Ken Ludwig’s
DEAR JACK, DEAR LOUISE directed by Michael Perlman Excerpts from A Better Legend: From the World War II Letters of Jack and Jane Poulton
Jack - Nov 22, 1942 […] I wish you knew how much I liked your letter today—it made me feel happy as I may be without you and strong enough for any job— was like warm sunshine when you are cold or being in bed when you’re tired or music when you need it most.
Jane - Nov 23, 1942 Please keep up the recorde r so we can duet. I will be goo d forever and never drown you out with the piano again. I wasn’t very nice to you about that, was I? It hasn’t take n much going without you to make me realize things.
Jane and Jack Poulton
Jane - Nov 30, 1942
v 27, 1942 Jack - No er from e last lett I have th rning for we are o you this m and there won’t d e k e in the all pac me for on letter ti ch u m be at— I hate th morning. that I might be from you be lying here in l having wil ffice or following O st o P e th . the world me about
Your letters have been marvelous and I shall keep the m always. They are something to hand do grandchildren. I know wn to one’s how you feel when you think yo u aren’t putting all the things in your heart into your letters but you really do, you know. I have always known what you were trying to say and I kn ow all about you therefore. You should know that. But a couple of thousand miles can make you a little unsure som etimes. I feel close to you always and the whole Pacific ocean can’t ch ange that.
Private Ernest Uno to his sister, Mae. Taken from War Letters, edited by Andrew Carrol July 29, 1944 I promised you I’d write every chance I had so here I am again. In the lull, between firing. I’ve found that scribbling off a few lines of a letter was the best way to ease the tension of fighting. Any little thing we do to divert our mind and keep us busy when the fighting comes to a temporary halt, relaxes the nerves and rests our bodies. That’s why receiving mail from home is so important. I’ve got a bunch of letters in my pocket that are dirty and falling apart. They are the letters I have I received from you, and the rest of the family. almost know each one, word for word, ‘cause I’ve read and re-read them so often. They are the ones . that have kept me going until the new ones come
