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

Ottumwa Sep 19 1943

   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

     My Dear Angel:-                                                                                               Sunday Afternoon  Sept 20-43

Here it is another Sunday afternoon, cloudy and pretty cool in the house but sultry out of doors. Bobby and I got up and rushed off to Breadcast and then stayed for Sunday School and church. This being the 5th Anniversary of Welshen's preaching here in town there was a little surprise for them at the morning service in the form of Spiritual bouquets being presented to them. First the lillies in the form of a poem by Audry Hawkins, next roses by Margaret Ferguson representing the Board of the church, then the Carnations by Charlie Thompson, the Daisies by Lola Bitner superintendent of Sunday school, Lilliys of the Valley by Mrs Parker who has the overcomers and the Ferns by Paul Gail of the Jail group and the prayer closing this service by Charles Taylor representing the older group of people in the church, then the thanks of Brother and Sister Weshen and no sermon because this all took until 12 and after, then a collection to make the church debt free, which is was except the remodeling which had been done to the old office and I will tell you about that. The floor of the office was brought up to the same height as the choir floor, that is, level with the floor where the pulpit stands. The corner of the office was furnished like a column and where the office was, the grand piano just fits into that, and a big drop light over the piano. It certainly does look fine and the cost was around $100 and I do not know as no report was made about how much was given in the Bible march collection for the church repairs but I will hear and then tell you.

Oh, yes, I must tell you too, that the church presented Bro Welshen's with a Thompson Bible and it cost somewhere around $20.00 or so, I am not sure of the price, but that is what they gave him and it was a book which he had longed for. It is written by a Holy Ghost minister new some 90 years old and it is a great help to Bro Welshen. This was given to him before I got back home. Then the evidence of another increase was seen this morning, so the church will be having a little new member in the course of time by our famous Puffle Collett. You can quess what I am getting at, yes little Jacky will have either a little brother or sister. Next Thurs is the Dorcas missionary meeting with a covered dish and mapping out of next years work. The missionaries in the Ozark region has reported drought this year from the first of June until just the first of this month since they had had any rain and down there they are hard hit.

Sister an Bro Noland was at church and Sunday school and the church was filled on the first floor this morning. Tonight is the sermon "The call to Colers" and at the Overcomers Jeanett Jones from Prussia is to give a talk and I want to get up to it and for church. So Bobby and I will be starting back to church soon as it is almost three before we get our dinner and it is now right after we get the dishes washed, we didn't have time for breakfast because he had to go out  and spend a  long time in the front yard this morning when I could have had my coffee and maybe a bit of toast, but we both lived and are feeling fine in spite of no breakfast. I am enclosing one of Jerry's pictures for you and put it up in the room and if anyone sees it let them wonder.

When Sunday and Saturday rolls around I am so lonesome for you that I nearly go crazy and you can look for me to start back just as soon as I can get things fixed up to leave. This week I am taking the extra fruit over to Noland's and then Friday the first tire is to be back from recapping and the the other one goes in. I got your letter of Wed on Saturday, and see that you have just finished washing out some clothes and so I suppose that spurred you to second the motion of buying the washing machine, Ha, Ha. Nora hasn't received the new caster from Sear's yet and when she does she is going to let me know and i will go up and at the same time get my Spencer which is in. I am glad that you received the messenger, it is some company and Charlie Thompson told me this morning that he had gotten another letter from you. You sure had a nice supper with Pop and John. I would like to get in on that once in a while. I have had more fried chicken since I have been home than in a long time and does Mr Bob enjoy it .

He got all my ration points for an nice big hamburger feed and then I had to resort  to meat  which took no points. We got such nice chicken at Quinlan’s which is all cut up and ready to go into the pan and the most completely cleaned  chicken that I have ever seen in my any store.  Well, Delmar Collette has been called in and given his first examination.  He quit Morrell’s and went to hauling coal and so Morrell’s had to turn his name in and he got deferment for four months or until January and it is to be seen whether it is extended any longer than that, then Bill Collette and Russell Boyles are new in a A-1 and are likely to be called any day, they’re expecting it.  You don’t know how much I appreciate Ms. May and Miss Rachel sending in things for your meals.  Bless their hearts they are two good old scouts even if they do “faint off”.  I am so sorry to hear about Mrs. Carruth.  It must be serious that she has to have the transfusion and it is my sincere hope and prayer that she will improve.  What she told me about the death of his little 10 year old girl proves to me that the lord has spoken to her and she is open to more from him.

The few nights of cold weather in frost has certainly started the lease to falling fast.  It will soon be time to go out and rake in burn.  I would love to drive out into the country and see nature highlights like you and I used to do, is not near so beautiful without you.

The pictures of you and Hawthorne at Vicksburg were finished in this last batch and they sure are a laugh both of you needed cleaning up and a shave.  That was the morning we arrived here remember?  I also have the one which it took of the sky and clouds and it is real good and the two views which it took and lesbian Vicksburg because one is that all one unit which looks like the Washington monument and one is a view of the hills and town.  I think you took them from the tower if I remember right.

Will my darling I will close for new and send me some money so that I can get the tire Friday or Saturday and then the other one goes in, that will be 12 dollars for them both, and I look for Frank to come and paint  the gutters and help me this week and I have some more sewing to do.  Well by by now my sweet, and I’ll be looking for a letter tomorrow.  God bless you and protect you.  Love mother

PS My regards to John, his wife & all the boys and their wives.

Iowa is turning out 360 million bushels of corn, believe it or not. The escaped murder from Ft Madison has been caught after kidnapping 2 different men, committing 4 robberies and 2 stolen cars.

-Signed Mother & Bobby