March 29, 1945 Thursday

Dearest,

                Probably not much tonight.  I’m not ashamed of the fact that I’m jogged out-a real full day.  The writing looks it I guess.  The 8-12 (20-2400) watch tonight won’t help much either.  I hit the bench last night.  I went with a girl I met at a dance Tuesday.  She reminds me a lot of you.  She’s not a Mormon but is a very fine girl.

                I can’t remember if I told you or not that Tuesday I saw another name Band over at Tune Town.  I heard Bobby Sherwood and he’s got a fine outfit.  Last night I saw a show-Olivin De Haveland and Jack Carson in “Roughly Speaking”  and Claudette Colbert and a good male (actor I forgot) in Practically Yours.  Both first class pictures.

                

Well I’ll write soon when I have more time and no watch and something to say and no wash soaking.  That isn’t going to help the condition of my physical being any either.  So-great muches of the best of the best and lots of affection.

Pablo                 

March 24, 1945 Saturday

Dear Harriet,

                Two letters to answer and most enjoyable letters too.  Hope you’re enjoying your time home. Probably you’re fixin to scamper back to the campus when you get this.  This will probably be a disconnected note.  I just got off of 4 more hours of that-ground duty and I’m awful sleepy and tired, etc…I’ve been putting in an ultra violet fluorescent light in one of the Navy’s fastest patrol planes and I’ve been standing on my head and every other position you can think of.

                Tonight when I was on guard, I sat down to take it easy on the sly a bit and I fell asleep and started falling.  Come near getting on the deck but I thought-well last night I couldn’t write and the day before it was just a card so I better try anyways.

                Last night, I and this Student Body President from Scott Field-he’s shipping out so we decided we’d have a bit of a time before he shoved off.  We and a couple of girls from the Branch went to see Glen Grays outfit over at tune town and enjoyed the evening very much.

                You were asking about this civilian that I’ve been gone with now and again.  He’s Sue’s girlfriend’s boyfriend.  We had a double date a time ago.  Now if I remember right, what I meant when I said on the phone call, “By the way you talked your feeling wasn’t natural which is natural.” Well if it was one of those frequent calls like when we lived close together there wouldn’t be any occasion for excitement or quickening of the heart.  But I hadn’t talked to you for a long time so it’s only natural that you didn’t sound as usual-no deep meaning, just the odd way I say things.  I’ve noticed it before, but I guess it’s a habit.

                Your physiology teacher has a right bit of philosophy there.  You won’t have a worry coming though because you sack hours, from the sound of things, is fairly late. Yah I saw “Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo” at the Base in Jax.  There are few of the best ones that I have missed as you are probably aware. As I said once before, if I reap nothing more from this experience I’ll be a movie critic.

                As I also said, it would have been well if Zelma could have seen Howard as he moved through. Tell me he’s not bad off is he-he’ll be ok? Awhile ago the boys brought the mail to me and I read what you had to say concerning our friend Lila.  Of deeper concern probably than we can fathom because that girl has seem more at her early age than many people see in a lifetime.  Perhaps she is stronger than most of us.  I can’t remember if I told you or not that Lila wrote me about her baby several weeks ago so it was no surprise.  In many ways, it’s best this way, in many ways, not.  It could surely complicate her life in time to come but it could occupy the many lonely hours to end. Give her great more cause to carry on.  I wish I could have got this letter to you while you were home so you could give Lila the word for me.  Last night I started this letter but had to give up and hit the sack so that’s why I finished as I’m doing so now.  I guess it’s like I always said, “I was born tired and I’ll die tired and always be so.”

                I worked this morning (Sunday) and they secured us for the rest of the day so I’m caulking off for awhile and have to muster for a watch at 1500 though-another 1700-2100 guard.  2 days in a row now and my blood’s a boiling.  The winds a blowing and it’s raining out at that. We had some fine noon chow-breaded chicken, cranberry sauce, potatoes, gravy, ice cream, etc… I chugged a bottle of milk and have it sitting outside of the window here by my sack to keep it cold.  Before I go on watch I’ll have a delicious swig of milk and a couple of the best cupcakes that the folks sent me in an Easter box.  Apples, fudge, etc.  Oh yes, a bottle of native currant jam too.  Really swell of them.  Too bad we’re not feasting on it up in the meadows of South Fork. Well toodle-oo my sweet and write soon.

