13 MAY 1944
Dearest Family,
You can rest at ease now, for after weeks of wandering all over the U.S. and So. Pacific I've finally caught up with my new ship. She is the U.S.S. PRAIRIE, and outside of being over crowded and a few other minor details, she's all right. The chow, which is my big concern, is better than the average Navy chow.
Right after reporting aboard, I was put to work as a messenger in the radio shack and though it was a pretty confusing thing hunting for the various officers and offices, things began to clear up and now I can be pretty certain where things go. I just confirmed to myself how much red tape and paper work there is in the Navy. It's amazing how the Navy functions with all the confusion etc, but although the Navy excels in it, I guess every big organization has to contend with red tape, and so forth.
Incidentally (sp)(Woops!) Here's my new address - the one you can write to.
Me (Full Name - Rate)
U.S.S. PRAIRIE 4th Div.
c/o Fleet Post Office
San Francisco, Calif.
I haven't received any mail since April sixteenth. Of course it isn't your fault because I've been more or less one jump ahead of my letters for weeks. I thought I might receive a couple back in Hawaii but no such luck. Now that I am permanently stationed, though, it oughtn't to be long before all my back mail catches up with me. When I said in an earlier letter that "the mail would be welcome a year from now" I thought I was kidding.
I'll write to Veen, Mary and everybody soon, but please give them my new address. Say Hello to the Chamberlains, Maritzo, etc for me and be sure to let Mrs. Moritz know that I'm keeping tab on the Indians and not to pull any funny stuff.
I'll have to close for now so
Lots of love
Bud
Harlan Shirey Yenne Jr. Sā (RM)