Calendars, Contracts and Contacts

Even on a tiny piece of V-mail, Frank Stevens manages to squeeze in quite a bit. This Chicago boy is still looking forward to the date when he will get to come home. Even though we’re backtracking in time with the recent discovery of this letter—as we’ve already seen, Frank had yet to participate in the battle at Iwo Jima or head to Okinawa—Frank is so ready to leap up the front steps of 507 West Garfield, or wherever “home” is soon to be, and be reunited with his family.

Frank is still keenly interested in his father’s real estate dealings, wanting to know the progress of each contract, the disposition of each property. And the boy is still California Dreamin’. The grass is always greener elsewhere, especially for winter-bound Chicagoans eyeing the oasis of Los Angeles.

I wonder about all the names Frank mentions at the end of this note. Were they school friends? Neighbors? Is this gossip about who is marrying whom? The running commentary makes me wish I had a chance to take a peek at the other end of the letter exchanges.

  

The way I look at it I’m glad that I’m over here at last, for the sooner I get my year and a half in the sooner I’ll be back home, I figure I’ll get some State-side duty next time as I have over two years outside the states now. I was figuring it up today I’ve got an unbroken line of sea duty starting in August 1942 untill the present. I’m going on the assumption that everyone at home is in good health I’m glad that you sold 531, now if you move out south around Beverly hills everything will be aw reet, have you any special place in mind? Is Tony going to move into 507 or is he going to make an annex onto the corner write soon and give me the dope. Say Dad I don’t remember any Eleanor Quinn where did she live and who is Ray Simms. It was quite a suprise about Jun Swyer and if You see DeNormandie give him my best. I guess you were right about Trent Dad I thought he was doing all right for himself but I haven’t heard from him in two years I wonder how he got out of the Army I’ll have to clos now running out of paper. Write soon Love from your Affectionate Son, Frank