Paul

March 19, 1945 Monday

Dear Harriet,

                You’re probably wondering if I got fouled up or something.  Nope, I’m still on the turf but I’ve been on the beach quite a bit lately so I wasn’t where I could get the word to you.  Friday night the Bankers of St. Louis gave a big shin dig over at the DeSoto Hotel so I went over at that and while I was there, some Joe gave me a piece of paper that I could go down and get anything I wanted to eat.  It was in a big swanky chow hall on the Bottom Deck of the hotel and boy what chow.  I had some things with a French name on it.  What it really amounted to was an omelet of about four eggs with shrimp sauce all over and a couple of dishes of vegetables and a few other dishes of this and that. I’m stuffed.

                When the affair was secured, I ran across a fellow electrician-an instructor out here and he was so drunk he couldn’t even stand up without capsizing.  He is about as old as my father and sure was disgusting, although a bit comical.  I figured he’d get fouled up some way if I didn’t take care of him and get a captains mast or something so I helped him navigate back to the Base and didn’t get in until night onto 0200.

                Saturday I rated the weekend as Susan Russel, whom you’ve heard about, and I sailed over to the “arena” and went skating.  I had more fun than for a long time and only got scuttled once.  Sunday a Mormon soldier from Logan and I hiked around together.  We shot some pool and ping pong at the U.S.O. after church and then saw “The Keys of the Kingdom” and “A Soldier Came to Dinner.”  Both very good.  It seems to me you saw the first. It was a religious picture of the hardships of a Christian missionary in China-very inspirational.

                When I came back to the Base, I had a 3 page letter that sure made me feel good.  It was well worded and I enjoyed it more than usual.  I guess I read it for an hour.  The call I made Station to Station and only took near a half an hour to get through.  I really haven’t much time.  I’ve got to get some sleep-a 12-4 watch tonight so if this is a bit disconnected, don’t mind too much.

                That certainly was a good deal for Donna’s boyfriend to ship back to the States and it made me so glad to hear in a later letter that Howard is back.  I know what that will mean for he and Zelma alike.  Now he can get acquainted with his young-un.  Say, you’ve sure had clear sailing lately.  The Gold and Green Ball and getting the Radio and then that lengthy vacation serves you right for being my good girl.  Can you imagine us weathering it out together.

                I’m sure sorry I got fouled up on the birthday hon.  I guess though it’s a man’s well exercised right-to forget dates.  I’ve started already.  I just as well tell you that what I’m making for your birth commemoration will not get there on time.  I haven’t even got it finished, let alone mailed.  I hope you’ll understand.  It’s taken quite a little time to shape things up and I’m sorry it won’t make the 27^th.  Yah you a better man than me my unhappy even was the 2^nd of the 6^th month.  2 from 6 leaves 4-the day we’ll always remember as our merging.  Thanks for giving me the word on the home love angle.  I heard a rendition of “My Task” Skip, quite a song.  That was funny, us seeing that show “I’ll Be Seeing You” almost the same time.  Well sweet dreams, my thoughts Darling.

Paul

March 14, 1945 Wednesday

Dear Cap’n,

                I’m in somewhat of a mood tonight.  I won’t explain it because I know you know that feeling better than I can explain.  The reason is because I saw “I’ll Be Seeing You”-Joseph Cotton, Ginger Rodgers, Shirley Temple.  Fine show about a soldier on a furlough.  How they danced on New Years and had dinner at home on Christmas and hiked or walked like we did on Easter and just so many things that use to be ours.  The men who make the movies do good work because they can make the feeling come up in a lad fitten to make his heart beat right through.  Just like I’d care for to squeeze you into a tantrum,  I’ll let it go at that.  Just so I’ve made the fact known that my mind is full of memories and thoughts and my heart full of feelings.

                In some ways, I’ll be glad when my relief comes and these weeks of temporary duty is up and I can go back to the Hanger.  I’ll miss all this sack time though, working from 0800 in the morning until 1000, 3 hours off for chow and in the afternoon from 13 til 1500 5 hrs-the rest sack duty.  I spend it writing to a lot of people I wouldn’t otherwise-my uncle Ace in Germany, etc… Then reading that 700 page book.  Most reading since I’ve been in the Navy.  Sure like to read.  Wish I could do more.  Well sweetheart I’ll get this squared away now.  As ever,

Paul

Tell the gang hello.

