January 20, 1945

Dear Skip,

                Not much time before classes but I’ll start this anyhow.  Well Hon just one more day-gosh but I feel like a prisoner getting set loose after a term.  But I’ll tell you what I have in mind.  The Nave has advanced schools for my type of work and when I get a chance I’m going to apply for it.  Most of them are Fleet appointments though-men from the fleet.

            This week I’ve been working on a “corsair” f4u-Navy fighter and it’s a beautiful machine.  Maybe I never told you of my big thrill at the first of the week.  I got to “turn up” a plane. My first plane was a “Hellcat” fighter that has shot down three Japs and has absorbed plenty of lead itself.  Boy it sure wasn’t like starting our old car.  There’s about 2 dozen things you have to take care of.  Lots of levers and switches, etc-both hands full. After everything’s taken care of, you pour the power to it and she coughs and sputters and then roars and you think you’re going to take off. Maybe you’ve seen it done in shows-boy some fun!

                If you don’t mind sweet I’ll skip all over now-just answer and comment.  Yes, we did see those alligators and they’re better than the pictures.  If you remember Hon I said we took a lot of snaps.  The film Herb’s camera uses is quite plentiful and when we had them developed the total came to three dollars.  The end of the story is that they were some of the best snapshots I’ve seen and we lost them and have never been able to find them.  And don’t think that don’t make my blood boil.

                Your letter today said you’d like to have me take you to the places I’ve been. That’s quite a day dream Land lubber and I kind of like it but the thing that’s wrong with it is that all I want is to come home.  We’ll agree that I’ve been around a bit since I left you and I’ve found that where I come from is better. It’s just like the guy who went on an expedition for diamonds and while he was gone, somebody dug some up in his own back yard.  The same is true about traveling the country to see things when the most beautiful scenery etc. is right near you.  So believe me matey, don’t envy the sights I’m finding.

                It was quite a queer happening a bit ago Hon.  I went from chow to the early show cause I wanted to see this show “Sign of the Cross.”  It was a striking show and you summarized it well.  I got out of the show and found the letter on my sack-in which you told of seeing the same show.  I think we were both well benefitted by it.

                You were wondering if Herb was thinking the same as me when we were overlooking a romantic bay and moon in St. Augustine.  Hardly Hon-cause Hansen hasn’t got a home town female.  That subject has been a topic of much discussion here though.  You see, every other weekend or liberty, Herb has got a new heartthrob and between that and his brother going down with a submarine, his grades haven’t been too good.  He’s even had to have special night classes and that goes bad.  Well the point is he says it sure must be mighty fine to have a girl home to write to you and think about.  I said yes and it saves a lot of wear and tear on the nerves too.  Knowing all’s well home and you don’t have to bother with any girls anywhere you go.  There’s a lot more to it that you and I understand but that can’t be explained.  I’ll have to secure this for now Hon.  In case you haven’t already quit writing, I think you better not write anymore until I give you the word. All my love.  
Pablo