Dearest Mother, Dad, Toots & R
I was glad to get your letter today saying that you got mine describing my meeting with Don. Congratulations too, on paying up the house—that is really something to be proud of.
Something very interesting happened again along the lines that great minds run in the same ditch or something like that—
Anyway—to get to the point—Last night I was thinking how nice it would make the whole house if the window in the breakfast nook were larger—I also thought about it this morning. And then, and then I read your letter saying you are going to make it larger. That is a coincidence.
Well, I am going to try to see Don tonight but I am not sure if I can stay very long as I am due back in the morning. I think my orders will be here tomorrow or so, so I guess I will be going to another California City for a few weeks. I think it will be Frisco. The ship I hope to get is the U.S.S. Clay. It is a flag ship, the same as Richards is going on.
Well, must sign off—
Love, Bill
Xcuse the lack of letters lately
Bill
Monday, May 17, 2010
5-27-1945
Dearest Mother, Dad, toots and R.
Well, I am back at A.T.B. again so I will drop you a line and tell you all about our weeks work. We loafed a lot in between landings—but, when the time came to land we made up for our time of leisure.
We didn’t hit any port all week and we sailed up by Catalina Island & out past there quite a ways.
Our big invasion was Thursday at San Clemente Island—about 40 miles out. We had rocket ships firing, ships bombarding, & planes bombing all day long—of course they were working inland when our boats hit the beach so no one was in danger. I didn’t hit the beach because I was control officer & merely sat on an LCI directing the waves as they left for the beach.
All in all it was really swell. Monty Richards & I were together most of the time so we quite enjoyed that. Ship-board life is really O.K. It is just like a hotel or something like that. There really isn’t much difference in this & ship life except that you can’t go as far. They have movies every evening—ice cream in the afternoon & candy etc. anytime.
I saw Gordie & last evening when we came in and he said he really had enjoyed his leave. Said he saw Dad & was glad to talk with him.
I was also glad to receive your swell bag candy & 4 letters, too. I am glad you had such good luck with bus reservations & even-though it was a hurried up get-away you made it was, nevertheless, best. Sorry you all caught cold while in sunny Cal. But, I guess the change of climate was too rapid.
Really, I can’t get over the fine time we had in those few days. And I am glad you came when you did. The, I thought I would leave in a few days—but now we don’t know when. However, it is still only a matter of days or very few weeks. But, it wouldn’t have done to put off your trip because things probably would heave turned out different.
I’m glad you heard from Don. And glad he is O.K. I’m sure he has seen plenty & it won’t be long ‘til he is back here for good.
I hope to see Bob again today. I was going to D.D. But my blues are in the cleaners & I won’t be able to get them out.
Well, excuse this scrawling but I am trying to write on my knee again.
Hope you are felling fine.
Love
Bill
Well, I am back at A.T.B. again so I will drop you a line and tell you all about our weeks work. We loafed a lot in between landings—but, when the time came to land we made up for our time of leisure.
We didn’t hit any port all week and we sailed up by Catalina Island & out past there quite a ways.
Our big invasion was Thursday at San Clemente Island—about 40 miles out. We had rocket ships firing, ships bombarding, & planes bombing all day long—of course they were working inland when our boats hit the beach so no one was in danger. I didn’t hit the beach because I was control officer & merely sat on an LCI directing the waves as they left for the beach.
All in all it was really swell. Monty Richards & I were together most of the time so we quite enjoyed that. Ship-board life is really O.K. It is just like a hotel or something like that. There really isn’t much difference in this & ship life except that you can’t go as far. They have movies every evening—ice cream in the afternoon & candy etc. anytime.
I saw Gordie & last evening when we came in and he said he really had enjoyed his leave. Said he saw Dad & was glad to talk with him.
I was also glad to receive your swell bag candy & 4 letters, too. I am glad you had such good luck with bus reservations & even-though it was a hurried up get-away you made it was, nevertheless, best. Sorry you all caught cold while in sunny Cal. But, I guess the change of climate was too rapid.
Really, I can’t get over the fine time we had in those few days. And I am glad you came when you did. The, I thought I would leave in a few days—but now we don’t know when. However, it is still only a matter of days or very few weeks. But, it wouldn’t have done to put off your trip because things probably would heave turned out different.
I’m glad you heard from Don. And glad he is O.K. I’m sure he has seen plenty & it won’t be long ‘til he is back here for good.
I hope to see Bob again today. I was going to D.D. But my blues are in the cleaners & I won’t be able to get them out.
Well, excuse this scrawling but I am trying to write on my knee again.
Hope you are felling fine.
Love
Bill
5-21-1945 Sunday
Dearest Mother, Daddy, Toots & Rhods,
It was surely grand to talk to you all again tonight. But, sorry to hear Shirl has been feeling “punk” –since San Diego
Please don’t feel bad about missing me tues—of course it would have been nice seeing you all for a minute then, but, everything else worked out so “perfect” that we must expect a little bum luck. No kidding, I never will get over what a swell time we had & I hope that soon (after the war of course) we will have a heck of a lot more.
La Mont & I will be on the same ship for maneuvers so we should all come along & see what we do but I guess that is impossible.
Please don’t worry about Don again You all know by now what the mail situation is.
Yes, I spent the Day with Bob. He is a good guy & we had a good time. We came out to my base to see a radio show & then ate in & town & saw San Diego.
Well, perhaps you are getting tired of reading this as I am trying to write on the edge of my knee & it isn’t too stable.
I hope Shirl doesn’t miss too much school & that she feels very well soon—pronto!
I am still enjoying my work as I always have done & I am sure Don enjoys his, too, just as much. So while we work, learn, & enjoy it please don’t you guys worry excessively. We both know—Don & I that we are protected & we both have the required amount of “faith” to back us up.
Best of Love
Willie
xxxoooxxx
It was surely grand to talk to you all again tonight. But, sorry to hear Shirl has been feeling “punk” –since San Diego
Please don’t feel bad about missing me tues—of course it would have been nice seeing you all for a minute then, but, everything else worked out so “perfect” that we must expect a little bum luck. No kidding, I never will get over what a swell time we had & I hope that soon (after the war of course) we will have a heck of a lot more.
La Mont & I will be on the same ship for maneuvers so we should all come along & see what we do but I guess that is impossible.
Please don’t worry about Don again You all know by now what the mail situation is.
Yes, I spent the Day with Bob. He is a good guy & we had a good time. We came out to my base to see a radio show & then ate in & town & saw San Diego.
Well, perhaps you are getting tired of reading this as I am trying to write on the edge of my knee & it isn’t too stable.
I hope Shirl doesn’t miss too much school & that she feels very well soon—pronto!
I am still enjoying my work as I always have done & I am sure Don enjoys his, too, just as much. So while we work, learn, & enjoy it please don’t you guys worry excessively. We both know—Don & I that we are protected & we both have the required amount of “faith” to back us up.
Best of Love
Willie
xxxoooxxx
5-1-1945
Dearest Mother, Dad, Shirl & R.
This is another Tuesday and it is really nice outside. It was quite foggy over the week-end but it is clear now.
I received your letter with the check-book in it and thanks very much. I will also send that other $100 as soon as I get it & you can deposit it too.
Well, over the week-end I didn’t do very much –I had the duty so I just stood watch.
Today Gordie T. is shoving off for home. He is flying and will get there tomorrow morning. He is going to buzz out and see you so you can expect him anytime. He is a purty nice fellow.
I am going to try to get up to L.A. again this coming week-end I would like to get up there a couple more times before I shove off.
I really had a good time last night--& I didn’t spend a cent for it. Gordie met me at 1730 on Fifth St. pier after my watch and we walked up town and saw a “Flika.” On the way back we hard a lot of sour music & stopped to see what it was—we saw a bunch of holy rollers really having a big time. They were trying to save everyone & were really having a big time. We watched it for about 20 minutes & then caught the liberty boat for A.T.B.
Thanks for sending my green jacket—it will come in handy.
I hope you are all O.K. & that you are having good weather now.
Love
Bill
This is another Tuesday and it is really nice outside. It was quite foggy over the week-end but it is clear now.
I received your letter with the check-book in it and thanks very much. I will also send that other $100 as soon as I get it & you can deposit it too.
Well, over the week-end I didn’t do very much –I had the duty so I just stood watch.
Today Gordie T. is shoving off for home. He is flying and will get there tomorrow morning. He is going to buzz out and see you so you can expect him anytime. He is a purty nice fellow.
I am going to try to get up to L.A. again this coming week-end I would like to get up there a couple more times before I shove off.
I really had a good time last night--& I didn’t spend a cent for it. Gordie met me at 1730 on Fifth St. pier after my watch and we walked up town and saw a “Flika.” On the way back we hard a lot of sour music & stopped to see what it was—we saw a bunch of holy rollers really having a big time. They were trying to save everyone & were really having a big time. We watched it for about 20 minutes & then caught the liberty boat for A.T.B.
Thanks for sending my green jacket—it will come in handy.
I hope you are all O.K. & that you are having good weather now.
Love
Bill
4-21-1945
Dearest All;
Well, how are you doing by now? I hope you are all O.K. and that you aren’t mad at me for not writing very often—I know I should but I am so tired when I get finished every day that I just forget about it—it seems. However we will have a little less work from here on out so I will catch up with my writing.
We were out in the boats all day yesterday but it was cloudy and quite choppy so it wasn’t such a good day. We practiced coming alongside large ships which is sort of hard in a heavy sea.
I am glad you received a letter from Don—even though it was a short one.
I finally got my check cashed so I will enclose $400. I will send some tithing next week, but right now I want $400 in the bank all in one piece.
So Collins is in the Army Air Forces as an “air corps st.” The reason I accentuate the air corps is that there is a distinction between an army officer and a air corps officer. You see, here at A.T.B. we work with real Army officers from Infantry school at Fort Benning and West Point. WE work with them and they are real officers. Not like those adolescents in the air corps. Perhaps I’m not an old man but I handle my crews as well as any of these guys.
I also went to our little meeting here at the base—there were 6 of us there but we still have a good little meeting.
I was going to L.A. again this week-end but the weather is working against me. It looks cold & cloudy now so I will go to Tijuana, Mexico instead.
La Mont is back from a training cruise aboard an ATA (attack transport) and we went to a show at the Del Coronado Hotel last night. There, in person, we say Admiral Wilkinson & many other big Navy men. They all hang out at that Hotel—it is really a beauty.
Well, I don’t know how much longer we will be here but it will be a while anyway—
Hope you are all very well, as I am. I am getting fat—
Love, Bill
Well, how are you doing by now? I hope you are all O.K. and that you aren’t mad at me for not writing very often—I know I should but I am so tired when I get finished every day that I just forget about it—it seems. However we will have a little less work from here on out so I will catch up with my writing.
We were out in the boats all day yesterday but it was cloudy and quite choppy so it wasn’t such a good day. We practiced coming alongside large ships which is sort of hard in a heavy sea.
I am glad you received a letter from Don—even though it was a short one.
I finally got my check cashed so I will enclose $400. I will send some tithing next week, but right now I want $400 in the bank all in one piece.
So Collins is in the Army Air Forces as an “air corps st.” The reason I accentuate the air corps is that there is a distinction between an army officer and a air corps officer. You see, here at A.T.B. we work with real Army officers from Infantry school at Fort Benning and West Point. WE work with them and they are real officers. Not like those adolescents in the air corps. Perhaps I’m not an old man but I handle my crews as well as any of these guys.
I also went to our little meeting here at the base—there were 6 of us there but we still have a good little meeting.
I was going to L.A. again this week-end but the weather is working against me. It looks cold & cloudy now so I will go to Tijuana, Mexico instead.
La Mont is back from a training cruise aboard an ATA (attack transport) and we went to a show at the Del Coronado Hotel last night. There, in person, we say Admiral Wilkinson & many other big Navy men. They all hang out at that Hotel—it is really a beauty.
Well, I don’t know how much longer we will be here but it will be a while anyway—
Hope you are all very well, as I am. I am getting fat—
Love, Bill
Saturday, May 15, 2010
4-19-1945
Dear Mother, Dad, Shirl, Rhoda, and Mr. Neil,
Well, perhaps you are wondering why I haven’t written for a few days—and really, I have no excuse. I just realized this morning that it had been a few days since I had given a report. However, I went to L.A. as you know, & of course Monday I was very tired—recuperating from my trip. Then yesterday we were in the surf all day making landings and last evening I went to mutual at Hillcrest Ward. They had a dance afterwards—and after that Johnny Stokes invited Gordie and I up to his apartment for some chow. He is married to a “wave” and they only see each other about 3 times a week—but still keep their apartment.
He fixed some bacon & eggs and salad etc. while Gordie and I played records. Johnny Stokes’ father works in the Post Office. He told us his father isn’t too good a Mormon but John shouldn’t be judged by his father –he is really a swell fellow. He is in the Navy and has been over-seas for quite a while. Well, after leaving there Gordie & I were very tired so we came home—and then this morning I realized how long it had been since I wrote—so here goes.
Well, I spent a very fine week-end in L.A. While there I attended Wilshire Ward and saw Mr. and Mrs. Sims. They invited me to dinner Sunday but I already had a date with some very nice people—whose son is stationed here as a seaman. After dinner However I went to see Sim’s and I spent all afternoon with them. They are very fine people & they invited me to stay with them any week-end.
I also called Mrs. Hollen—the Mother of the Ensign that called me up when I was home on leave. They also invited me out but I couldn’t find time to go. He is an Ensign and so am I—we both have exactly the same command. Any way he would be a fine guy to work under.
Well, after a very pleasant Day LaMont Richards called me & we went to the station—and Home to Coronado again—oh yes! La Mont was there too. Well, La Mont & I got very good seats on the very crowded train because his uncle is a passenger agent so we had a purty good trip. I didn’t see much of L.A. but I got my “Social Obligations” cleared up so I can see it next time.
Perhaps that all sounds mixed up but I hope you can make out the “point” of the whole thing.
I received a very nice letter form Shirlee Herzog today so I will have to devise some tactful Epistle and air-mail it to her—keeps up their morale you know.
Mother, you asked if Richards will dictate to me—heavens no!
He is an Ensign & so am I—we both have exactly the same command. Anyway he would be a fine guy to work under.
I guess you are wondering where that money is I was going to send home—well, it is right in my pocket but the bulk is in a check which I am having one heck of a time getting cashed. You see, I don’t get off in time to hit the bank & I haven’t the initiative to go into Diego in the evening—but, I will soon—very soon.
I think I have put on quite a few pounds since I have been here. The weather is so fine that it agrees with everyone—and then, too, we are in the fresh air so much different from N.Y.
I certainly wish all of you could see the things that are going on here all the time. It is really wonderful. I am certainly enjoying my work and I know it is all very fine and necessary.
I was so glad to hear that toots is O.K. and that her check up was 4.0 I think she worries too much –But really, there isn’t a thing to worry about. We are enjoying everything we do & learning a lot. I wouldn’t trade it for a million bucks and that’s no lie. I am sure Don feels the same way, too.
Well, Mr & Mrs. Sims send you their regards & so do La Mont & Gordie
--me too
Bill
P.S. wish I could help “youse” with the house cleaning, but I am trying to keep my boats clean.
Best of Love
Bill
Well, perhaps you are wondering why I haven’t written for a few days—and really, I have no excuse. I just realized this morning that it had been a few days since I had given a report. However, I went to L.A. as you know, & of course Monday I was very tired—recuperating from my trip. Then yesterday we were in the surf all day making landings and last evening I went to mutual at Hillcrest Ward. They had a dance afterwards—and after that Johnny Stokes invited Gordie and I up to his apartment for some chow. He is married to a “wave” and they only see each other about 3 times a week—but still keep their apartment.
He fixed some bacon & eggs and salad etc. while Gordie and I played records. Johnny Stokes’ father works in the Post Office. He told us his father isn’t too good a Mormon but John shouldn’t be judged by his father –he is really a swell fellow. He is in the Navy and has been over-seas for quite a while. Well, after leaving there Gordie & I were very tired so we came home—and then this morning I realized how long it had been since I wrote—so here goes.
Well, I spent a very fine week-end in L.A. While there I attended Wilshire Ward and saw Mr. and Mrs. Sims. They invited me to dinner Sunday but I already had a date with some very nice people—whose son is stationed here as a seaman. After dinner However I went to see Sim’s and I spent all afternoon with them. They are very fine people & they invited me to stay with them any week-end.
I also called Mrs. Hollen—the Mother of the Ensign that called me up when I was home on leave. They also invited me out but I couldn’t find time to go. He is an Ensign and so am I—we both have exactly the same command. Any way he would be a fine guy to work under.
Well, after a very pleasant Day LaMont Richards called me & we went to the station—and Home to Coronado again—oh yes! La Mont was there too. Well, La Mont & I got very good seats on the very crowded train because his uncle is a passenger agent so we had a purty good trip. I didn’t see much of L.A. but I got my “Social Obligations” cleared up so I can see it next time.
Perhaps that all sounds mixed up but I hope you can make out the “point” of the whole thing.
I received a very nice letter form Shirlee Herzog today so I will have to devise some tactful Epistle and air-mail it to her—keeps up their morale you know.
Mother, you asked if Richards will dictate to me—heavens no!
He is an Ensign & so am I—we both have exactly the same command. Anyway he would be a fine guy to work under.
I guess you are wondering where that money is I was going to send home—well, it is right in my pocket but the bulk is in a check which I am having one heck of a time getting cashed. You see, I don’t get off in time to hit the bank & I haven’t the initiative to go into Diego in the evening—but, I will soon—very soon.
I think I have put on quite a few pounds since I have been here. The weather is so fine that it agrees with everyone—and then, too, we are in the fresh air so much different from N.Y.
I certainly wish all of you could see the things that are going on here all the time. It is really wonderful. I am certainly enjoying my work and I know it is all very fine and necessary.
I was so glad to hear that toots is O.K. and that her check up was 4.0 I think she worries too much –But really, there isn’t a thing to worry about. We are enjoying everything we do & learning a lot. I wouldn’t trade it for a million bucks and that’s no lie. I am sure Don feels the same way, too.
Well, Mr & Mrs. Sims send you their regards & so do La Mont & Gordie
--me too
Bill
P.S. wish I could help “youse” with the house cleaning, but I am trying to keep my boats clean.
Best of Love
Bill
Friday, May 14, 2010
4-1945 (Monday)
Dearest Mother, Daddy, Toots, and Rhody and Brother Neil.
Today is really beautiful—the sun is really bright and the ocean breeze is really fine. You see, we are just a few yards from the water’s edge—so we hear the breakers all night. I surely am getting used to the ocean. I remember when I was scared stiff of those 15 foot breakers but now they seem like buddies to me—they should, we are in ‘em all the time.
I didn’t do very much this week-end. I didn’t even go to church—I don’t know why I didn’t but I slept in. We go to church every Friday here anyway. Boy, I surely wish you could spend a whole summer here at Coronado. It is the most beautiful place I have ever seen. There are palm trees all over, lilies growing wild and it is surrounded by the ocean.
I just hope Don’s ship come in here before I leave. CVE’s come in all the time and maybe his will be along.
The war in Deutschland is nearly over. But that doesn’t mean very much to us here. We still have the war to win in the Pacific. But, I guess it will be over much sooner now that we can concentrate on the Jap more than ever.
This amphibious work is really something. It is the most scientific of all the fighting units as you can see why it would have to be. Taking a whole army from ship to shore is quite a job and requires a lot of work besides months of planning and preparation.
Well, I hope you are all very well. I’m not sure how much longer I will be here. But it won’t be too long. Write and tell me when and if you are coming to San Diego. It would be best if you could come so that you would have a whole week-end—and the first week-end in each month is the best.
Hope you are all well-------
Love Willie
Today is really beautiful—the sun is really bright and the ocean breeze is really fine. You see, we are just a few yards from the water’s edge—so we hear the breakers all night. I surely am getting used to the ocean. I remember when I was scared stiff of those 15 foot breakers but now they seem like buddies to me—they should, we are in ‘em all the time.
I didn’t do very much this week-end. I didn’t even go to church—I don’t know why I didn’t but I slept in. We go to church every Friday here anyway. Boy, I surely wish you could spend a whole summer here at Coronado. It is the most beautiful place I have ever seen. There are palm trees all over, lilies growing wild and it is surrounded by the ocean.
I just hope Don’s ship come in here before I leave. CVE’s come in all the time and maybe his will be along.
The war in Deutschland is nearly over. But that doesn’t mean very much to us here. We still have the war to win in the Pacific. But, I guess it will be over much sooner now that we can concentrate on the Jap more than ever.
