In December 1942 an eighteen-year-old boy left high school in Port Arthur, Texas a semester before graduation to join the Army. Before leaving for his induction at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, he talked a girl he’d known all through school into going out on a date. They went in the Model T Roadster he and his brother owned to see Somewhere I’ll Find You with Clark Gable and Lana Turner.
Once he was in Basic Training, the spark she kindled on the date that evening caught fire and turned into true love.
The school friends were Lester Clouse and Katherine Coleman. They got married in November 1944. They would become my parents five years later.
Their fiftieth anniversary was in 1994.
My parents’ World War II love story is not unusual. Only the specifics are unique.
Katherine Coleman
When my father joined the Army in December 1942, he had already taken enough classes to graduate in May with his classmates of the Class of ‘43, one of whom was Katherine Coleman. The rush to enlist was stoked by his older brother’s 4F status as a survivor of tuberculosis, and it was shameful for families with draft-age sons who weren’t serving in the Armed Forces. A year later, his eleven-month younger little brother Wayne would be in the Navy to maintain the Clouse family’s honor.
Katherine was appointed Vice President of “The Congress,” as the student government of Thomas Jefferson High School was called, to replace Lester.
It was wartime. There was no obvious end to the conflict in Europe even though the Germans were losing the Battle of Stalingrad, and although the Japanese Navy had been defeated at Guadalcanal the war in the Pacific was really only beginning.
Lester Clouse
Falling in love in during a war is different. All the temptations to dither, the “wait until we have enough…” procrastinations, and all the excuses to put off commitment fade away in the glaring light of impending combat. It is urgent for a soldier to say what he feels for the special girl back home, to say “I love you. Will you marry me?” And all this in the face of no certainty about the future. A soldier’s lifetime could be brief, and marriage for his bride might be little more than a honeymoon, followed by letters to and from the front, and then a dreadful knock at the door of the two officers bearing a telegram.
This is the background for the long-distance love affair my parents kept alive through letters from 1942 to 1944.
Last week I was following Marie Kondo’s advice to go through the memorabilia I’d recovered from my parents’ house in Rio Frio, looking for the things that ‘sparked joy.’ At the bottom of one box, beneath photo albums, scrapbooks and my parents’ high school diplomas, there was a Whitman’s Sampler box, and inside, tied with a ribbon, twenty letters my father wrote my mom from his Army posts between December 1942 and May 1943. I don’t know why there are no letters from 1944, and no idea whatever became of the daily letters my mom wrote back.
As you’ll see below, Dad’s love letters are not distinguished by any particular stylistic grace or felicity of expression. He shamelessly abuses the P.S. convention to fill up the last third of letter pages with his longhand script. The sentiments expressed are not at all original. The monotony of daily routines in an Army camp, homesickness, and craven begging for letters from home are commonplace, as well, even though some of the details, like the difficulty of long distance telephone calls or the use of expressions like “swell” are interesting now mainly as historical relics. As he did throughout his life, my father avoids mentioning world affairs or the uncertainties of war.
No doubt many families have similar boxes full of seventy-year-old World War II letters.
I also know well that there were tragic versions of love stories like my parents’ as well. In war, many young men — and now young women, too — never come home to marry that sweetheart and raise a family. They are the “forever young” ones we honor with our tears and salutes every Memorial Day.
But Katherine and Lester’s story had a happy ending, and on Valentine’s Day, I hope a young soldier’s love letters to the girlfriend back home spark joy in you, too, as you read.
Postcard from Houston
December 2, 1942
Dearest “Kat,”
I looked for you this morning but couldn’t find you. I guess Peggy told you. I got a ride all the way to Houston. If I don’t pass this test, I’ll have to join something else, and I don’t know what. This time I won’t have anyone pushing me ahead. You know what I mean. The old V.P., Lester
Dec. 10, 1942
Fort Sam Houston
Dearest Kat,
You’ll have to excuse the writing because I’m laying in bed waiting before the lights go out.
