Love, War, and Carrots

***Based on true events***

WESTERN UNION

NOVEMBER 1940

SECWAR BY WAY OF ADMIN LT/C JD WALKER

WASHINGTON, D.C.

OUR NEW IN AIR RADAR TECHNOLOGY WILL ALLOW US TO FIGHT THE GERMANS IN THE DARK PERIOD  

GERMANS ARE DESPERATE FOR THIS INFORMATION SO WE MUST DEFLECT THEIR ATTENTION  PERIOD 

WE HAVE COME UP WITH TWO EXPLANATIONS FOR THE SUCCESSFUL RETALIATION AGAINST GERMAN NIGHT STRIKES   PERIOD  

ONE POTENTIAL IDEA IS THAT AN INCREASED CONSUMPTION OF CARROTS HAS IMPROVED THE NIGHT EYESIGHT OF BRITISH AND AMERICAN PILOTS PERIOD 

THE SECOND IDEA IS THAT A SPECIAL RIVER RUNS THROUGH ENGLANDS NORTHERN ISLES AND HAS IMPROVED THE VITALITY OF BRITISH AND US PILOTS  PERIOD  

PLEASE RESPOND WITH WHICH EXPLANATION YOU WISH THE PROPAGANDA OFFICES TO RUN WITH  PERIOD 

POSTERS ARE BEING PRINTED AS WE SPEAK AND WILL BE SHIPPED OUT WHEN YOU REPLY  PERIOD 

LT/C JC CHRISTIANSEN 

ADMINISTRATION 

MINISTRY OF INFORMATION

———————————————

WESTERN UNION

DECEMBER 1940 

RAF SQUAD LEADER JOHN CUNNINGHAM

STATION: EUROPE/UNDISCLOSED

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CAT EYES IN THE NIGHT SKY PERIOD 

SECRETARY OF WAR LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR REPORT ON HOW THE CARROT REGIMEN ARE PERFORMING AGAINST GERMAN AIR ASSAULTS  PERIOD

LT/C JD WALKER

SECWAR ADMIN

____________________

Dear Roy, 

Who are you fighting? Germans? Japanese? Mother won’t tell us much, but the radio says we’re taking on both of ‘em. I can’t believe we have been in school together all this time, but never spoke much before you enlisted. I know we were just getting to know each other, but I am glad we’ve decided to write while you’re gone. I will miss the twinkle of mischief in your eyes, though Mother insists that twinkle can only mean trouble. Guess I like trouble. 

I just started taking piano lessons from Charlotte Smith. Do you remember her from secondary school? She’s very loud. Father bought me a beautiful spinet, but says I must pay for it myself. (What a weird thought!) I do hope you are safe. Mother says we’re going to plant another row in the victory garden. Carrots, this time. PLEASE send me a picture of yourself, right now. 

Sincerely,

Nancy 

PS- Do they have any jewelry over there? Send some. Thanks. 

My dearest Nancy,

To your 1st question, can’t say, but the radio should say soon. I hope this war gets over with. The boys and I would have it nipped in six months, if it weren’t for the Big Money man. Hope to see some action before it’s over. Missing you. I am glad we’re writing too. Just our few times together have been some of my happiest. 

Haven’t seen one of those fancy photographers in a month, but I will try and get a picture when I can. Play some beautiful music for me, Nance. No jewelry stores open now, but if there were, I’d buy you the biggest diamonds a gunner could get. Heard carrots help the eyes and, boy, do these eyes sure miss seeing your lovely face. 

All my affection,

Roy 

Dearest Roy,  

Carrot souffle. Carrot cake. Carrot pudding. I’m getting really tired of carrots around here. Mother insists we must grow them. Carrot cake is actually good, though. I saw a poster in town that said carrots would help us see in the blackouts. I hope so.

They say our pilots are still bringing them down. Must be some divine favor from the Lord, ‘cause how else you gonna shoot down Nazis in the dark? 

Last week, the Germans bombed at night, and we lost sweet Georgie, from down the street. His mama still can’t get out of bed. Give ‘em heck, Roy. For Georgie. 

All my affection,

Nancy

PS- I’d say the other word, but mother will read this before it posts.

Hello, mother. Hope you’re well. 

My sweet Nancy,

Poor Georgie. He was a sweet boy. We lost a few of our men this past week. One of them was also named George. He was from one town over, don’t know if you know the Mason family? It’s getting rough around here, Nance. I live for your letters. Tell me more of what’s going on back home. 

The boys are losing hope, and maybe I am too. We managed to take the next mile, but what a terrible price to pay for a patch of dirt. I don’t know if hell is something you can give, but it sure is something we’re living in now. Humanity was so impatient for eternity, we just went ahead and created hell on earth. 

I find hope in remembering your sweet smile and your beautiful curls. Your heart shines true, above it all. Dreaming of home, Nance. Dreaming of you.

All my love,

Roy

Dearest Roy,

Mother says I should stop writing letters, but I won’t. She says it will only break my heart, but my heart was already broken when I watched that train take you away. I’ll write to you every week, til you come home. She says that any letter, or even a diary, could end up in the hands of the enemy. The posters in town say it, so I guess it’s gotta be true. 

Well, I say that the Germans can kill us, but the written word will go on. Ideas will go on, whether we die from a Blitzkrieg or whether we’re blessed enough, by the good Lord above, to live until old age takes us. I hope we can grow old together, Roy, jewelry or no. (I prefer jewelry, if I must say so.)