This amphibious work is really something. It is the most scientific of all the fighting units as you can see why it would have to be. Taking a whole army from ship to shore is quite a job and requires a lot of work besides months of planning and preparation.
Well, I hope you are all very well. I’m not sure how much longer I will be here. But it won’t be too long. Write and tell me when and if you are coming to San Diego. It would be best if you could come so that you would have a whole week-end—and the first week-end in each month is the best.
Hope you are all well-------
Love Willie
4-13-1945 (date difficult to read)
Dearest Mother, Daddy, Toots, & Rhoda; (& Mr. Neil)
I was glad to receive another letter, as usual from you today after a day landing thru the biggest surf we have had to land thru. It was really great sport trying to handle those boats in the ocean today. My face is as read as Elias Castle’s from the sun & wind & salt spray. However, I use some good face oil & it helps a lot—I hardly ever get a gad burn when I use it. In fact, I am getting quite tan!
Today while we were in the bay I had the disappointment of my life. You see, CVE 81 is here in repair base and while we were cruising along we noticed another CVE coming in from seaward. Well, I naturally strained my eyes for her and number & finally picked out an eight for her first. The second was quite blurred. Well, I thought that with #81 already in #80 was sure to come. (just hoping) Finally I figured out her number and it was #82—not #80. That shows you how probable it is that Don might tie up here. They come in everyday. I keep check with the CVE base and intelligence repairs, though, so I can tell when, if; he does anchor here. Maybe, I am too optimistic, but nevertheless, I like to be.
That was a very nice article in the paper about Don’s and my promotion. It was an especially good picture of Don.
I just came from a show here with LaMont & his very cute wife. He is a nice fellow and she is a bit conceited but O.K.
My room-mates are all down town so I am just kill time her until I “hit the Sack” .
I also saw Gordie again tonight He was going to pitch a baseball game for the L.D.S. team tonight—he is a very good athlete.
I am going to try to make L.A. this week-end. I surely hope I can get up there and take in Wilshire ward and all once again. Gordie goes up every week-end & attends Wilshire.
Well, I hope you are all very well and that Mr. Neil is O.K. Everything is fine with me and the war looks good!
Best of Love,
Bill
I was glad to receive another letter, as usual from you today after a day landing thru the biggest surf we have had to land thru. It was really great sport trying to handle those boats in the ocean today. My face is as read as Elias Castle’s from the sun & wind & salt spray. However, I use some good face oil & it helps a lot—I hardly ever get a gad burn when I use it. In fact, I am getting quite tan!
Today while we were in the bay I had the disappointment of my life. You see, CVE 81 is here in repair base and while we were cruising along we noticed another CVE coming in from seaward. Well, I naturally strained my eyes for her and number & finally picked out an eight for her first. The second was quite blurred. Well, I thought that with #81 already in #80 was sure to come. (just hoping) Finally I figured out her number and it was #82—not #80. That shows you how probable it is that Don might tie up here. They come in everyday. I keep check with the CVE base and intelligence repairs, though, so I can tell when, if; he does anchor here. Maybe, I am too optimistic, but nevertheless, I like to be.
That was a very nice article in the paper about Don’s and my promotion. It was an especially good picture of Don.
I just came from a show here with LaMont & his very cute wife. He is a nice fellow and she is a bit conceited but O.K.
My room-mates are all down town so I am just kill time her until I “hit the Sack” .
I also saw Gordie again tonight He was going to pitch a baseball game for the L.D.S. team tonight—he is a very good athlete.
I am going to try to make L.A. this week-end. I surely hope I can get up there and take in Wilshire ward and all once again. Gordie goes up every week-end & attends Wilshire.
Well, I hope you are all very well and that Mr. Neil is O.K. Everything is fine with me and the war looks good!
Best of Love,
Bill
4-12-1945
Dear Mother, Dad, Shirlee, & R.—Mr. Neil also
Well, tonight we are all very gloomy because of the President’s death. It surely came to us all as a shock—it seems that no one had even considered the possibility of such a thing. However, his plans were all known by his cabinet and if they do their part we will still have his plan worked out. No one can say that he wasn’t a great man because he was one of the greatest.
The war news, However looks very good and it seems like Europe is almost finished—next will be a full scale job on The Japs and I really believe they will scare out sooner than the Heinies.
Today we had instruction in beach markers, ship to shore movement etc. This is really complicated work but it is very necessary and interesting.
No, Mother, I am not sure how long it will be until we shove off. It won’t be less than a month & it can be 3 months from now.—most of them have been 3 months. La Mont is shipping over about the same time as I so we might go as far as Pearl together. He is a very nice guy but a little different than Joe & George.
I haven’t heard from Shirlee Herzog since I have been here. I wrote once & will try again. If the result is fruitless or even slow I will try another (girl not better) as you know I am not very interested in anything except you guys, the church, & the Navy. But, someday I guess I will find some Female Fuze, but until then I will feel content with my Landing Craft.
One Ensign, as I have probably said, is in charge of a whole wave of boats (9 or 10) and it is a real responsibility but it is much easier to handle than I thought.
I received 2 letters from you today. Glad you heard from Joe—will send his letter back soon.
Hope you are all as well as I—
Love Bill
P.S. Even though Don is in Pearl he may not be able to let you know as that stuff is TOP SECRET—I will try and find out.
Well, tonight we are all very gloomy because of the President’s death. It surely came to us all as a shock—it seems that no one had even considered the possibility of such a thing. However, his plans were all known by his cabinet and if they do their part we will still have his plan worked out. No one can say that he wasn’t a great man because he was one of the greatest.
The war news, However looks very good and it seems like Europe is almost finished—next will be a full scale job on The Japs and I really believe they will scare out sooner than the Heinies.
Today we had instruction in beach markers, ship to shore movement etc. This is really complicated work but it is very necessary and interesting.
No, Mother, I am not sure how long it will be until we shove off. It won’t be less than a month & it can be 3 months from now.—most of them have been 3 months. La Mont is shipping over about the same time as I so we might go as far as Pearl together. He is a very nice guy but a little different than Joe & George.
I haven’t heard from Shirlee Herzog since I have been here. I wrote once & will try again. If the result is fruitless or even slow I will try another (girl not better) as you know I am not very interested in anything except you guys, the church, & the Navy. But, someday I guess I will find some Female Fuze, but until then I will feel content with my Landing Craft.
One Ensign, as I have probably said, is in charge of a whole wave of boats (9 or 10) and it is a real responsibility but it is much easier to handle than I thought.
I received 2 letters from you today. Glad you heard from Joe—will send his letter back soon.
Hope you are all as well as I—
Love Bill
P.S. Even though Don is in Pearl he may not be able to let you know as that stuff is TOP SECRET—I will try and find out.
4-5-1945
Dear Mother, Dad, Shirl, & Rhoda; (& Brother Neil)
Well, perhaps I had better tell you of a very funny-yet good-experience I had last Sunday.
Well, I thought I would take in a little church so Sunday evening I looked for a church-I inquired around and finally a taxi driver told me he knew where the L.D.S. church was---so, I went there. Well, I went in and they were having a little fire-side discussion before the actual services. I sat down & started to listen to what they were saying They started talking about some delicate subject like the plurality of Gods or something like that & there seemed to be some who agreed with the speaker & some who didn’t. They began arguing back & forth & doing everything but calling each other liars. It really got heated—so hot that one person & her husband & two kids shoved off before the tide went out. Boy, I thought “what the heck is this church coming to”. And then I began to wonder if this was really a Mormon Church—I didn’t see how it could be, and yet they were talking about Joseph Smith the Book of Mormon, Pearl of Great Price, & Doctrine and Covenants. Well, I stuck out the session & then prepared to get out while the getting was good.
But, before I left a few people wanted to meet me---When they found I was from Salt Lake they asked me if there was a very large branch of the Reorganized L.D.S. Church back there. When I heard that I knew it was a mistake & I had ended up in the Reorganized Church.
So, that explained everything.
But, really, I have never seen such a lack of spirit in a place in my life. It was really terrible.
Well, this next Sunday I will find the right one and see if I can’t have a better time.
I am well & enjoying this place a lot. Thanks for mailing my uniforms. Gordie says to tell you hello.
I hope you are all well.
Bill
P.S. I expect to see Don’s carrier in this base soon, because they all come here at one time or another. There are 6 in now.
Well, perhaps I had better tell you of a very funny-yet good-experience I had last Sunday.
Well, I thought I would take in a little church so Sunday evening I looked for a church-I inquired around and finally a taxi driver told me he knew where the L.D.S. church was---so, I went there. Well, I went in and they were having a little fire-side discussion before the actual services. I sat down & started to listen to what they were saying They started talking about some delicate subject like the plurality of Gods or something like that & there seemed to be some who agreed with the speaker & some who didn’t. They began arguing back & forth & doing everything but calling each other liars. It really got heated—so hot that one person & her husband & two kids shoved off before the tide went out. Boy, I thought “what the heck is this church coming to”. And then I began to wonder if this was really a Mormon Church—I didn’t see how it could be, and yet they were talking about Joseph Smith the Book of Mormon, Pearl of Great Price, & Doctrine and Covenants. Well, I stuck out the session & then prepared to get out while the getting was good.
But, before I left a few people wanted to meet me---When they found I was from Salt Lake they asked me if there was a very large branch of the Reorganized L.D.S. Church back there. When I heard that I knew it was a mistake & I had ended up in the Reorganized Church.
So, that explained everything.
But, really, I have never seen such a lack of spirit in a place in my life. It was really terrible.
Well, this next Sunday I will find the right one and see if I can’t have a better time.
I am well & enjoying this place a lot. Thanks for mailing my uniforms. Gordie says to tell you hello.
I hope you are all well.
Bill
P.S. I expect to see Don’s carrier in this base soon, because they all come here at one time or another. There are 6 in now.
4-1-1945
APRIL
FOOL
Dearest Mother, Daddy, Shirlee and Rhoda;
Today being Sunday, Easter, “My Birthday”, and April First I fell “purty“! good! Thank you very much for the nice card—it came yesterday.
So far all we have done to celebrate my birthday is loaf—which is fine, as you all know. We slept thru breakfast and just got back from a wonderful chicken dinner.
Since I haven’t written you for a few days I will tell you what we have been doing—well, Thursday we were out on the water all day practicing landings in LCVP’s (Landing craft vehicle & personnel) They are only 36 feet long & carry 40 troops. The crew is 4 enlisted men & one ensign commands 9 boats so you see there is a lot to do. However, they are easy to catch on to, but it takes much practice for landing right. I did “purty” good & had a lot of fun.
Friday I went to L.D.S. services here on the base. There were only 10 of us there—LaMont Richards and I were the only officers besides the chaplain who is also L.D.S. It is really nice when you can do things like that. LaMont is the President & I guess they will make me his counselor. Gordie Tregeagle is also a regular attender but he wasn’t there for some reason Friday.
Boy, you can’t imagine how interesting it is on this station. There is so much doing that it keeps you busy watching it all.
We also have regular classes here in Leadership, lines & tackle, seamanship, & the regular line of stuff so you see my education keeps building up.
I received a letter from Don yesterday in which he said he was well & wished me a happy birthday. He said he was still in port and enjoying it.
You are probably interested in the type of duty we get out of here—well it will probably be aboard an AKA as officer in charge of boats. It is a very good job and very interesting.
From here we go to another such base in Pearl Harbor & we don’t know how long we will be there. It is all a very good deal & I am really pleased with the whole set-up
Well, I was surely sorry to hear that toots was feeling sick again—Tell here to get well quick so she can come to San Diego. I will write & let you know when it would be best to come if you still feel you want to—the transportation is bad but I guess you can make it. Write & tell me if you are still interest in coming to crowded Diego—would surely like you to come.
Well, thank you all for being so good to such a bad boy for the last 20 years and thanks ever so much for being my Mother, Father, & Sister, and I appreciate all you have done for me—I just hope I can live up to your expectations and maybe even make a success of myself in the future—But, seriously, I hope you all realize how much Don & I think of you & Love you ---
Best of Love,
Bill
P.S. Germany will fold up in a few weeks & It looks like Japan will too. At least all of the big officers her thing so.
Bill
B.O.Q.—A.T.B Coronada
San Diego 55 Calif
FOOL
Dearest Mother, Daddy, Shirlee and Rhoda;
Today being Sunday, Easter, “My Birthday”, and April First I fell “purty“! good! Thank you very much for the nice card—it came yesterday.
So far all we have done to celebrate my birthday is loaf—which is fine, as you all know. We slept thru breakfast and just got back from a wonderful chicken dinner.
Since I haven’t written you for a few days I will tell you what we have been doing—well, Thursday we were out on the water all day practicing landings in LCVP’s (Landing craft vehicle & personnel) They are only 36 feet long & carry 40 troops. The crew is 4 enlisted men & one ensign commands 9 boats so you see there is a lot to do. However, they are easy to catch on to, but it takes much practice for landing right. I did “purty” good & had a lot of fun.
Friday I went to L.D.S. services here on the base. There were only 10 of us there—LaMont Richards and I were the only officers besides the chaplain who is also L.D.S. It is really nice when you can do things like that. LaMont is the President & I guess they will make me his counselor. Gordie Tregeagle is also a regular attender but he wasn’t there for some reason Friday.
Boy, you can’t imagine how interesting it is on this station. There is so much doing that it keeps you busy watching it all.
We also have regular classes here in Leadership, lines & tackle, seamanship, & the regular line of stuff so you see my education keeps building up.
I received a letter from Don yesterday in which he said he was well & wished me a happy birthday. He said he was still in port and enjoying it.
You are probably interested in the type of duty we get out of here—well it will probably be aboard an AKA as officer in charge of boats. It is a very good job and very interesting.
From here we go to another such base in Pearl Harbor & we don’t know how long we will be there. It is all a very good deal & I am really pleased with the whole set-up
Well, I was surely sorry to hear that toots was feeling sick again—Tell here to get well quick so she can come to San Diego. I will write & let you know when it would be best to come if you still feel you want to—the transportation is bad but I guess you can make it. Write & tell me if you are still interest in coming to crowded Diego—would surely like you to come.
Well, thank you all for being so good to such a bad boy for the last 20 years and thanks ever so much for being my Mother, Father, & Sister, and I appreciate all you have done for me—I just hope I can live up to your expectations and maybe even make a success of myself in the future—But, seriously, I hope you all realize how much Don & I think of you & Love you ---
Best of Love,
Bill
P.S. Germany will fold up in a few weeks & It looks like Japan will too. At least all of the big officers her thing so.
Bill
B.O.Q.—A.T.B Coronada
San Diego 55 Calif
Thursday, May 13, 2010
3-24-1945
B.O.Q.—A.T.B Coronada
San Diego 55 Calif
Dearest Mother, Dad, Toot, & Rhoda:
Well this is our second day and I can say that so far this is an OK. life. The food is marvelous—and we eat off of the plates etc. just like civilized people.
I went to see Gordie & rie geigle but he wasn’t in at the time—I’ll try again today. It looks like we will be here about 3 months so that is longer than we expected. The training won’t be very difficult but it will be interesting. We have every type of ship here you want and it really is fascination to watch them.
I still can’t get over the wonderful time I had home last week—no kidding, it was wonderful. I just wish everyone could have as good a leave.
This is a very beautiful spot and the weather is fine. A lot of sun shine and cool winds.
We have another chance to go into the air corps if we want but none of us seem to very “hot” on the idea. All of my room-mates are es-V5ers so the air Corps. is well represented here. One of my friends even has his wings but he was grounded for hedge-hopping.
I was disappointed in San Diego as a city—it is quite lousy and dirty. But if you want to come down some-time I’m sure you would enjoy it. I’ll look into the housing situation and let you know.
I hope all is well with you.
Everything is O.K. here---------
Love to you all ------
Bill
San Diego 55 Calif
Dearest Mother, Dad, Toot, & Rhoda:
Well this is our second day and I can say that so far this is an OK. life. The food is marvelous—and we eat off of the plates etc. just like civilized people.
I went to see Gordie & rie geigle but he wasn’t in at the time—I’ll try again today. It looks like we will be here about 3 months so that is longer than we expected. The training won’t be very difficult but it will be interesting. We have every type of ship here you want and it really is fascination to watch them.
I still can’t get over the wonderful time I had home last week—no kidding, it was wonderful. I just wish everyone could have as good a leave.
This is a very beautiful spot and the weather is fine. A lot of sun shine and cool winds.
We have another chance to go into the air corps if we want but none of us seem to very “hot” on the idea. All of my room-mates are es-V5ers so the air Corps. is well represented here. One of my friends even has his wings but he was grounded for hedge-hopping.
I was disappointed in San Diego as a city—it is quite lousy and dirty. But if you want to come down some-time I’m sure you would enjoy it. I’ll look into the housing situation and let you know.
I hope all is well with you.
Everything is O.K. here---------
Love to you all ------
Bill
Friday, May 7, 2010
11-8-1944
(Ansbury Park, N.J.)
Dearest Mother, Dad, Shirlee, & Rhoda;
I hope you will excuse it if I haven’t written for a day or so, but I have really been on a “fouled up” schedule. I have a watch that is 4 hours on duty and eight hours off—in the eight hours off we have to sleep, eat, clean up, and everything else. It isn’t a hard watch or anything but just clumsy. I stand from 4 P.M to 8 P.M. and from 4 A.M. until 8 A.M. My watch is on he boardwalk along the beach. It is really beautiful to watch the ocean at night and in the morning. It really gets cold out there, too, but you should see the clothing they issue us. It is heavy canvas cover-alls and coats lines with an inch of wool & cotton with a fur collar. We also have heavy mittens, 7 hats with ear pieces that buckle under the chin. When you get all of that on you really are warm.
I don’t know as yet when we will ship out but I guess it will be a while yet. We have no idea where we will go but it will be East of Chicago, because there are no schools west of there.
I received another letter from Shirlee H. and she told me all about the U.of U. etc.
I also rec’d another letter from Don. He said he was getting along O.K. and that all is very interesting where he is and I imagine it is. I surely would like to be with him.
Well, I had better answer Don’s letter and a few others so best of Love and I hope you are O.K.
(This East Coast is Lousy)
Lots of Love
Bill
How is the election going—I hope it is for Roosevelt. (I think, However it will be close
Bill
I forgot to mention that laundry I sent home. Send it to the laundry, Mother, don’t do it yourself because it is too much work. Please keep it “all” at home because I won’t need it. I will also send some more “clean” gear so you can shove it all in that sea-bag and just leave it.
Well, lots of Love again
Bill
Dearest Mother, Dad, Shirlee, & Rhoda;
I hope you will excuse it if I haven’t written for a day or so, but I have really been on a “fouled up” schedule. I have a watch that is 4 hours on duty and eight hours off—in the eight hours off we have to sleep, eat, clean up, and everything else. It isn’t a hard watch or anything but just clumsy. I stand from 4 P.M to 8 P.M. and from 4 A.M. until 8 A.M. My watch is on he boardwalk along the beach. It is really beautiful to watch the ocean at night and in the morning. It really gets cold out there, too, but you should see the clothing they issue us. It is heavy canvas cover-alls and coats lines with an inch of wool & cotton with a fur collar. We also have heavy mittens, 7 hats with ear pieces that buckle under the chin. When you get all of that on you really are warm.
I don’t know as yet when we will ship out but I guess it will be a while yet. We have no idea where we will go but it will be East of Chicago, because there are no schools west of there.
I received another letter from Shirlee H. and she told me all about the U.of U. etc.
I also rec’d another letter from Don. He said he was getting along O.K. and that all is very interesting where he is and I imagine it is. I surely would like to be with him.
Well, I had better answer Don’s letter and a few others so best of Love and I hope you are O.K.
(This East Coast is Lousy)
Lots of Love
Bill
How is the election going—I hope it is for Roosevelt. (I think, However it will be close
Bill
I forgot to mention that laundry I sent home. Send it to the laundry, Mother, don’t do it yourself because it is too much work. Please keep it “all” at home because I won’t need it. I will also send some more “clean” gear so you can shove it all in that sea-bag and just leave it.
Well, lots of Love again
Bill
Thursday, May 6, 2010
10-26-1944
10-27-1944
My Dear Bill—
We rec’d your dear letter which you mailed at Omaha and I suppose by this time you have just about arrived at your destination, hope you have had a pleasant trip and I am sure you did. We arrived home safely at 2330 after our short visit with you. Boy! It was good to see you. You sure looked fine and I am sure you are one of the finest little guys ever born. I am very proud you are my son. I am sure the next few months will be another grand experience for you and I am sure it won’t be long till you get your commission. Talk about a swell letter. I am enclosing it from Don—it came thru 5 days sent it right back won’t you dear. Boy! How I would like to be with him. I am finishing the driveway tomorrow, wish you were here to help me-but I’ll get it done O.K. Bruel is going to help me—take good care of my boy-and God bless you always.