March 12, 1945

My Dear,
       The only thing mentionable other than a fine, enjoyable letter is that I hit the beach for awhile.  I was with a civilian near my age, in first year college but is going into the Navy soon. A swell kid-with a wreck of his own to run around in just as we used to.  He’s a bit on the innocent and delicate side if you catch me.  Or else that it’s just that I’ve seen a lot since I’ve “been in” and he just seems naïve.  Just as you said awhile ago that “you’ve learned an awful lot since you turned 18.”
        Yep, there’s an awful lot of things you can’t explain or write about.  At this rate it won’t be long before I can quote the old line-“I’ve seen everything now.”  But the Navy will change this kid.  He won’t be as innocent or delicate after awhile.  In some ways it’s good and some bad.  It uses where you find one, the other is lurking close at hand.

We saw “Since You Went Away”-3 times for me but I liked it.  You remember it with Claudette Colbert and Shirley Temple, Bob Walker, etc…
     Say but that winter carnival did sound good.  I could just see you and the gang mauling around in the snow.  Say it was well that you could talk to your folks the other night.  That would most surely make you happier.  I guess you know I’m a hoping I can get through to you tomorrow.  Maybe I’ve changed since I went away but I hope you don’t judge me by my conversation on the phone.  I won’t say much more-or I’ll tell you-I won’t secure this now.  I’ll wait and see if I stir anything up to talk about for another half a page.  For now-
       Say Hon, you remember a bit ago when you wrote me the words of the song, “My Task” I believe-not sure.  Anyway, I heard a very pretty duet sang on it the other night in church and liked it much.
     I’ll add just a bit more by saying I just got back from the auditorium.  You’ve heard of that radio program where they give away money and candy bars called “Dr. I.Q.”  It was quite a program for a change.  I’ll wish you pleasant dreams if they were only true. Also some love,
Paul

        

My Task Lyrics Tennessee Ernie Ford                         

To love someone more dearly ev'ry day
To help a wand'ring child to find his way

To ponder o'er a noble tho't and pray
And smile when evening falls
And smile when evening falls
This is my task
To follow truth as blind me long for light
To do my best from dawn of day till night
To keep my heart fit for His holy sight
And answer when He calls
And answer when He calls
This is my task
And then my Savior by and by to meet
When faith hath made her task on earth complete
And lay my homage at the Master's feet
Within the jasper walls
Within the jasper walls
This crowns my task

March 12, 1945

My Dear,

       The only thing mentionable other than a fine, enjoyable letter is that I hit the beach for awhile.  I was with a civilian near my age, in first year college but is going into the Navy soon. A swell kid-with a wreck of his own to run around in just as we used to.  He’s a bit on the innocent and delicate side if you catch me.  Or else that it’s just that I’ve seen a lot since I’ve “been in” and he just seems naïve.  Just as you said awhile ago that “you’ve learned an awful lot since you turned 18.”

        Yep, there’s an awful lot of things you can’t explain or write about.  At this rate it won’t be long before I can quote the old line-“I’ve seen everything now.”  But the Navy will change this kid.  He won’t be as innocent or delicate after awhile.  In some ways it’s good and some bad.  It uses where you find one, the other is lurking close at hand.

We saw “Since You Went Away”-3 times for me but I liked it.  You remember it with Claudette Colbert and Shirley Temple, Bob Walker, etc…

     Say but that winter carnival did sound good.  I could just see you and the gang mauling around in the snow.  Say it was well that you could talk to your folks the other night.  That would most surely make you happier.  I guess you know I’m a hoping I can get through to you tomorrow.  Maybe I’ve changed since I went away but I hope you don’t judge me by my conversation on the phone.  I won’t say much more-or I’ll tell you-I won’t secure this now.  I’ll wait and see if I stir anything up to talk about for another half a page.  For now-

       Say Hon, you remember a bit ago when you wrote me the words of the song, “My Task” I believe-not sure.  Anyway, I heard a very pretty duet sang on it the other night in church and liked it much.

