William A. Vandervort was living at Kansas City, Missouri, when he first wrote Mable Blanck in 1941. Mable was living in nearby Fall River, Kansas. He had just met Mable, through her sister Katie and Mable's brother-in-law Leonard, who lived in the area. Vandervort began a correspondence with Mable. When we next hear from him, he is married to Mable and writing to her at Kansas City. It is June 26^th, 1945 and Vandervort has already been in the military for almost 30 months, with the 892^nd Ord. H.A.M. Co. He has a San Francisco APO box as a return address, but is stationed in the South Pacific, as he describes taking medicine to keep the malaria down, and he sends his wife a piece of "Gook [sic] paper money." We find out that he is stationed in the Ryukyu Islands and later Okinawa.

Vandervort misses his wife, especially their intimate encounters. His sentiments are understandable given the circumstances but they would have rarely been expressed in correspondence of an earlier time:

                "I think I requested that large picture of my Lucky Strike Gal in my last letter but jut in case I'll request it again in this one. Say about that Lucky Strike description - I'd like to find out about that last part. It used to be true I know and how - but that's just dreaming material for awhile yet - wet too Damnit. Tonight would be a swell time too. Nice moon - boy and could I get romantic tonight...Better hurry up and send that other picture - I've about worn out those last two."

"You aren't just kidding when you said all you wo0uld do is keep house, raise a family and love your husband and keep busy. I think just loving your old man will take up most of your time for quite a while - to hell with the family & keeping house. There's going to be over 3 years of catching up to do that will take little time...the tent is up almost every morning."

"You will have to take it easy on me Darling - remember I'm a virgin all over again and have hardly seen a white woman for 3 years. But I can still see mental pictures of you that are wonderful such as losing the soap when washing your back. I can even see you now getting read for bed and can tell you each step you went through - I'll bet you think I'm silly don't you? But Honey memories are all I have had for 3 years. But I'm read for the real thing - and right now too....But I better quit talking this way or that tent pole will be standing up again. The Dern thing has been standing up every morning for quite a while, you are going to have to do something about it."

"I haven't received the package you sent yet but still hoping...And the wash cloths. You can wash my back with - that hasn't happened to me for a long time - would you still drop the soap? I'm looking forward to getting the pictures too but would much rather have the real thing to raise that old tent pole (which by the way seems to be up every morning - can you think of a good way to put it down?).

"You don't have to buy me anything for Christmas Darling, I think you know what would be the best gift for me. Just wrap it up in a black lace nightgown and man, will I ever be pleased with that present  - mmmmm!"

"I have some thoughts just before I go to sleep...Probably would burn this paper up. But those Damn wet dreams are too messy and hard on G.I. blankets. They better hurry up - I'm tired having the Damn things. Tell me something honey. I never thought much about it, but I am past curious do you gals have wet dreams? We even had an argument about it in the tent one night. Guess you will have to settle the argument - how about it? I know the dreams I have are pretty good - but, honey, you always seem to have just that black nightgown on - or nothing at all but silk stockings and high heeled shoes. Boy, such thoughts - seems that the tent pole is always up lately. And you'd be surprised what happens sometimes (in my thoughts).

In a final letter (October 31^st, 1945), he writes his wife:

"So honey, just hope we aren't disappointed. Better get that black lace nightgown ready - or do you still have that one? But it won't make much difference I guess - you've heard that old story I suppose. The guy said he was going to put fur on the bottom of his wife's nightgown - so she could keep her neck warm."

While he was stationed on Okinawa, they were hit by several typhoons, one in particular with 132 mile an hour winds that wrecked the camp. Vandervort, with 72 points is waiting to be mustered out of the service men with 80 point are already leaving. The storms have pushed the commanders to move the men off the island. Vandervort's last letter, dated October 31^st, 1945, tells of his transfer to the 14^th Infantry Regiment and his imminent departure to San Francisco, where he will then be sent to Leavenworth and mustered out.

Besides containing a discussion of their relationship and family news, the letters also contain much information concerning the war, camp life, the long waiting to be mustered out when the war is over, etc.  Most of the letters are more then 2 pages long, some at least 6 pages. Before the war ends in August of 1945 the letters are censored but after that his letters are more open. In fact in one letter written when the war ends he talks about a celebration they had sending up tracers. Says "Deadly too, though as they killed...." , the next part of the sentence is cut out of the letter, it being a reference to a soldier  who was killed, in an accidental "friendly fire" incident which the censors objected to.