I didn’t mean for the meeting Monday night to be a goodbye one, but things happen fast nowadays. I’m glad now I did get to see you before I left. I really enjoyed the chat. When you write me tell me how you feel this Friday. Last Friday I was just taking a test, but this Friday a week later I’m in the U.S. Army.
I hope you feel better this weekend. I really hated to leave, but I had to do it. Every time we would go in a café or etc. we would play “White Christmas” for our Christmas this year may be white, we don’t know. The only thing I do know it will be for the best.
In just a few minutes the lights will go out so I’ll finish tomorrow. We played poker most of Tuesday night in Houston and had to get up Wed. Morning at 6:30.
11:15 Friday
I’ll try and write a few more lines before I go eat. Eating ____ oh!!
6:10 P.M.
Here I go again. It seems every time I start to write a few lines I have to stop and leave. Well, I’m off until 5:45 A.M. in the morning. A little early, what do you think?
I want you to do something for me soon. Tell Wayne to give you 75¢ to get me the three Congress pictures. I would like to see some of the old faces again. As soon as I get stationed I will send you some money to have my “Pilot” sent to me. My address is:
Pvt. Lester L. Clouse
Company A
Reception Center
Fort Sam Houston, Texas
I don’t know how long I’ll be here but you can write if you want. I don’t want you to send the pictures or school paper until I’m stationed. I don’t know where. Some say we’re heading north. It sure will be cold.
Still colder with no one to try and keep me warm. You get what I mean, don’t you?? I forgot, but when you send me the Congress pictures, please if you will send me one of you. A small one or postcard size. You remember Elmo Spivey, don’t you? Well, he’s an instructor here and is going to show me the sights.
I’m sorry I haven’t had a chance to write you before. You can see on this letter how long it’s taken me to write this one.
From your former Vice President, but now a soldier.
Love,
Lester
P.S. Write me soon, and I may get it before I leave. I hope you do. Some of the things I’ve missed most is seeing you, A.J., Ouida, and all the other funny faces. (I mean friendly ones.) Here they are all trying to order you. As soon as I get shipped I’ll send you my address.
P.S. Don’t forget about sending my picture and if Wayne won’t give you the money write and I’ll get it some way. I hope he will. I almost forgot about the “Pictograph.”
P.S. I don’t know when I’ll get a leave but I hope to see you soon. Tell everyone hello for me.
P.S. Please answer soon. A nice long letter.
Pvt. Clouse
P.S. Overlook this letter it’s been through a lot.
Fort Sam Houston
Monday 12/21/42
Dearest “Kat,”
I’m getting where I look forward to the evening mail call. Hoping to get a letter from my gal back home. The one I don’t get to tell goodbye she says. I guess the short call the night before will fill the bill for the present. Maybe one of these days I’ll get a leave, so I can tell you Goodbye, Hello, and a “sorrowful goodbye” again. Maybe the day will come soon.
You said something about me writing every day. I’ve tried to write almost every chance I’ve had. I’ve thought of home, you, and everything else since I’ve been here.
I don’t know why Gilbert asked you such a question, but I hope I’m not as bad as you left me thinking in your letter. I’m no angel, but I don’t think I’m the devil yet! Such things happen in almost everyone’s life, don’t they? I hope you don’t regret our days. It makes me feel homesick to think of such things or times. You once told me I was the first to kiss you!! I know I hope it was the truth. For some reason, it didn’t mean what it should have. It does now.
I have to close now so lots of luck, and I hope you have a good time over the holidays.
Lots of Love and Kisses,
Lester
P.S.: If you want, don’t wait to answer my letter. Write every chance you get. If it’s just a few lines. Please do write often for it will help a lot.
Don’t think I’ve forgotten you if you don’t get your gift whatever it may be by Christmas. We can hardly go downtown here.
Fort Sam Houston
Dec. 13, 1942
Dearest “Kat,”
I hope you don’t mind the nickname. I like it, but if you mind I’ll stop calling you “Kat.” When you write you can let me know.
I called A.J. about 12:30. I told him to give you my love. I hope he did. I called him collect, but he didn’t even say anything about it. I hope it didn’t cost too much.
