Part 5


November 14, 1944

J. C. Chasez
85 Jordan Avenue
San Francisco, CA

Dearest JC--

It’s been two weeks, and I find I miss you so much I can barely think straight. What have you done to me? I wonder. But then I remember your lips on mine, and I know…

We’re 10 hours away from #########. Our CO says we should get a few days off the ship, but then we’ll be headed out again, steaming west toward who knows where. There’s all kinds of rumors about this island or that island, but no one knows anything for sure and of course, the CO and other officers aren’t saying.

The mail boy is coming up to my bunk, so I have to sign off now. Please write back soon…please think of me often…please save your heart for me.

All my love,

Justin

***

December 1, 1944

Pvt. 1st Class Justin Timberlake
3rd. Marine Division
V-Mail Station 324oc3
San Francisco, CA

Justin~

Your letter came at the best time imaginable. I was so blue, so sad, having said goodbye to you exactly one month ago and missing you so much it hurt. But then I came home and found your letter and knew, again, that you loved me, and that made your absence a bit easier to bear.

Life here is the same. Work is fine; the boys come and go with the ships and trains. Marge smiles at me when I gaze at your empty chair at the bar, squeezing me on the shoulder to cheer me up and tells me to buck up, you’ll come home soon. I can only agree with her before leaving the club and climbing the stairs to my lonely bed. There, I lay for hours, thinking of your touch, thinking of our night, thinking of when we’re together again.

I miss you.

JC

***

January 3, 1945

J. C. Chasez
85 Jordan Avenue
San Francisco, CA

Dearest JC—

Happy New Year! I hope yours was spent well, though not too well, if you know what I mean! We had a party on board. The island we stopped at last week where our supply officer managed to get quite a few cases of beer. It was flat and warm but enough to give everyone a slight buzz and a feeling of happiness.

The days are full of training and recon. Our CO says # ### #### ## ####### ### ### ### ###, ######## ##### “### ### ###### #####” he says. What that could be is still unknown. But we’re as ready as can be, whatever it might be.

Reading back, I realize I haven’t told you I love you yet in this letter. Forgive me, JC, please…I love you. And I miss you. I lay in my bunk at night, remembering your touch, your laugh, your smile, your adorable blushes. And I realize how much I miss you, how much I love you, how much I cannot wait until we are together again.

The Chaplain called me into his cabin today. He’d been going over our battalion’s records and noticed that when I’d enlisted, I hadn’t put down a next of kin. He wondered if that had changed, since I’d been in the service six months now. I realized it had, and put you down. So if you’re having second…or third…or fourth thoughts about us, forget them. You’re stuck with me now, and according to the US Marine Corps, its official.

I love you.

Justin.

***

February 15, 1945

Pvt. 1st Class Justin Timberlake
3rd. Marine Division
V-Mail Station 324oc3
San Francisco, CA

It took almost six weeks for your latest letter to reach me, meaning you must be far, far from San Francisco. I have pasted a map of the Pacific on the wall facing the bed, and I look at it, wondering where you might be and wishing you back in my arms.

I found a job at that place I told you about, when we first met. Seems they’re so desperate for help right now, they’ll take even me! But I’m glad to be doing more, contributing to our eventual victory, so you can come home to me that much sooner.

I’m staying at the USO during the nights, too. Marge said she’d cry if I left, so I’m working there on the weekends. It keeps me busy, gives me something else to do besides miss you dreadfully.

Which I do, by the way. Miss you dreadfully. Your smile, your touch, your arms, your face, your tenderness, your fierceness. That last night…you scared me a bit, the way your power and strength enveloped me. But I knew I could trust you, knew I could surrender to you and our passion, knew you’d never hurt me.

At least, never hurt me physically. Because I have had second, third, fourth, even fifth and sixth thoughts about us, knowing once you come home it will be hard, so hard. Justin, have you thought this through? What our love could mean for both of us? Are you really willing to be with me? Because if you are…then I am too. Willing to be with you.

I love you. I miss you.

JC.

***

WESTERN UNION TELEGRAM

03MARCH1944

JC CHASEZ
85 JORDAN AVENUE
SAN FRANCISCO, CA

WE REGRET TO INFORM YOU THAT PVT. 1ST. CLASS JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE HAS BEEN LISTED AS MISSING IN ACTION AFTER ACTION IN THE PACIFIC THEATER.**STOP**THE MARINE CORPS WILL INFORM YOU WITH ANY DEVELOPMENTS AS THEY ARISE.**STOP**PLEASE CONTACT MAJ. THOMAS KINCAID, SAN FRANCISCO STATION, IF YOU REQUIRE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.**STOP**SIGNED, BRIG. GENERAL MALCOLM WALTERS, US MARINE CORPS.



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