Lots of love Dad--
Dearest Mother, Dad, Shirlee & Rhoda;
Well, we have spent 3 hours walking around Chicago—and what a dirty town. We got some good chow up town and then went out to the lake shore. We spent some time in the museum and the aquarium so we saw quite a bit. I also saw where Don was stationed—at the foot of Randolf street. It looked like a nice place. It was right on the lake shore & close to town. In fact we walked to it from the center of town.
We haven’t stopped very long in any place yet so I don’t know what the other places are like. We did see a little of Omaha but not too much.
As I said before, it was surely swell to see you in Ogden. We really enjoyed the cake and candy, too. I’m sorry Dad didn’t get that deer but maybe later on he will.
Boy, I would certainly hate to live out here. There aren’t any mountains at all—just flat plains. Hell, I would nuts living here long.
The news surely looks swell doesn’t it! The Japs should know by now that they can’t win but I guess they’re too dumb. Heck, if they sink many more of their ships they won’t have any Navy.
I talked to a radio tech who just came back from the receiving ship in the admiralty group. He said it wasn’t bad there at all. He said it is on Mosa or Mona Island. Some funny name like that.
Well, I had better go get aboard & go to New Jersey eh!
Hope you are as well as I.
Love Bill
My Dear Bill—
We rec’d your dear letter which you mailed at Omaha and I suppose by this time you have just about arrived at your destination, hope you have had a pleasant trip and I am sure you did. We arrived home safely at 2330 after our short visit with you. Boy! It was good to see you. You sure looked fine and I am sure you are one of the finest little guys ever born. I am very proud you are my son. I am sure the next few months will be another grand experience for you and I am sure it won’t be long till you get your commission. Talk about a swell letter. I am enclosing it from Don—it came thru 5 days sent it right back won’t you dear. Boy! How I would like to be with him. I am finishing the driveway tomorrow, wish you were here to help me-but I’ll get it done O.K. Bruel is going to help me—take good care of my boy-and God bless you always.
Lots of love Dad--
Dearest Mother, Dad, Shirlee & Rhoda;
Well, we have spent 3 hours walking around Chicago—and what a dirty town. We got some good chow up town and then went out to the lake shore. We spent some time in the museum and the aquarium so we saw quite a bit. I also saw where Don was stationed—at the foot of Randolf street. It looked like a nice place. It was right on the lake shore & close to town. In fact we walked to it from the center of town.
We haven’t stopped very long in any place yet so I don’t know what the other places are like. We did see a little of Omaha but not too much.
As I said before, it was surely swell to see you in Ogden. We really enjoyed the cake and candy, too. I’m sorry Dad didn’t get that deer but maybe later on he will.
Boy, I would certainly hate to live out here. There aren’t any mountains at all—just flat plains. Hell, I would nuts living here long.
The news surely looks swell doesn’t it! The Japs should know by now that they can’t win but I guess they’re too dumb. Heck, if they sink many more of their ships they won’t have any Navy.
I talked to a radio tech who just came back from the receiving ship in the admiralty group. He said it wasn’t bad there at all. He said it is on Mosa or Mona Island. Some funny name like that.
Well, I had better go get aboard & go to New Jersey eh!
Hope you are as well as I.
Love Bill
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
10-25-1944
Dear All;
Please excuse the poor writing as this thing is rocking like a boat. It is, so far, a nice trip and I imagine it will be all the way back. Boy, it was certainly wonderful seeing all of you for those few minutes in Ogden. I have never been so glad to see anyone in my life. It was surely swell.
I read Don’s letter and I think they are the most sincere and “best said” letters I have ever read. He is certainly a wonderful guy and he is in a good spot. Of course he is in the Islands but soon he will be aboard a Navy ship. From the way he wrote in his letters he likes it quite well—as well as can be expected and he mentioned the chow being good—that is important.
Thanks ever so much for the candy & cake. I really am glad you were so thoughtful—it is really O.K.
Well, we are just pulling into Omha so I will mail these letters. The Ensign wants to meet Shirlee so I gave him our address—he said the next time he’s in Salt Lake he would call her up.
Well, as I said, it was certainly swell seeing you in Ogden—and tell Mrs. Furse & Uncle Sid and Aunt Tess & the gals thanks for coming to the station.
You all looked swell and I am glad you feel good. I wish you could all make this trip with me but as soon as the war is over we will all make it together that way we can enjoy it.
Well, I guess we are about in the station. Best of love to you all & I’ll see you again soon thanks again for the candy & cake.
Best of Love to you all, Bill
(I am writing on my knee, on my bunk, on a train, on a track so you can allow for the bad writing)
Please excuse the poor writing as this thing is rocking like a boat. It is, so far, a nice trip and I imagine it will be all the way back. Boy, it was certainly wonderful seeing all of you for those few minutes in Ogden. I have never been so glad to see anyone in my life. It was surely swell.
I read Don’s letter and I think they are the most sincere and “best said” letters I have ever read. He is certainly a wonderful guy and he is in a good spot. Of course he is in the Islands but soon he will be aboard a Navy ship. From the way he wrote in his letters he likes it quite well—as well as can be expected and he mentioned the chow being good—that is important.
Thanks ever so much for the candy & cake. I really am glad you were so thoughtful—it is really O.K.
Well, we are just pulling into Omha so I will mail these letters. The Ensign wants to meet Shirlee so I gave him our address—he said the next time he’s in Salt Lake he would call her up.
Well, as I said, it was certainly swell seeing you in Ogden—and tell Mrs. Furse & Uncle Sid and Aunt Tess & the gals thanks for coming to the station.
You all looked swell and I am glad you feel good. I wish you could all make this trip with me but as soon as the war is over we will all make it together that way we can enjoy it.
Well, I guess we are about in the station. Best of love to you all & I’ll see you again soon thanks again for the candy & cake.
Best of Love to you all, Bill
(I am writing on my knee, on my bunk, on a train, on a track so you can allow for the bad writing)
10-19-1944
Dear Mother, Dad, Shirlee, & Rhoda;
It was surely swell to talk with you all last night but they sure cut us short. Oh! Well, I guess a lot of other guys were waiting to call home, too. I was glad to hear that you are all O.K. and that you all feel well.
I surely wish I could get home to go deer hunting but I guess I won’t. I surely hope Dad gets a deer or some deer. I think he will—he usually does.
I am surely glad that I will be able to see Elsie this weekend. We get a good big liberty so that will be fine. How do you like all the good news—Boy, we are really giving it to the Japs.
I haven’t heard from Frank or Bob for quite some time. I surely hope they are O.K.
I received a letter from Aunt Lou and she said Freddy was still in Farragut and that there is a lot of sickness up there. Boy, I wish Mrs. Roosevelt had picked a little better place for a boot camp.
How do you think the election will come out? I think Roosevelt will win but it will be close. Dewey is really throwing a lot of dirt.
Well, I have another watch today so I guess I had better sign off. Everything is O.K. here and will continue to be that way.
Lots of Love;
Bill
It was surely swell to talk with you all last night but they sure cut us short. Oh! Well, I guess a lot of other guys were waiting to call home, too. I was glad to hear that you are all O.K. and that you all feel well.
I surely wish I could get home to go deer hunting but I guess I won’t. I surely hope Dad gets a deer or some deer. I think he will—he usually does.
I am surely glad that I will be able to see Elsie this weekend. We get a good big liberty so that will be fine. How do you like all the good news—Boy, we are really giving it to the Japs.
I haven’t heard from Frank or Bob for quite some time. I surely hope they are O.K.
I received a letter from Aunt Lou and she said Freddy was still in Farragut and that there is a lot of sickness up there. Boy, I wish Mrs. Roosevelt had picked a little better place for a boot camp.
How do you think the election will come out? I think Roosevelt will win but it will be close. Dewey is really throwing a lot of dirt.
Well, I have another watch today so I guess I had better sign off. Everything is O.K. here and will continue to be that way.
Lots of Love;
Bill
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
8-25-1944
Dearest Mother, Dad, Shirlee, and Rhoda;
I just came back from Treasure Island after spending all day with Don. I helped him lash his gear (tie it up) and all in all we did a good job. He is now in what they call the “Bull Pen” –It is nothing more than a lot of barracks set aside for the men who are leaving the Isle.
Don surely looks swell, and that is the straight dope. He is also about the best fellow you could ever hope to see. He has plenty of brains and uses them a lot, too. I am surely proud of him, as I know you are.
I only wish I could go with him where he is going. I am sure, from what we know, that he is getting a good assignment. Of course, we won’t know what it is until he gets there and finds out himself. They don’t tell them anything—just where they are going and then they can’t tell anyone that. However, I know, so I will tell you when I get home. I would tell you now but it isn’t good to put restricted stuff like that in letters. It might endanger too many fellows.
I will be home Monday evening. I know you are anxious to get your “long lost” son home but I feel that Don needs someone of us here at this time. He doesn’t actually need me by any means—I only meant that it might lighten his load a little more if I were here. So I know you want me to stay as long as possible with him. I will still have a wonderful leave in Salt Lake so everything is turning out just perfect. I will have 23 days at home so that will be swell-won’t it.
Don is with a swell bunch of fellows—I met most of his close pals and they are good guys. He will have a lot of fun with them as he has done in the past. They are all petty officers so they get along fine. Most of his friends that left before are at the same station he is going to so the “old gang” will all be together again.
The fellows, as you could expect, are a little anxious and expectant but they are already planning their trip home—as Don is. He wants us to figure out a business to start in when He & I get home (which won’t be long) and we will make a success of it. He has some good ideas so I think it should work.
There are surely many great advantages for a fellow who is going overseas. Under President Roosevelt’s plan those men will be released right soon after the war is over, whereas, the one’s who don’t get over will form the Army & Navy of occupation—I would much rather get it over with now & not have to do it when the war is won. I am sure that every thing happens for the best and that Don will gain a tremendous amount of education, experience, and superiority over others by this new assignment.
Well, I had better sign off for now and go wash up. I will see Don again tomorrow so will write more then. We are fine & hope you are. We are really getting swell weather here which is a blessing. I hope you are all O.K. and I will see you at the station Monday night.
Best of love;
Bill
I just came back from Treasure Island after spending all day with Don. I helped him lash his gear (tie it up) and all in all we did a good job. He is now in what they call the “Bull Pen” –It is nothing more than a lot of barracks set aside for the men who are leaving the Isle.
Don surely looks swell, and that is the straight dope. He is also about the best fellow you could ever hope to see. He has plenty of brains and uses them a lot, too. I am surely proud of him, as I know you are.
I only wish I could go with him where he is going. I am sure, from what we know, that he is getting a good assignment. Of course, we won’t know what it is until he gets there and finds out himself. They don’t tell them anything—just where they are going and then they can’t tell anyone that. However, I know, so I will tell you when I get home. I would tell you now but it isn’t good to put restricted stuff like that in letters. It might endanger too many fellows.
I will be home Monday evening. I know you are anxious to get your “long lost” son home but I feel that Don needs someone of us here at this time. He doesn’t actually need me by any means—I only meant that it might lighten his load a little more if I were here. So I know you want me to stay as long as possible with him. I will still have a wonderful leave in Salt Lake so everything is turning out just perfect. I will have 23 days at home so that will be swell-won’t it.
Don is with a swell bunch of fellows—I met most of his close pals and they are good guys. He will have a lot of fun with them as he has done in the past. They are all petty officers so they get along fine. Most of his friends that left before are at the same station he is going to so the “old gang” will all be together again.
The fellows, as you could expect, are a little anxious and expectant but they are already planning their trip home—as Don is. He wants us to figure out a business to start in when He & I get home (which won’t be long) and we will make a success of it. He has some good ideas so I think it should work.
There are surely many great advantages for a fellow who is going overseas. Under President Roosevelt’s plan those men will be released right soon after the war is over, whereas, the one’s who don’t get over will form the Army & Navy of occupation—I would much rather get it over with now & not have to do it when the war is won. I am sure that every thing happens for the best and that Don will gain a tremendous amount of education, experience, and superiority over others by this new assignment.
Well, I had better sign off for now and go wash up. I will see Don again tomorrow so will write more then. We are fine & hope you are. We are really getting swell weather here which is a blessing. I hope you are all O.K. and I will see you at the station Monday night.
Best of love;
Bill
8-20-1944
Dear Folks,
Pardon the pencil, I am still out of ink.
I just came on watch again, I expected to be on draft this morning but I wasn’t. I guess that chief was just feeding me a line. I don’t think I’ll be on draft until next Thurs. now, which will be soon enough I guess.
Dear all—
Guess who!—well, I just found Don after a long search. I had almost given him up for gone but he is still around here and I found him. It seems like they don’t want him to leave Treasure Island.
I got a special liberty and managed to sneak on the train so I did O.K.
I have to leave tomorrow at 6:30 but any time with him is valuable. I will still be home next Friday so I will see you then . We are wll & hope you are—Love Bill
(Don) Well I’ll finish this letter now and get it off this afternoon.
Boy I sure was surprised and happy to see Bill Sat. night, I was afraid I wasn’t going to see him before I shove off. Sure glad you were all home yesterday, it was really swell to talk to you.
I rec’d four letters today, three from you and one from Bill. I’ll make out my bonds the way you suggested. I hope I am still here Thurs so I can see Bill.
Well I’ll sign off now, will write again soon.
I knew Fred couldn’t be a 2/c because they froze all rates sometime ago.
Love Don
Pardon the pencil, I am still out of ink.
I just came on watch again, I expected to be on draft this morning but I wasn’t. I guess that chief was just feeding me a line. I don’t think I’ll be on draft until next Thurs. now, which will be soon enough I guess.
Dear all—
Guess who!—well, I just found Don after a long search. I had almost given him up for gone but he is still around here and I found him. It seems like they don’t want him to leave Treasure Island.
I got a special liberty and managed to sneak on the train so I did O.K.
I have to leave tomorrow at 6:30 but any time with him is valuable. I will still be home next Friday so I will see you then . We are wll & hope you are—Love Bill
(Don) Well I’ll finish this letter now and get it off this afternoon.
Boy I sure was surprised and happy to see Bill Sat. night, I was afraid I wasn’t going to see him before I shove off. Sure glad you were all home yesterday, it was really swell to talk to you.
I rec’d four letters today, three from you and one from Bill. I’ll make out my bonds the way you suggested. I hope I am still here Thurs so I can see Bill.
Well I’ll sign off now, will write again soon.
I knew Fred couldn’t be a 2/c because they froze all rates sometime ago.
Love Don
Monday, May 3, 2010
8-18-1944
Dearest Mother, Dad, Shirlee, and Rhoda;
I know how you must feel about Don’s new assignment but I don’t believe it is what it sounds like, altogether. Sure, it is going over seas possibly, but, it won’t be actual combat for quite some time. His group will probably get to Hawaii or some other “South Sea Isle” to train and learn more of the job they have to do. His is a good, important job, and we all feel proud of him for doing as well in it as he has. He has been pitted against college graduates, highly qualified electricians, and so forth all through his training period—and he has come out on top. Another thing to consider is that it is what don wants—he is happy because it is what he has been training for for so long.
When I was in Frisco he was always talking about how much he wanted to apply his knowledge to the “real thing” and now that it has come I am sure he is more than pleased. Of course, it will be a great adventure for Don and a great experience. He never would have been happy if he had missed this show and I am sure I won’t .
I, as well as you, am anxious to hear where, when and what—but we know that that information is confidential so we will just have to wait. He will let us know just as soon as he can.
I go a special liberty approved today for Saturday and Sunday—so I might be lucky and see Don. I am up against it for reservations on the train but maybe I can coat the porter with a couple of bucks. I am sure I will get up there, and I think I will see Don. I received another letter from him today saying that his bunch had been held over for a little while longer so I think he will be there this week-end. If he is I will get all the dope first hand and let you know as soon as possible. I also have my reservation for SALT LAKE CITY so I will be there soon. You can expect me the night of the 25th on the Challenger. I hope that his time we will meet in the station O.K. If we do it will really be funny-won’t it. Don’t worry if I’m not on that train—oh, hell! I’ll wire you if I’m not so until you hear anything different I’ll be on it. (haha)
So Hubert is going over seas, too. I think I will be going to Middy’s school, too so I can do something worth doing. Hubert must really be a good officer—and I can see why. He is a lot like Don, sincere as the dickens, quiet, and very very intelligent. Both he and Don will do well in what ever they do and both of them will come out of this war with twice as much knowledge, twice as much experience, and the same amount of “faith”—Is say the same amount of “faith” because they both have a maximum amount of it—and that is what counts in the long run.
So please don’t worry too much –“all will be well” with Don, I guess even with me. So, until next week (when I see you all)
Best of Love, Bill
I know how you must feel about Don’s new assignment but I don’t believe it is what it sounds like, altogether. Sure, it is going over seas possibly, but, it won’t be actual combat for quite some time. His group will probably get to Hawaii or some other “South Sea Isle” to train and learn more of the job they have to do. His is a good, important job, and we all feel proud of him for doing as well in it as he has. He has been pitted against college graduates, highly qualified electricians, and so forth all through his training period—and he has come out on top. Another thing to consider is that it is what don wants—he is happy because it is what he has been training for for so long.
When I was in Frisco he was always talking about how much he wanted to apply his knowledge to the “real thing” and now that it has come I am sure he is more than pleased. Of course, it will be a great adventure for Don and a great experience. He never would have been happy if he had missed this show and I am sure I won’t .
I, as well as you, am anxious to hear where, when and what—but we know that that information is confidential so we will just have to wait. He will let us know just as soon as he can.
I go a special liberty approved today for Saturday and Sunday—so I might be lucky and see Don. I am up against it for reservations on the train but maybe I can coat the porter with a couple of bucks. I am sure I will get up there, and I think I will see Don. I received another letter from him today saying that his bunch had been held over for a little while longer so I think he will be there this week-end. If he is I will get all the dope first hand and let you know as soon as possible. I also have my reservation for SALT LAKE CITY so I will be there soon. You can expect me the night of the 25th on the Challenger. I hope that his time we will meet in the station O.K. If we do it will really be funny-won’t it. Don’t worry if I’m not on that train—oh, hell! I’ll wire you if I’m not so until you hear anything different I’ll be on it. (haha)
So Hubert is going over seas, too. I think I will be going to Middy’s school, too so I can do something worth doing. Hubert must really be a good officer—and I can see why. He is a lot like Don, sincere as the dickens, quiet, and very very intelligent. Both he and Don will do well in what ever they do and both of them will come out of this war with twice as much knowledge, twice as much experience, and the same amount of “faith”—Is say the same amount of “faith” because they both have a maximum amount of it—and that is what counts in the long run.
So please don’t worry too much –“all will be well” with Don, I guess even with me. So, until next week (when I see you all)
Best of Love, Bill
7-31-1944
Dearest Mother, Dad, Shirlee & Rhoda;
I got back from my “swell” trip to San Fran this morning at 0200. Boy, everything worked out just perfect. We spent all day Sat. & Sunday together plus all evening Friday from 1800 on. It was really good to see Don and we enjoyed ourselves a lot. I can also report to you that Don looked better than I have seen him look. He feels swell and eats good. We spent about $20 just on chow for two days.—I gained 3 pounds just over the week end. I weigh 140 lbs normally but I was a little more than that this morning. We also saw some good shows, good bands & a lot of sights.
It was also swell that we got a line straight thru to you. It really sounded good to hear your voices. I guess we were just lucky getting a call thru so soon.
Don took me out to yacht harbor and we watched an army amphibious landing maneuver for about an hour and a half. They practiced taking a beach there from a big transport ship anchored off shore about a half mile. Boy, I wish you could have seen those amphibious ducks (trucks that swim) –they just travel from water to beach like it were a highway. And then we saw an LCT (langling craft tank) pull up on the beach and dump off its cargo of air-craft guns etc. They had blank machine guns firing all over & it really looked like the real thing. I would surely like to be doing something useful like that.
Well, after that we went to a show at the Waldorf & then got some good chow at the Pig’ n’ Whistle & then it was time to go. However, I didn’t feel too bad about leaving this time because Don looked so good & felt so well. He is really O.K.
