nice. They have a cocker too, he’s copper colored tho. Just a few months older than Buster & boy is he subdued. He’s really almost too quiet compared to raucous Buster.

Yesterday I called the automobile club to ask about renewing the membership. A man came right out & talked me out of an Associate membership too. HE said that an Associate membership would just cover us both if we were driving someone else’s car other than our own. I said this was highly unlikely to happen & it would have been $6-extra $ for an Associate membership, so I just left it like it was.

At noon I went to the Motor Vehicle DEpt. & got that fixed up but had to pay $2 for the transfer. It would have only been a $ if the transfer had been completed within 10 days after April 12th, the date of release. I did not know how long it had been so paid the $2. When did you get that pink slip?

Tonight I guess I’ll go home & try & clean up the house a bit as I have not had time to do anything to it with all these dinner invites. At least it was nice not to have to go home & get dinner in the gloom.

Boy, bunny, it’s plenty lonesome without you, as a matter of fact its positively gruesome to say the least! I don’t even like to go home. Your the sweetest, nicest, bestest, loveliest rabbit alive. I only wish you were right here beside me ‘cause I love you so much.

Have you found out anything?

When can I see you? I really do pine for you & I’m getting skinny and sallow ‘cause my meats been taken away.

All my love,
Jane-rabbit

August 9, 1950
El Toro

Dear Jane,

Lover, how are things with you? I hope that check has arrived. In the next couple of days I think I will have my pay under control.

Life here is most boring. We muster twice a day, 0800 and 1300. We are available for assignment. Soon I will have orders for some place. As soon as I know I will let you know immediately. Most of the day I lay in my bunk.

What are you doing now that your steady lover is away?

What am I going to do without you?

The chow is lousy. All this impresses the fact on me that you are an excellent cook — a perfect cook, an outstanding cook — none better.

It is rather hot down here but with only lying around it is not so bad.

There is no news today. I will let you know what happens tomorrow.

Believe in me and trust in me and I will believe in you and trust in you
Mert

READ THiS 2nd
Mrs. Merton Kirk Cameron, Jr.
444 Palm Ave
Los Altos, California

Wednesday
August 9, 1950

Dear Lil’ Rabbit,

How are you by this time? For me, I get lonesomer by the minute. Boy, when you’re gone I realize more & more how much I miss you & most of all how very much I love you. Your the only rabbit for me — don’t ever worry about that.

Yesterday afternoon your mother called me here at work to say they were coming up here Friday. She said they had seen you all Monday afternoon, & said you were just the same — still kidding. I will be looking forward to meeting them, but I wish you were here too. Gosh, do I wish you were here. Your mother said that you thought that yesterday you would know what they were going to do with you. Do you? I wish I were down at Laguna near you.

I got the nicest letter from Edie sympathizing with us. It was really very sweet & she said if I wanted to come & live with them I was more than welcome to or to come & visit them anytime I wanted. She said she & Ken were baffled as to why we bought the washing machine & the only thing they could think of was babies! I’ll tell her no such luck.

Incidentally, the only thing I can think of that you forgot to take was your radio. But, I’m enjoying it as I listen to it every night in bed & think of you! Honest I do.

Have you begun to read Ballantine yet?

Last night as I was the in shower washing my hair Buster began to bark & barked & barked & barked. Finally I thought I heard someone knocking went to the door & there was Ceilly & Kirk McFarland & they’d come to celebrate as they’d just bought a new house on Springer Road in that Los Altos Rancho development. 3 bedrooms, 2 baths for $13,050 all landscaped, etc. Better than nothing is my candid opinion.

As yet no letters from you, so no address. I’m just writing these every day then will send them when I get your address.

Better cook up some way so I can see you soon or I think I’ll pine away to nothing & I ain’t fooling. You keep me going and happy, but now I just feel as if I were existing & that’s all. Ain’t love grand tho?

I wrote Jean Kentle about her house at Laguna Monday.

Guess I’d better go back to work — all my love & hugs & kisses (baby cat squeals when I hug her).

I think of you all the time.
All my love,
Jane

August 10, 1950
El Toro

Dear Jane,

Most beautiful lover, be of good cheer.

Today has gone as others have, with nothing new. There is nothing to report. We muster twice a day and just waite around for the rest of the day. I don’t leave the base at night and the latest I have been up is 1130 PM. This should encourage you.

Yes, there is something to report. I have made out my allotment with the paymaster. I have made out a $200 per month one to you. You are supposed to do some saving as we planned. I upped it so you could pay off the bank and sears. Pay for the washer and the Mtn View $75.⁰⁰ as well as Sears. Pay this as fast as you can but hold a minimum of $100.⁰⁰ in the savings (your savings account). This $200 is 1/2 of my base pay and I thought you are just as good if not better than I am at handling money — regardless of the kidding I have done with you. Once you have paid our debts let your savings build up and we will see who can do a better job — you or me.

Also I have made an allotment for my GI insurance. The catch to all this is that you won’t receive a check until Oct. 1^st. Paymasters are paymasters, you know. However, don’t worry because I will send you practically all of this August pay to carry you a month and a half.

Please yuse your envelope system because it seems to work for you.

So much for that.

Also have a suit case packed because I might call you at any time to make a quick flight down here to see me for a short while. For now, just pack a bag — for about 3 days.

God, baby, I love you so much and miss you terribly.

Love.
Mert.

READ THiS THiRD
Mrs. Merton Kirk Cameron, Jr.
444 Palm Ave
Los Altos, California

Thursday
August 10, 1950

Dear Baby-wabbit,

Geez, I’m almost getting mad at you ‘cause there wasn’t a letter yesterday from you & I know it only takes mail one day to get up here. Jeepers I just live for you & when I don’t hear from you I have nothing to live for. I feel as if I’d been a bad girl & someone had put me in solitary confinement when I go home & there’s nobody there. All the kids try hard, but they don’t quite make the grade. Baby cat sleeps right by my ear every night & purrs & purrs. Baby, you’ll never know how much I miss you — there’s just a big yawning hole left in me when your not around.

Do you know what they are going to with you yet? God, it seems like you’ve been gone for ages instead of barely a week.

Last night I went home & really beavered. Cleaned the bedroom thoroughly, washed the windows & put up the clean curtains. Then I washed somethings by hand & washed some stuff in the washing machine. Incidentally there are 2 shirts & a pair of your shorts that I just washed. Do you need them?

I’m not getting any richer. Can you get some money around the 15^th? Hope so — gulp!

Can’t think of anything else of excitement that has happened, except that I love you more than anything else in the world & it’s awfully lonesome around our house with no pokey, pinchy hugs to tease me.

All my love & kisses & hugs,
Jane

Here would be Mert's letter, if he wrote one.

READ THiS LAST
Mrs. Merton Kirk Cameron, Jr.
444 Palm Ave
Los Altos, California

Friday
August 11, 1950

Dear Bunny,

Yesterday I got your first 2 letters and baby-wabbit they (especially the first one) were the nicest letters I have ever read in my whole life & I’ll keep them forever &ever. Your such a nice sweet husband & I love you so much, but as you say there certainly is a cog missing. It seems to me I’m just barely existing with you gone. No incentive or nothing to really spur me on!

I’ve been waiting to send all these letters until you gave me an address, but now I’ll just put on the one you had on the envelope & hope they reach you O.K.

Needless, to say the ^$20⁰⁰ came in very handy. I paid Sears and the Telephone bills with it.

Do you know anymore about what they are going to do with you?

I can’t tell you how much you are a part of me, how much I love you & how very much I miss you. I’ll love you forever, but I wish I could see you or be down at Laguna with you.

I forgot to get your insurance policy # but will tonight.

Am expecting your folks tonight.

Will cut this short so I can mail these at this post office on the way up for coffee.

Your first letter was all anyone could ask.