     I’ll add just a bit more by saying I just got back from the auditorium.  You’ve heard of that radio program where they give away money and candy bars called “Dr. I.Q.”  It was quite a program for a change.  I’ll wish you pleasant dreams if they were only true. Also some love,

Paul

        

My Task Lyrics Tennessee Ernie Ford                         

To love someone more dearly ev'ry day

To help a wand'ring child to find his way

To ponder o'er a noble tho't and pray

And smile when evening falls

And smile when evening falls

This is my task

To follow truth as blind me long for light

To do my best from dawn of day till night

To keep my heart fit for His holy sight

And answer when He calls

And answer when He calls

This is my task

And then my Savior by and by to meet

When faith hath made her task on earth complete

And lay my homage at the Master's feet

Within the jasper walls

Within the jasper walls

This crowns my task

February 4, 1945 Sunday

Well my dear times are getting drab around here already.  Last night the Port side had the watch and naturally I drew a watch out in no man’s land.  The duty if four hours here and mine was from 12 until 4 in the morning.  The thermometer must have been near zero. I guess you know the weather here is about like that in Utah-snow and ice.  It helped some though because they issued us those fur lined pants and fur lined jackets.  I guess we looked like Arctic explorers or something, maybe Eskimos.  But boy that was better than freezing even with all that fur lined gear.  About three in the morning the cold started to seep in.  When I was relieved at 4 a.m. I was really eager to hit the sack and I got a couple of hours of sleep before they blew reveille for the day’s work.  As I said before, we have to put in a regular day every other Sunday.  I would much rather have gone to church and am kind of anxious to see what the church is like here.  Now the deal is that I have another 4 hour watch in the morning-from 4 till 8-two days in a row are enough to peeve anybody. 

                Now the big thing today is that I finally got some mail.  Boy that raises my morale 100% or more.  It was a letter you wrote 12 days ago.  It went to Jax and followed me from there.  Kinda old but refreshing to me when I haven’t read some for over a week.  Now you can send those snaps unless you already have.  It sounds like things are sailing along under an even keel with you and the kids there and also that the lessons stack up like always.  Give the kids the word for me will you, unless you already have.  Keep me posted on the progress of this “Lover Come Back to You” number.  

               Well this is it hon.  Eat, sleep, work on planes and stand guard duty-exciting isn’t it? I’ll try to find something more interesting to write about after while. Meanwhile a kiss and a prayer are yours.  Throw in my love too until I’m asleep.  Toodle-oo

February 2, 1945 Friday St. Louis

Dear One,

                For awhile I guess you can’t expect very long letters.  Not until I get adjusted and stir up a little excitement for myself.  After this place I’m still working on the “Ventura” putting in a system that will pump gas from one tank to another because they have to stay in the air for quite awhile.  Other than that, I’m just cursing these sea bags and thinking of the usual subject-guess.  I don’t remember telling you that on the train coming over here I had a dream that I came home.  We went to the show but never watched it.  But there was an episode of two kisses and that’s all I remembered.  I’ve been here almost a week now-I ought to get a letter soon.

                I went ashore last night and went to the USO and got the address of the church here.  Maybe in a week I can go.  Then I danced a couple of times and shoved off to a show.  I saw the show, “Song to Remember” about the life of a Polish Pianist-I forgot his name but he’s famous and it was an elegant picture. But I don’t like to go alone.

                I’ll let this do for now hon. but I’ll write again tonight and send it regular mail and it ought to reach you a day or so after this.  After while you tell me how long it takes for mail to reach you from here.  

Pleasant dreams.  

Pablo

p.s. The paper may give you an idea of how things are run around here.

(Training department information for incoming trainees)

January 26, 1945 Friday

Dear One,

                There’s not much doing just having a little “sack time.” It’s raining so they haven’t sent any working party’s out.  Last night Herb and I went ashore on liberty-the last time we’ll be in Jax.  I guess but I don’t harbor any regrets to speak of.

                I had a slab of leather put on my shoes and we had a banana split and saw a show, “Meet Me in St. Louis” (you ought to do that little thing) with Judy Garland.  You’d like it a lot more than I.  It was more of a girl’s picture.  We got back about 12 and that’s that.

                We got the work on our draft-a bit more anyway.  We’re supposed to leave for St. Louis on Saturday-tomorrow.  Then I found out some more about what our work will be like and our future.  I won’t go into that though because I want to see how true it is before I say anything.

                We get our special pay this morning so that’s a good sing that we’re going to move, besides we’ve been put on restriction.  No one is allowed off the Base so that means too that we’ll ship Saturday.

                About the familiar ensign, I’m glad you confide or discuss such things with me.  That’s one thing that never troubles me because I know you can take care of yourself.  That’s one of the traits I’ve admired you for and entrusted you with.  Those of virtue, chastity, or the right type of standards.  We’ll agree that a person’s thoughts and usually their actions can be foreseen by their talk or in other words a smutty tongue betrays a smutty heart.  I’m confident you’ll keep sailing on the right course.  Just watch these sailors and soldiers and steer clear of those cocky loose living officers.

