Letter to Mother from U.S. Naval Midshipmen's School, 1943

Editor's Note: Glenn was selected with four other young men from Washburn University to attend Naval officers' training at the U.S. Naval Midshipmen's School in Chicago in preparation for military service in Europe. Training in Chicago meant that he would graduate from college in absentia in May of 1943. He wrote the following letter to his mother in honor of Mother's Day.

U.S. Naval Midshipmen’s School
Tower Hall
820 Tower Court
Chicago, Ill.

May 7, 1943

Darling Mother,

We got “liberty” tomorrow, to go down town, and I’ll try to wire you a Mother’s Day greeting. Since I can’t be sure how successful I might be in that endeavor, due to conditions with which you are familiar, I am writing you this letter.

I’m sorry I can’t be home with you this Mother’s Day – perhaps in another year I may be able to. We’ll hope so at least.
I don’t need to really remind you of how wonderful you’ve been to us all, or what we think of you, but I will take this opportunity to say a word or two.

You’ve had quite a time with us four boys, and we’re caused you lots of grief. I only hope that I, for myself, may be able to partially repay you, by doing the kind of things in the way, and being the type man you will be proud to call “your son.”

I am a man now, and should be well along the road. With this short interlude complete, perhaps I will be able to complete that job.
This school has put out about 9,000 naval officers in the past three years, of which only 50 have been killed, 100 more missing. The executive officer here, who may know many things we don’t, thinks we will be the last class to actively engage in this war. I hope he’s right.

The point I hope to make by that was that things are not, possibly as dark as they may seem.

Please don’t worry about any of us if we all have to put in some service. I certainly have confidence in my brothers to take care of themselves – they were brought up that way, and they’ll do themselves and you proud, too – they were brought up that way, too.

The Japs and Germans just didn’t know what kind of mothers we have, over there – or they wouldn’t have started this thing.

Keep the home fires burning, I’ll be rolling in there to see you, one of these days, with a little gold star and stripe on my sleeve (I hope). I hope you have a swell Mother’s Day.

All my love, your son,

Glenn