All my love,
Me

xxxxxxxx oooooooooo

P.S. Baby cat went in the sink last night after I beat her for going on the floor!

P.P.S. I loved the photos. I don’t have any of me — shall I have some taken in Sept?

August 16, 1950
Gen. WM Weigel

Dear Jane,

“They” have said that this letter will go ashore before we sail from San Diego. I hope it does because my address is on the envelope but here it is again.

MAG 33 FMAW
% Fleet Post Master
San Franciso, Calif.

We are aboard the General William Weigel. It is just out of mothball fleet and consequently it looks rather shabby but the quarters I have are satisfactory. The food has been good for the last two meals. Considering the operation as a whole I would say this organization has pitched in and done an excellent job.

Did you finally meet your mother? I hope Mom + Dad stayed around until she arrived. I feel better knowing that they were with you.

Leaving you was so sad I don’t want to write about it. I love you more than anything or anybody in this world. Soon this show will be over and I will be back with you. You are all I have in this world and I want you to know that what I do is mostly for you and for the betterment of your life. Our life has been most difficult but we started off sending me through school. When that is over the rest of our life will seem like a vacation — one long tour at the Surf + Sand.

Take good care of Cinder, Baby Cat and Buster. They need you very much.

This letter is being written in the Lounge and the noise and movement is disconcerting. There is no room in our crowded quarters to write.

I must finish this letter so I can get it off the ship. We are anchored in the Bay, what for I don’t know.

Believe in me and trust in me and I will believe in you and trust in you.
Mert.

Nothing to be found here.

17 August 1950
Gen. WM Weigel
1

Dear Jane,

This is the end of the first day at sea. I have done very little. I read a pocket book by Somerset Maugham (?) call the British Agent. It was pretty good.. The story wandered around, but having little else to do I wandered with it.

Before I forget — the (1) on the letter indicates the order in which the letters are written. The (1) is on the envelope and right under the date and place. The (2) will naturally be the second letter. So when you receive a letter you will know if any are missing and if several arrive at one time you will know where to start. How about you numbering your letters?

Bless your little heart, I have begun to worry about you already. Believe me sweetheart I miss your blue eyes, dark hair and freckled face. Don’t you ever worry about your bursts of temper. If I can have all the rest of you I’ll be very much more than content to take that little trifling characteristic along with all of you. Baby, I love you desperately. Just saw a picture show called Portrait of Jenny. It was very odd. Too peculiar for me to understand. It was morose, somber, depressing and decidedly lackluster.

I am going to hit the sack now.

Believe in me and trust in me and I will believe in you and trust in you.
Mert.

P.S. I don’t want to write long letters because I don’t want to run out of material for the next day.

*tumbleweed rolls by*

18 August 1950
Gen. WM. Weigel
2

Dear Jane,

Clear day today and smooth sailing. My appetite has greatly increased. Dining me, three big meals a day. The chow is nothing like what you can put out. Boy, do I want some of your good cooking!!!

By the way, if you have any trouble and need help plus my assistance you can contact the Red Cross and they have a direct line to their field man who can contact me very quickly. This is a good emergency procedure to remember. They can help you very much until I can take over aiding you. I have the highest regard for their integrity and efficiency. The Red Cross is exceptionally good in a serious emergency.

I saw Undercover Man at the show. It was much more to my liking. They caught the Big Fellow who naturally was the crook. This is as it should be.

By now you should be home taking care of Cinder, Baby Cat and Buster. Do take good care of them. Take good care of yourself.

Lover as each day goes by I know I love you more and more. I am more determined than ever before to be loyal and true to the only person in this world I trust and love so dearly. If God had only shown me how to tell you really how much I love you, I would be more happy.

Believe in me and trust in me and I will believe in you and trust in you.
Mert.

It's like she's upset he left, or something.

19 August 1950
Gen. WM Weigel
3

Dear Jane,

Another day, little different from the last, except that I love you a might bit more than before.

Remember when you left the room and walked back to the Hosters House? I stood there for a long time and then I ran to the door to look after you. I think you were across the street on the side walk because between the bushes I saw someone in a light blue dress such as yours — I am positive it was you. You were walking down the street. When I saw you I started to run after you, but I stopped, sort of sick inside, then I started to call out but nothing, no sound came out. You walked on; I could see your blue dress through the branches, you walked on behind a thick group of bushes. I turned around and went slowly back to my room. I never felt so terrible in all my life. It was then and now that I know for certain, that forever, I will love you. This is just as in the story books. But now I know the story books are true, because people really do have these emotions. You are my precious one, my only one, for whom I will give all I have or ever have. We two shall be together until our material lives run their course.

Believe in me and trust in me and I will believe in you and trust in you.
Mert.

Still waiting for Jane to start writing again....

20 August 1950
Gen. WM Weigel
4

Dear Jane,

Uneventful day today. I have read three pocket book mysteries but none of them are as mysterious and as wonderful as you are. The show tonight was a western of low grade but it was diversionary. So far the chow has been good and living conditions in general have been good.

Now we are somewhere north of Hawaii. Where we are going nobody knows. The ship can make good time even if it is just out of mothballs.

Don’t forget to pay up my insurance for August and September. Remember how to keep you accounts at the bank. Checking acc’t no less than $50.00 and savings acc’t no less than $100.00 — this will give you a reserve of $150.00 to draw on at any time. After you have set the above accounts up, take $75.⁰⁰ of the $200.00 and use it as you will; with the remaining $125.⁰⁰ get ride of the Sears and B of A debt anyway you think is best. I will try and save what I get — so far my expenses have been $.75.

By the way when is your birthday?

I have an idea on our saving plan. Out of what you get (200+179) you save enough to support you and a baby for 18 mo and when I get back we can start right in starting. Make your estimate on 1/2 of household expenses and food for both of you, plus some clothes. I’ll see if I can’t save enough to take care of all the rest for 24 mos. If you decide to go to school for your teaching credential, why go right ahead but tell me how much you need so that I can increase my allotment to you. Our total savings when I start back to school will have to be about $5,500 — this figure includes what you can save. This sum plus the GI bill should do right well by the three (3) or four (4) of us for 24 mos which is the time allowance for finishing school and getting located.

Believe in me and trust in me and I will believe in you and trust in you
Mert

*whistling*

21 August 1950
Gen. WM Weigel
5

Dear Jane,

Sweetheart I miss you as I have never missed anyone in all my life. For the last two days I have been terrified about one thing. All day long I have thought of it again and again. That in the thought of losing you to someone else, permanently or just for a few seconds or hours. I think back on the last three years and I see that I have given you nothing, nothing at all. Sure I loved you more than all the world but even at that I couldn’t find words or ways to tell you how much you mean to me. So here you are, no children, no home, no money but just with a single jerk who loves you and doesn’t know how to express himself to you when he is around you, a guy who is insanely jealous and suspicious, a guy whose meaness springs from these two factors — and now I have the selfish gaul to expect you to sit home and write for me to come back. I expect you to stay away from all other men and do as I do — which is to stay away from all women. Sure, it’s easy for me to stay away from other gals, that’s because I have you — the only precious treasure I have — you who have given all you had, work, love and good cheer. You’ve given me something I never knew existed — something I couldn’t believe existed — something I even denied existed — the love and loyalty of a beautiful wife. When I think of how hard you worked, how tired you became, how hard you tried to be a good wife, it makes me cry inside. All you have is a guy who would never never let you down or be unfaithful to you. To betray you would be worse than death itself. That is all I have given you in the past and that is all I can give you in the future — all my loyalty and all my faithfulness. This is the only reality I can give — all the rest, my dreams and ambition are intangible, perhaps never to become real. Maybe there is one other reality I can give — a will, a will power which will fight as long as life is in me to make those dreams and ambitions come into existence for you. Somehow, in the last few days the whole center of my life has changed. I used to be at the center of everything I thought and did, but what is success and power if you can’t give it to the one you love; why struggle or fight if it is not to the benefit and pride of the one you love? Why sacrifice to conquer if you can’t bring home the treasure and lay it at the feet of your loved one and say, “Here, this is all for you; I got all this to make you comfortable, to give you security, to raise our children and their children.”?