I hope you aren’t worrying foolishly over his next assignment. You know he will be O.K. wherever he is so why the heck worry, Worrying does no good but a lot of harm. The Phibs is a hell of a good outfit and it is an interesting one. They use a lot of good radio equipment & that’s where the R.t.’s fit in. I only wish I were qualified for it.
Well, I will secure for now—I hope you are all as well as Don & I.
Best of Love
Billy (haha)
I got back from my “swell” trip to San Fran this morning at 0200. Boy, everything worked out just perfect. We spent all day Sat. & Sunday together plus all evening Friday from 1800 on. It was really good to see Don and we enjoyed ourselves a lot. I can also report to you that Don looked better than I have seen him look. He feels swell and eats good. We spent about $20 just on chow for two days.—I gained 3 pounds just over the week end. I weigh 140 lbs normally but I was a little more than that this morning. We also saw some good shows, good bands & a lot of sights.
It was also swell that we got a line straight thru to you. It really sounded good to hear your voices. I guess we were just lucky getting a call thru so soon.
Don took me out to yacht harbor and we watched an army amphibious landing maneuver for about an hour and a half. They practiced taking a beach there from a big transport ship anchored off shore about a half mile. Boy, I wish you could have seen those amphibious ducks (trucks that swim) –they just travel from water to beach like it were a highway. And then we saw an LCT (langling craft tank) pull up on the beach and dump off its cargo of air-craft guns etc. They had blank machine guns firing all over & it really looked like the real thing. I would surely like to be doing something useful like that.
Well, after that we went to a show at the Waldorf & then got some good chow at the Pig’ n’ Whistle & then it was time to go. However, I didn’t feel too bad about leaving this time because Don looked so good & felt so well. He is really O.K.
I hope you aren’t worrying foolishly over his next assignment. You know he will be O.K. wherever he is so why the heck worry, Worrying does no good but a lot of harm. The Phibs is a hell of a good outfit and it is an interesting one. They use a lot of good radio equipment & that’s where the R.t.’s fit in. I only wish I were qualified for it.
Well, I will secure for now—I hope you are all as well as Don & I.
Best of Love
Billy (haha)
Saturday, May 1, 2010
5-17-1944
Naval Flt Prep School
Batt. 5A-44, Plt. 3
Wildcat Brks, Room 30
Calif. Polytechnic
San Luis Obispo, Calif
Dear All,
Well, this is the only time during the whole day that I can sit down and scribble out a few letters—or I should say notes.
Our second day of education is over and it is really a hard deal we’re in. However, all of the courses are very informative and we get a standing college credit for most of them.
Our physical training takes up 2 hours of our day and they really pour the coal on during that time. (chow-down-finish-later)
Well, I just got back from chow…it was really good. We had spare ribs, potatoes & gravy, bread & butter, milk, pea soup, corn, jello, pie, lettuce & vegetable salad, and an apple. That is one thing we get good here & that is chow & living room. There are two to each room & they are quite nice—nothing like Sand Point—However, I had a very good time at Sand Point.
As I said before, it was surely swell to see Don again. I am looking forward to a week-end pass as soon as I get settled & we will go all over Frisco together. Got to go study—will finish later.
Well, I just finished with my 2 hr. study period & I accomplished quite a little I now have 30 minutes before tattoo & taps so you can see how they account for every minute.
I guess you would like to know a little more about the set-up here—Well, there are 257 cadets and about 30 officers. It seems that there is an officer to every cadet & they are always watching us. We will be here from 11 weeks to infinity so there is nothing very definite about that. They are trying their darndest to wash us so everything is hard but it is interesting and I know I will do O.K. unless some natural indifference comes up—that can’t be helped.
They emphasize Navigation, Officer aptitude and Physical training. All of which are touchy subjects.
I am with a very good bunch of fellows & we all get along good together so that helps a lot.
Well, I guess I had better say good night to you all & I hope you are all as well as I am-------
Lots of Love, Bell
tattoo
Batt. 5A-44, Plt. 3
Wildcat Brks, Room 30
Calif. Polytechnic
San Luis Obispo, Calif
Dear All,
Well, this is the only time during the whole day that I can sit down and scribble out a few letters—or I should say notes.
Our second day of education is over and it is really a hard deal we’re in. However, all of the courses are very informative and we get a standing college credit for most of them.
Our physical training takes up 2 hours of our day and they really pour the coal on during that time. (chow-down-finish-later)
Well, I just got back from chow…it was really good. We had spare ribs, potatoes & gravy, bread & butter, milk, pea soup, corn, jello, pie, lettuce & vegetable salad, and an apple. That is one thing we get good here & that is chow & living room. There are two to each room & they are quite nice—nothing like Sand Point—However, I had a very good time at Sand Point.
As I said before, it was surely swell to see Don again. I am looking forward to a week-end pass as soon as I get settled & we will go all over Frisco together. Got to go study—will finish later.
Well, I just finished with my 2 hr. study period & I accomplished quite a little I now have 30 minutes before tattoo & taps so you can see how they account for every minute.
I guess you would like to know a little more about the set-up here—Well, there are 257 cadets and about 30 officers. It seems that there is an officer to every cadet & they are always watching us. We will be here from 11 weeks to infinity so there is nothing very definite about that. They are trying their darndest to wash us so everything is hard but it is interesting and I know I will do O.K. unless some natural indifference comes up—that can’t be helped.
They emphasize Navigation, Officer aptitude and Physical training. All of which are touchy subjects.
I am with a very good bunch of fellows & we all get along good together so that helps a lot.
Well, I guess I had better say good night to you all & I hope you are all as well as I am-------
Lots of Love, Bell
tattoo
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
5-15-1944
Dearest Mother, Dad, Shirlee, & Rhoda;
Well, I have had a very enjoyable and then again a very lousy week end. Yesterday about 5:00 PM Don came down and saw me. I had three hrs. liberty and I got it extended to 5 hrs. and we had a heck of a good time seeing each other. Boy, it surely seemed swell seeing Don and I surely hope I get to see him again soon. We got him a room last night in a Motel. I should say we got him a whole house. It was all we could find & it cost plenty but we didn’t care. The place had twin beds, bath, telephone, etc. He surely slept good. We then went out and got a big t-bone steak dinner which was super. We killed the rest of the evening at the USO’s and walking around the small town of San Luis at midnight we left each other & I came up to my brks. & Don went to his cottage. At 0930 we met and went to military Protestant church services. Since it was “Mother’s Day” we had a special service and it was quite nice.
The reason part of the day was lousy is that Don was planning to stay till tonight & then go back to Frisco but my damned narrow minded C.O. made us stay in quarters all afternoon & he wouldn’t even let us have visitors in the Barrack—boy am I burned up at that narrow minded fool.
Well, that made it so that Don had to shove off at about 1500 (3PM) and we missed spending Sun. afternoon together.
Don looks “good” & he especially looks good in his new blues. He says he eats a lot of food & still doesn’t gain weight but one of these days he is going to fill out fast—like Dad did.
I think Don likes his new Radio Electronics school better than his last school. And, after seeing the h_____S______ set up here at San Luis I don’t think he cares about the air corps any more. Boy, he is really learning radio & electronics.
Mr. Bauie got me interested in starting a business after the war & I told him that I hoped Don & you guys & I could get a good radio business going. He said that it was a good idea. I asked Don what he thought & he said it would be a good idea. So maybe very soon we will go into the business.
We start classes tomorrow so I guess after that time I will really be a buisy Cadet, along with the others. I surely hope I can do well in it but if I don’t it won’t be any disgrace because this is really a rough place.
So little Ruth Weiss is getting married. Boy, I wish I were the guy. She was really my idea of a nice gal. and she surely is good looking. I think I will write her a letter & tell her how heart-broken I am.
The sea-bag that I am sending home won’t have a heck of a lot in it besides junk because Don said he could us my blues & Dungarees etc. so I am mailin ‘em to him.
Well, I guess I had better write a few more letters—I hope you are all well—Don & I are fine.
Love, Bill
P.S. Mother—I hope you had a good mother’s Day & tell Aunt Lou the same------Bill
Well, I have had a very enjoyable and then again a very lousy week end. Yesterday about 5:00 PM Don came down and saw me. I had three hrs. liberty and I got it extended to 5 hrs. and we had a heck of a good time seeing each other. Boy, it surely seemed swell seeing Don and I surely hope I get to see him again soon. We got him a room last night in a Motel. I should say we got him a whole house. It was all we could find & it cost plenty but we didn’t care. The place had twin beds, bath, telephone, etc. He surely slept good. We then went out and got a big t-bone steak dinner which was super. We killed the rest of the evening at the USO’s and walking around the small town of San Luis at midnight we left each other & I came up to my brks. & Don went to his cottage. At 0930 we met and went to military Protestant church services. Since it was “Mother’s Day” we had a special service and it was quite nice.
The reason part of the day was lousy is that Don was planning to stay till tonight & then go back to Frisco but my damned narrow minded C.O. made us stay in quarters all afternoon & he wouldn’t even let us have visitors in the Barrack—boy am I burned up at that narrow minded fool.
Well, that made it so that Don had to shove off at about 1500 (3PM) and we missed spending Sun. afternoon together.
Don looks “good” & he especially looks good in his new blues. He says he eats a lot of food & still doesn’t gain weight but one of these days he is going to fill out fast—like Dad did.
I think Don likes his new Radio Electronics school better than his last school. And, after seeing the h_____S______ set up here at San Luis I don’t think he cares about the air corps any more. Boy, he is really learning radio & electronics.
Mr. Bauie got me interested in starting a business after the war & I told him that I hoped Don & you guys & I could get a good radio business going. He said that it was a good idea. I asked Don what he thought & he said it would be a good idea. So maybe very soon we will go into the business.
We start classes tomorrow so I guess after that time I will really be a buisy Cadet, along with the others. I surely hope I can do well in it but if I don’t it won’t be any disgrace because this is really a rough place.
So little Ruth Weiss is getting married. Boy, I wish I were the guy. She was really my idea of a nice gal. and she surely is good looking. I think I will write her a letter & tell her how heart-broken I am.
The sea-bag that I am sending home won’t have a heck of a lot in it besides junk because Don said he could us my blues & Dungarees etc. so I am mailin ‘em to him.
Well, I guess I had better write a few more letters—I hope you are all well—Don & I are fine.
Love, Bill
P.S. Mother—I hope you had a good mother’s Day & tell Aunt Lou the same------Bill
Monday, March 8, 2010
10-21-1943
Dear Don;
I was sure glad to hear from but sorry that you chow isn’t too good. Ours is “purty” lousy too. We get enough to fill us up but it is always potatoes and gravy meat. However, I am getting fat on it.
Boy this is sure a cold place. It has been snowing here steady for two days and blowing to beat hell. I imagine it stays around zero as soon as real winter hits the joint.
Well tomorrow starts the final exams for us and they will really be “pips.” I have one in math tomorrow, physics Friday & the rest next week.
You asked about my V-5 standing—well the whole thing is kind of messed up but as it stands I am in V-12a which means “V-5 college program” V-12 without the “a” is for deck officers & we take the same as they do but we get out about 9 months sooner than they –However I can transfer to “V-12” from V12a” if I want & thus become a deck candidate (This way I would get a commission much sooner than in V-5 (V12a)
It sounds all messed up I know but this is the way the skipper told me. There are only about 15 of us out of the 500 that are in V-5 (V-12a) so I guess we are sorta lucky—but I am seriously thinking of transferring to Deck. What do you think about it?
I called Mother and Dad last night & they are all well & happy. Boy that was some hunt Dad went on and really a coincidence about getting his Deer. I guess he wrote & told you about it. I would sure liked to have been there but I guess that will have to wait.
Well Best of Luck
Bill
P.S. How are the “taxes” girls treating you & how do you like Texas so far
I was sure glad to hear from but sorry that you chow isn’t too good. Ours is “purty” lousy too. We get enough to fill us up but it is always potatoes and gravy meat. However, I am getting fat on it.
Boy this is sure a cold place. It has been snowing here steady for two days and blowing to beat hell. I imagine it stays around zero as soon as real winter hits the joint.
Well tomorrow starts the final exams for us and they will really be “pips.” I have one in math tomorrow, physics Friday & the rest next week.
You asked about my V-5 standing—well the whole thing is kind of messed up but as it stands I am in V-12a which means “V-5 college program” V-12 without the “a” is for deck officers & we take the same as they do but we get out about 9 months sooner than they –However I can transfer to “V-12” from V12a” if I want & thus become a deck candidate (This way I would get a commission much sooner than in V-5 (V12a)
It sounds all messed up I know but this is the way the skipper told me. There are only about 15 of us out of the 500 that are in V-5 (V-12a) so I guess we are sorta lucky—but I am seriously thinking of transferring to Deck. What do you think about it?
I called Mother and Dad last night & they are all well & happy. Boy that was some hunt Dad went on and really a coincidence about getting his Deer. I guess he wrote & told you about it. I would sure liked to have been there but I guess that will have to wait.
Well Best of Luck
Bill
P.S. How are the “taxes” girls treating you & how do you like Texas so far
10-16-1943
2200
Dear Don,
Well how are you and “taxes now. I hope you are still O.K. and maybe getting better food. Our chow up here keeps getting worse but I guess it can only get so bad. However I did gain another 3 lbs. this month.
School is getting stiff now as we have test week starting Wednesday and you know how that is. I guess you are about ready to finish up your school there aren’t you. I’ll bet you are really getting into some interesting radio work now aren’t you? I sure hope you get to go to Corpus Christi—that is a good place I hear—but then I guess there are places just as good.
Damn, I can’t make $24 last me hardly half a week let alone a whole month. We get $50 originally but we have to (almost compelled, haha) take $18.75 out for war bonds & then insurance it all cuts the chit down to $24---I make out “purty” good on it though (all kiddin aside)
Hope you are well.
Well this is the first deer season you and dad & I haven’t been sittin out somewhere waitin for a deer but I guess dad will have to get the DeeR alone this time while you and I get the DeAR. Well I think I’ll hit the good old Sack—Best of Luck to you---Bill
Dear Don,
Well how are you and “taxes now. I hope you are still O.K. and maybe getting better food. Our chow up here keeps getting worse but I guess it can only get so bad. However I did gain another 3 lbs. this month.
School is getting stiff now as we have test week starting Wednesday and you know how that is. I guess you are about ready to finish up your school there aren’t you. I’ll bet you are really getting into some interesting radio work now aren’t you? I sure hope you get to go to Corpus Christi—that is a good place I hear—but then I guess there are places just as good.
Damn, I can’t make $24 last me hardly half a week let alone a whole month. We get $50 originally but we have to (almost compelled, haha) take $18.75 out for war bonds & then insurance it all cuts the chit down to $24---I make out “purty” good on it though (all kiddin aside)
Hope you are well.
Well this is the first deer season you and dad & I haven’t been sittin out somewhere waitin for a deer but I guess dad will have to get the DeeR alone this time while you and I get the DeAR. Well I think I’ll hit the good old Sack—Best of Luck to you---Bill
10-12-1943
Monday (I don’t know the date)
Dear Mother, Dad, Shirlee, Rhoda;
Well It was sure good to hear your voices again even if it was “reverse on the charges” call. I don’t know where all of my money goes but it sure does go. We went to an “all star” “big league” baseball game today and it sure was lousy. Coon & I left before the fourth inning. The whole outfit marched down to it and got $1.50 seats free. We then went to town for a few minutes and just as Coon and I turned a corner there was a “High School” kid driving a car and made a left hand turn on a red light. He hit an old woman & a little girl who were crossing the street. Coon & I ran to them and pulled them away from the car. I looked over the old lady & say that she had a “busted” leg. But the little girl was just scared. Coon & I wanted to call an ambulance but the old lady wouldn’t have anything but a chiropractor so we left & by that time the cops were there & had every thing under control. It was really exciting. I sure hope the stubborn old thing is O.K. (haha)
Boy is sure is dark and cloudy here in ?good? old Poky. It has been trying to rain all day and now it is finally pouring down. I sure hope it keeps raining for a while so we can miss morning calisthenics.
Well all the boys are getting ready to shove off for middy’s school or Farragut (Jolley) or Bremehton. In a way I would like to go to sea but this is too good a chance to muff up. A year from now I should be an Ensign if every thing goes O.K. & I know it will.
Well I was sure glad you heard from Don. I got some letters too & he said he is O.K. so don’t worry.
Hope you are all well
Love Bill
P.S. If you want to see a wonderful picture (sad as hell) see “So Proudly We Hail” (I think Dad would like it)
Bill
Dear Mother, Dad, Shirlee, Rhoda;
Well It was sure good to hear your voices again even if it was “reverse on the charges” call. I don’t know where all of my money goes but it sure does go. We went to an “all star” “big league” baseball game today and it sure was lousy. Coon & I left before the fourth inning. The whole outfit marched down to it and got $1.50 seats free. We then went to town for a few minutes and just as Coon and I turned a corner there was a “High School” kid driving a car and made a left hand turn on a red light. He hit an old woman & a little girl who were crossing the street. Coon & I ran to them and pulled them away from the car. I looked over the old lady & say that she had a “busted” leg. But the little girl was just scared. Coon & I wanted to call an ambulance but the old lady wouldn’t have anything but a chiropractor so we left & by that time the cops were there & had every thing under control. It was really exciting. I sure hope the stubborn old thing is O.K. (haha)
Boy is sure is dark and cloudy here in ?good? old Poky. It has been trying to rain all day and now it is finally pouring down. I sure hope it keeps raining for a while so we can miss morning calisthenics.
Well all the boys are getting ready to shove off for middy’s school or Farragut (Jolley) or Bremehton. In a way I would like to go to sea but this is too good a chance to muff up. A year from now I should be an Ensign if every thing goes O.K. & I know it will.
Well I was sure glad you heard from Don. I got some letters too & he said he is O.K. so don’t worry.
Hope you are all well
Love Bill
P.S. If you want to see a wonderful picture (sad as hell) see “So Proudly We Hail” (I think Dad would like it)
Bill
Sunday, March 7, 2010
9-23-1943
Dear Don;
Well its about 0800 and the beginning of another day of the same danged thing. Boy school gets monotonous but I guess it’s worth it to get what it pays off in the end. If the danged C.P.O.s would only forget to wake the bugler up in the morning and let us sleep in for just one or two days it would really be nice but I guess that’s asking too much.
Well, it will only be two more weeks until the end of the first semester. I sure hope I pass my final exams O.K. Only two more semesters after this one and I go to mid-ship-man’s school if I transfer from V-5.
There were a lot of mid-ship-man’s uniforms came in yesterday for the boys leaving this semester & they sure were good looking.
We had a “captains mast” (court trial) yesterday for two boys that “went over the hill.” I don’t know what the c.o. gave them but I guess it was enough. Any guy that thinks he can get away from the Navy is nuts. They only got up into Oregon before the M.P.’s got them.
Boy I hope Houston is better than Poky. All there is in this town is a rail-road and a bunch of greasy Rail Road people. However the college is nice.
I received a letter from Frank Turner the other day—I’ll stick it in here so you can read it.
Well I guess I’ll go to class---
Best of Luck---Bill
Well its about 0800 and the beginning of another day of the same danged thing. Boy school gets monotonous but I guess it’s worth it to get what it pays off in the end. If the danged C.P.O.s would only forget to wake the bugler up in the morning and let us sleep in for just one or two days it would really be nice but I guess that’s asking too much.
Well, it will only be two more weeks until the end of the first semester. I sure hope I pass my final exams O.K. Only two more semesters after this one and I go to mid-ship-man’s school if I transfer from V-5.
There were a lot of mid-ship-man’s uniforms came in yesterday for the boys leaving this semester & they sure were good looking.
We had a “captains mast” (court trial) yesterday for two boys that “went over the hill.” I don’t know what the c.o. gave them but I guess it was enough. Any guy that thinks he can get away from the Navy is nuts. They only got up into Oregon before the M.P.’s got them.
Boy I hope Houston is better than Poky. All there is in this town is a rail-road and a bunch of greasy Rail Road people. However the college is nice.
I received a letter from Frank Turner the other day—I’ll stick it in here so you can read it.
Well I guess I’ll go to class---
Best of Luck---Bill
9-23-1943
PVT. Frank Turner ASN 39913921
89th Depot Repair Sqd. A.P.O. 635
c/o Postmaster, New York, N.Y.
Dear Bill
I was sure glad to hear from you and how you are coming along in the Navy.
Well here I am in England and getting 20% more in pay checks now which doesn't add up so much after all for a private.
