May 29, 1944 17:30 Camp Decatur

Well my dear,
          Things are pretty good around here. Yesterday I saw Jim a few minutes after church. We marched to church and had services similar to those at home. It was sure a swell feeling and spirit-cause it seems like we been away from home for years. Not homesick-we haven’t time for that but I just miss you and the folks. At first I thought I was the only one so I just acted natural and never said anything but pretty soon Dick said he thought he’d go crazy if he didn’t see his girlfriend-that made me feel better cause I wasn’t the only one then. I hope you got the other letters and cards. I just found out this morning that the mail failed to go out the last day or so. Before I forget, please write when you have time or feel like it and don’t go by the bargain you set cause I’m telling you we don’t have time to think or hardly chew our food around here-what there is of it. Besides that a day here seems like two days put together home. But seriously I’ll try to write a card a day anyway more if I can possibly make it. I don’t even have time to read these letters over after I scribble them off.

            We had a big day today-about 05:30 “Junior” that’s what we call first mate to the skipper-he came in and hollered, “Ok you land lubbers hit the deck!!!!!” I imagine you could hear him over in Pleasant View. We call the Skipper (our Captain or C.O.) “the Old Man” not to his face of course. One kid just about got shot cause he addressed him accidentally “hey You.”

First things after putting our bunks ship we found our cleanup detail. The boys kidded me cause my job is doing the C.P.O room-that’s the room where all the officers sleep and stay. The skipper and his first mates the “Juniors” and the Platoon Commanders. The boys said, “rubbin elbows with the Officers huh?” I have to swab the deck there and dust a little. I guess I’m lucky cause I haven’t stood Guard yet-probably it’s just around the corner though.

We went over to R4 building at 13:15 (1 p.m.) to see a show. It was purely educational nothing entertaining-the asst. C.O’s walked up and down the aisle and the first man in a company who went to sleep had to stand up the rest of the show. The 2^nd man asleep and everybody in the Company stood up. Everybody who went to sleep soon got woke up by the gab next to him. The show was about different maneuvers in drilling and parading-such drills as right and left oblique, flank, colmn., reverses, dresses-etc, etc, etc… After the show we went out on the “Grinder” (drill field) and practiced (correction nearly committed suicide) boy I don’t know how many hours we were out there but it seemed more like days. Especially when some of the boys couldn’t dress the ranks to suit the “Old Man” and we all had to hold our arms out from our shoulders-try it for just five minutes and you’ll get the idea. I felt sorry for the kid next to me. He just about couldn’t take it.

Well tomorrow we have to take the G.C.O.T. a test that determines our future in the Navy after boot camp. I’ve taken tests that lasted a few hours but this one lasts all day. We have to have the barracks ship shape and report to regimental headquarters at 06:30 (6:30 p.m.). I haven’t heard from Utah since I left so write-tired-as ever-

Yours.

May 28, 1944 Came Decatur Co-44-332

 Dear Harriet,

            I hope you got my card from L.A. I wrote it over at the U.S.O. we ate in L.A. and took the 12:10 streamliner to San Diego. It’s about a 3 hr ride. If I ever get a few hours liberty I’ll go over to L.A. to see my aunt and Grandma at Hollywood. It’s sure funny how they marched us from one place to the other but we’re used to it now. When we got to Diego they crammed us in a bus and hauled us to the Base and dumped us out at the reception center. It was too late to do much so they bedded us down topside. We hit the deck at 4:50 then went to chow after we showered. After that we got a physical from stern to stern and 3 inoculations and a vaccination to boot-half the crew can’t raise their arm above their shoulder. Then they detached a generous portion of our wig what a laugh. Especially some of the boys with pretty black curly hair. After that they gave us a sea bag and sent us through a line where they threw clothes in mattress covers about 6 ft long. When we got through dragging it, it was filled about 4 ft up-with $137 worth of gear. (Navy for clothes, shoes, utensils, etc). We went from there to have it stenciled. They put our name and Co. on everything from shoes to hat-including belts and socks. We went from there to check to see if we had everything and then sent our “civvys” home. Then we boarded a truck that shipped us over to Camp Decatur along with our clothes and sea bag. We got out at our barrack and found our bunk-mine’s on the lower deck top bunk. We dumped them (clothes) out and straightened them up neatly in our sea bags and made our bunk ship shape-mattress cover with open end to the bulk head-pillow at one end and blankets folded correctly at the other end “ditty bag.” (that’s the one with shoe shining gear, comb, soap, and such stuff in) secured just so with towel folded just so for inspection and sea bag battened to the top end of our bunk. Then we put our boots on (that’s what they call legens in the Navy). Then we fell in for a bit of drill right and left face right and left column and half a million others. We marched to mess and ate our first chow at Camp Decatur. Each Company eats at a certain place at a certain time-our company has 177 men in it and there’s easy a dozen and a half company’s in Camp Decatur alone. If you see a Utah man good if you see an Ogden Boy very good. Dec Garner and Jr Taylor bunk topside in our Company and Walter Garner and I below.

