[This letter was mailed two days before Woody was killed. But it was returned to sender because of the address. So Dorothy wrote a note on the back of the first envelope and then re-sent it in another envelope, which was also returned to sender. Donald Woodbury had placed himself out of reach of his family, which requires that his story be told in its own right some day.]
17 November 1952
Dear Don,
Suppose you had given up hearing from us again. We have
been thinking of you, but are just really getting settled
into living again, and finding time now + then for
correspondence.
Our Ann was born on April 18th (10 lbs + 12 oz.) She wasn't
yet 3 weeks old when we sold our possessions in Fla. +
moved to Maine first week of May. It wasn't a wise
selection of location in the North, though, as far as
employment is concerned. We spent 3 mos. up there looking
for a satisfactory job with no success.
Mo brother + sister-in-law had vacation last week in July +
1st week in Aug. so they came to Portland for us + again we
packed our clothes + few
remaining possessions and moved to Lima, Ohio - my former
home. Plenty of work here and Vic found a job right away -
nights, though, at Lennox Furnace Machine Shop. Spent days
looking for a day job while waiting for references etc. to
come through for job in a bank. Only 2 weeks at Lennox then
got a job at Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton (former Lima Locomotive
Works) which is making cranes, shovels, etc. now. And after
a month there his bank job came through, so he is now a
teller a The Metropolitan Bank of Lima, O.
We lived not a month with my sister + finally found an
unfurnished apt. Between relatives and friends we managed
to furnish 3 rooms with only refrigerator to buy.
It all constituted somewhat of a loss to us and expense to
your mother + Grammie + also to a couple of my relatives,
but we are happy to be out of the South. Mom + Grammie know
we gave Maine a fair try + although they may have wanted us
in Maine, they felt we should go where the work was. And my
folks are pleased to have us closer to them.
Never said much to the folks about you except that we had
heard from you a couple of times. They do like to hear from
you, guess you had written them around the same time we
last heard from you. They (Mom + Grammie) are
buying used clothing + reselling it. Not much in it for
them, but it's time consuming.
Nicki is in Boston, still in B Sanitarium. Vic got to see
her when we were in Maine. She has both TB + diabetes and
doesn't show much improvement. She'd probably enjoy a
letter from you. Her life is pretty much centered around
her fellow patients + the rest of the world is somewhat
distant now. Don't klnow if she'll ever be strong enough to
go home + renew a normal life. Her address is 198 Pilgrim
Road Boston 15, Mass.
Woody is in Korea. His wife had a little girl in July
(Brenda Joyce) Believe he saw her only once before he was
shipped overseas. Address is:
Pvt. Wesley R. Woodbury, U.S. 51127845
Hq. Co., 3rd Bn. 224th Reg.
40th Div., A.P.O. 6
San Francisco, Calif.
Our "kiddoes" are both growing. Ann sits alone, has 5 teeth
now. She's 7 mos. old. David recites several nursery
rhumes, sings some of "Jesus Loves Me", and what he isn't
eager to do, or learn about isn't worth talking about.
Naturally we think they are the best ever + being a father
you know what we mean/
Enough about us - imagine a lot has happened in your life
since last January. Dennis + Donna Marie? Your fiancee?
Insurance job?
Ever have a couple of days at a time off work? Any
transportation? Maybe you could drop in on us some
week-end.
Our transportation consists of a wooden wagon we pull Ann +
David in and we walk.
Vic is going to school on Monday nights (guess they going
to change days, though).
Commercial Law class under American Institute of Banking.
David is getting fussy. It's 8:30 + bedtime, so will close
or now.
Write when you can. You did promise to answer if we would
write.
Love,
Vic, Dorothy, David + Ann
[On back of original
envelope:]
Dear Don,
Will try sending registered hoping it reaches you that way.
Mom must have wired you - don't know if you rec'd. or not.
Since writing this we got wire - nothing else yet. Woody
was killed in action in Korea on Nov. 22. If this letter
reaches you let us know right away.
Love,
Vic, Dottie, David + Ann
Woody home page
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Brenda Woodbury