DIY History | Transcribe | World War II Diaries and Letters | Laura Davis letters to her husband Lloyd Davis, April-October 1943 | 1943-05-21 Laura Davis to Lloyd Davis Page 1

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Laura Davis letters to her husband Lloyd Davis, April-October 1943

1943-05-21 Laura Davis to Lloyd Davis Page 1

Pvt. Lloyd Davis, 37420240
Co. C.-9th Bn.-1st Repl. Depot
A.P.O. 761, c/o Postmaster
New York, New York
Mrs. Lloyd Davis
817 19th St. SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
May 21, 1943
Dearest, This poem is one that a boy in the service sent to Mr. Ward at the Mission. He made some copies of it and when I was making a call there he gave me one. I wonder if that is the way you feel sometimes when you would like to write me a letter? It is called "The Censor" and goes like this:
Can't write a thing, the censor is to blame,
Just say that I'm well and sign my name;
Can't say where we leave from -- can't mention the date;
Can't even mention the meals that we ate;
Can't say where I'm going, don't know where we'll land;
Can't even inform you if met by a band;
Can't mention the weather, can't say if there's rain,
All military secrets they must remain.
Can't have a flash light to guide me at night,
Can't smoke a fag except out of sight.
Can't keep a diary for such is a sin,
Can't keep the envelopes your letters come in.
Can't say for sure just what I'll write,
So I'll call this my letter, and close with Good night!
Francis M. Baxter
I don't like type written letters to my laddie, but I thought I might not have enough space to write the piece in long hand and still have any space left to say anything else. So now I will go on with my pen. Isn't that lots nicer even if it isn't as plain? We lost our case in childrens court this morning. It was the transient kid case and I had worked so hard for two days that it was quite a disappointment to have to feel nothing much was accomplished. But we at least know we tried. I meant to go see Ardy, leaving tonight. But rains have made the train ten hours late, so I called her up instead we now plan on my visiting her next week -- and as there is the holiday too. Had a hairdo at a different shop, but won't be going back there. This is the loveliest day we have had this season. It was first sun in six days and it was a very pleasant warmth. I'll be in place soon. I love my laddie, Laura

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Pvt. Lloyd Davis, 37420240 Co. C.-9th Bn.-1st Repl. Depot A.P.O. 761, c/o Postmaster New York, New York Mrs. Lloyd Davis 817 19th St. SE Cedar Rapids, Iowa May 21, 1943 Dearest, This poem is one that a boy in the service sent to Mr. Ward at the Mission. He made some copies of it and when I was making a call there he gave me one. I wonder if that is the way you feel sometimes when you would like to write me a letter? It is called "The Censor" and goes like this: Can't write a thing, the censor is to blame, Just say that I'm well and sign my name; Can't say where we leave from -- can't mention the date; Can't even mention the meals that we ate; Can't say where I'm going, don't know where we'll land; Can't even inform you if met by a band; Can't mention the weather, can't say if there's rain, All military secrets they must remain. Can't have a flash light to guide me at night, Can't smoke a fag except out of sight. Can't keep a diary for such is a sin, Can't keep the envelopes your letters come in. Can't say for sure just what I'll write, So I'll call this my letter, and close with Good night! Francis M. Baxter I don't like type written letters to my laddie, but I thought I might not have enough space to write the piece in long hand and still have any space left to say anything else. So now I will go on with my pen. Isn't that lots nicer even if it isn't as plain? We lost our case in childrens court this morning. It was the transient kid case and I had worked so hard for two days that it was quite a disappointment to have to feel nothing much was accomplished. But we at least know we tried. I meant to go see Ardy, leaving tonight. But rains have made the train ten hours late, so I called her up instead we now plan on my visiting her next week -- and as there is the holiday too. Had a hairdo at a different shop, but won't be going back there. This is the loveliest day we have had this season. It was first sun in six days and it was a very pleasant warmth. I'll be in place soon. I love my laddie, Laura