England isn't such a bad place and the girls are not bad except they haven't the shapes the American girls have got, their legs look kind of beat up. I went to a stage show the other night and even the chorus girls were either too fat or too skinny. Oh well! I guess you can't have everything.
Guess who I saw over here last Tuesday? Captain James McNair alias Staff Sergeant Mc. I didn't get to talk to him, but if I see him again I'll give him the old high ball.
I sure wish you could be here and see some of the things I have in the past 2 months, it is sure a far cry from Utah.
I was talking to an old Englishman the other day and he said he had never heard of Utah, just New York and California.
Have you ever heard where Bob Nuttal went to? I have wondered if he is in Italy or the Solomans.
Well Bill, write soon as mail is sure welcome here where there isn't much to do for pleasure except get a letter from your friends.
Your pal Frank
89th Depot Repair Sqd. A.P.O. 635
c/o Postmaster, New York, N.Y.
Dear Bill
I was sure glad to hear from you and how you are coming along in the Navy.
Well here I am in England and getting 20% more in pay checks now which doesn't add up so much after all for a private.
England isn't such a bad place and the girls are not bad except they haven't the shapes the American girls have got, their legs look kind of beat up. I went to a stage show the other night and even the chorus girls were either too fat or too skinny. Oh well! I guess you can't have everything.
Guess who I saw over here last Tuesday? Captain James McNair alias Staff Sergeant Mc. I didn't get to talk to him, but if I see him again I'll give him the old high ball.
I sure wish you could be here and see some of the things I have in the past 2 months, it is sure a far cry from Utah.
I was talking to an old Englishman the other day and he said he had never heard of Utah, just New York and California.
Have you ever heard where Bob Nuttal went to? I have wondered if he is in Italy or the Solomans.
Well Bill, write soon as mail is sure welcome here where there isn't much to do for pleasure except get a letter from your friends.
Your pal Frank
9-22-1943
I just received your letter & was glad to hear that you are O.K. I guess it gets damned tedious just waiting for a Hurricane to hit but I guess they hit in one hell of a big hurry when they do come.
Boy, right now I got the “scrub-board” Blues. My hands are so damned sore from pushin towels, skivvies, hats, etc. up and down they are even hard to push around on this paper. They took all of our washing machines out of the hold the first month we were here and they replaced them with glass scrub boards.—hell----I guess I’ll be getting used to it though soon. It’s been almost three months so I guess I can last the rest of the time.
Boy they are really pouring on the work here, too. We are having our 3 months exams this week and boy are they ever hard. I guess you are keeping damned busy too by your letters.
I called mother and Dad again the other night and they are all O.K. I guess it is kinda hard on them having us away but there isn’t a hell of a lot that we can do about it.
From your “dead” description of Houston I would damned near say that it is a twin brother to Pocatello. Not any good shows, no dances, “no nothing.” But then we don’t get much time to go down town; we just stay on the campus and in the Dorm.
Well I guess I’ll wash up for evening chow—
Best of Luck
Bill
P.S. Bullough & Coon say Hello
Boy, right now I got the “scrub-board” Blues. My hands are so damned sore from pushin towels, skivvies, hats, etc. up and down they are even hard to push around on this paper. They took all of our washing machines out of the hold the first month we were here and they replaced them with glass scrub boards.—hell----I guess I’ll be getting used to it though soon. It’s been almost three months so I guess I can last the rest of the time.
Boy they are really pouring on the work here, too. We are having our 3 months exams this week and boy are they ever hard. I guess you are keeping damned busy too by your letters.
I called mother and Dad again the other night and they are all O.K. I guess it is kinda hard on them having us away but there isn’t a hell of a lot that we can do about it.
From your “dead” description of Houston I would damned near say that it is a twin brother to Pocatello. Not any good shows, no dances, “no nothing.” But then we don’t get much time to go down town; we just stay on the campus and in the Dorm.
Well I guess I’ll wash up for evening chow—
Best of Luck
Bill
P.S. Bullough & Coon say Hello
9-22-1943
W.R. smith A.S. USN
V-12, U 15 B--Graveley Halls
Pocatello, Idaho
1800
Dear Mother, Dad, Shirlee, & Rhoda;
I just wrote to Don so thought I would write you before I shove off for chow. Don said he was waiting for that hurricane. I guess it's not going to come after all. He said he has about 7 more months of this work he is in now. I only have 8 more before I can go to midshipman's school so we both have about the same amount of time.
We are really getting the tests again this week. We are having our 12 week (3 mos.) exams now. Boy the time has sure gone fast--3 months almost--
The restriction is still on S.L.C. so I guess I won't be down for another month but I'll be down then.
We had some good boxing lessons in Physical training today. I boxed, bare handed (flat hands), with a little guy from the flat--we did "purty" good.
We will box now all winter I guess--I really like all of the physical work--I can almost feel the muscles growing on me.
Boy when we get up in the morning for calisthentics now it is just as dark as midnight--all the stars are out and the moon is shining bright--you can just barely see a little rime of silver on the eastern range of hills showing that the sun is shining somewhere.
The war news sure sounds good lately, doesn't it. I guess it won't be long before we will get a good foot hold in Europe where we can really fight from. At the rate they are building up are Army &Navy we ought to really be able to fight.
Don said that Houston was reallly a dead town but Idon't see how it could be any wors than Poky.
boy, I got the "scrub-board Blues" (Drawing of Music) They took all of our washing machines a month after we got here & replaced the with glass scrub boards--my knuckles are so sore from pushing towels, skivies, hats, etc. that I have a hard time pushing this pen around. (ha-ha-ha-)
Well I guess I'll go to chow
Lots of Love, Bill
Shirlee--How do you feel by now. Hope you are ship shape.
V-12, U 15 B--Graveley Halls
Pocatello, Idaho
1800
Dear Mother, Dad, Shirlee, & Rhoda;
I just wrote to Don so thought I would write you before I shove off for chow. Don said he was waiting for that hurricane. I guess it's not going to come after all. He said he has about 7 more months of this work he is in now. I only have 8 more before I can go to midshipman's school so we both have about the same amount of time.
We are really getting the tests again this week. We are having our 12 week (3 mos.) exams now. Boy the time has sure gone fast--3 months almost--
The restriction is still on S.L.C. so I guess I won't be down for another month but I'll be down then.
We had some good boxing lessons in Physical training today. I boxed, bare handed (flat hands), with a little guy from the flat--we did "purty" good.
We will box now all winter I guess--I really like all of the physical work--I can almost feel the muscles growing on me.
Boy when we get up in the morning for calisthentics now it is just as dark as midnight--all the stars are out and the moon is shining bright--you can just barely see a little rime of silver on the eastern range of hills showing that the sun is shining somewhere.
The war news sure sounds good lately, doesn't it. I guess it won't be long before we will get a good foot hold in Europe where we can really fight from. At the rate they are building up are Army &Navy we ought to really be able to fight.
Don said that Houston was reallly a dead town but Idon't see how it could be any wors than Poky.
boy, I got the "scrub-board Blues" (Drawing of Music) They took all of our washing machines a month after we got here & replaced the with glass scrub boards--my knuckles are so sore from pushing towels, skivies, hats, etc. that I have a hard time pushing this pen around. (ha-ha-ha-)
Well I guess I'll go to chow
Lots of Love, Bill
Shirlee--How do you feel by now. Hope you are ship shape.
9-20-1943
Dear Don,
Well I hope the Cyclone hasn’t blown Houston off the map, or did you even feel it there? I heard over the radio where it was supposed to hit Galveston Friday but I imagined that it would get you guys too.
I was glad to hear from you again and hear that you are ok and getting along good in your radio work. I just talked with mother and Dad over the telephone and they said that you have put on some weight. I sure hope you have. I have put on about 10 lbs. & I now weigh 131 stripped.
Well Poky is still here in Idaho and it is still the deadest hole in the world. All of the people are so dirty looking they make you sick and the damned Indians are still laying on the sidewalks. Even though the city is dead we can sleep over liberty hours and I sure did today. I stayed in the sack until noon. I guess I (& all the rest of us) should study over week ends but hell we’ve got to rest and relax some time or we’ll go nuts.
Do you guys have any physical work down in “taxes”?
We sure as hell run our legs off up here. Ever day we run 2 miles at the least & 4 miles usually all at once, without stopping, & boy does that poop you out. I ran 4 miles in 26 min & 40 secs which was way above average but boy that really tired me out.
It is getting cold as heck here now and those old pea-coats are really coming in handy. This morning there was frost on the ground so you can see what we’re in for this winter. I’ll bet there will be a lot of sick boys in “ole’ Gravely” just like in boot camp when you were there. I guess you got your share of cold at Farragut because that is farther North than Poky.
Last night Coon & I went to a dance with a fellow from Pearl Harbor. He is a 2nd class Radio tech. & he really likes radio. He says to tell you that he knows how hard your school is but what you get out of it is really worth something. He has been in 6 major engagements and really saw some fights. How soon do you think you will get a leave: & How soon do you think you will ship out of Houston?
Well I guess I’ll hit the sack, its 2300
Good night and Good Luck
Bill
Well I hope the Cyclone hasn’t blown Houston off the map, or did you even feel it there? I heard over the radio where it was supposed to hit Galveston Friday but I imagined that it would get you guys too.
I was glad to hear from you again and hear that you are ok and getting along good in your radio work. I just talked with mother and Dad over the telephone and they said that you have put on some weight. I sure hope you have. I have put on about 10 lbs. & I now weigh 131 stripped.
Well Poky is still here in Idaho and it is still the deadest hole in the world. All of the people are so dirty looking they make you sick and the damned Indians are still laying on the sidewalks. Even though the city is dead we can sleep over liberty hours and I sure did today. I stayed in the sack until noon. I guess I (& all the rest of us) should study over week ends but hell we’ve got to rest and relax some time or we’ll go nuts.
Do you guys have any physical work down in “taxes”?
We sure as hell run our legs off up here. Ever day we run 2 miles at the least & 4 miles usually all at once, without stopping, & boy does that poop you out. I ran 4 miles in 26 min & 40 secs which was way above average but boy that really tired me out.
It is getting cold as heck here now and those old pea-coats are really coming in handy. This morning there was frost on the ground so you can see what we’re in for this winter. I’ll bet there will be a lot of sick boys in “ole’ Gravely” just like in boot camp when you were there. I guess you got your share of cold at Farragut because that is farther North than Poky.
Last night Coon & I went to a dance with a fellow from Pearl Harbor. He is a 2nd class Radio tech. & he really likes radio. He says to tell you that he knows how hard your school is but what you get out of it is really worth something. He has been in 6 major engagements and really saw some fights. How soon do you think you will get a leave: & How soon do you think you will ship out of Houston?
Well I guess I’ll hit the sack, its 2300
Good night and Good Luck
Bill
9-3-1943
Dear Don; (Tex)
We.. How are you getting along in “taxes” by now? I sure hope you like the joint and that the food is getting better. We are getting pretty nice chow but quite often they throw in one of those damned mixed up garbage dinners. As a whole though I think it is pretty good.
There are about 600 soldiers out on our grinder camping tonight. They are really a tough looking bunch of guys and they have all of the most modern equipment. They have anti-aircraft guns of all types, all of the newest armored cars, jeeps, MI rifles, machine guns, field artillery and a complete medical and chow unit. We have really been having a good time with them & they are really a swell bunch of fellows. They are a Demonstration group who go from city to city “showing off” They put on sham battles etc.
I was lucky as hell because I got another overnight pass and I am going to try to thumb down to Salt Lake to see Jim and from what I hear that “horse-shit” “shave tail” “gosh darned” “conceited” “ not in the Navy” John C. is there too. By hell if he thinks I’m going to treat him like an officer he’s nuts, because as I figure a gob is so damned much superior to an “Army Air Corps gold braid”, “Brass hat” that the blue jacket should be saluted by the shave tail. All of the gobs here just ignore the Army Air Corps officers down town and in fact they have even got in some fights with them and the skipper didn’t even put them on the shit-list so you can see how much respect we (I) have for them & Johnny. Well so much for that and now I guess I had better shove off & rub out some skivvy shirts. I sure hope you are well & getting along fine. Boy they are really pouring it on here but I guess I can keep it up. Take it easy and Lots of Luck from your Brother Bill
We.. How are you getting along in “taxes” by now? I sure hope you like the joint and that the food is getting better. We are getting pretty nice chow but quite often they throw in one of those damned mixed up garbage dinners. As a whole though I think it is pretty good.
There are about 600 soldiers out on our grinder camping tonight. They are really a tough looking bunch of guys and they have all of the most modern equipment. They have anti-aircraft guns of all types, all of the newest armored cars, jeeps, MI rifles, machine guns, field artillery and a complete medical and chow unit. We have really been having a good time with them & they are really a swell bunch of fellows. They are a Demonstration group who go from city to city “showing off” They put on sham battles etc.
I was lucky as hell because I got another overnight pass and I am going to try to thumb down to Salt Lake to see Jim and from what I hear that “horse-shit” “shave tail” “gosh darned” “conceited” “ not in the Navy” John C. is there too. By hell if he thinks I’m going to treat him like an officer he’s nuts, because as I figure a gob is so damned much superior to an “Army Air Corps gold braid”, “Brass hat” that the blue jacket should be saluted by the shave tail. All of the gobs here just ignore the Army Air Corps officers down town and in fact they have even got in some fights with them and the skipper didn’t even put them on the shit-list so you can see how much respect we (I) have for them & Johnny. Well so much for that and now I guess I had better shove off & rub out some skivvy shirts. I sure hope you are well & getting along fine. Boy they are really pouring it on here but I guess I can keep it up. Take it easy and Lots of Luck from your Brother Bill
9-1-1943
1400—(my second month in)
Dear Don;
Well I have a couple of hours off this afternoon so I guess I’ll get caught up on my correspondence. At 1600 I have a strength test and I hope I can do O.K. We have to improve so much each time so I better do good.
I got a letter from Mother and Dad last evening and they said that Jim was home. I sure hope I can get an overnight pass again so I can see him. I’ll bet he will really have some good experiences to tell about.
Boy this week we are in the middle of our 8 week tests and they are really keeping me busy as hell. We don’t even get time to take a good sh-t. Besides 20 hours of studies we have to do our laundry, clean rooms, clean the heads, clean the study halls, have calisthenics at 0600, have swimming once a week, have Physical training one hour a day, and then once in a wile they let us sleep. They inspect rooms every day & that makes us keep on our toes but them I guess you know how that is.
It’s getting cold as the devil up here and we haven’t even got our pea-coats to keep us warm. There must be a shortage of material because we get stuff every other day issued to us but it is just supplementary material like coats, 2nd pair of shoes, extra skivvy shirts etc.
This damned place they call Idaho is really lousy. I don’t see how you stood it as long as you did & then to think that I have 8 months of the damned thing. Idaho is the ass hole of the states & Poky is the ass hole of Idaho so you can imagine what it’s like. We have a good set up here at he “U” but still you like to do something on liberties.
How is Houston treating you? Are the gals really good? looking? I’ll bet you really have a good station there because the U of Houston is a high ranking school in the South. How long do you think you’ll be there & then where to?
Well take care of your self & study hard, I guess I’ll go wash.
Best of luck
Bill
P.S. are they very strict with you there?
Dear Don;
Well I have a couple of hours off this afternoon so I guess I’ll get caught up on my correspondence. At 1600 I have a strength test and I hope I can do O.K. We have to improve so much each time so I better do good.
I got a letter from Mother and Dad last evening and they said that Jim was home. I sure hope I can get an overnight pass again so I can see him. I’ll bet he will really have some good experiences to tell about.
Boy this week we are in the middle of our 8 week tests and they are really keeping me busy as hell. We don’t even get time to take a good sh-t. Besides 20 hours of studies we have to do our laundry, clean rooms, clean the heads, clean the study halls, have calisthenics at 0600, have swimming once a week, have Physical training one hour a day, and then once in a wile they let us sleep. They inspect rooms every day & that makes us keep on our toes but them I guess you know how that is.
It’s getting cold as the devil up here and we haven’t even got our pea-coats to keep us warm. There must be a shortage of material because we get stuff every other day issued to us but it is just supplementary material like coats, 2nd pair of shoes, extra skivvy shirts etc.
This damned place they call Idaho is really lousy. I don’t see how you stood it as long as you did & then to think that I have 8 months of the damned thing. Idaho is the ass hole of the states & Poky is the ass hole of Idaho so you can imagine what it’s like. We have a good set up here at he “U” but still you like to do something on liberties.
How is Houston treating you? Are the gals really good? looking? I’ll bet you really have a good station there because the U of Houston is a high ranking school in the South. How long do you think you’ll be there & then where to?
Well take care of your self & study hard, I guess I’ll go wash.
Best of luck
Bill
P.S. are they very strict with you there?
Friday, March 5, 2010
8-26-1943
Dear Don,
I was sure glad to hear from “yo’all” and glad to hear that you are doing O.K. I guess you have about the same set up there as we have here, only they are strict as hell with us, but then they should be because we are just “Boots”. The thing I don’t like about it is that we stay apprentice seamen the whole damned time we are here, and never get any more than $50 per month. We also have insurance taken out, like you guys, and I am taking out a bond a month which leaves me about $23 bucks per month for whiskey, beer, cigarettes, and so forth.
I hear that Jim Reese is home on a 30 day furlough. Boy I’ll bet he is glad to be back “alive” because he has really seen some action. I hope I can get another 2 day pass so I can drop down and see him.
You asked about our chow here. Well!----I guess it is “purty” good but that is only because the Navy health officers came thru and made the cafeteria people clean up and serve better food. But no kidding, there for a while we went to the school café in the student Union building and bought our own class chow. Today at noon we had, roast beef, mashed potatoes & gravy, bread &butter, 2 glasses of milk, pear salad, fruit juice, & some ice cream but don’t let that one meal mislead you into thinking that it is that good all the time. That is just one meal out of hundreds. But as a whole I can’t kick because I have put on 10 pounds and it is all hard muscle.
We have four chief petty officers here in charge of the company’s physical drill and they all used to be pro baseball or pro football men. Every morning we have a half hour of the damnedest exercises you ever saw and then in the afternoon for an hour and a half we have ‘em too so it really is building the boys up. We also do quite a lot of swimming, which is very good for us.
I guess you have calisthenics and stuff too so I imagine you are really getting built up.
By the way, what kind of instruction and study do you get down there, and how are your officers?
Well I guess I had better hit the books so I can get to sleep before midnight tonight.
Best of luck
And leave that Texas gal alone,
Your Brother Bill
P.S. There aren’t any good gals in Poky so I guess I had better wait until I hit Houston or Chicago before I look any farther.
I was sure glad to hear from “yo’all” and glad to hear that you are doing O.K. I guess you have about the same set up there as we have here, only they are strict as hell with us, but then they should be because we are just “Boots”. The thing I don’t like about it is that we stay apprentice seamen the whole damned time we are here, and never get any more than $50 per month. We also have insurance taken out, like you guys, and I am taking out a bond a month which leaves me about $23 bucks per month for whiskey, beer, cigarettes, and so forth.
I hear that Jim Reese is home on a 30 day furlough. Boy I’ll bet he is glad to be back “alive” because he has really seen some action. I hope I can get another 2 day pass so I can drop down and see him.
You asked about our chow here. Well!----I guess it is “purty” good but that is only because the Navy health officers came thru and made the cafeteria people clean up and serve better food. But no kidding, there for a while we went to the school café in the student Union building and bought our own class chow. Today at noon we had, roast beef, mashed potatoes & gravy, bread &butter, 2 glasses of milk, pear salad, fruit juice, & some ice cream but don’t let that one meal mislead you into thinking that it is that good all the time. That is just one meal out of hundreds. But as a whole I can’t kick because I have put on 10 pounds and it is all hard muscle.
We have four chief petty officers here in charge of the company’s physical drill and they all used to be pro baseball or pro football men. Every morning we have a half hour of the damnedest exercises you ever saw and then in the afternoon for an hour and a half we have ‘em too so it really is building the boys up. We also do quite a lot of swimming, which is very good for us.
I guess you have calisthenics and stuff too so I imagine you are really getting built up.
By the way, what kind of instruction and study do you get down there, and how are your officers?
Well I guess I had better hit the books so I can get to sleep before midnight tonight.
Best of luck
And leave that Texas gal alone,
Your Brother Bill
P.S. There aren’t any good gals in Poky so I guess I had better wait until I hit Houston or Chicago before I look any farther.