I said I wasn’t going to write again, but that’s all there is to do so I broke down. I like to write, but I haven’t received anything, so I’m getting tired of writing. Please answer my letters as soon as you get a chance. I would like to get a nice long letter from you. It sure is getting tiresome here. I’ve been off since 9:30 this morning, and we can’t even go to town.
That’s the worst part of this camp. There is nothing to do when you’re off.
I wanted to call you but I’m almost broke, and I didn’t want to call you collect. As soon as I get stationed Mom is going to send me some cash and I’ll call you then. I want a date with you one of the nights when I get a leave. I hope to get at least two nights off. A.J. is really planning a big one, so he says.
I had better close for I have to write my mother yet.
From the boy you push to the top, lots of love,
Lester
PS: Please answer this letter as soon as I send you my new address.
I’ll never forget.
Lester
Sheppard Field
Wichita Falls, Texas
Jan. 3, 1943
Dearest “Kat,”
I received your letter (dated Dec. 26) and two from Mother yesterday. I don’t think I’ve ever been so glad to hear from you and mother as I was yesterday. The last letter I received from you was your Christmas card and your picture. Now don’t think I didn’t want your picture because I really did. For in the last week I’ve read over all (six) of the letters you’ve sent and then looked at your picture, and I could almost see you saying every word. When I read the letter I received yesterday I could see you sitting there in the car the first time you told me I was the first to really kiss you. I didn’t know how to take your letter yesterday. You talked like you wanted to forget everything. I don’t know what you meant by some of the things you said. It’s true I always said you were too serious but now I can see how an average boy would have played his cards right, but me I never did seem to see something good when it was in front of my eyes. For a smart boy would have asked you to go steady with him, (Clarence did lucky him) but me, I just didn’t see things that way then. The thing that’s really hurt me most is when I quit going with you the first part of summer and when I did get a date with you, you were going steady with Clarence. I had the funniest feeling that night that I ever had in my life. But, I learnt a lesson that night, you know how I always did a person. It always seemed that I would try and give (you) all the dirty deals I could. (Sometimes I think I did.) Most girls would have quit me then, but for some reason for which you told me the night before I left why you didn’t. I don’t mean you came out in words and told me. Actions speak louder than words.
No Kat I’m looking towards the day when I get to see you again. I then can say it’s the first time I’ve seen and I hope (kissed). Or even to see you for several months.
When that time comes I’ll be the happiest person at least in Port Arthur at that time.
I really didn’t get homesick until Christmas and then again New Years Day. I didn’t say anything about it here for some of the day and even now stayed in bed all day and cried some. Some of the boys in our company cried in the church Christmas morning. This all was enough to give anyone the blues and I had them.
I’m going to leave everything up to you because I’m not, for when I get homesick just stop and think things out. What I’ll be able to do when I do go home or as you say “when he comes marching home,” “When the Lights Go On Again” bit. I don’t know about “There’ll Never Be Another You.” Most of all “A kiss won’t mean goodbye but hello to love.”
Kat I’ll go fifty-fifty with you. I’ll write every day if it’s possible for sometimes I don’t have time if you’ll promise me you will. I know you don’t know how good it makes me feel to receive a letter from you and Mother. Most of all you’ll write me a nice long letter. Well, so much for such things.
I want you to do me a favor if you will that is to start sending me the school paper and also send the ones that come out since I left (Dec. 8, 1942). What’s happening in Congress now? Has anything new come up yet? I want you to send me a Congress Bulletin the day you take the Oath of Office (the day you become Vice President of Thomas Jefferson High School of Port Arthur, Texas).
I hate to close now but I have to go shave and get ready for supper.
From your boyfriend in the Service,
Lester
P.S. I’m expecting an answer soon and I hope it says “Yes, I’ll write if I can every day.”
Don’t worry I’ll let you know when I’m coming home and looking forward to that day.
Lots of Love and Kisses,
Lester
P.S. did you get the gift I sent you last Monday?