Have I brought anything home to you? No. I have never done anything for you. Why didn’t I realize I loved you so much? Why did all this have to happen before the truth came to me? Why did it take a gigantic smash in the head for me to come to?

Now that I have come to this full realization of your relationship to me I have become scared. Scared that you won’t be there when I return; scared that you will have changed and realized that you gave all and received nothing; scared that you will find more in life for you with another man; scared that you may find temporary pleasure with another man; scared that my total offering to you will only be the loyalty and faithfulness and love; scared because I couldn’t blame you for anything you do, because I am the one at fault. Jane, darling, have you ever been scared like this? Scared is hardly the word; I’m terrified. I hope more than anything else that you understand what I am trying to say. I am trying to describe the strongest emotion I have ever felt. Do you understand?

Please believe in me and trust in me and I will believe in you and trust in you
Mert.

Mrs. Merton Kirk Cameron, Jr.
444 Palm Ave
Los Altos, California

August 21, 1950

Dearest Bunny,

Don’t look so surprised when you see the date on my first letter, but I have a pretty good alibi & I will explain later.

Oh bunny, you can’t imagine how simply ghastly & awful it was last night when I came home to “our little house” & there was no little bunny there & I knew that there wouldn’t any little rabbit for a long time. I think I’ve cried so much that most of the tears have gone out of me, but last night as I looked at everything so still & quiet & nobody around I started all over again. I thought of all the good times we’d had in that house — pinchie bugs, evenings snuggling & listening to mysteries, Cinder’s kittens, lovey baby-cat, some of our “well-organized” steak dinner parties & all the rest of the happy days!

Anyway you mean more to me than life itself, & I don’t know what I’m going to do without you. I guess it put all my eggs in one basket; & that’s you & I’m so glad. My whole life revolved around you & for you, & now it’s quite meaningless without you. I feel like a chipmunk just spinning my wheels. Believe it or not I don’t even feel like spending any huge sums of money — it’s no fun when your not around to admire what I buy — or at least make a comment!

Tuesday now

Well, I suppose I could go on all day telling you how much I love you & miss you.

I didn’t write last week because I stayed with my mother until Sunday & each time I would sit down to write I would cry & she’d decide there was something else I should do. In desperation I gave up & decided I’d tell you all that happened in ^the peace & quiet of my office.

Incidently your mother told me I should number my letters as you did not always get all of their letters last time — so that is what I shall do.

Let’s see — after I left you Tuesday I met the Hockings on the way up the street to the Hostess House & asked Mrs. Hocking if she would be there for lunch & if so if she’d like to have lunch with me & she said she’d love to. After I packed & talked to your folks who left about 11 a.m. I walked up to the PX & bought a new alarm clock & when I got back Mrs. Hocking & I went down to the dining room for a good lunch of shrimp lobster creole. To my dismay when I got there I realized I didn’t have any chits, but she had just enough & said she was glad to get rid of them & wouldn’t let me pay her. We had a real nice visit & — NOW HEAR THIS! She got travel pay at 4¢ per mile for her trip down to El Toro, & said they were talking to some guy in the pay office & that is how they found out. So I called the Pay Office at El Toro from the Hostess House & asked a little man about it. He said that I could get it & you could put in a request for it at your next station or anywhere you can. Mrs. Hocking got a check for ^$19.⁸⁰ each way so it would definitely be worth while to apply for it when you land somewhere. Might as well bleed them for every last penny we can since “they” have loused up our lives so royally. I think I’ll change my name to Scrooge II (you being Scrooge I)! Anyhoo, don’t forget to put in for it will you bunny?

Shortly after we had lunch my mother came about 1:30 p.m. We took a drive down to Ocean-side to see some of her friends but they weren’t home thank gosh. And she let me drive her car — big thrill! Ugh.

Wednesday we took your folks for a ride out to Arcadia & Glendora as they wanted to see that neck of the woods. Then I took them all to Sea Food Tavern for dinner & they all seemed to like it real well. Incidently every day I was down there the temperature never went below 95^º. How I longed for nice cool Los Altos & Palo Alto but thought I had better stay while I was there as I have no intention of going back very soon.

Thursday my mother took me & your mother to Bullock’s Pasadena for lunch & the fashion show. It was quite nice. In the evening Beverley & Jim came over for a bridge game. Incidently they said 1316 Circle Way, Laguna was right across the street from 1317 but without a number on it, & they were there when we were but their car was in the garage. Tuff.

Friday I washed clothes etc. & Friday evening your folks asked us over to a lovely baked ham dinner. I really think your folks are grand, Mert. Your father amuses me no end & by this time I think I have heard most of his stories. Your mother is very sweet & understanding — god, why couldn’t mine be that way?

Saturday a friend of my mother’s asked Beverley, myself & my mother to Bullock’s Pasadena for lunch again. Afterwards we had a little bridge game at my mother’s. Then, old kid, I got an appointment to have my picture taken at 6:30 p.m. Saturday which I did & I think I will get some terrific ones & I’ll send you one, or 2 maybe, as soon as I get them. I should get the proofs the end of this week. After I had the pictures taken the McCalls had invited your folks & us over for dessert. I guess your father & Mr. McCall had a nice chat, but my mother & Mrs. McCall are so oblivious of what is going on in the world that it’s sickening. The only things they can think or talk about are clothes, cars, their houses & what “so-&-so said it so-&-so” & “how awful she is”! I almost popped a gasket.

Sunday I left on a 2 p.m. plane so my mother & I had a snack at the airport. Ceilly & Kirk McFarland were at the airport waiting for me. Ceilly insisted I stay for dinner which I did & was very nice. She had put Cinder, Buster & Baby Cat in a kennel on Wednesday so I got her a brass bowl at Bullock’s Pasadena & she seemed very pleased with it. After dinner they took me home & it was really awful with no Buster, Cinder or Baby Cat. I could not get them out Sunday night. When they left I went out to the mail box & got the mail which no one had bothered or thought to take in while I was away. Oh! boy I was glad to see your letter from San Diego — but you sounded awfully sad. Not like a bunny with his ears UP! I think they must have been awfully limp & droopy. I am glad the food was not too bad up to that point. I will try & send you something every week when I know you have arrived somewhere. There is a half a can of Edie’s macadamia nuts which I’ll send to you. Also I’ll send your little black book.

Incidently I sent the August & September payments to your GI insurance — ^$39.²⁰. Also in the mail was a refund check from Stanford on your tuition of ^$18 — which I took to the Los Altos bank & the man there said he could deposit it in your checking account which we did.

Yesterday noon I went & got Cinder, Baby Cat & Buster. Buster was real glad to see me & licked me all the way home. Cinder & Baby Cat were real scared but when it was bed time they got more friendly & this morning were both too friendly for words. However, I wouldn’t be surprised if Cinder were not pregnant again because she spits & claws the minute Baby Cat comes around — & growls too.

I went over to the Dermody’s last night to take Peggy the slip but they were not at home so I’ll try again tonight. The yard was ship-shape & I suspect Peggy worked in it quite a bit Quite a few of the plants were trimmed.

Well, I guess that’s just about as accurate an account of my activities as I can give.

Oh yes, last night I bought Buster a pillow cover & chips & a basket & believe it or not he began to lie in it right away. I think I will have to do some looking for a dog house.

