Secret Code - Edward Gontarz, Sep 1943

Postmarked New Bedford Mass 12 Sep 1943 12 PM (Letter 2 in envelope)

HVKG 9, 1943

HFIVKRWV IZWRL

NB WVZJ MZB,

     DVOO SUJV R ZN ZTZRM R IVZOOB SLKV BLF WRWM'G SZEV ZMB GRLFYOV RM GSV OZHG OVGGVI.  RU BLF  WRW SVIVH ZMLGSVR LMV.  IVNVNYVI BLF HZRW GSV OLMTVR RG GZPVH BLF GL NZPV LFG ZOVG- GVI GSV NLIV RMGVIVHGRMT RG RH.

     VEVICGSRMT SVIV HVVNH GL YV GSV HZNV.  VCXVKG GSZG MLD ZOO GSV EZXZGRLMRHGH SZEV OVUG.  DSRXS NVZMH DV ZIV MLD ZOO ZOLMV.  YFG NZBYV MLG ULI OLMT.

     GSVIV ZIV IFNLMH ZILFMW GSZG GSV MZEB RH NLERMT RM LM GSVB NZBYV DROO SZEZ Z YZHY SVIV LM GSV RHOZMW.

     YFG, GSZG'H MLG GSV LMOB GSRMT.  R'EV YUUM SVZIRMT GSZG DV'IV ZOO TLRMT GL YU GIZMHUVIVW LUU GSV RHOZMW.  ZMYLWB GSZG'H SZW ZMB HVZ WEGB ZMW GSZG'H YUUM LM OZMW ULI LEVI GSIVV NLMGSH DROO TVG GIZMHUVIVW ZTZRM GL HVZ WFGB.  ZMW HL UZI RSZW MVZIOB HUEVM NLMGSH LU HSLIV WFGB. 

     NLMWZB NLIMRMT POHG DSVM NB ORYVIGB DZH MVZIOB LEVR UREV LU LFI YLBH DVIV GIZMHUVIVW LUV GL YLHGLM.  GSRH NVZMH HVZ WFGB.  RU R DZH'MG LM ORYVIGB GSZM R GSRMP R DLFOW SZEV YVVM LMV LU GSV VREV.  YFGZH OFXP DZH ZODZBH DRGS NV.  R NZBYV TLG Z UVD NLIS DVVRH LI NZBYV NOMGSH FMGRO GSV MVCG TILFK LU YLBH DROO YV OVZERMT ZTZRM.  NZBYV GSRH GRNV R'OO ZOHL YV LM ORYVIGB.  R SLKV.  

     YFG ML FHV DLIIBRMT ZYLFG RG MLD.  R'EV YVVM LFG DSVM RG DSH WZMTVILFH LFG RM GSV ZGOZMGRX.  MLD RG DROO LMLB YVZM LXVZM ZIFRHY.

     ZYLFG NB HUXLMW ORYVIGB, RG XLNVH LM GSV GDVMGB-URUGS R GSRMP.  YFG R'OO OVG BLF PMLD ZH GSV YZGV XLNVH Z ORGGOV XOLHSI.

     ZMW RV DV WL KZIGRXRKZGV RM GSV HL XZOOVW TIZMW KZTVZMG ZMW KLD DLD SLD XZM DV XZM BLF GVOO NV?

     DVOO MLD ZH R ZN TVGGRMT HOVVKRMT ZMW R MLD SZEV GL WVXLWV GSRH OVGGVI R'OO XOLHV MLD.  HVMDRMT BLD NB OLEV.

BLFI OLERMT

TIZMWHLM

VW

     Remember Honey, Don't give up it's very easy.  You have to make it out of course.  I only hope you won't be to angry with me for this. 

     You told me, "To make it as long as possible", so here it is.

See you in the next letter

EdG

sept 9, 1943 surfside radio

my dear nay,

well here i am again i really hope you didn't have any trouble in the last letter. if you did heres another one. remember you said the longer it takes you to make out a let-ter the more interesting it is.

everything here seems to be the same. except that now all the vacationists have left. which means we are now all alone. but maybe not for long.

there are rumors around that the navy is moving in on they maybe will have a base here on the island.

but, that's not the only thing. i've been hearing that we're all going to be transfered off the island. anybody that's had any sea duty and that's been on land for over three months will get transfered again to sea duty. and so far i had nearly seven months of shore duty.

monday morning last when my liberty was nearly over five of our boys were transfered off to boston. this means sea duty. if i was'nt on liberty than i think i would have been one of the five. but as luck was always with me. i maybe got a few more weeks or maybe months until the next group of boys will be leaving again. maybe this time i'll also be on liberty. i hope.

but no use worrying about it now.  i've been out when it was dangerous out in the atlantic. now it will only be an ocean cruise.

about my second liberty, it comes on the twenty-fifth i think. but i'll let you know as the date comes a little closer.

and if we do participate in the so called grand pageant and pow wow how can we can you tell me?

well now as i am getting sleeping and i now have to decode this letter i'll close now. sending you my love.

your loving
grandson

ed