On January 1, 1943, Walter writes from the U.S. Naval Hospital in Balboa, Canal Zone, that he has been in the hospital for two weeks and has been told that he needs six months rest. On January 8, he says he is leaving Panama and hopes he can stay in the Navy. Other letters during these years are either from or to Ella-May's sister, Lydia Vaughan of Orange, New Jersey or from George and Clara Potts of Los Angeles, California. These families are relatives of Ella-May.