Bunny, I can’t describe how lonesome it is without you! Your so wonderful & I love you more than anything. Please get back as fast as you can. Don’t do anything silly for virtue’s sake, I still rebel at pleasing some mythical people for the sake of what “they” say! You’re the only one that is important to me. Remember, you are all I have! All I care about & all I want. You’re perfection itself — even with nasty old me. Forgive me please for all my temper — it hurts me terribly to think how nasty & mean I have been to you sometimes. Please, please forgive me. More tomorrow, but all my love & thoughts are with you.

Love xxxx,
Jane

22 August, 1950
Gen. WM Weigel
6

Dear Jane,

The letter before this was really a torrid love letter. I meant every word of it. This letter is more on the planning side.

From the big picture point of view (HBS 1949), I see that we have a choice. Perhaps we could buy a new car in a year and have nochild or we could fix up our old heap and get a brand new small heap (baby). I don’t see how we could squeeze both into our projected savings and still finish the school program. As for me I would rather have a baby (our baby) than have a new car. Which would you prefer?

Today is kind of hot and muggy. We still don’t know where we are going to land, but we should be in Japan by Sunday — Saturday your day.

Of interest to you should be the fact that my expenses have since boarding the ship been $1.85. (Haircut shave lotion, candy and Listerines). At this rate we should reach our goal. I still have my fingers crossed on this savings idea. I want to build it up as early and fast as possible so that when I get back and am still in the service we won’t have to cut our expenses to the bone — ie if we get over the hump we can coast down hill to our goal.

I hope you followed my advice and held on to the money I gave you until the allotment check started coming in. For some reason I believe you will follow that suggestion down the line. Such luxuries as babies depend on old Jane’s saving ability. Since I project my return date as Feb 1952, you should have about $800 saved. As you can see, after paying our debts this will give you a slush fund for unforeseen conditions. The debts we have — Sears and B of A — should be paid off by Apr 1, 1951 and from May 1, 1950 to Feb 1952 you should have $800.00. That sum ought to take care of a baby for quite a while. Anyway, do the best you can — I really have lots of confidence in you. Also, inside I trust you morally unto death but my experiences with lower types causes stabs of anxiety every now and then. As you know, my motto is: “Do unto others as they do unto you.” So, if you want to break up our happy life the next move is up to you — it would be the end of our marriage whenever I found out — right away or ten years later. I would expect you to treat me the same way, if I were unfaithful to you. I believe that there is only one kind of marriage and that is for keeps — and there is positively no excuse for infidelity. I don’t give a damn how lonely we get, or how drunk or how much seduction power is used — I won’t accept it and I don’t expect you to accept an excuse. If I wanted to play that way I wouldn’t have gotten married. Naturally, I wouldn’t act on suspicion or rumor alone and go off half cocked. If some one comes out and tolds tells me stories about you I wouldn’t change my way of life until I got home and had them verified, nor do I expect you to act on rumor or false stories. Incidentally, I know that such do stories are good seduction of the lonely wife material. I have seen it worked on others. For God’s sake waite till I get home — those stories can be proved false and they can be proved true if they are true. Sooner or later the truth gets out in the most unexpected ways. This has been my experience and that is why I have adopted the only honest course I know how to follow: remain faithful until it is conclusively proved the defendant is guilty. A defendant is entitled to his or her day in court, in person.

Well, I hope I’ve gotten that off my chest. It is the biggest worry I have. Every day and night I think of you and how much I love you and how terrible it would be to me to love you for any reason what so ever. I wonder if you are as much in love with me as I am with you?

Believe in me and trust in me and I will believe in you and trust in you
Mert.

You remember that "Tuesday" portion of Jane's letter from yesterday? That should really be here.

23 August 1950
Gen. WM Weigel
7

Dear Jane,

Big debate is going on. Did we cross the date line today or do we cross it tomorrow? Is today the 23^rd or the 24th. We still don’t know where we are going. The weather has turned very hot and muggy and this has us puzzled, if we are only a thousand miles from Japan.

As for the food it is satisfactory but baby it is far, far worse than the worst chow you ever turned out. Baby, did I ever really tell you how good a cook you are? Well believe me now, when I say front the bottom of my heart — you are the best damned cook I ever laid eyes on — you’ve put out the best food I’ve ever tasted. You are priceless. Thank God, I love a woman who is outstanding cook.

I just finished looking at a movie called “June Bride” with Robt. Montgomery and Bette Davis. You should see it the first chance you get. I liked it a lot and it was very good comedy.

Most of the day I read detective mysteries. Part of the time I play bridge. I think my game is improving. Lots of the fellows are playing poker but I never could see much fun in gambling.

As for the war, most of us seem to think the North Koreans will give way rather rapidly in a few months. We don’t believe they have the trained soldiers and nor adequate supplies to sustain many more large offenses unless they get exceptional help from other communist countries. But until they have used up their trained soldiers and most of their supplies the going will be rather hard. So much for that.

Have you paid up my insurance yet? I hope you have. What have you bought for the house? How much stuff will you be able to get on the $250.⁰⁰ a month? What will be the total cost to furnish the house? That is, furnished to the point where we can get along without buying more until I am through school. Will you send me an itemized list? Please put prices that you have found actually in the stores where you are going to buy. Suggestion: Go to Robinson’s in San Jose and get them to give the prices for the whole works. Send their list to me. Please don’t send your guesses as to what the prices are. Remember, I know all about your estimates. Now don’t be sad or mad because I ask this. I know you have done a lot of looking and know just about what the prices are but I want to cross check your figures. I want concrete prices. Now that I have spare time I’ll see if I can’t work a furnished house, a baby and my schooling into a budget. Also, find out what a baby costs for two years. Odd question, but what do they cost? What do sewing machines cost? Vacum cleaners? What else do we need? What will it cost for you to go to school in Feb 1951? How long will it take? Will it be necessary to increase my allotment to you? Have you joined the CA Club.

In the course of your letters to me, I would like to know these things. A man has to know these things so he can take care of and guard his most precious treasure — ie you.

Have you gotten a new pink slip for the car? Is it operating ok? Have you rotated the tires yet? What a “question bug” I am?!!

I have more love for you than I can ever tell you about — even if I lived forever. Pretty, sweet baby of mine, be true and faithful for I now know I want only to live for you, to make you happy, to be a kind and loving husband — always faithful.

Believe in me and trust in me and I will believe in you and trust in you
Mert.

No. 2

Mrs. Merton Kirk Cameron, Jr.
444 Palm Ave
Los Altos, California

August 23, 1950

Dear Baby,

You know I think I’ll be thin & sylph-like when you come home because I just can’t eat when your not around. It’s too lonesome for words to eat alone, so I just don’t each eat much. Won’t it be nice to have a skinny wife for a change instead of a chubby tub?

Yesterday I saw Knowlton & Sidey & gave them your message on the need for refrigerated penicillin. They evidently had not heard the joke before & were highly amused.

This morning Virginia Smith (Dale’s wife) called to ask me to dinner Saturday night. She said she had been trying to get me at home & finally gave up so called me at work. She was shocked to hear that you were already gone, as is everyone. Gosh, just think three weeks ago you were still in school. The cruelest part of this whole thing has been the rapidity of the workings of the machine. Why in hell they have to send the reserves out to do the job the regulars should be doing I can’t see. The regulars wanted & choose to be professional soldiers, & if the reserves are good enough to be sent overseas they are good enough to be kept on the home front. I am sorry but I cannot help but be bitter after all the work & struggle we have put into the last three years. At any rate Virginia asked if you had Dick Moorman’s address should you get to Japan. They are going to see June Friday & will get it then.

Oh, bunny I miss you so much & love you so much that I can’t tell you how sad I am even when I think of you — I can’t help but cry when I write to you & when I go home at night & you aren’t there its just terrible. I don’t feel like doing anything but sitting & moping & thinking of you. Buster’s always real glad to see me, & Baby Cat & Cinder are always ravenously hungry. Cinder stayed out all night last night & wouldn’t come in, & boy, was she tired this morning! I wonder what she was doing last night? Baby Cat insists on sleeping right next to my face & it seems I spend all night pushing her away. But boy is she a snuggley thing!