8-26-1943
Dear Dad, Mother and Shirlee;
Boy I sure saw something today! I went with a group out to the Gun Plant and is that ever a wonderful place. It is under the supervision of Navy officers and Marine guards. We watched them reline a 14 incher that was on a battle-ship in the South seas. The gun cover, which is the biggest part of the gun, never wears out but the lining is the part inside the Jacket & that can only have 100 to 200 projectiles fired from it before it needs to have a new lining. The gun Jacket, and lining inside, is 70 feet long and the whole thing weighs 100,080 pounds, it is about 5 feet in diameter. When they reline it they do it in a huge building, about 200 feet high. On top of the building, topside and on rails along the bulkhead, (walls) is a large moveable hook "thing" with an electric motor. The lift picks up the whole gun, 100,000 lbs. and carries it to an electric furnace; it then sets it in the furnace which is set 90 feet in the ground in a big round hole. The gun at this time has the old lining removed. It is then heated for 20 hours at a temperature of 500 degrees. After 20 hours the Jacket has expanded enough to allow the big 70 feet long lining to go into it while it is still in the furnace with a clearance of .01 inches which isn't much. We watched them drop this lining into a hot Jacket & it was fascinating. This is then cooled for 20 hours by water being pumped thru the tube which shrinks the Jacket on tight around the lining and then it is lifted out of the furnace & laid on reserve until another ship needs it. We also saw anti-aircraft guns of the newest type, but I can't write too much about this, all I can say is that they are really built for the business and I would hate to be on the receiving end of one. We saw bomb trucks that lift 10,000 lb bombs into ships & planes, we saw all kinds of light arms, (newest types), all kinds of new cars and trucks all wanting to be shipped to action. We also saw a new anti-aircraft Browning 50 caliber machine gun. It is water cooled and is really built nice. They had hundreds of the crated for shipping.
From this plant they have enough equipment to service a whole battle-wagon at once, and that is really a lot of guns.
They also had gun turrets that had been damaged in battle that were being patched up.
The Captain, (full) equal to a Brig. general in the Army, took us thru the plant, and he told us that a year ago they had serviced the Enterprise with 3 eight inchers that had been hit by bombs. The "E" was in "pearl harbour" at the time & it only took three days to fix her up. They still had a couple of the "E's" Pinchers that were damaged there at the plant.
It was really an experience & I'll tell you more when I come to S.L.C. soon. Oh, they also had about 20 metal lathes that were 90 feet long & could hold a whole 16 incher on the at once. These cost 1/4 of a million dollars a piece. (They are exact to 1/1000 of an inch) Some money, eh: (There's taps I'll finish in the morning)
Well it is now 0930 (9:30 AM Aug 27) and we just had room inspection. Everything was ship-shape. We got a personnell inspection in a half hour so I have to switch into my blues. Well I hope you are all well and tell Jim hello if he is home.
With Love
Bill
Boy I sure saw something today! I went with a group out to the Gun Plant and is that ever a wonderful place. It is under the supervision of Navy officers and Marine guards. We watched them reline a 14 incher that was on a battle-ship in the South seas. The gun cover, which is the biggest part of the gun, never wears out but the lining is the part inside the Jacket & that can only have 100 to 200 projectiles fired from it before it needs to have a new lining. The gun Jacket, and lining inside, is 70 feet long and the whole thing weighs 100,080 pounds, it is about 5 feet in diameter. When they reline it they do it in a huge building, about 200 feet high. On top of the building, topside and on rails along the bulkhead, (walls) is a large moveable hook "thing" with an electric motor. The lift picks up the whole gun, 100,000 lbs. and carries it to an electric furnace; it then sets it in the furnace which is set 90 feet in the ground in a big round hole. The gun at this time has the old lining removed. It is then heated for 20 hours at a temperature of 500 degrees. After 20 hours the Jacket has expanded enough to allow the big 70 feet long lining to go into it while it is still in the furnace with a clearance of .01 inches which isn't much. We watched them drop this lining into a hot Jacket & it was fascinating. This is then cooled for 20 hours by water being pumped thru the tube which shrinks the Jacket on tight around the lining and then it is lifted out of the furnace & laid on reserve until another ship needs it. We also saw anti-aircraft guns of the newest type, but I can't write too much about this, all I can say is that they are really built for the business and I would hate to be on the receiving end of one. We saw bomb trucks that lift 10,000 lb bombs into ships & planes, we saw all kinds of light arms, (newest types), all kinds of new cars and trucks all wanting to be shipped to action. We also saw a new anti-aircraft Browning 50 caliber machine gun. It is water cooled and is really built nice. They had hundreds of the crated for shipping.
From this plant they have enough equipment to service a whole battle-wagon at once, and that is really a lot of guns.
They also had gun turrets that had been damaged in battle that were being patched up.
The Captain, (full) equal to a Brig. general in the Army, took us thru the plant, and he told us that a year ago they had serviced the Enterprise with 3 eight inchers that had been hit by bombs. The "E" was in "pearl harbour" at the time & it only took three days to fix her up. They still had a couple of the "E's" Pinchers that were damaged there at the plant.
It was really an experience & I'll tell you more when I come to S.L.C. soon. Oh, they also had about 20 metal lathes that were 90 feet long & could hold a whole 16 incher on the at once. These cost 1/4 of a million dollars a piece. (They are exact to 1/1000 of an inch) Some money, eh: (There's taps I'll finish in the morning)
Well it is now 0930 (9:30 AM Aug 27) and we just had room inspection. Everything was ship-shape. We got a personnell inspection in a half hour so I have to switch into my blues. Well I hope you are all well and tell Jim hello if he is home.
With Love
Bill
8-24-1943
Aug. 24, 1943 1200
Dear Don;
I just got out of the auditorium where they shoed us some Navy films. Hell that’s boring stuff but then it’s dark in there & we can catch up on our sleep (what sleep?)
I was sure glad to hear from you again but I’m sorry it’s so damned hot and full of bugs down there in Texas. I guess the ants and mosquitoes are quite plentiful down there alright.
I went home last Saturday on a two-day pass. It sure seemed good to get back home and see everyone but its still good to get back to Pocatello and get in the groove again. The reason I say it is good to get back to Poky again is that the sooner I get back the sooner I’ll get out of the damned place, if you get what I mean. I really enjoyed staying at home one night even if it was such a short time. I went to church, and I saw Reese’s & Aunt Lou & everyone. We thumbed down to Salt Lake Saturday and Coon and I got a ride from here straight through to Salt Lake. We were really lucky because some guys had a hell of a hard time getting down.
James Reese is in the States now as I guess you know. Gee I’ll bet he has really seen something.
I guess you guys have a “purty” nice set up there in Houston but I guess you do about the same thing on your liberties as we do on ours. All we do is go to a show and walk around town a little. There isn’t even a bus line in the place. You are lucky to get Wednesdays off in the evening. We only get Saturday & Sunday, but then I guess that is enough.
Well it is just about time for noon chow so I guess I had better shove off and eat some more of those “Idaho Potatoes”.
Good Luck,
Hope you are well,
Bill
Dear Don;
I just got out of the auditorium where they shoed us some Navy films. Hell that’s boring stuff but then it’s dark in there & we can catch up on our sleep (what sleep?)
I was sure glad to hear from you again but I’m sorry it’s so damned hot and full of bugs down there in Texas. I guess the ants and mosquitoes are quite plentiful down there alright.
I went home last Saturday on a two-day pass. It sure seemed good to get back home and see everyone but its still good to get back to Pocatello and get in the groove again. The reason I say it is good to get back to Poky again is that the sooner I get back the sooner I’ll get out of the damned place, if you get what I mean. I really enjoyed staying at home one night even if it was such a short time. I went to church, and I saw Reese’s & Aunt Lou & everyone. We thumbed down to Salt Lake Saturday and Coon and I got a ride from here straight through to Salt Lake. We were really lucky because some guys had a hell of a hard time getting down.
James Reese is in the States now as I guess you know. Gee I’ll bet he has really seen something.
I guess you guys have a “purty” nice set up there in Houston but I guess you do about the same thing on your liberties as we do on ours. All we do is go to a show and walk around town a little. There isn’t even a bus line in the place. You are lucky to get Wednesdays off in the evening. We only get Saturday & Sunday, but then I guess that is enough.
Well it is just about time for noon chow so I guess I had better shove off and eat some more of those “Idaho Potatoes”.
Good Luck,
Hope you are well,
Bill
Thursday, March 4, 2010
8-24-1943
W.R.Smith A.S., V-12, USNR
Gravely Hall, U.I.S.B., Co. 12
Pocatello, Idaho
12:00
Dear Mother, Dad and Shirlee and Rhoda;
We arrived O.K. here Sunday night three minutes befor our pass was up. We were lucky to get in on time because usually the busses are slow.
It sure seemed good to see home again even if it was for only a few hours. Everything was really swell and especially dinner Sunday, that was about the best meal I have ever had since I have been in the Navy.
Well there are five of the boys from the Flat that are packing their sea-bags today and leaving tomorrow. They go to Bremerton Washington where they will be assigned to a ship. The poor guys just couldn't sit down and study.
We sure have nice weather now up here but the the nights are starting to get cold and windy.
I am writing to Don too and I have a class in five minutes so I will have to shove off.
I'll write more tomorrow.
Lots of Love and take care of yourselves.
With Love
Bill
Gravely Hall, U.I.S.B., Co. 12
Pocatello, Idaho
12:00
Dear Mother, Dad and Shirlee and Rhoda;
We arrived O.K. here Sunday night three minutes befor our pass was up. We were lucky to get in on time because usually the busses are slow.
It sure seemed good to see home again even if it was for only a few hours. Everything was really swell and especially dinner Sunday, that was about the best meal I have ever had since I have been in the Navy.
Well there are five of the boys from the Flat that are packing their sea-bags today and leaving tomorrow. They go to Bremerton Washington where they will be assigned to a ship. The poor guys just couldn't sit down and study.
We sure have nice weather now up here but the the nights are starting to get cold and windy.
I am writing to Don too and I have a class in five minutes so I will have to shove off.
I'll write more tomorrow.
Lots of Love and take care of yourselves.
With Love
Bill
8-16-1943
W.R. Smith, A.S. USN
Graveler, Hall, Co.12
Pocatello, Idaho
Dear Mother and Dad;
Well I guess the best news for today is that I heard from Don as you no doubt did. I was going to call you and tell you but he mentioned in his letter that he had written to you "before" he wrote me. He is really in a nice set up there at the U of Houston because he will get good ship quarters and he will be treated swell because he has a rate. He is in Texas in a hot time of the year but it will get cooler there soon according to some of the boys who "hail" from there. I'll bet you were sure relieved as I was to hear but no matter where he goes he will be all right and you shouldn't worry too much because that makes it hard on you.
Boy Dad at last the Old Forest Dale People have awakened & relaized who the best man for some of their jobs is. I was really happy when I heard over the phone the Dayton had asked you and I was going to tell you How much I thgouth about the offer when "Mirt" cut us off. It is really swell and if it won't be too much work for you on top of what you are already doing why take it and really make a good mutual in Forest Dale.
Well it is now 2245 (10:45 P.M.) and I am tired as heck because I ran a 3 mile mountain trail through the hills today during Physical Education class. I made it O.K. but boy does it wear you out running that far in the hills. Well good night Mother and Dad.
Guter Nact,
Schlafen Sie voll,
Deiner Knabe
Willhem
xxxoooxxx
tell Aunt Lou and Uncle Fred Hello & give 'em my Love
Graveler, Hall, Co.12
Pocatello, Idaho
Dear Mother and Dad;
Well I guess the best news for today is that I heard from Don as you no doubt did. I was going to call you and tell you but he mentioned in his letter that he had written to you "before" he wrote me. He is really in a nice set up there at the U of Houston because he will get good ship quarters and he will be treated swell because he has a rate. He is in Texas in a hot time of the year but it will get cooler there soon according to some of the boys who "hail" from there. I'll bet you were sure relieved as I was to hear but no matter where he goes he will be all right and you shouldn't worry too much because that makes it hard on you.
Boy Dad at last the Old Forest Dale People have awakened & relaized who the best man for some of their jobs is. I was really happy when I heard over the phone the Dayton had asked you and I was going to tell you How much I thgouth about the offer when "Mirt" cut us off. It is really swell and if it won't be too much work for you on top of what you are already doing why take it and really make a good mutual in Forest Dale.
Well it is now 2245 (10:45 P.M.) and I am tired as heck because I ran a 3 mile mountain trail through the hills today during Physical Education class. I made it O.K. but boy does it wear you out running that far in the hills. Well good night Mother and Dad.
Guter Nact,
Schlafen Sie voll,
Deiner Knabe
Willhem
xxxoooxxx
tell Aunt Lou and Uncle Fred Hello & give 'em my Love
8-18-1943
Dear Don;
Well I just got out of a boring Psychology class and am I sleepy. I studied last night and then got up at 600—hell we don’t get half enough shut-eye but then I guess just so we live is all that matters.
I just put in my application for a special week-end liberty so I can drop down to Salt Lake Saturday night and a few hours on Sunday. It sure will be good to see “home” after 2 months away. I sure wish you could come too but Houston is a little farther away than “(Poky)”. By the way, how do you like Texas, Houston especially? Have you met up with any of those beautiful cow-punch gals? How large is the University there & is it as good as U.of U. ? (haha)
I’ll bet you guys like the set-up you have there as compared to FaRRagut and Chicago because in these Colleges they mix in a few moments of pleasure, and gals, with work. It is also swell when they issue clean sheets per week and you can send your washing out. Boy I’ll bet that’s heaven to you guys. By the way is Earl Rapp with you in Houston? If he is tell him Hello and good luck too.
Bill Bullough says to tell you hello and good luck.
Boy they have a hell of a (good?) obstacle course here on the campus and we have to run it every day. They also have that 3 mile mountain trail we run if we want to and boy does that poop you out. I guess you get enough of that scuttlebutt in Houston too.
Well write as often as you can Don and I’ll do the same
Best of luck
Bill
(Have you heard from Jim Reese?)
Well I just got out of a boring Psychology class and am I sleepy. I studied last night and then got up at 600—hell we don’t get half enough shut-eye but then I guess just so we live is all that matters.
I just put in my application for a special week-end liberty so I can drop down to Salt Lake Saturday night and a few hours on Sunday. It sure will be good to see “home” after 2 months away. I sure wish you could come too but Houston is a little farther away than “(Poky)”. By the way, how do you like Texas, Houston especially? Have you met up with any of those beautiful cow-punch gals? How large is the University there & is it as good as U.of U. ? (haha)
I’ll bet you guys like the set-up you have there as compared to FaRRagut and Chicago because in these Colleges they mix in a few moments of pleasure, and gals, with work. It is also swell when they issue clean sheets per week and you can send your washing out. Boy I’ll bet that’s heaven to you guys. By the way is Earl Rapp with you in Houston? If he is tell him Hello and good luck too.
Bill Bullough says to tell you hello and good luck.
Boy they have a hell of a (good?) obstacle course here on the campus and we have to run it every day. They also have that 3 mile mountain trail we run if we want to and boy does that poop you out. I guess you get enough of that scuttlebutt in Houston too.
Well write as often as you can Don and I’ll do the same
Best of luck
Bill
(Have you heard from Jim Reese?)
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
8-13-1943
Dearest Mother, Dad & Shirl----Rhoda too
Boy did we have a good swim today- We practiced gun drill, where you jump off a mock gun position into 20 feet of water. It’s really a lot of fun and I am getting so I can do it good. The “sh—t” list of the fellows who “washed” out for the first 4 weeks was posted today & I didn’t get on it thank goodness. I made an “A” in physics, “B” in history, “B” in psychology and a “B” in math. That isn’t bad, especially the “A” in physics, which most guys get low in.
The C.O. told us today that if we wash-out here we get “Priority on Battle duty”. He said if we washed out here we would go straight to San Diego & on the first ship leaving. But I’ll make it O.K. so don’t worry about that . Jolley got on the sh—t list but he gets a chance to make it up.
Have you heard from Don yet? Is he still in Ill.?
Well I guess I will study a little while and write a few more letters.
Hope you are all well
With Love, Bill
I might come home on a special shore pass in a couple of weeks. I’ll thumb down & ride a bus back.
Bill
xxxoooxxx
Shirlee,
Hope you are still practicing good.
Pay-day is in a week! haha
Boy did we have a good swim today- We practiced gun drill, where you jump off a mock gun position into 20 feet of water. It’s really a lot of fun and I am getting so I can do it good. The “sh—t” list of the fellows who “washed” out for the first 4 weeks was posted today & I didn’t get on it thank goodness. I made an “A” in physics, “B” in history, “B” in psychology and a “B” in math. That isn’t bad, especially the “A” in physics, which most guys get low in.
The C.O. told us today that if we wash-out here we get “Priority on Battle duty”. He said if we washed out here we would go straight to San Diego & on the first ship leaving. But I’ll make it O.K. so don’t worry about that . Jolley got on the sh—t list but he gets a chance to make it up.
Have you heard from Don yet? Is he still in Ill.?
Well I guess I will study a little while and write a few more letters.
Hope you are all well
With Love, Bill
I might come home on a special shore pass in a couple of weeks. I’ll thumb down & ride a bus back.
Bill
xxxoooxxx
Shirlee,
Hope you are still practicing good.
Pay-day is in a week! haha
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
8-11-1943
Dear Don; Mother, dad, & Shirl, were up here in Poky Saturday and Sunday. We had a hell of a good time and it sure seemed nice to see them but I wish you had have been able to come too. The reason I haven’t written to you for a few days is that I thought you were transferred. It was in the paper so I thought I should wait until I got your new address & station but according to a letter from Earl Rapp to Mrs. Rapp you guys are still there so I’ll write more often.
Boy have we been having tests and drill and inspection lately. I passed all of my coursed for the first 4 week report and I hope I can keep it up.
Gee I sure hope you can get to Logan. I get a “shore pass” (get out of the city) once a month and I get shore liberty (stay in city) every week end so I can see you once a month anyway.
Well good Luck Don
Your Bros. Bill
Boy have we been having tests and drill and inspection lately. I passed all of my coursed for the first 4 week report and I hope I can keep it up.
Gee I sure hope you can get to Logan. I get a “shore pass” (get out of the city) once a month and I get shore liberty (stay in city) every week end so I can see you once a month anyway.
Well good Luck Don
Your Bros. Bill
8-4-1943
8-4-1943
Dear Dad, Mother, & Shirl,
Well How are you today? Hope you are all well & O.K. Boy it sure is hot here and we have to wear undress blues all of the time on the Campus & boy does it get warm. We are really getting a work out this week on studies but that is because it is the 4 week term & we have a lot of tests.
I have been to a math class and a Psychology lecture so far this morning & I go to Psychology lab for three hours this afternoon and then to Physical Education, then we eat, then we study for two or three, or four hours.
Well it will only be 2 more days until you are up here. I sure hope you don’t have any trouble with the gas because they are getting a lot of people. (I hear) Coon and I are getting all of our studying done so that we can be all caught up by Saturday so we can spend all of our time with you.
If you can buy me a blue denim work shirt like Mr. Coon sent Arnold I could sure use it. They don’t have any my size in Poky & we need ‘em for dungarie uniforms. (size 13 ½ -14)We have a “purty” “gud” band up here now and it makes the parade a lot better. Well I guess I’ll write to Don now so I’ll see you Sat.
Lots of Love
Bill
Xxx ooo xxx
Dear Shirlee,
How’s the pianist coming along now?
I hope you don’t mind such short notes to you but I have such little time to write to my “next best girl” that I don’t send many letters or dollars (I’m kind of short until next pay-day but we’ll have fun in Poly on the .25 I have.
Lots of Love----Bill
Dear Don;
Well, how are you today? Golley its hot here and hell we have to wear undress blues all the time on the campus. Of course you don’t have to wash them like you have to whites but they area awfully hot. The studying is getting hard as heck but so far I am doing O.K. How are you doing on your radio work? And How is the weather in Chic?
Well Dad & Mom & Shirl will be up here on Saturday and I’ll be glad to see them. They are going to watch our Sat. morning inspection and review which is “purty”. I guess you fellows really have some good ones back there because you are in a permanent base but we don’t have the right kind of grinder for a “real” good parade.
How is your chow back in Chicago and have you gained any weight yet? And also how are the gals? I met a cute gal here at the U. who works in the Student Union building café and she is really cute and of course her name is Shirlee. Hell I can’t get away from Shirlee.
Well, I hope you are O.K. and studying hard and take car of yourself.
Best of Luck
Your Bros. Bill .
P.S. Leave the girls alone!!!!
