Now we know that Mattie did indeed join D.L. in Detroit, and that Cornell was at least planning a visit home.

I know the drive “home” from Detroit now would take about 11 hours. I’m guessing they would’ve taken the Dixie Highway.

Detroit, Mich.
Oct 21, 1942

Dear Daddy,

Will write again. Why haven’t you wrote to me? I haven’t heard from you all since I’ve been up here. I wrote Polly a letter and you a card. I got a letter from Cornell and Grannie. I wrote them the same time I did you. They’re both OK. Cornell said he was coming home about the [illegible] of Nov. I guess I’ll be home in about 3 or 4 weeks. D.L. got his questionarre Monday. We’re coming home when he has to take his examination. Tell Beckey I dreamed about her pocket book the other night. I dreamed she lost some money and me and Junior was the only ones that had a chance to get it. Ha. Tell her to write to me. Is Lennis still going to school? Where is Polly now? Tell her to write too. Well there’s not much to write about. I wrote to Cornell today. Well answer real soon. If you don’t write to me I’m going to hurt you when I come home. Ha. Well I will close.
Love Mattie P.

P.S I dreamed you come up here the other night. Ha.

A few years ago, my mom gave me a shoebox full of old papers that her grandfather had saved. Some of them were yellowed receipts and such, but there were also quite a few letters from various family members. This is one of them. Here are some others.

Oct 8 1942

Dear dad,

I haven’t much to say at his time.

Except this. I have one only chance to come home and that is to get a emergency furlough. I did think I would get to come in this month. But they have made so many changes lately.

So if you all can make some excuse for me to get a emergency furlough it would be a great pleasure to me. They will make an investigation through the red cross. So do your best to get a good one. You all know I’m going to Texas next month. So I’ve not got a long stay here. And if I don’t get to come before I go, I won’t get to come for five more months. So I guess you know how I feel. So do your best and write real soon.

Your son,
Cornell

A few years ago, my mom gave me a shoebox full of old papers that her grandfather had saved. Some of them were yellowed receipts and such, but there were also quite a few letters from various family members. This is one of them. Here are some others.

I realized yesterday that I’d forgotten to share any letters over the last few weeks. So this week, we get two of them. They’re both from Cornell, who was obviously having some drama in his life.

July 4 1942
Camp Pickitt Va

Dear dad,

I am still O.K. but I am worried to death. I am going to have to buy some clothes so I can get some rations. We don’t have enough clothes to keep clean. That is the reason I wrote for the money. I am in hard luck now. And if you knew what I do you wouldn’t think about selling out. You would be glad to know you have a home. I have taken out $5,000 of insurance and the government has the same. So that makes $10,000 dollars insurance. It will be mailed to you so I want it put in a safe place. So send me some money if you can. Tell Polly to send me some hangers.

CM

If hangers and insurance weren’t enough, there’s something going on with Cornell’s love life, too. And whatever it is, it’s turned him into a Fezzik-style poet.

Sept. 4, 1942

Hello everyone,

I haven’t time to say much. But I’m hoping you all are well. Here’s all I have to say. My heart is great for the ones who care. But that ones that don’t theres nothing there.

In time I’ve had a lot to say, and you all tell me to go away, and now I’m gone and no one cares. But someday your eyes will fill with tears.

I always loved only one and she is now the greatest one. I’ll spend my life with that very one that made my life a pleasant one.

Just Cornell