Yesterday a ΦΓΔ came & I will send it on to you also all Alumni magazines, etc. & literature of interest.

I called Freda yesterday & told her you had gone & she simply couldn’t believe it. She asked me up for any week-end I wanted to come, & I think I will go sometime & then we can have lunch with Beryl Grimes a girl who was in Play-reading with us at Harvard. Incidently, what shall I do about the “assignment” to the “B” school alumni fund? We can’t let it “ride” forever can we? Or can we? I might take the orchids up to McClellands when I go to see David & Freda.

Bunny, bunny, hurry & come back to your little gal ‘cause life just doesn’t hold anything for me without you — even if I am “a good old dog!” I love you & want you & need you more than anything & I’m yours alone forever.

All my love & xxxx

Jane

— We a unhappy rabbit

Mert crossed the international date line and time got a little weird.

No. 3

Mrs. Merton Kirk Cameron, Jr.
444 Palm Ave
Los Altos, California

August 24, 1950

Dearest Baby,

How’s my little bunny today? I hope his ears are standing straight up & he’s a happy rabbit.

Last night when I got home Grace asked me to come over for dinner & so I did. She had a real good casserole dish. Just as we were about to sit down however, Valerie came over to ask Grace if she could keep Leslie over Labor Day week-end as she was going to be remarried! Yep, she’s remarrying her former husband, the guy you met that night. And — pipe this, they are going to live in the house next door to us! That will only make 8 people living in that teeny house. God, what a way to start out married life on a second try. Oh well, “people is ‘cwazy animals” I guess. At any rate I’m glad poor old Leslie will have a father again as she really needs one! Grace said after Valerie left, however, that “rumor” had it Leslie’s father didn’t like her too well & never wanted children anyway. Isn’t that the way though? — How’s that for some first class neighborhood dirt?

Patty Hoagland McEwen & her new husband asked me over for dinner tomorrow night so I’m going to take the dessert again. That’s a good racket as far as I’m concerned. At least then I eat something at night otherwise I’m just not hungry when I eat alone.

Gosh, bunny, as each day goes by I miss you more & more & now really know how much my whole life was wrapped around you. Nothing’s really any fun without you & your wit & just you near me. Golly, bunny how could I have been so lucky to have found you — such a perfect husband in every way! And that “ain’t” blarney either. All I do is think about you, what your doing, how you are & all the rest of the questions. You needn’t ever worry about me — I’m the true-bluest rabbit you’ve ever seen or known. They just don’t come anymore faithful than me — I know I’ve got what I want & it took me a long time to find it too! I knew the minute I laid eyes on you! Guess I’d better go & eat lunch now or I’ll have to swallow it whole.

All my love & kisses ‘till tomorrow,

Pink Ears

P.S. Don’t forget “SEPTEMBER 24^TH”. I never will.

25 August 1950
Gen. WM Weigel
8

Dear Jane,

A terrible situation has arisen. Yesterday was the 24^th 23rd but today is the 25^th. There was no 24^th How could I write a letter on a day that doesn’t exist? How can I explain the missing love letter? Guess I’ll just have to take whatever abuse you choose to dish out.

No sooner had I resolved my problem by just placing absolute trust in your fidelity to me and our marriage then did Commissioned Warrant Officer Hocking come across with a sad and shocking true story of the last war. You remember Hocking. Apparently you and his wife washed clothes or something and talked together some at the Hosters House. She was about forty.

Listen to this tale of woe and you will better understand the fears that plague me.

One day Hocking set sail for the wars in the Pacific. At that moment he had a fifteen year old son and an ever loving wife. For sixteen months he moved about the South Pacific doing his duty and being ever faithful. During this period he made an allotment of all his base pay to his loving wife while she lived at San Louis Obispo (?). It oddly seems that at an army camp close by she met the cutest clean cut boy of about twenty-two. A boy, which she wrote and told Hocking was very nice, polite and just the kind of boy for their son to associate with. “How perfectly wonderful”, thought my friend Hocking. So time flew by.

One day Hocking returned from the wars. He found that he had been on the seas for only seventeen days before his faithful wife was sleeping with the dear boy. Being curious he found by very little investigation that his ever faithful and trustworthy wife had been committing adultery quite regularly with various and sundry wonderful men — no doubt. To Hocking’s surprise he found that his worldly goods consisted of the handbag he had in his hand as he stepped ashore — the allotment and the savings of sixteen years was gone — supporting dear sweet boys, you know. The wife of his brother-in-law was an eye witness to some of the adultery so, strangely he decided on a divorce but because of his son he did not charge adultery but uncompatibility and the decree was granted. (His wife confessed her wrong doing to him.)

This sad tale which I have sketched only briefly causes me to pause, and combined with the others, I have lost sleep and ease of mind. But I have resolved that the only course for me is to trust you implicitly. Did you ever know before that I was so terribly jealous. When I look in the mirror I just see a green devil for my face. My God! What a strange Creature love has made of me! Funny how real and solid and uncontrollable love is. The intensity of my love for you scares even me. You know, I never knew you meant so much to me. I never knew I couldn’t ever live without you. Why, if you had ever packed up and left like I told you to many different times, I would have been groveling and sniffing around your door inside of a week. Why, I would have sacrificed my soul to the devil for you and to get you back. Baby, I’m yours forever and ever — until death do us part. Why, if I had been Hocking I do believe I would have killed her, but then I never will have to face that problem. One thing I’m certain of and that is that you couldn’t ever be that kind of woman.

Don’t you go out on any kind of date with any man — single, double or triple dates. I’m not and I don’t expect you to do any more or any less than I’m doing or going to do. You can go out to parties but none of this stuff of getting another man to make up a happy couple. This is verbotten!!

Jessup, who is a Capt from Oakland, and I have discussed the double and single standard and we’ve decided that we are strictly single standard guys. We are going to keep our noses clean and do just what we would expect our wives to do. At least we will have clear and clean cousciousnesses conscious cousci (can’t spell the damn word) minds.

I suppose that after a while my anxiety on this subject will die down but I wanted you to know just where I stand, what I plan to do and am doing. This ought to help you steer a steady course while I am gone. So much for that subject.

Did you get home ok? Did your mother arrive? Did my parents stay with you until she arrived? Did you have any trouble of any kind? Don’t you think I can ask more questions? Where do they all come from anyway?

Well, lover, I’m closing this letter. I wish you good cheer and lots of luck. I miss you so very, very much and I’ll rush home to you as soon as I can.

Believe in me and trust in me and I will believe in you and trust in you
Mert.

P.S. Hocking has been married to the woman you saw for only four years. She is his second wife — not the one in the story.

No. 4

Mrs. Merton Kirk Cameron, Jr.
444 Palm Ave
Los Altos, California

August 25, 1950

Dear Rabbits Wiggle,

No sooner had I gotten home last night than Grace called to say the scoop on Valerie was all wrong & it was all her fault, because when Valerie said she was going to remarry, Grace jumped to the conclusion that she met her former husband. However, it seems the fiancee now is some guy she has known three weeks! God, & they’re starting off by living with 5 other people! Egad, some people must be cwazier than they are first taken for. Guess Leslie comes by it naturally.

Today I sent you a little package for September 24^th. Hope it arrives O.K. & you like it, & I know you need it. Got it at the Moffett Field PX for considerably less than the retail price.

Last night I went home & made Pineapple Nabisco to take to Patty’s tonight & the Smith’s tomorrow night & boy it was hot here last night. You know how hot it was the night we got the dinner for Wendell & Jane Curtis’s — well it was just as hot last night, but at any rate I did the deed.