Dear Dad, Mother, & Shirl,
Well How are you today? Hope you are all well & O.K. Boy it sure is hot here and we have to wear undress blues all of the time on the Campus & boy does it get warm. We are really getting a work out this week on studies but that is because it is the 4 week term & we have a lot of tests.
I have been to a math class and a Psychology lecture so far this morning & I go to Psychology lab for three hours this afternoon and then to Physical Education, then we eat, then we study for two or three, or four hours.
Well it will only be 2 more days until you are up here. I sure hope you don’t have any trouble with the gas because they are getting a lot of people. (I hear) Coon and I are getting all of our studying done so that we can be all caught up by Saturday so we can spend all of our time with you.
If you can buy me a blue denim work shirt like Mr. Coon sent Arnold I could sure use it. They don’t have any my size in Poky & we need ‘em for dungarie uniforms. (size 13 ½ -14)We have a “purty” “gud” band up here now and it makes the parade a lot better. Well I guess I’ll write to Don now so I’ll see you Sat.
Lots of Love
Bill
Xxx ooo xxx
Dear Shirlee,
How’s the pianist coming along now?
I hope you don’t mind such short notes to you but I have such little time to write to my “next best girl” that I don’t send many letters or dollars (I’m kind of short until next pay-day but we’ll have fun in Poly on the .25 I have.
Lots of Love----Bill
Dear Don;
Well, how are you today? Golley its hot here and hell we have to wear undress blues all the time on the campus. Of course you don’t have to wash them like you have to whites but they area awfully hot. The studying is getting hard as heck but so far I am doing O.K. How are you doing on your radio work? And How is the weather in Chic?
Well Dad & Mom & Shirl will be up here on Saturday and I’ll be glad to see them. They are going to watch our Sat. morning inspection and review which is “purty”. I guess you fellows really have some good ones back there because you are in a permanent base but we don’t have the right kind of grinder for a “real” good parade.
How is your chow back in Chicago and have you gained any weight yet? And also how are the gals? I met a cute gal here at the U. who works in the Student Union building café and she is really cute and of course her name is Shirlee. Hell I can’t get away from Shirlee.
Well, I hope you are O.K. and studying hard and take car of yourself.
Best of Luck
Your Bros. Bill .
P.S. Leave the girls alone!!!!
8-1-1943
August 1, 1943
My First Anniversary
Dear Mother, Dad, Shirlee, & Rhoda;
Well I am enjoying liberty by staying in the ship today (Sun.) there is so little to do in Poky that sleep is much more enjoyable than walking around the city. We did go to a show last night and it was really a wonderful one. It was “The Human Comedy,” I have never seen a more natural show, I don’t think.
Bullough’s are still here, and they are staying in the same Cabins as you are going to have. They aren’t the last cabins in town but they are clean, and quite nice. They have stove, refrigerator, etc. They are really conveniently located too.
When you come into Poky follow this map and you’ll hit the college right on the nose.
(Drawn Map Follows)
We’ll be waiting for you where it said to stop on the map.
I’ve got some studying to do but it is only 1600 now and we have until 2200 to study so I have plenty of time I guess.
So far I am doing good in my classes but it is getting hard. I have got two 90% in Physics & one 85%. That is an A I think because the average is low. I also got a B++(yea B plus plus (damned near an A) in history and a B in psychology test.
Coon is in on his sack (bed) sleeping I am writing in the mate of the decks room which is right across the hall from mine.
Well I hope you are all well, I am felling fine
Lots of Love,
Bill
Xxxoooxxx
P.S. Has Rhoda gone to the hospital yet?
My First Anniversary
Dear Mother, Dad, Shirlee, & Rhoda;
Well I am enjoying liberty by staying in the ship today (Sun.) there is so little to do in Poky that sleep is much more enjoyable than walking around the city. We did go to a show last night and it was really a wonderful one. It was “The Human Comedy,” I have never seen a more natural show, I don’t think.
Bullough’s are still here, and they are staying in the same Cabins as you are going to have. They aren’t the last cabins in town but they are clean, and quite nice. They have stove, refrigerator, etc. They are really conveniently located too.
When you come into Poky follow this map and you’ll hit the college right on the nose.
(Drawn Map Follows)
We’ll be waiting for you where it said to stop on the map.
I’ve got some studying to do but it is only 1600 now and we have until 2200 to study so I have plenty of time I guess.
So far I am doing good in my classes but it is getting hard. I have got two 90% in Physics & one 85%. That is an A I think because the average is low. I also got a B++(yea B plus plus (damned near an A) in history and a B in psychology test.
Coon is in on his sack (bed) sleeping I am writing in the mate of the decks room which is right across the hall from mine.
Well I hope you are all well, I am felling fine
Lots of Love,
Bill
Xxxoooxxx
P.S. Has Rhoda gone to the hospital yet?
8-1-1943
Aug. 1
My first anniversary in the Navy
Dear Don;
Well I’m taking life easy today as I am on liberty and just in my shorts sleeping and now writing to you. I haven’t got too much studying to do but I guess I will start it as soon as I finish writing to you. Coon is laying here trying to decide whether to go down in the hold and wash or stay here and sleep.
You say you guys might come to Logan! Boy that is only 80 or 90 miles from Poky and I could get an overnight pass every Saturday or drop down Sun. Morning. Try like hell to get there because it is a good place to be.
So all you guys have to do is take Sun-bathes-hahaha-Boy what an easy life, huh?
Bill Bullough’s parents are up here seeing him today and his girl is here too. She is really a cute lil’ gal.
Hellllllll Pocatello is a lousy place. I’ve never seen such a filthy place in my “hole” life. Gambling, drinking, etc. is all that goes on at night. The only way you can enjoy liberties is to stay in your quarters and sleep—ahhh sleep. Coon says he’s always so sleepy that If his feet didn’t stink he wouldn’t know which way was down.
Well Don that’s all I can think of right now as I don’t get much news up here. I am O.K. and I hope you are well & still doing fine.
Best of Luck
Bill
My first anniversary in the Navy
Dear Don;
Well I’m taking life easy today as I am on liberty and just in my shorts sleeping and now writing to you. I haven’t got too much studying to do but I guess I will start it as soon as I finish writing to you. Coon is laying here trying to decide whether to go down in the hold and wash or stay here and sleep.
You say you guys might come to Logan! Boy that is only 80 or 90 miles from Poky and I could get an overnight pass every Saturday or drop down Sun. Morning. Try like hell to get there because it is a good place to be.
So all you guys have to do is take Sun-bathes-hahaha-Boy what an easy life, huh?
Bill Bullough’s parents are up here seeing him today and his girl is here too. She is really a cute lil’ gal.
Hellllllll Pocatello is a lousy place. I’ve never seen such a filthy place in my “hole” life. Gambling, drinking, etc. is all that goes on at night. The only way you can enjoy liberties is to stay in your quarters and sleep—ahhh sleep. Coon says he’s always so sleepy that If his feet didn’t stink he wouldn’t know which way was down.
Well Don that’s all I can think of right now as I don’t get much news up here. I am O.K. and I hope you are well & still doing fine.
Best of Luck
Bill
Monday, March 1, 2010
7-31-1943
(Just about my first anniversary in the Navy)
Dear Dad, Shirl, Mom;
Well How are you today? I am well and I hope you are too. Coon and I just got out of a show and did a little shopping and then came over to the USO to write you a letter. We had an inspection again this morning It went off pretty good.
Mr. and Mrs. Bullough and Bill’s grandmother and girl friend came up to the ship today and I talked to them for quite a while. They didn’t recognize me at first but when I told them who I was why they knew. I guess I look different in a uniform without any hair.—I just met them al again down town here, they were just going to teat so coon & I left , I think we will go to the Ship’s mess tonight instead of spendin’ a dollar.
This doesn’t sound like me I know but I have bought me a new wallet, a skivvey shirt, and a few other things & I’ve only got $20 to last until next Aug. 20 so I’m economizing.
It sure seemed good to see Bulloughs & It made me want to see you all the more. They took some pictures of Bill and Bill & I guess they’ll show ‘em to you if they’re good. The old Mrs. Bullough said that Dad had changed into a bean farmer now. Is that right?
Boy we don’t have time to do anything up here so if some of my dear Friends are griping about me not writing well just tell all the gals that I don’t love ‘em anymore & that should cure that situation. The studying is getting hard but I have done O.K. so far and I’ll try to keep it up but there is always the Fleet. Haha
I’ve really been studying though and I like it so I see no reason why I can’t keep it up.. It’s just starting to rain so maybe we’ll eat down in the big town of Poky anyway. I guess a dollar meal once a week won’t hurt me too much.
Well I guess I’ll close the hatch for now. Hope I see you soon.
With Love
Bill
P.S. got the Cabins—They are “in bounds” for the sailors so we can spend all of our time with you even without a pass. But we’ll get passes for most of the tie. They are right across form the campus.
Bill
Shirlee,
Well are you still practicing hard? I’d send you a buck but I’ll have to wait until next pay time because there are so many little things I have to buy to get started. Be a good gal & I’ll see you in 7 days.
7-29-1943
Dear Don;
Well How is you today!
Hope you are OK.
Boy we really have it nice here in Pocatello. The food is some of the best I have tasted and all of it you want. Arnold Coon and I are on liberty together so we came over to the U.S.O.
This damn city has such narrow decks (ha ha) that only two cars can get on em at one time. There are Indians all over the place with papuses on their backs.
We haven’t been issued uniforms yet but I guess we’ll get em tomorrow.
We are really going to get a good education here. The college is just about all sailors.
We have semi-private rooms and they are nice, but a lot of work to keep ship-shape. Our C.O. is really a swell guy-(he has two side bars (drawing of a star, bar, bar) what is he?
There are a lot of boys here from Chicago & they say that the radio boys these have the best deal of anyone so work hard and I know you’ll pass everything.
Well I guess I’ll sign off for now as Coon & I are going up to the ship. (girl’s dorm)
Be seeing you
Bill
7-29-1943
Dear Don;
Well I should be studying right now but I would rather write to you any time. Anyway I am caught up on my studies for today.
We got some more shots today and my d_mn arm is sore as heck. We also had a good swim class. When we go swimming we really get a work-out. We have to march a half hour each way to get down to the YWCA swimming pool.
It is hot as heck here and we sweat all of our excess weight off, however I have gained about 8 or 10 lbs. Are you gaining in weight on that Chicago food? Do you still have a lot of swimming and physical stuff huh? Hell I thought that was all left behind at “boot camp”. Well I guess I had better study or I’ll get on the shit list.
Best of Luck
Bill
How much sleep do you get there.
Bill Bullough says to tell you Hello
Dear Dad, Shirl, Mom;
Well How are you today? I am well and I hope you are too. Coon and I just got out of a show and did a little shopping and then came over to the USO to write you a letter. We had an inspection again this morning It went off pretty good.
Mr. and Mrs. Bullough and Bill’s grandmother and girl friend came up to the ship today and I talked to them for quite a while. They didn’t recognize me at first but when I told them who I was why they knew. I guess I look different in a uniform without any hair.—I just met them al again down town here, they were just going to teat so coon & I left , I think we will go to the Ship’s mess tonight instead of spendin’ a dollar.
This doesn’t sound like me I know but I have bought me a new wallet, a skivvey shirt, and a few other things & I’ve only got $20 to last until next Aug. 20 so I’m economizing.
It sure seemed good to see Bulloughs & It made me want to see you all the more. They took some pictures of Bill and Bill & I guess they’ll show ‘em to you if they’re good. The old Mrs. Bullough said that Dad had changed into a bean farmer now. Is that right?
Boy we don’t have time to do anything up here so if some of my dear Friends are griping about me not writing well just tell all the gals that I don’t love ‘em anymore & that should cure that situation. The studying is getting hard but I have done O.K. so far and I’ll try to keep it up but there is always the Fleet. Haha
I’ve really been studying though and I like it so I see no reason why I can’t keep it up.. It’s just starting to rain so maybe we’ll eat down in the big town of Poky anyway. I guess a dollar meal once a week won’t hurt me too much.
Well I guess I’ll close the hatch for now. Hope I see you soon.
With Love
Bill
P.S. got the Cabins—They are “in bounds” for the sailors so we can spend all of our time with you even without a pass. But we’ll get passes for most of the tie. They are right across form the campus.
Bill
Shirlee,
Well are you still practicing hard? I’d send you a buck but I’ll have to wait until next pay time because there are so many little things I have to buy to get started. Be a good gal & I’ll see you in 7 days.
7-29-1943
Dear Don;
Well How is you today!
Hope you are OK.
Boy we really have it nice here in Pocatello. The food is some of the best I have tasted and all of it you want. Arnold Coon and I are on liberty together so we came over to the U.S.O.
This damn city has such narrow decks (ha ha) that only two cars can get on em at one time. There are Indians all over the place with papuses on their backs.
We haven’t been issued uniforms yet but I guess we’ll get em tomorrow.
We are really going to get a good education here. The college is just about all sailors.
We have semi-private rooms and they are nice, but a lot of work to keep ship-shape. Our C.O. is really a swell guy-(he has two side bars (drawing of a star, bar, bar) what is he?
There are a lot of boys here from Chicago & they say that the radio boys these have the best deal of anyone so work hard and I know you’ll pass everything.
Well I guess I’ll sign off for now as Coon & I are going up to the ship. (girl’s dorm)
Be seeing you
Bill
7-29-1943
Dear Don;
Well I should be studying right now but I would rather write to you any time. Anyway I am caught up on my studies for today.
We got some more shots today and my d_mn arm is sore as heck. We also had a good swim class. When we go swimming we really get a work-out. We have to march a half hour each way to get down to the YWCA swimming pool.
It is hot as heck here and we sweat all of our excess weight off, however I have gained about 8 or 10 lbs. Are you gaining in weight on that Chicago food? Do you still have a lot of swimming and physical stuff huh? Hell I thought that was all left behind at “boot camp”. Well I guess I had better study or I’ll get on the shit list.
Best of Luck
Bill
How much sleep do you get there.
Bill Bullough says to tell you Hello
7-19-1943
7-26-1943
Hope you had a good 24th
Whew—is it hot again today. I just came back from noon chow and I have no more classes until 4:00 PM I got your letter where you told me who is coming up. Boy that will be swell and I hope you make it O.K. Aug 7th will be a good time to come. You can watch the inspection at 11:00 & then maybe we can get you a special chow pass. Then we get off work at 1300 until 2400. Maybe we could even get an all night pass and stay with you in the tourist camp. Coon & I went to see about a tourist room for you and if you are sure you are coming the 7th we can reserve a couple of 3 people rooms for you right across from the campus.
The class work is getting stiff but we are still plugging along. Boy do we get some good physical drill; about 2 or 3 hrs. per day we are drilling and running.
Dad, How are your feet by now. I sure hope they are getting better & How are your mom hope they are getting along O.K. too.
I guess the garden is coming along “purty” good by now isn’t it? I sure wish I was there to fool around with it again.
How is Gordon Webb coming along and How is Lawrence.
Coon & I and a couple of other guys went sown in Poky in white uniforms yesterday & boy did Arnold have bad luck. First he fell & got his pant knees all dirty & cut his leg & then a little kid hit him on the seat with a dirty, wet broom & then he dropped his hat, and boy was he a sight. He snuck up to the room & changed jumpers & pants & then “logged” in so that the chief wouldn’t see him in his dirty uniform.
Well I am still doing fine but miss you a “little”. Hope you are all well.
With Love
Bill
Shirlee, if you want a good record get “Boogie Woogie” by Tommy Dorsey. It’s really the blue jackets favorite up here. 13:11
Coon says Hello
P.S. tell Aunt Lou and Uncle Fred Hello
7-19-1943
Dear
Dad & Mother & Shirlee & Rhoda;
I just got back from a humm-dinger of a swim class. We swam for on hour just fast as heck & it took us a half an hour each way to march to the pool which is in the middle of Poky. After walking & hiking like that it really “poops” you out but it surely makes you feel good after. These drill, swimming etc. is really building me up as you will see when you come up. Maybe I can’t take you down yet Dad but give me a few more months and I’ll sure try hard to. I’d sure like to get home and see everything there but I don’t think there I much chance of that for quite a while. I got another letter from Turner and I think I’ll answer that and then send on to Don, so I’ll sign off for now—I’ll call again soon (about Mon. or tues.)
With Love
Bill
P.S. I got some more shots just a few minutes ago
Dear Shirlee,
Well How’s the gal by now? I hope you are O.K. and working and helping Mother and Dad as much as you can but if you work any overtime be sure you get time & half pay (haha)
I sure will be glad to see you guys again & Don’t worry about the money because I’ve got about $25 I don’t know what to do with.
Well I hope you are practicing good & I hope you are well
With Love
Bill
P.S. tell Mother & Dad that I am now worth $10,000. I took out my policy yesterday & it will be mailed to you in a few months.
Tell Aunt Lou & Uncle Fred & Grandma & Milt (4F) hello
Hope you had a good 24th
Whew—is it hot again today. I just came back from noon chow and I have no more classes until 4:00 PM I got your letter where you told me who is coming up. Boy that will be swell and I hope you make it O.K. Aug 7th will be a good time to come. You can watch the inspection at 11:00 & then maybe we can get you a special chow pass. Then we get off work at 1300 until 2400. Maybe we could even get an all night pass and stay with you in the tourist camp. Coon & I went to see about a tourist room for you and if you are sure you are coming the 7th we can reserve a couple of 3 people rooms for you right across from the campus.
The class work is getting stiff but we are still plugging along. Boy do we get some good physical drill; about 2 or 3 hrs. per day we are drilling and running.
Dad, How are your feet by now. I sure hope they are getting better & How are your mom hope they are getting along O.K. too.
I guess the garden is coming along “purty” good by now isn’t it? I sure wish I was there to fool around with it again.
How is Gordon Webb coming along and How is Lawrence.
Coon & I and a couple of other guys went sown in Poky in white uniforms yesterday & boy did Arnold have bad luck. First he fell & got his pant knees all dirty & cut his leg & then a little kid hit him on the seat with a dirty, wet broom & then he dropped his hat, and boy was he a sight. He snuck up to the room & changed jumpers & pants & then “logged” in so that the chief wouldn’t see him in his dirty uniform.
Well I am still doing fine but miss you a “little”. Hope you are all well.
With Love
Bill
Shirlee, if you want a good record get “Boogie Woogie” by Tommy Dorsey. It’s really the blue jackets favorite up here. 13:11
Coon says Hello
P.S. tell Aunt Lou and Uncle Fred Hello
7-19-1943
Dear
Dad & Mother & Shirlee & Rhoda;
I just got back from a humm-dinger of a swim class. We swam for on hour just fast as heck & it took us a half an hour each way to march to the pool which is in the middle of Poky. After walking & hiking like that it really “poops” you out but it surely makes you feel good after. These drill, swimming etc. is really building me up as you will see when you come up. Maybe I can’t take you down yet Dad but give me a few more months and I’ll sure try hard to. I’d sure like to get home and see everything there but I don’t think there I much chance of that for quite a while. I got another letter from Turner and I think I’ll answer that and then send on to Don, so I’ll sign off for now—I’ll call again soon (about Mon. or tues.)
With Love
Bill
P.S. I got some more shots just a few minutes ago
Dear Shirlee,
Well How’s the gal by now? I hope you are O.K. and working and helping Mother and Dad as much as you can but if you work any overtime be sure you get time & half pay (haha)
I sure will be glad to see you guys again & Don’t worry about the money because I’ve got about $25 I don’t know what to do with.
Well I hope you are practicing good & I hope you are well
With Love
Bill
P.S. tell Mother & Dad that I am now worth $10,000. I took out my policy yesterday & it will be mailed to you in a few months.
Tell Aunt Lou & Uncle Fred & Grandma & Milt (4F) hello
Sunday, February 28, 2010
7-19-1943
Dear Mother, Dad, Shirlee, Rhoda;
Well How are you all tonight? Hope you are all well. I just received your letter and the levis and I was sure glad to get both. The levis will really come in handy because we can use them to work in.
Mom you thought I was skribbing when I said I didn’t get “shot sick” well I wasn’t –I’ve really been feeling good lately—I think I have gained about 8 lbs according to the scales. I kind of miss you all and I sure will be glad when you come up. I think the best time would be the 7th of August. Try and make it so you can come Saturday morning to Drill about 10 A.M. U guess you got my letter about Max Fletcher the guy who got the purple Heart at he last inspection (last Sat.)
