April 10, 1968
Anderson, Indiana
April 10, 1968
Hi Larry,
How are you getting along at Fort Sill? You wanted to know the story of how Chipper died. Mommy and Daddy think Biddle or Penny did it. Sometimes, Daddy says Chipper probably just [choked] himself. Well, anyway, I put a junky cross on top of Chipper’s grave. I don’t know if it is still there or not.
It’s dark and I can’t see right now. I didn’t visit Chipper’s grave today.
Carol just got through drawing a picture of Mommy. It looks a pretty lot like her. Well, I have to go now.
Your sister,
Ellie
April 8, 1968
April 8, 1968
Monday 8 P.M.
Dear Larry:
Received your letter Friday, but didn’t have time to write to you over the weekend.
Saturday, Jannie H—– got married and they had their reception at the Polish Club, so Mrs. H—– asked me to help out, so I was as the club most of the day, and then in the evening as usual I went to bingo. Sunday, was Palm Sunday so we went to the 11:30 mass. Karl had to serve mass and Dad had to usher, so we got home around 1 o’clock, so I hurried and fixed breakfast and then went to the meeting at the Club. The we had to go to church again for a Bible Vigil. The kids had their religion fair and guess what, Tresa and Karl both won second place in their grades. And here I did’t think they would get anywhere.
April 1, 1968
April 1, 1968
April Fool’s Day
10:30 P.M.
Dear Larry:
I haven’t written to you in a couple of days, so here it is 10:30 Monday evening. I wanted to write earlier, but I was busy all evening. I had to help Karl and Tresa with [their] religion projects, so after they went to bed I was going to take a bath and write to you, and I got a telephone call from Mrs. H—–. She said they were at Ft. Campbell, KY to visit [their] son Ed and he got to spend the night with them in Hopkinsville. She that he is graduating from basic training this coming Friday, but they won’t be able to go because [their] daughter Jamie is getting married this Saturday.
March 29, 1968
Anderson, Indiana
March 29, 1968
Hi Larry,
How are you getting along? Today, Friday the 29th, Joanna and I went up town. Joanna bought some clothes, and altogether it costs about $80.00. We went to B&K Root Beer, then we came home. Joanna was going to fix some popcorn but Daddy already had some made. We watched the Harlem Globetrotters, or something like that, at 8:00 o’clock. Now we are watching Operation Entertainment. Now that I can’t think of much more to say, I might as well get to the end of the letter.
The most important thing that happened today was that Mr. Love found Chipper [the family dog] laying in some bushes in Brown’s yard. Daddy said that Chipper had something caught in his throat and he started coughing. He coughed himself until he died. Daddy buried him in the alley.
Your sister,
Ellie Maes [Tresa]
January 28, 1968
Sunday
January 28, 1968
6:30 P.M.
Dear Larry:
Just got through with my washing. I hate to do it on Sunday but it was so dreary outside that I felt like doing it since there is not much else to do. It sure made me feel a little better to hear your voice on the phone, the only thing I hated was to say good-bye.
Dad isn’t home from the [Polish] Club yet, boy, when he goes to those meetings he forgets to come home. I know that he will be glad to hear that you are getting savings bonds every pay. I forgot to ask you on the phone, but did you get paid yet? I’ll bet you don’t go anywhere so you don’t have to spend any money. I think its a good idea to save some of it.