Since the Smiths asked me to dinner last tomorrow night two other people have also asked me if I would have dinner with them tomorrow night — the McFarlands & the Knowltons — so you can see I’m well taken care of.

NOW THIS IS SERIOUS — I have almost come to the conclusion that the best thing to do would be to pay off Sears, Bof A & Paynes first, & after they are all cleared up & I have salted away the amounts you said I should — then begin to buy furniture. I mean taking my extra ^$75— a month & put into the “paying-off-the-debts” pot until they are all gone, then save for the furniture. What do you think of this plan?

Have you thought of what capital improvement(s) I should suggest to the Dermodys? Of course, I would “like” a built-in in the living room & the cupboard we talked about on the backporch. But, what do you suggest?

Also, give me your ideas on this. After carefully thinking about furniture I have come to the conclusion I like modern furniture better than traditional. The type of thing we had at Surf & Sand. Do you know what I’m talking about? If so, which do you like better — ‘cause we’ll no doubt have this stuff a long time. Please tell me what you think.

Bunny, it gets worser & worser every day without you & I love you more & more as every day goes by. Gosh, you’re such a necessary part of my life to keep me clicking along on all fours & then all of a sudden —— wham! —— you’re gone. But, baby, all of us kids will be right here waiting for you when that happy day comes — yep, we’ll all be waiting, Baby Cat, Cinder, Buster & me. So hurry up & lick the b — ‘cause it’s awfully sad & lonely (lousy, I said first) without the sweetest husband in the whole world & my one & only!

All my love & thoughts are with you,
Jane

26 August 1950
Gen. WM Weigel
9

Dear Jane,

The end of another day. We expect to arrive in Kobe, Japan next Monday and debark early Tuesday morning. This is the latest word. What we do from there on nobody knows. There is a rumor that we are to be carrier based. Who knows?

There is one thing for which I am very thankful. I am thankful that I was married to you for three solid years before I left on any extended trip. Why? Well, the longer I lived with you the happier I became, the more I wanted to stay married to you, the more I grew to love you. I think love grows and gets stronger as time grows by. My love for you has increased one hundred fold at the very minimum. I thought I loved you a lot when we were first married but now I know you better and understand you better and as I learned about you I grew to love and respect you more. Isn’t it funny how insignificant our little squabbles were? When I think of you I think of a little Goddess on a pedalstle (sp) who is all perfection but oh, so full of worldly love. I used to think I wanted a lot out of life but, baby, all I want is you and our children and a decent place to rest your sweet little heads.

My God!, Jane, did you ever in your wildest dreams visualize me as writing this love mush? I didn’t know I had it in me. You’ve worked some kind of magic on me. You have me completely bewitched — buffaloed, bamboozled. What do you have that brings all this out of me. You know, after three years I ought not gush all over as a bridegroom does. Well, whatever you have, just keep working this kind of magic on me because I love it — roll around in it.

As for those first letters of anxiety about your fidelity — well, I’m convinced you really do love me and what you have told me again and again is really true. Why do I let past experiences and other people’s experiences cause me to think that you might do the same? In the first place I don’t believe it is you in your nature to do something like that. At any rate, the cards are on the table and its up to us to play an honest game with each other.

As far as I can see I am the only fellow constantly writing to his little “rabbit.” For some reason I have an inner urge to write to you. It makes me feel that I am with you — near you — and somehow thinking that, I am happy. I want to tell you all the things I have felt and thought. I want to let you know that I am thinking of you all the time — day and night. I want to write you to reassure you of my constant love and faithfulness to you. Somehow, I believe you will understand these letters and take faith in me and my constant loyalty to you. Somehow, you will know as you read them that we are together now and always. I can even feel you reading these words. I sense your presence here with me, reassuring me that what I do you may not understand but you are irrevocably destined to go through life with me. I feel that you are here, inside of me and know all about what I am doing and thinking. I couldn’t be unfaithful to you without killing this really good feeling of your presence inside of me.

How are Cinder, Baby Cat and Buster? How did you get from the airport to our little house?

Remember, pink eared rabbit that I am writing to you every every day. The letters are all numbered so you can tell the order they are in, so if the mail gets congested or I am on board a carrier which has only infrequent mail deliveries and postings — don’t worry your little head. There will be one of these love letters for every single day I am away from you. There won’t be a single girl friend or even a date — no sir, not this rabbit.

Believe in me and trust in me and I will believe in you and trust in you
Mert.

No. 5

Mrs. Merton Kirk Cameron, Jr.
444 Palm Ave
Los Altos, California

August 26, 1950

Dear Little Baby,

How’s my little baby today? Hope it isn’t too hot where you are. It has cooled off here considerably & is old pleasant Northern California again.

Last night I went to Patty’s & Mac’s for dinner & she had a real good creamed tuna dish with baked potatoes & peas. She cooked it all on top of the stove with one pan stacked on top of another as she has a complete set of Wessener. It really is quite amazing.

At any they put on a first class entertainment for me after dinner. I did not know it before but they are both lovers of American folk music & as a consequence have lots of records along this line. Besides the records they perform too. Mac plays the guitar & sings & Patty just sings. They work up little duets & rounds. Really not too bad at all. I was amazed they were so talented. At any rate it was good fun & I had a very nice evening & it was different.

Afternoon —

It’s quite hot & muggy today & I should be beavering & cleaning the house, but somehow there isn’t much incentive when my little bunny isn’t around to pass judgement on it when I do get it all clean. Somehow life is quite meaningless without you baby.

This is the time that is lonesomest without you — the weekends. Even though I have been asked out to dinners, etc. it’s awfully dull without my baby to spark up the party & Sat. & Sun. mornings we used to have wrestling matches before we got out of bed, but this morning it was just the old dull routine of getting out of bed with no pinchie bugs or feet kickers. Baby cat is awfully snuggley, she walks all over my face & then begins to lick my hair & just purrs like the dickens. Cinder is very ill-tempered lately. I don’t whether it’s because she misses you or whether she’s pregnant. She hisses every time Baby cat gets within a yard of her & it’s quite obvious Baby cat is no better than a worm. But Buster & I still love Baby cat even if she is quite young & silly for Cinder.

Incidently, have you applied for the travel pay for my trip to El Toro yet? If not you’d better if you can as we don’t to miss any bets in this game.

Well, baby guess I’d better get ready to go to Dale’s & Virginia’s. But baby, hurry back as fast as you can will you? ‘Cause I’m miserable without you & we’re not getting any younger & we’ve got to start little Camerons. I love you more than you can ever guess.

All my love is with you,
Jane

27 August 1950
Gen. WM Weigel
10

Dear Jane,

It is said that tomorrow we will arrive but probably will debark on Tuesday. Kobe seems to be the town. What we will do then is not known.

The show tonight was pretty good but I can’t remember the name. It was an English jot. The day was spent reading detective stories. No bridge today. The main topic of conversation is Old World War II stories. Most of the stories are about laying some babe some place or other. You will probably be glad to know that to me they seem kind of dull. The best babe I know of is little old you. My mind must be twisted but every time they tell their sex stories you pop up in my mind as the heroin (sp) or victim of my mad passion. You must have been built especially for me because you have and always will be the total answer for my passions — if I have any. I’m beginning to think that we are perfectly mated. You are the complete compliment in all respects, socially, intellectually, sexually, and play. Funny how when we went out it never entered my head to go visiting or dig up a gang of people for entertainment. I was totally happy to be with you alone — eating out, going to a show or just riding around. You never bored me, you were never dull. You were my little rabbit, and always changing, always fascinating. I guess I never wanted to be with anyone else and if others were around I couldn’t see why I had to share the pleasure of your company with anyone else. Seems like I was pretty selfish.

