ON APRIL 12, 1945, President Franklin Roosevelt died in Warm Springs, Georgia, and was succeeded by Harry Truman. In later years, Lottie would recount how she was working at a drugstore in Kinston when Roosevelt died. She remembered the sad funeral music being played nonstop on the store’s radio. She also remember the mournful sound of Roosevelt’s funeral train as it passed up the Atlantic seaboard headed to Washington, D.C. Henry would tell how he had just walked into a favorite Maui bar after coming back from some kind of battle operation just as news of Roosevelt’s death was announced, and the bar immediately closed.

On April 25, 1945, permission was issued to Henry by the censors to mail one pair of Japanese shoes and one Japanese battle flag to Lottie. He would keep these items as souvenirs all his life.

July 6, 1945

Dearest Lottie:

There you go again bawling me out for not writing. I can’t quite see where you have been writing so many letter; young lady.

Besides you should have more to talk about in a letter than me. Very seldom anything happens out here, and back there usually something happens every day.

As I said before you work where you please, and stay where you please. Its all up to you. I’ve nothing to say about it.

If you had stayed in Wisconsin you could have been working at that plant in Baraboo. You could have made some good money there.

Of course I can’t blame you for being homesick. But what are you going to do when I get back if I get back. We aren’t going to live in N.C. I mean I’m not. How about you?

You mentioned about that picture again. I told you a long time ago I wanted you to send it.. didn’t I? But if you don’t want to send it, of course its beyond me.

I got a couple more letters today, one from Selma and one from herbs. Both were wondering why I haven’t written. They were giving me the scoop in their particular areas.

Guess Chuck gave up her office now. Don’t know where she is going haven’t heard from her for a couple of months.

About all

Love and Kisses
Hank

Sept. 18, 1945

Dearest Darling:

Whats the latest “scoop”. Just about the same here. Getting more ready of course to move out. The Div. is going some place, and all points lead toward the States.

I have enough points as they say to get out but don’t know for sure. I said I was going to leave it up to you. What is your final choice? I’ll be in the States within a month. Of course things can change fast but the way it looks now I’ll be off the island in a couple of weeks from getting transportation back to the States.
…
I gave a family in Purvis, Miss. your address, and they might drop you a line. I told your address. See this family had a boy by the name of Jimmie that was killed along side of me on Iwo Jima. The Division Chaplain here wanted me to write them a letter telling about Jimmie at their request. So with the aid of a Chaplain I wrote Mrs. Daly a letter. That was their name. I knew the boy back in New River and make his folks feel good I told them he used to go to Kinston with me. I told them that Jimmie knew my wife. Something like that makes a family feel good. After all he was their only child. So in case they do drop you a line you can answer the letter. I’ve had about 4 or 5 letters from them since. They also sent me a package which I did not much need. I’ll send you the first letter I got from their son. Real nice letter.

I’ve got a letter from Selma today too. When I get back to States I’ll wire her for a hundred or so bucks. I don’t think you have too much do you? Don’t send any, if I need it I’ll wire. That is if I get back I’ll only have about $50. I thought I had some on boos, but no soap.

Thats all— Love – Kisses
Hank

Sept. 18, 1945
–T.H.–

Dearest “Sweet”

Am sending that letter that Mrs. Daly wrote. It is a nice letter, and I wrote them a nice letter of condolence.

That was back in June, and censorship hadn’t been lifted yet. I sure had to go to a lot of red tape to write it.

I had to write the letter to the Commandant of the Marine Corps first, then they forwarded it to this family.

The family keeps asking questions if he suffered or not, and I say no. He was shot 3 times. Once in head, and twice in shoulder.

I want you to save this letter “Honey” and the request too. Want to keep it.

Love – Two Million Kisses
Hank

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