26 letters written by the U.S. Navy seaman William M. Peters to his beloved girlfriend, Miss Eleanor Mary Brannan. The letters span from July 7th 1942, shortly after his enlistment in the Navy, until March 15th 1944. William and Eleanor were both from Baltimore, Maryland and William had been sent to boot camp in Virginia. The intervals between his letters, from the Naval base in Norfolk, Virginia were short, sometimes just a day apart. However, during his transition to San Francisco (and subsequent stationing in Kodiak, Alaska and Attu in the Aleutian Islands), the letters became further apart. William, or Willie as he often signed himself, adored his childhood sweetheart, Miss Eleanor, whom he lovingly referred to as, mostly, Sadie, Sade or simply Kid. He was a happy go lucky, and slightly workshy guy, who was very into his music, dogs and simply having fun. His careless attitude, though, soon got a knock, as the novelty of the Navy started to wear off and the reality and gravity of the war set in. The contact to his family, friends and above all Eleanor, were often what carried him. The simultaneous distance to them all, often what threatened to break him.Through his eyes, we see. Through his voice from the past, we hear. A first-hand experience of an everyday, average Joe trying to carve out a small piece of the American Dream, as it slowly, but surely, seems to slip through his fingers. His beloved Eleanor, somewhat more educated, refined and ambitious, had plans of her own. These plans involved the taste of high society, parties, yachts and big stone houses and through her job for Uncle Sam, she seemed to continually propel herself into the higher echelons of society, much to Willie’s dismay. His emotions range from loving, caring and playful to pleading, demanding, jealous and scolding. He pours his heart out on the Navy stationery, as he hopes for the war to be over and for his dreams with Sadie to become real. As an editorial footnote, it is important to understand that all the letters were subject to strict censorship (as clearly seen on each envelope) and as such, a lot of actions within Willie’s service as well as locations he is in, will not have been something he will have been able disclose in the letters. Indications are in some instances given, but from boot camp and onwards, only a San Francisco naval base post office address is provided. From later records, it is, however, a little more clear, at least where his company was stationed in Kodiak, Alaska and Attu in the Aleutian Islands (See Seabees Timeline in the back of the book).While this book is set within the Second World War period and seen from the perspective of a serviceman, it is first and foremost an account of two people, their love and hardship, the battle of sexes, isolation and long distance relationships. The war and a world in turmoil, act more as a backdrop than a focal point.Each underlined word in the e-book/pdf version of this book is a hyperlink to further explanation or exploration. All songs Willie mentions are also hyperlinked, so the reader can emerge themselves in Willie’s words, whilst hearing the exact songs he was listening to as he wrote the letters you’re about to read.