Encoded for the Veterans History Project, July 18, 2022.
All letters in the John Aubrey Enman, Jr. collection were digitized.
The following letters were transcribed from the handwritten originals by Veterans History Project staff. No alterations to this transcription has been made, although spelling errors are indicated with [sic]. Any special emphasis (i.e. underlining) is presented *between asterisks*.
Dear Julie,
Jan - 20 - 1944
The new year has definitely started off in the right direction, especially when such long missives flow from your combined mind and pen. Far be it from me to cause you any concern - that is indeed a compliment - and I hope to remedy any future mental anguish on your part in the months to come. At times it is difficult to find time for writing anyone as there is plenty of work and the usual day of late has been longer than the usual eight hours I was formally accustomed to, so I hope the situation will be alleviated soon.
Don't worry about the bullet formed sweet-stuff. All gone now - though they will be long remembered. And the thanks of all of those who were quick enough to some away from me want me to send their profound thanks along also.
Never particularly noticed that the Round Up omitted any news. But if we don't know about, I guess, we would never know about any deletions. We also buy the papers that the citizens of New Delhi get, but I never yet
compared the two. Will whip a few more up your way so you can keep up on the war as seen thru CBI. Read about the German spies in the paper and gained a little importance hereabouts giving the geographic location of Frenchman Bay and Bangor. I'm the only New Englander in the outfit and have a lot of fun with the "tall" stories of the Maine woods I picked up at [Orono?], and also with the N.E. accent. So at least we did hear about that.
As to my spirits being high - it isn't too hard to see why if you ever got a quick look at the living conditions here. Have a nice wide bunk, half of a good sized almirah (wall locker) with four deep shelves, a bookshelf bolted to the side of that facing my bed so that on a Sunday morning I can lie (lay) in bed and pick out something and relax and read, or listen to those musical Sunday morning programs. There is a verandah on my side of the second story barracks where we can sit and read in the sun. Then the office is just downstairs, so why shouldn't
the morale be up a bit? I get a little unhappy at times, but most of the time I'm doing something; reading, working, studying, movies, concerts, writing letters, throwing the bull. So I don't find any lack of things to do - just a lack of time to do all that I would like to accomplish. That sounds like a terrific build-up by my press agent - but that Pollyanna tag is on the nose, Julie. My intellectual capacities [nin?] for short of the power of thinking deeply on everything, or anything, so I'm as happy as a fool. Of course I'd just as soon leave India when the time arrives.
No steaks since I last tried and failed. And by the way, the revelers I was referring to at the restaurant – those 7 – were Americans. I don’t care too much for a lot of the British I’ve seen, but I couldn’t blame them for something they didn’t do. They are generally more reserved than the Yank when it comes to public places. A bunch of Americans were in a coffee house downtown one night when the rest of us were there and they were of the same caliber. They took up two tables, ordered
five cups of coffee and then proceeded to haul out their own fruit cake. Maybe it's cute, I don't know, but it certainly seemed a cheap trick at the time. I often wonder how much good will we are building up here in India. Sometimes it looks like it is going in reverse. Perhaps I've led a too sheltered existence up to the present.
Don't believe I'll ever be an artist, altho I have fun playing around with it over here, quite infrequently, however. Two of the boys I pal arouhnd with have plenty of experience in it, so I intend to learn something about it eventually. As far as I can see you have to be born with a good sense of form, harmony of color, and the ability to see a picture in a rusty tin can.
My question about your brother has already been answered. He's doing quite all right, so give him my congratulations when you get down to see him. My sister is still at Sargent. Graduates next year so hope I get back by then. I'll see a college graduation yet. The last one I attended was my own on leaving
grammar school. I was really sorry to have missed the one at [Orono?], but I was far from being the only one who missed it. In that respect there's a lt. here who was a '43er at Maine from Bangor - [Ray?] [Ladner?]. Sound familiar to you? Haven't yet gone over to see him, but will eventually. Outside of that I don't know anyone else from the University here.
This will probably incite you to defend womanhood, but I'll take the chance of arousing your ire. Well, birds are all over this place. They fly around the barracks and sit on the ends of beds, on tops of lockers looking us over. And in the mess hall they fly around in formation (slight exaggeration on my part). This afternoon while showing there was one that must have been a girl bird, for she was primping in front of the mirrors and strutting around like some [bake?] selecting a new fur coat. I thought it would be something to write you as you seem to pick up on these things. (I don't understand the
last statement myself.)
Thank you for your best wishes and your Christmas card. And if you can return in the next letter a print of you I would be very happy. Realize there is a shortage of film, but am wondering if you have an old negative around that could be printed. The enclosure is a little lopsided. Everyone seems to make excuses, but my head isn't quite as lopsided as it looks. I never noticed it until I took a good look. But will it [fill?] the bill? By the way I still wear specs, so you'll have to use your imagination. Your [tanks?] is accepted.
Enclosed also a few clippings on entertainment from the Delhi paper. Your radio roommate should head VU22Y. No advertising, altho the homemade jokes ^(by the army announcers)^ they pull are even cornier than hearing about what a good product something is. So if you find yourself snowed in with absolutely nothing to do, write me another long 'un, will you?
Anxiously
Johnny.
John
Enman
U of M '43
Sgt. John Enman 11043444
2nd Photo Proc. Det.
APO 886 c/o Postmaster
N.Y., N.Y.
[Upper right:] Free
Miss Julie Robbins
27 Broadway
Bangor,
Maine
United States of America