                Sometime I’ll see that show, “The Very Thought of You,” but it was a bad deal to have lost the game with the U.  You be sure to send those snaps after awhile.  If I don’t forget, I’ll enclose the pictures Herb and I took at St. Augustine.  It was one of the luckiest breaks I’ve had for quite awhile.  Remember I told you we lost them-three buck’s worth of snaps and negatives.  They were lost for near a month and finally someone turned them in at the U.S.O. just the other night.  They’re not as good as the others I sent.

                Boy I’m glad for you that things are on the sunny side there.  Music going well-that is quite the change of a life, of circulation.  I’ve been able to get out on a weekend but most of the time it’s been palling with Herb or Lou or Jim or just by myself.  So you can see it’s you who is going to have to be tolerant and understanding if and when I ever get home.  So you see cap’n when we’re together and I appear strange, just shake me and I’ll be all right.    

                Well young-un, there’s not much more to say now except that laying around here waiting for our orders I have a lot of free time and just lay on my sack (like most of the boys) and put  a pillow over my face to keep the light out of my eyes and I can see you much plainer that way too.  The clipping is what some of the boys have been singing here.  All my love, Harriet.  Paul

January 24, 1945 Wednesday

Dear Skip,

                There’s quite a lot to say but I don’t know where to start.  I’d rather answer some of those welcome and intriguing letters you write but I imagine you’re wondering what the score is here fist so I just as well start from last Saturday.  After I wrote you at the U.S.O., I went to the picture “Princess and the Pirate” Bob Hope and Technicolor. I got a kick out of it but would have much rather have giggled with you instead of alone.  But then that’s only natural so I won’t elaborate on that.

                After the show I hitched a bus for Cecil Field-that’s quite a trip so I was waking Prud up at about 2:30 a.m. to tell him I was around and was going to find a sack on his Base for the night.  When I woke up at about noon the next day and that sure felt good to think-no classes.  Well naturally that hour of the day Him was out on the crash truck so I just helped myself to some dungarees and a shirt because dress blues aren’t so good to mess around planes with.  Then I finally found Jim and we had a bit of chow.  After chow they wanted the crash truck over at Brannon Field so we cruised over there to stand by while the pilots practiced carrier deck landings.  No excitement-a few crude landings but no excitement.  We secured about 4:30 and I started for my base.  I got back in time for the last show.  It was one I’ve been waiting for for a long time.

                Skip, if it comes there you’ve got to see it.  It can show you more what our life is with airplanes than I could explain in a few dozen letters.  It is “The Fighting Lady”-the story of a carrier and all the battles she has been in.  It’s in Technicolor (or how ever you spell it) narrated by Lt. Robert Taylor and is the best war picture I’ve ever seen.  Not much story or plot but it just shows life with many planes. It may not have been released for the public yet but when it comes around see it-What?

                Well Monday we spent part of the time on a work detail and part putting our sea bag in shape.  Then the think we’ve been waiting for-the Drafts came in.  They were posted and then the talking, scheming, and planning began.  I won’t explain to you just what a situation like that is like. Men from almost every state in the Union-married and otherwise-which of course would make a difference as to where a person would want to go.  Most of the guys were thinking, “I wonder if that draft will still be open when it’s my turn to choose.” Some of the boys could have gone to a base right in their home town but just because they were too far down on the list they had to choose a place a thousand miles away-such is life.  But it’s all in the game.

                It would be a lot easier for me to talk to you in a letter like this if you could just understand the situation.  My explanations must seem pretty clumsy.

                I don’t mean to brag but out of 93 men, I made about 25^th choice or there abouts.  It took 20 weeks to work for that but it was satisfaction just the same, especially knowing that the rest of the men were quite a bit older than I. My choices were:

1-Advance Air Base Training at Quonset Point Rhode Island

2-Two drafts for Banana River Florida for work on flying boats

3-Draft for our Ferrying Command at San Pedro, California working between there and New Foundland, South America, and Europe probably.

4-Advnace Base Air Training Unit St. Louis, Missouri

5-Duty at Wildwood, New Jersey just a small ride from the big city New York

6-Two drafts for Norfolk, Virginia.  One for Assembly and Repair shop and the other for “carrier air supply unit”

7-One for the Philadelphia Navy Yard

8-Another for “carrier air supply unit” at Quonset Point Rhode Island-duty in South America and one of the best navy bases there is

9-Then two drafts for Main Side of this station here at Jax.