            Last night we made our bunks, washed up and lights out at 8:30 p.m. That’s 1630 Navy time. You see here from noon on instead of 1:00 p.m. it’s 13:00-2:00 p.m. 1400 and so on to midnight it’s 24 hundred and thirty for half past midnight. This morning we hit the deck at 5:30-Sunday other days 5:00 or before. We “swabbed the deck” and straightened the barracks ship shape and I marched to chow.

I’ve been getting a lineup on Jim and the boys ever since I been here. A couple of days ago I found out they were at Camp Decatur and last night after chow I found they were in Co. 326 so we moseyed over there and sure enough there was Jim, Judkins shupe –Vic and all the other boys. Boy it sure was swell to see them. This morning each boy goes to church according to his denomination: Catholic, Protestant, etc. at certain time. I’ve sure been busy since we got there. I’ll write-correction scribble off a few lines whenever I get a chance because I don’t think things will slow down any. We’ve got to get a 12 t0 14 week boat course done in 5 or 6 weeks.

            Well now maybe I can tell you a little about Navy talk, dress, and chow. The grub’s good but not quite enough of it. I’ve seen very little milk (1/2 glass since I been here). (I had 1 cup of lemonade) the rest of the time it’s coffee-water for me. You get your chow cafeteria style-a ladle of this and a ladle of that. As soon as you hit the curb coming to chow you fold your cap up and put in back of your neck by your collar. When you’re through eating you separate your knife, fork, and spoon and put them in separate boxes. You put your cup and bowl in one pan and wash your plate in a large tin one with dents in for different foods. Courses to you now about dress-we’ll probably be in dungarees most of quarantine that means about 3 weeks. That we’re restricted to our barracks expect when instructed otherwise. Then we have 3 suits of whites. Dress and undress 2 suits of undress blues and 1 dress blue which I expect we’ll see very little of. I couldn’t begin to tell you about all our sox, underwear, turtleneck sweaters and combs, toothbrush, etc. You’ll find a little about navy lingo in all my letters. In the Navy they got a name for everything and you have to get hep quick or you don’t know what they’re talking about.

            You don’t go upstairs o downstairs. You go topside or below on the ladder, not stairs. You swab the deck not mop the floor and the walls are bulkheads. Everybody’s “mate” or “mac” for short unless they’re your friend. The front end is the bow the back the sten. Last night I asked an old Navy man where I could get a rope to “baten” (tie) my sea bag to my bunk-he didn’t know what I was talking about. They call them lines in the Navy.

Well I’ll tell you more about the Navy after while. I’ve got to get on the line to go to church. Before I forget when you send my mail (which better be often) send it to:

Paul Hyer A.S.

Co. 44-331 U.S.N.T.C

San Diego 33 California

That is until I tell you different. After quarantine we’ll be shipped somewhere else. Some of these guys are the slowest, dumbest, most uncomprehending guys I ever had the displeasure of meeting. Some are sissies, some are mama’s boys, that I don’t expect did a day’s work in their life. But boy we’re changing, especially when some of them have to swab out the “crews head” (Lavatory to you). The kid who bunks aft of me is from Morgan and he knows Elaine-name’s Dick Thackery. He’s a swell kid-but what I was going to say was-he rolled over on his sore arm, the one with all the shots in and did he come to attention. He woke up so fast he sat straight up in bed. It was sure miserable sleeping. You had sore spots in every position.

            Well write soon or I’ll go craze (probably). As ever, your sweetheart.

Paul

p.s. If something seems to be screwy with this please overlook it. The way they run us around I been working on it about 10 different times.

Back in time...

Hello Readers!
When I started typing these letters written by my grandfather "Pablo," I thought the correspondence from 1944 was already completed. As I was going through the boxes of letters, I came across all of the 1944 letters from when my grandfather first went into the Navy, starting in June 1944. We're going to go back in time from where the letters started. The blog posts from here on out will contain the beginning of "Pablo's" Navy service. Enjoy!
Kristy

April 16, 1945 Monday

Darling,

                I don’t mind too much returning to my duties after spending a weekend like last.  It makes it a lot easier for a lad to be away from his woman and family-left behind you know.  Eases your mind and raises your hopes.  I received two most enjoyable letters-both Saturday.  It might sound funny but I knew I couldn’t answer until tonight so I saved one until today to open and read.  If you please, I’ll relate the weekend and take up the letters after.