There is one thing about this trip that has me puzzled. One of the fellows from Oakland has only been married for six months but he hasn’t written a word yet. He says he is going to write tomorrow. He thinks that, well, a letter can’t be mailed before we land, so she will get a letter just as soon as you will — but you will get ten or eleven to her one. Seems like his wife hasn’t had enough time to grow on him — not enough time living together has gone by to really let him know the importance of her in his life. He loves her but some how writing and thus being with her doesn’t seem vitally important to him. I tried to explain why I was writing each day even though I can’t mail these letters and you won’t get one before his wife does. I said something about a loved one sitting home — especially a bride of six months — and not having any evidence of any thought about her such as a writing. I tried to say that writing each day was as close as seeing each other each day as one could get. The little wife would know that she had been thought about, worried about, and loved — even if by remote control. Some how I feel that this is the only way to make the marriage last though separated. I feel sorry for this guy’s wife because I can almost see her tears as she wonders not about the danger to his life but whether he remembers and really loves her. When a person is in love, he or she needs reassurance each day. When living together your presence is reassuring even though nothing is said but when not present something has to be said.

Just remembered that Dad told me before I left “Junior, you write to Jane — often — and don’t you ever forget. It will mean a lot to her. It meant a lot to your mother when I wrote. Jane is part of your life. There is just the two of you, just as it has always been the two of us.” Even without this advice I would have written you ever day because I love you so much. I think it was good advice; he has been married a long time and should know how to make it work.

Are you sending me a picture of you soon? How could we have let such an important thing slide by?

Let me hear about all the news in your life. So far I just been writing on a slip.

I’m closing now, still faithful, still in love, still trusting and still confident in a soft pink eared rabbit.

Believe in me and trust in me and I will believe in you and trust in you
Mert.

No. 6

Mrs. Merton Kirk Cameron, Jr.
444 Palm Ave
Los Altos, California

August 27, 1950
Sunday

Dear Little Baby,

I decided to come out in the yard & write today as it is quite warm. No sooner had I come out than old sweetness Baby Cat climbs in my lap & is now sleeping in the most awkward position you’ve ever seen, but she’s purring so I guess she’s happy.

Thor, Dale’s brother, who we went to see with Edie & Ken in Burlingame, & his wife Mary were at Virginia’s & Dale’s last night too. We hada real nice dinner of tamale pie & scalloped zucchini, french bread & green salad. They all said they were real sorry you were not with us & Thor said he had enjoyed you so much when we were at their house. They had seen June Moorman & Dick is the Briefer between the Army & the correspondents in Taegu. I think I will ask her if she would like to come down over next week-end, Labor Day. She doesn’t drive you know & must be terribly stuck in that little town of Novato. Especially since Virginia says she still does not have her furniture. Does my asking her meet with your approval, I hope? I guess Dickie can sleep on the Aced’s cot & your sleeping bag on the back porch or out in the yard.

Boy, I certainly don’t have any appetite since you aren’t here to eat with. No foolin’ I betcha’ I’ll lose quite a bit of weight. My mother said I looked terrible since I’d gained so much.

I got a letter from your Dad yesterday reporting they were O.K. & your mother was having a fine time digging in the garden where they lived. He said they went driving nearly every afternoon to see the different towns. He also said if I got sick or needed them for anything to not hesitate to call on them & they would come up here immediately, if not sooner.

Buster is having a lovely time chewing on a bone & making lots of noise.

As yet Peggy Dermody has been unable to find a gardener for us so a little boy next door to her comes every Saturday & mows the lawn, racks & cuts around the stepping stones & garden edges — all for 50¢! Not bad, eh what? Peggy said several of her friends were Canasta friends & could never find a 4^th so they’d call me up sometime. I really sort of enjoy Canasta even if you don’t!

The more I think about modern furniture the better I like the idea — what do you think?

Guess I’d better go & try & clean the house now as I’ve been awfully lazy this week-end.

Be a happy rabbit with your ears UP! And know that you are my one & only & I’m just waiting for you & your quick return ‘cause you keep me going.

All my love & thoughts are with you, baby —
Jane

28 August 1950
Gen. WM Weigel
11

Dear Jane,

Mail is being picked up at 1600 for the last time so I am writing early today — 1300.

Before, I forget — please number your letters as I have been doing so I can tell if any are missing and in what order I should read them if they come in in a batch.

This morning we sited some islands — assumed to be in the Bonin (sp) group. They looked rather beautiful rising out of the water. I think we are a couple of hundred miles from Kobe — our port of debarkation — affirmed yesterday. Did I tell you that in the last letter?

I would like to know if you liked the kind of love letter I have been writing for the past ten days. If you don’t like them I will change my style to suit you. All I can say about those letters is that I meant everything I said. Funny how your emotions get all tied up.

A strange feeling just wants to burst out of you — sort of crying for a soft loving rabbit called Jane — soft clean skin, warm and tender arms — gentle caressing breathing. You do things to me even way out here in the Pacific.

Don’t you think I’m developing into a distinquished love letter author? Well, even if you don’t, I’m trying the best I know how to tell you how much I love you and want you to be forever mine — as faithful and loyal to me as I am to you — and baby the standard of conduct I set for myself is damned strict.

Believe in me and trust in me and I will believe in you and trust in you.
Mert

Jane dated two letters as August 29, though the first really should have been for today.

Mert sent a telegram today. Will see about getting that inserted here.

Jane August 29 Letter A

Mrs. Merton Kirk Cameron, Jr.
444 Palm Ave
Los Altos, California

Monday
August 29, 1950

Dear Baby Bunny,

No sooner had I finished writing you yesterday than Ceilly McFarland called & asked me to come over for dinner last night, which I did. She had fried chicken & real good dumplings & I took Clint’s peppermint stick ice cream. Some way or other I didn’t expect her to be a very good cook, but she is excellent. Afterward we played 3 handed Canasta till mid-night. No sooner had she called me however than Mirian & Gene Griffin stopped in. They did not stay long as I had to tell them I was going out to dinner as they didn’t come until 5 p.m. However, a week from next Sunday they are coming down to get me & we’re going for a picnic. I told them I’d make some fried chicken & they seemed to think that was dandy.

At any rate no sooner had they left & I got in & out of the shower than Judy Aced came over to ask me to dinner (Chinese) tonight & naturally I’m going.

Well, you can plainly see I’m being gorged with good dinners even if I don’t eat much else. But of course, all these invitations can’t last forever so I will enjoy them while I can. I think it is very nice of all these people to be so nice to me, don’t you.

Incidently, Gene Griffin ha a new job with a subsidy of Safeway Stores. He says the outfit is broken up into about 100 subsidies or companies. He works for the President of one of the companies & has hopes of the job of manager where there is no one now. They are looking for a place to live between Los Altos & San Mateo as the job is in San Francisco & they have no love for city living especially San Leandro which I can certainly understand.

Gosh, Freda just called me to come up next week-end as she said they were expecting me, but I have asked June Moorman so I will have to see what she says before I can tell Freda.

Well, baby it is almost going-home time for me so I will close for today but — don’t ever forget I love you & miss you more than you’ll ever know. It is so lonesome without you that I try not to think about how happy it was when you were here, altho I think about you all the time. Especially when I get in bed & night & there’s nobody to snuggle up to — except — baby cat, of course, but she’s so ‘wittle. Be a good bunny & don’t forget you’ll never find a more faithful “old dog” than me!

All my love & xxxxxx,
Pink ears

Jane August 29 Letter B

No. 8

Mrs. Merton Kirk Cameron, Jr.
444 Palm Ave
Los Altos, California

Tuesday
August 29, 1950

Dear Baby,

Well, by gosh we’ve broken into print! Please see Page 43 of the enclosed HBS Alumni Bulletin which came yesterday. I didn’t write Greenfield a letter, but if you will remember on our change of address from Rt 3, Box 96 too 444 Palm I told him about Marian & Gene Griffin & Christmas dinner with Bev & Jim & then made the remark that “everyone was not in New York”! I think it is a huge laugh & hope you do too. What characters “Harvard” people be! This morning I saw Sidey & Halpin up at coffee & they said you ought to be glad you weren’t here for the exam in Legislation as it was really a stinker — one question for the four-hour exam! They are going to get both the exam questions in Legislation & Corporations & I will send them to you. I think Corp. comes up the end of this week.

