Letters

To
Sgt. James Buchanan Barnes
107th Infantry Regiment
New York Army National Guard
England, United Kingdom

Brooklyn, NY

Dear James,

Well… Even though I am not sure if you are actually receiving my letters, since I am not hearing anything from you, but I will just continue to write to you. I really do hope that you are actually receiving them. It helps me to believe that you are doing well. Please just know that I am always keeping you in my heart.

I think I remember that in my last letter I told you that I was trying to get a job at Eisen-EMCO. And yes, I got it. It is a tough job, and takes up most of my time. There is so much work that even the schools and universities in the area closed down for the meantime. Or maybe it is the other way round. That’s at least what Bonnie thinks. She told me the other say that she suspects that the schools have closed down so that every able person can go and work. I am not too sure about it. I am just happy that there is something I can do! I mean, with all those ads about Rosie the Riveter, I as a woman feel very empowered and inspired but I also hope to make you proud by doing my share. Even though the work is hard and it’s long hours, we still share a few giggles at work.

I think about you ever so often. I am looking at the picture of us from the Stark Expo as I am writing to you. I carry it with me wherever I go. The image is fading fast, the quality is not good. After all, it’s just a newspaper cropping. Our faces are barely recognizable anymore… Bonnie says it is a bad sign but what does she know, right? Oh, I am so sorry, James, I am rambling on like a crazy girl.

But I have to be honest with you. There are some days when it gets so hard, where I find myself almost short of breath, my heart beating too fast, and my mind lightheaded with worry. There are days where I find myself lost in thought, wondering if God is keeping you safe. I kind of knew from the start that things would be difficult and that being so far away from you while you're at war would be a challenge. There are just some days that I wish it didn't have to be that way. I wish you could just come home. And of course, I am hoping that you remember me. I hope that you think of me from time to time.

The President says that World War II has turned into a global conflict on an unprecedented scale. This absolute urgency of mobilizing the entire population that he is talking about scares me quite a bit, nevertheless it has changed a very important fact in this country. It kind of feels as if the roles were inverted! Things are upside down and inside out!

More and more women are participating in the building of ships, aircraft, vehicles and weaponry, working on farms, driving trucks, providing logistic support for soldiers and even entering professional areas of work that were previously the preserve of men. Apparently, people have finally realized how valuable women really are. It makes me so proud to leave the house in the morning and see all my neighbors

It is true that some women are choosing more traditional “female” jobs such as sewing aircraft upholstery or painting radium on tiny measurements so that pilots can see the instrument panels in the dark. My mother is doing exactly that. She is also one of the inspectors to ensure that even the smallest item was correctly installed and adjusted. Nothing escapes the scrutinizing look of a woman, especially the one of my mother!

The President also mentioned that although at first, most Americans were reluctant to allow women into traditional male jobs, women have proven that they could not only do the job but in some instances they did it even better than their male counterparts. I mean, everybody knows that women pay more attention to detail, nothing gets by them unless it’s right. Now, the President calls all of us working women his government girls and every time he comes on the air, he wants us to know how much our boys appreciate our work! So, I really hope you are proud of me.

Bonnie had news from Harold the other day. He has not yet been involved in any active fighting, but thinks that something big is going to go down soon. However, he mentioned that the general has had some dancers come in – to raise the spirits, as he puts it. I’ve seen some flyers at the movie theatre and hey! Maybe I should join them and provide some entertainment for you? I guess I’d be quite good dancing the can-can!

I will stop now, as I don’t want to take up more of your time. You must be terribly homesick and I feel that I am not really helping. I guess I am just making it worse.

Sending you a kiss and a lot of love, Connie