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New Guinea
August 2, 1944
Dear Bertha and George,
I was happy to hear from you again and I found your letter quite encouraging, you are a true booster of my morale. I am in rather good spirits as yet – but another two and a half years of this and I’ll be a sad looking individual.
“Name me no names for my disease
With uninforming breath;
I tell you I am none of these,
But homesick unto death.”
W.B.
I had better get out of this mood quickly before I start getting too sentimental, eh? After all I am very lucky compared to those poor G.I.’s who have been here for nearly three years; it’s only been seven months since I arrived on this island (…….long, long ago, long, long ago….) I think the lack of sufficient sunshine is what makes me so gloomy; you have heard of rain in the tropics, have you not? That’s the rain that never stops and that never gives the sun a chance to peek through its wet curtain of gray. (Rather poetic, yes?) When there is sunshine I always feel happy and joyful like a lark and don’t know worry or gloom. This dreary, drizzling, dropical (pardon – poetic license) climate makes a man think; and when a soldier, who is thousands of miles away from home and civilization, starts to think and think – you can imagine the result. There is one thing that a man must learn here to keep him from going batty, namely not to do too much thinking, too often, too long, and too seriously. The best thing to do is to pursue some hobby to keep one’s mind away from things. That reminds me, I finally decided to take advantage of your offer to send me anything I needed. Will you kindly send me about ten packages of assorted seeds, both flower and vegetable. I want to do a bit of experimenting here. I know, there are a lot of plants which won’t grow here, but I want to try anyway; the soil is extremely rich and fresh vegetables will be much tastier than the “C” rations we are getting. I realize that what I ask sounds quite crazy to you, but I am serious about this. I am looking forward to getting that package from you. As for reading material, I have sufficient; a friend of mine in So. California presented me with a subscription to the National Geographic Magazine, which I enjoy very much. The Special Service branch of the Army furnishes us with good books and magazines that keep our spare moments occupied. Eva has been sending me the Sunday editions of the Chronicle; you see, there is no lack of reading material.
Have you been having luck with your garden this year? I heard the weather hasn’t been so good in S.F.
I guess you have been to Eva’s new domicile already. How is she getting along? Please tell her that I am still waiting for her picture – a big one. I have been asking her for the last six months, unsuccessfully however. That’s a fine way to treat one’s own brother, isn’t it?
Well, it is getting rather late, and as there is nothing more to write about I’ll sign off.
I hope both of you are well and happy when this reaches you.
Yours very fondly,
Harry
P.S. Too bad you cannot send me a cow.
P.P.S. Give my regards to all.
For me, today’s letter encapsulates so much of what Harry learned from his parents and from his own experiences thus far in his young life – finding humor in any situation and wanting to share it with others; a sunny expectation that fate will be kind; a confidence in his own capabilities that he will be able to accomplish or create anything with the right attitude and few resources – a few seeds are enough; a love of language, music, and literature. All of these things stood him in good stead throughout his life. He cared little for money and expensive things, and was happiest entertaining himself and his family with music, laughter, and fun.
The poem is by Witter Bynner, who began writing poetry in the early 20th Century. The song snippet is from a 19th Century song called “Long, long ago.” I remember singing this song as a child – perhaps in elementary school? Both the poem and the song both deal with nostalgia and homesickness.