Last night I went over to Grace’s & Edie’s for dinner & had a real good Chinese meal. I stopped & got some shrimp to add to the feed. And — I got lots more neighborhood gossip — Ethel & her family (Valerie’s sister) have moved out of that house next door & gone down to Southern California thank gosh. Mrs. Taylor, the mother is going to live with a daughter-in-law, so that just leaves dear Leslie, her mama & the new husband, which will no doubt be much more peaceful than the former arrangement.

Grace & Mrs. Rockhold have had a big argument because Mrs. R. is such a g-d social climber with nowhere to go or nothing to go on, which makes Grace slightly ill as I think she is anything but a s-c. Anyhoo that’s all the neighborhood dirt.

This morning as I was getting ready I looked out the window & there was dear, sweet, little Baby Cat with a big, fat lizard in her mouth. Buster & Cinder were standing around with fascination. Every time Baby Cat let the lizard go for a minute Cinder & Buster would think it was their chance but old Baby Cat would be right back in there growling to beat the band. Boy, is she a tough egg when it comes to fresh meat!

Our new offices should be finished in about 2 weeks & then we should be moving again, but at least think they will be very nice.

Golly baby, it’s just terribly lonesome without you & nothing is really any fun — I always had such a nice warm feeling inside of me when you were around, but now there’s just a cold, empty, knawing feeling I wish I could just have one of your bear hugs & one teeny kiss.

Guess I’d better go mail this & the Alumni Bulletin & eat lunch.

All my love & thoughts are with you & my kisses too! Love,
Jane

30 August 1950
Gen. WM Weigel
12

Dear Jane,

We arrived in Kobe yesterday. The was no letter because we were too busy. I was selected for the rear echelon on the ship — meaning that I stay aboard until everything is off the ship. We go to Itami tomorrow morning. The rest of the fellows went yesterday.

Since there was no letter yesterday — I went to the cable office last night and sent a “carried” message — “love and kisses.”

In about a week I am going to call you on the phone. It costs about ^$4.00 a minute so when I call — no crying and no wasting of time by silence. Also, I think we are going to be at Itami quite a while so the call is just to hear your sweet voice tell me that you love me and that you are true to me. Also, I want to tell you how much I love you and miss you and how true I am to you. If you have any problems why let me know — of course.

I want to remind you again that if you get into any kind of trouble don’t do anything rash because I’m not so mean that I wouldn’t understand and still love you just as much. If you need money let me know and I’ll dig it up. Nothing is more important than our love and marriage, so all the worldly losses in this world don’t mean a thing when it comes to my loving you.

Will close now because I’m going into Kobe this afternoon to see the sights. I’ll write all about it.

Believe in me and trust in me and I will believe in you and trust in you
Mert.

No. 9

Mrs. Merton Kirk Cameron, Jr.
444 Palm Ave
Los Altos, California

Wednesday
August 30, 1950

Dear Baby,

Boy, was I surprised & delighted when I heard the phone ring last night & Western Union say — “I have a cable gram from Kobe, Japan, & the message reads, ‘Love & kisses, Mert’”. It made me feel all warm & toasty inside just like when you’re around me. But, boy, that was sure a fast trip over, wasn’t it? I hope that the trip home is just as speedy. Did you take the ship all the way & still make that good time? I saw Dick & Marie this noon & Dick said Kobe was quite a good place. Are you going to be stationed at Kobe or did you just dock there? At least, bunny I’m glad that you did dock & now I can begin to get letters from you ‘cause I’m getting lonesomer & lonesomer & life becomes more & more meaningless without any bunny around. There’s nobody to talk to when I get home at night & so in desperation I go to bed ‘cause then, at least, I don’t think about how sad it is without you & I don’t worry about you.

Last night after Western Union called I went to the 7 o’clock Los Altos show all by myself & I’ll never go anywhere again alone as I just felt all the worse. The show was over by 9 p.m. & it was just a fair show — an English movie named “The Fallen Idol”. It centered around a little boy who got truth & fiction all confused & almost pinned an accidental murder death on the man he worshipped as a murder.

Gosh, I don’t even have anyone to talk to at the office these days as Jeanne is on her vacation & the rest of the people around are strictly beavers & dead-heads, so I’m getting to feel like a mummy. God, let’s hope this whole ghastly nightmare is over soon so we can pick up the pieces & start again. Gosh, I’m mad ‘cause we didn’t start a family ere long ago. We probably wouldn’t have been anywhere worse off.

As yet I have not received the proofs of the pictures I had taken down south, but look for them every day & will then get them on their way as fast as I can.

Guess I can’t think of anything else of particular interest except gosh bunny I didn’t know how lucky I was to have you when you were here & what good company you are & how much I love you. I could kick myself a thousand times for all the times I was nasty & mean to you when I know your perfect and always did think so. I guess it was just plain dumb luck on my part when I was lucky enough to catch you! ‘Cause baby you’ve got everything I want!

All my love & thoughts are right there in Kobe with you!
Jane

P.S. I trust the little Japanese girls are not too pretty. Send me another cable some time.

Mert sends two letters dated September 1.

No. 10

Mrs. Merton Kirk Cameron, Jr.
444 Palm Ave
Los Altos, California

Thursday
August 31, 1950

Dear Little Bunny,

Today I went home this noon to deposit my check in the bank & in the mail box found the long awaited proofs to the pictures I had taken, & boy are they terrific — or at least everyone I talked to thinks they are & I do too. I am having a hard time choosing 2 poses out of the bunch. If I sent you one about 8x10 would you have some place to put it? I will send you one the size of the picture you sent me too, but two different poses. It will probably be another 2 weeks before I can get them off to you.

Also in the mail was a check for ^$39.00 from your G.I. bill for the rest of your subsistence. I deposited it in your checking account. So that makes a total of ^$57- I have deposited in your checking account — ^$18 from the Stanford tuition refund & ^$39 today.

I also got a letter from June Moorman saying she could not come this week-end but would like to come at some later date. She is going down to visit some friends in Monterrey, so I’ll ask her again. So I called Freda & told her I’d go up there for the week-end & she seemed pleased I was coming. She is going to ask the Grimes over for Sunday dinner. Beryl & Freda & I all used to go to playreading together at the “B” school & I always liked her. She is a New Zealander & a beautiful girl. Also Freda wants me to give her a Toni which I’ll be glad to do.

Last night I called Dale & Virginia Smith up & asked them to come to dinner on the night before they left which is next Tuesday night. They seemed delighted & accepted immediately. I thought I could make green salad & have pressure cooker spaghetti, garlic bread & that kind of stuff. Incidently, what kind of food do you get? And what kind of a place are you housed in? I trust it is not right next door to a geisha girl establishment!!! But I really do trust my little rabbit’s wiggle.

Yesterday I got a letter from Edie urging me to come & spend a couple of weeks with them as she thought I needed the change & it would be good for me. Of course, in our financial condition — until we get all the debts paid — & with school starting it is impossible now, but I think I shall seriously consider it around Christmastime. What do you think? Her letter was lovely.

Peggy Dermody just called me & asked me to come to a barbeque dinner tonight & of course I accepted.

I started this a little late today & it’s almost 5 p.m. & I couldn’t stay a minute after 5! Be a good baby, & rest assured you are my one & only love & I will always be faithful to you & you alone & life is just a blank without you — hurry back bunny —

Love,
Pink Ears