                Saturday, I went up town (St. Louis is quite a ride) to a dance party the Mutual had.  Not a large crowd you know, just a few in the Branch, but oh I did enjoy playing those games and dancing the Virginia Reels.  I guess Mr. and Mrs. Russell knew the Base was far away and I didn’t have a place to go so they asked me to sack in at their home.  Seems I never worry about where I’ll sleep.  I can always find a phone booth somewhere.  I snoozed most enjoyably and Brother Russell and I had a bit of chow in the morn.  Good all home cooked oatmeal he made.  Say what kind a mush do you cook? Can you cook “Germ made?” (That’s what we call it home-don’t know its real name.  Kind of a cracked wheat cereal you cook).

                Naturally I enjoyed and was thankful I could attend Sunday School and Priesthood.  Then I was grateful I was able to eat some delicious chow at Brother and Sister Russel’s after.  You were telling me about the couple you went home with you so you can imagine what those people mean to one, especially so far from home and quite alone when it comes to good people to associate with. 

                Then, during the afternoon I did the fist piece of “lectric” transferring I’ve done since I left home. That is with home appliances-Sister Russel’s waffle iron had developed a few major faults so I dismantled and rewired it.  Sure enjoyed it.  I wasn’t fun-past that-it was enjoyable. Reminded me of how I used to putter with such things at home.

         At night instead of going to church, Sister Russel, Sue and I went to the Kiel Auditorium to see on of the things I reckon I’ll long remember-my first Grand Opera.  This auditorium was one of the largest and most elaborate I’ve ever seen and the stage-oi yoi yoi a thing I dreamed of when I was stage manager.  Naturally I was probably most interested in the stage settings (magnificent), clarinet cadenza, violins, and French horns (perfect).  See, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra played the job and maybe you know better than me that it ranks among the top of the country’s symphonies.  I know you’d have been in the height of your glory if you could have seen it, and believe it or not, the girl-main female who the thing was pretty well built around-looked so very much like you.  Even when I looked through the Opera glasses and it didn’t seem at all fantastic for you to be up there yodeling like her.  Probably you’re more familiar with it than me but anyways it was the grand opera “Rigoletto.”

                Saw you at the Junior Prom Friday. You never paid any attention to me though and I pestered you all night.  This year, what I wouldn’t give to have your check by mine and listen to those records you spoke of.  Seems to me that “always” is almost sacred now.  Don’t ever hear it so much you grow tired of it, Hon.  Thank you an awful lot for the pictures.  They were a surprise to me and please know that I mean they are a couple of the best pictures I have of you.  That splicing pose you kids struck was really cute.  I got a big kick out of that and the lads here ribbed me about it.

                You know full well I don’t mind you being with the lad. Mostly because I know what a different it makes to have one of the opposite sex to associate with.  My thought is how the dang is this humble swab jockey going to compete with a polished college chap? Some pictures of the Army I spoke of.  Some are returned missionaries and every one oft hem have shipped out now. I guess it’s got to be though.  They’re swell lads-some of the best I’ve met or ever hope to meet.  Oh the crowded female picture-we didn’t know her.  Just saw her and a girlfriend taking pictures and decided she needed a little military background.  Naturally the Navy had to supervise this most enjoyable detail.  Don’t think the boys are wolfs.  They are far from that.  It’s just some of our mass foolishness. 

                Please send the snaps of Sue back.  Will comment more on your pictures.  Thanks morn’ I ‘n say.  Till then. “Always.”

Paul

April 14, 1945 *Roosevelt Died*

Dear Harriet,                                                                                                               April 14, 1945

                Right now, one thing that is on my mind is that I’m sorry our flag is half-mast and will be fore 30 days.  I heard just a while ago and believe this country lost one if it’s greatest men in history, and we boys in the service of the United States lost one of our greatest allies on the political front. Let no one say that he didn’t die for his country.  He left his home and family to go to the far corners of the earth many times and put in hours at his work that would try any man’s well being and he gave many years of his life for his country and finally the supreme sacrifice.  I think he would have gotten for us a better more bountiful peace that any other man I know of.  May his reward be great as he once again meets his Creator.  We’ll conduct special memorial services tomorrow.

                Really isn’t a thing to say.  It’s raining a lot here lately. Sure will bring the Mississippi up. Between you and me, I wish it would cover the Base.  If it did, we’d shift our gear to Jefferson barracks for a little vacation.  One year they had to evacuate some of the lads from here in a row boat.

                I hope things are ship shape at the campus and an even keel at the apartment and diplomatic relations are of their best in your little female circle.  Keep on the good course and when a little rough going’ comes, don’t let it jar your compass or get you fouled up. Think of yours now and then and please, a little prayer as to our mutual feeling.  Think I’ll shove off to St. Louis over the weekend.  Heard some noise about a mutual dance, so maybe no mail for a bit.  No excuse for you though my dear. 

All my love.

Paul