Then there was a messed up fouled up affair for the West Coast.  They didn’t say where.  If you said West Coast it could be anywhere from the Canadian border to the Mexican border. So I just walked around and listened to the different guy’s opinions and different discussions and got the map out and looked and studied, etc... at the different places.  There sure are a lot of things to take into consideration.  As you can see, they don’t give you much to go on.  You can’t tell very well what kind of a deal it is. Then after a thorough map study, we begin to wonder what we do want.  Do I want to get closer to home-even if it is 1,400 miles away? Do I want to see the show get some life that will quicken your heart beat-or maybe stop it? Probably you know that so long in this life and action it gets in your blood.  WE talk and hear stories and see picture shows until it couldn’t be otherwise.

What would Skip and the folks want me to do? How long will I be in that place if I choose it-before I ship out? What would be my chances for a leave? What kind of work will I be doing there? What kind of planes do they use? And the point that was never over looked-what kind of Liberty town is it? How do people there like sailors? Is it like it is here where they’re thick as flies and treated like dogs? IT went on and on like that, long into the night.

Feeling the other men out and trying to see if his choice would interfere with yours and if it did, try to talk him out of it.  Finally I hit the sack for some sleep but sleep didn’t come so easy.  I thought lots about you and the drafts and asked our Creator to guide my mind and decisions.  In the morning, I knew what I wanted.  There was no way of telling if it was the right choice.  But, I knew I wanted it anyway. 

We lined up according to our class standing and one at a time we filed into the Commanders office to make our choice.  When a man came out, everybody was anxious to see where they guy chose and alter his plans accordingly.  I come to find out that there were a lot of men who wanted the same draft as me.  It was getting near my turn and I was wondering if I wasn’t going to have to change my choice but things came fine.  My draft is a 10 man draft and I made it as the 8^th man.  Just 2 more men and I wouldn’t have gotten it.

I hope it’s in accordance with your thinking, because the place I’ll spend the next several months at is St. Louis, Missouri.  Now maybe you want to know what the deal is.   If I can tell you, it’s the scuttlebutt (rumors) about it.  It’s an A.B.A.T.U. which means that it’s an Advanced Base Air Training Unit.  Some say the Navy has taken over the Municipal Airport and that’s our new Base.  Some say it’s advanced schooling.  Some say it’s a mobile or traveling repair unit that goes to different places to work. That’s what we know about it.  The only thing we can do now is wait for our orders.  Our draft is here but no sailing orders.  We ought to ship out before the end of the week.

Now, last night I went ashore to meet Jim.  I figured it would be the last time for a long time and I had a couple of rolls of film I wanted to spend with him.  He was detained at the Base though so he was late getting there and it was too dark to take pictures.  I’m going to meet him tonight through and we’ll try to get some pictures again.  What I’ve been leading up to is that Jim is shipping out too-maybe the same time as me-probably before the end of the week.  And can you imagine he’s going to Memphis-just 200 miles from St. Louis and maybe after awhile I can see him some more.  You’ll have to get the word from his folks to see what his deal is.  Excuse me-you can’t do that.  I’ll tell you after awhile when we get things straight.

Well, it’s morning now and I’ll try to finish this up.  Last night I went ashore and met Jim and we finished off a roll of film.  It was quite late in the evening so they may not be too good.  Then I left Jim in town for awhile and I came back to the Base and went over the main side to the usual church meeting.  I felt quite different than usual through because it was the last time I’ll see some of the people there.  I’ve met some elegant lads and that’s the only regret I have about leaving here.  They always have the guys that are shipping out say a few words and it was my turn last night.  Then I went ashore again and met Jim at the USO and sat around and shot the breeze for the rest of the night.

                Can you imagine the boys and me sleeping until 8:00 every morning? This is the life since we graduated! We haven’t been doing anything lately except have liberty from 5p.m. until 12 a.m. and during the day we go out on an occasional work party and do odd jobs such as gather laundry bags from different barracks and haul stuff around in trucks, etc… Then it seems like I’ve always got something to iron or some buttons to sew on or some dungarees to patch.  Whenever a call comes in for work they take volunteers you know-“You, you, and you come with me.  You’re volunteers.”  Of course you know the Hyer lad.  It doesn’t take him long to get help and find a knack to dodging the afore said.  My sack is right by the fire escape and when they start taking volunteers for a work party-I disappear.  I’ll write soon my love.  For now and as ever.  
Pablo

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