Photograph of Nancy Wooddell Thorton,taken about January 1944,
when "'Nan Dee returned from Panama" 1944.
She wears the olive drab service uniform.
Courtesy of University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
15 July.
Dearest Mommie
I am very bad. I did not realize it had been so long since I wrote. I am ashamed Mommie.
So much has happened. As soon as VE day a request for volunteers for C.B.I. (China, Burma, India) came out, I volunteered. (It was either CBI or Army of Occupation) and in a few weeks we were alerted and sent down to Southern France to a staging (Preparing) area. Since I arrived here we have been busy, life was different. We had the usual details to attend to and so mother the time has flown by. I did not realize until I received your letter yesterday it had been so long. I am sorry.
About this change mother - I am now with the 229 General Hospital. All the nurses are volunteers from hospitals all over France. I think it is one of the nicest groups I have ever been with - where we will go is not known to us as yet, but we will go some where either in the Asiatic or Pacific area, since that is where they will need the hospitals from now on. When this battle finishes mother I will come home, for good, but until such time as that, I am strong healthy and single I do not belong home. There is too much work to be done over here. When I will leave here I do not know. However dear when I do I will have a long trip ahead of me. You may not hear from me during the trip but don't worry we will be well cared for and safely transported to our next theater. I will write to you often until I leave.
Mother dear your letter to Harold was wonderful. Mommie you know me very well I am not ready as yet to decide who or when I will marry. When I do, I will tell you. I may marry Harold - I may not. There is so much as yet in this world that is undecided. I do not know now what I will want for my tomorrow - Harold is a very fine intelligent young man. In a way I love him but whether that love will last over years of separation I do not know. I wish I could talk to you. I don't want Harold hurt. If he wants to dream great things for tomorrow then let him. I am a realist I know how time and distance weaken even the strongest ties. He wanted to get married over here. I said that if we felt the same after the war was over and we had returned to sanity I would. Harold is very eager and very much in love. When the war is over, we will see - you see maybe I am being unkind I do not know. War does funny things to people. Harold's job mother is not finished he will spend a little time in the States then go on to the Pacific. There he will live in God knows what conditions. When you are far away from home, the life and comforts you have always had, in a world devoid of beauty, if you are a sensitive person, dreams of a tomorrow assume huge proportion. When reality is too stark it is pleasant and necessary to think of a beautiful tomorrow. Harold found me when he was tired and sick of war's destruction. In me he saw a tomorrow. He loves me with a love I am unworthy of, but would it be kind for me to destroy now that dream when I know that he will need it again. I do not know. Mommie maybe I'm being stupid and cruel I do not know. When the war is over and he returns to the States to his home family friends the things he loves the life he longs for then when we can spend some time knowing each other as we are in civil life he and I will be better able to know if we are truly in love. How can we tell now what is love and what is wishful thinking? How can we know now what tomorrow will be?
Well mother dearest, so much for that I know how hot Home is but where I am it is also hot, but I love it. You know my dislike of cold weather. Glad that the babies are all well cute and healthy. Watch them grow for me.
Take care of yourself mother dear and I'll write often although I promise that so frequently and backslide. I will until I am safely settled in a new theater anyway.
All my love dearest I miss you terribly, but when I do come home it will be for good.
'bye for now my dearest mom
Nan nee.
P.S. I am now a 1st Lt. Got my promotion July 1st about time eh?
Love
Nan
Dearest Mommie
I am very bad. I did not realize it had been so long since I wrote. I am ashamed Mommie.
So much has happened. As soon as VE day a request for volunteers for C.B.I. (China, Burma, India) came out, I volunteered. (It was either CBI or Army of Occupation) and in a few weeks we were alerted and sent down to Southern France to a staging (Preparing) area. Since I arrived here we have been busy, life was different. We had the usual details to attend to and so mother the time has flown by. I did not realize until I received your letter yesterday it had been so long. I am sorry.
About this change mother - I am now with the 229 General Hospital. All the nurses are volunteers from hospitals all over France. I think it is one of the nicest groups I have ever been with - where we will go is not known to us as yet, but we will go some where either in the Asiatic or Pacific area, since that is where they will need the hospitals from now on. When this battle finishes mother I will come home, for good, but until such time as that, I am strong healthy and single I do not belong home. There is too much work to be done over here. When I will leave here I do not know. However dear when I do I will have a long trip ahead of me. You may not hear from me during the trip but don't worry we will be well cared for and safely transported to our next theater. I will write to you often until I leave.
Mother dear your letter to Harold was wonderful. Mommie you know me very well I am not ready as yet to decide who or when I will marry. When I do, I will tell you. I may marry Harold - I may not. There is so much as yet in this world that is undecided. I do not know now what I will want for my tomorrow - Harold is a very fine intelligent young man. In a way I love him but whether that love will last over years of separation I do not know. I wish I could talk to you. I don't want Harold hurt. If he wants to dream great things for tomorrow then let him. I am a realist I know how time and distance weaken even the strongest ties. He wanted to get married over here. I said that if we felt the same after the war was over and we had returned to sanity I would. Harold is very eager and very much in love. When the war is over, we will see - you see maybe I am being unkind I do not know. War does funny things to people. Harold's job mother is not finished he will spend a little time in the States then go on to the Pacific. There he will live in God knows what conditions. When you are far away from home, the life and comforts you have always had, in a world devoid of beauty, if you are a sensitive person, dreams of a tomorrow assume huge proportion. When reality is too stark it is pleasant and necessary to think of a beautiful tomorrow. Harold found me when he was tired and sick of war's destruction. In me he saw a tomorrow. He loves me with a love I am unworthy of, but would it be kind for me to destroy now that dream when I know that he will need it again. I do not know. Mommie maybe I'm being stupid and cruel I do not know. When the war is over and he returns to the States to his home family friends the things he loves the life he longs for then when we can spend some time knowing each other as we are in civil life he and I will be better able to know if we are truly in love. How can we tell now what is love and what is wishful thinking? How can we know now what tomorrow will be?
Well mother dearest, so much for that I know how hot Home is but where I am it is also hot, but I love it. You know my dislike of cold weather. Glad that the babies are all well cute and healthy. Watch them grow for me.
Take care of yourself mother dear and I'll write often although I promise that so frequently and backslide. I will until I am safely settled in a new theater anyway.
All my love dearest I miss you terribly, but when I do come home it will be for good.
'bye for now my dearest mom
Nan nee.
P.S. I am now a 1st Lt. Got my promotion July 1st about time eh?
Love
Nan