Mon. Nov 29. '43
U. S. Navy
Dear Parents,
I've finally decided to break down and write a letter, amazing isn't it? Well, thus far my correspondence has been pretty weak but I'll see if I can't improve any.
School seems to be going along smoothly now, and though it is rather exhausting on the nerves, it is fun. Listening to dots and dashes four hours a day is a long long time and makes one ready to murder his best friend at the slightest cause. Besides code, I take typing, and am now doing 26 words a minute, which, confidentially, is pretty good for an amateur. Then I have theory - I maintain an average of 94 there, and Procedure which I have a 87 average in. The school day is long and tiresome, being on the go from 0545 until 1645 (4:45 PM) at night. I miss my sleep but here that doesn't make any difference. The chow is fine, plenty of it, well balanced and cooked.
Tonight I went to my first band rehearsal. I played third trumpet and had more fun than playing first - I could pull the same stuff I [page break]
used to do with Mr. Jewell and not get caught. The director is also the tailor - a little bit nuts, but a swell guy. The band clowns a lot for all the fellows are there to relax. It's about the only time they have the chance to let down on the boresome daily routine. But even with all the fooling the band plays well. I'm going to plug extra hard to see if I can beat the 1st chair in the Dance band soon.
Thanksgiving was swell for me and really proved to me that I do have plenty to be grateful for. The brother of the Christian Science Wartime Worker invited another fellow and me to his home for dinner. Naturally I couldn't refuse so accepted. All the way out to Wilmette, I worried as to what I had stepped into. Would it be a stuck up affair or what? Well, as Bob, my companion, and I approached the house it seemed as if Pandora had opened the little box, for two little wild kids came running out of the house shouting "Hey Ma, the Sailors are here and they've got those funny hats on, too." Bob and I were rushed into the house, introduced to a few guests and sat down in order to get our breath. But no such luck. Mr. Waller came rushing in from the kitchen (He'd been fixing the turkey) gave me a resounding Pat (like a [page break]
baseball bat) on the back and I thought my uppers would fly out, and asked how soon Bob and I wanted to put the feed bag on. We politely told him that as soon as we recovered any time would be allright - after all, we were sailors weren't we?
From then on I spent one of the happiest Thanksgivings I've ever had. The dinner was wonderful, the family nuts, just like ours, and also musically minded. The little boys had a trumpet, french horn, pianos, two and violins. We all sang, played a little family concert and in general had a swell time. It reminded me of home so much that I didn't even miss home.
Mr. Waller was a man like dad, and Mrs. Waller like mother. She was afraid that the turkey wasn't done, the potatoes not salty enough etc. The two kids 5 and 11 were regular terrors. Twin Dora's so to speak.
After it was all over the whole family piled [page break]
two deep into the car to make sure that the Navy got back safely.
I guess you can see that Thanksgiving proved a success for me - which brings me to this - Ever since entering the Navy, I have found the Christian Science Wartime Workers, the Chaplain at Great Lakes, Mr. Waller here in Chicago, and all Scientist everywhere I've been the most kind, considerate, thoughtful people in the world. At all times they think of us, helping in times of illness or trouble to make the way clear. I have my books now, and as never before have used them day and night and have discovered and straightened out so many things which were questions in my mind. There is a solution for every problem. The free periodicals issued to service men seem to answer any and every weighty question and certainly are appreciated. It took a long time for me to find out the real bases for Christian Science, but now it is plenty comforting to know that there is something that I can take with me, wherever I go, to help solve my failings.
This coming weekend I have overnight liberty - about 30 hours - but I don't think I'll take it. I'm kind of tired so will spend it catching up on sleep.
Aunt Edna wrote from Knox inviting me to her home sometime. I'm going to write her [page break]
next. Dad's friend Mr. Fries sent me an invitation for Thanksgiving - but it came one day late as he had addressed it to Great Lakes. I already have written him explaining what happened and apologizing for it.
I s'pose you folks had a wild Thanksgiving. Has the turkey ever been cooked out time?
Well, I better sign off now - so goodbye
Lots of love to all
Bud
[ILLUSTRATION 1: A sailor labeled "U.S.N." pulled in opposite directions by two women — one shouting "No, he's MINE," the other "He's MINE" — while a small dog watches the tug-of-war]