August 11th 1941

My dear Beth,

I cannot believe that you are alive, as soon as I read your letter I fell to my knees crying. I've missed you, your laugh, your eyes, your humor. I could go on but I know you have better things to do than read a letter from a man you're about to see again.

The war isn't over yet, but I'm not going to fight again because, and I think this will be quite a shock, I've lost my left hand. While I was in Germany my squad went through a minefield. I wasn't the unlucky one however, because three of my men lost their lives. 

We can finally be married after all this time, that is, if you're not afraid of a man with one hand. I never thought myself a pirate, but I'm set now. 

-James