Don't Forget I Love You

I cannot imagine what it must have been like to be in such a confused and vulnerable state, and just when you really needed the love and understanding of close family and friends, to be sent somewhere far away and unfamiliar. I do feel for the women who had to go through this painful ordeal.

This is the story of one of these women. Yes, this is a love story, but it is also an account of what life was like for an independent young woman in the early 1940's.

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In the summer of 1938, Mildred Runyan worked as a Nurse at the Decatur - Macon County Hospital in Decatur, Illinois. She had graduated from the Indianapolis City Hospital School for Nurses in January of 1935 and continued her education in Michigan where she received her Registered Nursing degree in June of 1936, at the age of 23.

Mildred, the oldest of six children, had often helped watch over her younger brothers and sisters. She was raised in a very small town in Indiana, the daughter of Edward, a farmer and coal-miner, and Mamie, a hard-working and caring mother. I believe she had a great desire to see and experience much more than could be found in the small country community where she was raised.

In August of 1938, Mildred met Dr. Wilbur Stuart Wood, who at the time, was a patient at Decatur - Macon County Hospital and was under her care. Dr. Wood was a prominent Decatur physician and Orthopedic surgeon and was also a member of the staff at the hospital. This was not the first time that Dr. Wood had needed medical attention. As a member of the 42nd (Rainbow) Division, 149^th Field Artillery, he was wounded twice while serving in France during World War I. His medical training had been interrupted by the war, and when it was over he returned to Illinois and completed his education. He served his internship at St. Luke’s hospital in Chicago. Dr. Wood had been raised in Decatur and had many friends and family there, including his father who was also a doctor.

Even though Dr. Wood was fourteen years older than Mildred, and was married with two children, there was a definite attraction between them. Their desire for each other must have been overwhelming for them to risk so much. If their affair was found out, not only would their reputations be ruined, but they could lose many friends and bring disgrace upon their families. Dr. Wood often traveled out of town on business and would write to Mildred. On some occasions he would write to her and they would arrange a rendezvous in a nearby town. In none of his letters is it mentioned that the Doctor would leave his wife to marry Mildred and I presume this was understood from the beginning of their relationship, though we may never be sure since we have only his letters to her.

216 E. 46^th St. N.Y.

May 22, 1939
My darling:

What did you think of my first letter? I discovered that a person could read through the envelope if he was curious enough to do so--that is why I am writing on the inside.

I got to New York about 7 o’clock last night by daylight saving time, and by the time I got checked-in at the hotel and had some supper, I was ready to turn in. Today I found this room about five blocks from the hospital I am visiting. It isn’t much but I don’t expect to spend much time here except in the evenings. The daytime is going to be well filled.

You know we never decided on the details of our meeting, so I will outline what I have in mind, and if it needs revising you will have time to write me here and let me know. I will try to get to Terre Haute by 4 o’clock Saturday afternoon and will look for you at the bus station. Wait for me there until 5 o’clock, and if I am not there by then, and you do not want to sit around, come back every half-hour until you do meet me. If I am not there by 7 o’clock, something unforeseen has happened to delay me, and you had better go to a hotel. If you can, let me know where I could reach you with a message. I could let you know if I found I was going to be delayed. I probably won’t be, though.

I am going to miss you terribly before those twelve long days pass until I see you again. You did give me a supply of kisses for the first week, but then you got tired, I guess, and quit. Now you had better have a lot saved up for me because I am going to want them badly. Just before I go to sleep each night, I lie there in bed and think how wonderful it is going to be when I can hold you in my arms again and hear you say "Stuart! You’re breaking my ribs! But I like it."

I surely hope you will have good reason to celebrate a week from Saturday. I want to find you cheerful and not blue, but I’d rather find you blue than not to find you at all. Whatever you do, dearest, don’t forget I love you.