I’m keeping up with my piano lessons, and I’m learning all the classics. My teacher is loud, it’s true, but the lessons are a nice distraction from the bleakness of the radio programs at night. No matter what the radio says, I know you’re coming home. 

ALL my LOVE,

Nance 

Nancy, my sweet angel,

Please never stop writing. I swear I’ll eat a million carrots, ‘til I can see clear across the miles between us, just to get to look at your beautiful face again. You haven’t gone and married some conchie on the sly, have ya? I’d be surely annoyed if you did that and didn’t tell me. I want to write you romantic letters like they do in the books, but I don’t know if I’m as slick as some of Jane Austen’s men. 

The news I can give you is limited, as usual, but I can say yes, we’re knocking them out of the sky. Even at night. I load them boys’ planes up with everything they need, and they fly through the air like the Lord’s messengers, bringing His righteous judgment right to their front windshield. It still feels like hell, though, can’t lie. 

I look forward to trying your carrot souffle when I get home, Nan. I’m determined to come home. Telling the boys stories, just to keep their minds busy while we wait. If you got any good stories let me know. 

I love you. That’s all I can give you for now, but it’s all I have and it’s all yours. 

All my love,

Roy 

PS – I found this parachute and have included it, with this letter. I don’t know that it’s the brightest white you’ve ever seen, but this silk can be made into a dress. 

Dearest Roy,

Your last letter and the silk parachute were a better gift than any gift I’d ever received. I pray for you night and day. Pray that this war will end. Pray that you’ll come home. Pray that I’ll see you getting off that train. So handsome and striking in your uniform. Better than any of Austen’s men, because you’re real. Because you’re mine.

I would never marry a conchie. They’ve all the right in the world, I suppose, to object to the war. But I suppose I also have the right to object to marrying any of them. Not that anyone has asked.

And I certainly would never do anything on the sly. Momma says whatever you put in the dark, the Lord brings out into the light, whether you want Him to or not. I’m glad He’s bringing some light in the darkness where you are, even if it’s just the bright eyes of the pilots in the sky. 

You tell those boys the greatest love story there’s ever been. Roy and Nancy. Star crossed lovers from a rural town, who were just starting to notice each other when a war ripped them apart. Tell them about their bravery, both on the warfront and at home. Tell them about how Roy pined for Nancy while he was listening to bombs in a foxhole. Tell them about how Nancy listened to songs on the radio that reminded her of Roy and how one of them will be their first dance at their wedding. 

Tell them the women aren’t wearing stockings anymore, I bet they’ll get a real kick outta that. 

All my love, forever, 

Nancy 

My dearest Roy,

I haven’t heard from you in a couple of weeks. Feels like months to me. What’s a girl to do when she’s waiting on a letter from the love of her life. There. I said it. This war don’t leave time for anybody to mince words. You’re the love of my life, Roy, and I don’t care if my mother reads it before putting it in the post. 

The postman was delayed last week, and I nearly throttled him. He got a few choice words from me, that’s for sure. Mother says it’s not lady-like, but who’s got time for conventions when love is on the line. Please write soon. 

I don’t have much news here at home. Tending the garden. Added another row of carrots, since they’re so popular right now. I have included some new books and some dried jerky the neighbor brought over, it’ll keep no matter the weather, he says. I have also included a new picture of me. You’ll notice I’m wearing a silk dress. That parachute was a God send. And so are you, my darling. Cheer up and don’t worry about me! Please write soon. 

All my love,

Nancy 

Roy,

It’s been months now, with no word from you. I sometimes stand in the train station, watching for the uniforms to come through with bad news, worried they’ll go to your mother’s house. None have come, thankfully. 

If we are to part from here, I pray it is only because you’ve taken up with some other lover, and not that you have abandoned me to this earth alone, my darling. I’m not sure which would devastate me more, but I know I wouldn’t choose either if it were up to me. I would choose for us to be wed under the light of the sun, and to be out of this intrepid, eternal night that is war. Hell on earth, indeed. 

Please write soon. 

All my love, even now,

Nancy

Roy,

Where have you gone, my dearest? I fear the worst. I went to your house and spoke to your mother and father. I saw your sweet grandmother, and visited with your precious younger siblings. What a precious family you have. I pray we'll all be together soon, but I hope to be wearing white, not black.

I'll wait for you,

Nancy

Nancy, my greatest love,

Please forgive me. I was unable to write for a few months while we were on the move. The postman here was also delayed and the boys and I had a good talk with him. He’ll be hasty with footsteps from now on. 

The enemy has surrendered and we’re being processed to go home! I told you we’d win this war, Nance! Never doubted it for a second. I’ll send word as soon as I know more details. It seems so weird to say that we are coming home, but WE ARE COMING HOME. 

These past few months have been excruciating pits of torment without new letters from you. Only your picture, all your past letters, and the grace of the great Lord above have seen me through. 

When I get home, Nance, will you wear that beautiful silk dress and marry me in the chapel in town? I know we’ve only been writing for a year, but I feel like our souls are meant to be together.

Awaiting your reply, with all my love, and my hopes laid bare,

Roy

Dearest Roy,

I will. 

See you at the train station. 

Your future wife,

Nancy 

_________

WESTERN UNION

MARCH 1944

SECWAR BY WAY OF LT/C JD WALKER

WASHINGTON, D.C.

IT IS MY HIGHEST HONOR TO REPORT THE CARROT REGIMEN EFFECTIVE AGAINST ENEMY ASSAULTS PERIOD  

NINETEEN GERMAN AIRCRAFTS TAKEN DOWN AT NIGHT PERIOD

RAF SQ/L J CAT EYES CUNNINGHAM