Hmm…that’s all I have to say. According to family legend, when Gladys received the letter telling her where Jake was she supposedly went into labor. At this point, she has received the first five letters. Unless she didn’t understand the code until some point later, the legend cannot be strictly true. There must be more to the story. Perhaps there was a newspaper article that implied more Japanese activity in the New Caledonia area that got her worked up.

But on the upside, we actually know what the projected due date of my father was now…

September 21, 1942 (V-mail)

Letter transcription:

9-21-42
Dear Daddy,

Rec’d two letters this morning, making five so far. Hope you have rec’d some of mine by now. I sent you 12 stamps. Let me know if you want more. It has turned cool here. I am keeping the heat low to save coal. Had a fire in the fireplace yesterday. The boys are back in school this morning. Mark is apparently normal again. I am going to have his tonsils looked at the next time I see Dr. Cole. I am planning to go down for a check this week if I feel like making the trip. I suppose any time now I will go to the hospital. Of course the time won’t be up till Oct. 8^th (two weeks more). Mother is going to stay until after I get home and can get along. Uncle Wes and Aunt Jessie are due to stop here sometime today. –They came and said Mom & Dad were both well. I read your letters to Uncle W. & Aunt J. They were so glad to hear from you. They will be writing to you. So many from here have written. I am sending all letters air mail. When you get them all you will have all the local news about.

Love Mother