Sheppard Field
Jan. 11, 1943
Darling Katherine,
I tried to call you but for some reason, they couldn’t get the call through Houston. I thought I had better write you a few lines because I didn’t get to talk to you. I sure would have loved to hear your voice. I would rather hear it with you in person but due to certain things I cannot control I’ll have to [be] satisfied hearing it over the phone, and then I couldn’t even get that, so here I am.
I’ll give you a tip when I call. I have to call station-to-station, and that means I have to talk to anyone who answers so if you’re not home when I do call (maybe I will every once in a while) tell your mother not to take the call and I’ll know the reason why.
I received your letter today, and I sure was glad to get it. I hope to get one every day from now on. I didn’t get one for two days, and I thought you had forgotten me!! Speaking of your public, was you talking to me when you said, “I don’t get too mad if he doesn’t write as often as I do.” Were you referring to me there or someone else? I hope you’re telling the truth when you said the boys you’re going with are the brotherly type!! I hope there’s no new ones on the list.
Speaking of what Cowboy said, I would love to see you in any color dress. I don’t think it would change my mind much. They all look pretty on you, I think! The next time I see you, I’ll tell you how pretty you look in whatever color dress you’re wearing.
Tell Cecil hello for me, and I hope I didn’t say anything I shouldn’t have in that letter.
All my Love Always,
Lester
P.S. I’ll be glad when I can tell you what I think some other way than writing. Maybe it will sound a little better then. I’m waiting to hear from you, until then all my Love.
Laredo Army Air Force Base
April 7, 1943
Dearest Katherine,
Does my Sweetheart still love me? I know I promised you I was going to come home and I thought I was, but I couldn’t get a pass, so I’m just as sorry about the whole thing as you are. Next time I’m not going to tell you, and if I can’t make it no one will be disappointed, and if I do, well, I’ll surprise you and Mother both.
Katherine, since I left home, I’ve come to love you more and more every day. Every day when I get your letters, I wish we were together, other than about five hundred miles apart. Maybe after school is out you can come down and see me over the weekend.
Sweetheart, if you recall I said I had something I wanted to ask you and I do. I remember one Sat. Night last fall right after I broke up you and Clarence. That night you acted funny and it seemed strange for you to act that way with me on a date. Well, I finally got you to tell me what it was. You were worried because you said Clarence was coming home the next weekend and by his letters you said he was going to ask you to maybe wait for him until he got out of the Army. Well, you told me that night you wouldn’t and didn’t love him that much. Katherine, I did try to come home but the officers wouldn’t sign my pass so I’m going to ask you on paper. I know at first you’re going to wonder about what I’m going to ask you. You’ll wonder if I mean and know what I’m doing; yes, I mean every word of it to the last single letter. And if you don’t approve of it I wish you would just write me saying “ no” and forget the whole matter. Please don’t say anything to Wayne about it or anyone else.
Katherine, you may consider this a proposal, but I’m asking you if you’d wait until I come home after this dreadful war is over. I know we’re both young, but if we set our minds to the same goal; maybe after the war’s over we then can do the things we really want to do. At least here’s hoping we will be able to. Yes, I know what you’re thinking, that this sure is a serious question to consider. I also realize it is and I’ve been thinking about it for the past two months but never could get up the nerve to say one word about it to you even in a letter and dared not say anything about it over the phone that is the reason I was trying to come home to ask you what I’ve just asked you. I promise you this is not just something I thought up in the past week. I can think of nothing better than when I come home I know that you will be there waiting for me, not in love with someone else or maybe married to someone.
Katherine, if you can add anything to what I’ve said, please do. But, if you don’t think that the time has come for me to ask such a question, you write and tell me and I promise I’ll forget it and hope you will, too. I don’t care what you say or what happens, I want you to always remember that I love you, Darling. Darling, since I left you that Monday night I haven’t had a date. Three weeks ago Baker, my buddy, and I were at the U.S.O. and we happened to meet two girls about the time we were leaving. They asked if we would mind if they drove us out to the camp and we didn’t. The two girls sat in front and we sat in the back and that was the last time I saw the girls. We came straight to the camp and that’s the only time I’ve been out with any girl. I don’t know if that will mean anything to you but I sure hope it does.
