[Collection of World War II Love Letters]

A (one-sided) love story from World War II.

This marvelous collection of love letters was compiled by Miss Esther Lossin of Forest Park, Illinois, and written to Wilbert ‘Bert’ Wichtendahl, a Chicago native who was then stationed in California. Bert enlisted in June 1941 – the starting point for the bulk of the correspondence. Hundreds of pages encompassing scores of letters; organized roughly chronologically by month. Incredible collection of letters, most are multi-page, written with incredible frequency. Sometimes daily, but almost always weekly. The prolific communication is exemplified by a letter dated Saturday, May 2, 1942.

“I have 3 letters I can comment on today…The mailmen excelled himself this morning and brought two letters. I received even your Thursday’s letter ‘my dear.’ I can’t ever remember receiving a Thursday letter before Monday…”

Only a cursory examination of the contents, but it shows two young adults deeply in love. Though the conversation is one-sided, terms of endearment are scattered throughout and relatively mundane everyday observations are shared with the greatest care. Weather, work observations, and the pace of mail delivery are common subjects. Esther was apparently a very religious person, as references to God, church attendance, and faith are made constantly – an important factor in maintaining the strength of their relationship.

Family was also clearly an important element in her wartime experience at home – relatives of both Bert and Esther are frequently mentioned. It appears to be a partial collection, likely accumulated while Bert was training in the United States (hence the speedy replies and ‘normal’ stationary). There are small packets for the following months: 6/41, 7/14, 8/41, 9/41, 10/41, 12/41,1/42, 2/42, 3/42, 4/42, 7/42 – a few notes amid the folded and loose group extends into August and September. One particularly heartwarming that exemplifies the pre-war attitude letter is dated December 7, 1941.

“I want to get everything done before Sunday, Dec. 21st, so that I can really take it easy the last few days before Christmas. I always get so excited that I’m almost too excited to really enjoy myself so this year I’m trying to plan things a little better…Tomorrow is your Grandmother’s birthday, as you know…its nice that your reservation is complete and that you know just when your [sic] leaving California and arriving here. its too bad they wouldn’t let you leave Sat. night, but let’s not complain, “honey” but be glad that God made it be possible that you could come home at all!… P.S. We have the Christmas tree already!”

Such eagerly anticipated holiday plans were undoubtedly canceled as America was plunged into the war that same day. A letter dated December 8th begins “Well, ‘honey’, by this time you must also know and realize that God, in his own wisdom, has seen otherwise than to let us be together at Christmas.”

Another charming excerpt was found near the end of the correspondence, dated July 20, 1942:

“I was so glad to hear that you could fix that Coca-Cola machine when they called you, ‘honey.’ It shows that you’re not studying for nothing and that the practical experience with Mr. Sutton was valuable too. You also spoke of getting into cooking again…its only that if you were to learn that so well, well hope and pray that they won’t send you some other place where your living quarters and surroundings wouldn’t be so nice.”

Esther and Bert’s relationship apparently blossomed during the war, as they were married in 1945 and remained together for 58 years – until his passing in 2003.