Dutchie Darling . . . Love, Bob

A Love Story
© 2021 Patricia Jean Patten Evans
All rights reserved

This website is a collection of over 500 letters written by my father, Robert, to my mother, Jean between 1942 and 1945. The letters begin as my father is completing his sophomore year of college and going home to join the Army. They continue until the after the completion of WWII. A group of beautifully written love letters, they serve to educate future generations on Army training, the Army's Student Training Program, the 75th Infantry, and the work done by the Americans to restore France after the war. Written by a young man to the woman he loves, the letters share his daily work, his dreams and aspirations, his political views, his family, and his frustrations.

Dedication My Parents Main Characters Time Line How to Read the Website

Section Dates Spanned Synopsis

Thank you August 16, 1942 to August 16, 1942 This is the first letter in the series of 518

Declaring his feelings April 12, 1943 to April 23, 1943 An emotionaly shy man, Bob writes beautifully of his love for Jean

Going to Cape Sable May 17, 1943 to May 23, 1943 Before going into the Army, Bob wants to see his grandmother in Nova Scotia

Waiting in Trenton for orders June 01, 1943 to June 23, 1943 Bob goes home to New Jersey to await his induction into the Army

Induction at Fort Dix July 02, 1943 to July 15, 1943 After waiting a month, Bob is finally inducted at Fort Dix

Basic Training at Fort McCellan July 16, 1943 to October 16, 1943 Bob is sent to Fort McCellan for basic training, where he survives the hot summer

New York City College October 31, 1943 to February 25, 1944 The ASTP program was the largest college program ever sponsored by the Army

The Wedding February 26, 1944 to February 26, 1944 With one week to plan it, Jean and her mother arrange a wedding to be remembered

Back in New York February 28, 1944 to March 14, 1944 With only a 48 hour pass, Bob was back in New York at school quickly

Fort Polk March 21, 1944 to April 07, 1944 With the ASTP program ending abruptly, Bob is sent back to active duty

Preparing for war-Camp Breckinridge April 08, 1944 to October 31, 1944 Sent to Camp Breckinridge, he joins the 75th Infantry

Somewhere in Britian November 04, 1944 to December 06, 1944 With the war esculating, Bob's company is deployed to Britian for intense training

In Belgium December 15, 1944 to January 10, 1945 Sent to Belgium, he begins writing to Jean whenever and however he can. Some letters show the effects of the mud and snow

Hospital in Paris January 11, 1945 to March 09, 1945 Knocked unconscious by a bomb, Bob finds himself in a hospital in Paris

In Limbo March 10, 1945 to March 18, 1945 Disappointed to be assigned to a rear eschelon team, Bob spends a week in transition station

Assigned to 171st Labor Center March 25, 1945 to August 30, 1945 Finally assigned to rear eschelon position, Bob finishes out the war at a Labor Camp in France

Learning she is a girl April 03, 1945 to April 03, 1945 Bob waited very impatiently for more than a month to learn of his daughter's birth

V-E day May 07, 1945 to May 07, 1945 The war in Europe comes to a close

Outlining the Journey May 10, 1945 to May 10, 1945 Once the war is declared over, Bob can share with Jean the journey he has taken

Life after the War September 01, 1945 to November 24, 1945 After V-E day, Bob writes of all his plans for the future and their life going forward

Beginning the Next Chapter of Life February 26, 1946 to June 30, 1948 He finally comes home

The End September 02, 1987 to September 02, 1987