I called last night but Shirlee was the only one home. I put my last .50 change in the phone and I guess I talked toooo long because she wanted to charge me a lot more. I hope you don’t mind if I reversed the charges. Haha
We get payed tomorrow (tues) We all get about $26 our first Navy Pay and by hook I have really earned it.
I got a letter from Don today & I have one from Frank. I sent them both one right off.
Well I think I will go try my luck at calling you up again & this time I hope you are home.
Well tell everyone hello as usual & excuse me for not writing to them as usual & give them the usual excuse.
If you can, call Mrs Nuttal & get Bob’s address I would like to send him a letter.
Well I guess I’ll close the hatch—
Your loving Son
Plus 8 lbs. Bill
(You ought to see my muscles bulging out) haha
P.S. This stationery is a friend’s of mine. I ran out)
Well How are you all tonight? Hope you are all well. I just received your letter and the levis and I was sure glad to get both. The levis will really come in handy because we can use them to work in.
Mom you thought I was skribbing when I said I didn’t get “shot sick” well I wasn’t –I’ve really been feeling good lately—I think I have gained about 8 lbs according to the scales. I kind of miss you all and I sure will be glad when you come up. I think the best time would be the 7th of August. Try and make it so you can come Saturday morning to Drill about 10 A.M. U guess you got my letter about Max Fletcher the guy who got the purple Heart at he last inspection (last Sat.)
I called last night but Shirlee was the only one home. I put my last .50 change in the phone and I guess I talked toooo long because she wanted to charge me a lot more. I hope you don’t mind if I reversed the charges. Haha
We get payed tomorrow (tues) We all get about $26 our first Navy Pay and by hook I have really earned it.
I got a letter from Don today & I have one from Frank. I sent them both one right off.
Well I think I will go try my luck at calling you up again & this time I hope you are home.
Well tell everyone hello as usual & excuse me for not writing to them as usual & give them the usual excuse.
If you can, call Mrs Nuttal & get Bob’s address I would like to send him a letter.
Well I guess I’ll close the hatch—
Your loving Son
Plus 8 lbs. Bill
(You ought to see my muscles bulging out) haha
P.S. This stationery is a friend’s of mine. I ran out)
Saturday, February 27, 2010
7-29-1943
(Pocatello, Id)
Dear Mother and Dad and Shirlee;
I just got thru doing a big washing and boy is it white. I washed 4 hats, 3 undershirts, 2 skivvies (shorts) one pair of white dress, sox and a towel & handkerchiefs etc. I’m really getting on to how to live in the Navy. It keeps us jumping but it is good for a person. I’m putting on weight and getting strong as heck. I’m also learning quite a bit.
I talked with Dad last night, which made me feel better, but I was sorry that you other “guys” weren’t there. I’ll call again next week before you come up so we will get every thing right. Dad said that you “guys” were eating your fill of hot-dogs. Boy that made me hungry just thinking about it. Dad, you sounded kinda tired! You better quit working so damned hard and tell the boss to take it easy on you. I hope you aren’t working too hard either Mom, But I do hope Shirlee is practicing hard on the ivories.
We are going to sign up for Gov’t life insurance today at 1700 and I think I will get the full amount. They only take $6.50 a month & then I am going to take out a bond a month.
One of the boys from the flrrt is leaving this week. He just couldn’t take it I guess. He said the fleet was a hell of a lot easier on a guy.
We are still getting good food & plenty of it. I eat al least 10 slices of bread a day plus the regular stuff. Last night we had ham, potatoes gravy, tomato & lettuce salad, pie (cream), cooked beets, bread, butter, milk, iced tea & sherbet. That was an exceptionally good meal but the rest are pretty good too. There is one thing that we are getting to hate & that is Idaho Potatoes We get ‘em for every meal. Potato soup, potatoes fried, boiled potatoes, mashed potatoes, potato salad & potato cocktail (haha) but I guess they are good for us.
Well I guess I’ll write a few more letters & sign off for now.
Hope you are all well
Bill
Arnold says hello!
I’ll sure be glad to see you on the 7th at 9:00 AM
Dear Mother and Dad and Shirlee;
I just got thru doing a big washing and boy is it white. I washed 4 hats, 3 undershirts, 2 skivvies (shorts) one pair of white dress, sox and a towel & handkerchiefs etc. I’m really getting on to how to live in the Navy. It keeps us jumping but it is good for a person. I’m putting on weight and getting strong as heck. I’m also learning quite a bit.
I talked with Dad last night, which made me feel better, but I was sorry that you other “guys” weren’t there. I’ll call again next week before you come up so we will get every thing right. Dad said that you “guys” were eating your fill of hot-dogs. Boy that made me hungry just thinking about it. Dad, you sounded kinda tired! You better quit working so damned hard and tell the boss to take it easy on you. I hope you aren’t working too hard either Mom, But I do hope Shirlee is practicing hard on the ivories.
We are going to sign up for Gov’t life insurance today at 1700 and I think I will get the full amount. They only take $6.50 a month & then I am going to take out a bond a month.
One of the boys from the flrrt is leaving this week. He just couldn’t take it I guess. He said the fleet was a hell of a lot easier on a guy.
We are still getting good food & plenty of it. I eat al least 10 slices of bread a day plus the regular stuff. Last night we had ham, potatoes gravy, tomato & lettuce salad, pie (cream), cooked beets, bread, butter, milk, iced tea & sherbet. That was an exceptionally good meal but the rest are pretty good too. There is one thing that we are getting to hate & that is Idaho Potatoes We get ‘em for every meal. Potato soup, potatoes fried, boiled potatoes, mashed potatoes, potato salad & potato cocktail (haha) but I guess they are good for us.
Well I guess I’ll write a few more letters & sign off for now.
Hope you are all well
Bill
Arnold says hello!
I’ll sure be glad to see you on the 7th at 9:00 AM
Friday, February 26, 2010
7-27-1943
Dear Don,
Well how are you today?
Boy I’m just sweatin’ with this darn Poky heat and with a few hours of drill thrown in it really heats you up. My classes are getting harder than heck but I think if I keep interested I can pass O.K.
I just go a letter from Mom and Dad and they say they are all right and that you are studying hard as heck and are O.K.
So there are a lot of beautiful girls on the beaches back there huhhhh & I guess you are meeting some huhhhh? So you say you met a beauty Sunday, well good luck to you because I can’t find a damned thing up here. (niggers, greeks,& indians still are the only inabitants)
Gee I’ll bet Chicago is a big place and I’ll bet, your having a good time there, I know how hard they must have you study but I guess you have fun on liberties.
Chow call ---finish later---
We had pretty good chow tonight: we had roast ham, (not too good) potatoes (all the time), cooked cabbage, tomato salad, bread & butter, gravy, pie, milk, warm iced tea. We usually have good food but I sure as hell am getting tired of Idaho Potatoes. We have em for breakfast, for lunch for supper, & for anything else.
I’ll bet you sure do see a lot of swell boats back there & I’ll bet you have an eye on one for after the war.
Say what do you think about Mussolini giving up?
Well I guess I had better study so I’ll sign off now. I’ll write attain soon.
Hope you are O.K.
Tell Earl Hello
Best of Luck
Bill
Well how are you today?
Boy I’m just sweatin’ with this darn Poky heat and with a few hours of drill thrown in it really heats you up. My classes are getting harder than heck but I think if I keep interested I can pass O.K.
I just go a letter from Mom and Dad and they say they are all right and that you are studying hard as heck and are O.K.
So there are a lot of beautiful girls on the beaches back there huhhhh & I guess you are meeting some huhhhh? So you say you met a beauty Sunday, well good luck to you because I can’t find a damned thing up here. (niggers, greeks,& indians still are the only inabitants)
Gee I’ll bet Chicago is a big place and I’ll bet, your having a good time there, I know how hard they must have you study but I guess you have fun on liberties.
Chow call ---finish later---
We had pretty good chow tonight: we had roast ham, (not too good) potatoes (all the time), cooked cabbage, tomato salad, bread & butter, gravy, pie, milk, warm iced tea. We usually have good food but I sure as hell am getting tired of Idaho Potatoes. We have em for breakfast, for lunch for supper, & for anything else.
I’ll bet you sure do see a lot of swell boats back there & I’ll bet you have an eye on one for after the war.
Say what do you think about Mussolini giving up?
Well I guess I had better study so I’ll sign off now. I’ll write attain soon.
Hope you are O.K.
Tell Earl Hello
Best of Luck
Bill
Thursday, February 25, 2010
7-21-1943
Dear Don;
Just a line to let you know that I am O.K. but tired as hell. I’ve really had a busy day. We were drilling & running the obstacle course for quite a while.
We are all confined to the ship because today was pay-day and some poor bastard stole $100 from two guys. We can’t go ashore until it is found. The Skipper came around to each room & looked in our wallets & told us what to expect. Well, I hope we find it soon as I want to go ashore Sat. & Sun.
Well good Luck, hope you are studying your elect. O.K.
Best of Luck
Your Bros Bill
(This was written on a U.S.N. postcard)
Just a line to let you know that I am O.K. but tired as hell. I’ve really had a busy day. We were drilling & running the obstacle course for quite a while.
We are all confined to the ship because today was pay-day and some poor bastard stole $100 from two guys. We can’t go ashore until it is found. The Skipper came around to each room & looked in our wallets & told us what to expect. Well, I hope we find it soon as I want to go ashore Sat. & Sun.
Well good Luck, hope you are studying your elect. O.K.
Best of Luck
Your Bros Bill
(This was written on a U.S.N. postcard)
7-19-1943
Dear Don;
I received your welcome letter today and I was terribly sorry to hear that you and Earl had a hard break. I know how you feel about it and about going to sea, sometimes I feel the same way, but I know if you went to the fleet you would never feel right about it unless you were assigned to it. You fellows just had some bad luck and if you are willing to take advantage of the course again I know you will make it O.K. I’ve been talking to some regular Navy men—one who was just awarded the Purple Heart in a review here Saturday—and believe me he wants to stay here and go to school so that when he goes back to sea he won’t have to do the dirty work. Hell anybody can go on a ship as a seaman third and scrub decks but you a hell of a lot more than anybody. Before you do anything drastic, well just think about it awhile—you’ve got brains and so has Rapp—a hell of a lot more than me or anyone at your school but everyone is bound to run into some “snaps” at one time or another and if you go back to school and study you will get it and So will Rapp.
Boy have we had a time today. We have been filling out pay check papers etc. We get paid $26 tomorrow—our first Navy pay. We also got clean linen –that’s one thing we don’t have to wash and that’s sheets. I washed last night and my white jumpers and pants came out purty lite. (tattle-tale-gray)
Coon and I are still together & I guess we’ll be here for quite sometime. The school work isn’t too hard but it keeps us busy. The athletics is what wears us out. Boy they run the heck out of us. We have a good obstacle course & we run that everyday—This stuff really builds us up.
One of the old salts took a Malaria attack today & did he look sick but he snapped out of it pretty good—He caught it down in the Fiji Islands.
Well Don I’ve got to study now so take care of yourself & be sure to do the thing that you think is right—tell Rapp hello.
Best of luck
Your brother
Bill
P.S.
I am sending tithing home too.
I received your welcome letter today and I was terribly sorry to hear that you and Earl had a hard break. I know how you feel about it and about going to sea, sometimes I feel the same way, but I know if you went to the fleet you would never feel right about it unless you were assigned to it. You fellows just had some bad luck and if you are willing to take advantage of the course again I know you will make it O.K. I’ve been talking to some regular Navy men—one who was just awarded the Purple Heart in a review here Saturday—and believe me he wants to stay here and go to school so that when he goes back to sea he won’t have to do the dirty work. Hell anybody can go on a ship as a seaman third and scrub decks but you a hell of a lot more than anybody. Before you do anything drastic, well just think about it awhile—you’ve got brains and so has Rapp—a hell of a lot more than me or anyone at your school but everyone is bound to run into some “snaps” at one time or another and if you go back to school and study you will get it and So will Rapp.
Boy have we had a time today. We have been filling out pay check papers etc. We get paid $26 tomorrow—our first Navy pay. We also got clean linen –that’s one thing we don’t have to wash and that’s sheets. I washed last night and my white jumpers and pants came out purty lite. (tattle-tale-gray)
Coon and I are still together & I guess we’ll be here for quite sometime. The school work isn’t too hard but it keeps us busy. The athletics is what wears us out. Boy they run the heck out of us. We have a good obstacle course & we run that everyday—This stuff really builds us up.
One of the old salts took a Malaria attack today & did he look sick but he snapped out of it pretty good—He caught it down in the Fiji Islands.
Well Don I’ve got to study now so take care of yourself & be sure to do the thing that you think is right—tell Rapp hello.
Best of luck
Your brother
Bill
P.S.
I am sending tithing home too.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
7-16-1943
Dear Don; (wool F)
So you’re two timing the skipper huh! That’s a hell of a thing when you go have a good week end and only spend $1 in Chicago, (a large city like that), and Coon and I go down into Poky, (the shittiest town in the world), and have a hell of a rotten time (without gals) for $4 each.
No kidding though those gals sound O.K. Whenever you can save a buck by going to their place to eat that’s good. Haha
The girls here in Poky are no good at all. There are a few good looking ones but the old chiefs get them & if we horn in they take it out on us in drill next day.
Like you say there is too much work in the Navy and not enough rest. Sixteen hours per day plus cleaning the heads & swabbing the passageways after tattoo is too damn much but I guess it has to be done.
If I were you I wouldn’t feel too damned curious to hit the flat because according to some of the old salt, here it is no good. But I guess I’m a little like you I want to get out there too.
Boy this is quite a deal here if you can pass all of the tests and keep up in your work but if you wash-out they send you right to a ship. (It might sound like scuttle-butt, but that’s what the skipper said yesterday.) There are a lot of fellows here that want to go over the hill but they are just dumb. I really think it’s the bet thing in the world for a guy even if it is tough.
I’m not very far along in my subjects yet but I am far enough along to see that they are good ones. I guess you are really getting some good stuff too. I sure hope I can get a leave together. We don’t get one leave the whole time we are here. The only thing we get is a 12 hour pass on Saturday & one on Sunday.
You say you can’t buy anything stronger than milk huh!!? Well that shouldn’t bother you should it? Haha We can get any of the stuff here but I’ll let someone else have mine. Well good luck Don & take it easy and study hard.
Shoving Off
Bill
P.S. When I saw the Sweetheart envelope I wondered who the Hell she was haha
Bill
So you’re two timing the skipper huh! That’s a hell of a thing when you go have a good week end and only spend $1 in Chicago, (a large city like that), and Coon and I go down into Poky, (the shittiest town in the world), and have a hell of a rotten time (without gals) for $4 each.
No kidding though those gals sound O.K. Whenever you can save a buck by going to their place to eat that’s good. Haha
The girls here in Poky are no good at all. There are a few good looking ones but the old chiefs get them & if we horn in they take it out on us in drill next day.
Like you say there is too much work in the Navy and not enough rest. Sixteen hours per day plus cleaning the heads & swabbing the passageways after tattoo is too damn much but I guess it has to be done.
If I were you I wouldn’t feel too damned curious to hit the flat because according to some of the old salt, here it is no good. But I guess I’m a little like you I want to get out there too.
Boy this is quite a deal here if you can pass all of the tests and keep up in your work but if you wash-out they send you right to a ship. (It might sound like scuttle-butt, but that’s what the skipper said yesterday.) There are a lot of fellows here that want to go over the hill but they are just dumb. I really think it’s the bet thing in the world for a guy even if it is tough.
I’m not very far along in my subjects yet but I am far enough along to see that they are good ones. I guess you are really getting some good stuff too. I sure hope I can get a leave together. We don’t get one leave the whole time we are here. The only thing we get is a 12 hour pass on Saturday & one on Sunday.
You say you can’t buy anything stronger than milk huh!!? Well that shouldn’t bother you should it? Haha We can get any of the stuff here but I’ll let someone else have mine. Well good luck Don & take it easy and study hard.
Shoving Off
Bill
P.S. When I saw the Sweetheart envelope I wondered who the Hell she was haha
Bill
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
7-15-1943
Dear Don;
Well how is the mate today. I hope you are O.K. and that you aren’t as tired & stiff as me. All we do for sixteen hours is drill, run obstacle course, swim, do calisthenics and go to damn hard class. I guess you are doing about the same cock-eyed thing only a hell of a lot harder.
I really like it in the Navy thought even if the chiefs do get at you all the time. I think this training is the best thing in the world for you. It is really building me up mentally and physically.
I have passed all of my tests in swimming and strength & classes so far & I hope I can continue to.
I got all of my issued shoes today & boy are they swell. They really fit nice.
We had some more shots today & all of my room mates are sick. Jolly has chills & fever over in the infirmary, Brown is sick, Coon is sicker than hell in his bunk. But I am fairing swell.
Well good luck to you and I hope I’ll see you soon. Study hard & keep well.
With Love
Bill
(We got a new skipper (c.o.) today)
(Have to go and clean out the damn Head)
Well how is the mate today. I hope you are O.K. and that you aren’t as tired & stiff as me. All we do for sixteen hours is drill, run obstacle course, swim, do calisthenics and go to damn hard class. I guess you are doing about the same cock-eyed thing only a hell of a lot harder.
I really like it in the Navy thought even if the chiefs do get at you all the time. I think this training is the best thing in the world for you. It is really building me up mentally and physically.
I have passed all of my tests in swimming and strength & classes so far & I hope I can continue to.
I got all of my issued shoes today & boy are they swell. They really fit nice.
We had some more shots today & all of my room mates are sick. Jolly has chills & fever over in the infirmary, Brown is sick, Coon is sicker than hell in his bunk. But I am fairing swell.
Well good luck to you and I hope I’ll see you soon. Study hard & keep well.
With Love
Bill
(We got a new skipper (c.o.) today)
(Have to go and clean out the damn Head)
Monday, February 22, 2010
7-13-1943
Dear Don,
Sure was glad to hear from you again. I am doing O.K. here although it is damn tough though. We get up at 5:45 and drill 1 hour (calisthenics) then we eat and go to school, drill 2 more hrs, & then study & then wash, scrub, clean, etc & got to bed anytime after 10 P.M. & before 11 P.M.
This is no snap but I’ll bet yours is a hell of a hard grind too by the way you talk. The exercising “shore” makes me feel good though. Everything we can put into these schools comes right back to us however.
You asked what we do on leaves & how often do we get ‘em. Hell the town is so dead there is no more to do than go to a show which is as old as heck. We get a pass at 1300 Sat. which lasts till 2400 then a pass on Sunday form 0700 to 1930. That’s as good deal but there is nothing to do when you get a pass so we just chew the rag with the old timers around the ship.
You say you have to wash in the lake. Hell I washed yesterday & couldn’t even get my whites white in a washer full of hot water & soap. I’ll bet you hate that, I know I would.
Coon & I were down in “Poky” Saturday on pass & we thought we would look for some dungarees. We went in a hardware store & asked the fellow if he knew if we could get a used flat iron, he said no, but just as we were going out the door he called us back & asked us if we wanted one he had in his hand. He gave it to us! The one coil is burnt out but the Gen. Electric Co. is fixing it for us. Good deal huh.
Well good luck & study hard. I’ll write again soon—Don’t mind the writing---Love, Bill
Sure was glad to hear from you again. I am doing O.K. here although it is damn tough though. We get up at 5:45 and drill 1 hour (calisthenics) then we eat and go to school, drill 2 more hrs, & then study & then wash, scrub, clean, etc & got to bed anytime after 10 P.M. & before 11 P.M.
This is no snap but I’ll bet yours is a hell of a hard grind too by the way you talk. The exercising “shore” makes me feel good though. Everything we can put into these schools comes right back to us however.
You asked what we do on leaves & how often do we get ‘em. Hell the town is so dead there is no more to do than go to a show which is as old as heck. We get a pass at 1300 Sat. which lasts till 2400 then a pass on Sunday form 0700 to 1930. That’s as good deal but there is nothing to do when you get a pass so we just chew the rag with the old timers around the ship.
You say you have to wash in the lake. Hell I washed yesterday & couldn’t even get my whites white in a washer full of hot water & soap. I’ll bet you hate that, I know I would.
Coon & I were down in “Poky” Saturday on pass & we thought we would look for some dungarees. We went in a hardware store & asked the fellow if he knew if we could get a used flat iron, he said no, but just as we were going out the door he called us back & asked us if we wanted one he had in his hand. He gave it to us! The one coil is burnt out but the Gen. Electric Co. is fixing it for us. Good deal huh.
Well good luck & study hard. I’ll write again soon—Don’t mind the writing---Love, Bill
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