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