Darling, I love you and hope that this letter will make a great change for both of us. Since I left home you’ve been the only thing I’ve thought of every day. I’m not saying I have, but I’ve tried to write you every day all but one time and that was when I hadn’t heard from you in five days. I couldn’t wait that time, so I called you, remember? For some time after that you started writing something other than news. Of course, I like to hear the news, but that’s not the only thing I want to hear in your lovely letters, Darling. I want to hear news that is new and just off the press. To hear the latest news on how I stand with my Sweetheart. How much she love me and the many other things a lonesome soldier likes to get in a letter from his Sweetheart. Don’t ever think for one minute that I’m not lonesome for you, Katherine. I would give up everything if I could go back and finish school with you. I’d forget Congress, V.P. and everything else if that’s what it would take. I surely wouldn’t let you go to classes by yourself when I could be walking around with you. That is just one of the things I did wrong when I was home. You loved me then, and I, in a way, closed my eyes so I couldn’t see how much I thought of you and how much you loved me. One time I almost let you completely go but caught you just in time, remember? I’ll never forget that. All these little odds and ends finally make me realize that I do love you. I realized this about two weeks after I left you.
I don’t know what we talked about that Monday night before I left but I do know now what it should have been. Sweetheart, my theme song is “It Started All Over Again,” and I hope it’s yours also.
Darling, looking forward to an answer of this letter. Until then remember I love you now and always will!!!!!
Your Present Sweetheart and your Future hopes,
Lester
P.S. Please answer soon and write me a long, sweet letter so I’ll know you’re not hurt too badly.
Lester
I’ll try and write you a letter when I get back from the show “Random Harvest.” I hope it is as good as they say it is.
L.A.A.F.B.
May 23, 1943
Katherine Darling,
Well, darling, I received my one-hundredth letter from you at noon today. It is one of the few letters I’ve received from a Sunday morning mail call.
Sweetheart, I hated to hear that you had cried after I left. But, in a way, I believe it put something over to your Mother and Father and that is that you really love me and it’s not just that so-called “puppy love.” Darling, they may think we’re crazy but as long as we have each other we don’t need to worry about what they think. Just as long as we can get their consent of our engagement that’s all we need to worry about at the present time.
Katherine, I promised you that I would go to church when I got back, well I woke up this morning about 8:30 but I was so tired and worn out I just went back to sleep and tried to rest up for my new class starting in the morning. All I’ve done all day is lay on my bunk and think of the wonderful time you and I had together. (When I wasn’t asleep.) We’ve had our fun and we’ve also had our arguments haven’t we?
You said something about sending me home early Sunday night, well please don’t think I’m in the least bit mad about the whole thing. You had to go to school the next day and we had been out pretty late the nights before and both of us were tired. So, honey please forgive me for even saying the thing I did about it. But, that’s myself all over saying things I shouldn’t and I never forgive myself for it either.
Well, I guess by the time this letter reaches you, you’ll be out of that old place called “high school.” Honey, you and I have had some swell times together there. In fact that is where I met you and if nothing else that is enough for me. I believe I got the sweetest girl of the whole bunch, too. In fact I couldn’t ask for a better girl to be my wife, I don’t think. You’ve been true to me through a lot at school and now the war and in a couple of years I certainly hope I can make you feel that all these days haven’t been in vain. I’ll try to make just half as good a husband as you will me a wife, darling. And I believe if I do that I’ll be pretty good and as far as you, you’ll be tops, Sweetheart.
Well, Baby, I have to close now so I can get a little shut-eye before that sun comes up and wakes that bugler up.
I love you,
Lester
The proposed engagement discussed in this last letter, although accepted by Katherine, was not approved by my stern namesake, Dan Coleman, until October. Mom and Dad were married in Port Arthur November 7, 1944.
Happy Valentine’s Day, reader. Don’t forget to tell someone “I love you” today. You may not be a soldier in wartime, but you never know how many more chances you have to say these precious words.
