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

March 6, 1945 Tuesday

Dear Skip,

                I honestly wish I weren’t writing this letter.  The song, “Three o-clock in the Morning” isn’t so funny, enjoyable or anything else anymore.  I’m as usual-on watch-and it’s just before three.  I cam on at 2400 and I’ll be on until 0400.  Matters could be worse, of course I could be out in the weather at the north gate sentry post or the prefabricated huts.  The weather is moisture in frequent and bountiful quantities. As it is I’m in the Master at Arms shack in a chair, doing a bit of office work but confound it It’s the principle of the thing.  Getting a lad out of the sack in the middle of the night to sit around for 4 hours! Besides, I had a big wash tonight and you know how I love that. But I reckon as how it’s just counterbalancing the past weekend I had.

                Maybe I said that Friday night I played a bit of basketball with the staff men.  Saturday night I had one fine enjoyable time, in fact, the best for quite some time. I was over to a fireside chat.  The mutual takes that here and we shot the breeze awhile and played different games and even danced some.  I’m wondering if I’ll ever get on to the idea of scrubbing my feet around the deck again.  The females are quite patient though which helps.  Then we had some tasty chow-ice cream, cake and the likes.

                Sunday I made it in good time to church and really digested mentally a fine Sunday School and testimonial.  The smallness of the Branch and the scattered location of the members by no means hampers their activities here.  They really do commendable work.  After church I latched onto 4 Army boys and we had some fine noon chow-french fried shrimp.  Do you like shrimp? Then we latched onto some bicycles and had one time all afternoon.  (Today my stern is the worse off).  We played tag and rode around in the zoo and in the paths through the park-one of the best and largest I’ve seen.

                After while the tag game got a bit rugged-the Army bent a pedal and almost a car and put a little skin on the deck so we gave it up in preference to the more conservative sport of eating a couple of pints of ice cream and riding the trolley to the U.S.O. A bit of pool and then to evening meeting then back to the noise I was griping about in the first of this word.  Same as usual though.

Paul