Encoded for for the Veterans History Project, February 13, 2017.
All letters in the McNutt collection were digitized.
The following letters were transcribed from the handwritten originals by the donor. 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*.
I arrived aboard ship last night on time and everything is lovely so far as that, but Myrtle ah! I am so lonely and down here and so far from you and it may be a long, long time before I see you again but I hope it won't be. I don't know what to do with myself and am so restless I can't sit down and every thng that comes to my mind are (sic) memorys yes sweet, sweet memorys (sic) of the seven days that
sped by so quick and are gone but will never be forgotten. The last day especially will be dearer than all memorys to me. I thought Billy and I were going to be late Wed. morning for that train, but it didn't leave until after mine so we had just plenty of time, but I didn't worry about it and right now I would be glad to spend twenty days in the brig for that last twenty hours I was at home. It is a great life if you don't weaken but I believe I am weakening. I don't think it is going to be as hard to settle down on the ship as I thought it was going to be, but Myrtle dear little girl it is you that is worrying and longing to be down in sunny Tennessee where the most sensible and sweetest little girl that ever lived makes the sun more brighter by living underneath it. We both use to be so crazy and foolish and let many sad days (at least for me) go by that could have been happy ones and
ought to have been. I have learned lots and have more sense then (sic) I did then but even now I haven't much sense and don't know very much and I guess I never will. You have changed so much since I was in Tenn over a year ago and have improved so much. Really you use to be awful cranky about some things but you are not now, not the least but, but back then you were only a kid. I can't hardly realize that you were only sixteen and all girls that age
more or less foolish. I don't guess I will ever learn anything for I came very near doing something awful foolish that last day I was at home and if I am ever going to have any sense I ought to have some now. If I had of done it God! I would be in misery now. Maybe I will tell you next time I write. It is said that it is always darkest just before the dawn and I believe it now for it has happened several times to me in
the last few days. When I didn't think I was going to get home and thinking if I did I wouldn't get to see you everything was dark and it was just before morning then I got the back pay that was coming to me and a light streak shown in the sky and then when I got home it was still dark but when I saw you the sun came out and shown brighter than ever before. While I was home it happened again. I guess you will be having a fine time when you get this letter and will soon forget everything that happened since I was with you and I will be just a pitiful memory to you but I hope I won't. I am such a big boob tho I couldn't hardly hope to stay in line with fellows that are attractive and have some sense. If I ever live to get out of this war and navy I am going to try
to make something out of myself and be worth something to my self and the world. If I can only succeed in the hork of my ambition I will be alright. With thoughts of you I will be more of a man than before.
I think we will get our mail from N.Y. In a few days but you address my letters c/o Y.M.C.A. Norfolk and I know I will get them and quicker too. Write just as often as you can and ans. This at once for my heart is aching to hear from you.
With a heart full of love for you,