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An exceptional relationship between mother and son, and the words between the lines that told how love and lives were shaped by the war. A great manuscript for the devoted reader. A true reflection, best I can type it into words for viewing. -Deb Barker
Ottumwa Sep 17 1943
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LORING LETTERS |
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After 5 days return to H E Loring, 2525 East Main, R. 1, Ottumwa, Iowa. M. LeGrand Loring, S. 1/C, U.S. Coast Guard Warehouse, Kentwood, Louisiana, Box 119
Dear Little Boy- Friday Aft. Sept 17-43 How are you today? I am not so good because I did not get any letter from you today, you stood me up and that is not going to go good for you, just wait until I get ahold on you, will I ever wrinkle your ears for every single day that you missed getting a letter here, don't forget that. Well, I went to see about the tire today and when I stopped to get gas, Clarky told me that maybe it would be better to have the tire vulcanized which blew out than to have that one fixed that we got from the taxi man. So I went out to the Pangbern retreading co, and had them to take it off the wheel and take out the tube and then they put it on the tire opening machine which is just like two pairs of strong hands which holds the sides open and they found that it was past using and would not guarantee the work on it as the cords were broken about six or eight inches each way from the blew out itself, it was not so much a blow out as just a bust out or breaking at the walls. There was no base to vulcanize to and he said it was likely to break out again soon and that it would be a waste of money to fix it. He said he could fix the one you got of the taxi man easier than ours. I also had him look a the two front tires on the car and he said they were just right for retreading and told me why. He took off the right front tire and opened it and found it in good condition, no break in it like you thought it might be and I left it for retreading which will take about a week as it will have to go to Des Moines for one part of the job as they are not able to obtain molds for 5-50-16 tires. Glovers recommended Pangborn to me and I found him to appear as a fair minded person and he seemed to be an honest business man. He did not have any third grade or used 5-50-15 tires and like everyone else I asked about them, they told me they were very hard to get as they were not a popular size but he had a U.S. Royal 600-16 which was retreaded and when he picked it up I thought it was a new tire because the side walls were not rubbed but he said it was recapped and he put it in the machine and showed me the inside all the way around and it was perfectly smooth and no breaks in it. He showed me first on our tire how to tell when the cords were broken inside even if you couldn't see them with the naked eye, by feeling it. So I bought the tire which was $10.oo. Kinda cleaned me out of cash for the time being. So I am looking for a letter from you real soon with some money in it. Regular old gold digger aren't I? Well I am still digging for you just the same, for it means my coming back to you, our being happy together and being able to get around. You should see the great big buss tires and tractor tires which he is working on. He has been down to Biloxi on the Edgewater Golf course, playing golf just last year and made a hole in one on the 13th hole I think he said, it was all greek to me but we talked about the south and had one thing in common. His wife is working with him in the shop and she wears old dirty coveralls and belive me it is one dirty job too. He said the tire would cost me $6.00 for retreading the one tire and when it is done within a week he will take the other tire and do the same to it. I have just left all to the Lord and when I had a hunch to go this morning to his place, I took it an said Lord lead me into the right place and take over this job for me. When I came back home I stopped to let Clarky see it and he thought I had struck a good bargain and that the tire sure did look good. He told me like the tire man, to get 600-16 in the future as they were easier to get than 5-15. Well that is the tire situation. This morning there was a long string of N.A.S. trucks going out to the landing field that is being built somewhere around Agency and you should have seen the Waves driving these big gravel trucks and some trucks with a pick up truck loaded on top of it. If you think I am a punk driver you should have seen how some of these gals drove. I just wonder if they got there all right or not. I would hate to meet them after dark on the road for they took their half right out of the middle of the road. Well the tent meetings closed Wednesday night, maybe I told you but the revivial will continue on in the church beginning again Sunday night. After changing the office to the basement floor, just inside the door on Jefferson St., not where the stairs comes down but the door that went into the Annex part, the old office upstairs is to be change somehow into a reception office, I did not get the details but I'll tell you all about it after I see it sunday. It has been bright and fair today but still mighty chilly. Bobby has not been feeling will today for some reason. He has been going out and eating alot of grass so I think his stomach is a little upset. One of the inmates from Ft Madison has escaped and he kidnapped a man and his family in order to use their car and now there is a big hunt on for him here in southeastern Iowa. He is a desperate character. #9 is coming in now and it better have a letter on it from my boy for tomorrow's delivery. This is two days this week that I haven't gotten a letter. You had better be able to explain or those ears are going to get a good hard wrinkling you can just get set for that and you know I do it good and hard. Well I will close now and I hope you are O.K and getting plenty to eat. I am counting the days and the weeks and believe it or not, they cannot roll around any too fast to suit me, how about you? I have enjoyed being hoe but there is someone I enjly better. I expect to bring a copy of the new song book when I come. So now until the mailman comes in the morning, I will say by by and hurry up and write me. Love. -Signed Mother & Bobby |
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