Melissa F

There was a lot of work that had to be done, followed with many serious, depressed days. But through it all, we still managed to have our few moments of happiness. We nurses always had the soldiers to keep us happy. In return of helping them, we occasionally met a man that caught our eye. It was November 30, 1943 and I was still in Sicily. I had met a soldier that day. His name was Don Collins. There had been several men before, but they were nothing like him. He was a positive trooper with nothing but charm. I had taken him in when he got wounded. I cured him and everything. In return he had said to me “I am so grateful for your service may I return the gesture by taking you to the main hall for a coffee one evening.”
It was too good to be true. Don had been called away to serve in another country. This was difficult for me, but nothing unique. There had been other soldiers in my life that have done the same. This one was different. I had made him promise to write me as much as he could-he said he would. Every time mail had come in, I would sit there and watch my fellow nurse friends receive mail from their special someone. I however, received nothing. As the days went by, I thought to myself, maybe he was like the rest of the soldiers I had tried to keep in contact with or maybe something bad had happened to him. All these negative thoughts had filled in my mind. I knew from this moment on, I loved him.
The day finally came when Don had written me back. He apologized sincerely in his letter. When I was reading the letter, it made me miss Don. I had the clearest image of him in my mind. I pictured him standing in front of me, with his dark brown hair, glossy blue eyes, and his smile as big as it could be. I had replied to him as soon as I got the chance, in hope for a letter to return as soon as possible. The letters had started to come and go on a regular basis. I still to this day, have every letter that he had written to me. It was the only part of the war that I wanted to remember.
As the war had ended and we both returned home, we had to meet up right away. We had continued our relationship for several years after. Don had finally decided I was the one for him, and we had eventually got married. We’re presently living in Chaffey’s Locks. Our wedding was beautiful and many of our friends from war had attended. I was so happy to see Margaret recovered from the incident on September 2, 1943. We are currently expecting to have our first child in 3 months, I’m very excited!

- Elizabeth Walker