Encoded for for the Veterans History Project, February 6, 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 received your letter dated the 14th a few minutes ago and am going to answer it right now before I go to bed. My dear little girl I ma so sorry I wrote that letter and when I got your letter and read it a little while ago tears came to my eyes something that hasn't happened for a long , long time. I felt like getting up
and batting myself in the mush for saying the things I did. Myrtle I am impossible. I'll never have any sense even tho I live to be a thousand years old. Of course I know how it is when you haven't heard from any one for so long and I guess my letters were more cold than yours and so short just saying I am well or am back in the U.S.A. When I am on the other side I can't write much more, but can when in the states for I can mail my letter ashore. Isn't it funny Myrtle how we can see the other fellows faults and can't see our own? Now I was seeing your cold letters and everything and couldn't see my own letters and other things. How well I remember that last night on the stoop and it was the happiest moment of my life and it will be along a sweet remembrance that night
and all. I guess I was going kindly back on our resolution, but little girl I didn't mean to. I had no intentions or idea of starting anything and was so blind I didn't think of it as hurting you. I can't ever tell you how sorry I am that I said what I did and my heart aches when ever I think of hurting your feelings or making you blue my little girl. No I'll never love another girl better than you as long as I have any reasonable reason to
believe you love me for I'll never allow any one else to enter my heart but if I ever do I will tell you so. I hope such will never be the case and am sure it won't be. I didn't say you hated me did I? I only said I wouldn't blame you if you did or believe I did also say maybe you hated me but you never did insinuate such.Not lately, but a few years ago you seemed to like me when you wrote
but when I was with you, you seemed not to care much. That was a long time ago and is long in the yester-days. Myrtle we just mustn't fall out and quarrel any more. I know it is hear on your part to keep from quarreling with a senseless snipe like me, but allow a lot for me you knowing my brainless condition. Ill try awfully hard not to give you any cause again. If we were where we could be with each other after I don't think we would ever fall out do you? If we did we could fight it our but can't do much fighting by mail. If we could be with each other every week wouldn't that be fine? Well when this war is over I get out of the Navy you will see a lot more of me in the future then you have in the past if you will continue to give
me a little encouragement.
I didn't mean to say that all sailors and soldiers were alike or to judge them all by some particular ones I have seen, but I meant that you cant always tell them apart and that I wouldn't take a chance with any of them without meeting through some one I knew. Some of their intentions are not good even if they don't always show it and say ugly things with
out cause. Now Myrtle I know well you didn't give them any cause or room to say or think any thing bad of you, but some of them don't have to have cause or reason to say such things. The reason I mentioned the subject to you was because when I heard some of them say about girs and I couldn't bare to think of anyone saying such things about you. From what I could see these particular girls did or said
nothing out of the way or that a lady wouldn't do or say. I had no business I guess to say anything about it and you are cape able of looking out for yourself and doing as you please so I will keep my trap closed here after. I hated it after I had mailed the letter, but it was too late then. I knew you was soo sensible to get soar about it but I was sorry anyway.
I have written several times in the last few days each one one being my last and here I am still writing. The other letters were short and maybe seemed cold for it is almost impossible to write an interesting letter here for some sailor is for ever coming around pestering you and slapping you one the dome, talking to you and a thousand other things that keep your mind all torn up and it is impossible to get you mine on what you are writing
about. Half the time I leave out the main things I wanted to say and get disgusted and quit. It's funny you haven't gotten the picture I sent, for I sent it a week ago. Maybe you have gotten it by now I hope so at least. Thanks many times for the Kodak picture. It is real good. I don't believe you were really in earnest washing clothes tho were you?
We have most of our cargo loaded now and are along side the coal dock and will coal up tomorrow and then finish our cargo. I noticed to
night in the paper where the U-boats are active on our coast again. Maybe we will have a little battle with them before we leave God's country.
I am not going to say good bye any more. We may be here a week waiting on a convoy and we may not be two days. Will write as long as we are here. While I am away don't forget what you said in this last letter. I will think of
you many times before I return and long for a nice letter from my little girl. Write real often.
P.S. The trouble about our mail was the fault of the old skipper. He didn't have sense to notify Washington. We have a new one now I am glad to say and think we will get our mail alright when we get back this time.
With a world of love