Letters Home WWII (13) April 16 1945

Dad is telling his parents about Mum's breakdown and subsequent loss of memory.  Mum truly fell in love with Dad twice and they married 6 weeks later even though only some of her memory had returned.  I am struck by Dad's calm demeanor but then he was always very calm on the surface.  What he doesn't say in the letter was the lack of support Mum was getting from her parents.  Her father wrote to Dad alright but suggested he forget all about Mum as they were thinking of putting her into an asylum.  Today they would probably diagnose her complete memory loss as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD.  The reasons for her breakdown are in her book "Pavlovas to Popcorn".  It's available from http://www.frostmedia.com.au/ruthfrost/ and on Kindle as well http://www.amazon.com/Pavlovas-to-Popcorn-ebook/dp/B005E4WDBQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1329959664&sr=8-1 (I just had to get a plug in for Mum's book, her Australian War Bride adventure.)

Letters Home WWIi (12) April 4 1945

He's been away for 4 years.

Letters Home WWII (11) Feb 28 1945

Dad is beginning to prepare for Mum's travel to the US in this letter.  Things didn't go to plan as the rest of the letters will show.

Letter Home WWII (10) February 26 1945

Letters Home WWII (9) February 1 1945

Grandma sent these letters on to the rest of the family and I love that she made an occasional comment on them.  In this one she is appalled that her own children didn't know the spelling of her name.  Dad is also asking for more photos of his nieces and nephews.

Letters Home WWII (8) October 13 1944

The frustrations of being so far from home.  Dad is sure upset about something someone said back in Fort Pierre.  One can only guess now.

Letters Home WWII (7) September 30 1944

Mum tells me that the cake she sent Dad was not baked by her.  Dad didn't find out until after they were married that she didn't know how to cook.  Dad taught her how to cook or so the story goes.